Is this democracy?
November 20th, 2009
Jantar Mantar turned into a loo (picture courtesy HT)
What we saw yesterday in Delhi was display of democracy at its worst. First the govt comes out with a ridiculous ordinance which is against sugarcane farmers and pro mill owners. Then the opposition gets together to organize a farmer’s protest wherein the entire city is held to ransom and monuments vandalized while the police just looks on. The parliament too is not allowed to start its session by the opposition and then by evening the govt bows to the demands and says that they will do what’s best for the farmers. Is this the way a democracy supposed to function? Well, If this is indeed democracy I don’t want it. Give me communism for all I care but not this. Here are some naked truths which led to this sorry episode.
Proof of looting (picture courtesy HT)
First, this ordinance dated 21 October lays down the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) as Rs130 per quintal (100 kgs) which is much below the price suggested by state govts (UP’s price is Rs 165-170 per quintal). On top of it, it says that if the state govts want they can pay their own price but the difference will not be paid by mill owners but the state govts themselves even as mill owners are ready to pay up to Rs 180 per quintal. But thats mainly because their mills are lying idle for want of raw materials which the farmers are not ready to sell at the rates laid down by the Congress govt. Quite obviously this ordinance is biased against the farmers and their protest is entirely justified, though the manner in which it was done was shameful. Amar Singh of Samajwadi Party even went to the extent of naming the agriculture minster Sharad Pawar who promulgated this ordinance as having done it for money, though he did it in an oblique manner. Pertinent to mention that India and Brazil are the top two sugar producers in the world. Within India most of the sugarcane is grown and sugar produced in UP and Maharashtra.
Proof of vandalism (picture courtesy HT)
Second, the opposition particularly those who have lost badly in the recent two elections in UP, ie SP, RLD and BJP found this issue to be an opportune moment to strike at Congress which was starting to look up in this state. They organized this protest by collecting thousands of farmers from UP which was rather very convenient because of its proximity to Delhi on the day the Parliament was to reconvene for its winter session. While members of these parties managed to stall proceedings in the Lok Sabha the farmers indulged in vandalism and looting in Delhi including damaging 250 year old Jantar Mantar and bringing the entire city to a standstill. These people from UP indulged in activities they are actually very good at. Remember they are north Indians who are well known for their crude behavior and mannerisms. And before any of you feels aggravated by this remark let me add that I too am from UP though currently based in Delhi. So I know what I’m talking about.
What the hell? (picture courtesy HT)
Third, the police and the administration in general did not do a thing except stop these protesters from entering the Parliament. They were mute spectators even as these guys did whatever they wanted to. And thats because Congress desperately wants to get back in power in UP. If they acted against these farmers they can forget about their dream of coming to power in the state. Mind you, Mayawati has not really raise her voice in this episode so far clearly giving the impression that she will foot the bill for the difference if she has to.
Fourth, by evening the govt does its best to make amends by assuring the farmers of a fair deal. But the damage seems to have been done unless the govt increases this price to Rs 200 or above per quintal. What I really fail to understand is if the govt can roll back its policies in just a couple of hours what prompted Sharad Pawar to fix this price the way he did? The Prime Minister must look into the allegation by Amar Singh about some underhand activity before the ordinance was passed. Even though I’m not exactly an Amar Singh supporter may be he has a point. And if the govt can roll back this ordinance in the face of this protest in just a couple of hours it goes to show that they were indeed wrong to have fixed this price so low to begin with.
Talk about responsibility and what have you. Sharad Pawar needs to apologize for this ordinance and Mulayam Singh, Ajit Singh and party need to be put behind bars for creating nonsense in this city. There has to be some code of conduct for protests or is it just that that :WE ARE LIKE THIS ONLY.
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November 20th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Hi Sush! Thanks to discuss this topic. When i spent a few days Delhi, I saw people were urinating in free space near to footpath. Mostly i saw this scene when i was going from Turkman gate to Pahar Gang area.. I asked Ruksha driver.. he replied nobody used to stop there nasty chaps. Here in Pakistan no body cannot think of it. Dear we are losing our sanskars... as the poet of east said..
