The transition in the US this time is stormy and bumpy. It is very unusual for a country which is regarded as the oldest democracy in the world. The President-elect Joe Biden has condemned ‘domestic terrorists’ for the riotous assault on US Capitol, said that President Trump fomented Wednesday’s violence and called it one of the darkest days in the history of the country and an assault on democracy. Most of the world leaders are appalled on this and disapproved and even condemned the ransacking mobs for denigrating rule of law. Biden was scathing in his choice of words when he said, “The past four years we have had a president who has made his contempt for our democracy, the constitution, the rule of law.” He further said, “I wish we could not see it coming…. it was an assault on the most sacred of American undertakings.”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres advised in very sane words, “In such circumstances, it’s important that political leaders impress on their followers the need to refrain from violence and to respect democratic processes and the rule of law.
Our Prime Minister, whatever may be his democratic credential and his attitude during the seven years, also said that he was distressed to see rioting and violence and pleaded that peaceful transfer of power must continue. He stressed that the democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests.
The sane advice is welcome indeed. Perhaps he is feeling ashamed for his words, “Ab ki bar Trump Sarkar”. Some observers are comparing the events at the Capitol on 6th January 2021 with those of 6th December 1992 when frenzied mobs of Andh Bhakts coming from every corner of India assembled at Ayodhya and desecrated, demolished and destroyed the over four hundred years old house of God. Those who gave their aashirvad to that shameful assault are yet to show their regret and there is no ray of hope that our largest democracy will ever make amends.
Our country is passing through a really critical period, morally, economically, socially and democratically. The ruling dispensation has only one job, sticking to power and scheming to dislodge other parties, invoking divide-and-rule strategy and turning every issue into Hindu-versus-Muslim issue. It does not feel in the least that it is sowing the seeds of disintegration for the country. It does not have intellectuals in its ranks, lacks vision and broadmindedness and are unable to accommodate people of divergent views and different ethnicities. Its basis is on false and divisive nationalism which is a variant of paranoic communalism, which is suffering from acute anti-Muslim and inhuman blindness.
Its failure on all fronts, and insensitiveness to human sufferings can be seen in its treatment of lakhs of farmers who are agitating and dying on the borders of fortified National Capital Region. Perhaps Providence has some other plan for our big country. The pot of sins is about to fill to the brim. But God does not change the condition of the people unless they try to change it with wisdom, struggle and sacrifice. If the rulers are not ready to change, the powerful hand of God will intervene and change the situation. We the people should join hands to save the country from chaos and disintegration. In this the role of intellectuals, opinionmakers and common people is very vital.