Facade of Democracy We Practise in India

When Indira Gandhi was the prime minister, she was hailed for her role in liberating Bangla Desh from the clutches of Pakistan in 1971. 93,000 strong Pakistani army surrendered in Dacca and Mrs. Gandhi received bouquet from all possible quarters even though she had not even raised her finger to liberate the new country. She went on to receive Bharat Ratna. No one grudges her that because she was the leader of the country and as leader of the country, she had the responsibility of running the country. But the same Indira Gandhi was roundly criticised for her role in Emergency of 1975 and was particularly ridiculed for having apportioned blame of emergency excesses on her officials who only carried out her policies. The simple principle is--if you take credit for good things, you must also take discredit for bad things. She had shown contumely disregard to this principle. But she was a politician and politicians do take political licences as many UPA ministers are doing these days.

But how could the honourable Supreme Court overlook this principle while delivering its orders on the incident of 4th June 2011 in which so many innocent protesters had been brutally assaulted by Delhi police? Especially as the court observed 'link between Union Home Ministry and Delhi Police'! It indicts police. It also indicts Baba Ramdev who was spearheading a movement and had assembled at Ram Lila Ground to register his protest against government's inaction on black money stashed away out of the country on which the honourable court too has passed a harsh order and created an SIT to monitor CBI action. It’s another matter that nothing has happened on that front and that the apex court has not taken any suo moto cognizance of contempt of its order.

From this order of the apex court, it would appear as if Delhi police acted on its own and that there was or is no government in India at all. There is no home minister, no prime minister who could be called upon to explain their action/inaction in the matter. And why blame the victims that had gathered there legally after obtaining permission from this very government? Why apex court does not pass any stricture against the government, against the home minister and the prime minister? This order has greatly saddened me because I see in this order an attempt to sift chaff from the grain when no such possibility exists. This was not expected of the apex court and it has set a very bad example, a horrid precedence. Henceforth, no government will ever be responsible for anything at all. The apex court may have to revise its own order on Black Money that it passed some  time back in which it blamed the government for inaction. It might end up saying it is not the government, not the FM, not the PM, who is/are responsible, but those officials working under them and taking orders from them who are responsible for the mess. What a shame! And we have the gumption to call ourselves a democracy!

Commandments of Delhi Police

Delhi police has asked eight questions to Team Anna on its proposed sit-in at Ramlila Maidan from 27th Dec 11. It wants to know how many cars will be there, how many people, including VIPs if any, how many speakers and maybe how many stickers will be there.

Very professional approach indeed.
One wonders why Delhi police cannot put these questions or commandments to the politicians, especially to the ruling party members, more so to Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi! One really wonders why these questions have to be asked only to Anna Team. Can anyone ever provide a number of participants in a movement like this? For that matter, even the parliament cannot forecast the number of honourable members who will attend the house on a given day.   

Unbecoming of a Government

For a government to go back on its commitments and renege on its promises so often is tantamount to fraud on its people. It is highly unbecoming of a government of any civilized country to behave in this manner as our national government has behaved lately. It has already been indicted by the apex court's amicus curiae on its handling of Baba Ramdev in a midnight coup. It has received all kinds of flaks it could from the same court on various corruption cases. In fact, in one of the orders on Black Money, the Supreme Court just fell short of calling it a failed state. There could not have been a stronger indictment of an elected government.

The government, however, has carried on shamelessly. When Anna was on fast for 12 days at Ramlila Maidan, no less a person than the prime minister himself wrote a letter to him in which he promised to incorporate his main concerns in the Lokpal as demanded by Anna Team and on this assurance Anna broke his fast. Prior to that a drama was enacted in the parliament where Pranab Mukherjee announced 'sense of the house' on those very demands which subsequently the prime minister apprised Anna of.

