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BJP Master Stroke: OPP NEEDS NEW LANGUAGE, By Poonam I Kaushish, 30 January 2024 Print E-mail

Political Diary

New Delhi, 30 January 2024

BJP MASTERSTROKE

OPP NEEDS NEW LANGUAGE

By Poonam I Kaushish 

The caste genie unleashed by our polity nearly three decades ago is back in the heart of political discourse as vote-banks on caste lines are easier to build. Post Ram Lalla idol’s consecration and call for expanding “our consciousness from Dev to Desh…beginning of a new chakra,” Prime Minister Modi played another masterstroke by awarding Bharat Ratna to Bihar’s socialist OBC (Backward class) icon and messiah of social justice late former Chief Minister  Karpoori Thakur. 

From “Ram kaaj” to “garib kaaj” the BJP blended its Hindutva agenda with the social justice plank and hopes to make a big dent in the non-dominant backward castes votes, especially EBCs (Extremely Backward class) by honouring Thakur. Specially, in Bihar where it has been unsuccessful in wooing the community to its side thanks to sway of entrenched backward satraps Nitish and Lalu who owe their rise to adroit political and administrative measures aimed at EBCs.

Besides, this would not only help BJP to counter effects of Bihar’s recent caste survey, offset Congress’s repeated demand for nationwide caste census but importantly counter the two Yadav community stalwarts Bihar’s RJD Lalu & family and UP’s Samajwadi Akhilesh’s OBC politics by showcasing the Party as its champion including EBC’s and MBC’s (Most Backward Class) by making a direct appeal to them. Especially the non-Yadav cluster of about 200 EBC’s such as nai to which Thakur belonged.

True, even prior to this, the Party was reaching out to Dalits and OBC but currently it hopes to consolidate all Hindu votes under the Hindu inclusivity umbrella. As it stands, BJP has the highest support of OBCs which has grown exponentially from 7% in 1971 to 22% in 2009 and doubled to 44% in 2019. The NDA received 54% OBC support in 2019. 

As Modi hails from this community, the Party’s claim of higher representation to OBCs in ticket allocations and at the Centre alongside formation of  Justice Rohini OBC Commission to address their issues through the Constitutional framework have helped it get OBC support. There are 28 OBC Ministers in the Union Cabinet, 80 MPs and several OBC Governors including President Murmu who is tribal. 

Alongside there is a buzz BJP’s larger strategy is to either snatch JD(U)’s Nitish back into NDA fold as majority of these castes are presently in JD(U) or break up the Party and alliance whereby BJP becomes a viable option for them. It rubbishes Opposition gripes as sour grapes as it is not the first time an award is being given for the ruling Party to take credit.

BJP has also focussed its efforts on non-dominant OBCs and MBC, which have been ignored by Opposition. This strategy has helped it in 2019 general elections across all socio-economic classes amongst OBCs, except middle class. Resulting in SP being reduced from 35 MPs in 2004 to just 5 in 2019; RJD from 22 seats in 1999 and 2004 to zilch in 2019; RLD from 5 seats in 2009 to nil in 2019. Consequently, out of every 100 BJP voters 49 belong to OBC community. A fact which bugs INDIA.

A bolt out of the blue for Opposition INDIA bloc, for Congress it is a double whammy. One, both Mamata’s TMC in West Bengal and Kejriwal’s AAP in Punjab have decided to go it alone in polls. Two, even though it tepidly welcomed the award, it dismissed it as “politics of symbolism” and politically motivated with an eye on the upcoming elections.

“The country needs real justice and caste census would be true tribute to Thakur,” said Rahul. While JD(U)’s Nitish has rushed to lay claim over his legacy and  tried to take credit for Thakur’s tribute, RJD dubbed the decision as driven by “BJP’s political compulsions and a gimmick’.”

Undeniably, the honour bestowed on Thakur popularly known as Jannayak, who hails from EBC will impact the political landscape as Parties are vying for OBC and EBC voters as they account for 63% and 36% population in Bihar’s caste survey. Coupled with Ram temple, tables have turned for INDIA bloc which has been sending out confusing signals over the mandir. They will now have to figure out a new language to respond to BJP’s direct appeal which Modi has taken beyond the realm of religion to caste. It will need clarity on why it is keen on displacing BJP.

