Political Hoolaginism
[ By Poonam I Kaushish ]
The more things change the more they remain the same. Daily we are treated to some antics, inane tantrums, silly shenanigans by our leaders. Of which ‘follow-no-rules’ is a fundamental part, instead they rule by law and are the law. No IDs’, no frisking and long queues, gaddis filled with gun-toting bodyguards jumping red lights to exhibit their ‘power’ might. God forbid, if anyone questions their misdemeanor, be prepared for open fury, “Main neta hoon, tum kaun?”
Welcome to the world of arrogance of power or should one say political hoolaginism. Last week we were treated to two high jinxes by our leaders in two States. In Odisha Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s additional commissioner was dragged out of his chamber and assaulted by a group of miscreants who asked the officer to apologise to BJP leader Pradhan, resulting in Odisha Administrative Service and Odisha Revenue Service officers going on mass leave. Thankfully, it ended well with Pradhan and Co arrested.
If this was appalling, next day saw a repeat in Himachal where two National Highway Authority officials accused Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh of assaulting them even as Singh denied allegations asserting an FIR against him was to divert attention from NHA’s negligence resulting in collapse of a five-storey building in Shimla. Earlier a train passenger was beaten for refusing to swap his seat with a neta in Madhya Pradesh.
It hardly matters that Himachal has Congress and Odisha and Madhya Pradesh BJP Governments. Similar incidents across the country over the years underscore an environment, wherein our power-drunk netas times out of number behave like Bahubalis with an overblown sense of entitlement and impunity nurtured by political patronage, disrespect for aam aadmi, rules of the game and belief that the law can be bent at will. Whereby, they and their henchmen are neither afraid of penalties or imprisonment with the State maintaining a deafening silence.
Alas, these latest high jinx of our ‘don’t-you-know-I-am-a-Neta’ underscores the vestige of 19th century India, colonial mindset and feudal intent still lingers whereby our neo-Maharajas MPs and MLAs are afflicted by two diseases: Acute Orwellian disorders of “I am more equal than you” and “always asking for more” with in-your-face boorishness sans accountability being their trademark. Immortalised by Mumbai mafia don-turned MLA Arun Gawli: “Ab mere pas bullet-proof jacket hai!.”
Remember Shiv Sena MP who assaulted an Air India manager because he was denied a Business Class seat on an economy Pune-Delhi flight. “I hit him 25 times with my sandals, tore his clothes, broke his specs….I have no regrets…I have many criminal cases against me….I am an MP and will not tolerate any insult.” Or BJP’s Indore MLA assaulting a municipal corporation officer with a cricket bat for going against his diktat and carrying out demolition of an ‘unsafe’ building.
And Maharashtra’s Congress MLA assaulting an engineer, parading him and tying him to a pillar pouring buckets of dirt and mud on him. Questioned, said he, “I was merely acting on public complaints against inaction by authorities and to ensure it does not happen again”. Sic.
Worse, instead of feeling remorse, our netas strut and preen like peacocks. Accentuating an inherent mindset of Hum Khaas Hain, which translates to living life king-size and nauseatingly flaunting it. Showcasing their power via elaborate power trappings: retinue of chamchas who applaud even the inane and ludicrous.
Undeniably, we seem to live in an India where only ‘powerful’ matter, living life in the slim strip called ‘official’ in a race for privilege. Wherein there is a wide chasm between aam aadmi and our khaas aadmis. Alongside, the high octane decibels of Saada Haq whereby, just about everybody, who’s anybody abuses power and public resources topped by being protected all at our expense.
Big deal if this leaves a bitter taste in people’s mouth, increasing frustration, disconnect and contempt for rulers which results in defiance by people at large. Raising a moot point: Do our leaders actually deserve this extra importance? Aren’t symbols of authority contrary to the basic feature of republicanism enshrined in our Constitution?
Can our poor country afford braggarts as legislators? Haven’t we had enough? Whatever happened to democracy by the people, of the people, for the people? Considering, most rulers barely discharge their responsibilities honestly and honourably. Do our leaders know the reality of Asli Bharat which they ad nauseum vow to protect? Where over 500 million live below poverty? Succinctly, they don’t give a damn.
After all, its’ open secret that compromised elements in our criminal justice system often yield to the powerful and even in the face of popular outrage no long-term action is taken against the perpetrators. Highlighting a disturbing winner-takes-all attitude stems from the belief that being in power translates to being above law.
Thus, in a political culture that makes fear and favour its currency, this means the ruler-subject model which should have no place in a democracy becomes routinised. This is unacceptable. Assaulting bureaucrats or citizens must be met with exemplary punishment as such crimes undermine public faith in the rule of law and act as steeping stones to further criminalization of politics.
Time for law enforcement machinery to shed its perception of preferential treatment to our political Bahubalis and enforce law in a transparent manner. Parties too must signal zero tolerance policy towards roguery, no matter how big a vote-catcher the accused might be. By making cynical myopic choices Parties are undermining rule of law as babus are not durbaris in a raja’s court.
Plainly, the don’t-you-know-who-I-am’ term is outdated in a democracy. It is ironic that those elected to serve people deny the very people they serve access to themselves. They need to dispense with the jo hukam sarkar culture and dismantle their privileged fortresses if we have to survive as a nation. This would force them to experience the pathetic state of affairs in Mera Bharat Mahan and understand how democracy is undermined when netas break all rules.
Importantly, India is today at the moral crossroads. More so, in our present all pervasive decadence interspersed with growing public distaste, cynicism and despair. If not stopped now it could result in breakdown of institutions, society, culture and ethical values.
Our rulers need to understand Parliamentary majorities are not immortal. The right to remain in power is not immortal. It gets shaken by their arrogance of power. As a new generation comes of age our leaders need to remember a home-truth: Democracy is based on the fundamental premise of equality for all. Gone are the days when leaders were revered, today they symbolise everything that plagues India, warts and all.
Thus, in a milieu where simplicity and austerity is Utopian to our polity, it is time our high and mighty wake up to the danger lurking and smell the coffee. If they don’t change they will become increasingly irrelevant. We do not need gestures which total zilch. It remains to be seen whether our polity will continue to behave like Bahubalis and reduce hum-toh-janata-ke-sevak-hain to mere tokenism? — INFA