Manmohan Singh’s ‘management’ of democracy is making democracy redundant
- By Rajesh Sharma
The Coalgate is getting murkier by the hour.
After
what reportedly transpired in the Supreme Court today on 8th May, the media is
all aflutter with speculation. Will the Law Minister go? Should he? Will the deities
up there ask him to exit? And the Railway Minister?
The PM is said to be supporting the continuation of
the ministers.
Is he doing it on his own or under someone’s
directions? It matters little. What matters is what his conduct means for India
and its people. And for whatever is still left of democracy here.
This is not a display of amazing political nerve by
an I-am-no-politician. This is not a demonstration of loyalty towards party and
colleagues. This is not some ascetic indifference to little storms in a tea cup.
This is not courage of conviction.
This is a systematic destruction of the institutions
on whose strength post-independence India has managed to survive. Silence,
stone-walling, the brazenness to weather any storm – believing it too will blow
over, these can undermine people’s trust in the efficacy of the institutions of
democracy. These can undermine the confidence which institutions need in themselves
in order to function.
Manmohan Singh’s ‘management’ of democracy is making
democracy redundant.
Are we willing and prepared to live with its
consequences?
Comments
ynha har shakh pe ullu betha he,
na jane anjaam e gulistaan kya hoga.
Sheikh ne masjid banayi,mismar butkhana kiya
Pehle Jo soorat thi,ab saaf veerana kiya.
Bravo!! I liked your take a great deal.
For how long will heads roll, bodies squirm and nations made to writhe at the altar of power and unchecked authority?
We all should mourn these events collectively. Flying tricolour at half-mast is not enough; these so-called biggies should be made to parade half-mast--with their legs and hands tied up--at the Raisina Hill.
It is a call to introspect. I personally take it as a wake-up call from deep slumber of being complacent with what we got but what we should fight for.
travesty unbecoming democracy.
Condemned to be optimistic