Thakur belonging to a poor family left an indelible mark on Bihar’s deprived section and is credited with not only the rise of backward caste politics but was first to push for their empowerment. Pioneer of the ‘Karpoori formula’, the two-time Chief Minister gave 26% reservation to OBC’s and communities which eventually set the tone for 1990 Mandal Commission recommendation and later caste census with its layered reservation formula for EBC’s and MBC’s.

Known for his integrity, probity, simple living he removed English as a compulsory subject as students from poor families found it tough, introduced prohibition but with a soft touch. Unfortunately he was pushed to the background by his disciples Lalu, Nitish and late Ram Vilas Paswan whose RJD, JD(U), LJP emerged as  influential political and electoral  regional Parties.

At another level it is an example of political hypocrisy in politics.  Clearly, in the Kafkaesque world where caste identity is sticky baggage, difficult to dislodge in social settings and where caste vs caste fight and decide one’s fate no Party wants to jeopardize its caste vote banks. Wherein, the fight for getting the upper hand and votes has been reduced to politics of optics and perception, underscoring present reality and exposes the socio-political undercurrents at play.

Leading to rising tensions between castes over perceived injustices and demand for quotas stem from unfulfilled aspirations of employment and upward mobility. Simultaneously, quotas have failed to either solve the job problem or promote inclusion. 

In INDIA bloc’s thinking when caste becomes central to livelihood issues which are centered on identification and reservation, they feel there is a greater chance it will have greater electoral pull than religion. Congress’s Rahul has already sounded the bugle “Jitne abadi utna haq,” to garner votes and somehow dislodge Modi while Nitish has called for lifting 50% reservation ceiling.

On the face of it, Opposition leaders assert goal of caste census is OBCs welfare, Sic. It’s a ploy to divide Hindu votes on caste lines to weaken BJP in 2024 elections. Said a senior Congress leader, “Caste census would open another flank and create problems for  BJP. The axis would be pro-Modi vs anti-Modi and we will try to mobilise OBCs. This will be Mandal 2.0, different from Mandal 1.0 which involved aggressive OBC mobilization.”

Failing to realize politicisation of caste is a double-edged sword. Caste needs politics as much as politics need caste. When caste groupings make politics their sphere of activities they get a chance to assert their identity and strive for power and position. True, none can fault granting equal opportunities to all. But whether this would translate into equal outcome is debatable. 

Questionably, will not caste further fractionalize national politics? Will the run-up to 2024 elections be fought on caste basis? What the BJP and Opposition come up with will have consequences not just for INDIA bloc’s electoral fortunes but future of polity itself. Will they take the bait? The run-up to Election 2024 just got interesting.  ---- INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

 

 

Grappling Farm Sector: DESI REMEDY, MORE FUNDS VITAL, By Shivaji Sarkar, 29 January 2024 Print E-mail

Economic Highlights

New Delhi, 29 January 2024

Grappling Farm Sector

DESI REMEDY, MORE FUNDS VITAL

By Shivaji Sarkar 

The agricultural sector anticipates a significant shift towards a ‘desi farm economy’ and increased budget allocations in the upcoming fiscal year.This prospect is not merely wishful thinking; it aligns with the objectives outlined in the 2017 Niti Ayog paper, which aims to double farm income. 

However, the recent budget for 2023-24 witnessed a reduction in allocations from Rs 1.33 lakh crore to Rs 1.25 lakh crore, marking a decrease of Rs 8 lakh crore or one percent. This reduction is noteworthy as the agricultural sector received only 2.78 percent of the total budget, down from 3.78 percent in the previous fiscal year. 

In the 2021-22 budget, allocations were initially set at Rs 1.33 lakh crore but were later revised to Rs 1.18 lakh crore due to unspent funds. The 2023-24 budget indicates a Rs 3 lakh crore increase, primarily directed towards interest subventions, signalling a concerning rise in farmers’ debts. 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares an election budget, and as matter of convention it limits the introduction of new measures. However, considering the crucial role of the agriculture sector, accounting for over 54 percent or approximately 78 crore people, it deserves special attention. The Economic Survey for 2023-24 highlights a decline in public spending in the sector to 4 percent in 2022-23, following prolonged farmer protests against market reforms. 

