Governance is no child’s play. It involves risks and timely decisions. Actions speak louder than words though many of those who occupy seats of power in democracies are vacillators of the first order, fearful of situations and demonstrating a deficit of action amid a surfeit of rhetoric. The series of events in Uttar Pradesh in recent days clearly follow a well-thought-out action plan on the part of chief minister Yogi Adityanath. The most-wanted mafia leader in the guise of a Samajwadi Party leader, Atiq Ahmed, his son and also Atiq’s brother have been eliminated in two hits in quick succession – son Asad being shot down by the UP police in Jhansi; while Atiq and his brother being liquidated by three men posing as TV crew near a Prayag court in the immediate aftermath. These could as well be termed “extra-judicial killings,” which are objectionable and against the spirit of natural justice. A judicial inquiry has been ordered into the murder of Atiq and ban orders have been clamped across UP to guard against retaliations.
The point to note is that the nation has a well-oiled law and order mechanism and all-encompassing judicial system, why should there be fake encounters by police in the first place. After Yogi took charge, scores of such police encounters had taken place in the past six years and many were done to death by the security forces. Why Yogi gets away with such acts is clear to all.
Uttar Pradesh has been the most lawless, gangster-run state for decades alongside Bihar. When it came to law and order, these two states were often seen as being worse than the wayward African states. An argument is, out-of-the-box solutions are needed to tackle grim situations. After all, one cannot negotiate with a wildfire. More importantly, feelings are strengthening that the justice-dispensation systems here are failing to measure up to people’s expectations. Cases in courts are on a merry-go-round for decades. This starts with the investigation process itself – cops delaying it for years out of selfish interests, perhaps courts too, even to thwart the course of justice. Justice delayed is justice denied. With the result, India often projects itself as a rudderless entity. Even Atiq, caught in over 100 cases of a grave nature, moved around for many years without any let or hindrance; he even terrorized judges and witnesses. It’s time to take stock of such lawlessness and things must change for the better. An elected leader should carry with him both courage and conviction to perform. Many who run democracies think half their job is done if salaries are paid to government employees on time. Incompetent leaders are a curse to any nation. Crime must be dealt with a strong hand but police taking the law in their hands is not the solution.