After Standing Committee submitted its report after long recess, it once again became clear that the government was again going back on its commitment to give a strong lokpal. Anna once again had to issue threats whereupon government seemed to be working overtime to include those demands Anna had made. Things seemed to be moving in that direction. Then again things seemed to move in a different trajectory giving rise to oft repeated complaint of the civil society that this government was not keen to tackle corruption. In fact, position began to change and alter like the climate of Delhi: foggy, misty and sunny and again foggy and misty. In these 48 hours the government has come full circle on many things and returned almost to the original position of not acceding to any demand.

Even now when the government appears to have made up its mind to create a lokpal that would have none of those elements that were suggested by the Team Anna, nothing is certain. This may be a deliberate ploy of the government from a strategic point of view. If it is so, it is certainly in a very bad taste and clear indication that the government is not at all keen to take any concrete and decisive steps towards tackling corruption. The whole country has risen like a phoenix against this genie of corruption, but government seems hell bent on protecting the corrupt when it should be seen on the other side. For a government to consistently go back on its commitment and renege on its promises, all that can be said is that it is highly unbecoming of it and this is going to work to its disadvantage in the days to come.

For a change, India is wide awake now and Anna has given the people a hope of resurrection. Systemic change is what people of India are clamouring for, and if it has to come at the cost of the government, so be it.

There is a sudden change in the tone and tenor of public debate ever since Anna's fast at Mumbai 'failed' to get people's support. Anna was unwell and had to retreat physically to recuperate. Most of the commentators including some of the paid news channels and some politically sponsored writers/speakers/political commentators and some of those who knew everything in this universe including when the ice would cease to melt at Antarctica. They not only wrote off Anna and his movement, they also began to find fault. Some of these great and sagacious observers noted with trepidation that had Anna succeeded, it would have sounded a death knell to our democracy. And when the same Anna was sprinting down the Ramlila maidan not long ago, the media and the neutral commentators were all going gaga over it. Government was roundly criticized by all and sundry and the whole nation seemed so much enamoured of Anna and his team simply because he upheld the highest tradition of public participation in a true democracy. Democracy did not mean only those talking in the talking shops. It meant those speaking from the streets as well. 

All those lofty observations have now been consigned to the nearest dustbin. Why? Because they see the upper hand of the political masters before whom these people kowtow day in and day out. Why? Because they are all honourable men and women. 

Indeed, much water has flowed down ever since. Anna and his team did not have any definite outfit, least of all a political outfit. There were demands from the volunteers from all over the country to float an outfit, create a structure so that the movement could be given a concrete shape. Anna too seemed to have agreed to the idea of creating a structure. That is why he had spoken about creating a constitution so that people at the helm of this movement could be entrusted with definite task and could be held accountable for acts. The team was extra cautious because it knew that not all of those involved in this movement against corruption were free from taint and they could very well give a bad name to the movement. That would have been more injurious for the health of the movement than the fact that due to Anna's indifferent health and some strategic errors (?) gave this movement a jolt. Setback! Yes, one may easily say that. Failure! I am not so sure even as many make it look like that. But in any case the movement itself does not stand discredited for whatever the new critics may say. And those who say it was a movement against democracy are abjectly wrong. Democracy is people and people in great numbers are associated with this movement even after MMRDC fiasco. Delhi's inclement weather was primarily responsible for this failure. The other reason was Anna's miscalculation. He urged people not to converge to Mumbai and instead join the stir at their own respective places. This way he dissuaded many from other places to hjoin     

Democracy sans people

Ever since Anna withdrew from the agitation due to his ailment, a new breed of critics have emerged from nowhere questioning the very basis of the movement launched by Anna Team against corruption. To them this movement was against democracy, not against corruption. They suggest that by launching this agitation the team Anna has committed a blasphemy of sorts. When the movement was at its apogee everybody seemed to find fault with the government that had not been able to bring in a legislation for lokpal in the last four decades. Everybody then seemed to enjoy the sprint that Anna Hazare took at the Ramlila Maidan. Media too seemed to enjoy the spectacle as it showed the sprint 24x7. We had witnessed similar trend during Baba Ramdev's agitation. Everything was hunky-dory till that midnight coup. After that unsavoury incident--the Delhi police is still under cloud as it is hard put to explain its conduct on that fateful night, a new crop of critics have emerged from all over the places finding fault with Baba Ramdev and the government going all out to kill the spirit of Baba Ramdev. They are repeating this with Anna Hazare and his team.

