Divine Right to Rule

It was a rare sight. Politicians belonging to heterogeneous groups came together and condemned in one voice the action of Harvinder Singh slapping Sharad Pawar. Without doubt the act was a blasphemous one and was justly and roundly condemned by all the honourable 545+ MPs. Augurs well for our parliamentary democracy. Elsewhere too the act was roundly condemned. We do not often get to see this kind of solidarity amongst our honourable MPs. The only other occasion in the recent past where they showed near unanimity was when they chose and decided to give themselves a rise in their salary and perks. On everything else they do not see eye to eye, not even on those matters that seriously concern 121 crore people. Not even on those matters that seriously impair the security of the country and its people. EM Forster's parliament was a talking shop because his parliament saw the possibility of getting some sense out of nuisance that was talked in his talking shop. Our parliamentarians do not talk these days. They shout, they howl and throw missiles at one another. But if someone dared to slap them, they would come together like one bundle of sticks. Augurs well. It was a condemnable act and was justly condemned by all holding high values of democracy, what if some of them are perceived as proven criminals. They have a divine right to rule. Let's not make the mistake of believing that they are our mere representatives, holding our power of attorney which we could withdraw at will. One slap on a politician elicited so much anger and violent reaction. But what if some up sits up and asks why these very honourable MPs did not react and condemn the acts of those ministers and MPs in UP who beat up ordinary people? If Harvinder Singh did not have right to slap Sharad Pawar, did those ministers and MPs have the right to beat up people? And how about the media? We saw how media repeatedly showed the SlapAct so that it got firmly entrenched in the minds of people. Why the same urgency was not shown while reporting the UP kicking and beating act of the ministers and MPs? Was it because this SlapAct had better news value and therefore possibilities of improving TRP? Augurs ill.