By Syed Kashif,
India is the largest democracy in the world. How? Is this so because everyone says so? Or, is this so because India has been successful in conducting elections periodically? I have been trying to solve this puzzle for quite a long time. Yes, this is a puzzle for me.
It had been a huge blot on Indian history if the ordinance, to overrule the ruling of Supreme Court, would have got the assent of honorable President. This is good that the government has finally decided to withdraw the ordinance. The honorable Supreme Court has recently ruled that an MP or MLA would be immediately disqualified if convicted by a lower court in a criminal offence with a jail sentence of two years or more. Bringing an ordinance to overrule such a ruling, which has been welcome by everyone and which is off course to decriminalize the politics, is a shame.
Such an initiative by our representatives signifies their lack of will or desires to make the future of India bright and fair. The ruling has emerged as a hope to eliminate the disease which, so far, has been thought of not curable. The ruling will also pave ways for common people or people with no criminal backgrounds to come in politics.
This shows how deeply our leaders are committed to the criminalization of politics. We have multiple examples of criminals sitting in parliament and assemblies. Instead of being behind the bar they are our leaders. They represent us. They take decisions about things which affect us. They exploit us. Is this the reason why India is the largest democracy? Getting through the bill by way of ordinances is a new trend in Indian politics. Though it seems good, it is against the essence of democracy. Its usage must be rare.
Probably, for the first time, Rahul Gandhi has spoken out and taken a stand on something. So far, he has not been known for his ‘ideas’ or ‘stands’. Though he has been travelling and meeting with people but all have been in vain due to the absence of ‘difference’. His blunt criticism of the ordinance and regarding it as nonsense is being considered as the humiliation of Prime Minister and question to the wisdom of the cabinet. Principally his opposition is certainly wrong. Yes, he should have intervened earlier when the issue was under consideration. Probably, he could have become hero if he had opposed it before. He did a right deed when the time was wrong.
However, very significantly, the opposition per se is good. Had he not opposed it, perhaps the ordinance would have got assent. Almost all parties had favored it. And why would they not. The whole media has turned against him. Multiple articles are pouring in newspapers to criticize Rahul Gandhi. It seems people have totally left the other aspect of the issue. Additionally, why are we not anxious of bringing in of such ordinances? Why we are not wary of government’s anti-people stands? We have totally left the essence of the issue.
Nobody is talking about the issue which is here, criminalization of politics. We have left behind the core in the whole hue and cry which is extremely about the weakening of our democracy. Regarding Rahul’s remarks as humiliation of PM and question to his wisdom seem exaggeration. In a democracy criticism should never be taken as humiliation and question to the wisdom. Ironically, the BJP and especially Narendra Modi who does not leave a single stone unturned to humiliate and criticize the PM of India is wary of PM’s image. Especially, ever since Modi has been declared as Prime Ministerial candidate there is not a single day when he does not shout and ridicule the PM.
Had Rahul Gandhi not opposed the ordinance the same BJP would have spoken out and tarnish the image of PM, instead of opposing directly the ordinance. Indeed they are opposed to it. But they are not speaking.
More interestingly, I also doubt that though the BJP took a U-turn and did not support the bill in this regard and ultimately Congress had no way but to use the option of ordinance, however, had Rahul Gandhi not spoken out the BJP would also have remained silent or just opposed it for the sake of opposition and perhaps the ordinance also would have got passed.
(Syed Kashif is a M.Phil student at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and blogs at http://kashifrazasabri.blogspot.in .)