It’s Sad, Our Politics

You and I do not decide elections. Then there are loads of you’s and I’s who do not vote either.

The sad part is the quest of power and how murky it all is. I do not question the quest for power. After all if your chosen profession is politics, then the quest to hold a position in a ruling party has to be there. I do however question and feel disturbed by qualifying politics as a profession. Political life has over the years transcended into a profession. A lucrative one. Everyone wants a bite of it for five years – everything else is negotiable – from ethics to integrity, from values to morals, from friends to enemies and enemies to friends – everything.

There is an election. Presumably the most important occurrence in a democracy. The election to elect the parliament of India, a government, a Prime Minister. If we were to study the occurrences of just the last few months, it’s enough for all of us to feel insulted.

I find it very strange after just reading the manifestos issued by two largest political parties that they don’t present a clear vision of what they plan to do over the next five years. BJP talks about a few things and conclude with saying that they will immediately take steps for security and for the economy. Like you have a choice in these two areas. Congress, interestingly says that only a united India can fight terrorism. I am very keen to know what the congress has done for uniting India. I don’t see them having the ability to keep even five allies united. I am not saying the both these parties have no agenda for the country. They do. In their program for 2009-2014 there are some good things listed. These things, however, are job responsibilities and nothing more. It should be done anyways. The very fact that these things are presented to be done between 2009-14 says that in the previous years they weren’t done. The previous years mean this current Congress government and the previous BJP government. Basic conclusion that can be drawn is none of the two governments have done their job well and hence they say they will now. They have been incompetent.

The sad part is they you and I have a choice of choosing which incompetence we want to be led by. In all probability one of the two will form the government over the next few weeks. If not, the third one promises to be even more disastrous. None of the two or even three have a vision or a goal for the country – no wonder no one has a clear verdict. Yes, we may rationalize saying that it is the era of coalition politics. I find the statement absurd. Why are we in the era of coalition politics – because the voters (the country) don’t see any one leader inspiring them? We rationalize saying that regional issues come in the way of electing a central government. Why? – Again because not one person has a half decent central issue to talk about. They can’t. They all at some time or the other have been a part of creating the problem.

Their programs talk about a few things. These are good. Really good. Independent India though should have achieved them by now. Hunger free, debt free, security, independent nuclear technology etc are a few common things being raised. Our experience of the history clearly tells us that the budgets allocated for most of these things will have scams and corruption associated with them. I then find it most ironic and ridiculous when politicians talk about bringing black money back from Swiss accounts. Why doesn’t anyone talk about ending corruption and bribery in politics – not one manifesto!! Why doesn’t anyone explain where the crores (plenty of them) come from. The last estimate I read on one of the reports at rediff.com is that over 50,000 crores have been spent on this election. The Center for Media Studies (CMS) survey says the election spend is over 10,000 crores. Are we trying to claim that corporate India donates these crores to them? Or as some parties claim these amounts come in denominations of 5 and 10 by people in rallies. Get a life! Take just half of this spend that is 5000 crores – do a quick math with the theory of contributions – Average Indian attending rallies might not have the kind of money but lets still assume they donate 10  – that takes 500 crore people to rake in the mullah!

……and corruption is not a part of ‘goals’….

Such is the power of the possible returns of corruption that all morals, loyalties and integrities can be forgotten. Just seven months back everyone was aghast with Mamata Banerjee for stalling industrialization in Bengal – today she is a new found friend and the future of Bengal! Even a pro-LTTE organization is worth a hug! The government that the Left kicked – will join back and be wooed too with participation in ministries – if your voter voted for you because you were for and against an issue – that doesn’t matter, the voter is so used to betrayal anyways! The most celebrated railway minister of all times, the turnaround man can be sacrificed for another one! Toppling governments in UP and Tamilnadu can be the base of forming a central government! What about the voter who voted these governments – you petty thing, poor voter, who the hell are you?

If this is one of your choices, lets look at the other side and what they do wherever they have the power.

There is of course the everlasting issue of Godhra in Gujarat. The Christians can be burnt in Orissa. Women can be abused and hit in Karnataka. Mosque can be taken down in UP. Varun Gandhi can be such a non issue.. Hey its normal practice anyways. There is an issue in every state they enter. I have never understood why. Perhaps it appeals to some people. The strangest reality though is that no one has been held accountable till now. Will they be? No, we still only have two options. It will probably get traded between them!

We are all really nice people. We are adaptable. We embrace everything. The biggest problem, thus, is we accept too much. We accept that we don’t have a choice. We accept corruption. We accept poor governance. We accept communalism. We accept bribery. We accept that we don’t have a challenging leader. We accept inaction. We accept anything and everything in the name of system.

I don’t mean to spoil your day, present a gloomy picture but then this is reality. Yes, we accept that too and move on every single day like we will just now. I don’t have a solution that I will end this article with. I write this to search one.  Despite all of the above, we are still a growing, progressive country. May be that is why we tend to accept or ignore. It’s probably easier that way. People keep talking solutions - of good people entering politics – of electing good people – etc. Which party will these good people join??

I was discussing this article earlier in the day with a friend in politics. He was of the opinion that any election with less than 50% voter turnout should automatically mean that the other 50% have chosen none of the contesting candidates and hence that is the verdict that should prevail. No verdict should be the verdict. The candidates because they have all been rejected should not be allowed to contest the immediate next election. That way over successive period of time till the parties float a candidate who genuinely inspires people and justifies it with action there wouldn’t be any power gained by them. The system will be compelled to change. That is a solution, may be?

I asked him which party will float the bill to enact the law in the parliament? He smiled – a quiet acceptance (again…) that no one will.

When will we stop accepting and start doing? Forget doing. When will we at least stop accepting and insulting our own selves?

Yours,

Chetan Walia