my thoughts run over the Indian political scene of the
outgoing year 2003 and then look forward to the New Year 2004,
I feel and hope that the Indian politicians should learn to
observe in the coming year an LOC for public and political
conduct. The outgoing year, sadly, has been one in which
politicians have transgressed all limits of moral and decent
public conduct. Even Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
minced no words in pointing to this painful polluting
political factor and counselled those in politics to behave
with decorum, decency and self-discipline.
I felt that
the old guard in most political parties was perhaps more
responsible for pollution of public and political life with
their desire to stick to power by hook or by crook—more often
by crook—and thus introduce elements of politics of emotion,
allegation, sting operations and scandalism rather than
people-oriented issues. People of India, however, have begun
to understand their game and are determined to teach them a
lesson. It was also seen by some that efforts were made to
turn the Rajya Sabha into a sojourn for pliable Bollywood
stars who could vend charms in favour of their favourite
party. They felt its character as a House of Wisdom and the
traditional House of Elders. They felt that the LOC between
Netas and Abhinetas – between leaders and their Bollywood
pleaders - had also been violated.
Lessons have
to be learnt by all. People are not interested in personality
wars, communal conflicts and regionalist mischief mongering.
They have rejected those who overlook them, their problems and
development issues. Year 2004, I hope, turns out to be the
year of significant change and new LOCs are established for
the wayward and wily politicians. Happy New Year dear readers.
As