Healthy Indian Democracy

Contradictory to the calculations of the world, Indian democracy survived and thrived 73 years of post-independence. It lived up to its image “Unity in diversity”. 130 crore people, 8 religions, 3500 castes, 23 official languages,(English – link language ), 3000 unofficial languages, a woman Prime Minister, President, CEOs, 28 states, 8 union territories, 2300 registered political parties and a multi-party democracy with elections once in five years. More than all these, freedom of speech and writings is the biggest asset of Indian democracy.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi rightly said in 2014 after winning a sound majority in the parliamentary elections that all the Prime Ministers and governments since 1947 worked for the development of the nation. There is no exception. 

Democracy has become a way of life. Indian democracy may be sometimes comic and sometimes tragic. During elections, mud slinging is very common. Accusations and counter accusations fly high in the political air. Parliaments and legislative assemblies are not allowed to function. Even this has penetrated to Grama Sabha levels or the other way around. But at the end, democracy is beautiful and it is best of all modes of governance for India.

Look at the role of major opposition political party – Indian National Congress (INC) during this challenging Covid-19 times. When there was a news that the migrant workers have to pay for their train tickets to get back home, INC stepped in immediately. It promised to pay for the workers travel. In the first, INC Karnataka unit sent Rs. one crore cheque to the state transport authority. Even a ruling party Member of Parliament Dr.Subramanian Swamy quickly acted and tweeted to the Ministry of Railways. From Omar Abdullah in Kashmir to H.Vasantha Kumar in Kanyakumari, everyone voiced for the workers. In next few minutes, Indian Railways issued a press statement that it will bear 85% of migrant workers train travel cost and 15% by the state governments.

In Tamil Nadu, the principle opposition party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is carrying out Covid-19 relief measures in all districts. It has deployed its party machinery throughout the state. Now there is a tough competition among the political parties to carry out relief operations. From vegetables to provisions to clothes to cash, every support is given. Still some people are hungry and suffering without help. Even with a super active government, opposition parties, social service organisations, corporate contributions, religious support and individual charities, the gap is glaring. This shows the magnitude of the pandemic. 

Never in the Indian history, police forces were so proactive in serving in the pandemic situations.  The Covid-19 has brought out the best part of the Indian police. Most of them have become pro-public. For the first time, people have started looking police as friends. The mutual admiration and respect have filtered among public and police. These are the positive developments in this pandemic crisis.

Punjab police has distributed millions of food packets to the needy people. From sanitizers to face masks to medicines, Punjab police was in high service mode 24x7. Delhi police was singing happy tunes to free the public from the sorrow of Coronavirus. Kerala police was out on the streets day and night aiding the public.

Bureaucrats, doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, sanitation workers, ambulance drivers, the entire government machinery is running non-stop. They are showered with flower petals by the public. Sanitation workers are given heroic welcome with feet washing, arthi, cash and gifts. This has prompted many youth to become sanitation workers.

Clovid-19 awareness message was played in all cellphones from the third week of March. Arogya mobile App was prepared by the union government and helped the public to stay away from infected patients. More than 90 million people have downloaded Arogaya app in their mobile phones. Video conferencing and online consultations by the center with states have worked well. The team work helped India to contain the spread of Covid-19 in a massive way.

The public co-operation was good to governments in both the center and states during Covid-19. Now with the pressure from different quarters, there is a relaxation in the lockdown rules. Liquor shops are opened which can potentially increase the damage caused by Coronavirus. Uttar Pradesh clocked Rs.300 crore revenue in liquor sale in the first day of reopening. Liquor shops reopening may lead to a big rise in the new  Covid-19 cases. Government must toughen rules till it can put a full stop to Coronavirus in India.  Indian democracy must win the battle against Coronavirus with the complete public cooperation and support of all political parties.