It took me some time to start this post and finish it...a lot has changed in the meantime...The NSG approval came a couple of days back...but that in no way clarifies my doubts...I expect this post of mine to draw a lot of flak...even if that happens i've made u think and that serves my purpose...
A few days back i asked this question (how is this a democracy?)to my roomie...and...like a lot of us, he had no answer...
Much before the lie behind the nuclear deal was exposed, there were questions in my mind regarding the way numerous issues were being dealt with in the highest corridors of power.
I don't remember such blatant misuse of power ever before...
And its not just about the tactics being used(domestically) to have the deal cleared, but issues like dissolving an ethically elected government in Bihar, waiver of loans, miniscule pay rise for the armed forces, the reservation of seats in educational institutes and obviously the newest tactic of opening up IIT's in every nook and corner of the country, turning a blind eye to the tentacles of terrorism that have spread to every part of this nation, so that certain sections of the country remain strong vote banks; all credit goes to this secular government elected in a democratic country.
To be frank, when news about the N-deal was a raging topic (about a year back), i cudn't form an opinion about the deal, whether it was good for India or no...and i was pretty confused until last week.
It was only when the contents of a document that were made public in US I realised that our entire country was being taken for a ride. The fact that a non-Indian power made me understand the intricacies of the deal is in itself a shame...
The leader of this nation did not mind lying in the House of the people. Can there be a bigger disgrace to a democracy?
I know, there are arguments saying that India still reserves the right to conduct N-tests(this is what the government has been saying all along). Yeah right, just like anyone can commit a crime but then face the consequences.
There may be people who feel that there is no need for N-weapons and India does not need any more N-tests, but in a neighbourhood like ours and the double standards of a nation like USA, that may not be such a good idea. The role of China in trying every possible move to scuttle the NSG waiver(all this even after its leaders promised full support to our PM) is just a refresher for those who have forgotten the back-stabbing nature of our friendly neighbours.
Nobody knows the future...we may eventually never conduct a nuclear test....but that is not the issue...The real issue is...
How can we as a nation take the blatant lies of our leaders as yet another parliamentary statement and allow them to continue? It has also shattered my belief that educated leaders are the cure to our maladies...its really disappointing when they end up being mere puppets...
And can we really do anything about it? We see there is wrong being done, but we can only sit back and watch...so much for democracy...
Yeah...We can go out and protest on the streets (the way we tried to stop Arjun Singh from taking casteist politics to a new low) or we can wait for another 5 years to elect a new government...but why do we have to wait so long? why cant we the people veto a government that divides us on the basis of caste & religion and still has the balls to call itself secular? Why can nobody do anything when the highest court of law in the country makes known its disappointment with the government's flawed policies? Why can we do nothing when even the PM's scientific advisor expresses his disappointment at the way new IIT's have been opened up...?
The opening up of new institutions is welcome, but giving them IIT status is in no way going to improve the quality of the output...a better strategy would have been to upgrade the NIT's that have created a strong reputation for themselves to IIT status and opening new NIT's in their place...
I'd rather not touch the issue of terrorism or it will take me another week to complete this post...
If our policies are to be dictatorial, we might as well adopt a communist form of government...whats the point of having a democratically elected government?....maybe its a hip term that we enjoy...
The only commendable work that i can remember is the Right to Information Act that was passed a few years ago...don't be surprised if even that is repealed one fine day...just bcos Madam wants it so ;)
