2024 leaves a legacy of unfinished tasks

If one were to analyze the legacy of 2024, it would become evident that there are many unfinished tasks left to be accomplished for India and the world in the days and months to come as 2025 unfolds. In India, the tasks are manifold; for instance the growing schism between the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA block in parliament and outside has hardly left any space for bonhomie or reconciliation on any contentious issue. The wordy duels over the ‘insult’ to Babasaheb Ambedkar, followed by the spat over the funeral accorded to former PM Dr Manmohan Singh, have left little scope for rapprochement.

The split is sure to grow deeper as states like Delhi and Bihar go to polls in 2025. It is becoming more and more obvious that the ruling front will have to do a lot more to build bridges with the Opposition so that a national consensus can be achieved on issues which demand such unity in the national interest. And there are many of them; dialogue with sulking Bangladesh and Pakistan, tackling climate change and the costs involved and the Mizoram imbroglio which has been festering for too long, to name a few. A majority of states are now ruled by the BJP either on its own or in conjunction with its allies and there has been no end to laments from non-BJP ruled states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal about a negligent attitude to their genuine needs. The Centre and more particularly the BJP, will have to rise above partisan interests and make sure that the government truly caters to the interests of every segment of the population and every state irrespective of political affiliations.

Equitable growth is a much needed objective in a developing economy like ours where a large segment of the population continues to wallow in poverty. Job generation is still at a pitiable low which is evident from the unrest in some states during recruitment drives with the anger spilling onto the streets. We need to have brilliant economists with far-sighed vision in positions of power so that they can craft schemes and programmes which can uplift the ‘last Indian,’ searching for succor in the far reaches of the country. This is all the more needed for a government, which despite being in its third term in power, has hardly addressed pressing concerns like poverty and unemployment.

Not that the Opposition in the country is in the ‘pink of health’. The differences are growing and leading lights of the INDIA bloc will have to put their heads together and make sure that the voices of dissent do not take the front to breaking point and leave those in government laughing in glee. Opposition unity is the need of the hour to make sure the ruling front does not run away with the honors despite its depleted numbers after the battering in the Lok Sabha polls.

At the global level, the challenges are tough; with a dominant Donald Trump in the White House, and bent on imposing his diktat on the world, countries like India will have to tread carefully on vexed issues like trade tariffs, and immigration. The resolution of disputes in a spirit of co-operation and not confrontation is desperately needed, which would not be too difficult considering the equation Indian leaders enjoy with the US President-elect. But the biggest task for the world leadership is ending the wars in Gaza and Ukraine which have taken an unimaginable toll of human life and valuable assets.

Global terror including the rising wave of pro- Khalistan sentiments will also have to be countered so that we do not have more hot spots emerging wrecking peace. Despite the rise of right-wing regimes in some parts, democracy continues to thrive like ever. Let’s keep the beacon of freedom, tolerance and harmony shining bright as ever for the sake of generations to come.