Despite the repeal of the three farm bills, corrective measures are essential to ensure farmers’ independence from large-organised business sectors. The Indian farm sector is grappling with severe economic distress, exemplified by over 296,438 suicides by farmers during 1995-2013 and 100,474 between 2014 and 2022.An average growth of farming family incomes had an average growth of 0.44 percent between 2011-16, according to Niti Ayog. 

The developed world shows that small farmers are out of agriculture and have not been able to increase farm incomes. The US itself has a mere 1.5 percent in agriculture and facing difficult situations. The current climate scenario further exacerbates challenges, with the potential for drought-like conditions and a decline in rabi yields. The dependence on rain-fed agriculture remains a concern, mirroring trends in neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. 

Agricultural production, particularly wheat, has faced setbacks due to unexpected weather patterns. In March 2022, a heatwave led to an 11 percent lower-than-anticipated wheat yield, contributing to a decline in production. Similarly, heavy rainfall in October 2022 and subsequent years affected various crops, highlighting the vulnerability of the agriculture sector to climate fluctuations. 

Price volatility in essential commodities like potatoes, onions, garlic, and ginger further compounds the challenges faced by farmers. The Reserve Bank of India's firming up of interest rates adds to the burdens faced by both the farm and industrial sectors.Despite the worsening climate situation, the budget for National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) has seen a reduction from Rs 50 crore to Rs 41 crore undermining efforts to address climate challenges in farming.

The total wheat production in the country has been steadily rising at 3 percent CAGR between 2014-15 and 2021-22. As per the Indian Meteorological Department, certain areas in India experienced a heatwave in March 2022. The maximum temperature was 33 degree Celsius, 2 degree more than normal. As per a study by the US Foreign Agricultural Service, wheat yield in March 2022, in wheat growing areas was 11 percent lower than anticipated.  Wheat production declined by two million tonnes in 2021-22. 

Similarly, in the first two weeks of October 2022, crops such as paddy, cotton, blackgram, vegetables, soybean, and bajra were affected across five States due to heavy rainfall. The year 2023 has not been different.Fluctuating yields of Vegetables like potato, onions, garlic and ginger are causing price volatility. This season also witnessed farmers throwing away cauliflower and tomato, though retail prices remain high. This is a concern of the RBI, which is gradually firming up the interest rates causing burden for the farm and industrial sectors alike. 

The policy direction advocated by the Niti Ayog 2017 report, aiming to shift 40 crore farm labour to low-wage urban employment, has not yielded the intended results. Instead, it has displaced farm labourers, increased migration, and raised labour costs for the agricultural sector. This flawed policy, influenced by international organisations such as the World Bank, has been counter-productive and needs correction. 

Depletion of dependence on the farm sector has not proved profitable for the economy. The developed countries are suffering from this policy.Farm gate prices remained static from 1985 to2005 at $23 in India and more or less elsewhere in the world, according to UNCTAD. 

Minister for Agriculture Narendra Tomar told the Rajya Sabha on 16 December 2022 that average monthly income per agricultural household as per NSO is Rs 10218, an average Rs 2.2 lakh a year, about Rs 2000 a month per person for a family of five. The Economic Survey in 2016 says in 2016 it was Rs 1700. The farmers find Rs 6000 a year Kisan Nidhi pension and free food dole a great relief.One forgets that they cannot afford the food they themselves produce. What farmer sells for Rs 2 is sold to retailer at varying prices of Rs 30 to 100. 

The road sector, seen as a beneficiary for farmers selling land, often proves detrimental due to toll expenses. The road expansion, touted for benefits, causes severe inflation. The Consumer Price Index touched an all-time high of 186.3 points in July 2023, with an average inflation of 5.5 percent, resulting in a cumulative 33 percent rise in prices between 2016 and 2022. 

