Citizens must monitor where their politicians are taking them and whether the administration caters to their needs. We have to ensure that political governance strengthens the administrative framework of our country in line with the principles of democracy, transparency, accountability, integrity, respect for human rights and promotion of the rule of law. A nation’s progress can be measured through a combination of basic factors like health, wealth, food sufficiency, population control, education, housing, well paying jobs and GDP which covers all these factors. Let us imagine these attributes are enclosed in a box packed with people and the box is opened after decades to see where the people exposed to the policies and programs of the governments ruling periodically after elections have progressed.
If the governance was good and progressive, the people would be in the pink of health, with head held high, well fed and educated besides being well qualified for available lucrative jobs, all living in decent housing in clean and hygienic surroundings, at peace with neighbors and each other, no gender or religious discrimination, no signs of any deprivation and GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) apparent on their smiling faces! If the policies and governance were wrong, the population would be uncontrollable, people would be in various stages of unhappiness, violence prevalent, wide disparities in health and wealth, unemployment and government with some anti people attitude, law and order difficult to enforce, polarization of people, justice colored and so on! Our plight can be easily recognized in the second example?
Corruption during the Congress regime had sunk to new lows, but the Karnataka elections have proved that the party with a difference will do likewise! The BJP has matched the Congress in the stated “murder of democracy”. According to ADR watchdog winability ensured 94% candidates of Congress were crorepatis, while 98% of BJP candidates were the same. In Meghalaya, Manipur and Goa, BJP was No2, the Governor called on the largest post-poll combination to form the government and floor test in a hurry.
In Karnataka, the Congress and JD(S) had the numbers, staked their claim, but the Governor called on the BJP to form government and gave 15 days to prove majority! Big enticements/money was reportedly used; big digital data and fakes news with gullible voters, a biased PM of India their star campaigner. The President, Vice President and Governors are BJP stalwarts. Only the Supreme Court could save democracy by post midnight hearings and mercifully they were able to! How much more poison will be injected into the body politics of democracy is anyone’s guess. Politics of expediency, communalism to the fore, rule of law going for a toss, honesty, integrity, loyalty rare with loss of moral values. Parties lock their candidates in five star resorts in fear and to prevent poaching, with no guarantee of cross voting till the last minute. Let us accept our democracy is in a sorry state and also not ridicule the common man/minorities feeling unsafe.
Tax use is one of the biggest frauds perpetrated! The citizen is taxed when he earns and also when he saves or spends. Income Tax is a pain for everybody, especially those who cannot afford expensive chartered accountants or keep details of income and expenses incurred, or understand the changing convoluted laws and rules! Consider the rigmarole and expenses involved in collecting and monitoring the comparatively small percentage of income tax payers and the corruption and deception associated! With GST and various cesses, government is already collecting considerable, what can be called “expenditure tax!” in addition to astronomically taxing diesel/petrol! Everything manufactured and services are taxed. Even banks now levy GST. Abolishing income tax will save government crores of rupees and manpower. This is reportedly also a suggestion by Dr Subramanian Swami. However there is little hope that this government will abolish income tax as they need it badly to control those not toeing the BJP line, reportedly termed “tax terrorism” by eminent people like Dr Manmohan Singh, Arun Shourie, Yashwant Sinha and others.
We may take ideas from Burg Khilafas in Dubai and bullet train in Japan, but let us not forget India is not Dubai or Japan.
The vast disparities in our uniquely democratic nation have to be kept in mind when planning development which does not cater to the specific needs, health and aspirations of the common citizen! Our educational and medical systems, housing, tourism and skewed ideas of development generally translates into environmental degradation, corruption and skyrocketing prices to the detriment of the common man who finds he is not consulted, unjustly discriminated against and consequently putting his life in jeopardy. He has to contend with VIPs/ arrogant politicians and their “friends”, Corporate, influential God men, those with wealth and power for whom rules are bent, “true lies” propaganda and the bureaucrats who all push him aside or simply wear him down, making his life miserable. He does not have the muscle or time or wherewithal to approach courts or fight for justice!
So where does the humble farmer and common citizen fit into all this? Government unequal patronage for religions, unleashing communal forces by mobs/ fringe groups, caste, sub castes, new divisions and reservations, vote bank politics are expanding into unmanageable liabilities. In such democracy and atmosphere, the common man’s freedom, happiness and safety remain precarious!
(The author is a retired naval officer, freelance writer resident in Porvorim)
