In a constitutional democracy like India, the Ruling Party and the Opposition both play a crucial role in the development and progress of the country.
This is done by consensus building, taking in constructive feedback from the Opposition, treating the Opposition with respect and regard, and finally by coming to a decision after research and fact-based discussions and debates in the Parliament. It needs to be underlined that even when a party is sitting in the Opposition, it is a partner and a stakeholder in the nation’s progress and, thus, it is the duty of the Treasury benches to treat them as equals. Running down the Opposition, stifling their voice, making fun of its leaders’, doesn’t show good democratic traditions. Here are seven ways in which the Ruling party and the Opposition can work together, in tandem.THE RULING PARTY SHOULD TAKE CRITICISM IN A STRIDE
Why it should do so? Your well-wishers and your true
friends are your critics and those who disagree with you, not the army of sycophants
you have kept in the backyard. Sycophants will suppress the truth, keep you in
darkness, will give you false praise, and will thus prevent you from taking the
right decisions.
How it should do so? The leaders of the Ruling party,
especially the Prime Minister, must keep an open mind and learn to put himself in
the other person’s shoes and see things from the other person’s point of view. This
will give him a 360 degree perspective and will open his mind to flaws and
shortcomings in his speech, behaviour, and actions.
THE RULING PARTY SHOULD NOT MARGINALISE THE OPPOSITION
Why it should do so? If the Ruling party marginalises
the Opposition, it smacks of arrogance and I-know-all attitude. This is the
beginning of its downfall. Remember, no party or Prime Minister remains in
office perennially. If you deny the Opposition space, it could lead to
extremism and terrorism by a section of the society, and this is detrimental
for the country.
How it should do so? When the Ruling Party realises
that the Opposition leaders are constitutionally elected representatives of the
people, it will have an attitude of deference towards them. This can be done by
having luncheon meetings with Opposition leaders once every three months, ensuring
their participation in the visits of state dignitaries, and including them in
Parliamentary committees.
INSTITUTIONALISE DEMOCRACY WITHIN AND IN THE ELECTORAL
SYSTEM
Why it should do so? If you have an arbitrary and
unilateral way of choosing leaders, you may end up with an electoral autocrat, an
overbearing leader, and in the worst-case scenario---a dictator. No leader
would like history to record him in such a way. Every leader would like to be
remembered as one who strengthened constitutional democracy and one who
governed well.
How it should do so? While it is the prerogative of
the Prime Minister to choose such people who are trustworthy, loyal and able,
it would be better if the Prime Ministerial candidate himself is elected by the
party and its workers. Further, the Ruling Party should strengthen the position
of the CEC, give him the requisite powers and autonomy so that elections are
conducted in a transparent way.
RULING PARTY SHOULD BE OPEN AND RECEPTIVE TO IDEAS AND
PUBLIC OPINION
Why it should do so? An individual’s capacity to
think and generate ideas is finite and limited. If he is not well read, doesn’t
have an inquisitive, creative and curious mind, his ability to think with
clarity is seriously eroded. When you are open and receptive to ideas and
public opinion, it will act like a compass and guide you in your journey along
the path.
How it should do so? This can be done by ensuring
freedom of speech and the Press. Secondly, by encouraging and funding think
tanks who bring in a different and divergent perspective. However, in such a
case, it becomes the duty of the public and the Press to speak and report with
responsibility. In this respect, Modiji has taken a good step by asking the
public for suggestions and ideas for topics in his monthly ‘mann ki baat’.
Why it should do so? If the Opposition believes it’s
an equal stakeholder in the country’s progress, it will behave maturely and
ensure accountability of the government in power, while at the same time
waiting patiently to occupy the Treasury benches when its time comes. A billion
and a half eyes watch, hear, and infer from the MPs in the Lok Sabha and the
Rajya Sabha, what they say off and on the record.
How it should do so? The Opposition must put its
house in order, and have a gameplan for the future of the country, one which is
positively dynamic, and not destructive. If you have MPs from the Opposition
who talk about the break up of the country, this will not go down well with the
general public, who will vote you out of power again and again. So, the
Opposition should take responsibility for what they speak and how they behave
and act.
OPPOSITION SHOULD NOT BE ANTAGONISTIC OR CONFRONTATIONAL
Why it should do so? One rule I learnt perhaps 32
years back was that in the workplace, cooperation is better than competition,
and that, confrontation is just not acceptable. Not doing so will lead
the country into chaos and strife, and will take it 1,200 years back. This is a
golden rule, so repeat it, repeatedly. Further, antagonistic behaviour is a
sign of insecurity, of weakness.
How it should do so? There is only one way you can
take India forward---by team work, team play, and by espirit de corp. You
should subsume your personal egos and ambitions for the good of the team and
the country. Members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha should first and
foremost think of what is in the good of the country, and not what is in their
personal interest.
OPPOSITION HAS THE RIGHT FOR PEACEFUL PROTESTS AND
AGITATIONS
Why it should do so? If the Opposition genuinely believes
that the government is going wrong or is doing the wrong things, it should
first establish this to the general public backed by facts and data, and it has
every right to undertake peaceful protests and agitations. This is necessary to
inform and educate the general public of the downturn of governance and get
their participation.
How it should do so? But first, the Opposition should
raise the issues in the Parliament and should allow the peaceful functioning of
both the Houses and should not create a ruckus so that the sessions are
adjourned. Every minute lost in the House leads to a loss of crores of rupees
of the tax payers’ hard-earned money. The thumb rule is: Keep the interests of
the country foremost.
No comments:
Post a Comment