   

Some of the new critics--some sponsored by the government--say this movement is against the very spirit of democracy because the movement seemed to attack democratic institutions. They too seem to lend credence to the theory floated by the political masters that parliament is supreme and those occupying the space in the parliament are the masters of all they survey notwithstanding the quality of conduct of those masters. First thing first. Parliament is the creation of the constitution which is the creation by the people who gave themselves this constitution. If people had not given themselves this constitution, there would not have been parliament and consequently no parliamentarians.

Left to them, what they have brought India to is well recorded everywhere. While corruption has entered and vitiated all aspects of public and private life, another dimension is added to it. Our bureaucrats are termed as the worst in Asia. If this is not shame what shame is? PM says 42% of our children are malnourished and underfed and calls it a national shame. To speak the truth, this government and the prime minister in particular is the national shame and national disaster. But look at the way they are now targeting Anna whose only fault, if it be, was that he gave a new awakening to soporific India. Anna may have withdrawn because of the obvious reasons. But these politicians have no reason to celebrate. Mumbai chapter failed because of two reasons: the chill of Delhi that forced Anna to move his battery to Mumbai where money alone counts and Anna's call to the countrymen to restrict themselves to their own places.

On Contradictions

We, as a nation, are not tired of patting ourselves on the back for practising what we unabashedly call democracy. We not only speak of democracy in glowing terms, we also impart a lesson or two to those who are not professed democrats like we are. It does not matter whether we follow the tenets of democracy. A democrat, we are told, as a matter of principle, must be tolerant. But tolerant of what? Tolerant of our inherent contradictions? Tolerant of all that is going on; tolerant of all that is happening around us? This, while we stand committed to bringing about orderliness in the society and so much more?

But before we pry any further into this, let us take a look at our constitution itself. The constitution says that Hindi is the national language, but says so in English, not in Hindi. And although we have belatedly compiled a Hindi version of the constitution, it is only the English version that is legally binding. Therefore, only the original version written in English is the valid document. What a paradox?

The constitution guarantees equal opportunity to all without any discrimination whatsoever, or so its preamble promises. But contradictions begin to flow soon. Reservations are to be provided to different categories of the people. Whatever the rationale of such an arrangement, we have accepted the contradiction. In fact our political system thrives on this apparent contradiction. After all we cannot deprive our political parties of the issues. And we are given to understand that after a certain period of time (it was for ten years to begin with), this issue of reservation will be killed. And therein lies the catch 22 situation. Who, yes, who will decide that the opportune moment has come when all can truly be said to have become equal, no longer needing the dose of reservation? And who will measure the equality and what will be the yardstick for measuring this equality? The political parties will see to it that such a moment comes never. Will they really have to try to achieve this end? There never was and there will never be the mirage of equality. Haves and have-nots have always been there and they will remain so long as the world remains in existence. So who are we trying to fool by inserting this article on reservation till the status of equality is achieved? This is contradiction within contradiction. But we must live with that. There are many more in the constitution. But let us just examine one more of it and then get out of this obnoxious argument of insidious intent that could lead us nowhere.     

When the constitution came into force in two instalments on 26^th November 1949 (19 Articles came into force on this day) and on 26^th January 1950 (the remaining provisions came into force on this day), it had 395 articles and today it is somewhere above 400 articles and till date it has been trampled upon for more than 115 times. The entire constitution is prepared by the great luminaries headed by Dr. Ambedkar who is justly venerated by the people of the country, especially by those who do political business in his name. No problem with that. But why is it that while the creator/s is/are venerated, some of the creations are frowned upon? Some of the leading national leaders and parties would not like to touch Article 44 (Uniform civil code for citizens), Article 47 on Directive for Prohibition of consumption of intoxicants (fundamental principle of governance) and Article 370 (temporary provisions with respect to the state of J&K) even with a barge pole. The question is—why? These too have been created by those very venerated hands of Dr. Ambedkar and his team of erudite men of eminence that created the other articles. Apparently, these contradictions suit the politicians and so the matter is best left unresolved. This is what I call the art of living by contradictions. We are quite adept at that.

