INDIAN POLITICAL SCENE

Dr. R. Gangadhara Sastry

In recent times a large variety of national and international events with serious consequences have taken place in quick succession. Though the system had received such severe and serious jolts due mainly to a sudden and highly unexpected turn of events there still appears to be a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel. The chemistry of the coalition appears to be working more rationally in these days than earlier by the preparedness with which the partners exhibit their willingness to work for the success of the coalitional arrangements. Though the rapid and quick succession of those harmful events have severely rocked the Government, they did not succeed in dislodging it from power. Starting from the political-ethnic turmoil in Sri Lanka and Fiji Islands, to the presently burning problems of a series of bomb blasts across the country leading to the death of an ever increasing number of innocent citizens all go to prove that the country though prospering economically is in the thick of complex political problems with no solution in sight.

As a matter of fact it would really be a shocking experience if one would make an attempt to list out all those crisis - like situations that have shaken the entire country to its core in the recent past and in fact it would be some lasting benefit if we could recapitulate the following events:

• the dilemma with respect to deciding on the option - out of all the options available of a policy to be pursued towards the strife ridden groups - in Sri Lanka and Fiji Islands:
• the serial bomb blasts that have shaken large parts of the nation, organised at the behest of militant communal organisations like, the Deendar Anzuman and Hizbul Mujahudin:
• the Maharastra Government’s decision to reopen the old case against Bal Thackery and the threat call or challenge thrown at the Maharastra Government by the Shiv Sena supremo and the events that followed:
• the pronegative statements of Jethmalani the former Union Law Minister that caused embarrassment to the BJP lead National Government;
• Pakistan’s involvement in the brutal massacre of a large number of innocent Kashmiris unquestionably aimed at bringing the peace talks between the Hizbul and the Government of India to sudden halt only to gain somehow or other a place for themselves in peace process;
• the sudden and untimely demand for autonomy raised by the Chief Minister of Kashmir with a dangerous enough potential to pull down the NDA coalition Government;
• the disgraceful match-fixing issues that put the country, our cricketers and officials in a tight spot both at the national and international levels;
• the unilateral cease fire announcement by the Hizbul Muzahideen on July 24th and sensational events that followed - including a warning that they would cause unprecedented violence in India if Pakistan were not given role in the peace-talks on Kashmir issue and
• the equally disturbing trends of kidnapping prominent figures for a ransom in the form of either several crore of rupees or release of hard core criminals in exchange, by terrorists for a dacoits and criminals as in the case of kidnapping of a Union Minister’s daughter, or the hijacking of an aeroplane or a prominent film actor etc; show the Centre or the Stale Governments in poor light.

The Bal Thackery issue that turned out to be a political gimmick enacted by the NDA and the Maharastra Government had in fact put the entire nation on a trial. With the threat hurled at the Government, Bal Thackery could get away from the regular course of trial for his role in the riots following the Babri Masjid demolition thus sending wrong signals to entire nation putting the democratic rule to shame. And the whole issue has once again proved the futility of appointing Commissions to probe into issues and come out with reports that are never implemented. Mean while the former Union Law Minister’s big mouth has lead to the questioning of the collective responsibility principle which is the basis for the successful working of the parliamentary mechanism. The Prime Minister had in fact saved the situation by seeking the resignation of the former Union Law Minister - who exceeded his limits by attempting to drag both the Chief Justice and the Attorney General of India into an avoidable controversy. The deft handling of “peace-talks offer” issue by Hizbul and the following events by the Prime Minister prove once again the success of isolating Pakistan in the international context. Though from many quarters voices were raised against the stand taken by the Government of India - one should not forget the fact that Pakistan has not yet changed its policy of cross border terrorism. The international community should grant due weightage to the enormous efforts put in by the Government of India for containing terrorism all over the world though pressure is being brought on it to invite Pakistan for talks. Knowing perfectly well that, it is Pakistan which has been exporting terrorism to various parts of the world and that the terrorist and the criminal elements are patronised by it with special interest in promoting perpetual strife in India in general and Jammu & Kashmir in particular there is no reason as to why certain nations should, attempt to prevail upon India for engaging the Pakistan military regime in a dialogue. The fact that, though Pakistan has lost its case over Jammu & Kashmir on a number of occasions including militarily, and knowing well that Pakistan has never been sincere in its commitments to bi-lateral understandings, there is certainly no meaning in inviting Pakistan to peace-talks. Under such prevailing conditions Pakistan should either restore democracy which is essential, or put in efforts towards establishing its credibility by desisting from exporting terrorism and promoting violence in order to become worthy of being talked to. Let the world not forget that India is the only country which has been silently swallowing the sufferings inflicted by Pakistan and other extremist nations for the past five decades, and no nation has come out into open to take a firm stand against such atrocious behaviour except the Soviet Union which has also become a victim of Islamic fundamentalism in the recent past.

Opportunist policies and a philosophy of expediency pursued by certain countries should be clearly understood and no weight need be given to their utterances without a careful study. Ever since the visit of President Clinton nothing substantial has come to India. And that the United States of America has always been unrealistic in its approach towards India and all other democratic nations in general is a fact that should not be forgotten. Protection of its own interest and economic prosperity through armaments business alone matter to the U.S. and nothing else (Its reluctance to declare Pakistan as a terrorist state and continuous supply of dangerous weapons even to this day prove this point beyond doubt) On the other hand, the open support consistently extended by Russia would certainly be of enormous strength to India and the same should be reciprocated to the extent necessary. And the Government of India’s decision not to militarily interfere in the internal affairs of both Sri Lanka and Fiji Islands deserves to be highly appreciated. It would have been ruinous had India not pursued a prudent policy of offering help of humanitarian nature. Even as pressure went on mounting on India to interfere in both Sri Lankan and Fijian ethnic issues - India did neither interfere not exert any pressure on any of the two countries and thus proved its commitment to democratic values.

The Indian President’s visits to various countries including France and China in recent times and visits paid by the Prime Minister as well as Home and Foreign Ministers had a salutary Effect on our relations with a number of countries including Israel. This is certainly no mean achievement on the part of a coalitional Government, that too working under constant pressures and pulls both internal and external. Though India appears to be emerging as a powerful nation in recent years much remains to be done on the political, economic and religious count to establish its democratic, socialist and secular image with the constructive role expected of the opposition.

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