This time again it’s only cartoons - no satire. Newspaper and Twitter takes lion’s share of my time these days. Will do my best next time. However I want to quote from Manoj Joshi’s article on the editorial page of today’s (18.7.’20) Times of India titled ‘ D-10: Sense of Déjà vu’ as it reflects on the state of affairs of the nation and provides food for thought for the powers that be in these unprecedented situation we are all going through.
QUOTE:
“Democracy with Indian characteristics comes with a dash of authoritarianism. It’s about politically motivated IT raids on the Opposition in Karnataka and Rajasthan, or the fine of Rs. 84 crores on PTI India’s largest News agency, on account of it’s interview of the Chinese Ambassador. Or the numerous people incarcerated on political grounds across the country and charged under the colonial statute of sedition. The biggest blot on the Indian “ democratic ” system is it’s police. The Delhi police’s shoddy handling of the violence against Muslims in the wake of the CAA protests in January shows that the institution has learnt nothing and forgotten nothing from it’s cringe-worthy handling of the 1984 Sikh massacres. Instead of insisting on, and advancing, the rule of law, political leaders in the country have given the police a free rein to conduct extra-judicial killings.
BJP alone is not responsible for this situation. Political corruption, extra-judicial killings, tax harassment, have been around for a long time. But under the current govt., the situation seems to be in free fall. There appears to be little concern, even at the highest echelons, at the propriety of defectors becoming ministers, encounter killings, incarceration without trial, or the undermining of the media. Upholding political morality and respecting due process are part of the immune system that protect the body politic of a democracy. Wantonly weakening it is to invite disease and destruction.
As for the geopolitical concert of democracies, given India’s Kovid-19 situation and the alarming economic situation, there are issues that New Delhi ought to focus on other than external ventures. The crisis we face is not going away, notwithstanding the concerted spin. Along with our economy, our democracy is going under. We are not even flailing our hands to stay afloat.” UNQUOTE
I hope and pray our politicians understand the seriousness of the situation post Corona, where , not only India’s , the world economy itself , will be in shambles. A visionary, calculated, preemptive and concerted approach based on authentic ground realities and with lot of mutual consultation and cooperation alone will help us face the impending economic calamity head on and come out unscathed - if not the winner. Hope and pray we succeed and future of our next generation will be safe and secure.
Here goes:
