Shiban Khaibri
As against what we were taught about what politics was all about, we see it is apparently undergoing depreciative phases in our country, day in and day out. The art or science of Government or governing is fast changing into pure trade and commerce, a worthwhile career or in simpler words one suffused with unethical ways and corrupted by money, muscle and musket. It is largely reduced to intrigues, maneuverings, show downs and even trading insinuations. Our politicians, most of them especially when out of power, want to employ means to underscore any good and innovative work and plans undertaken by the Government not because they were principally against that but because that would endear the incumbent government to the masses and their chances to make it to the governing seat would recede, if not become difficult. A wrestler demonstrates his feats in an arena, many of our lawmakers show their strength in houses of Parliament or in state legislatures, many a time not by debates and discussions but by creating ruckus and pandemonium so much so that to embarrass the Government and oppose it, criticize it and level all types of charges seems to be the guiding principle of politicking.
During the Presidential address to the joint session of both houses of the Parliament at the start of the budget session on Jan 31, one of the members, E. Ahamed of Indian Union Muslim League suffered a massive cardiac arrest in the house and later passed away. Congress led select opposition parties raised hue and cry, Malik Arjun of the Congress even wanted to compromise with the constitutional obligation of presentation of the Budget in the Parliament after the President had given his permission, to defer it by a day and go in for adjournment. Politics has plummeted to such levels that there should be manufactured tantrums and creating of scenes even on trifles? The aim very often is to impress the public, the media and to put the government in the dock all by resorting to such gimmicks. Rahul Gandhi joined protests with black bands in Parliament complex over the “issue” of the death of E. Ahamed, but why? A controversy is stitched that the Government delayed announcing his death and an issue was made out of it. Later the demand that his death should be probed into looks that the main aim, under absolutely non issues is to create commotion and protests to discredit the Government.
A simple question could be asked as to what gains, political or otherwise, the Government stood to pocket by delaying the news about the death of the MP. Is there any sense, any logic or any substance in the bull and cock type story that the government wanted to ” detain ” the body of the deceased as also “hide” his death to facilitate presentation of the budget? While his death is unfortunate, should Congress argue that the ruling dispensation led by the BJP “has” got to be held responsible even in matters exclusively in the domain of the Almighty.?
Did not the professional Doctors of the hospital where the MP was rushed instantaneously for treatment and who attended on him, issue clarifications to remove even the remotest doubts ? Did not they even clarify that it was not the practice to let anyone see the critical patient getting treatment in the ICU of the hospital and then why the issue that Ahamed’s relatives were ill treated in the hospital, perhaps at the instance of their bete noire Modi? That the otherwise insipid demand of the Congress led select opposition for constituting a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe his death seems a ploy to moot out possibilities to have the current session too washed away in protests, walk outs, continuous noises and ruckuses .That is the type of politics despised as it goads towards wastage of time, energy, not addressing priorities and caring not two hoots for the public money getting wasted as the cost of running Parliamentary proceedings is enormous.
Another type of politics practiced by politicians, as it recently happened relates to even showing disrespect or “Be-adabi” towards the Holy Gita by politician CM Kejriwal. A delegation of Chanda Bandh Satyagrah led by its convener Munish Raizada went to the bungalow of Kejriwal in the elite civil lines of Delhi to present to him the Holy book on 5th instant. After a long wait, only three persons including Raizada were allowed inside the bungalow while other members were humiliated and made to sit on the road outside. They had gone to know as to why he had allegedly fielded 21 candidates in Punjab with criminal background, 9 with charges like rape, kidnapping, murder and burglary since he had promised to fight tainted and criminal elements in politics before assuming power. Raizada, in a press release said, “Aa Aa Party is fooling the people of Punjab with the ideals and the policy which they never follow, “Karma” has its way of justice and it is done sooner than later.” It further said,” Kejriwal came in politics with promises of transparency in political funding and to end criminality in politics. Of late, this party has complied with corrupt practices by obliterating its promises and policies.” Deeds and words poles apart notwithstanding, Kejriwal can afford to show disrespect to the immortal treatise of mankind , the Holy book that deals with everything both spiritual and materialistic and which is held in highest esteem the world over, shows the despicable grade of politics pursued by leaders of the ilk of Kejriwal. Less said the better about the tone and tenor of his speeches and when it comes to sniping political rivals.
These days , now for nearly a week, it is Sasikala or the Chinnama versus Paneerselram of Tamil Nadu being discussed and debated elaborately in all TV Channels and in print media after the Jallikattu “episode” which ran for nearly a fortnight. It is strange type of politics that a CM of a state is asked to resign to pave the way for the one not elected by the people but supposed to be quite close to Poes Garden for nearly 30 years even braving hiccups in relations in between with its occupant Jayalilathaa. The personality cult is permeated so deep in politics in India that barring 9 “principled” legislators supporting the outgoing CM , all others are with Chinnama Sasikala and want her to be the CM. While a division in the AIADMK is the aim of the DMK and the Congress , the latter has not spared even this opportunity to park the reasons of Tamil Nadu crisis at the doors of the BJP. Congress “official” spokesman going to the extent of charging “the centre” with playing with the Tamil Pride. See the level of politics. While Paneerselam should thank his stars that a Sita Ram Kesri type “Congress” treatment of “relieving of responsibilities” was not meted out to him , he should comfort himself with Lallu Yadav anointing Rabri Devi as CM and the UP drama where father son duo were enacting scenes and acts of political drama to hoodwink people , gain double sympathy and obtain votes.
The debates in the Parliament on the President’s address was interesting to note especially Malik Arjun Kharge whose query to Modi was,” Gandhi Ji and Indira Ji sacrificed their lives for the nation, who came from your home, not even a DOG ?” Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha trading words ie; “a dog” is justified and none from the opposition benches objected to such a low level of debating but when the PM took a jibe at Dr. Manmohan Singh for his remarks of “organized loot and plunder” , the analogy for the demonetization by saying that he uses a rain coat while taking a bath as he remained unscathed despite so many scams taking place in his Government , the Congress staged a walk out .
It is shocking to find that all political parties have no problems in fielding candidates with serious criminal records in ensuing Assembly elections in UP. A total of 37% have serious criminal records. While BJP leads in fielding such candidates, the other parties are BSP, RLD, SP, INC and independents. So it is only empty discourses, swamped “high” speeches and hollow claims when politicians promise fighting criminality in politics and politics in criminality. How much the pain of this country is disturbing the politicians’ sleep can be gauged by their election manifestoes where none has chalked out a strategy on war footing to fight population explosion in our country. Precisely because vote banks would get affected even marginally, not a single party has given a go – by to arithmetic of castes, sub- castes, religions, etc while choosing candidates for elections. Wherefrom and whence shall our politics be fair to cleanse the systems is quite baffling. It is because of these and many other reasons, politics is ab- initio abhorred and politicians’ intentions doubted.
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