Majoritarian overreach can be disruptive
Editor,
The Special article “It’s Now or Never for the NPP-led MDA Government” By Patricia Mukhim (ST 20 December 2024) made interesting reading. The author has brought to the fore many vital issues which are factual and need to be addressed by the government. Though “it’s now and never for the NPP- led MDA Government,” one must also appreciate the fact that the MDA 2.0 in spite of having a full majority with more than 83 percent of the MLAs and 70 percent of the electorate on its side is not exercising that power as yet. I see it as a demonstration of restraint, responsibility, and respect for democratic principles and not weakness. By not exercising full power, the majority can foster a more inclusive and collaborative environment, encouraging dialogue and consensus-building with minority groups. Exercising restraint helps prevent abuse of power and ensures that decisions are made in the best interests of all, rather just the majority. What is reasonable about the MDA 2.0 is that it is not overusing majority power in spite of having that power as it can lead to political instability and social unrest. By exercising restraint, the MDA 2.0 has demonstrated that it can maintain stability and harmony. Demonstrating restraint can build trust among constituents and other political entities, showing that the majority is committed to fair and balanced governance. Sometimes, not exercising full power immediately can be part of a long-term strategy to achieve more sustainable and effective outcomes. In contrast there are those who are in the minority but who make a lot of noise but lack the actual power to effect change. This can be seen as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, their vocal presence can bring attention to important issues and keep the majority in check. On the other hand, without the ability to implement their ideas, their influence can be limited to rhetoric rather than action. And that is the present scenario in Meghalaya. However, I wish the government takes note of the vital issues raised by the author in her article which are of utmost public interest and importance.
Yours etc;
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email
National unity above politics
Editor,
At present the political and religious environment is tense. To reduce this tension there is an urgent need of individuals who can contribute towards dousing the flames of hatred and communalism as Jai Prakash Narayan did in the 1970s and presently the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat who has come forward and appealed for mutual respect for all religions. Even the Samajwadi Party supported this idea of Mohan Bhagwat who has categorically stated that raking up of newer temple-mosque disputes was not acceptable. His latest statement is consistent with his past statements over such disputes.
Also his reference to the certain individuals who are trying to become ‘leaders of Hindus, ‘ by raking up such disputes, is actually a snub to those going to extremes when it comes to matters of religion. This is not the first time that Bhagwat has spoken in this vein. Though Bhagwat had named anyone individually, it is clear that at present there are many who flaunt their claims to be the champions of Hinduism.
There are people who have been writing about these issues and have expressed their opinions and even approached the courts of law. In fact an increasing number of individuals are going to different courts. The courts too have been ordering surveys of disputed sites, taking a cue from the historic Ram Janmabhoomi title suit. Are all such disputes really necessary? Collective thinking is needed to resolve this ongoing quarrel about the temple-mosque sites otherwise the fringe elements can occupy an important democratic space.
The RSS chief’s statement, perhaps, highlighted this matter in a different vein. Since the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation, the RSS has maintained a distance from more such disputes. Of course, a section of the society criticised the RSS in general and Bhagwat in particular over this stand. This criticism was, and still is, largely confined to the new battlefront — the social media, which has to be carefully watched.
People fighting wars against each other on religious, cultural, ideological, political, caste, language and other lines are basically the products of new-age dumbing down. Since most of them do not have any profound reading or understanding of the socio-cultural and socio-historical realities, they just dwell in the past, choose the side of their convenience and stick to that even in the present, thus compromising the collective ability of creating a bright future for all. In a way, they follow certain stereotypes and gradually become part of one. We cannot expect rational thinking from a large chunk of these ‘social media warriors’. Hence, their criticism of any rational stand does not hold much value. But social leaders have a responsibility to give them the message of not resorting to extremes.
When the Hindu dimension was politically sidelined in the past, these individuals espoused some different causes. Most of these new-age faddists do not have ideological clarity to serve any cause with the ultimate aim of harmony. They pick holes in the rational statements of social leaders like Mohan Bhagwat. Unfortunately, while doing so, they forget that the ultimate objective of any socio-cultural organisation like the RSS is uniting people for the larger cause of national unity. There may be different ways to interpret the statement of the RSS chief. But, in the larger national interest, and in favour of social harmony and peaceful co-existence, people from different communities need to pick up seeds of rationality.
There are hundreds of schools being run by the RSS to uplift the poor and they are getting good response from the public. We also know that former president, Pranab Mukherjee also visited the RSS office after completion of his tenure. Not many years ago, the RSS Sarsanghchalak had made it clear in one of his speeches in Nagpur that the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation had a specific context, and that RSS would not take up any such issue in future. So, once the Ram Temple at Ayodhya came into being, the RSS dissociated itself from more such temple-mosque disputes that found their way into public discourses over the past couple of years.
Instead of quarrelling about the sites of temples and mosques, Indians have to be more concerned about the economic conditions of the country as the GDP has slowed down and other economic parameters are not favourable either.
Yours etc.,
Yash Pal Ralhan,
Via email