A former prime minister recently registered his anger against the public outcry against politicians. He wanted to know how the country could go forward without politicians. He said politicians were indispensable for the public, who perhaps failed to understand that.
Following the recent terrorist attack on Mumbai, almost every section of the society joined hands in blaming the politicians. Some of the politicians demanded additional security for themselves. An average Indian has many questions to ask. A farmer is indispensable to our country. He sows and reaps the grains that reach our dining table. A bank clerk is indispensable, so is a school teacher. How about the traffic policeman, who braves the scorching sun and freezing winter without adequate protection? How about the army personnel guarding our borders?
If they are indispensable, what makes a politician’s life more important? Why do they consider themselves more eligible for security, which is not provided to the common man? Is it because they are “common”? From whom should they be protected? How much money is actually lost from the exchequer towards security? Do all of them require such high levels of security? Politicians are more equal I guess!
Which politician would be willing to face the enemy forces in a war? Would they order a war if they had to? Would a transport minister be willing to travel in his own fleet of buses? Would he travel by these buses to work every day? If so, he can complain about people using private transport. Would an education minister send his children to vernacular government schools?
The army and police forces are ready to face any danger as part of their duty. But should they necessarily die? Aren’t they human? Don’t they have hopes and dreams like others? They are also husbands, brothers and sons like the others. A precious life should be scarified if only it is absolutely necessary.
Had intelligence done their duty, many lives could have been saved. Politicians have the power to tighten the strings. But what is top priority for them? Winning brownie points for next elections? Is it unfair to demand that politicians give back at least a small percentage of what they take from the common man?
4 comments:
These are some straightforward thoughts about politics and they make me ask myself if the politicians are really what they are suppose to be - representatives of the people that elected them.
As citizens we need to play a proactive role. There's a lot we can do to take them to task.
Well, it depends on the form of the government in that specific country - one cannot take singular action against a form a dictatorship, for example. Or even in some not-too-advanced democracies, for that matter. The politicians tend to form a separate class in the society and are very united when it comes to answering for their wrong-doings - at least here in my country...
Well, freedom fighters including revolutionaries have sacrificed their lives to achieve the democracy Indians are enjoying now. The complacent attitude of its citizens will only take India a few steps backwards.
Tackling corrupt politicians is no easy task.
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