In India's contentious political landscape, tactics like "resort politics" exemplify how power is acquired through manipulation, including kidnapping and intimidation of lawmakers, raising concerns over the health of democracy.
The Dark Side of Power: Exposing “Resort Politics” in India
The Dark Side of Power: Exposing “Resort Politics” in India
Uncover the alarming tactics employed by Modi’s party to manipulate state governments through coercive means and forced isolation of lawmakers.
In the heart of Maharashtra, a drama revealing the disturbing practices in Indian politics unfolds as prime political figures become pawns in a high-stakes game of power manipulation. Nitin Deshmukh, a lawmaker from a distant district, faced an unnerving experience after a seemingly innocent invitation for dinner turned into a perilous kidnapping.
It was June 2022 when Deshmukh recognized the real intention behind the invitation. Instead of dinner, he found himself trapped in a convoy headed beyond state borders, eventually detained in a resort-like prison. This unsettling revelation brought forth accusations of “resort politics,” a notorious strategy used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which aims to destabilize state governments by isolating dissenting lawmakers in remote luxury locations.
Witnesses and victims, including Deshmukh, recall how they were forcibly inducted into a plot to overthrow Maharashtra’s state government. The objective was straightforward: to weaken the government by stripping it of the necessary legislative majority. This clandestine operation, marked by intimidation and coercion, has been a recurring tactic in BJP’s quest for political control, particularly in regions where electoral victories have slipped through their fingers.
This method of manipulation not only endangers the integrity of democratic processes but also raises troubling questions about governance and accountability in India. As India’s political landscape becomes increasingly fraught with such disquieting strategies, the ramifications for democracy and public trust grow ever more concerning.
It was June 2022 when Deshmukh recognized the real intention behind the invitation. Instead of dinner, he found himself trapped in a convoy headed beyond state borders, eventually detained in a resort-like prison. This unsettling revelation brought forth accusations of “resort politics,” a notorious strategy used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which aims to destabilize state governments by isolating dissenting lawmakers in remote luxury locations.
Witnesses and victims, including Deshmukh, recall how they were forcibly inducted into a plot to overthrow Maharashtra’s state government. The objective was straightforward: to weaken the government by stripping it of the necessary legislative majority. This clandestine operation, marked by intimidation and coercion, has been a recurring tactic in BJP’s quest for political control, particularly in regions where electoral victories have slipped through their fingers.
This method of manipulation not only endangers the integrity of democratic processes but also raises troubling questions about governance and accountability in India. As India’s political landscape becomes increasingly fraught with such disquieting strategies, the ramifications for democracy and public trust grow ever more concerning.
