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Jiski Lathi Uski Bhains:POLITICAL STRIPTEASE OFFERS NOTHING, by Poonam I Kaushish,9 May 2009 Print E-mail

POLITICAL DIARY

New Delhi, 9 May 2009

Jiski Lathi Uski Bhains

POLITICAL STRIPTEASE OFFERS NOTHING

By Poonam I Kaushish

Striptease is the flavour of the week in our continuing electoral dance of democracy which culminates four days hence, 16 May. Wherein our polity has turned their fantasies of freebies galore into a seducing reality. No matter that to promise everything, like striptease is to offer nothing.

Politically, the atmosphere is surcharged with tension as uncertainty loom large on which party or alliance will sit on India’s Raj gaddi. Predictably, all parties are on tender-hooks even as they try to upstage their rivals before the curtain comes down. Simultaneously seeking a reprieve in alliances --- of enemies and friends all rolled into one to attain power.

While Sonia and Rahul Gandhi’s Congress  is attempting to make a hot potato of BJP’s Advani and vice-versa, the Left continues to spit fire against both the Congress-BJP and sustain its rag-tag Third Front. The Fourth Front’s Trimurti of Lalu, Mulayam and Paswan blow hot and cold to keep alive their importance and make no bones about feasting on the crumbs of office.

Needless to say the Southern siren AIADMK’s Jayalalitha and North’s Behenji Mayawati are unlikely to bind themselves to a script till the final picture of the results emerges. Only then will they decide “in the bet national interest.” Sic.

Trust Rahul to set the cat among the pigeons with his wholesome praise of BJP ally JD (U)’s Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu. Along with coochie-cooing to the Left and serenading Jayalalitha. Leading to raising the hackles of Bengal’s stormy petrel Trinamool’s Mamata and the taciturn DMK’s Karunanidhi and Sonia rushing to placate their giant-sized egos.

Not to be left behind, the Saffron Sangh plays footsie with the TRS and keeps the door open for the return of the prodigal BJD’s Naveen Patnaik. Busy crooning to all and sundry “hamare saath rahoge to aish karoge”.

In a milieu where the secular enemies and communal friends are rolled into one all agree to disagree on the aftermath. Thus turning India’s evolving democracy on its head. Instead of electing a representative Government, we are instead saddled with opportunities and liars. Exposing as never before the out and out disdain with which our political class holds democracy and the aam aadmi.

There is no gainsaying that these elections have exposed the worst kind of politicking. A power-play when personality-oriented malicious vilification seemed to have became the hallmark of democracy. Which trashed promises of stability. Blotted the pledges of development. Blackened the words good governance. Starting with the tu-tu-mein-mein between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Advani, down Sonia-Modi halla bol and Left-Congress yudh.

Culminating in Mulayam’s shocking brazenness of throwing all Constitutional maryada and political niceties to the winds by publicly announcing his support to any party or alliance which sacked bete noire Mayawati’s BSP Government in UP. The Indian Constitution be damned. Making matters worse, the Congress added fuel by stating it would go by “the legality and constitutionality”. Bluntly, if push came to shove, a way could be found.

The disarray at the political level is not surprising. Given that politics in recent years has not been about choosing the best from alternatives, but about choosing the lesser evil. The electorate has acted on this principle and political parties have adopted it as there credential.

Worse, in these days of artificially made alliances we are persuaded to believe that ends justify means. Thus, not only have the parties been torn to tatters. But also the cacophony of turf battles has never been so loud. Reduced to meaningless banalities and rank hypocrisy.

Wherein stability and clean governance was everybody’s monotonous theme. Hoping that none would demand to see their dirty laundry! All assuring they would be accountable to the people. But cut the morality and advice from the political diatribe one is left with a large vacuum.

Not only that. This election was sans issue and ideology where a candidate would be elected on the basis of his or her brand --- caste, creed and religion. Just like a toothpaste. See how the advertising companies packaged our netas to present a Colgate smile to the electorate. The inflated claims made by the toothpastes pale beside the exaggerated dissonance of the politicians.

Reduced to the level where small and petty leaders strut about the arena in make-believe giant strides. Unfortunately there is no sight of a tall leader to pick up the remaining crumbs. All employing individual meanness for public good. Failing to realize that stability and responsibility are the touchstone of a mature and meaningful democracy.

A stable government the world over has a head-start in providing cleans and efficient governance, enjoying a free run on developmental activity and unhampered by the debilitating task of having to look over one’s shoulder all the time. Tragically, as our experience of the last 62 years shows, stability neither translates into responsibility nor into good and clean governance.

Until the nineties, every Government lasted its full five-year term. These could be called stable in the narrow sense of the term. But can we proudly assert that they always behaved responsibly. No. a big ‘No’. In fact, asli Bharat or Brand India has turned into what is best described as a feudal democracy. In the vice-like grip of feudal lords and of casteism, communalism, corruption and increasing criminalization. Wherein our netagan live only for the moment and wrap themselves in the bygone glory of yester years. Reducing good governance to a mirage of feeding hungry stomachs and removing poverty.

Significantly, the frenzied electioneering threw up six most striking moral aspects. One, assiduous cultivation of low morality is essential today for a place in high political society. Two, preaching morality is one thing, practicing it quite another. Three, politics has everything to do with acceptability, little with credibility. Four, public life is all compromises, not principles.

Five, compulsions of politics dictates political discourse. Six, there is no dividing line is left between state-craft and witch-craft. Undoubtedly, never before has politics denigrated to the gutter level. In the hope the gutter-sniping would bring them political tripti.

Through this political pollutant three things are becoming clear. One, arithmetically it seems pretty difficult for the Congress and BJP to make it to the Rubicon of the magical figure of 272. What with prognostications and opinion polls swinging from one extreme to the other. Two, everybody wants power but all distrust each other. And everything boils down to a gut feeling of ifs and buts. Three, the country be damned, honey it is all about power and money!

What next? Events have their own momentum. True, by the week end, things should be crystal clear on who sits on India’s Raj gaddi. But election 2009 will stand testimony to the widespread moral rot in the political system given the cut throat battle at the hustings.

Our polity need to remember that political fevicol is not the binder for a nation’s moral and emotional fabric. Nor do quick fix remedies provide any relief. Plainly, the country’s image cannot be made or unmade to suit political convenience and tactics by the so-called secular parties and make-believe communal ones.

Sadly, if our leaders continue to dig pits for one and other, governance will have to take a backseat. Resulting in our polity not only fooling themselves but also the country. Questionably, will one have to wait for an accident of history or another election for India to move in the right direction? --- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

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