An international payments crisis coupled with inflation at home and the perpetual failure of industry of compete globally compelled India to take a few measures aimed at liberalizing the economy from bureaucratic controls It has been our view that these measures by themselves will not take India far in the direction of liberalization unless the country initiates democratic reforms severely curtails expenditure on military and police and agrees to the international demand for a nuclear-free south-east Asia. Liberalization and militarization do not go together. The Rao government appears to be in no different position than its predecessors to execute genuine politico-economic liberalization programs. The key political problems remain unresolved: Punjab Kashmir and Assam. In Punjab and Kashmir the local population continues to be alienated as never before with dozens of Muslims and Sikhs being killed by the Indian security forces daily mostly in fake and contrived encounters. The dismissal of the Nagaland governor by Delhi is a fresh pointer to the country’s anti-reform course in so far as political issues are concerned. The governor acted perfectly in keeping with the letter and spirit of Indias Constitution by accepting the advice of the elected chief minister to dissolve the state Assembly and hold fresh elections instead of permitting horse-trading at the instance of the central Congress (I) government. The governor had to pay the price for his correct action. The trouble with the Indian government is that it wants the country’s President to abide by the central governments advice on all matters but does not allow this principle to be extended to governors in dealing with the elected state governments. Another dimension of the Nagaland episode is the fact that the governor of the state governments. Another dimension of the Nagaland episode is the fact that the governor of that state M.M. Thomas happened to be a Christian Now a Brahamin and an overwhelming majority of the population replaces the Christian governor for that unfortunate state. The Christian governors other “crime” was that he had refused to dismiss a former chief secretary S.S. Ahaluwalia a Sikh as was directed by Delhi. The manner in which India reacted to Amnesty International report on deaths in police custody in that country also falls in the pattern. This pattern shows India fast on the road to militarization and fascism and not democracy and liberalization not withstanding Indian defence ministers U.S. visit and the two countries plans of holding joint naval exercises.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 24, 1992