Then we have the election manifestoes of the political parties to contend with. The language they use in their political declarations is of greater importance. The usual refrain is ’if voted to power, we shall……’ Yes, they say ‘we shall’, which means commitment. But once they are voted to power and the government is formed, the prime minister or chief ministers never again say ‘we shall’. Instead, now they resort to normative science and accordingly their statements veer around, ‘there should be justice for all…we should ensure….’ and so on and so forth, as if it is now the people themselves who must do all this and not the politicians who were duly voted by the people to do these things for them. In other words, it is the responsibility of the people themselves to achieve all that was promised by the political masters. And well, there is an explanation for all this. Now-a-days we keep hearing that it is not possible for a government alone (a poor government) to do everything unless the people themselves undertook the responsibility. And how do people take responsibility without taking law into their own hands? Aren’t we regularly told not to take law into our own hands and that law will take its own course? What a contradiction to live by? 

As if these are not enough already, we are constantly exhorted and egged on by our political masters to become so many things just in one life. It takes an individual the whole of his life to live his own self. Imagine the plight of a man when on one occasion he is asked to inculcate the qualities of Gandhiji as well as those of Netaji. On yet another occasion he is asked to follow the preaching of Guru Nanak and on another occasion he is told to emulate Shivaji. Sometimes he is asked to follow in the footsteps of Bhagat Singh and sometimes those of Buddha. Now, is it possible for a single man to emulate the qualities of all these great personages without himself becoming a bundle of contradictions? And will such a citizen really be an asset to the nation which he ought to be in the first place?

Bur who really cares? Leaders will just say anything, without caring a whit about the meaning and the possible impact their utterances make. In any case, people have understood what to make of their outbursts. Nevertheless, lying and contradictions are the order of the day. And no one suffers any compunction on this count either. In fact, the more they lie and contradict, the more limelight they hog. And what is politics if not hogging of limelight!

A nation that was identified not long ago with truthfulness and virtuosity is now thriving on deceit, lies, falsehood and contradictions. But we have come to tolerate all this. Because a democrat is he who can ‘tolerate’—tolerate sufferings, tolerate humiliations, tolerate deprivations, tolerate indignities and above all tolerate politicians who, however, will not tolerate a ‘sore thumb’. A critical remark of an ordinary citizen is not only frowned upon, but the person making such a remark is hauled up and mauled by the political heavyweights. When it comes to winning of an election, everything except persuasion is at work. Every instrumentality other than canvassing support is used to browbeat the electorate into submission. Though they are the very people who are supposed to guarantee the right of franchise, they are the ones who deny the people this right.

Today neither law nor the law enforcing authority, no matter at what level, can boast of respectability. Contradictions have destroyed the moral fibre of the society. Why then complain if an Anna emerges to lead a movement against all these contradictions! 

The scenario to many could look bleak. Anna the spearhead against corruption is lying low. His team appears to have lost moorings. Things are on a difficult terrain. Lokpal could not become a reality, leave alone it becoming a Frankenstein which many politicians/bureaucrats feared it would. But corruption has continued to hog the lime light. Ministers are in jail, many more ministers are expected to be in jail because of corruption. Bureaucrats are making a beeline to jail or are being suspended/hunted down from their hideouts. Sukhrams are getting no relief from courts. With elections having been announced for 5 states, cash is gushing out from places known and unknown. CBI raids, arrests, vigilance cases all would suggest that India is in the thick of corruption. Without except it is spread out to all places including in Bihar which is being singled out for praise by all and sundry. Bridges constructed a year ago is falling apart; roads constructed with so much money and fanfare is cracking up leaving many loose ends. Of UP the less said the better.

