Rubber Stamp Democracy

Don't say or see anything, get it boys?

With the election of Pranab Mukherjee to the highest constitutional post in the country, we have taken yet another step towards becoming a rubber stamp democracy. With the election of the long time minister and parliamentarian, we no doubt have a ‘qualified’ individual in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, but we have in the process added another lame duck in a long list of individuals who have found themselves occupying the biggest house in the country on the basis of their loyalty and their capability for total submission to political bosses.

The way the last few presidential elections have panned out (barring Dr. Kalam’s) the entire process has been either about finding someone totally incapacitated to interfere with what the government does or to find an honourable retirement option for a long term servant (to the family). Pranabda has the unique position of satisfying both the criterion. Though he might seem like an acceptable choice to the uninitiated and our congress loving media, the intentions behind him being elected speak of the ills marring our democracy.

Not only has he been shooed out of the government to pave way for Rahul Baba to emerge as the only option for the PM’s post come 2014, Pranab Mukherjee has also been thrown out  because his position in the cabinet was rivalling that of the Prime Minister’s. And that god sent North Korean-esque right belongs alone to Sonia Gandhi. Or Rahul.

It also helps that the next general elections are around the corner. And who better than the family’s trusted aide for decades to be in the position most crucial to government formation. God forbid the congress does not get 272 in 2014 or earlier (that is if Mulayam Singh’s plans bear fruit), because they think they will every time, their proven handyman will, well come in handy. Pranabda, would have served his life’s purpose. The trusted servant handing over the keys to the empire to the prince. Rajiv and Indira would have been so proud!

For once I thought, naively I admit, that the cold calculations that have gone into past presidential elections would have favoured P.A Sangma’s candidature for the top post. He after all meets many of the criteria required off the President, as have been defined by the past elections. He is in the minority, many minorities actually. He is short, from the north-east, belongs to the scheduled tribes, is well spoken etc. His candidature would have been perfectly in sync with the minority bill filling status of our last few presidents. Woman – minority, woman in long sleeves – double minority. Scientist – minority, Muslim scientist from the South of India – election ticket!

Poor Sangma almost made it on his multiple minority status. But that was until the Gandhi family asked themselves the silly question of who, in the wildest of imaginable scenarios has the ability to challenge Rahul baba within the party. And somebody whispered Pranabda. Poof! And a couple of months later he is the President! Because that is the biggest minority of all. No one in the congress party can dare to even think of becoming the PM until someone, anyone of electable age is alive in the Gandhi Family. Narasimha Rao was a speed bump, a mistake never to be made again. The way the party has purged itself of anybody with ambitions has made sure that if the congress is to come to power, the Gandhi family will continue to rule.

Honesty Is Overrated

Especially in our country, where it is the exception to the rule. Things have been deteriorated to such a level that merely being honest is sufficient criteria to be India’s prime minister. For the second time running. When certain civil activists raised the issue of mass scale misappropriations in the coal ministry, headed by our PM, the party and the government came out in strong defence of Dr. Singh. He is honest they said. Whatever happened to competence, integrity and all such virtues desirable of the leader of a nation, any nation? Whatever happened to his duty to uphold the law, to work within it? To not just seem to be honest, but to execute his duties, honestly.

We all knew Dr. Singh’s fondness for keeping mum; must we now start appreciating his blindness to what goes on in his government too? When are we going to have enough of him prostrating in front of his political bosses and ask him to get on with the job of governance? Why have we as a nation set such low standards for ourselves, why are we content or indifferent to such incompetence? Here is a man, devoid of any meaningful influence in the government, and yet he is allowed to fumble around the south block posing as a man in control of a nation of more than a billion!

Dr. Singh is by far the worst prime minister we have ever had. He has led a government which in its time has managed to reverse the economic growth of the country, seen unprecedented evidence of ubiquitous corruption and a total breakdown of governance. Yet, we treat him as some messiah from heaven. The one who could not be corrupted. In his time we have witnessed the worst of coalition politics, with measly ‘partners’ impeding day to day functioning of the world’s largest bureaucracy. He is a man who has little respect amongst his peers, why else would people like Mamata Banerjee Mulayam Singh Yadav and Karunanidhi be such important decision makers.

And the press is completely silent. They are more interested on when Rahul baba is going to jump in the fray rather than asking some tough questions from the current prime minister. In a shameful misplaced display of loyalty to the country Vinod Mehta is asking questions of Barak Obama. He would do better to look within and do his job properly to begin with rather than taking cheap shots something totally irrelevant to us.

The guardian recently called Dr. Singh, Sonia Gandhi’s poodle. And our press sits idly by analyzing Digvijay Singh’s verbal diarrhoea for clues on when Rahul Gandhi will honour us with his presence in the government. Instead of feeling indignant, it is time we woke up and looked within. And recognize this government for what it is. An utter failure.

Important legislation is stuck in parliament, ministers have been arrested, the economy is in shambles, military-govt relations have never been worse and essential reforms have been forgotten. The only positive aspect that this government can somewhat take credit for is the fact they are still in power. Only if they had shown the same deftness in managing national concerns as they have shown while handling Mamta, DMK, Ajit Singh, things would have been much better today. Alas, this government is of the view that staying in power is its number one priority. While some of the readers might say, why not, I would like to remind them of one simple thing – governance. And the two are not linked. If you can’t govern, you get the hell out. You don’t cling on to the gaddi for however longer you can. Imagine if average Indians started hanging on to their jobs after being told they suck at it. I mean in the non-government sectors of course. Why do we accept exceptionally low standards of our government officers when the same is not applicable to the average Indian?

Surprisingly the only opposition to his rule has come from within the Congress party. Though their motives are hard to guess, to think of that the only challenge is from a cherubic looking, untested member of parliament is reflective of the despondency of the situation.

At a time when one would think, the circumstances were congenial for the opposition to make a decisive move, the people have been let down yet again. In the face of the whole nation surrendering its right to question and protest; only one person can save us from this situation. Dr. Singh, if you have any shame or self-respect or any sense of duty, one angry columnist urges you to step down. Do what you have not in either of your terms. Show courage and take a stand. Stand Down.