The farmers’ losses are high, consumers pay through the nose and the Government debts increase phenomenally.This situation demands introspection. Despite private investments not increasing, expenses on infrastructure and tolls are escalating.Sitharaman must reassess farm economics to correct the budgetary course. A comprehensive review and revamp of policies are essential to align with the agricultural base, fostering the ‘desi economy’. This shift could pave the way for genuine growth and happiness amid global turmoil.---INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

INDIA Bloc Discord: WB, PUNJAB TO EKLA CHALO, By Insaf, 27 January 2024 Print E-mail

Round The States

New Delhi, 27 January 2024

INDIA Bloc Discord

WB, PUNJAB TO EKLA CHALO

By Insaf 

West Bengal and Punjab have put a spoke in the INDIA bloc wheel, as of now. Both TMC and AAP respectively have said a big no to seat-sharing with Congress and on Wednesday last announced they would go alone (ekla chalo) for 2024 battle in their States. Some view it as a setback to unity efforts against BJP, others see it as regional parties posturing for some hard bargaining. TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told media “Let Congress fight 300 seats on its own. The regional parties are together and can contest the rest. However, we will not tolerate any interference by them (Congress) in Bengal…at national level, TMC as part of INDIA bloc, will decide its strategy after elections. We will do whatever it takes to defeat BJP.” Apparently, Didi is not just peeved Congress is asking for too much, turning down her seat-sharing formula, but rather its state unit president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury who has been persistently making uncharitable remarks and worse the party did not extend basic courtesy of informing about Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra, entering her State on Thursday! 

Her counterpart in Punjab, Bhagwant Mann is on the same page. Said he: “We are not going with them (Congress)…Punjab will become a hero in the country and AAP will win 13-0 in the polls”. Moreover, it has already held discussions on probable candidates and names of 40-odd are being considered. A jarring note, alright, in the backdrop of AAP and Congress having tied up for Chandigarh mayoral polls, to be held on January 30. Congress will have to weigh options but has been quick in appeasing Didi. Said its spokesperson: bloc INDIA “can’t be imagined without Mamata Banerjee…TMC is an important pillar of the alliance.” There’s hope of overcoming ‘small differences’ and asserted the bloc ‘will fight Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal and all (partners) will participate.” The state BJP, which has been gaining ground, is amused and questioned ‘ideological conviction’ of the bloc. “It was all about just opposing Prime Minister and BJP to protect their own political identities.” Not off the mark, but it should remember the proverbial saying ‘politics makes strange bedfellows.’

*                                               *                                               *                                               * 

Bihar Rumblings

The Modi government’s shrewd decision to bestow country’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna posthumously on socialist, Jan Nayak and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur months before general election appears to have set the cat among the pigeons. The media is abuzz questioning whether Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is going back to BJP camp as his speech praising Modi on the eve of Thakur’s 100th birth anniversary on the one hand and taking a swipe at dynastic politics has raised many an eyebrow. Worse, Rohini Acharya (Lalu Yadav’s daughter) choosing to take a potshot at him with X posts “changing his ideology as the wind changes its direction”, (deleted later), wouldn’t bode well for ruling JD(U)-RJD alliance. Importantly, BJP is silently watching for it may well have scored more than anticipated. The sheer timing of the award would help it earn support among backward castes, especially EBCs (Thakur’s caste being part of it), which Nitish is increasingly wooing with the caste census. Plus, it would try to dent the hold Lalu and Nitish have as the OBC leaders. At same time, a question that’s doing the rounds is whether the award would be rewarding for the BJP to get Nitish away from INDIA bloc and into NDA. Tale of jumping on and off the bandwagon?

*                                               *                                               *                                               *

Manipur Treads Dangerously

Manipur continues to tread dangerously! Wednesday last apparently saw the subordination of the Biren Singh government to a radical Meitei group Arambai Tenggol, with a large number of armed volunteers. In all, 37 of the state’s Meitei MLAs and two Meitei MPs representing the valley areas met at Kangla Fort in what is being reported as “summons” issued by the group. They all took an oath to promote and pursue Tenggol’s demands, which include removing illegal Kuki tribes from the ST list, replacing Assam Rifles with another force and scrapping the Suspension of Operations agreement with armed militants, who allegedly killed civilians. This after, a special Home Ministry team arrived in the troubled state for talks between Meitei and Kuki communities. 

