Democracy...really?

[vivek]

To err is human…..However, to err and change the scheme of things is political. At least in the Indian democracy. Ever since SP’s Jaya Bachchan was stripped of her seat from Rajya Sabha for holding an office of profit, the event has sparked-off a nation wide debate on how to go about solving this problem which would plague all subsequent governments the MPs of which might be holding an office of profit.



By rule, no MP should be holding an office of profit portfolio and be an elected member of Parliament. Jaya Bachchan’s removal from her seat has thus exposed a serious flaw in the law which needs to be gapped immediately. The gap needs to be filled by an ordinance in the parliament agreed by both the ruling and the opposition.



Earlier, the Jaya Bachchan incident had shifted the focus to Samajawadi Party’s Amar Singh and he was on the verge of loosing his seat too! At this rate half the Rajya Sabha would be empty as each of them is holding some post or the other outside their responsibility as an MP. There is nothing wrong in doing so, just a minor flaw in the law that remained as is for 50 years!



Just few days ago, people identified that even Sonia Gandhi would have to part with her seat as an MP as she too holds an office of profit. She took the best trick from her hat and redid what she did while UPA won the elections. The mounting pressure from the opposition resulted in Sonia Gandhi quitting her seat as MP from Rai Bareli constituency; she has even apologized to her people at Rai Bareli as her actions are in the best interest to protect democracy. She had also quit her role at National Advisory Council. Wokay!



Meanwhile, the thought of making this little change in THE LAW sounds pretty ok, because it might save Sonia from cutting a sorry figure. It would also protect many more MPs, even those in the opposition from being oust from their cozy MP chairs.



Soon, the ordinance will be passed by the holy parliament and the general public will have no say in it. The MPs can retain their leadership roles in the office of profit and remain as coveted MPs.



How nice!



I guess the ordinance has to be made to the very law defining elections. People should the name to which they are voting. Not the party.

[Lucifer]

I don't quite agree with you, Vivek, when you say that the public will have no say in the ordinance. The public decides who goes to the parliament. And if the public chooses to send such people, then so be it.



Certain things you and I may not agree with. But then how many of us 'middle-class' people vote to make cribbing justifiable?

[vivek]

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An ordinance of this kind can protect and retain richly paid MPs who may be business barons or board members of companies with interests conflicting with their primary duty of public welfare. Public voted them to serve and not to maintain two offices where they divert all resources to their own constituency. Infact the Right to Information act (amended) provides general public like us (irrespective of we vote or not) the power to question the intention behind it.We are not cribbing, we are just shocked that a simple err of this kind remained in our law books for 50 years. Untouched. And this is precisely why the Scindias and Mallyas are MPs today.



The amendment of this kind cannot just happen over night.The government is now contemplating to change the definion of 'The office of profit'. The amended definition and hence the amended act would protect these MPs.I think it should be otherway round. An MP should dedicate his term in service of the nation or closer, constituency.



Public (voting or otherwise) has the right to question such unfair amendments, there are courts which can help public to stop such proceedings in the parliaments.



I dont think any of these will happen.Public will not have any say because public won't act.



By the way. I always voted!

[Lucifer]

Vivek, I am not questioning whether you voted or not. I made that statement for the general middle-class populace.



If I am not mistaken, the right to information only empowers us to be privy to information. It does not enable us to question any decision.



As regards the Scindias and Mallyas being MPs, the law is quite clear on that actually. Any personal business is not an office of profit. An office of profit is strictly an office of the government.



And even if the people voted for them to serve, then the public can vote someone else the next time out. Public is not a fool as we 'educated' people tend to perceive it simply because those in power are not necessarily the ones we like. Who are we to question who gets elected as long as the election process is fair? If people of that constituency voted for someone, then we need to accept this as people's will.

