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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