Are we a mature democracy?

Harsha Kakkar
The past few days have seen the Government and the opposition at loggerheads in parliament over the resignation of some ministers. The logic of their resigning or not resigning is not the issue at hand, nor do I wish to discuss it. That is a political and legal issue, which is not my forte. What I want to raise is the manner in which it is being played out.
The recent issue of resignations has snowballed to one of such proportions, that neither side is willing to back down. Besides both sides quote instances of earlier Governments, when the same was resorted to by the BJP, when they were in the opposition. But if one has done so, should just repeating it be the answer? Is this sensible politics?
These are times, when I wonder, if this is democracy? Is this how we as a nation are supposed to function? Is this why we elect members of parliament and pay immensely for all the subsidies and privileges that they enjoy? To put it in a lighter vein, if they are not working in the parliament, then they would spend more time in the subsidized canteen and the subsidy for what they have would be paid for by the tax payer.
We have in the past, witnessed on the TV, fights in various state legislative assemblies, where chairs were thrown, microphones were snatched and documents were torn to shreds. We have seen politicians getting involved in physical fights and passing abusive remarks which show them being anything other than mature.
The nation’s parliament, to a layman, is supposed to be a place of serious business, where laws which would lead to development and betterment of the nation are discussed and passed, where the functioning of the Government is questioned, and shortcomings of the Government pointed out. I truly wonder what the present logjam is aimed at. I wonder at the logic behind this action. Would the resignation of the two ministers lead to better laws, would it lead to more foreign direct investment in the country leading to more industrialization and thereby more jobs for the people or would it lead to reduced expenditure which the public bears towards the elected representatives? In my opinion it is none, it is only to assuage egos of the parties and their leaders, and more miniscule political gains.
I had in my mind, the visualization that younger politicians could be brash, but the older ones would be more mature and sensible. I always thought that as one climbs up the ladder in any profession, and I am sure, that all those in any other profession, other than politics would agree with me, one gains maturity and intellect. Politics is a career too. A politician has to be mature and sensible, and for those who have climbed up to the top hierarchy of their respective parties, they would have become more mature and responsible and understood their role and task. But alas, every day I am proved wrong. They are no better than the lot which has just joined.
We have been a democracy for almost 70 years now. We claim to be the world’s largest democracy. We aim to support democratic movements across the globe. Whenever a democratic Government anywhere in the world, including our neighbourhood is overthrown by unjust means, we have always objected. I wonder if stalling the working of the Government, preventing the bills which need to be discussed and processed is true democracy. I wonder if this is what we intend to project as a true mature and largest democracy across the globe.
There would and are similar disagreements between the Government and the opposition in other western democracies. The US senate has done much more to hold back Obama’s decisions and power. Yet unruly and such low level behaviour has not been seen. The same would regularly be the case in other nations, however the manner by which it is dealt with would be much more mature and credible.
A number of schools and colleges have mock Parliaments, and are the training ground for children to understand politics. Is this what we wish to project? It is these incidents, which leave a sad feeling of the type and nature of leaders we produce. It is truly a sad feeling of the manner by which we run our national politics.
Some time ago, when the opposition wanted to show its displeasure on a particular minister, it never gave the minister an opportunity to speak. Whenever the minister tried to do so, the entire opposition walked out. It was a silent protest, it conveyed what was to be conveyed, but the Government functioned, other decisions were taken, bills were discussed and passed. That was still a mature way of dealing. But alas today, I wonder where our sense has gone. We seem to have moved from maturity to immaturity.
As an Indian, I was very proud of my democratic country, I was proud of my freedom, however now I wonder, if the leaders on whom we want to bank on, are truly the right people.
I pray as a humble citizen to those who head their respective political parties, can we grow up and be more mature. The nation looks upon you to bring about an improvement in our way of life, to change things for the better, to take decisions which would make us proud of being Indian. We seek your support to make India a mature democracy and a responsible nation. I request you to change your confrontationist attitude, let the Government function and assuage your egos in a more mature manner. Let us as a nation remain proud of our politicians and our leaders.
(The author is Major General) (Retd)

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