{"id":64714,"date":"2019-04-17T01:11:34","date_gmt":"2019-04-16T19:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/?p=64714"},"modified":"2019-04-17T01:11:34","modified_gmt":"2019-04-16T19:41:34","slug":"throttling-democractic-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/2019\/04\/17\/throttling-democractic-freedom\/","title":{"rendered":"Throttling democractic freedom?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nWarning Signals<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\nBy Dhurjati Mukherjee<\/strong><\/p>\n

In recent days there have been voices of protest from a cross section of society against the policies of the present government. Even BJP veteran, L.K. Advani, who has been sidelined in the party, has talked of the need for freedom of expression and the controversy centreing around what is really Indian nationalism. As he aptly pointed out: \u201cThe party has been committed to freedom of choice of every citizen at the personal as well as political level\u201d. Advani clearly stated that \u201cwe never regarded those who disagree with us politically as \u2018anti national.
\nBefore Advani\u2019s post, theatre figures issued a joint statement in 12 languages which stated that the Constitution is under threat. \u201cThe institutions that have to nurture argument, debate and debate have been suffocated. To question, to call out lies, to speak the truth is branded \u2018anti national\u2019. The seeds of hatred have entered our food, prayers and festivals\u201d. The statement regretted that the ways hatred has seeped into our daily fabric are \u2018alarming\u2019 and it has to stop. The appeal clearly urged the people to \u201cvote bigotry, hatred and apathy out of power\u201d and named the BJP and its allies,
\nEven a group of 150 scientists from top academic institutions recently observed the need to protect the most fundamental guarantees of the Constitution, including the rights of faith, personal liberty and freedom of expression. \u201cTo defend these rights, we must reject those who lunch or assault people, those who discriminate against people because of religion, caste, gender, language or region\u201d. They further pointed out \u201cwe cannot endorse politics that divides us, creates fears, marginalises a large fraction of our society \u2013 women, dalits, adivasis, religious minorities, persons with disabilities or the poor\u201d.
\nIt may be pertinent here to mention that scientists from across the country had over the past three years or so expressed concern at what they viewed as poor governance of scientific institutions, lack of autonomy in these institutions and retreat from evidence based policies to growth of lumpen populism. In fact, some political leaders of the ruling party have referred to mythology to negate proven scientific achievements and substantiate India\u2019s role in this regard. Though there has been no open criticism, the international scientific community has made a mockery of such claims.
\nFinally, some retired bureaucrats in 15 open letters have stated of attempts to weaken the constitutional framework and frequent departures from the rule of law. This collective that goes by the name of Constitutional Conduct first sent out an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in June 2017 articulating their deep discontent over religious intolerance, particularly targeting Muslims.
\nElections have already started at such a critical and unprecedented situation. There are two clear indications of the present state of things \u2013 one, that every individual who matters and also every organization cannot retain its independence and has to toe the government line and second, the secular fabric of the country would not be allowed to continue. These clearly reflect strands of autocracy and fascism creeping into political fabric. In fact, the \u2018State of Democracy in the World 2018\u2019 titled Me Too? Political Participation, Protest and Democracy made news last year when India slipped 10 straight positions from 32 to 42, ranking below Latvia and South Africa.
\nThe centralised manner in which the government has been functioning would thus continue if the party in power is re-elected. Moreover, even educational institutions run by the government would have very little or virtually no autonomy not to speak of institutions like the Reserve Bank of India, CBI etc. The control will be at the top in the hands of one or two persons who would dictate matters. Obviously this would not improve governance and efficiency which would mean the bottom segments of society would suffer.
\nThe centralisation of power is manifest in most political parties. The decision making is centralised at the apex level amongst a very few leaders, may be two to four or even less. These leaders are the face of the party and are also involved in extensive campaigning. While these parties swear in the name of Mahatma Gandhi, whose 150th birth celebrations are under way, people\u2019s power is completely absent in their functioning. How can decentralisation of political and economic power become a reality in the country, when the major political forces do not themselves practice this?
\nThe other tricky problem of religious fanaticism, which has been ushered in by the ruling party, is to show how ardently they follow Hinduism. Only the illiterate or the half-educated believe in the so-called devotion of the party towards Hinduism; not the educated ones. Moreover, those from Bengal and most parts of South India, who are proponents of Swami Vivekananda\u2019s school of thinking, believe in the unity of religions and not imposing one\u2019s religion and religious practices on the other.
\nThe ruling dispensation is interested in furthering its own interest in being in power at any cost. As their working clearly shows, they have very little regard for democratic values and cannot tolerate any form of dissent. This trend is dangerous for a country like India where diverse forms of interest persist and where there is a sizeable section of minorities.
