Thursday, March 28, 2024

News Destination For The Global Indian Community

News Destination For The Global Indian Community

INDIA
LifeMag
Failing the people

Failing the people

Developments along the LAC are deeply concerning and must be met with stern action. But for that the Government has to act responsibly and honestly

Over the past few weeks, some very disturbing reports have been coming in from the India-China border in Ladakh where the tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours has consistently been on the rise. Clashes have been ratcheting up in the region ever since the Chinese were reported to have moved into the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Even though the LAC in the Galwan Valley was never disputed by the two sides, the Chinese made an aggressive move this time around. The disengagement process has been underway since June 6 but on Wednesday, in what can be called the worst ever violent face-off at the LAC in over 45 years, at least 19 Indian jawans and one commanding officer were killed.  Thankfully, a mutual agreement between the two countries prevented the use of firearms and bullets. Yet, the fracas was brutal with Indian soldiers beaten to death. As per reports, the Chinese side used sticks, clubs, bats, bamboos and nails during the fight and the Indian side, too, retaliated.

There have been no details regarding the exact loss of life on the Chinese side from either India or China but some sources have predicted the number, one that’s obtained from “sources.” The Chinese assault on the Indian Army and its advances towards the Indian territory are deeply concerning and must be met with stern action. The Government must make the best use of all avenues at its disposal — be it diplomatic or military. I speak for everyone when I say that the Indian Government has our complete support to tackle the Chinese threat. However, what this must not be taken to mean is blindly cheering an approach that has not reaped any benefits for India until now. The current threat to our country stems not just from the Chinese but must be seen in varying degrees, from other neighbours as well. In these columns, I would like to put forth some points of observation for the Government, the media and us (the Indian citizens) that can (personally) strengthen India’s position. Though this may not be favourable for the BJP. I have little regard for “sensitivity” of any political party to handle criticism when it comes to the integrity of our borders. As it is, we have suffered repeated attacks from our neighbours both militarily (the case of China) and diplomatically (the case of Nepal). Nepal has passed a Constitution Amendment Bill to update a map incorporating Indian territories. India, after all, is not Modi and Modi is not India.

So as to be better prepared to tackle recent threats to our borders, we cannot do without an effective Government. One of the basic tenets of an effective Government is one that unites its people in cause and fortifies its approach by considering all voices. On both counts, the ruling Government has been found wanting. India won’t be able to fight its enemies if it keeps making enemies its own people.

Even as the country has been fighting a pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives, the Indian Government has only doubled down on its approach by arresting dissenters under sedition charges or under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. These dissenters are often human rights activists such as Sudha Bharadwaj, who may have a view of India that is different from one as perceived by the BJP. But since when has it become anti-national to have different views from the Government in power?

The BJP itself was a strong Opposition party leading up to 2014, raising important questions. Did that make it anti-national? Today, our country is more divided and polarised than ever. The BJP must realise that an India divided is an India weakened. The buck for any failure on this count can only lie with the Government that  has arrested journalists and politicians, transferred bureaucrats and criticised the judiciary when any of these stakeholders do not toe its position.

Listening to differing voices in Parliament has not been a strong suit of the Government either. Parliamentarians, who represent the people of their constituencies, are treated as enemies of the State when questions are raised on behalf of the very Indians they represent. Take the example of the horrific attacks in Pulwama last year. Can such a huge failure of intelligence and that of the Government remain unexamined? How weak our country would be if we do not rectify the failures that led to previous assaults on our sovereignty?  However, the BJP Government did not even discuss the shortcomings that led to the death of our soldiers. At the same time, it did not hesitate to ask for votes on this bloodshed.

India needs to take on China at the global level as well as fight it out along the borders. This is possible only when the Government is respected. How a country treats its dissenters is the clearest barometer of the respect the Government commands. If the BJP Government has any doubts, it can just look at China and Pakistan to see how the international community views our neighbours.

The Press has been especially disappointing. In no small measure, it, too, has contributed to this unfortunate position. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may be the only head of a Government in any democracy who has been so afraid of giving a Press conference and has failed to engage himself during briefings. At a time when we are faced with a pandemic and there have been serious assaults on our sovereignty, we have not seen the Prime Minister taking questions in any Press conference or  briefing.

Certain segments of the media will have to take a bulk of the blame. There has been no concerted demand for this minimum amount of accountability. The Prime Minister is only guilty of taking advantage of the wide berth the media has afforded him. Even in the China crisis, where it was reported that Indian soldiers have been clubbed to death, certain news anchors were all too hesitant. One said that the Chinese attack has seen many “Cassandras” stand up and speak in glee. An ill-advised reference as Cassandra (a fictional character) was a prophetess whose warnings went unheeded.

Another said that the attack was not the Prime Minister’s fault but that of the Army. The same anchor, however, was in wholesome praise of the Prime Minister when the surgical strikes took place even though it was the Army which  was at the forefront. However, if suddenly growing a spine is too much to ask for, maybe certain news channels can benefit from not relying on WhatsApp messages while reporting the news. This seems like journalism 101.

Finally, we must examine ourselves. While the BJP will happily talk about banning Chinese goods and food (read: Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister) and we will have presidents of Resident Welfare Associations speak in similarly aggressive rhetoric, please realise that the greatest service we can do to our Government is to make it one that we can respect.

Respect is earned by Governments by being honest and holding themselves accountable. If they refuse to hold themselves accountable, then it is the citizen’s responsibility to do so. If we manage to achieve this much, we can have as much Chinese food as we want and save our televisions and phones because we will then have something the Chinese do not: A responsible democratic Government.

