Maruti Udyog Kamgaar Union general secretary Kuldeep Jhangu says the BJP government has failed to keep its promises. “ Kisi ke bhi acche din nahi aaye (no one saw the promised good days),” asserts Jhangu, adding that the condition of the poor and the workers has not changed.
“Since the Mughal days the rich are growing richer and the poor are getting poorer. Irrespective of the government in power, the capitalists call the shots.”
Jhangu, who holds the position of general secretary for the last eight years, believes that the Modi rule can be largely termed “corruption-free”, but there has been no economic growth.
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“The Modi government failed to bring any major investment to the country over the past five years. The micro, small and medium enterprises were the worst hit. In fact, 15-20 units shut down in Gurugram rendering thousands jobless since 2014. The economic growth was nowhere to be seen,” he says.
‘Politics of vote’
The workers’ leader says that the issue of national security is being blown out of proportion. He argues that even during the previous governments the borders were protected by the Indian Army, but the BJP regime is laying too much emphasis on surgical and air strikes for electoral gains.
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“Modi merely indulged in politics of vote for five years, unveiling statues, including those of Chhotu Ram and Sardar Patel, and offering flowers on birth anniversaries of freedom fighters,” says Jhangu.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi has tried to raise a storm by giving the slogan ‘chowidar chor hai’, but there is no substantial evidence of corruption in the Rafale deal, says Jhangu, adding that the Opposition is indulging in rhetoric, seeking evidence for the surgical and air strikes, but has failed to offer an alternative.
“The people want alternative, but the Opposition has failed to provide it. Rahul Gandhi sometimes winks in Parliament. All this will only help the BJP return to power,” he says.
Though he believes demonetisation helped break the back of terrorism, he says it was implemented without any planning. This, he says, hit the small businesses the most which are in bulk in India. “It [demonetisation] was for the good of the country but proved counter-productive,” says Jhangu.
He says he will vote on the issue of development, but the candidate is also important for him.
“I will vote for someone who raises the real issues affecting the common man,” signs off Jhangu.