Shouldn't We Deserve More?

No doubt there is democracy in India. Such thing can be proved many times over with prominent incidents – a most prominent leader losing an election, a Prime Minister getting disqualified by Courts for the allegation over tampered election, an independent legislator becoming Chief Minister and a tea maker becoming Prime Minister. But the quality of democracy we are enjoying is menial compared to what is promised and what is expected. Remember! Indian democracy is not fully representative! You need just one more elector than the second placed candidate to enter the house of law makers. 

 

The most important thing people expect is that their voice should be heard to the person who is sitting at the top on behalf of them. But that remains a distant dream with sporadic incidents of democracy thanks to the public, court and the media. MPs expecting bribe to raise his people’s voice inside the Parliament is an utter shame to our democracy. Biased media, corrupt judges and bureaucrats are deterring the reach of democracy. Common people should be hold equally responsible for being in a state of ignorance and self-centred.

Political parties are existing in this land because of democratic style of constitution. Yet, one must ponder over the same when it comes to intra-party democracy. Raise an alternative view; sure you would get cornered or expelled from the party. This is the state of all political parties in India. Even Sadder is the fact that many parties don’t find leaders outside certain families. From national parties to regional parties, leaders are no indifferent to nepotism. It is absurd that leaders have failed to cultivate leadership outside their families, a failure they are always reluctant to accept.

Our style of elections is equally contributing in cultivating examples of menial democracy. A candidate who had failed to win an election to House of Commons can still hover over and rule the same people who had no confidence in him – thanks to democracy and House of Elders! More sorrow is the fact that Prime Ministerial and Chief Ministerial candidates are allowed to contest in more than one constituency. Why such fearful and power thirsty are allowed is a question I ask myself over and over! Another comic act is that, people representatives (MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and Mayors) are allowed to contest in elections without tendering their resignation letter. Shouldn’t they get auto-disqualified over their application for second representation?

To attain the top post in India, except for family businesses and politics, you are expected of experience. Without having the experience of governing a district, or a state you can govern the whole country. There is no sequence of promotions to the top job. More bizarre is people have no or very little say about the person who is going to be a PM or a CM. A person who lost elections, without getting elected can still become PM or CM. All he/she need is the required number of representatives in the pocket.

Most importantly, what is the purpose of barring people only for certain period from contesting after getting convicted of criminal charges? Why can’t we bar them for life? When they are given preferences in all aspects of life, Shouldn’t the politicians, judges, police and bureaucrats be given twice the amount of punishment reserved for common? Shouldn’t the government confiscate all their extra constitutionally acquired properties and properties worth one time over as penalties? 

In spite of such other questions and ponderings, I am proud to be called an Indian and happy to be a person enjoying the degree of democracy of the land. It is said that “One shall get what oneself deserves”! Shouldn’t we deserve more for being Indians? Hoping for more!