Aaj jaane ki zidd na karo… these immortal lines written by Faiyaz Hashmi epitomises a lover’s yearning for togetherness, for a few moments more that can remain engraved in the memory for the rest of life. Tum hi socho jara kyun na roken tumhe/jaan jati hai jab uth ke jaate ho tum (ponder yourself, why shouldn’t I stop you/ your exit leaves me almost lifeless), the poem delves deeper even as love doesn’t mean possession or ownership. As Kahlil Gibran so beautifully articulated, “Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; for love is sufficient unto love.” Power, however, gives little and takes more. Especially in autocrats, power creates an eternal desire for possession and control. They fear consequences of losing power; of truth overpowering the lies woven so carefully using the instruments of power. Look at Flavio Bolsonaro in Brazil, the far-right candidate who fled to the United States after defeat in elections. Isn’t Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looking like a fish out of water after losing the majority in the Knesset? What’s surprising is that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comfortably nestled in the throne for the last 25 years, responded to the cries of his exit. The nation is tuned to the jingle ‘Aayga to Modi hi (Modi will win)’ and the idea of his exit never flits through anybody’s mind even as he stands on crutches after 2024. It’s unbelievable that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ecosystem has received the idea of his exit with alacrity and turned it into fear.It was clear during his recent Gujarat visit that Modi is grappling with that fear of losing power. The very decision to sponsor the slogan – Modi kahin nahin jayega (Modi won’t go anywhere) – betrays that fear. Placards at the Banaskantha rally, BJP leaders talking about it from the dais and a video in which some women sing ‘Modi kahin nahin jayega’ left little doubt about that gnawing fear.Also read: The Republic is at Odds With Itself – Electoral Politics and the INDIA Bloc’s Nov. 1 RallyA video was promptly released explaining the rationale behind ‘Modi kahin nahin jayega’ campaign. The crisis, however, is that there is a powerful counter campaign for his exit instead of an emotional appeal – jaane ki zidd na karo. The opposition parties, the youth and the intelligentsia, have declared his continuance as the prime minister as “illegitimate” and launched a movement for his ouster because they believe he stole elections in connivance with the CEC.Modi sought 60 months from the people of India in 2014, promising dramatic transformation in their lives. “Acchhe din (Good days)” for everybody. His key promises proved to be white lies – Rs 15 lakh in every account, two crore jobs every year, reduction in crimes against women, end of corruption and full transparency and accountability in governance. While unemployment soared to unprecedented high, crimes against women increased and prices of essential commodities zoomed savagely. He promised a robust foreign policy but demonstrated astonishing timidity in handling America and China. He destroyed India’s moral swagger by kowtowing to Netanyahu’s butchery. To rub salt on the wounds of the poor, crony capitalism became the byword of his politics. What diminished in India is democratic freedom and commitment to justice. Institutional decay is an irrefutable fact; the rot in judiciary being the topmost concern. Witch-hunt of political opponents, massive crackdown on social media content and capture of mainstream media today define his regime. But he declares – likh ke le lo Modi kahin nahin jayega (take in writing, Modi won’t go anywhere). Does that confidence confer legitimacy on the opposition’s suspicions about electoral integrity? And does that explain why the common people on the street and drawing rooms aren’t singing – jaane ki zidd na karo?Media: Biased or stupid?Thomas Paine said government of any kind is a necessary evil; a badge of lost innocence. Some famous television news anchors in India are itching to dance on the grave of his formulation. They have invented a new theory – opposition of any kind is an unnecessary evil; a badge of lasting innocence.Having trampled all over the sacred principles of democracy, secularism and media ethics, these television anchors are showing complete intolerance of opposition to the Modi government. Anybody raising a question must be crushed. Political opposition, activists, farmers, workers, students… anybody who lets out a squeak of dissent is ruthlessly branded as anti-national. They have so far refrained from issuing orders like the Seven Commandments of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, but the unstated wish list is clear – abandon any kind of opposition and protest. Join the Modi-Modi chorus if you must open your mouth; all the dissenters, from Rahul Gandhi to Neha Bora, from Prashant Bhushan to Naseeruddin Shah.If the emperor