The development which has largely gone unreported by the mainstream media, triggered a strong statement from a Kuki-Zomi body based in Churachandpur, the ITLF. It said: “For the first time in history, a militia that led attacks on innocent civilians because of their ethnicity and which openly displays sophisticated weapons stolen from police armouries was able to order state lawmakers, including the chief minister, to attend a meeting it had called and made the MLAs endorse their demands.” Worse, it added “Manipur state police and central security forces remained mute spectators as Arambai Tenggol leader Korounganba Khuman arrived at the venue in a police vehicle, and the militant group proceeded to administer an oath-taking ceremony to MLAs. All these happened even as a special team sent by the central government is camping nearby in the city. Why did the world’s largest democracy allow this… Today’s events have shown that Manipur’s government has submitted its authority to an armed militant group”. Nine long months have passed since May 3 last year, will the Centre have a solution or will it continue to remain a mute spectator and allow the crisis to deepen?   

*                                               *                                               *                                               * 

From Ram To Rashtra

From ‘Pran Pratishtha’ to ‘Rashtra Pratishtha’. With the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya completed before the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Modi changes gears and sounded the poll bugle on Thursday last from western UP’s Bulandshahr. His message to the public at the massive rally: “On 22 January I got darshan (glimpse) of Lord Ram and today I get darshan of janata janardhan… in Ayodhya I said we from Dev to Desh and from Ram to Rashtra is the path we now have to take and complete our mission of an advanced nation by 2047…” Indeed, the timing was perfect to woo the voter and thus came along announcement of development projects worth over Rs 19,100 crore and the usual attack on Congress, wherein for decades after Independence, development was kept confined to a few regions only and UP ignored. Clearly, the BJP is aiming to score better than just 8 seats out of 14 in politically crucial western UP in 2019. Importantly, he chose to recall former chief minister, late Kalyan Singh, in his bastion and under whose tenure the Babri Masjid was brought down by kar sevaks. Guess, the toxic mix of religion and politics will pay dividends. ---INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

 

 


 

Lord Ram Temple: THE GLOBAL RESPONSE, By Prof. (Dr.) D.K. Giri, 26 January 2024 Print E-mail

Round The World

New Delhi, 26 January 2024

Lord Ram Temple

THE GLOBAL RESPONSE

By Prof. (Dr.) D.K. Giri

(Secretary General, Assn for Democratic Socialism) 

The consecration of Lord Rama in the newly built temple in Ayodhya was done on 22 January with lot of pomp, grandeur and festivity. It was a day for national celebration. As the din settles down, the debate raging across the country is whether politics and religion should be mixed. In fact, such a debate is taking place in several countries across the world. Two questions, therefore, need to be addressed. One, is using religion in politics desirable? Second, how does international community react to religions? 

Mahatma Gandhi, who effectively used religion in his public activities, had famously said, “Those who believe religion and politics are not connected do not understand either”. Albert Einstein made a similar statement, “Those who believe that politics and religion do not mix, understand neither”.  It is true that, after the death of Karl Marks and decline of Marxism, religion along with other social identities has come back almost in a vengeance. On the positive side, religion is one of the potent sources for morality. Politics and morality are inseparable. Therefore, religion is used as a moral compass for people in public life, especially politics. 

In electoral politics, it is easier to mobilise people on religious slogans, metaphors and messages. Mahatma Gandhi used to call for establishment of Ram Rajya (governance on Lord Ram’s principles). Lord Ram is regarded as the maryada purushottam (greatest man of virtues). He lived his life on the basis of dharma (sense of duty). Many Indian politicians especially from BJP refer to raj dharma (duty in governance). On the other hand, religion creates emotionalism that drowns material issues facing the people. No wonder, Napoleon Bonaparte had commented, “Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet”. Politicians whip up religious emotions during elections to evade other substantial issues impacting people’s lives. 

Although religion can be a double-wedged political instrument, religion cannot be completely separated from politics. Indian Constitution includes secularism in its Preamble which does not prescribe a state religion, nor does it encourage state leadership to be actively participating in religious affairs. It was not practiced in letter and spirit by any government. And now, under the present ruling dispensation, the state is actively participating in religious activities. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Chief Host was the cause celebre of this occasion. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the PM and the Chief of RSS were the three main figures in the consecration ceremony. 

In this column and elsewhere, I have written several times on substituting secularism with a more practical and operable concept encapsulating religious pluralism. This should happen sooner than later to remove any confusion in the country and beyond about the dichotomy between the precept of secularism and the practice. The second question to engage with is the international response to India’s new image after the mega event of 22 January. 

