The ruling establishment does not want citizens to become a conscious political force that asks tough questions on jobs, inflation, education, and governance. It is far easier to distract people with divisive issues and redirect public anger.
Before 2014, the promise was development and “acche din.” Today, those promises are rarely discussed because they invite uncomfortable questions. Instead, public discourse is flooded with manufactured controversies and endless Hindu-Muslim debates.
The goal is simple: keep people emotionally divided so they do not demand accountability. But democracy thrives on questioning citizens, not manipulated crowds. When polarization replaces performance, both democracy and society pay the price.