Democracy originated more than 2,400 years ago in ancient Greece. The word “democracy” means “rule by the people.” Democracy requires that each individual be free to participate in the political community’s self-government. The political equality of all citizens is an essential principle of democracy. The people do not give power to government to oppress or abuse, but rather to protect their fundamental rights, interests, and welfare. In a democracy, every citizen has certain basic rights that the state cannot take away from them. The five foundations, or basic principles, of democracy are social equality, majority rule, minority rights, freedom and integrity. All of these have a common basis in the fundamental ethical principle of mutual respect for diversity
A democratic society is enriched by diversity. If the majority deny rights to and destroy their opposition, then they also destroy democracy. George Washington had warned that the real dangers political parties posed is that “The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.
POLITICS is defined as the science of government; that part of ethics which has to do with the regulation and governance of a nation or state, the preservation of its safety, peace, and prosperity, the defense of its existence and rights against foreign control or conquest, the augmentation of its strength and resources, and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals. Sadly Indian politics stands for none of these.
Politics in India was different when India fought for independence from British colonial rule. The giants of the freedom movement were those who were successful in their own professions or calling. What mattered then were education, integrity, talent and capacity to serve the nation. You first earned an honest living before people accepted you as a leader. But that era has passed. A new leadership emerged and with it came strange shady characters, which seemed to have a remarkable influence on matters of State and on the State’s leaders Unfortunately the current Indian politics does not groom good (let alone best) politicians for the betterment of India; instead, it produces politicians of these flavours: (a) sycophants (chamchas); (b) dynasty (kids of politicians); (c) friends and relatives of politicians; (d) wealthy (most of the wealth came from looting the government via contracts and stuff like that); (e) industrialists (who benefit from the government–in terms of lax regulations, enforcements, tariffs, taxes, etc); (f) goondas, or a combination of any of these.
A state which identifies with the culture of democratic governance is one which welcomes a wide scope of political participation embracing a pluralistic system of political parties, a vibrant civil society and media. Further, strong democratic institutions promote and integrate women and minorities in all levels of the Government and society as a whole.
Goa recently went through the exercise of formation of a new government. The most interesting part was that the party which had less number of seats formed the government, a fiasco of the election results, where in the electorate rejected the ruling BJP, but did not provide sufficient numbers for the congress to rule the state , though it was the party with the largest number. The message was loud and clear, that the electorate had rejected the BJP government but did not trust the Congress party, (may be based on their past experience) . In a situation like this it would have been good for imposition of President’s rule. But a fast and swift move by BJP ensured that they capture power, much to the chagrin of the Congress legislators. Thus the party with the largest numbers in effect became the opposition, this has dejected many of the congress legislators, resulting in public blaming of some leaders and even resignations.
Little does the Congress realise that in a situation of a coalition government, with unlikely and unexpected combinations formed apparently for capture of power, the opposition has a much greater role. The opposition should have a system of shadowing every decision of each of the ministry, even every MLA of the ruling combination , as the opposition has almost equal number to match, thus providing for Goa a truly transparent, corruption free, fair and just government. By adopting and implementing a strategy of this sort, they would be serving the electorate much better and ensuring for themselves the good will of the people which could be converted into votes at the next elections. Strangely it seems in Goa, once an elected representative is not in power he feels he has lost all opportunity to serve people, little do they realise the importance of a strong and concerned opposition in a democracy.
It is sad that in the present system of politics, politicians or the political strategies need not be ethical. That is why we have almost in all elected bodies be it at the centre or at the State, substantial percentages of elected representatives have criminal records. This can be changed only if politics is converted into a profession and when politics becomes a profession politicians will have to necessary undergo a course of professional training, like that of a lawyer, or doctor or engineer and that will create a system of professional ethics for politicians until then, turn coats, criminals, fundamentalists and opportunists will rue the roast in politics where cunningness, and capacity to promise with no intention to fulfill will remain the most sort after the qualities in politics.
(The writer is a professor of law & former Dean, Faculty of Law, Goa University)