This is the obtaining situation in the country. Sachin gets his house in Mumbai insured for Rs. 100 crore for which he pays rupees four million a year. Obviously, he can afford. Money is the new deity worshipped by one and all. Who after all wants corruption to go? Anna is in abject minority. One of his own relations is going to actively canvas for Congress. So, where does it leave us? Kejriwal has asked for people's suggestions. The team appears to be at a loss. Nothing surprising in a movement like this. Anna and his team should understand that politicians of the day will not support Anna and his Janlokpal. You'll have to have new breed of politicians under a new dispensation. Its absolutely true that one can serve one's nation even without becoming part of an electoral process. One is also within one's rights to float new ideas and concepts from wherever one wishes. The problem is--you cannot influence others with any degree of tangible success. You are pitted against the establishment which is far too powerful. This fight against corruption which is no less than a Frankenstein is not an easy one. It is hopelessly and heavily loaded against you. It's David against Goliath. And this time David enjoys no warranty, and no guarantee of success. Present day Goliath is more venomous, has more fangs than you can handle or ward off.

It is now settled that Anna would not campaign in the election bound states. Some will be happy, some will be disappointed. This is nothing new. Rome was not built in a day. Revolutions also did not happen in a day. India has a long history of slavery. We have always been good at obeying orders, taking orders, doing the bidding of others. Things haven't quite radically altered even in our own times. Basically, we have the same mindset. Even Anna has commanded the same kind of obedience of people in his immediacy at Ralegaon Siddhi that ancient rulers or feudal lords commanded over their own people. No doubt, Anna's village benefited from that and today it's a model village anybody could be proud of. But it took some doing.

Tackling the problem of corruption will also take some doing. The present crop of politicians will in all probability not let go the privileges and benefits they enjoy. Anna's Lokpal is not to their liking. But public opinion can make the difference. Public opinion has to be created and that would be a Herculean task. Middle class alone cannot be relied on for altering the public opinion. Middle class is basically weak-kneed. Lure of the lucre is too strong for them to resist. They will demand their own pound of flesh. No doubt, corruption affects them and their life. But they know they can set it off against some other gains that may accrue to them through this movement launched by Anna. There are many in this movement with their fingers in the pie. You can fight a battle or two with them. But you can never win a war with them. What happened in Mumbai was a demonstration of that. In every struggle or movement, you have active supporters and passive supporters. Passive supporters usually outnumber the active supporters. Except those in the close vicinity, active supporters distantly placed try to derive some personal mileage from such movement. Bihar is a clasisc example of that. Most of the active supporters are out on a mission to achieve something for their own selves. Most of them want to present themselves as the leaders of the morrow a la JP Movement. Anna Team has to be wary of this.

So, what is the lesson? Should we leave it midway? No. Anna himself need not visit those states, nor does he have to point finger to any particular political party. The midnight drama has shown everything without any tinge of doubt about the character of the people who are ensconced in the haloed chambers of the parliament. All that is required to be done is this. Anna should make an appeal to the electorate to vote only those who are clean and have not played their part in killing the lokpal. If they do not find any suitable candidate, they should reject all the candidates. The Team Anna armed with this appeal should fan out to all constituencies and inform the people about this. For the present this would be the surest way of going about it. If the result is encouraging enough, we can pursue this in 2014 as well. In case it did not materialize the way it should have, then Team Anna should seriously ponder on the feasibility of floating an outfit that would contest parliamentary polls in 2014. Baba Ramdev has already done some spadework and that should come handy in giving it a final shape. Corruption having already made inroad in all political parties, we should try to pick on some of those individual politicians who are clean despite being part of this muck. There is no gainsaying the fact that there are clean politicians in our own midst who have made a name for themselves and they do not appear to have got any axes of their own to grind.