The perception of what all citizens want seems misjudged. India appears to prioritize national security and Hindutva which is divorced from getting ourselves a financially sound, moral, humane and strong healthy happy nation with unity in diversity. A perception enlightening poem: “I gave my wife a diamond, she said she hated rings; I gave her a karaoke, she said she never sings; I gave my wife a cricket ball, she said she never bowled; I gave her an air ticket, she said she’d never fly; I gave my wife a handkerchief, she said she never cries!”. People’s perception is apparently what the widely quoted PEW survey exposes, where the contradictions are seen at all levels mixing populism, nationalism, politics, caste and religion. Via targeted elections we want to live in some sort big brother tolerance where own religion customs and traditions dominate, no matter how unscientific and sometimes even destructive of the environment and common sense! For example pollution in Delhi and bursting crackers, festivals with Covid protocol thrown to the winds, not to mention our politicians garnering crowds during elections, most citizens seemingly blindly accepting surveillance and what big brother will decide is good for us!
The way things are going, we do not have rule of law pervading but rule of our elected representatives. The Supreme Court mercifully more assertive these days, lamented that parties will not act against criminalisation of politics or implement suggested long pending police reforms. The CJI says “the IB, CBI and Police are not helping the judiciary at all. This is a very serious matter!” The Attorney General Venugopal gives even more startling accounts of trial judges hearing cases of gangsters/powerful persons getting messages threatening their families. BJP governments with their brute majority in Parliament and in some States are confident that with the media, relentless propaganda machine and Hindutva they can successfully get away with anything like no deaths due to oxygen shortages, no migrant crisis, job loss, closing down of many small scale industries, maintain economy is doing very well, reject proof of Chinese border intrusions and Pegasus snoopgate allegations on eve of monsoon session as being foreign conspiracy to derail government functioning and so on.
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Will suffering people in survival mode swallow such blatant insensitive pronouncements by the Centre and the States, who simply will not tell the truth but convinced India, is growing fabulously under the decisive philosophy of the iconic PM, and everyone else is jealous wanting to tarnish India’s image? The Assam Assembly, like Parliament, bulldozed cow slaughter Bill shouting “Jai Shri Ram” doing so! Our performance in the Olympics, very creditable for the athletes, but just a single gold medal, comparatively ranked 48 below other poorer and smaller nations total medal tally shows we thrive on slogans and hype not reality!
The statements in Parliament with farmers nine months ongoing agitating outside were there for all to see. We witness an arrogant and stubborn government insensitive to the deaths, trauma and pain inflicted generally having its way demonstrating its strength and ego. How can democracy flourish with important Bills passed without discussion and debate amidst noise, walkouts and absolutely ignored suggestions and objections by an infuriated Opposition? It is ruling party duty to ensure consensus and democratically conduct Parliament! The Prime Minister of India does not behave without prejudice to the Hindutva forces! There are plenty of slogans like Sab Ka Saath, Vikas, Vishwas; Bharat Jodi Andolan (unite India movement) and the like spewed by the PM whilst firmly not discouraging contrary behaviour!
Are we working towards a Hindu Pakistan, something Mahatma Gandhi and our founding fathers fought bitterly against? The middle class citizens are too stunned with Covid, soaring prices and inflation, no jobs, driving them back into poverty, malnutrition and despair unable to challenge government’s big Boss domination. The majority of people have been worn down or subdued with fear and intimidation. Even Supreme Court and judiciary feel unsafe.
Today everyone is facing difficult, dangerous and uncertain days. “Satya Mev Jayethe” (Truth Shall Prevail) engraved in our emblem after Independence is the biggest casualty! To quote Swami Vivekananda “Man is potentially divine”. God does not require to be protected enclosed in magnificent buildings, showered with wealth. There is a lot of hypocrisy on the idea of God and religion where people are unfortunately willing to die for their religion rather than live up to it! Power of governance is not to be abused by state patronage to worshiping Gods of hate, violence, terror, revenge, destruction of nature, the earth, and deceit enslaving others in God’s name? Forget divinity, where is humanity? 75th Independence Day was celebrated hoping freedom, democracy, right to choose endures and that post Covid all citizens will thrive in unity, happiness and prosperity.
A parable for the Opposition which Prashant Kishore will no doubts confirm: “Pao Bajji was served everyday in a hostel to 100 inmates. Only 40 were happy and 60 wanted something else. The Warden arranged for voting and the majority would prevail. The 40 voted promptly for Pao Bajji and out of 60 votes-12 Upma, 14 Idli Sambhar,10 Aloo Paratha, 7 Egg parathas, 9 Porridge/cornflakes, 8 Noodles. Result: Daily Pao Bajji to continue.
Lesson: So long as 60% of people are divided, selfish, cannot get together, want their own way and refuse to compromise, 40% will rule.
(The author is a retired naval officer, freelance writer resident in Porvorim)
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