The Murder of Democracy

[Racha Rache]

“The spirit of democracy is not a mechanical thing to be adjusted by abolition of forms. It requires change of heart”.- Mohandas Gandhi

What we witnessed in the Karnataka Assembly is day light assassination of Democracy by our elected representatives. It was pandemonium and free-for-all situation, where even Non-MLAs participated in the trust vote. The speaker declared, amidst chaos, that the BJP government had won the trust of the Assembly through voice vote. It is a big joke on democracy and made Indian democracy look like a configuration of jokers and the Assembly House a Circus.

It is not the question of who abused the constitution, whether it was BJP or Congress or JD(S), the crisis once again calls for a change of Indian Democracy. It strengthens the calls for provisions for recall referendums

The frequent instances governments falling, states going under President's rule, votes becoming commercial commodities in legislative bodies are not new for Indian voters. They picture the sad state of democracy in the country. The representative democracy has been reduced into business of votes and political strategy, instead of being a system where the voters are truly represented by a set of elected representatives.

Our representatives in the Parliamentary bodies continue to behave patently to indulge in horse trading to barter their vote and audaciously betray the trust bestowed on them by the voters while in power. They change allegiance at a drop of hat.

The democrats should express disquiet over the developments in Karnataka and should take thoughtful note of the manipulation of the democracy by the members who behaved like a bunch of rowdies. Prima facie, sources feel that the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, the anti-defection law, has been abused .Experts feel that the abuse of the anti-defection law was more so in the case of disqualification of independents.

The political drama that outspread over the past week in Karnataka is a perfect example of elected members going infuriated and it was perfect example for marketing behavior. The august office of the Governor, far from being “the professional imposition of a coherent moral consensus of constitution, has become an intensely political activity with the Governors often facilitating and participating in the politics of the ruling Parties.

Although, constitutional protection is the overarching component of the strategy for smooth functioning of Parliamentary institutions that the August Offices of Governors are not functioning as required. A study of the entire procedure that concluded into the above political drama in the Karnataka Assembly brings forth the deplorable state of affairs in protecting the principles of constitution by dignified bodies.

The development once again reminds us that, the country is forced to rethink and review its systems and practices with respect to the prevailing situation. Change is never stress-free, but is essential for the all-round progress of the nation. A demand for provision like “Recall Referendums” would categorically face impediments especially from the political province. But the important questions is whether our country is ready for the change and are Indians ready to fight for that change.

[canny surya]

kothaga jarigindhi emi undi ikada  !q# !q#

[syeddon]

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