Two Sides of the same Coin

 

Strong opposition is the basic requirement for the smooth functioning of any Vibrant democracy but our version of democracy is quite different from the internationally accepted norm. Those in government or opposition bear almost similar characteristics and possess the sole aim of grabbing power by hook or crook. Ideologies have become superfluous and election agendas are material for befooling the innocent citizens of the country. Adversaries join hands after (counting their profit and loss) for attaining power for themselves or their supporters and it is quite often that those who stood as rivals in elections come together for power. Opposition has become the fiefdom of a few political families and the infection of political clans is visible in government too. The politicians have become a class for enjoying power and social service has become secondary. People have little choice, the agenda forwarded to them is scrapped after the candidate wins elections. The irony of the system is that caste or qualification of even prime minister is more talked than evaluating his performance. Politicians give a big lecture in the name of country but remain ready to even compromise loyalty towards nation for attaining power. They are elite people in the garb of poor. Their only relation with poor people is to enjoy food with them in elections. They polarise people on caste and religious lines, spend money to get votes and still shamelessly give big lectures on morality to the vulnerable people of the country. I know that the supporters of political parties may not agree with me but common people believe that befooling people in their own way for their self-interest, has become the prime activity of politicians. People have little choice but to accept the selfish agenda of one or the other group. In order to justify my assertion; let me compare the opposition and government on two most talked issues i.e secularism and nationalism you will come to know about their resemblances. let us first talk of Opposition view point: Secularism There is no gainsaying in the fact that secularism to our opposition means Hindu bashing and Muslim appeasement. The best example in favour of this statement is the recent impeachment motion in parliament against justice G R Swaminathan of Madras high court for deciding in favour of Hindus. He had permitted the lighting of lamps (Karthigai deepam) at the Deepathoon (stone Lamp Pillar) atop the Thiruparakundram hills. He had observed that that the deepathoon was not located in the area belonging to Muslims and thus lighting the lamp would not affect the rights of the community. The two religious sites are more than 50 meter distant from each other. This can be observed by naked eyes, deepathon is on the bigger hill top and Dargah is on the small hill top. This impeachment was proposed by those who day in and day out cry from rooftops about their struggle to save the constitution. This is not the only issue but the derogatory language against Hindus used by them at different times is hidden from no one .They lose no time in declaring Hinduism a virus, or tearing off pages of Ramayana, terming Hindu way as Manuvadi burn Manu smriti, term Ram as a fictious figure, see Jai Shri Ram as a provoking slogan, the list is endless but they remain secularists because they try to appease a particular vote bank for their own interests. They become Hindus during elections and Hindu bashers after getting votes. Anyone can see through their appeasement for Muslims and cold shoulder for Hindus. This actually leads to no good of Muslims but only strengthens the base of Hindu parties. Nationalism Nation belongs to every denizen of the country, no one can claim it solely yet manifestation of love for nation varies from person to person. Now let us see the brand of nationalism depicted by opposition from a common man's view point. Nationalism for our opposition leaders revolves around the pivot of power. This needs denigrating Narender Modi's Government because electorally they have failed to throw his government out of office, now they target each and every constitutional body in the country. Their first target becomes election commission; its voting machines turn manipulated if they fail in elections and no comments if they win. They currently are opposing SIR despite people rejecting it in Bihar elections. They hardly bother for delisting of non-existing voters or Bangladeshi residents from voter list. The second big target on their radar remains the army, questioned the air strike against Pakistan and Pakistan lost no time in using the same narrative against India in UN, do not hesitate to term the army chief as Sadak ka goonda, term Pulwama incident as proxy for winning elections and most of the times their comments resemble to the view point of the enemy country. The height of things was attained recently when Ex Maharashtra Chief minister went to the extent of saying that India had lost on the first day of operation Sindoor despite Indian air force having displayed photographs of their Bravery. (His nationalism raised doubts about his loyalty towards the country). They show faith in what enemy country quotes without any proof but doubt the proof of their own army personnel. Their third biggest target remains the law enforcing agencies, they threaten them with consequences if they are caught in any case. Enforcement department investigating cases of money laundering remains their biggest enemy and its every action is termed as politically motivated even though heaps of money are caught in their possession. You can well imagine their nationalism by the recent statement of an opposition leader who ascribed Bangladesh killings as reaction to maltreatment of Muslims in India. Does nationalism become firm by degrading constitutional bodies is for people to think? Their pain is visible in parliament where they disrupt 34 proceedings without caring for the wastage of tax payer's money due to their unruly behaviour. Government side: Secularism One of the reasons for BJP to attain power at national level was over appeasement of Muslims in the country and things had become visible with the genocide of Kashmiri pandits. Have Kashmiri pandits returned back to their homes? - The answer is big no. Has the government taken any step in favour of rehabilitation of this microscopic minority? - The answer again is no. Do Hindu temples pay tax on the offerings by Hindu devotees? The answer is yes. Hindu temples are the only places of worship taxed in India. The tradition continues without any break. Is Hindu religious Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 Scrapped? (which freezes the Hindu right to reclaim places of worship forcefully changed and occupied by others in past) The answer again is big no. Has common civil code at national level come into existence? The answer again is, No. Has government taken any step to check the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh? The answer is, no. The list goes on... and the fact is that no favour to Hindus from the present government has come into existence. The rhetorics about Hindus is from rooftops but the fact is that there is no relief in the suffering of Hindu's. Nationalism The governments foreign policy gets influenced by various geopolitical and geo economic considerations so we will try to confine more on national issues. Has government come out with any policy to contain anti national institutions? - the answer is, no. Has any policy to control population come into existence? The answer is no. Has any date to deport Bangladeshis and Rohingyas come into existence? The answer is no. (certain estimates put their number as more than 5 crore people). In short it may be concluded that Indian politicians whether in government or in opposition are two sides of the same coin of self- interest. It is people who need to be cautious for national interest and democracy to survive.

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The views expressed in the Article above are M K Bhat views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."

Courtesy:  M K Bhat and Koshur Samachar- January-2026