[labelle]

the democracy means that the elected representatives are responsible for the welfare of the people and they collective represent the people and make laws and ammend laws. the people who formulated the consitution made sure that the politicians do not take any undue advantage of the office of the government they formulated the law where a member of the house should have the office of profit. this was made sure that the politicians do not influence the post for any activity that would not serve the people. if we see the whole electoral process then we can see that the party makes a person stand in a particular constituency depending upon his popularity and the amount of money he can pool in for the party. we just vote to make sure that we are excercising our right but how many of us actually think that we are choosing the right decesion. we have accepted the fact that politicians cant do anything for us. the public that sends the representative to the house is constitued of people from all classes and if we go on and make an analysis then we would find that it is the lower mind class and people below the below poverty line are the major vote banks and their set of priorities and needs are different from the others and time and again it has been proved that they are the ones who easily fall prey to the politicians. today India lacks true leaders who can take the counttry towards the developement. it is a collective effort that has to be taken right from the party that chooses a candidate to stand from a particular constituency making sure that he/she is "clean" then it the election commision to recheck the whole profile of the candidates and organising the free and fair electiona and then it come to us to make sure that we vote the right candidate. all this takes a little awareness then only we can truly be democratic and it would be for the people by the people and of the people. what say?

[vivek]

[quote="labelle"] we have accepted the fact that politicians cant do anything for us. ...... today India lacks true leaders who can take the counttry towards the developement. quote]



Lots of cliche's here. Anyway, the issue now is more grave. They want to covert the amendment into a new law. Like Rajdeep said yesterday on IBN " Atleast now all politicians have egg on their faces!"



Both replies make a lot of sense. Lucifer, you are right The office of profit is only for government jobs. My example of Mallyas and Scindias was to make a point that even people like them are holding certain offices of profit created for government infrasturcture projects. Such as those in developement of golden quardrilateral projects.



This current burning issue will go over the head of the masses, they won't even understand the political definition of the office of profit. It is for people like us to demand an explanation of why such a law was knowingly kept under wraps? And why such noise when it boomeranged to UPA. Why can't they simply accept the error and quit their posts in the so called office of profit and appoint someone else in that place.



Sonia is clever, she had quit her Rai Barelli seat. After this law gets amended or a new act is passed, she would re-contest and win given the sympathy wave she has allready generated.

[labelle]

This current burning issue will go over the head of the masses, they won't even understand the political definition of the office of profit. It is for people like us to demand an explanation of why such a law was knowingly kept under wraps? And why such noise when it boomeranged to UPA. Why can't they simply accept the error and quit their posts in the so called office of profit and appoint someone else in that place.

Sonia is clever, she had quit her Rai Barelli seat. After this law gets amended or a new act is passed, she would re-contest and win given the sympathy wave she has allready generated.

you are right vivek. people will forget this. it is just a news that holds them from changing the channel for few seconds and once they change the channel then they forget the whole issue . it doesnt concern them since it does not affect their day to day activities. these days people have a very limited interest in politics and they only react if it concerning their day to day activities. gone are the days when people used to take interest in politics and thus contributed towards the decesion making process. i think emergency was the time when people very politically volatile and reacted to the situation at hand. there needs to be general political awareness among people. this lack of interest may be because of the reason that today the politics has become a dirty game and there is constant mudslinging. about sonia gandhi yes she is a very smart lady making the right move at the right time. i even heard Nagma saying that she has again sacrified for the cause of her party.

[Optimistic HP]

you are right vivek. people will forget this. it is just a news that holds them from changing the channel for few seconds and once they change the channel then they forget the whole issue. it doesnt concern them since it does not affect their day to day activities. these days people have a very limited interest in politics and they only react if it concerning their day to day activities. gone are the days when people used to take interest in politics and thus contributed towards the decesion making process. i think emergency was the time when people very politically volatile and reacted to the situation at hand. there needs to be general political awareness among people. this lack of interest may be because of the reason that today the politics has become a dirty game and there is constant mudslinging. about sonia gandhi yes she is a very smart lady making the right move at the right time. i even heard Nagma saying that she has again sacrified for the cause of her party.

Maybe. But then, there's one thing that I can ensure that atleast I would do. I will make sure that I don't forget these things, small or big. And when time comes, I promise to share my memory with all those that I can reach out to. And also stress upon the importance of others also remembering all positive and negative happenings on the political scene. I'm sure that I, all by myself, can bring about some impact, however minute it may be. And I'm also confident of the fact that if most of us, who want a positive change, do something similar, within their own strengths and limitations, we can change the face of India in the next couple of decades.

[labelle]

i expect every indian who wants to make a difference to say that

[vivek]

Ya true. But probably not the Rang De Basanti way!

[labelle]

i think there are lot of people who think like us but there has to be a way where something can be done and where a sense of direction can be given. i wish more young politicians can come infront and give the oldies a break from age old politics. its time for us to see the change and break the archetypal rules..