Can India become the next USA?
Some Say Yes…
One factor that is crucial for the growth of any nation is the belief in the ideology of that nation and the stability that the top leadership exhibits in aligning with those beliefs. Nations with distinct views and strong leaders embracing these ideologies may face challenges in achieving growth.
In simple terms, we can assert that a significant reason for the growth of the USA and the UK, among other powers, is their firm commitment to ideologies such as democracy, capitalism, and free trade — fundamental principles conducive to economic growth. It’s noteworthy that both major political parties in these nations share and uphold these ideologies, determining the path of progress rather than the ideology itself.
Similarly, India, under the leadership of the Gandhis, from Shri Nehru to his grandson, and subsequent governments under the de facto leadership of Sonia Gandhi, adopted a socialistic form of governance that was widely accepted and respected. They exhibited clarity on the role of religion and languages in politics, advocating for a hands-off approach for the most part, with occasional appeasement for minorities.
As the Gandhis have been in the opposition for almost a decade, signaling a significant departure from the socialist ideals they once championed, it becomes evident that the nation has shifted its stance. The rejection of a hands-off approach regarding the majority religion is now apparent. However, despite their decline, the Gandhis still command 20% of the nation’s votes, and this percentage is likely to rise or, at the very least, remain stable in the upcoming elections.
This indicates the presence of a substantial minority in the nation that continues to subscribe to the Gandhis’ socialism and their approach to religion’s role in the state. While the majority of the nation has moved on, it is crucial to keep a keen eye on ensuring that support for both the BJP and the Gandhis remains spread across the nation. Failure to do so, especially in a multinational country like India, could lead to issues, as seen in the South States, which are already discontent with the Hindi-centric policies of the BJP.
Despite the BJP’s claim to be a capitalist party, it is implementing many socialist visions and schemes to maintain support from the poorer segments of the nation. The critical aspect to observe now is how India’s development unfolds, with the Congress party expected to increase its presence in state elections while the BJP continues to govern the center. The question arises: How will the relations between the capitalist center and socialist states impact India’s growth story?
At this juncture, when a good portion of India still yearns for the Gandhi’s approach of Politics and Socialism in the government, the BJP’s approach is still something to be seen. The BJP does not back down from giving freebies wherever they are required but it hardly compromises with its political opinions.
At this point it is very hard to know whether the nation is clear about the pathway it wants to take for the future, and if the nation is not clear than it shall become an issue in the future. Because if the centre wants to take a different pathway then the majority of states do, this shall cause immense tension in the heart of the nation.
But it is all still to be looked at and we shall do that.
