Have we become so democratic over the years that any serious and systematic policy shift is hard to effect, implement or legislate? Has democracy become an impediment in pursing long term governance objectives and ideas for a regime ideologically defining the stance and statements of its opponents and critics? Swayed by a sense of overwhelming majority which the ruling BJP led NDA comfortably enjoys in the Lok Sabha, distinctively covering their wrongs and errors.
Enough illustrations and instances exist before us where the government has, in its fascination of attempting reforms, bypassed the will of the constitutional elected bodies.
Earlier, bills were referred to the standing and select committees and proper consultation and deliberation used to be the order between different stakeholders. This is something we have left far behind in our quest of taking on the likes of the dominant players in world politics. Resurrecting reforms has become both the principle and philosophy of the current government exciting and encouraging the private players to take on the chain of command.
Privatization is being viewed as an occasion and opportunity to neutralize the effects of hierarchy, inequality and disparity existent in our society at the social, political and economic levels.
Mr Kant, don’t you think that these reforms represent the interests of a select few while leaving the rest to bear the consequences of it?
Farm laws are one such area where, instead of giving a patient audience to the aggravated farmers, the ruling establishment has begun to dislodge and dismiss them as creations by the opposition. Is it so?
Well, I don’t want to go into length but how are tough reforms going to be of any merit to us when they question and challenge our sovereignty to speak up and stand against what we see or find as an intrusion of our rights and interests.
Acceptance is always mutual and is never imposed. Forget about the mandate in the Parliament; being responsive and sensitive to the assertions and claims of the individual should be doing it for you. Stoking fear and crisis in our minds in the wake of tough reforms will always be disallowed by our democratic approach and attitude.
The template is before you, Mr Kant.