Hazara Singh All well-meaning people are curious to ascertain the future of democracy in India because not only it has aplural society but also is the biggest multiparty democratic set-up based on universal adult franchise The success or failure of the political system chosen by India is bound to influence the balance of power among the developed countries as well as set in example for the developing ones to opt between & progressive democratic rule or the existing one with occasional reforms. Challenges to Democracy
The challenges to the growth of democracy have been monarchical dynasties, totalitarian regimes and theocracy with political aspirations
When King Farooq of Egypt got de posed during fifties, he told press reporters in Switzerland that in future only five kings could feel scoured. When requested to elaborate his observation, he quipped The nominal monarch in U.K. and four kings of the game of cards” He shared a hearty laugh, when a reporter remarked that two kings or queens in the game of chess would also continue. The fall of absolute monarchy in Ethiopia and in Iran thereafter and the ongoing struggle for this replacement of kingship by an elected government in Nepal hold that monarchy cal dynasties pose no more any potential threat to the march of democracy
The collapse of totalitarianism in USSR in spite of its populist slogan of dictatorship of the proletarian predicts that similar regimes elsewhere as well may not be able to hold long against democratic aspirations The dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971. in spite of its having been created on the basis of two-nation theory, raised expectations that the theocratic rules too had a bleak future. Though the menace of colonialism and its concomitant exploitation i.e. racialism are disappearing, yet it is appalling that religious fanaticism is regaining momentum. This growing bigotry is not prepared to accept the concept of a plural society with equal rights for all citizens notwithstanding their sex, color, race or religion. It is horrifying that it has resorted to global terrorism as a weapon of strategy to thwart the aspirations of people towards progressive democratic rules assuring human equality and dignity of individual.
Political Set-up in India
The constitution adopted on January 26,1950 contained a solemn resolve of people to constitute India into a Sovereign Democratic Republic. The goals of socialism and secularism were added to the Preamble in 1976. Since its adoption the constitution has been amended more than 84 times. The process continues with expeditious considerations. The adhoe provisions, intended to be retained for ten or fifteen years in the original text, are acquiring permanence through periodic extensions. The parliamentary democracy adopted by India, no doubt, provides opportunity to the electorate to re-elect or replace a government through general or midterm elections and, thus, minimizes the possibility of any coup which had been happening in other parts of the subcontinent, but this system has not proved effective in transforming political democracy into social regeneration and economist self-suffiency as has been pledged through the Preamble and envisaged through the Directive Principles of State Policy. Even the Fundamental Rights have been occasionally denied through. the imposition of Emergency or the enactment of draconian laws like TADA i.e.
Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Pre
vention) Act.
The National Human Rights Commission in India, headed by a retired Chief Justice of Supreme Court, appealed to the apex court that TADA through its application to selective parts of India was not only discriminatory but also reduced the Fundamental Rights to a farce. The Commission has also decided to impress on the members of Parliament that continuous extension of this oppressive law holds a threat to the future of democracy. Constitutional Safeguards
Luckily two constitutional forums viz. Union Judiciary and the Election Commission have started exercising their authority and power in right earnest By holding that any executive action contravening secularism, one of the pillars of Republic of India, is ultra virus of the constitution, the Supreme Court has deflated the communal tactics of both and minority communities.
The Election Commission by exercising firmly the authority, vested in it by article 324 for the superintendence, direction and control of elections has put an effective check both on muscle and money power which rob elections of their veracity.
A public forum which has not been rising to the expectations of people is the so called “Fourth state”, i.e. the press. Instead of rising above communal, regional and lingual considerations to state boldly what is correct in the national interest, it begins to indulge itself to gathering opportunistic gains.
The Fifth Estate i.e. the intelligentsia in the universities has failed to play the role expected of it for extending scientific temper, humanism and spirit of enquiry. Instead of indicting the unprincipled politicians, a bulk of them become puppets in the hands of latter Manipulations to convert the democratic regime in its working into dynastical rules, both at the center and in many states, has disillusioned the right thinking people Rigging at the dustings has given a rude shock to use faith of electorate in the power of ballot. The desperate among them has been resorting to bullets leading to subversive activities. The terrorism in India, here and there, is not entirely engineered from abroad Opportunistic polities are to be blamed for it to a large extent.
The electorate in spite of their being predominantly illiterate have rejected by and for both political corruption and communal manipulations. It is a relieving feature but not a solution of the malaise The Remedy
India has a plural society where people profess various religions, belong to many races and have a score or so as official languages for communication as well as administration. In spite of the solemnity solve contained in the Preamble to secure for all citizens justice, liberty and equality and the abolition of untouchability vide Article 17 (Fundamental Rights), the caste system is being retained on adhoe basis by extending reservation of seats and special representation in legislatures after every ten years under article 334. Parliamentary democracy has a bleak future in India because political parties look to ensuing elections only and seldom care for the next generation.
Indian National Congress is in disarray. The stress on secularism by the judiciary foils the aspirations of communal organizations. Leftist parties too have been reduced to mere regional ones. As the two party system has not developed its roots in India, subsequent elections are bound to keep returning a hung parliament at the Center and regional parties of various hues in the states. It has been a disappointing experience to observe the performance of expedient coalitions or puppet minor its governments at the Center. India has the example of another nation with a plural society i.e. USA to examine and emulate. Presidential democracy will suit India more than a parliamentary form of government because the latter has to appease personal or group expectations at the cost of national interests.
Without altering the basic character of constitution i.e. without changing in any way its bedrock as defined by the Preamble and the Fundamental Rights, the switch-over can be effected by amending here and there Part V and Part VI dealing with the Union Executive and the state. governments respectively.
The President, both as Head of State and that of Government would be in a better position to enforce the Directive Principles of State Policy which suggest as to how the solemn resolve contained in the Preamble can be achieved. It has been observed that a Prime Minister, even with a three-fourth majority in the Parliament had a lurking fear of defections and failed to prove effective in his promises and performance.
India instead of being called a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic may be named as United States of India with defence, foreign affairs, communications and finance as federal departments leaving the residuary powers to the constituent states.This will put an end to political uncertainty at the Center and meet also the aspirations of regional autonomy curbing thereby the disruptive and secessionist tendencies
If the Confederation Plan had been accepted in letter and spirit, the partition of India could have been avoided. It is not too late even now. The red demarcation of Punjab in 1966 into Haryans and Punjab has proved that smaller states expedite the pace of development. The aspirations of backward regions like Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, etc. need to be examined sym pathetically. The Center will get a balanced strength if all the constituent states. big or small, get equal representation on the basis of parity in the upper house of Parliament under the presidential democracy.
Sardar Hazara Singh is the former head of the Department of Journalism, Languages and Culture -Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 28, 1995
