"I don't really want to shake your hand."
"You won't be getting any votes down here buddy... you're out."
"What about the people who are dead now, Mr Prime Minister? What about the people who have nowhere to live?"
These were the salvos angry people fired at Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison as he toured a bushfire-ravaged town on Thursday. He was loudly heckled by locals. Local People were angry with Prime Minister for not caring to visit them earlier when they needed his help most.
Now imagine, can there be such a scenario in World's largest democracy- India? First, SPG guards will never allow people near our dear Prime Minister as he is highest protected dignitary. And if somehow the other, someone gets close to PM, he will be whisked away, dubbed as Pakistani and put behind the bars. And what about faceless chief minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gahlot who takes refuse under misdoings of others over Kota infant deaths. And what about Congress leader Priyanka Gadh Vadra? She loses no time to visit the victims when something happens in BJP-ruled states but keeps away from Congress ruled states when tragic accidents like Kota infant deaths occur. Our leaders are so shameless that instead of mourning the death of infants, Health Minister willingly and happily accepted the red carpet welcome when he visited the hospital where more than one hundred infants have died. Shame on them. Don't u think they deserve a lesson ?
India has yet to see the luminous of real democracy. See what's happening in country's largest state Uttar Pradesh. The other day news channel, Aajtak relayed a live report on those who were held responsible for spreading violence during protests against Citizenship Amended Act and were issued notices for damage claim. And among them were many nonagenarians either bed-ridden or unable even to stand straight. Yet they were booked for damaging public properties, simply they happened to be Muslims. Its no democracy Mr. Yogi. There is no rule of law. On the contrary, demagogues rule the roost and hatred and prejudices overpower the law of the land.
And sadly most of our enlightened people, budhijivis (intellectuals) and social activists are not moved for fear of backlash from ruling "mafia". Those, including present rulers, who have seen the dark days of emergency can recollect how the atmosphere of fear had engulfed the nation.There were "arbitrary arrests and detentions", same as what is happening in UP and elsewhere on protests against CAA and what happened in Kashmir earlier. All these developments just damage our economy and put brakes on fast growth. It happened during emergency and is slowing down the growth as of now.
But history reminds us the uprising against tyranny and authoritarian rule can't last for long. Sooner than later, the uprising manifests in people's anger as we have seen post emergency. BJP leaders (then Jansangh) were witness to this universal phenomenon. How sad, they haven't learnt a lesson.
(Chander Sharma)