Senior BJP Leader Dr. Vijay Jolly, extols PM Modi, calls farmers’ policy change a sign of vibrant democracy

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Vijay Jolly, a member of the National Executive Committee of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, extolled the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whose leadership, he said, India was flourishing as a democracy. The proof of that he contended, was the decision to pull back legislation that had led to massive year-long protests by Indian farmers which garnered worldwide attention and protests in several countries by members of the Indian diaspora.

Dr. Jolly, who was interviewed by ITV Gold Dec. 13, 2021, was on a foreign trip touching countries in the Caribbean and the United States, which he said was meant to be a “people-to-people friendship” diplomacy, “of Indians reaching out to the world,” showcasing a “vibrant India, progressive India, friendly India.”

Asked about the farmers protests which have now been withdrawn by organizers after Prime Minister Modi promised the new laws would be revoked, Jolly launched into a vigorous defense of the decision.

“This is the first time in democratic India, a legislation which was passed in the Indian Parliament, in the interest of the Indian farming community by the government of the day, passed by Lok Sabha as well as the Upper House of Parliament,” was being withdrawn.

“I wish to salute my Prime Minister Mr. Modi, and his government, which seeing that after certain sections of the farming community which expressed displeasure, which were not happy (sic); sensing their displeasure, and discontentment, he chose to take a path to reach out to every section of the Indian society – whether it is farmers, whether it is agriculturists, whether it is the traders, whether it is the middleman, and I am sure this is the reason why Prime Minister Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party came into complete majority in 2014 parliamentary election with 280 seats, and repeatin that performance in 2019 elections, with more than 320 seats,” Jolly said.

“This is the inclusive, this is the people-centric approach of he Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Damodardas Modi, which has earned him the popularity,” Jolly declared.

“This is not a poll-bound decision. This is a decision of a government which has full mandate in the Indian Parliament, and which takes every decision considering the people’s emotions, people’s demands, and the present context, taking care of a particular section of the farmers’ community related to Punjab and Haryana,” he said in light of some analysts maintaining that the pullback of laws was a sign of decreasing popularity of the charismatic Prime Minister and in light of future elections.

“I’m sure it will go a very long way in the progressive farm and agricultural policies of Republic of India,” now and in the future, he said.

When asked if, as a former member of the Delhi legislature, he had interacted with farmers who had reached Capital, Jolly lashed out at critics of the current government.

“I’ve heard from the rooftop- ‘India is no more democratic. Under Modi’s government, the voices are being throttled, there is no democray in India’,” he noted.

“And had that been true, the farmers would not have been allowed to protest on the Delhi streets, outside the Lal Qila (Red Fort), tearing down the Indian flag,” Jolly said.

“But the patience exercised by the Delhi Police, by the army of India, by the Government of India, by the Bharatiya Janata Party, speaks volumes of the total openness of Indian society in which dissent , in which support, are the two elements of Indian democracy.”

“People can shout, people can support, people can oppose, and people can propose,” he went on to say. “This is the best part of Indian democracy which has come to the world viewpoint, in the Narendra Modi government era in present times,” he said.

Jolly reached the U.S. after visiting Suriname, Guyana, and Trinidad & Tobago, countries with significant Indian-origin populations. He said he met with President Chandrikapersad Santokhi of Suriname; President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana; and Trinidad Tobago’s Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin and other ministers.

He said in Guyana, he saw “the good work done by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Sanatan Dharam,” and other groups in Guyana.

In the U.S., he said, he addressed a 2,000-strong gathering of the BAPS community temple celebrating the 100^th centenary of Pramukh Swami.