One nation, many leaks

There was and is life beyond the Emergency and the current burning issues should get obfuscated in Emergency Versus Backdoor Emergency debate. The Godi media only tells the people not to listen to the opposition. Hence, it adds to the responsibility of the alternative media platforms to keep playing the role of the conscience keepers

Deflection, thy name is Narendra Modi. At a time when the nation is embroiled over the NEET question paper leaks not in one but five States, Prime Minister Modi speaks about the 50- year-old Emergency crisis and does not utter a single word about the current crisis. Old habits die hard. Hasn’t he been blaming Jawaharlal Nehru for the BJP government’s failures?

Post the Lok Sabha poll results, one expected a reconciliatory approach from the top leader. But no. He had to rub the wounds and continue his hatred towards the Congress. He speaks from the entrance of Parliament as though he were addressing an election rally.

Modi begins his speech by saying “Over the past 10 years, we have constantly strived to establish a tradition because we believe that while a majority is necessary to run a government, consensus is crucial to govern a country”. The nation is very much aware of the so-called consensus that his government over the past 10 years attempted to arrive at. As many as 146 MPs have been bundled out of both the Houses to ensure an opposition-mukt Parliament so that Mo-Shah regime could get key legislations passed with voice vote, minus the other side’s noise.

Counterparty? Yes, that was the expression that RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat used to describe the opposition and called for politics of consensus when the NDA assumed power with Modi scoring a hat-trick albeit with a reduced majority and the BJP itself failing to cross the half-way mark in the elections. One would have expected Modi to extend a genuine olive branch to the INDIA bloc since the nation has voted for a strong opposition.

But, Modi chose to pick up the Emergency issue. Look at what he said: “For those dedicated to upholding the dignity of our Constitution and who believe in Bharat's democratic traditions, the 25th of June is an unforgettable day. Tomorrow marks 50 years since a dark chapter was written into India's democracy. The new generation of Bharat must never forget how the Constitution was completely disregarded, torn apart, and the country was turned into a prison, with democracy utterly suppressed. These 50 years since the Emergency remind us to protect our Constitution and democracy with pride. The countrymen must resolve that such a travesty will never be allowed to happen again. We commit ourselves to ensuring a vibrant democracy and fulfilling the common man's dreams as outlined by the Indian Constitution.”

I reproduced the entire reference to the Black Day called June 25 because Modi must be weighed against each word that he spoke and how under his leadership has been defying the very constitutional values that he refers to. The Congress and Indira Gandhi were severely punished for imposing the Emergency. The BJP which was a part of the Janata Party that trounced Indira regime failed miserably to stick around. India voted Indira back to power. The BJP and Modi must remember this every time they think of the Emergency.

Modi keeps referring to the Nehru era and the Emergency since he does not have any solutions to the present crisis that the nation is reeling under. Where is his list of 100-day goals that he promised during his innumerable TV discourses (and not interviews) during the poll period? The Congress presented a list of the government’s failures and as an opposition it is its job to keep shadowing the rulers. The BJP used to do worse when it was in the opposition in Parliament and continues to do so in the States where it is not in power. And Modi says: “I urge all MPs to use this opportunity for public welfare and service, taking every possible step in the public interest. The people also expect constructive contributions from the opposition.”

There was and is life beyond the Emergency and the current burning issues should get obfuscated in Emergency Versus Backdoor Emergency debate. The Godi media only tells the people not to listen to the opposition. Hence, it adds to the responsibility of the alternative media platforms to keep playing the role of the conscience keepers.

It is for the government to start with a constructive approach and keep seeking the latter’s help, involvement and support. Modi-Shah need not feel ashamed to meet RaGa-AYa (Rahul Gandhi-Akhilesh Yadav) and discuss the national and even the regional issues. The process of inviting objections, suggestions and improvements in the national interest should be transparent, open and above suspicion. It is in this context that the NDA (that includes NaNi) should keep the three criminal laws pending as the BJP got passed in a hurry. There is merit in what TMC supremo Mamata Bannerjee says that suggestions must be reopened.

In a tactical move, the Modi government sought to take wind out of the opposition’s sails by ordering a CBI inquiry into the NEET paper leaks and even appointed an expert committee headed by former ISRO chief to go into the mess to ensure transparent, smooth and fair conduct of examinations. The committee headed by Dr K Radhakrishnan will also suggest reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvement in data security protocols and changes in the structure and functioning of the National Testing Agency.

This is something that the government could have done in consultation with the opposition and the Congress too promised a leak-proof examination system and this is where the changes in the “structure and functioning” of the government are needed the most. The ‘leaks’ issue goes beyond the NEET. For all the pomp with which the Ram Lalla temple was inaugurated even without completing the construction and with political mileage in mind, the structure has developed leaks. Ram Temple chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das expressed his surprise that the engineering marvel is leaking from the top of the sanctum sanctorum. The Atal Setu (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link) developed cracks on its access roads. Modi has inaugurated with his inimical style doing a solo walk and the Congress responded with the cracks equally dramatically by measuring the width and depth of the cracks. In February, the Pragati Maidan tunnel in New Delhi had to shut down due to water seepage and potholes. The tunnel was built on a river floodplain.

Leakages and cracks are many and these call for accountability and not mere plugging.

As I type this last line, I hear the breaking news that the opposition is disappointed with the silence from the NDA over suggestion for deputy speaker from INDIA bloc. And there will a contest for the Speaker. Mr Modi, is this the consensus, that you said, is crucial to govern a country?

(The columnist is a Mumbai-based author and independent media veteran, running websites and a youtube channel known for his thought-provoking messaging.)