Dr. Pradeep Kumar Singh
In past 75-years after independence, the general public has understood almost every aspect of the democratic system. Even the illiterate, rural, backward, etc., all have become quite aware of election issues. No special academic qualification is required to understand how to differentiate between right and wrong. Also, the level of education in the country has also increased. Thus, it is not convincing to accept that the evaluation of significance of political (election) issues can be difficult. But all that glitters cannot be gold. During the Mahabharata period, the great learned disciples of Lord Parashurama – Bhishma, Dronacharya and Kripacharya, remained the witness to the injustice being done to the Pandavas by King Dhritarashtra. They also witnessed the attempt made by Dushasana to undress Draupadi in the Court. They got so confused in political tricks of Duryodhana and Shakuni that instead of opposing, they supported them even in the war. Karna, another Great disciple of Lord Parashurama, could not even show the right path to his friend Duryodhana, and himself also kept suffering under jealousy and hatred against Arjuna throughout his life. It is really very difficult to understand significance of political issues, i.e., differentiation between right and wrong under given circumstances. Had the society recognized and followed the issues in right spirit, the country would have become largely self-reliant, a world leader, and would have attained the distinction of a global superpower.
Decades ago, major issues like poverty, inflation, unemployment, atrocities on women and schedule castes were publicized. Reservation in education and Government jobs has been the most important issue for some sections. Shri Ram Janmabhoomi dispute in Ayodhya has been an important issue as the country’s cultural heritage, even though most political parties continued to consider it a communal issue. Infrastructural development too has remained in discussion, but the casteism seems to be the most popular and effective political weapon in elections. The media glorifies the policy of casteism and communal appeasement as the social engineering. The freebies and loan waivers play an important role to attract the weaker sections in name of empowerment. Often people get caught in the web of this misleading propaganda of political parties, and fail to take decision in overall national interest at the time of elections.
Making the cheap ration, education and medical treatment available to the poor is the pious duty of the Government. But the matter has gone too far. Now there so many items, such as, cheap food plates, free ration, cooking gas, electricity-water, with smart phone, tablet-laptop, scooty and pucca house. In recent years, new election promises and policies, such as, unemployment allowance to the youth, loan waiver to farmers, Kisan Samman Nidhi and other financial assistance to farmers, free travel to women in Government buses, monthly financial assistance of Rs. 1000 to women, and monthly salary to home makers (housewives), etc. have evolved.. The assurance of Government procurement of food grains at Minimum Support Price has been a privilege for the farmers of a few States for decades. Whether the country needs to procure food grains or not, for some farmers, “fulfill our demand, whatever be the compulsion”. It seems that the country’s democracy rests on these issues, and the media publicizes that the democracy is very deep rooted in the country.
Assembly elections are being held in 5-States of the country. It is necessary to understand that the members of State Legislative Assemblies do participate in election of the President and the members of the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House in the Central Legislature). Thus, they play an important role in national politics. Therefore, it is necessary to give importance to national issues as well in Assembly elections.
It is very easy to run the Government on the basis of casteism. It does not cost anything extra. Giving priority to the society belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Castes, in opportunities, and consistently creating hatred against the upper castes has become a common political model. It is also very easy to work with freebies and loan waivers. This is just distribution of money collected from taxpayers, with no accountability.
Definitely, infrastructural developmental work requires attention and prioritization. It is necessary to make the basic amenities (electricity, water, roads, schools, hospitals, phone-internet connectivity etc.) available to the public. Focus needs to be given in remote and backward areas. The infrastructural development for the national security is even more important. This contribution definitely deserves credit. However, this is also not difficult to take up for inviting no special hindrance. Either these works are accomplished using money from the Government funds, or by public or private companies, which charge expenses from the society, and also deposit the collected tax to the Government treasury.
Although the Government has to take care of every section of the society – labourer, farmer, businessmen, employees and industrialists etc., yet especially those issues can be considered important in the national interest, which focus on welfare for the whole society and lead to strengthening the nation in the long run. This path is often very difficult, because outcome of the efforts take longer time, and the selfish elements keep creating hindrance. Nationalist outlook, uniform civil code, social security (law and order), corruption-free governance, appeasement-free governance, population control, control foul religious-conversion, control of criminalization in politics, environmental protection, etc. can be a few such issues. All political parties should be tested on these issues on the basis of past track record, behavior of leaders in public life, and the election manifesto.
Indian democracy suffers from a weakness that often legal action is taken against those accused, which suit to media and non-ruling parties. It is sometimes difficult to file a case against other accused. Often the crowd gathers and puts pressure on the police and the Government to get the cases withdrawn. Sometimes a section of the society honors the accused and makes him a hero. The accused also becomes popular through the media coverage. Such people often enter politics and become the misfortune creators of the country. India has the largest written Constitution in the world, but it could not prevent criminalization in politics. Even a meaningful effort has not been made in this regard. Merely making disclosure of the criminal record mandatory, while filing nomination for election, is just like putting a statutory warning on a cigarette packet, or on advertisements for online game apps. Voters are not aware enough to pay attention to this. Control on criminalization of politics is essential for a strong & purposeful democracy. Only the Parliament and the Supreme Court can look into this matter to develop a foolproof system.
(The author is Professor and former Dean Research & Consultancy, Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering & Technology, Longowal, Longowal)
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