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Protest Culture Overshadows Work Culture In India
- Published on 20 March 2020
- Hits: 3641
(Image Courtesy: Congress Party)
“The major problem of human society is to combine that degree of liberty without which law is tyranny with that degree of law without which liberty becomes license”.
Greek Philosopher, Heraclitus of Ephesus, stated this about 2600 years ago. His balanced vision is highly relevant to India where Freedom of Expression has blossomed into protest culture. This, in turn, endangers the liberty of others who want to carry on with their daily struggle for survival.
Disruption, when accompanied by destruction, wreaks havoc on economy as happened during countless instances of riots since 1947.
This right to disrupt other citizens’ right to work is best exemplified by Shaheen Bagh-branded protests across India. The hall-mark of these protests is grabbing of public spaces for days or months in total disregard for rights of other citizens.
The protest culture is also articulated by Members of Parliament during each session. They do so by posing in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s Statue within Parliament complex.
The peaceful protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 & CAA, 2003 often morph into riots and arson across India in recent months. CAA, 2003 envisaging creation of National Population Register (NPR) & National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC). NPR already exists & has to be updated. NRIC rules have not yet been notified.
The first and the original Shaheen Bagh dharna on a major road was launched immediately after arson and stone-pelting indulged in a demonstration called by Jamia Millia University students. There were in fact two separate demonstrations – one from Jamia & other from Shaheen Bagh on 15th December 2019, if we recall news stories.
After riots & police’s entry into Jamia to chase & arrest rioters, protesting women sat on dharna on Shaheen Bagh road. Under a parallel initiative, hundreds of citizens gheraoed police headquarters for release of arrested accused rioters. The rest is history about Shaheen Bagh protests – dharna by women at strategic public places in several cities.
Article 370 Reform So Simple & Beautiful as Visualized by Nanda
- Published on 06 August 2019
- Hits: 4542
(Image Courtesy:jktdc.co.in)
“If it is the intention to amend, the process of amendment is simpler. The process are provided in Article 370. I think it was beautifully conceived. The normal process of amendment is subject to stringent conditions. The process of amending, made available to article 370, are very simple,” stated Gulzarilal Nanda, Union Home Minister on 5th December 1964.
Replying to a debate on a private member’s bill to abrogate article 370 in Lok Sabha, Mr. Nanda explained: “I do not think it is necessary to bring in an amending Bill for amending the Constitution - I do not think it is necessary, if ever it were, it will have to be a very different kind of thing”.
He added: “Article 370, whether you keep it or not, has been completely emptied of its contents. Nothing has been left in it. We can regulate, we can do it in one day, in ten days, ten months. That is entirely for us to consider”.
Mr. Nanda, who twice served as Interim Prime Minister, also explained the way to exorcise Satan of Disunity from the Indian Constitution.
No one has had the courage to act on roadmap laid down by Mr. Nanda, a congressman to the core. It was left to Home Minister, Amit Shah, to do “a very different kind of thing”, to borrow late Nanda’s words.
Before explaining constitutional compliance of Mr. Shah’s initiatives to reform & enliven Kashmir, reckon the fact Mr. Nanda was merely articulating what Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s stand on Article 370. It was temporary and of transitional value as specified in the Constitution.
‘Walk the Talk’ Should be Agenda for Mr. Modi & his Govt
- Published on 02 June 2019
- Hits: 4161
(Image Courtesy: PIB)
“You can imagine that when work on such large scale would start then how much iron ore, how much cement factories, how many men will be needed and it will generate employment for many a people. We can get an answer to the concern of the GDP of the country”.
Mr. Narendra Modi visualized this growth model while speaking on the need for India to develop 100 new cities. He spun this dream four months before he led BJP to win historic mandate in 2014 lok sabha polls.
Addressing BJP’s national executive Council on 19th January 2014, Mr. Modi stated: “Why should not there be 100 new cities in our country, modern cities, in accordance with the concept of walk to work, smart cities, health city, sports city and many other such specialized cities as per the need..! Friends we can realize the dream of 100 new cities for this country..!”
In the same meeting, he expounded his 17 ideas of India. An idea in point is Sarvey Bhavantu Sukhin, Sarvey Santu Niramaya (May all be happy, May all be healthy). This is a variant of much-awaited Achhe Din that figured in Mr. Modi’s tweet on 15th May 2014 – “India has won! भारत की विजय। अच्छे दिन आने वाले हैं।”
Neither new cities nor his Utopian Ideas of India figured in his campaign for 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The idea of building new cities was downgraded to a mission to transform 100 existing cities into smart cities. Not one smart city is visible today.
Balance Mr. Modi's Phobia of Coalition Governments with Facts
- Published on 23 April 2019
- Hits: 3628
(Narendra Modi. Image Courtesy: PIB)
“Even in coalition governments if proper leadership is there and we can achieve good governance and take strong steps against forces that work for destabilizing the nation. Accountability as we all agree is one of the key components of good governance” stated Narendra Modi while delivering a speech on good governance on 5th June 2010.
Mr. Modi’s wisdom was independently articulated by Commission on Centre-State Relations (CCSR). When Mr. Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister he often hailed 7-volumes report of CCSR and pitched for its implementation.
Mr Modi, however, sustained UPA’s policy paralysis on CCSR recommendations submitted in April 2010. This is a separate story in itself.
CCSR, often referred to as Punchhi Commission, concluded: “Coalition government can be looked at as a sign of genuine accountability of the uniquely Indian polity and its system of governance”.
CCSR observed: “Coalition politics need not be inherently problematic as long as the parties follow the rules of the game and respect the authority of the law and the Constitution. It may slow-down the pace of development occasionally; but the practice of evolving the ‘Dharma’ of common minimum programme did help to overcome difficulties while controlling the excesses of the dominant coalition partners”.
We need to recall such observations of reputed panels & BJP’s own forgotten statements, etc. This might help voters balance Modiji’s sudden phobia of coalition politics. The phobia should also be countered by mulling over failures of regimes led by parties that won absolute majority.
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