by
P.S. Sahni
After the
Election Commission of India announced the date for 2024 Elections, the ruling
party is on a systematic campaign to instill fear amongst citizens owing
allegiance to opposition political parties. The arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, Chief
Minister of Delhi demonstrates this. The Modi Government used the services of
the police and para- military; investigative agencies; judiciary – trial court,
high court, Supreme Court; corporate media to send a political message to
voters who are forced to see 24x7 how their popular leader gets arrested and
paraded like a common criminal. This has a chilling effect on voters who may
decide not to come out of their houses on the voting day; or may be forced to
vote for the BJP. The undecided voter may swing towards BJP out of fear; this
constitutes voter suppression and intimidation.
With thousands
of AAP supporters out on the streets, the high-handedness of law- enforcing
agencies is being show-cased with negative connotations for AAP (a constituent
of INDIA block), its leaders and its pro-people policies. Disinformation –
through spread of trumped-up charges – against an opposition leader constitutes
election subversion.
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