\nIn the economic front, the same strategy of controlling every institution like the NSSO has been amply manifest. The autocratic manner in which demonetization was announced not only affected small traders but had an overall a negative effect on the economy. There have been allegations of the government\u2019s pro rich attitude and ignoring the interests of the poor, specially the rural impoverished and the farming community.
\nDelving into the problem, one finds that the government lacks an effective plan to generate employment and very little encouragement has been given to labour-intensive sectors. Also though much hype was generated on \u2018Made in India\u2019 programme, but due to various factors, manufacturing activities did not pick up. It needs to be mentioned here that there was need to give a boost to set up small and micro industries, specially in the rural and semi urban areas but this was not on the government\u2019s agenda. The government\u2019s focus was on modernizing airports, building expressways, starting bullet trains all of which did not benefit the common man nor generate jobs.
\nBut though these may be failures that could be rectified, the social fabric suffered with the government encouraging division on the basis of religion, caste etc. Democratic values were being thrown to the winds and secular outlook that bind Indian society were getting loosened. Due to all of this apprehensions have been expressed about the threat to the Constitution and the government\u2019s fascist tendencies which may get aggravated if voted to power once again.\u2014INFA<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nMillennial brat pack bro!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Parties Invoke Dynastic Gods<\/strong>
\nBy Poonam I Kaushish<\/strong><\/p>\n

In our electoral dance of democracy it\u2019s raining pedigree. No, I am not talking about the canine variety, but our political lineage, specially the millennial brat pack. Wherein, our Parties are busy invoking the dynastic Gods to reap rich political dividends. A fool-proof way for India\u2019s polity to go to the dogs!
\nIf Indian democracy rests on the one-man-one vote principle, elections are all about one family and as many tickets as you can wangle norm. The Congress wins hands down offering Nehru-Gandhi\u2019s Gen Next and other dynasts while the BJP sways to the lilting tune of Bhai, Bahen and Bandhu alongside the NaMo jaap.
\nThe regional satraps Thackeray\u2019s Shiv Sena, Chautala\u2019s INLD, Badal\u2019s Akali Dal, Abdullah\u2019s NC, Lalu\u2019s RJD, Mulayam\u2019s Samajwadi, Patnaik\u2019s BJD, Ajit Singh\u2019s RLD, Mehbooba\u2019s PDP and Paswan\u2019s LJP believe in Patni and Putra-Putri Prem!A no-holds barred gharelu nautanki which has surpassed India\u2019s Got Talent TRP rating. Indeed, India\u2019s son\u2019 is shining, and, how!
\nUndeniably, India has entered the era of oligarchy. Scandalously, 157 Lok Sabha MPs or 30% belong to political families. If this continues soon a time will come when most MPs would be by heredity alone. Welcome our neo-Maharajas. Think. Twenty eight beta-beti politicians have claimed \u201ctheir birthright of carrying forward the family legacy.\u201d Be it Congress, BJP, Samajwadi, BSP, Trinamool, NCP, NC, TDP, DMK, RJD and LJP. They hail from J&K to Tamil Nadu, Nagaland to Maharashtra and heartland UP, MP and Bihar.
\nIronically, even as Congress President Rahul harps on democratising the Party yet patriarchy and familial ties continue to be the buzzword. Name any Chief Minister or PCC Chief and one will invariably find his aankhon ka tara son-daughter in politics. From MP Chief Minister Kamal Nath son who is in the poll fray from Chindwara to his predecessor Digvijaya and J&K Soz\u2019s sons, Union Minister Santosh Mohan Dev\u2019s beti et al.
\nDitto ex-Finance Minister Chidambaram and former Assam and Haryana Chief Ministers Gogoi and Hooda\u2019s sons, former Union Minister PM Sayeed sons to dynasty retainer Murli Deora, late Rajesh Pilot and Jitendra Prasad putras down Sunil Dutt\u2019s daughter Priya Dutt and Punjab Raja Amrinder\u2019s Rani.
\nModi might scoff at Congress\u2019s dynastic politics breeding \u201ctermites\u201d but the BJP too stands \u201cCongressised\u201d and has its fair share of progenies. Of the BJP\u2019s 75 new faces who made their electoral debut in Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh in the recent Assembly polls 33are sons or daughters of leaders who have crossed 75 years.
\nBesides the other Gandhis \u2014 Maneka-Varun, there is Home Minister Rajnath Singh\u2019s son, deceased Goa and Delhi Chief Ministers Parrikar and Sahib Singh\u2019s betas alongside erstwhile Union Minister Yashwant Sinha and Himachal Chief Minister Dhumal ladlas, late Promod Mahajan and Munde\u2019s daughters and MP strongman Vijayvargiya son.
