India is the largest democracy in the
world. We are justifiably proud that all our governments have been changed
peacefully through the ballot. We have been holding regular elections since
1952. We have a written constitution which clearly demarcates the roles of the
Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary. The constitution lays down the rights
and duties of the various functionaries in the government and clearly
demarcates the areas of responsibilities. There is a federal structure and the responsibilities
between the states and the centre are clearly demarcated. The system has been functioning
smoothly for the last 67 years. In order to ensure checks and balances, there
is the fourth estate, the media. All components have their own strong points
and weaknesses, but then that is how things work.
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| Parliament of India |
One of the main characteristics of an
anarchist is to not follow the rule of law. Try and create systems that best
suit his or her interests and follow law selectively. Create a hype and use
propaganda to own benefit. He/ she will create situations that would lead to
break down of law and order and provide him/ her opportunities to question the
existing rule of law. He/ she will usually not use the established democratic
methods beyond what suits his/ her interests. Democracy is usually used by them
to come to power and thereafter they would manipulate it to retain it.
Desperate situations need desperate
measures. This belief leads even rational people to be swayed by propaganda and
take decisions that are influenced by the propaganda. Germany of 1920s and
1930s was in such a situation. She had been defeated in World War I, she had to
cede land to France and also pay reparations. The industry was in ruins and
inflation was in three digits. People of Germany were demoralised and
desperate. This situation was understood well by the Nazi Party who fought all
elections democratically and increased their vote share from 2.6% in May 1928
to 43.91% in Mar 1933 when they came to power. In the same period, the seats
won by the party increased from 12/ 491 to 288/647. Once in power, they used
all tricks in the book, including burning down the Reichstag to pass the
Enabling Act which gave all powers to the cabinet. As a result, they banned all
other parties and came back to power in Nov 1933 with 661/661 seats and 92.11%
votes. Hitler showed dreams to the German people by building the Autobahns and
providing a car to each home (Volkswagen Beetles, ironically one of the most
loved cars in the world). But what happened thereafter needs no introduction.
India also faces a unique challenge and
desperation in the form of corruption. Deeply rooted, this corruption can be
seen in all places and at all levels, be it running and industry, refund of
taxes or getting a berth in an overnight train. What was the genesis of this
corruption? Well Indians as such are a very enterprising people. India was one
of the largest economies in the middle ages and the reason for it was free
trade. People were free to produce and sell their wares and produce. They paid
taxes to the government for protection and for allowing them to trade. Under
the British rule, though trade was not so free, but private entrepreneurship
was not restricted.
Then, post independence we were
introduced to the concepts of socialism bordering on communism. Communist
practices like five year plans, government control of everything, production
quotas etc were introduced. The government controlled what car one bought and
when, who produced steel and how much, who listened to radio etc. To top it
all, the pay of the bureaucracy was slashed progressively. Discretionary
powers and exclusions galore were introduced. Thus, a poorly paid government
servant – with all attendant aspirations which he could not meet legally – was endowed
with phenomenal amount of power to control people’s lives. There was a shortage
of everything and the general public aspired to obtain whatever was available.
This is a breeding ground for corruption. The industrialist was ready to pay a
bribe to increase his production quota, to get a piece of land allotted or to
get access to energy. The middle class was ready to pay a bribe to get a license to own a radio (imagine) or to get a scooter allotted before the
marriage in the family. People were ready to bribe to get small things in life
which should have been available anyway.
Though things changed dramatically post
liberalisation in 1991, the scourge was deeply ingrained and refused to go.
Greasing a few palms to get things done fast became a way of life. People were
justifiably incensed by it and were desperate for someone who would free them
from this evil. Herein lands a Party that promised the moon and made fighting
corruption its plank. People of Delhi, desperate as they were first gave 28/70
seats (29.49% votes) to them. Once in power, they indulged in a lot of drama
and when things out of controlled resigned within a few months. But the level
of desperation remained in the people and the propaganda using the media
continued. Result, they came again to power, this time with 67/70 seats (54.3% votes).
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| Delhi State Assembly |
Delhi faces a unique challenge. It has a
state government, however, it is also ruled by the nominee of the Centre, the
Lieutenant Governor. It has a police force that is controlled by the Central
government. Law & Order and land issues are also controlled by the Central
government. To allow for smooth functioning of the system, the constitution was
amended in 1991 (69th Amendment) and rules of business were
established. I am not aware as to why such a complicated system is in place,
but, I do understand that the constitution is amended after a lot of
deliberation and a very rigorous constitutional process. Also the present
system is in accordance with the constitution. The system has functioned
smoothly under a number of government since 1991.
If the incumbent government is not happy
with the arrangement and if it wants the control of police, law & order and
land, then the right way is to follow the due process of law and get the
constitution amended again so that these powers are vested with the state government.
On the contrary, newspaper reports indicate that orders have been passed that
the due process and rules may not be followed and all matter be resolved without
the approval of the Lieutenant Governor. This, I think is gross violation of
the rule of law. The scary part is, the law makers themselves are not following
the rules. Members of this party have show disregard for law and rules in the
past also. This, in my opinion is a dangerous situation. Also, it appears like
a ploy to create unprecedented situations that would lead to an opportunity for
hype and propaganda and break down of law and order in future.
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| Parliament in Session |
I love a peaceful and prosperous India,
where the rule of law is followed, democracy is respected, due legislative
process is followed to amend laws & rules and which is also free of
corruption.
It’s a wake up call for political parties
which believe in the concept of a democratic India, please do all you can to
reign in corruption and don’t just pay lip service. Bring people back from the
brink of desperation so that they can take rational decisions and not get
swayed by one point agenda propaganda.
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