Many common Indians would not know the efforts made by Indian foreign policy apparatus to popularise the event across the world. Indian embassies went into an overdrive to spread awareness about the temple. The Indian embassies held live telecast of the ceremony in Ayodhya. The images of Lord Ram and the newly-built magnificent temple were displayed in major areas of the foreign cities, from Times Square in New York to Eiffel Tower in Paris. 

The highlight of the celebration in the United States was a spectacular car rally in New Jersey with 350 cars adorned with Lord Ram flags. The Government of Mauritius granted a two-hour special break for Hindu officials to actively participate in the festivities. In Paris, a grand rath yatra was taken out during the pran pratistha celebration in Ayodhya. In Canada, mayors of Oakville and Brampton in the state of Ontario have declared January 22 as Ayodhya Ram Mandir Day. They emphasised the cultural, religious and historical significance of the temple’s inauguration and encouraged the residents to celebrate the event. Global streaming of the consecration ceremony was made available to several countries in the world. In the USA alone, the streaming occurred about at about 300 locations. The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Mauritius did the broadcast live at 25, 30, 30 and 100 locations respectively. 

In Nepal, another Hindu-majority country pran pratistha celebration was observed enthusiastically. Several temples across Sri Lanka – Colombo, Sita Eliya, Jaffna and other places celebrated the occasion. A special pooja was held at Sita Amman temple at Sita Eliya (formerly Ashok Vatika) where Sita was believed to have been held captive by Ravana. In New Zealand, the Minister for Ethnic Communities Melissa Lee, David Seymour MP and Indian High Commissioner Neeta Bhushan attended an event in Auckland. A Lord Ram temple, first of its kind, was inaugurated in Queretaro City in Mexico. The ceremony was performed by an American priest with idols taken from India. A Japanese company has produced an animated film “Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama” in 1992. The children performed a Ramayana play around the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya. 

Countries in South-East Asia have historically cultural links with Lord Ram. Even the East Asian country South Korea has the myth that Queen Huh Hwang-ok or Princess Suriratna was the princess of Ayodhya before she went to South Korea and married King Kim Suro of Karak Clan. Israel’s Counsel General in Mumbai visited the Ram Temple in Vadela in solidarity. At the same time, the Israel Embassy’s spokesperson Guy Nir posted a picture of himself watching the grand celebrations on television. 

The global celebration of the Ayodhya Ram temple inauguration underscores the universal appeal of Lord Ram’s life and his teachings. At home, people from other religions also accept Lord Ram as one of their ideals. However, the present government seems to project Ayodhya as the citadel of Hinduism akin to Mecca for Muslims and Vatican City for Christians. Ayodhya city is being developed accordingly with modern and sophisticated infrastructure like railway stations, airport, roads and hotels. These will attract international tourists, mainly Hindus, to the temple city of Ayodhya. World tourism would benefit the economy. India was known for Taj Mahal, henceforth it should also be a tourist attraction for the temple in Ayodhya. 

So far so good. What worries the observers is that the euphoria caused by the temple in Ayodhya at the birth place of Lord Ram where a mosque was super-imposed by the marauding army of Babar should not lead to the oppression of religious minorities. As the foreign policy maxim goes, a country’s image abroad is a reflection of what happens at home. Likewise, the strength of foreign policy of any country is a function of its assets within its boundaries. Social harmony is one of the major assets. 

It was disturbing to see the flag of Lord Ram put on the cross in a church as the consecration ceremony was going on. This act of vandalism was flashed on the social media. If it is true, are Hindus not doing the same as Babar did to the temple in Ayodhya? Mahatma Gandhi made another profound statement, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ”. We should not let Christians and others from abroad tell Indians, “We like your Lord Ram, but we do not like your Hindus”. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

THE REPUBLIC IN BAD SHAPE. By Inder Jit, 25 January 2024 Print E-mail

REWIND

New Delhi, 25 January 2024

THE REPUBLIC IN BAD SHAPE

By Inder Jit

(Released on 26 January 1982) 

