Shaveta Sharma
The tragedy which happened in Uttrakhand last month has taken everyone’s breath not only in our country but in the entire world. The mere pictures of the devastation send shivers to body. Many thousands lost their lives and many thousands got severe injuries…and the fearful scenes of the devastation are still haunting and would haunt the minds of countless people for the stretched time to come. The time has proved one more time that how dwarf and helpless we are- the human beings before the nature and her wrath. Over one lac people have been rescued by the brave army personnel in this operation- salute to the army men for their selfless and valiant gesture. Our nation and nationals are going through such emotional havoc at the present time but some of our reputed politicians; so called public representatives are less worried and concerned for the plight of the victims and their shattered families and more oriented towards gaining the political footage and publicity. Is it a political norm or compulsion that every issue even if it’s a tragic one should be exploited for gaining appreciation or political gains?
But why in India, especially in the times of national crisis, our politicians always try to gain political mileage and make all the issues- a hyper-political stuff?
Some of the leading and reputed leaders of BJP and other political parties demand the resignation of the Chief-Minister of flood-hitten state of Uttrakhand and his whole cabinet on the charge of mismanagement of rescue operation there. But here arises one question- is the resignation of CM and his cabinet a more immediate need of the hour and would it pacify the level of physical and emotional wreckage which the victims and their families are experiencing? No doubt, strict actions should be taken against those who adopted lackadaisical approach but some of our dear politicians are too impatient to wait for the right time. They value political gains more to the endangered lives. Our army men, media, civil defense organizations, NGO’s and many civilians are helping out the victims there by extending any and every kind of assistance possible to deal with this distressed situation. But why in India, especially in the times of national crisis, our politicians always try to gain political mileage and make all the issues- a hyper-political stuff?
It seems like demanding of resignation from the ruling party by the opposition in every state has become a political- fashion statement these days. It is interesting to note that when the question of hiking their salaries and allowances is there; the same politicians stand as one man and clears the bills in no time without any contradiction or argument then why they never show this unity, willingness and collective efforts in the times of national crisis?
Instead of healing the wounds of the victims, some selfish politicians try to tantalize the issue, exaggerate the loop holes and over-publicize the mismanagement. How many politicians really lauded the extraordinary and selfless work done by our armed personnel during the crisis? …may be not even a dozen of them. The game of pointing fingers at one other, playing the muddy games and entangling one other in conspiracies are the common pawns to be played with in the political game of chess-board is a different thing but playing with people’s emotions and misguiding and demoralizing the already devastated victims is another thing which is not accepted at all.
May god grant peace to the departed souls and give strength to their grieved families in this hour of crisis. In the end, I just want to request the reputed politicians of our country that atleast during such kind of tragic times, please show some restraint; characteristics of statesmanship and stop over-politicizing every issue for political gains…for god’s sake.
(The writer is a PhD scholar in the Department of Political Science, University of Jammu.)
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