Along with Corona, Pandemic of fascism spreading across the globe

People’s magazine desk: Parallel to the spread of Corona virus pandemic, yet another pandemic is slowly but surely gripping the world – the pandemic of authoritarianism and neo-fascism.  Using prevention of Corona as an excuse, extreme right political leaders across the globe are putting under lockdown those very laws, customs and institutions which are supposed to protect democratic rights of the people. While 175 countries in the world are now under total or partial lockdown, the power-hungry extreme right rulers are bringing new draconian laws so that they may remain in power as long as they are alive. India under BJP is poised to follow a similar path.

In England, Corona Virus Act 2020 has been passed, which gives the government sweeping powers to arrest any citizen “to prevent spread of Corona virus.”

In America, the Justice Department of Trump administration has asked the Congress to give chief judges powers to arrest people for an indefinite period. Those arrested will not be given a chance to face any trial to prove themselves innocent. The US department of Justice also wants that if the attorney general so desires, the chief judges will have to postpone any court proceeding.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has activated an outdated emergency law, passed by the British in 1939, to shut down the parliament and extend his government’s rule for eternity. He has partially shut down the courts and has asked the Shin Bet – the domestic security agency – to track and spy on every citizen of Israel. Much like Narendra Modi, Netanyahu has started appearing on TV regularly and is now the only government spokesman in the entire country. 

In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has become a dictator for life. Orban has passed a Bill in the parliament which allows him to indefinitely prolong an emergency in the country. He can now rule by decree and does not need to consult the parliament. This, inspite of the fact that the Hungarian constitution allows the government to declare emergency for a maximum period of 15 days at a stretch.  Its extension was have to be approved by parliament.

In Russia, Vladimir Putin has removed term limits and so can remain president for life. Corona has given his government the excuse to use facial recognition technology so that every Russian citizen can be brought under surveillance.

In Bolivia the interim president Jeanine Anez has  postponed national elections slated for May 3, though Bolivia has only 19 confirmed Corona cases.

In Peru, President Sebastian Pinera has announced a state of emergency in the country and has deployed the army to block roads and force people indoors.

Is Prime Minister Narendra Modi moving along a similar path? Even before the Corona pandemic hit India, the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre had begun initiating new laws and amending existing laws to concentrate immense power in the hands of the government. Corona has given Modi another excuse to further monopolize power.

With the country under current lockdown, India has already turned into a police state. The movement of people has been stopped by unrestricted use of police batons. Criticism of the government has been restricted only to the social media as no public gatherings are allowed. Freedom of assembly and speech has already been turned to dust. Though India is facing acute shortage of blood because of the lockdown, in some parts of the country seeking of prior police permission has been made mandatory even for organizing blood donation camps.

But more sinister possibilities are lurking on the horizon. With the economic slowdown already reducing government’s revenue earnings, the ongoing lockdown may dry up the government treasuries to an unprecedented level. This will give Modi an excuse to introduce Financial Emergency in the country by promulgating article 360 of the constitution and reduce salaries and allowance of employees. Article 360 allows the President of India to clamp financial emergency if he feels the financial stability of India or any part of the country is under threat.

Is financial stability of India really under threat? According to government data, income tax collection had already declined by 3.5 per cent even before the lockdown was imposed. According to projections, fiscal deficit could be 62 per cent of GDP in FY 21. Between April 2019 and February 2020 the deficit was a whopping 10.36 lakh crore.  Revenue earning of the government between April-February was 74.5 per cent of revised target. (Yet the government allowed huge tax rebates to the corporate.)  With the country under lockdown and business coming to a screeching halt, there will be further reduction of government’s revenue. Pre-conditions for pronouncement of Financial Emergency are already emerging.

The Modi government might not stop at that. With almost 93 per cent of the India’s 40 crore workforce not earning their salaries because of the lockdown, there is every possibility that the country may face a wave of mass unrest. The situation is bound to aggravate since government’s increasing loss of revenue will shrink its social security projects. Given BJP’s political objective of creating a fully fascist Hindu Rastra, the possibility of imposing Article 352 or National Emergency cannot be ruled out. Article 352 of Indian constitution allows imposition of National emergency on grounds on external threats or internal disturbances.