CAN YOU BECOME A GAME CHANGER IN INDIA’S POLITICS? YES
India is passing
through a phase of churning in its democratic evolution. The process, in the 65th
year of its independence, is driven by social activism and a cultural
resurgence, which threatens to make ingress into the polity of the country, for
the larger good of its people. After the political movement of Jaiprakash
Narain, in the aftermath of the dark period of emergency which stifled
democracy and consequently put a break to the rule of the Congress party in the
government; the rumblings of social activism from Jantar Mantar and Red Fort,
which were orchestrated by Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Baba
Ramdev and others respectively, has the potential to blossom into a welcome
reality providing a political alternative to the people of the country. The
rampant corruption in public life by politicians of all hues and colours, has
galvanised the middle class and youth, like never before to come out of their
comfort zones and participate in anti government rallies, aimed to cleanse the
political system of pseudo leaders who personify criminality, venality and
dishonesty in their dealings. The sense of the country is one of disgust
against governance in the Centre and most States, where rectitude and probity
in the conduct and behaviour of the people’s representatives has been thrown
out of the window, for personal and Party interests. Money power undergirds
political expediency, which ensures political power. The electorate is
constantly cheated of its trust and faith in the politicians of the country,
who brazenly practice subterfuge by misusing money to buy off the majority
voters through material inducements. The
institutions of the country have been so derailed as to lose all legitimacy,
with its people demoralised and confused and having lost faith in the system as
a whole, including those who are a part of it. The common man is in despair and
dejection at the prospect of what the present and the future hold for this
country and its federalism. We are veering towards a cul de sac of instability
and security, wherein both the people and the nation are doomed to an existence
of moral and righteous penury, unleashed by both the government and the
opposition. The choice is difficult to make between one and the other. In fact
it is a Hobson’s choice between the UPA and the NDA at the Centre and a string
of regional parties who entice the masses on the calculus of religion, caste,
sub caste, class, language and all else, which divides the voters on emotive
and petty issues of parochialism. The regional parties, which matter in a
coalition in the Centre with either of the alliances, literally arm twist and
blackmail the government to accede to their political agendas, suiting their regional
constituencies. A game of quid pro quo is played out in the parliament, which
insults and assails the essence of democracy.
It is in this
environment of pathetic and murky politics, which is being played out in the
parliament on a periodic and regular basis, that the requirement to support the
social activists, who have shown the gall to pick up the gauntlet and
participate in the process of democracy, was never more. A burgeoning middle
class and a sizeable demographic dividend comprising the youth, must seize this
opportunity, which is now being provided by the Aam Admi Party, Anna Hazare and
Baba Ramdev to come together in the political and social mainstream
respectively and pose a real challenge to the career politicians, who have
brought the character of this country to a state of near ruin and moral decay.
The corrupt and arrogant politicians, who sully the corridors of Parliament and
State Assemblies with their maleficience, draw their comfort from the
confidence of ill gotten wealth, acquired from the loot and plunder of National
and State resources and the tax payer’s money; to neutralise any threat to
their political stature and position from those who are driven by a desire to
serve the people and the country. This is a make or break period in the political
history of the country. Wherein, any digression or else lack of enthusiasm on
the part of those who want good governance; from the chosen course to strengthen
the hands of all those who confront criminalisation of politics and are willing
to join in the electoral battle, will drive the last nail into the coffin of
Indian Democracy. The politicians and their cronies will laugh all the way to
power and more arrogance and then only a bloody revolution like the Maoists
want against the state will probably redeem the situation. To pre-empt this
from happening, it will be in the interest of all stakeholders of good governance,
which includes those politicians who are clean and selfless, to come together
in forums of solidarity that are steeped in their organizational roots viz
armed forces, bureaucracy, para military forces, central police services, civil
society, corporate workers, academicians, service class et al to fight and
defeat venal politicians, irrespective of party, religion, caste, sub caste,
class, language and parochial considerations. The sole consideration should be
merit and integrity, to vote and elect the people’s representative into power.
It is then and only then, that the collective dream of the people of India, to
have a comparatively corruption free government at all levels of governance,
which impact the lives of the majority, may as well become a reality in the
next decade or so. Otherwise, the country is doomed to an unfortunate future.
All concerned
will therefore be well advised to move beyond being the chattering class,
epitomised by the growing middle class and its cynicism; to come out and become
a ‘Game Changer’ in India’s politics.
Brigadier (retd)
S D Dangwal
+919410900051
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