Damocracy is a form of Govt in which u count people but u dont weight them.
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November 20th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Good topic and even better pictures. To be very crude Delhi is like one big toilet. You can do anything anywhere. Washing is not a problem. just carry a bottle of water, you'll find mud and sand everywhere to clean your hands. nobody even gives you a second glance while you are on this job. even police. they themselves follow this ritual very seriously.
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November 21st, 2009 at 9:12 am
All this has happened cos there was no basic education and moral teaching for these illiterate goons..
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November 21st, 2009 at 10:02 am
Before criticizing these villagers we need to think why this happened. The government did underhand deal with sugar mills and thought it can get away with it. We are seeing more and more swindling everyday. Spectrum scam for 90,000 crore, Koda's scam for 4000 crore and we don't know how many crores was promised to Sharad Pawar. This is proof that Indian democracy is a flawed democracy. A little progress has been made in transparency through RTI. But the government is trying to sabotage it by bringing amendment alleging that it is being misused. The political class seems to be united in this. Even the judiciary's track record is not good when you consider the opposition of the Chief Justice to RTI and the land grab allegations against the Karnataka Chief Justice Dinakaran. Now the Supreme Court has withheld his recommendation, but it is doubtful whether any action will be taken against him.
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November 21st, 2009 at 6:57 pm
[...] : Sush Jaitly What : Is this democracy? Spicy : We have a very hardhitting but fact based post by Sush Jaitly. She has a post with [...]
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November 21st, 2009 at 10:11 pm
this country's political n judiciary system is fucked up to the core... god save it!!!
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November 21st, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Sush, I thot this blog is for decent people. Look at this language which this guy called swami uses. pathetic. dont allow such people. delete their comments. he calls himself swami. are swamis like this? I've been reading his comments which I thot were ok but now he is going crazy with his one liners.
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November 21st, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Dilli ki wat lagi huyi hai. these illiterate goons r allowed 2 come nd take over our lives whenever these politicians want. sometimes it is dalits. sometimes it is gujjars nd now v hav farmers frm UP. these people think delhi is a play groung for their parties where they can come nd make merry. shame on them.
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November 22nd, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Hi Crazy 1! Why is 'Dilli ke watt lagi hay' uttered by u? Off course, it is a capital of India. Where will he go then? Give them justice and their rights, i think they will not come there... they will stay their home. In both countries ( India & Pakistan), the people who live in big cities, they think that they have inborn right to rule over the people who are sprawling in small communities..
I am totally against to this bloody democracy... in which MNA's & MPA's are elected and then have license for next 5 years to loot or sabotage the rights of poor people.
Look at the Islamic History, u can find a lot of examples when even caliph or ruler was answerable to even a common man. Once in Madina, a Jew stole the sword of Ali (RZ) who was a ruler of state. In spite of being ruler, he was not capable to take back his sword. The ruler went court and filed case against the Jew. The ruler lost case becaz he was not having any eye-witness. It is a true democracy when after selection or election, a citizen enjoys the same rights like even to his ruler...
It is a duty of Govt to include the religious principles in syllabus, whatever the religion people are having.. No religion on his earth teaches u to spread pollution or do not clean ur society. Thank You indeed
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November 22nd, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Sohail- Religious principles as part of syllabus? No way man. they teach cleanliness but its no help. how can religion help? in any case v dont hav 2 bring religion into this. people who create filth r from every religion- hindu, muslim, sikh or christian.
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November 22nd, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Hi Dear Crazy! Here is a big difference between Pakistan and India. Our Govt included in syllabus the religious mores culture teaching, and every chap has to go through the general teachings of religion whatever his religion is. At least u can now ur own culture, tradition; otherwise, u will be a misguided innovators. Same illiterate people dont hesitate to do urinating on the roads becaz their moral courage allows them. Here, nobody can think of doing it whatever reason is.
Basic education of all religions are same just difference of quotes... rest assured
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