Two greatest democracies are going through very difficult times. No form of government can be perfect as any Government, after all, has to be manned by us , the imperfect humans. Corollary is that any form of government would be perfect if human beings who implement the system become perfect.
[read_more id=”1″ more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]I feel under the circumstances Democracy is the least dangerous of the political systems. These days, about democracy, there is much talk of dissent and the fundamental right to dissent. Dissent in a democracy is taken by some people as dissent is democracy.
This idea has been taken to extremes during the Anti CAA protests when public property was destroyed with impunity in the name of dissent. Express your dissent by all means , but you cannot browbeat a government, or the silent majority into changing the policies as at least 60 % of people would be supporting its policies even if 10% are out in the streets burning buses and trains, considering that 30% may be totally indifferent. The exact percentages may vary but the fact is that majority of people are not against CAA and that does mean something .
After the right to dissent, the next issue is demand for transparency . We have a whole lot of arm chair journalists clamouring for truth and absolute truth. Very commendable indeed. But can military operations be planned and conducted in full view of the public ? Isn’t there something called Official Secret Act ,even in a democracy?
We had Senior Air Force Officers explaining to the Supreme Court as why we needed Rafales. What was highlighted was fighters of 3.5 generation and 5th generation as if it was some mobile phones being purchased. Of course there were terms like niche stealth technology and the electronic warfare capabilities, but these nuances were totally lost on the public including our truth seeking journalists. Having a weapon system with a longer range for target acquisition and engagement is the difference between hitting and being hit for a fighter aircraft . Even on such issues , we had a chorus from the masses organized by our opposition and the ‘liberals’ to show dissent on the streets.
What a great combination of ignorance and arrogance !
Another new trend is witnessed in both US and India. All political parties fought the elections with no holds barred attitude. When the results were out, the liberals in both countries went about whining “Not my President” or Not my PM” . Remember , it is rejection of a govt legally elected ,in accordance with the Constitution.
We are a country divided on multifarious axes, rural/urban, north /south , hindi/ non hindi and most glaringly traditional Hindus and the western looking liberals. Every single divide is finding expression in the dissent against the elected govt, whatever be the issue at hand.
That, in my opinion is definitely not dissent in a democracy but total rejection of Democracy.
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