Activists' report slams Modi's first year in office

A report on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first year in office released here on Friday slammed his "abysmal failure" to fulfil pre-poll promises over democracy, education, gender and sexuality, and economy.

The 'NOMOre Report', compiled by a group of activists as part of the 'NOMOre Campaign' -- launched last year after the BJP government took charge -- assessed the government's success - or lack thereof - in fulfilling promises made before the polls.

The report blamed the government for rise in attacks against religious minorities, including vandalisation of their places of worship.

"Signs of a healthy democracy include respect for the Constitution, proper functioning of the legislature, executive and judiciary and a free and aware media and civil society.

"The government's first year in office points towards its abysmal failure in meeting these expectations," it said.

It termed the government's resorting to emergency provision of passing ordinances on critical matters such as land rights, a "mark of democracy under duress" and further denounced the Intelligence Bureau (IB) for labelling several NGOs as "anti-national".

On the economy front, the report accused the government of favouring private investors and corporations and raised questions on the $ 1 billion State Bank of India loan to Adani mining and the efforts to keep Spice Jet afloat.

The report questioned the government's claim of the economy growing at 6.9 percent rate.

Noting that the first year was marked by repeated accusations of 'Love Jihad' against a particular community while Hindu women were asked by a BJP parliamentarian to have at least four children to protect the religion, the report condemned the government's "apathetic" attitude towards issues related to gender and sexuality.

"The government abstained from voting on a UN resolution on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, while the Goa government offered medical therapy to make LGBT people 'normal' and same-sex couples were barred from adopting children," it said.

Meanwhile, Nandini Rao, women's rights activist and a member of the campaign told IANS that they would continue with their efforts as concerned citizens of the country.

"Who is the 'real citizen' of this country? Is it only the Hindu-born (or re-converted) person who prays to the 'right' gods, doesn't eat beef, doesn't dissent and who passively accepts what's happening in our country today? Everyone else is suspect under the new dispensation," she said.