On Friday, parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi claimed they did not wish to suspend the MPs of the Opposition, but the MPs requested it. The demand of the Opposition that the Home Minister, Amit Shah, or the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, make an official statement regarding the breach of security while the Parliament was in session just the previous day was not unreasonable. However, riding on their arrogance, they refused to show up even after protests broke out within the well of the Parliament.
The claims of the government that it has achieved great things in bringing down Article 370 and removing the vestiges of a colonial era are all hogwash and an attempt to detract from the truth that they are, in all actuality, taking down the Constitution that the founding fathers laid down lovingly as a service to their country and its people with a vision that it would soar to the highest heavens.
In claiming that Congress is a sore loser and an irresponsible opposition, it forgets that the BJP in Opposition was disruptive and destructive to the core. They had, at that time, claimed the right to be disruptive. What would have been the result had the Congress acted high-handedly as the BJP does? The results might have been far more beneficial to the people.
The members of the BJP would do well to remember that their families, too, live in this land. A quote from Xi Jinping's land goes, "When the nest is overturned, no eggs remain unbroken." The belief that they will be able to reap the benefits while others suffer is only a beautiful dream. It might last while the night is young but will dissipate with the advent of the day.
The INDIA block is currently only a loose collection without cohesion. Though a single entity externally, each party is only fielding for its benefits, defeating its purpose. It is up in the air whether this incident will force the Opposition to rise above its petty party politics and unite it to fight for a chance in the coming elections.
At the same time, those who believe that someone will take care of them will find themselves discarded sooner or later, for the ruthless don't have any eternal friends or enemies; they only have benefits in their minds. The recent elections and its aftermath are sufficient indicators of it.
Also, a sufficient indicator is the breach in the Parliament. The youth involved are the manifest face of the many already disillusioned and of the increasing public disappointment and unrest. It would be good to remember a quote attributed to US President Abraham Lincoln, "You can fool all people some of the time and some people all the time. But you can never fool all people all the time." The spirit of those who led this country to freedom still guides it, thankfully. As we enter a new year, we await with patient hope for another Bhagat Singh, Nehru and Gandhi to rise again.
The Indian Currents Team wishes you all a prosperous and hope-filled new year!