The Telegraph (31st May, 2020) reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the opposition whether they were with the government or not in this phase of crisis. “We are with the people, not the government,” a Congress member is reported to have replied. The party has otherwise compiled every single issue since 2014, the beginning of Modi’s first term, from the promise of (1) giving Rs.15 lakh each, to (2) bringing back the black money, to (3) doubling the farmers’ income, to (4) creating 2 crore jobs every year. It is not known if any of the promises mentioned is kept till date. On being questioned, Mr. Amit Shah, the Home Minister, is reported to have replied: “Yeh sab Choonao k Jumley thei” (those were the words spoken at elections).
Considering the Central government’s action against the social activists, it is quite alarming to note that human rights defenders are unable to conduct advocacy activities, particularly in favour of India’s poorest and most marginalised communities, without becoming subject to intimidation and harassment. It is equally pathetic that terrorism charges, including under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), are used to silence them. It is known that various forms of legitimate peaceful protests against laws, policies and governmental actions, including the Citizenship Amendment Act, have been portrayed as terrorist activities under this legislation, resulting in a number of arrests under UAPA.
Another point worth noting relates to the Centre’s constant refusal, by words and deeds, to adhere to the principle of cooperation. Their monopolistic attitude does not reflect any glimpse of humane feeling even at the time of a pandemic. This pettiness and hunger for power are galling. The federal model demands the Centre to be an enabler, not an opponent, of states. Sadly, the chequered history of Indian federalism would show that ruling parties at the Centre have seldom resisted the temptation to turn the screws, as it were, on states. This kind of predation is inimical to the future of federalism in India.
It is not wrong to say that the Central government did not think prudently and humanly before making lockdown announcement in March this year. It would have been much better had the lockdown been clamped allowing people sufficient time to reach their homes in villages and towns, using the existing means of transportation, rail, road and air. Secondly, the country would have been better prepared today to face the ill-effects of the pandemic had the government not wasted time on divisive politics.
It is notable that the economy failed to recover after the debilitating blow of demonetisation but the government chose to run on the engine of contentious political agenda after winning the second term. One wonders if the agenda of Ram temple, triple talaq, CAA-NRC and Article 370 could wipe out poverty in the country. Are these political issues anyway linked to the problem of livelihood and starvation? The government seemed to be quite happy with its project of communalism. It is not forgotten as to how the government behaved in the apex court on the question of migrant workers. “They say journalists are vultures and high courts, which looked into the mismanagement of healthcare systems and migrant issue, are running parallel governments. It is but an irony that the very next day the bench dealing with the issue in Gujarat High Court is changed.” It is equally sad to note that this was meant, it seems, to brow-beat the courts.
It is reported that 21 organisations working for the cause of social justice in the US, the UK, India, Canada and Japan have demanded immediate withdrawal of charges against civil rights activists. But no tangible action appears to have been thought over yet. In fact, we have been witnessing the rule of fear by the use and abuse of particular laws, notably the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and institutions of governance which is an attempt to silence all voices that have dared to imagine an India that is based on Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision of ‘liberty, equality and fraternity’.
Even if we cast a cursory look at the plight of the migrant workers, we are but to witness the most unimaginable, the most horrendous infringement of the basic rights of workers who have been turned overnight from being citizens of the country with basic rights to mere mendicants. Undoubtedly, in all advanced countries, the task of paying wages to workers during the lockdown even to workers employed in the private sector, was taken over by the government that announced the lockdown. The government must decide to give people what the economists and others have proposed; it cannot say ‘no’ to a compensation package. To do otherwise would be an open and blatant infringement of citizens’ rights that is simply unacceptable in any democracy.
So far point (3) is concerned, I need not say a word now because our farmers have risen up against the three laws concerning farmers and their right to sell their produce. The situation has snowballed and turned to such a pathetic turn that an open revolt and clash with the forces standing in the way of the farmers seems quite impending. Newspapers in almost every language have been highlighting the gravity of the situation born out of the farmers’ case.
As human beings and true citizens, in letter and spirit, we must remain with the people, not with the government.