Political Diary
New Delhi, 21 December 2021
Arrogance Of Power
MAIN VIP HOON, TUM KAUN?
By Poonam I Kaushish
The more things change the more they remain the same. Daily
we are treated to some mindless antics, inane tantrums, silly shenanigans by
our leaders. For whom politics translates in to
conduct of public affairs for private advantage with two sets of laws: rule of law for us where innocents are jailed
for trivial crimes and rule by law
for them read ‘follow-no-rules’. God forbid, if anyone
questions their misdemeanor, be prepared for open fury, “Main VIP hoon, tum kaun?”
Welcome
to the world of VIPs arrogance of power. Last week we were treated to two high
jinxes by our Very Important Persons. BJP’s Union
Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’’s furious reaction as he snatched
a mike and phones of journalists when they sought his comment on the UP Police
SIT holding his jailed son Ashish guilty of murder and hatching conspiracy
against farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri which mowed down eight. “Dimag
kharab hai kya? Aise jo tumhare media waale hain na, yahi choron ne ek nirdosh
aadmi ke liye bataya. Sharam nahi aati hai? Bewakofi ke
sawaal mat kara karo…”
If this was appalling a BJP MP was caught on camera slapping
a wrestler during a national championship event in Ranchi underscoring an environment, wherein
our netas times out of number behave like Bahubalis with the State maintaining a deafening silence. Not for
it that Mishra’s continuance as Minister is untenable Constitutionally, ethically, politically, and morally despite the
Government stating the matter is “sub judice” and a father could not be
punished for his son’s sins.
Alas, these latest high jinx of our
‘don’t-you-know-I-am-a-VIP’ underscores the vestige of 19th century India, colonial
mindset and feudal intent still lingers whereby
our neo-Maharajas MPs and MLAs are afflicted by two diseases: Acute Orwellian
disorders of “I am more equal than you” and “always asking for more” with in-your-face boorishness sans accountability being
their trademark. Immortalised
by Mumbai mafia don-turned MLA Arun Gawli: “Ab
mere pas bullet-proof jacket hai!.”
Remember Shiv Sena MP
who assaulted an Air India manager because he was denied a Business Class seat
on an economy Pune-Delhi flight. “I hit him 25 times with my sandals, tore his
clothes, broke his specs….I have no regrets…I have many criminal cases against
me….I am an MP and will not tolerate any insult.” Or BJP’s Indore MLA assaulting a municipal
corporation officer with a cricket bat for going against his diktat and
carrying out demolition of an ‘unsafe’ building.
And Maharashtra’s Congress
MLA assaulting an engineer, parading him and tying him to a pillar pouring buckets
of dirt and mud on him. Questioned, said he, “I was merely acting on public
complaints against inaction by the authorities and to ensure it does not happen
again”. Sic.
Worse,
instead of feeling remorse our netas
strut and preen like peacocks. Accentuating an inherent mindset of Hum Khaas Hain, which translates to
living life king-size and nauseatingly flaunting it. Showcasing their power via
elaborate power trappings: retinue of chamchas
who applaud even the inane and ludicrous.
Undeniably, we seem
to live in an India where only VVIPs matter, living life in the slim strip
called ‘official’ in a race for privilege. Wherein there is a wide chasm
between the aam aadmi and our khaas aadmis. Add to this the high
octane decibels of Saada Haq whereby,
just about everybody, who’s anybody abuses power and public resources topped by
being protected all at our expense.
Big deal if this leaves
a bitter taste in people’s mouth, increasing frustration, disconnect and
contempt for the rulers which results in defiance by people at large. Raising a
moot point: Do our leaders actually deserve this extra importance? Aren’t
symbols of authority contrary to the basic feature of republicanism enshrined
in our Constitution?
Can our poor country
afford braggarts as legislators? Haven’t we had enough? Whatever happened to
democracy by the people, of the people, for the people? Considering, most rulers barely discharge their
responsibilities honestly and honourably. Do our leaders know the reality of Asli Bharat which they ad nauseum vow to protect? Where over
700 millions live below the poverty? Succinctly, they don’t give a damn.
Not for our
neo-Maharajas the fact there's something demeaning about the idea of VIPs,
something inherently undemocratic. As it militates against the idea of
equality, for the simple reason that it makes citizens inferior to rulers. When
‘black cats’ and police protection become status differentiators which come at
the cost of dignity of the ordinary citizen, there’s reason enough to challenge
the idea and rip it apart.
However, not a few
aver that politics is all about perception. That there’s justifiably a strong
element of symbolism and show associated with an elected public office. There
can be no argument that leaders deserve special treatment. However, it’s
conveniently forgotten that the handling is reserved only for offices they
hold, not for the individuals per se.
The President, Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers, Speakers etc
are protected across the world.
At the same time, a
fundamental precept of democratic governance is equality of all citizens before
the law regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religious or political
beliefs and affiliations, caste, class or economic status. Unlike a colonial,
feudal or totalitarian regime, in a democracy the rule of law applies equally
to all citizens. No public servant, not even the President or Prime Minister,
is above the law.
There are many challenging moments in democracy where hard
decisions have to be taken. Indian democracy is not so fragile that over one
billion people should be beholden and subservient to their undaata does not hold.
Plainly, the
don’t-you-know-who-I-am’ VIP term is outdated in a democracy. It is ironic that those elected to serve the
people deny the very people they serve access to themselves. They need to
dispense with the jo hukam sarkar
culture and dismantle their privileged fortresses if we have to survive as a
nation. This would force them to experience the pathetic state of affairs in Mera Bharat Mahan and understand how
democracy is undermined when VVIPs break all rules.
In sum our rulers need to understand Parliamentary majorities
are not immortal. The right to remain in power is not immortal. It gets shaken
by their arrogance of power. As a new generation
comes of age our rulers need to remember a home-truth: Democracy is based on
the fundamental premise of equality for all. Gone are the days when leaders
were revered, today they symbolise everything that plagues India, warts and
all.
Thus, in a milieu
where simplicity and austerity is Utopian to our polity, it is time our high
and mighty wake up to the danger lurking round the corner and smell the coffee.
If they don’t change they will become increasingly irrelevant. We do not need
gestures which total zilch. It remains to be seen whether our polity will
continue to behave like Bahubalis and live life Maharaja-size and reduce hum-toh-janata-ke-sevak-hain to mere
tokenism? ---- INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
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