Several questions, wild and not so wild, are being asked in New Delhi as India celebrates another Republic Day with traditional pomp and pageantry. Will India be a new Republic by January 26 next year? More explicitly, will India continue to be a parliamentary democracy or will it switch over to a presidential form of government? The Prime Minister, Mrs Gandhi, has stated more than once that she favours parliamentary democracy and that there are no plans to go in for any change. But speculation persists, thanks largely to her own partymen and the current atmosphere of unparalleled suspicion and deep distrust. No one is sure about what anyone might do, the Constitution and conventions notwithstanding. Even the President, Mr Sanjiva Reddy, and the Prime Minister, Mrs Gandhi, are not spared. There is talk of all manner of possible moves and counter moves. One thing alone is clear. Our Republic today is in bad shape. The system needs urgent attention if the structure is not to collapse.

The delicate balance between Parliament, the executive and the judiciary, wisely provided in the Constitution, has been disturbed. The executive has become all powerful, causing grave concern all round. Parliament continues to be under attack and has been largely reduced to a rubber stamp on the strength of a two-thirds majority. Ordinance raj, denounced by India’s first Speaker, Mr Mavalankar, as undemocratic, has become the order of the day. Last year, the Union Government even came forward with a virtual budget by ordinance. Top legal luminaries, including former Chief Justices of India, are “deeply troubled” over the present state of the judiciary and its ability to function independently. Mrs Gandhi’s decision to move Mr Shiv Shankar out of the Law Ministry has provided a breather. But the approach of Mr Jagan Nath Kaushal, the new Minister of Law and Justice, has yet to be seen. Will he as an old timer help restore health to the judiciary or will he, too, play political ducks and drakes with it?

Not only that. The very basis of democracy is being increasingly undermined. Democracy means rule of the people, by the people and for the people. This is made possible through time-bound elections which are free, fair and without fear. Yet there is an increasing tendency today in the ruling party to avoid inconvenient elections, in sharp contrast to Mrs Gandhi’s own attitude in 1977, which brought her kudos from the visiting British Prime Minister, Mr Callaghan. Garhwal stands out as a bad example, made worse by efforts on the part of the former Law Minister to defend the indefensible. The ruling Congress (I) has, moreover, refused to hold a poll in Delhi for over two years despite the Chief Election Commissioner’s repeated statements that he is ready to hold the poll at short notice. West Bengal’s Marxist regime, headed by Mr Jyoti Basu, has smartly outmanoeuvred New Delhi by recommending Assembly poll in March. Quiet efforts are nevertheless on to get the poll postponed so as to enable the Centre to somehow prevent the Marxists from returning to power.

The Election Commission itself is under attack from leading lights of the ruling party. (Significantly, criticism of the Commission has over the past few years come mainly from the Government and the ruling party … and not from the Opposition). The Chief Election Commissioner’s firm stand on the last Bengal Poll and his refusal to extend the date of filling complaints beyond January 16 has directly irked the ruling party and there is fresh talk of a three-member Election Commission. (The idea was originally advocated by Jaya Prakash Narayan who envisaged a Commission which enjoyed the full confidence of the Opposition. He, thereafter, wanted one of the three members to represent the Opposition.) The Election Commission started enumeration of electoral rolls in West Bengal from January 1980 and invited complaints from September last year. Yet, the Congress (I) made little effort to ensure correct rolls and until the end of December filed only three complaints. In sharp contrast, Mrs. Gandhi made the astonishing statement that 30 per cent of the rolls were fudged!

What were the hopes and expectations of the father of the Constitution, Dr. Ambedkar? Significantly, he had his anxiety about the future as reflected in his masterly speech on the concluding day of the Constituent Assembly. He asked will India lose its independence a second time, through the infidelity and treachery of her own people. Will Indians place the country above their creed or will they place creed above the country? What would happen to her democratic Constitution? Will she be able to maintain it or will she lose it again? India, he said, was not new to democracy. Time was when India was studded with republics and even where there were monarchies, they were either elected or limited. They were never absolute. Again, it was not as though India did not know Parliaments. Not only were there Parliaments but the Sanghas knew and observed all the rules of parliamentary procedures known to modern times. “They had rules regarding seating arrangements, rules regarding motions, resolutions, quorum, whip, counting of votes, voting by ballot, censure motion, regularisation, res judicata etc.”

