- We, the Indians, are quite proud of unabashedly proclaiming the democratic nature of our country on every available opportunity and platform. Indeed, there is no dearth of recognition and acknowledgment world-over about the democratic credentials of India which continues to thrive despite encountering several challenges all along. We also know the vibrancy and welcome peculiarity associated with the freedom guaranteed under the Constitution confers indisputable rights to the people who feel liberated whilst exercising the same. But there is one hitch that often keeps riling the common citizens when different yardsticks are adopted in implementing certain rules and regulations for the general good of the nation.
PC: Kathleen O’Donnell
- There are any number of instances when the elected representatives, who are duly elected by the common citizens, behave as if they are above the law of the land. As the moniker suggests, elected representatives are chosen to represent citizens as part of the democracy which is built on the premise of by the people, for the people, and of the people. Unfortunately, the political leaders in our country are increasingly assuming and behaving as if they are above the established law in every walk of life. The sense of entitlement and the false pride associated with the elected representative as compared to the very people who sent them to represent is too well known.
- However, the leaders hardly appear to be fazed and go about flaunting their power everywhere. The pandemic-induced restrictions that have made the life of ordinary people so miserable need no further elaboration. Two years of challenging situations have made most of us yearn for a return to normalcy. But the virulent virus is nowhere near fading into oblivion as successive waves continue to ravage the universe without remorse. The third Covid wave is already sweeping across India and several state governments are imposing graded restrictions in line with the spread of infection locally. Now, the virus does not differentiate between the leaders and masses.
PC: Dr.C.Hemavathi
- To that extent, whatever guidelines promulgated by the authorities concerned should be applied universally without any exception. Rather than set a worthy example, sadly, this is where our leaders behave as if they are above the law. Take for instance the weekend curfew imposed across several states including Karnataka on the back of a rise in infection cases. Millions of workers, laborers, and daily wagers are already discomfited with mobility restrictions inconveniencing them in more ways than one. However, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress went ahead with padayatra ostensibly to press for the Makedatu drinking water project which is lying in limbo for years.
- Despite curfew in place, the Congress party brazenly went ahead with the march recently where more than 20,000 people participated. Initially, the State Government authorities spoke tough asserting to initiate action as per the law if curfew restrictions were defied. Come the D-Day, the Government authorities did sweet little in curbing the march from going ahead. Trust me, the march will become a superspreader event adding to the already growing infection rates in the capital city. Yes, we the citizens are right in questioning the double standards where rules are different for commoners and powers-that-be whilst implementing. The law of the land is supposed to be uniform for all. Then why this different yardstick? People should know the answer.
