- As you are aware, one of the most common features of a democratic form of government is the freedom to express oneself within the Constitutionally guaranteed rights, irrespective of caste, creed, class, and religion, on diverse matters. Whatever may be the discontentment, disgruntlement, and disillusionment being experienced by the common citizens, none would question the freedom conferred on us by the founding fathers of the Constituent Assembly for drafting such an all-encompassing Constitution for the benefit of Indians. Now, we also know what democracy means when unfettered freedom also enables people/groups to stage protests and rallies to attract the attention of the authorities at the drop of a hat. Freedom of expression?
PC: The Indian Express
- At the best of times, the political class in India, irrespective of party affiliations/philosophies, is at loggerheads, intending to upstage the other; is stating the obvious. The Indian society is polarized on communal versus secular, with the labyrinthine caste conundrum permeating every sphere of political alignments. And when an opportunity arises to further consolidate the vote banks, none of the political parties/leaders require a second invitation to fish in the troubled waters. Of course, quotas, reservations, jobs, employment, corruption, welfare, and some such issues are most commonly available for the politicos to target the ruling dispensation. We saw how farmers laid siege to the national capital, New Delhi, forcing the Union Government to withdraw farm laws.
PC: Citizens for Justice and Peace
- Now, Mumbai recently witnessed a forced standstill for four days when Manoj Jarange led Maratha quota protesters, bringing the financial capital to its knees. Thankfully, Bombay HC stepped in asking the protesters to vacate public spaces, which were near-seize for days. HC also made clear that the flow of protesters into the city must stop. Mumbaikars will rightly wonder when and whether either of these will happen. Let’s recall that official permission was for no more than a crowd of 5,000 gathering at the city’s Azad Maidan for a one-day show. But 30,000-plus and hundreds of vehicles entered the city, and they set up camps in such a way that commuters and cars essentially lost their freedom of movement.
PC: Mid-day
- Fortunately, the Maharashtra government announced some measures that allowed Jarange to claim victory and call off the agitation. The moot point to ponder over here is where do forces of law and order stand when such disregard of official rules happens. Naturally, Mumbaikars must have felt their city was being held to ransom. There have been complaints from commuters, women, journalists, and just about anybody who ventured out because they had to. That streets in the heart of India’s commercial capital are blocked to traffic but are hosting Kabaddi games, not to mention activities centered around daily ablution, adds a touch of grim irony to Mumbai’s current state. Can anybody bring a city to a standstill just like that? What’s happening? No clue
