It’s crucial to acknowledge the need for a more respectful political discourse. The current state of politics, with its focus on self-aggrandizement and self-glory, has led to a hostile, rancorous, and nasty environment. This shift from intellectual disagreements to personal attacks is a concerning trend that, if left unchecked, could lead to physical altercations. However, it’s important to remember that constructive debate is the cornerstone of our political process. The negative impact of personal attacks in politics, which can erode public trust and hinder constructive debate, is a severe issue that cannot be overstated. The potential consequences of this trend are dire and could significantly damage our democratic fabric.
The Prime Minister’s vengeful attitude is reflected repeatedly in his utterances. Locals hear him for the spiteful content he generates, as it provides them with the cheap humor he is capable of provoking. Still, his constant repetition of the same will only draw apathy and indifference from his audience. Parliamentarians must not just realize but deeply understand the immense weight of their pivotal role in shaping the political discourse. They have the power to either contribute to a more respectful and constructive dialogue or perpetuate the current trend. Their response to the Prime Minister’s language can significantly influence the future of political discourse. It’s a responsibility they must take seriously, as their actions can shape the course of our political landscape, empowering them to make a positive difference.
When the Prime Minister glorifies the usage of unconstitutional language in Parliament, it amounts to his endorsement of the same, potentially encouraging more of its usage by others. For instance, the questioning of Rahul Gandhi on his unknown caste by a little-known Parliamentarian, Anurag Thakur, was not in compliance with constitutional principles that debar the use of the word caste. In such cases, the speaker should enforce discipline by suspending the Parliamentarian who blundered. This enforcement is crucial in maintaining the integrity of our political discourse and should reassure the audience that such behavior will not be tolerated. Reviving historical agendas by accusing others of past errors is puerile and unbecoming in the current context, and it is the speaker’s role to prevent such behavior from repeating.
This triggers the necessity of insisting on highly educated people adorning the chairs of both houses, including the Prime Ministers, through the selection of worthy candidates for election to the chair. Hence, the decorum of the house could be maintained, ensuring a lively and informative debate. It also assists in restoring the bonhomie of opposing leaders when concluding the session and avoiding slogans and name-calling during sessions. The position of the speaker is vital and should be devoid of bias, unlike the Om Birla and Jagdeep Dhankhar types, who are currently presiding over the house. Their bias towards the ruling dispensation is pronounced and unwarranted.
Despite the opulence and luxury of the Parliament, its occupants leave much to be desired in terms of behavior, language usage, and discipline.
Our democracy is converging more into an individual-centric system than an ideology-based one, quite unlike the past. As long as they manage to get elected partially or wholly using the supreme leader, they are pleased and sing the leader’s praises aloud in the hope of future favors. Many legislatures tend to cross the floor, too, mainly hoping to win a seat and possibly a ministerial berth. The commercial gains associated with such functions are found to be extensively stimulating, which catapults an individual to the top almost instantly. It certainly is not a medium to serve the people of the land anymore.
The caste census set many tongues wagging and would have been more appropriate had it been associated with financial ranking as well. Almost 69% of Indian households confront financial insecurity (according to a survey conducted by Money9), and one in six of them comes from a higher caste. It is essentially this section of the people who are unable to access any resources offered to them, if at all, who need to be attended to. People with low incomes will be elevated to a seemingly higher pedestal that will add value to our growth chain and increase the buying capacity of folks lying at the bottom of the chain. The demand from within would be felt both in terms of perception and statistics. More importantly, the affluent among the OBCs, like Puja Khedkar, who hold immovable property worth ₹22 crore and inherit a legacy of more than ₹40 crore, do not come under the reservation policy and can neither be accommodated in the disabled class. Her inclusion in the reserved-cum-disabled class is a typical model of the delusionary tactic employed by many to squeeze through undeservedly.
The contemporary judgment of 1st August 2024 authorizes the state to subdivide the OBC and SC/ST reservation benefits, aligning them to varying degrees of backwardness. Titled the creamy layer in legal terms, it was a bid and has now transformed into a law to essentially exclude the apparently backward class into the section of people who are yet to benefit from the reservation and the ones who have gained in stature using the benefits provided by the law. This would enable the untapped beneficiaries of the reservations to take advantage and, finally, turn off the law and draw proceeds in the form of an able workforce.
The principal sponsor of the caste census, Rahul Gandhi, also had ample opportunities to diminish the growing strength of the reserved class after decades of Congress rule. However, it took more than three-quarters of a century for the effort to find acceptance.
A burgeoning demand could boost the supply chain, leading to the resolution of the unemployment issue. However, the people who are desirous of being picked up have to be employable. A long-term management program for skill acquisition and development involves investing in education programs. The budgetary funds offered are wafer-thin, highlighting the urgent need for increased investment in this area. Corporations that desire to promote technical education and training could provide the funds to attract a skilled workforce tuned to their standards of employability, eventually increasing their yield and thereby growing both on the business front and contributing to the nation. This matter cannot be delayed or overlooked, as it directly impacts the future of our society and the development of our citizens.
The nation was pursuing a top-down model of growth, with the rich proliferating through the gains partially due to tax relaxation while the poor and middle class braving to meet the survival instinct awaiting calls from employers. The idea is to yield to a bottom-up approach, which is to bring the vast volumes of the bottom chain above, causing the top to gain ground modestly while the bottom gains rapidly. However, this would mean government funding!
Today, only the Prime Minister genuinely seeks a bottom-up approach when one considers the worth of his attire, which includes several watches, many pairs of shoes, sunglasses of his choice, and at least ten pairs of clothes every day, which he does not repeat and which would totally cost the exchequer several lakhs per day.
Whether our beloved PM is worth that much money is anybody’s guess!
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