- At the outset, let us all be clear that the anachronistic criminal defamation act should not find any place in the modern-day world, especially in a democratic flagbearer like India. We pride ourselves in showing the global community how vibrant, meaningful, accommodative, and harmonious the democratic form of governance prevails in India. Of course, there are challenges thrown from time to time to disturb the fundamentally strong democratic edifice of the country. However, India as a nation always emerges even more determined to stave off challenges yet again proving how the democratic fundamentals are unbreachable. Nonetheless, aspirational societies like India must do away with obsolete laws to ensure progressive ideas do not get stymied in the melee.
PC: Sushil Kumar Verma
- We all know how the scion of the Grand Old Party was disqualified on the back of a ruling under the criminal defamation law sentencing two years imprisonment for his distasteful remark against the Prime Minister. Thankfully, the Supreme Court set aside the trial court ruling that was also upheld by the Gujarat high court. Congress as well as the scion would be heaving a sigh of relief since the all-important parliamentary elections are due in 2024. The efforts of the opposition blocks determined to take on the might of the ruling dispensation at the Centre are constantly hitting the headlines in the last few weeks. Political parties opposed to the BJP have formed an alliance recently named INDIA (The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance).
- The disparate political parties have their ambitious agenda that also involves some of the stronger regional satraps who are directly fighting against Congress in their respective states. Nursing antagonistic viewpoints against the BJP are understandable, however, some of the regional parties also must contend with fighting the Congress as well. This piquant situation would pose definite challenges to the fledgling opposition alliance since the grassroots workers might not be in sync with the national objectives. Moreover, with the decks cleared for the scion to resume his parliamentary duties and obligations, will the Grand Old Party yet again attempt to position him as the first amongst the equals to lead the opposition charge against the BJP?
PC: Reuters
- This question will not only pose some tricky soul-searching to the opposition leaders attempting to formulate a common agenda before the mother of all elections but also would be faced with the dilemma of choosing an acceptable common leader to take on the charisma as well as popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Will the scion be acceptable to all the regional leaders amongst whom are some of the wiliest and most seasoned political campaigners nursing secret ambitions for the highest executive post in the country? Remember, Congress would also desperately look to gain lost ground in several states where it ruled before. Interesting times are ahead even as the heat over the ensuing elections gains momentum in the coming months.
