POLL 2009

New Delhi, 13 April 2009

Jai Ho Or Bhay Ho?

POLL DEBATE DEGENERATING

By Sant Kumar Sharma

We, the voters, are being bombarded with high decibel hate speeches, histrionics (Sanjay Dutt, Nagma, Shatrughan Sinha, Shekhar Suman, Chiranjeevi et al) and hollow promises. Competitive communalism seems to have become the order of the day, with leaders of various political parties trying to woo us, not by highlighting their own positive attributes but trying to paint their adversaries (not fair competitors) in the darkest shades of black.

The most seriously and avidly watched debates, in TV studios across the length and breadth of the nation, and on editorial pages of several newspapers, was the hate speech episode of Varun Gandhi. Does it not reflect complete bankruptcy of ideas that are shaping the electoral campaign in the run-up to the 2009 Lok Sabha polls?

The latest salvo was fired by inimitable Lalu Prasad Yadav, our much loved and hated Railway Minister. Lalu thundered at a public rally the other day that if he were the Home Minister of the nation, he would have crushed Varun Gandhi under a road-roller, without bothering about the consequences of his action.

The idea, the expression is reprehensible, totally unwarranted and deserving of condemnation. And, doubly so as it comes from a Union Minister who should instead set an example for others to emulate.

It is a classic case of trying to say that two wrongs make a right. If Varun did not cover himself with glory through his hate speech, Lalu has not made himself an epitome of virtue either by saying things in the manner in which he did. Lalu deserves full marks (100 out of 100) for giving vent to his hatred (of Varun) in so eloquent (pictorial?) a manner.

But, take things a step further and analyse. Lalu definitely is not showering petals of praise on his colleague, Home Minister P Chidambaram, through his elocution. By implication and insinuation, the Railway Minister, a politician who learnt the tricks of the trade in badlands of Bihar, is censuring PC.

The implied meaning of Yadav’s articulation is that PC entrusted with the office of the Home Minister in trying circumstances, post 26/11, soft-pedals grave issues such as communal harmony and is incapable of taking tough decisions on the law and order front.

After the National Security Act (NSA) was imposed on Varun Gandhi and he was jailed, his mother Maneka Gandhi went after UP Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati in a big way. Maneka’s allusion to Mayawati not being a mother and hence incapable of understanding the pain of a mother, ended up dragging the fair name of Mother Teresa into the whole controversy. What a pity! What a shame! 

One dreads to think of the next salvo from Maneka.  But it should not surprise anyone if she chose to say something about Lalu’s only son, Tejaswi Yadav, who appears to be trying hard to stay away from his father’s towering shadow and be a cricketer. In that case, she would only be returning Lalu’s compliment in kind but with a vengeance.  

The point being sought to be made here is that such a discourse, at the beginning of a poll campaign, only indicates that in the coming days things can only worsen. Is it too much to expect that the politicians seek votes on a positive note? By highlighting the good that they have already done while in office. And by projecting their future course of action and even better things they would like to do if they got elected for the next five years.

The bankruptcy of ideas becomes starkly clear when we think of the discourse in the political arena that we have witnessed so far. The hollowness of promises and lack of coherent action, at the ground level, to take corrective action, also becomes clear when one takes into account another fact.  

Six months ago, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised to the people of Assam that the Centre, and the State government, will do whatever it takes to provide them security. Another round of mayhem hit the north-eastern State a day prior to his visit. What does one make of this round of blasts? Should praise be showered on Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for his forthrightness upfront that there was a security lapse, this time around, too?

But a security lapse on the eve of the Prime Minister’s visit? A security lapse on the eve of the Raising Day of the dreaded United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), witnessed in the past? Shouldn’t Gogoi be censured because as Chief Minister he hasn’t been able to redeem the pledge or promise that his Prime Minister had made to the people of Assam?

At another equally important level, it is amazing that corruption is not an issue at all. Corruption is a hydra-headed demon which has crept into every aspect of life in India. A poor nation, of over a billion people, cannot afford to sweep the issue under the carpet as it were. The issue figured, albeit briefly, when the BJP Prime Ministerial aspirant, Advani spoke of bringing back the money stashed by the country’s rich and the powerful in Swiss banks.

The figures on black money, generated by the Indians and lying in safe tax havens, numb the mind and stretch one’s credulity. On the last count, it became known that our illustrious politicians, businessman and others of their ilk, are the largest stakeholders in Swiss banks with deposits pegged at a staggering $ 1,456 billion.

Advani promised that, if voted to power, he will work towards retrieving this money. A laudable sentiment. However, one has serious doubts on the success of any plans to do so. Why? Because the pile of money is so big that its owners can easily throw, off track anyone who may dare to cross their paths.

It would be pertinent to point out here, for comparison, that the US has been pumping in just one-hundredth of this money ($ 1.5 billion to be more exact) into Pakistan’s coffers, annually, to fight the battle against Taliban in Afghanistan. Please also remember that the US has now promised a fresh infusion of $ 3 billion into Pakistan to shore it up and hope to prevent it from becoming a failed State.

Compare $ 1,456 billion to $ 1.5 billion or for that matter to $ 3 billion. Take your pick. Imagine for a moment what India can achieve if it can get back from Swiss banks even a fraction of this loot.

It is heart-rending to think that Varun Gandhi’s hate speech has produced more heat in the poll arena than a debate on the black money. It is painful to think that very few, if any among us, are willing to focus and devote time to think of the ways (if any) to get back some money from the Swiss mountains. ---INFA

 (Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)