Democratic (country) – just an adjective used???

The preamble of the constitution aptly defines what a democratic country is and it sounds great when it is put in words but in reality it is not that fabulous. Anything that is put in words sounds vibrant but not in pragmatism so as the case with democratic, as the common definition of the Democratic Country goes: – It is By the People, For the People and Of the People.

Political dynasty in India – Ever since India got her independence, India was of Nehru (Gandhi family’s property) where India had been ruled by Nehru family over 35 years and it was the time the true democracy had to be shaped. We should not forget the national emergency called by Indira Gandhi in 1975 just to cling to power but eventually she lost the election. Even now the political dynasty is being continued as politically amateur Rahul Gandhi is projected as the next Prime Minister. 

Communal, caste, linguistic, religious and regional politics are different versions of the divide and rule policy of British government applied here in Indian context to create vote banks and thus different vote banks are formed for the regional parties but this would jeopardize the unity of the nation. 

Still citizens are being segregated on the name of caste, creed, faith, religion, language, colour and geographical (North-Indian and South Indian) territory to create various vote bank politics and keep citizens divided. Unity in diversity is mere a myth existing and diversity is further divided into innumerable subdivisions. Citizens are not being able to enjoy even the fundamental rights that the constitution guarantees.    

The Godhra riot in 2002 which triggered communal violence in Gujarat was planned and executed by the politicians. The Ayodhya issue and the demolishment of Babarei Masjid on December 6, 1992 and the Ram temple march by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in the wake of the election to woo the voters is mere politricks . The promises given in the election campaign are never fulfilled once the politicians come in power. 

In India, the word democracy is celebrated just twice in a year; on Independence Day – August – 15 and Republic Day – January 26.   

India is governed by lobbies and mafias like real estate, coal, sand, big Corporates like Reliance and the government policies are made for them thus, the rich is getting richer and the poor is becoming poorer.   With political power and bribe the influential people in the society get their works done. India claims to be a democratic country for over 65 years, did the plight of the underprivileged and marginalized change over these decades?     

The great mystery of Netaji, political murders of Indria Gandhi, Rajeev Gandhi and butchering the political arch enemies are very common scenes in India. How many percentages of politicians are well educated? How the illiterate politicians can govern the country? The one third of our Mps and MLAs are criminals and are facing judicial probe.   

India is full of scams; 2G spectrum, Coalgate scam, Fodder Scam, Adarsh flat scam, Coffin Scam these top the list. The Coalgate scam and missing files are disgraceful matters to the country. Corruption is a way of life for Indians thus, we get to see corrupt practices from top to bottom of administration. Despite of all these, still we call it a democratic country in its true sense?  

Naxalism and terrorism have torn apart the country causing a big threat to its nationalism. Vote franchise is said to be the absolute power of the citizens but citizens are encouraged to vote only for the sake of politicians and parties to win the election with absolute majority. Once they are voted to power for the next five years the voters would not get to see their neta (leader), for the darsan of the neta the voters need to wait till the next election. We need to have such a mechanism where politicians go corrupt should be voted out from power. 

How the MLA and MP funds allocated for each constituency are being used? Once in a blue moon, the government enacts policies and bills for the so-called Aam Aadmi but the question remains; whether the benefits reach to the marginalized and underprivileged.     

Politicians took away the absolute power of The President where now he is bound to sign the bill if it is sent to him for the third time. Politicians would not make policies and get the bills passed which would axe their own existence. For an instances: there is a rule that politicians imprisoned and facing criminal case should not contest election and challenging that central government moved a bill in Parliament which was severely criticized by Supreme Court. Politicians are trying to get exempted and the political parties from the ambit of Right to Information Act as well, as it would give access to unclassified information for citizens.    

The politicians are becoming milliners and billionaires and open account in Swiss banks.  

What is happening with parliament which is the policy making body is always in deadlock. Both houses have to be in business for 110 days in a year whereas not even 12%, the houses were in session which means no policies and bills are being enacted for the common man. It is a polarizing politics that is happening. There are 37 political parties; both big and small parties; having representation in Parliament and they fight in parliament for their own political gains and to cling to power.

Of course, the subsidies are a big financial burden for the government and can’t keep giving subsidy for everything. But the government should not have given the license to the petroleum companies to hike the price of the fuel as they wish it to be. The fuel price hike reflects in all the walks of the common man and it is to grow the corporates. Are the political parties standing up for the rights of the common man? Formerly, British used to loot our country and after independence now our own men plunder our own country and its citizens – thus, the looting still continues only plunders have changed from foreign to indigenous. 

Bifurcation of the states is merely on political reasons to create vote banks for regional parties. The atrocities against women; sexual assaults, molestation, physical violence are in raise.  The slogan like Mumbai is for Mumbaikar axes the unity of the country. Despite of all these, still we call it a democratic country in its true sense?  

                

Human trafficking, female trafficking, female children feticide, honour killing, manual scavenging, child labour, child beggars and child marriage are still widespread. Even after 67 years of independence, social evils like; untouchablity, discrimination over colour, caste, religion all that are prevailing. India is a land of self-declared human gods, where they are being adored as gods and human gods amassing money in the name of religious practices and their empire is established where no one is dare to question them. It is a country where movie stars and cricket icons are being worshiped and temples are being built on their names.

Polling booth capturing, voters being forced to vote at gun point by the political parties, paying cash and getting the votes, fake voting all that are being continued in the so-call democratic country. In 2008 when CPM withdrew its support on nuclear policy, UPA government bought MPs paying huge amount of money as ransom to get that magical number to cling to power. Despite of all these, still we call it a democratic country?    

India is a land where superstition and religious fanaticism are still prevailing and riots are a common scene in the country. We get to see both extremes; from the richest man in the world from the poorest in the world in India. The ripples of egalitarianism are yet to reach to all men, to the underprivileged and marginalized.       

As it is said in Bhagavad Gita "Whenever there is decay of righteousness... and there is exaltation of unrighteousness, then I Myself come forth... for the destruction of evil-doers, for the sake of firmly establishing righteousness, I am born from age to age."The movement by Anna Hazare shows the decay of democracy which needs a complete revamp and that is the very reason that it got such a support and mileage.

Anna Hazare started an indefinite hunger strike on 5 April 2011 to exert pressure on the Indian government to enact a stringent anti-corruption law, The Lokpal Bill, 2011 as envisaged in the Jan Lokpal Bill, for the institution of an ombudsman with the power to deal with corruption in public places. The fast led to nation-wide protests in support.

I think we should adopt two-party system like in US because too many political parties would not serve the purpose of a country being democratic.  As Democratic Country is defined: – It is By the People, For the People and Of the People, not a country by a few people, for a few people and of a few people. 

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