Mohammed Obaidulla Sharief Chief Editor, The Daily Pasban
The current government under Mr. Narendra Modi is the first government in post- independent India that is resolutely bent upon destroying the democratic and federal systems in the country. Apparently, it claims to respect constitutional values but in reality, believes in taking measures that are unconstitutional. It harbours antipathy to strengthening democratic and federal structures. It cannot withstand anyone who points out a finger at the policies made by it. It feels revulsion when controversial provisions of parliamentary bills or enactments are objected to. The ultimate intent of the party in power at the center is to form its governments in all the states by deploying all means whether justifiable or otherwise. In the states where the party is out of power, it is making all bids to deprive the state governments of their legitimate powers and rights. This is done by resorting to different arm-twisting techniques, sometimes by denying the budgetary allocations for the schemes or through some other means.
The rationale behind such tricks is to tarnish the image of the governments of the opposition parties in the non-BJP ruled states so that in the next polls the BJP could reap the electoral benefits in those states. The attitude shown by the government in the last monsoon session of the Parliament compels everyone to think that Mr. Narendra Modi is running a dictatorship in the guise of democracy. The opposition parties were seeking answers from the government to various issues such as pegasus surveillance, farmers agitations, rising prices of diesel, petrol, and essential commodities but the government turned a deaf ear to the questions. The arrogant behavior of the government has disappointed not only the citizens of the country but also the BJP members who revere the democratic spirit. These members of the ruling party instead of registering their dislike for the behavior of the government in the close-doors have come out in public to do so. These members alongside have counseled the opposition parties that their acts of creating ruckus and tearing the controversial bills will damage democracy and lower the prestige of the country before the international community.
Among such members, Mr. Nitina Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, is one who has tried to awaken the conscience of the leaders of his party to the democratic traditions. It is his courageous nature that has propelled Mr. Gadkari to point out a finger at the Prime Minister of the country else there is no one in the party who has the nerve to express his opinion on Narendra Modi and Amit Shah leave alone opposing them. Mr. Gadkari‘s statement on the most strong leader of the BJP and the Prime Minister has been so powerful that it has rekindled hope in the opposition which prior to Mr. Gadkari’s articulation had fallen into slumber under the perception of helplessness. The union minister has spelled out how the behavior of the people in power and the opposition should be and has suggested that lessons should be drawn from the lives and styles of governance of Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee as they were paragons of Indian Democracy. They showed us the ways to promote and safeguard democracy. Mr. Gadkari by denoting Mr. Nehru as a person of high caliber has proved that the efforts of the entire BJP team in trying to project Modi as a savior is not a proper disposition. His declaration that it is the duty of the government to run the parliament proceedings and if the house lands in disorder it is the failure of the government is a correct proposition in terms of parliamentary temperaments. The opposition has an obligation to question the policies of the government.
Undoubtedly, the bold and brave statement of Mr. Gadkari must have made Narendra Modi and Amit Shah get goosebumps but they cannot do anything as the remarks of Gadkari are nothing short of realities. Other than that, Mr. Gadkari enjoys the support of the RSS which constraints Narendra Modi and Amit Shah to take any action against the union minister. If such a statement had come from any other person in the BJP that member would have received a termination order in no time. While reacting to the worsening conditions and the deteriorating parliamentary values, Mr. Gadkarihas commented that the ruling party and the opposition should introspect and learn to behave in a dignified manner. He informed that Nehru always respected Vajpayee and used to say that opposition is necessary for a healthy democracy.
In a programme organized by the Hindi News channel “News Nation’, Mr. Gadkari said that Nehru and Vajpayee always said that they would uphold democratic values. Declaring Nehru as a person of extraordinary merit and caliber is no less important when it has come from a person like Gadkari who is known to have vast knowledge about politics and its dynamics. When everyone in his own party is trying to defame Nehru, the stand of Gadkari in uncloaking the traits of Nehru in promoting and safeguarding democracy calls everyone to correct their estimations about Nehru. By holding a mirror to the realities, Mr. Gadkari has revealed that the strengthening of democracy can only bolster the progress and development of India Even the slightest error in our endeavours could prove dangerous to the integrity and unity of the country. All said and done, governments will come and go but everyone whether he is a leader or an ordinary citizen must serve the country to make it great. In the words of the famous poet Raahat Indori:
Jo Aaaj Saheb-e-Masnad Hain Kal Nahi Honge
(Those on the throne today, may not be there tomorrow)
Kirayedaar Hani Zati Makkan Thodi Hai
Tenants (after all), not the owners of (any) personal property
