Prof A N Sadhu
The political landscape of the country has witnessed changes after the recent general elections. Even though NDA has formed the Government for the third time under the Prime Ministership of Narendra Modi, it is not quite the same as in the previous two terms. Both the NDA and the India Gath Bandhan are rejoicing for their own reasons and assessments even when the common man is in confusion. The slogan Char Sou Paar should be haunting the Narendra Modi team, on one side, and the optimism of the opposition to form the Government, should equally be haunting them. For a person like me who does not enjoy any expertise in the game of politics, he is haunted by claims and counter claims of the two sides. The Government is in compulsion to keep alliance partners in good humour and so are they both in compulsion to play their cards very carefully to extract as much of political advantage as would be possible. Whether we call it NDA Government or coalition Government, the political experts may be able to choose the right expression, with their explanatory notes, it is certainly not the Government of single Party with absolute majority. Such a situation does alter the political landscape of the country.
The political landscape of the country shall have to be viewed in (a) National perspective (b) State perspective (c) regional perspective and (e) International perspective
Even if, we feel that the Government is of a single party, the parliament is a composite Matrix with its rows and columns not in equilibrium. The current Parliament debates reveal it abundantly. The Parliament debates are informative and enlightening to keep countrymen abreast with the commitment of the Parliamentarians towards their concerns and how effectively both, the treasury benches and the opposition join hands to solve the problems that the countrymen are faced with. Parliament is the mirror of political landscape. We have varied shades of opinion in the Parliament and to bring about the cohesion on national issues requires statesmanship among the leaders. Humour is good, it brings in the lighter moments and relaxes both emotional and ideological stresses but it should not be aimed at showing the other side in poor shade. The country is poised for a great reap forward and to facilitate it, understanding and accommodation is the way forward. A healthy opposition is an asset and so is an accommodating Government or the party/ies in power. The national political landscape should be absorbing and not repudative, it should be inclusive and not exclusive. While the achievements of the BJP Government can’t be undermined, the issues of the common man such as unemployment, inflation and income inequality, raised by the opposition can also not be overlooked. Gaps in the serious politics and economics are visible. The political management has to address the real issues, without scoring the points on the strength of their vocal chord, so as to maintain social harmony and economic justice. Along with islands of affluence, the ocean of deprivations will also have to be tamed. National political landscape should synchronize with future aspirations.
State perspective:-
The political landscape of different states is at variance with each other and it will remain so in a vast country with so much of heterogeneity on multiple counts. What is important is that there are no fissures likely to harm the national priorities and future prospects of reaching the status of a developed nation. Vociferous tendencies on caste, creed or religion may result into strife which is likely to damage the social fabric of the country. The political parties will have to restrain their members from speaking on the sensitive matters. Gaining political supremacy by capitalizing the sensitive issues, may seriously harm the country. Some North-Eastern states, Assam, W.Bengal, Kerala, Punjab and J&K need special attention. A careful stock taking of ground realities is required and strategies evolved towards maintaining peace and harmony.
Regional and Global Perspective
The country is surrounded by China, Pakistan and Bangladesh and all is not well in this region. Except for China, in two other neighbouring countries, there is perennial political and economic instability. Out of desperation, they fiddle with the political set up of our country with tacit support of some other countries inimical to the progress and stability of India. This has the portent of vitiating the political and social environment in our country. There is turbulence in the world as a whole but the countries in transition for a big leap forward have to guard against adverse repercussions that the turbulent world may throw up. The anomic resilience of the country has stalled the economic and political pit falls owing to Covid, oscillating growth graphs and Russian – Ukraine war, but the enemies designs to stress the country’s effort towards high growth will have to be defeated. This warrants a united and cooperative struggle of all the political parties to restrain the efforts of regional and international agencies to damage the interests of the country. What is of interest is that political, social and economic stability of the country should receive the top most priority so as to smoothen the march towards achievement of targets set for 2047. National interest can’t be compromised at any cost. That it happens, warrants, political maturity, sagacity and statesmanship of very high quality, both, from the treasury benches as also from the opposition. The world is in turmoil for several reasons (viz) terrorism low rate of economic growth and climatic change. The global village, as we call the today’s world, will move forward or backward depending upon how the global leadership addresses the global concerns that effect every country.
The world political landscape is not far too different compared to our own country. It is very fragile and has to be cared for with spirit of understanding and cooperation. The political parties in power have a crucial role in managing the affairs of the country to the visible satisfaction of the masses. The problem of unemployed youth shall have to be given a top priority so as to enable the harvesting of demographic dividend. The emergence of a few islands of affluence amidst a vast ocean of deprivations shall have to be avoided by adopting a suitable model of distributive justice to reduce the income inequalities. The miniscule minorities such as Kashmiri Hindus and similar other communities need sufficient attention to restore faith among such communities that the Government cares for them.
The political landscape of the country should be indicative of a vibrant democracy, as the country claims to be, guaranteeing the freedom of expression, both, in Parliament and outside the Parliament. The Government should not react aggressively but tolerantly and accommodate the views of Parliamentarians in a purposeful manner. Acceptance of oppositions strong points will manifest the statesmanship of the ruling party, which should be visible in a matured democracy. Leaders of all shades should ensure the political and economic stability besides social harmony to guard against any disruptive uprising.
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