The article contemplates over the recent violent incidents in the assemblies of UP, Orissa and AP.
The recent violent incidents of chappal throwing, jumping on table, hurling of objects first in UP and now in Orissa and AP assemblies have once again showed lack of basic civic sense in our MLAs. This is not only restricted to State Assemblies but also in the Parliament where violent incidents are very common with an addition of recent incident of money showed by members of opposition as bribe offered to them by the ruling party during their vote of confidence. Average yearly sittings in Parliament have come down by drastic 34% (from 124 in 1952-61 to 81 in 1992-2001). State assemblies are no better with 20 to 50 sittings a year. This disrespect of parliamentary proceedings is the reflection of our dismal polity and disappointing MLAs.
Over the years, Indian polity has helped poor and backward classes come ahead in politics but there has been no improvement in the norms and respect for institutions like Parliament. This is the biggest failure of our democracy and a part of blame goes to our education system which is unable to instill respect for the rules of democracy. Civics is not considered as an important subject in school. Our legislators are glaring results of this neglect.
The article talks about the recent BJP announcements with regards to its election agenda and suggests the party to refrain from old tried out slogans.
Party confusion over the agenda was clearly reflected in the recent national conclave at Nagpur, last week. While L K Advani tried to focus on developmental issues, the next day Rajnath Singh clarified the intentions to build Ram Temple at Ayodhya if the party was elected to office. R Singh also talked about failed capitalism and need for a new Gandhian socialism as an alternative to solve the present problems. However, in the era of coalition, it is very difficult for any party to execute all the goals as stated in pre-election time. Moreover, Ram Temple is too divisive an issue to help BJP win the elections. The new social order in India is pro-development and talks about better governance, national security and policies supporting market forces. Parties who talk about these issues are more likely to win elections.
Although BJP is the one who initiated all the mall-pub culture and unleashing the market forces the party is not really capitalizing on it. BJP needs to come out of old slogans now.
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