\nThere\u2019s dear Akhilesh Yadav who followed daddy Mulayam as UP Chief Minister and nominated wife-uncles-cousins as MPs and not-so-young but still in papa\u2019s footsteps is Shiv Sena\u2019s Uddhav Thackeray hailing his rising son Aditya. Ditto TDP\u2019s Naidu\u2019s and TRS Rao\u2019s beta-beti, Mamata and Pawar\u2019s bhatijas, Mayawati\u2019s bhai and Omar Abdullah, who\u2019s followed father Farooq and grandfather Sheikh and Mehbooba who took-over the baton from daddy dearest in Kashmir.
\nLalu-Rabri family concern RJD has ladli Misa in Rajya Sabha, while her siblings Tej Pratap-Teshaswi fight for the family political spoils, Paswan is busy lighting the \u2018chirag\u2019 for son as is Ajit Singh, Punjab\u2019s Akali father-son shop has Badal daughter-in-law as Union Minister and her brother as MLA. The entire Scindia family of Gwalior has smoothly transitioned from monarchy to politics: Congress has Madhav\u2019s son Jyotrimayditya and BJP ex Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara\u2019s ladla and bahen.
\nBesides, political legatees are getting younger, hungrier and meaner. Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Odisha are classic cases where dynasty rules the roost. You simply cannot aspire to achieve anything worthwhile in politics if you are not the son or daughter of a prominent leader. Besides Hooda, Rao Birendra Singh and Surjewala have their sons and daughter respectively in the poll fray. Erstwhile Chief Minister Bhajan Lal\u2019s son and Devi Lal\u2019s progeny have regional outfits. On one side Ajay Chautala\u2019s son Dushyant is pitted against chacha Abay.
\nDown South there is DMK patriarch Karunanidhi\u2019s son-daughter-nephew clan. Not to be left behind rival AIADMK has fielded Dy Chief Minister Panneerselvam and ex-Mayor\u2019s sons. A never ending lineage whereby polls and Parties are one. In Odisha several political families are in the fray, some seeking re-election or crossing swords with their kin as Parties have fielded various family members from different constituencies.
\nIn Sundergarh ex-Congress Chief Minister Biswal\u2019s two daughters are in the fray, one BJD\u2019s Lok Sabha candidate, the other Congress\u2019s Assembly contender. In another constituency the Congress has given the father the responsibility to retain an Assembly seat and son to wrest a Lok Sabha seat from rival BJD. A BJD MP has transferred his baton to wife. Also in the fray is erstwhile Paralakhemundi King Gajapati\u2019s great granddaughter.
\nAll parroting the same hackneyed diatribe. Only our dynasty can provide a Government of the people, by the people and for the people. Sprinkled liberally with loads of balidaan and desh bhakti. Hoping that a billion plus vassals will be mesmerized by the dynastic Gods to shower their choicest blessing. What is material is not whether the candidates are deserving but that they are \u201cmade deserving\u201d, by virtue of their hereditary factor.
\nIf truth be told, we are still unabashedly feudal in our outlook and jo hukum thought process, notwithstanding that dynasty is an antithesis to democracy and electoral politics. Most elected leaders prefer to function in the style of old feudal lords. Party tickets are distributed not on the basis of merit, but feudal laws and connections. If a Minister dies, give his place to the wife, son or daughter.
\nThis is today\u2019s political culture: Of a shameless feudalistic India. Wherein families, even extended ones, invoke the dynastic Gods. Some see the netas bachhas invasion as leaders cloning themselves to fortify their empires. Under the fallacy that charisma and money rather than democratically choosing the best candidate serve the needs of the constituency and voters. Asserted a senior family patriarch: \u201cIs it not normal for the offspring of mice to dig burrows? Children of political parents will know politics best\u201d. Perhaps the best way to explain a rat race!
\nIn a milieu where politics has transcended to business, a political family like a business house is busy leveraging its assets. Under the misconception it owns a constituency and has the right to pass it on to whomever it pleases, thereby reducing \u2018worthy candidates\u2019 into a farce. Sadly, deserving candidates and Party workers are dumped as principles are unceremoniously buried thereby, creating confusion, causing rifts and fist flights. Indeed, all Parties have their share of black eyes.
\nResulting in sons, daughters and sons-in-law becoming an integral part of statecraft \u2013 leading to new rules, guidelines and extra-Constitutional centres of power. Bringing matters to such a pass that a neta\u2019s clout is gauged by who and how many family members he has got accommodated as Party candidates.
\nWhat next? With top leaders making their \u2018issues\u2019 an election subject, ideology has been cast aside. Notwithstanding, in the long run short-term feudal gains will sound our polity\u2019s death-knell. All busy hailing and serenading each other \u2014\u2014 the new rajas and ranis and my feudal India.\u2014 INFA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Warning Signals By Dhurjati Mukherjee In recent days there have been voices of protest from a cross section of society against the policies of the present government. Even BJP veteran, L.K. Advani, who has been sidelined in the party, has talked of the need for freedom of expression and the controversy centreing around what is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-64714","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-features"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64714"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64714\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}