SOW WIND, REAP WHIRLWIND
Wednesday, 22 January 2014 | Chandan Mitra |
May this be the end of sadak-chhap politics
When Czarist Russia’s last few Premiers shivered in fear and the country’s fragile democracy tottered, there emerged a group of political activists fashioning themselves as Narodniks. As Narod in Russian means “people”, this group claimed to represent the will of the citizenry, asserting that they took their directive only from a mythical entity called “the people”. This term has been misused throughout history and is grossly distorted even after democracy — the structured reflection of people’s will — has become the norm of government in most parts of the world. In Russia of the early 20th Century, Narodniks vied with Social Democrats, Liberals, Czarists, Mensheviks, Bolsheviks and, significantly, Anarchists. Groups that proudly pronounced themselves to be anarchists, vowed to destroy the state and establish anarchy were fairly common all over Europe then; it was one such group that was involved in the assassination of Duke Ferdinand to trigger the First World War. In Russia, as the Bolsheviks steadily gained ground among competing groups and the Czarist regime weakened irretrievably, Narodniks’ pretence to democracy steadily declined. It also became clear that “the people” constituted an amorphous mass that could not be welded together as a coherent political force without an organised party structure. But organisation of any kind was anathema to the Narodniks. Frustrated by their increasing rejection by “the people”, in whose name they functioned, Narodniks took to violence eventually becoming indistinguishable from Anarchists.
What 21st Century Delhi has witnessed over the last few months is an uncanny re-run of events in Russia a century ago. The only difference is that our home-grown Narodniks actually wrested power democratically with the support of the very forces they had bitterly opposed all along. Having ascended to power, Narodnik leader “Aam Aadmi” Arvind Kejriwal realised within three weeks that governance was beyond his capability and decided to let loose unruly mobs on India’s Capital over the facetious issue of one of his Ministers (with a dubious track record) being defied by some police constables. Proclaiming himself as an Anarchist, as the Russian Narodniks too had eventually done, Kejriwal promptly found support from motley violence-driven elements like over-ground Maoists and other disruptionists that have no regard for the Constitution or parliamentary democracy. These diabolical groups have long sought to infiltrate political organisations without success, but in Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party they found an ideal refuge.
After being silent spectators to the disgraceful disregard of the law and the Constitution for two full days, it would have only been appropriate for the citizens of the country, particularly residents of Delhi to rise in revolt against the choreographed anarchy being promoted by the AAP. In theory, this party is in Government but in practice they are law-breakers who deserve to be treated as such. The AAP stands guilty not only of breaking the law but has also committed treason by mocking the sober occasion of Republic Day, which is the pride of this country. By deliberately organising a demonstration on the route of the celebrated parade, and claiming that Republic Day has no meaning if a few Delhi Police constables cannot be suspended on an errant Minister’s verbal orders, the AAP and its anarchist supremo should have forfeited his right to hold constitutional office.
Finally, however, good sense prevailed and probably finding his support dwindling rapidly, Kejriwal has withdrawn his dharna claiming that the Union Government’s agreement to send a couple of constables on leave amounts to his victory. Surely that could have been achieved through more civil and customary methods like dialogue. This is no victory for the rebellious AAP; it is actually ignominious retreat. But anxiety still persists among the citizenry whether the anarchists propose to run Delhi in this way in the future too. It is perfectly conceivable that each time an unruly AAP leader or volunteer has an altercation with any member of law-enforcing forces or even a school principal for that matter, the city will be brought to its knees. Hopefully, Kejriwal will learn that people despise such methods in a democracy and thus will not dare to repeat similar plans. Fortunately, the “dead duck” Manmohan Singh regime at the Centre that has long lost the will to govern finally recognised that it could not continue to stand by and permit the humiliation of the Indian state which would have made the Prime Minister an accomplice to the crime. The Delhi Police has demonstrated commendable restraint in the face of grave provocation. The AAP’s retreat should encourage them to remain firm if illegal orders are barked at them by AAP leaders in the future.
Meanwhile, it is amusing to find the Congress Party hoist by its own petard. In a desperate bid to try and prevent the BJP’s ascendancy from reaching Delhi, it sought to use AAP as a shield. That shield is now being used as a battering ram against the Congress! The comical scenario in which Delhi’s ruling party and its ally are exchanging barbs, with the Congress calling Kejriwal Chief Anarchist, and AAP in turn daring the Congress to withdraw support, has made Delhi a laughing stock among democracies. In their self-righteous arrogance, AAP leaders appear to believe they are the most intelligent and cunning people around while everybody else is a fool or a bunch of bumbling idiots. The people of Delhi must ensure that this false notion of AAP leaders’ infallibility is shattered at the first opportunity.
Kejriwal had let slip the hooligans of disruption on Delhi from his stable. But as the old adage goes, “If you sow the wind thou shall reap the whirlwind”. India’s Narodniks and Anarchists who have tasted blood thanks to Kejriwal’s obduracy and arrogance, may soon turn upon him when they realise his utility to them is over. His retreat this time could well be the turning point for them, especially if the Chief Minister now realises the folly of his ways and begins to do what he has been elected for. If he starts to govern, he soon will find himself isolated with even his beloved anarchist fellow-travellers deserting him for greener pastures. Maoists who take inspiration from the late, unlamented Chairman’s theory of “permanent disequilibrium” will attempt to take control of the forces Kejriwal so lovingly nurtured. We can only hope this failed dharna marks the end of sadak-chhap politics for Delhi.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/todays-newspaper/sow-wind-reap-whirlwind.html