(Writer: Ajoy Kumar; Courtesy: The Pioneer)

Failing the people

Failing the people

Developments along the LAC are deeply concerning and must be met with stern action. But for that the Government has to act responsibly and honestly

Over the past few weeks, some very disturbing reports have been coming in from the India-China border in Ladakh where the tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours has consistently been on the rise. Clashes have been ratcheting up in the region ever since the Chinese were reported to have moved into the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Even though the LAC in the Galwan Valley was never disputed by the two sides, the Chinese made an aggressive move this time around. The disengagement process has been underway since June 6 but on Wednesday, in what can be called the worst ever violent face-off at the LAC in over 45 years, at least 19 Indian jawans and one commanding officer were killed.  Thankfully, a mutual agreement between the two countries prevented the use of firearms and bullets. Yet, the fracas was brutal with Indian soldiers beaten to death. As per reports, the Chinese side used sticks, clubs, bats, bamboos and nails during the fight and the Indian side, too, retaliated.

There have been no details regarding the exact loss of life on the Chinese side from either India or China but some sources have predicted the number, one that’s obtained from “sources.” The Chinese assault on the Indian Army and its advances towards the Indian territory are deeply concerning and must be met with stern action. The Government must make the best use of all avenues at its disposal — be it diplomatic or military. I speak for everyone when I say that the Indian Government has our complete support to tackle the Chinese threat. However, what this must not be taken to mean is blindly cheering an approach that has not reaped any benefits for India until now. The current threat to our country stems not just from the Chinese but must be seen in varying degrees, from other neighbours as well. In these columns, I would like to put forth some points of observation for the Government, the media and us (the Indian citizens) that can (personally) strengthen India’s position. Though this may not be favourable for the BJP. I have little regard for “sensitivity” of any political party to handle criticism when it comes to the integrity of our borders. As it is, we have suffered repeated attacks from our neighbours both militarily (the case of China) and diplomatically (the case of Nepal). Nepal has passed a Constitution Amendment Bill to update a map incorporating Indian territories. India, after all, is not Modi and Modi is not India.

So as to be better prepared to tackle recent threats to our borders, we cannot do without an effective Government. One of the basic tenets of an effective Government is one that unites its people in cause and fortifies its approach by considering all voices. On both counts, the ruling Government has been found wanting. India won’t be able to fight its enemies if it keeps making enemies its own people.

Even as the country has been fighting a pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives, the Indian Government has only doubled down on its approach by arresting dissenters under sedition charges or under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. These dissenters are often human rights activists such as Sudha Bharadwaj, who may have a view of India that is different from one as perceived by the BJP. But since when has it become anti-national to have different views from the Government in power?

The BJP itself was a strong Opposition party leading up to 2014, raising important questions. Did that make it anti-national? Today, our country is more divided and polarised than ever. The BJP must realise that an India divided is an India weakened. The buck for any failure on this count can only lie with the Government that  has arrested journalists and politicians, transferred bureaucrats and criticised the judiciary when any of these stakeholders do not toe its position.

Listening to differing voices in Parliament has not been a strong suit of the Government either. Parliamentarians, who represent the people of their constituencies, are treated as enemies of the State when questions are raised on behalf of the very Indians they represent. Take the example of the horrific attacks in Pulwama last year. Can such a huge failure of intelligence and that of the Government remain unexamined? How weak our country would be if we do not rectify the failures that led to previous assaults on our sovereignty?  However, the BJP Government did not even discuss the shortcomings that led to the death of our soldiers. At the same time, it did not hesitate to ask for votes on this bloodshed.

India needs to take on China at the global level as well as fight it out along the borders. This is possible only when the Government is respected. How a country treats its dissenters is the clearest barometer of the respect the Government commands. If the BJP Government has any doubts, it can just look at China and Pakistan to see how the international community views our neighbours.

The Press has been especially disappointing. In no small measure, it, too, has contributed to this unfortunate position. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may be the only head of a Government in any democracy who has been so afraid of giving a Press conference and has failed to engage himself during briefings. At a time when we are faced with a pandemic and there have been serious assaults on our sovereignty, we have not seen the Prime Minister taking questions in any Press conference or  briefing.

Certain segments of the media will have to take a bulk of the blame. There has been no concerted demand for this minimum amount of accountability. The Prime Minister is only guilty of taking advantage of the wide berth the media has afforded him. Even in the China crisis, where it was reported that Indian soldiers have been clubbed to death, certain news anchors were all too hesitant. One said that the Chinese attack has seen many “Cassandras” stand up and speak in glee. An ill-advised reference as Cassandra (a fictional character) was a prophetess whose warnings went unheeded.

Another said that the attack was not the Prime Minister’s fault but that of the Army. The same anchor, however, was in wholesome praise of the Prime Minister when the surgical strikes took place even though it was the Army which  was at the forefront. However, if suddenly growing a spine is too much to ask for, maybe certain news channels can benefit from not relying on WhatsApp messages while reporting the news. This seems like journalism 101.

Finally, we must examine ourselves. While the BJP will happily talk about banning Chinese goods and food (read: Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister) and we will have presidents of Resident Welfare Associations speak in similarly aggressive rhetoric, please realise that the greatest service we can do to our Government is to make it one that we can respect.

Respect is earned by Governments by being honest and holding themselves accountable. If they refuse to hold themselves accountable, then it is the citizen’s responsibility to do so. If we manage to achieve this much, we can have as much Chinese food as we want and save our televisions and phones because we will then have something the Chinese do not: A responsible democratic Government.

(Writer: Ajoy Kumar; Courtesy: The Pioneer)

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