Praising democracy amidst perils it faces
By Vinod Varshney
To praise Indian democracy as Modi did in Madison Square Garden, New York without making efforts to strengthen its core or paying attention to its fundamental values is nothing but chicanery. One major shortcoming of our democratic system is that it sometimes results in majoritarian rule by a party, and immense power goes with it, even while leaving out a whole community as large as fourteen percent of the country’s population. Look at the absurdity of the situation: the BJP government with 282 members in the Lok Sabha has a massive mandate, but it does not represent Muslims; yet it targets them in various ways, like raising the bogey of ‘love jihad’ and imposing ban on entry to garba venues without an ID card (a way to screen out Muslims). Such patently discriminatory approach presents a grave danger to our parliamentary democracy and even our very survival as a free nation.
      Free media and independent judiciary are two important pillars of democracy and they keep it in good health in normal times. But these are not normal times and condition of these props is getting worrisome. Attempts are being made to weaken their very foundation itself. The media today is largely owned by private players, some based abroad. It was thought that with expansion into new fields with immense reach and possibilities, media would be freer and competitive. But the opposite is happening. During Lok Sabha elections the entire range of media was unashamedly campaigning for just one person; it is doing the same even five months after. Many specialists who keep a tab on media aver that this behaviour of media is unprecedented. Except during the emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi, the media had never been so partisan and one-sided. It seems the media are now totally under the control of vested interests. Not a good sign for healthy democracy!      The situation in the judiciary is equally perturbing. Many eminent jurists have expressed concern about the changes contemplated in the system of selection of judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts. The recently retired chief justice of India R M Lodha thinks that the National Judicial Appointments Commission is a potential threat to the independence of judiciary, which we all know should be non-negotiable. Justice Lodha firmly believes that the current collegium system, with all its shortcomings is much better, since judges are best suited to select and appoint judges. They know all about ‘court craft, skill, legal knowledge and other important aspects of justice-delivery’. Only those who wish to use judiciary for their own ends will think otherwise. Judges getting in through any opaque route would be pliable because they would be looking for jobs post-retirement. ‘You scratch my back, I will do yours.’ That is the common approach.      It is no secret that the biggest litigant in the country today is the government. It has, therefore, its interest in having judges to do its bidding. The likes of Lalu Yadav, Yeddyurappa, Jayalalithaa, Om Prakash Chautala, Madhu Koda—their number is increasing by the day—could not have been sent to jail if we did not have an independent and fearless judiciary. Cancellation of 124 telecom and 214 coal mining licences would not have been possible with pliant judges. But things might change for the worse if we are not vigilant and do not keep independence of judiciary non-negotiable. The National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha without a single vote opposing it. It is a wake-up call for us. All democracy lovers, independent judiciary and free media are the guarantors of your freedom and chosen way of life. Keep them sacrosanct, undefiled by corruption and communalism.
The Article was first published in the monthly magazine of political affairs, the ' Lokayat' (October, 2014 issue)

Pak given a befitting reply

Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, who had durin

Narendra Modi

g his election campaign spoken repeatedly of improving relations with India, to the shock of everybody in India raked up the Kashmir issue, and the six decade old UN resolution regarding self determination in his address to the United Nations General Assembly. His die-hard anti-India approach reflected in his another statement opposing addition in the number of permanent seats in the Security Council. Prime minister Narendra Modi as a mature statesman cautioned the Pak leader that raising issues in the UN might derail the efforts to resolve them between the two countries. He also made clear his government’s policy of advancing friendship and cooperation with neighbouring countries, asserting that the same policy applies to Pakistan as well. He told ‘he was prepared to engage in a serious bilateral dialogue with Pakistan in peaceful atmosphere, without the shadow of terrorism to promote friendship and cooperation’. He urged that Pakistan must also take its responsibility seriously to create an appropriate atmosphere for dialogue. Nawaz Sharief had blamed India ‘for another missed opportunity’ to address outstanding issues by cancelling the foreign secretary level talk after the Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit’s talk with Kashmiri separatists in Delhi.
The Article was first published in the monthly magazine of political affairs, the ' Lokayat' (October, 2014 issue)

Rajdeep Sardesai mobbed and abused

Sorce: indiaopines.com

As happens often in India, attacking and mobbing critics are common in all countries.  AAP volunteers are routinely attacked by Modi-bhaktas in India. But when a similar thing happened outside the Madison Square Garden in New York to one of the most popular and talented TV anchors, Rajdeep Sardesai, now a consulting editor of the Headlines Today, it came as a shock. He was mobbed and abused by hundreds of frenzied Modi supporters who had organised a dazzling rock star-like show for the visiting PM. The event had all the ingredients of a political rally. Videos available on social media sites show that Sardesai did also lose his cool and became combative with those who were abusing him and shouting ‘Sardesai murdabad’. He was seen asking the mob whether Modi had ‘told you to do so, or America has taught you to behave like this’. A very large section of the media fraternity expressed concern at the mobbing attempts to stop journalists doing their job freely. 

     The Sardesai incident immediately went viral on the social media. Worried supporters of Modi then uploaded a video showing Sardesai aggressively hurling a punch towards an abuser. Several people asked why he was asking provocative questions while covering the event. But the questions he asked were of general nature, like: ‘What do you expect Modi to say in his address? Can one man (Modi) change India? Did you pay your way for a ticket to Madison Square Garden? Has the media been unfair to Modi?’  They were not offensive by any standard. But for some reason Sardesai had been on the receiving end of Modi supporters even during Lok Sabha elections.

     Very much in tune with his marketing style, Modi succeeded in presenting a rare show at the Madison Square Garden, one of the ten costliest venues in the world. His supporters, numbering 400 odd organisations, had invited Indo-Americans to participate for free on ‘first come first served basis’. And they came in droves and jam-packed the stadium cheering and shouting ‘Modi-Modi-Modi’ at every sentence he uttered. He indeed was able to send good TV images back home, where channels kept on repeating them ad nauseam.

The Article was first published in the monthly magazine of political affairs, the ' Lokayat' (October, 2014 issue)