orders destructive note-bandi, hail the visionary leader. If the sudden, unplanned lockdown triggers an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, bow to the benevolent master. If a certain law riles the farmers of the country, support the ruler’s diktat. If China violates India’s territorial integrity, trust the boss’s lie – na koi ghusa hai, na koi (nobody has entered, nobody)… If America is messing with sovereign pride, portray the government’s silence as masterstroke. If somebody questions security lapses in Pulwama and Pahalgam, pounce on him with anti-national slur. If the opposition parties and common citizens scream ‘vote chori (theft)’, invoke the anarchy charge. “Ek November ki date/Araajakta set (November 1st/Anarchy set),” one of the media commanders of Modi-Shah regime unleashed her creative instinct, trying to defame and demoralise opposition parties that called a protest meeting when all other entreaties and legal battles failed to yield a credible remedy to shenanigans of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Also read: ‘Treason Against Constitution’: Opposition Holds Symbolic Public Impeachment of CEC Gyanesh KumarAnarchy became the pet theme of sycophantic anchors to condemn the oppositional politics. “Dilli mein loktantra banaam araajakta par manthan (Deliberations in Delhi on democracy versus anarchy),” another headline said. Almost every mainstream channel confronted opposition parties with the anarchy narrative. “Down with anarchy gang,” screamed one notorious channel while another said, “Regime change with anarchy is the goal.” What narrative would these news channels have woven if the opposition parties and the youth indeed used violent means and anarchic methods to destabilise the government? Gandhi and the youth leaders have unambiguously asked the protesters to shun violence and rely on peaceful satyagraha.But the BJP’s lie of anarchy was shamelessly hawked by these anchors instead of explaining to the viewers that credible answers are indeed needed from the Election Commission and the Modi government on so many disturbing questions. They chose to question the opposition instead, giving legitimacy to the BJP propaganda about a foreign-funded sinister plot to destabilise India. Will the media muster the courage to formally declare that Modi’s splendid governance needs no questioning and all the forces interested in serving the national cause should support his government? Do they want a leader of opposition who takes favours from the government and quietly waits for his chance instead of raising a powerful democratic resistance against the unconstitutional deeds of the government? The media that has sacrificed its political rationale must convey to the nation their definition of democracy before showing their ugly sycophantic acrobatics.Corporate timidityCorporate leaders in India rarely mustered the courage to speak truth to power. They preferred to create a secret axis with politicians and take advantage of the relationship. Except the Tata group, few business leaders were known for moral courage. A couple of corporate leaders like Rahul Bajaj and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw expressed their frank views during the Modi regime but soon fell silent. Indian business leaders not only demonstrated extreme cowardice in the political context, keeping silent in the face of brazen crony capitalism and unjust deals using coercive means, they showed lack of vision and courage even in terms of entrepreneurship. Top Indian corporate houses are selling vegetables, salt, pulses, edible oil, spices and aata (flour) instead of investing in cutting-edge technology, research and development. China’s rapid development is not only because of the government’s dynamism but also because of the dare-devilry of their industrialists.Relying on unethical acquisitions and government largesse for growth is the worst business practice any democratic country must resist. Gandhi has been talking about the ill-effects of monopoly for the last many years but the prime minister never discusses these concerns. Gandhi’s tweet on the machinations to control the Tata group unsurprisingly created a storm in India’s corporate and political circles. He said, “Tata is being criminally destroyed and no business leader dares say a word. How long will you stay silent? Until they own you? Indian business is not Modi and Shah’s plaything. You lack courage. We don’t. We will ensure justice for these crimes.” Business leaders rallied behind Modi in 2013, turning against Manmohan Singh who created circumstances for their growth through liberalisation and allowed them to mint money without cutting corners. Their greed obviously pushed them to have somebody who will facilitate higher gains for them. Are the business leaders happy now? Or, are they waiting for the tide to turn decisively before taking a political stand?Sanjay K. Jha is a political commentator.