The Need Is Indeed Now : For an Alternative Governance
Arun Kumar Wesley
It is well said that if a drunken driver is driving a car berserk on a road it is imperative to stop him from harming people and property. What if the government itself is running amok causing harm and death to its citizens? What if the government is constituitionally elected and does so? What do the citizens or any other have to do to bring it on track to an acceptable normalcy? Would an alternative be the solution?
Or do we need to frame more rules to implement? Just as rules restricting drunken driving? Drinking and driving? Driving on the road? Cautioning people not to walk on the road?
Constituitionally – led Government
The present government is constitutionally elected to govern. It abides by the Constitution even. Then how does it go off hand? Does it find loopholes in the Constitution to go berserk disregarding normally accepted societal/legal rules? How does the Constitution allow this to happen?
The present government has got numbers to prove its popularity and the winning stride to govern the nation. As with all democratic institutions, numbers matter – majority matters most. As one can garner numbers – votes, one can win. And to garner votes there is no restrictions as such to use money, muscle or threat – even electoral bonds will do; resort politics to buy MPs and MLAs are” legitimate” too. Then, where is the problem? Can we unseat the constitutionally and democratically elected government? Does the Constituion allow this?'
Where are the constitutional experts to guide us?
Conscience-less Government
The present government seems to lack conscience. It is devoid of common sense and propriety or professional courtesy. It decides as it wills. This is evident from the rules and policies taken at will to implement for example, demonetisation, GST rules, the CAA, NRC....the lockdown, the unlockdown etc., without any thought given to the people – the poor, the jobless and the migrants. However, Indians are resilient – not the rich and the elite, though they have the money power and influence; but it is the poor migrant labourers who have shown grit and determination to go their way home by any means, disregarding the government’s promises, pledges and delayed transport – hats off to these migrants. The government has lost its pledge to the nation thus and also its trust.
Where are the conscience keepers of the nation?
Conscientiously-led Government
What we need immediately is a conscientious government – a government that has its ears to the ground – with its ears to the ground reality of the nation – the exponential curve of the virus infection, the slowing economy, joblessness, poverty, poor healthcare facilities etc. We need a government that accepts constructive and suggestive dissent be it the Congress or any other; it needs to build up a rapport with the people and its needs; it needs to make efforts at nation building proper not sloganeering or mock virtual rallies while hiding behind Mann KI Baat, Atmanirbhar, Arogya setu etc. with the PMCares fund intact for buying MPs and MLAs to win states and elections.
Conscience-led Collective Response
Where are the opposition political parties? Where are the civic society movements to uphold the conscience of the people? What about the role of a collective response of all citizens? Would the religious communities across the differences find their relevance in addressing this issue? What is the role of the churches in this? If dharnas, demonstrations, protests, dissenting voices etc., fall on deaf ears of the government what recourse is there then? Do we lose hope then? Do we need to take a leaf out of all those dissenting voices and actions to bring sanity in governance – the resolute migrant labourers returning home; the sporadic dharnas against CAA etc., around Shaheenbagh; the dissenting voices of activists, economists, experts etc? Or even the common man on the street?