India had lost this democratic system, Dr Ambedkar added and asked: will she lose it a second time? Significantly, he answered: “I do not know. But it is quite possible in a country like India where democracy from its long disuse must be regarded as something new --- there is a danger of democracy giving place to dictatorship. It is quite possible for this new born democracy to retain its form but give place to dictatorship in fact. If there is a landslide, the danger of the second possibility becoming actuality is much greater.” He next asked: If we wish to maintain democracy not merely in form but also in fact, what must we do? “The first thing,” he said, “we must do is to hold to constitutional methods of achieving our social and economic objectives.” It meant that “we must abandon the method of civil disobedience, non-cooperation and satyagraha.” Where constitutional methods were open, there was “no justification for unconstitutional methods.” These methods were nothing “but the Grammar of Anarchy.”

Dr Ambedkar added: “The second thing we must do is to observe the caution which John Stuart Mill has given to all interested in the maintenance of democracy, namely, not to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great man or to trust him with powers which enable him to subvert their institutions.” There was nothing wrong in being grateful to a great man. But he quoted the Irish patriot Daniel O’Connel to assert: “No man can be grateful at the cost of his honour, no woman can be grateful at the cast of her chastity and no nation can be grateful at the cost of its liberty.” This caution, he pointed out, was far more important in the case of India than of any other country. For in India, bhakti or hero-worship was “a sure road to degradation and eventual dictatorship.” The third thing, he said, we must do is to make our political democracy a social democracy as well. Political democracy could not last unless there was at the base a social democracy as well. Social democracy implied recognition of society, equality and fraternity as the principles of life. The three formed a union of trinity. To divorce one from the other would defeat the very purpose of democracy.

Equally important was what Dr. Rajendra Prasad had to say as President of the Constituent Assembly: “We have prepared a democratic Constitution. But successful working of democratic institutions requires in those who have to work them willingness to respect the viewpoints of others, capacity for compromise and accommodation. Many things which cannot be written in a Constitution are done by conventions. Let me hope that we shall show those capacities and develop those conventions. The way in which we have been able to draw this Constitution without taking recourse to voting and to divisions in lobbies strengthens that hope. Whatever the Constitution may or may not provide, the welfare of the country will depend upon the way in which the country is administered. That will depend upon the men who administer it... If the people who are elected are capable and men of character and integrity, they would be able to make the best even of a defective Constitution. If they are lacking in these, the Constitution cannot help the country... India needs today nothing more than a set of honest men who will have the interest of the country before them.”

Mahatma Gandhi struggled hard to put some character back into us. Over the past two decades and more, we have recklessly cast away whatever little we had gained. Public morality has touched a new low. Accepted norms have collapsed all round. Appearances were once sought to be maintained, at least outwardly. Even the pretence is now shed. Conscience is no longer troubled in doing something wrong. There is no sense of shame in being found out. Lies are told brazenly and hawked as truth even in the country’s highest temple of democracy. Might is once again right and, as boldly stated by Mr B.K. Nehru recently, we have degenerated in one single generation from an honest society into a dishonest one. Status and position today are determined not by the character, calibre and culture of an individual but by the money one has somehow amassed. Unbridled pursuit of wealth has consequently become the be-all and end-all of all activity. India seems to be fast losing its soul in the rat race for material progress --- and joining what Yehudi Menuhin aptly described as the suicide gallop of the West.

Can something be done? Yes, undoubtedly. India has encountered such challenges before and successfully overcome them. Much, however, depends upon Mrs Gandhi in the first instance and on the people themselves in the ultimate analysis. Mrs Gandhi today enjoys a position and power which is unrivalled. None after her may have the same opportunity to pull the country out of its deepening crisis. She did well to give the country recently a new 20-point programme to put the economy back on its feet and tackle the demon of inflation. But a lot else remains to be done. There is need to reaffirm our commitment to the Constitution and give ourselves a code of conduct and values -- values which all can share and values which will rekindle trust between man and man. But mere commitment or a code will not do. An ounce of practice is better than a tonne of precept. Mrs Gandhi herself and those close to her will have to act according to the code and enforce it rigorously if India is to become a strong, healthy and truly prosperous Republic. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

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