Conscience and Courtesy
Nidhu Bhusan Das
The Constitution is the Conscience of the nation,is it? Our Constitution gives us
democracy and rights,including fundamental rights.These rights are not absolute in so far as they imply duties of every citizen to the State as well as to the fellow citizens.
We have the right to Freedom of Speech and Expression.We are also expected to be conscientious and to understand the conscience of the nation.The Constitution imposes reasonable restrictions on this right on certain counts,perhaps,because the framers of the Constitution could not but believe that 'To err is human'.
What happens in JNU is definitely unfortunate.It is within our democratic right to express dissent and mobilize public opinion on issues,but condemning the execution of a death sentence for involvement in terror attack on the country may be seen as going too far.If those who speak against such action remain silent when terror attacks occur,one has the right to suspect their bona fide.The state has the right to take action against such activities,and the court of law will decide the case through due process.
But what has happened in the court premises in the presence of the police cannot but be construed as an attempt by overzealous supporters of the ruling party at the Centre at taking law in the hand disregarding the role,wisdom and jurisdiction of the court of law.
The demonstration of support and opposition to the dissenting voice by the political parties on the two sides of the fence in the emerging polarization with a view to ensure electoral gain exposes the ugly face of our politics.It shows and confirms that our politicians are not capable of allowing or willing to let our democracy flourish endowed with inner strength.They do not have the patience to wait for the court to act in its wisdom.Does such tendency not smack of a desire to influence the judiciary ? Why are the party leaders in the rallies held in support of one under trial or an MLA is alleged to be among those who are in the premises of the trial court where the arrested student leader has been assaulted? Don't they have faith in the wisdom of the judiciary? Should the politicians be looked upon as rabble rousers,not as leading lights?We are really in a peculiar situation which is anything but educative.
In a country where polls spawn violence, deployment of huge security forces is the usual demand for ensuring free and fair polls,it is clear how far our political parties could prove their willingness and capacity to enrich our democracy encouraging free and fair elections and creating the right environment for the mass to be politically educated.A peculiar psychology dominates our political bosses and the parties-they are for democracy when in opposition and out to disregard Democratic values once in power.Every party,be it in power or in the opposition,fails to appreciate and tell us by way of their practice that democracy is a beauty when free debate and discussion is graced by sound logic,conscience and courtesy.
When these political parties rush to get entangled in such events on the ground to bolster and/or subdue dissent,it is nothing short of fishing in troubled water only for electoral gain sans consideration of national interest.It appears they do not have the patience and time to wait for the court to decide on the issue.Where is the conscience and courtesy which democracy demands from politics!
JNU has been the cradle of free thinking,and provides scope for brainstorming,fertilizing the mind of both the teachers and the students.Innovative thinking and new ideas may appear odd and unacceptable to those who represent the norm.Our politicians and parties do not and cannot often go beyond the norm.Neither the politicians supporting nor those opposing the police action in the JNU campus can dispassionately decide if certain students have gone to the extent of being 'anti-national' on the issue of the execution of Afzal Guru.Let us rely on the judiciary which has helped us time and again to tide over problems and crises.
Nidhu Bhusan Das
The Constitution is the Conscience of the nation,is it? Our Constitution gives us
democracy and rights,including fundamental rights.These rights are not absolute in so far as they imply duties of every citizen to the State as well as to the fellow citizens.
We have the right to Freedom of Speech and Expression.We are also expected to be conscientious and to understand the conscience of the nation.The Constitution imposes reasonable restrictions on this right on certain counts,perhaps,because the framers of the Constitution could not but believe that 'To err is human'.
What happens in JNU is definitely unfortunate.It is within our democratic right to express dissent and mobilize public opinion on issues,but condemning the execution of a death sentence for involvement in terror attack on the country may be seen as going too far.If those who speak against such action remain silent when terror attacks occur,one has the right to suspect their bona fide.The state has the right to take action against such activities,and the court of law will decide the case through due process.
But what has happened in the court premises in the presence of the police cannot but be construed as an attempt by overzealous supporters of the ruling party at the Centre at taking law in the hand disregarding the role,wisdom and jurisdiction of the court of law.
The demonstration of support and opposition to the dissenting voice by the political parties on the two sides of the fence in the emerging polarization with a view to ensure electoral gain exposes the ugly face of our politics.It shows and confirms that our politicians are not capable of allowing or willing to let our democracy flourish endowed with inner strength.They do not have the patience to wait for the court to act in its wisdom.Does such tendency not smack of a desire to influence the judiciary ? Why are the party leaders in the rallies held in support of one under trial or an MLA is alleged to be among those who are in the premises of the trial court where the arrested student leader has been assaulted? Don't they have faith in the wisdom of the judiciary? Should the politicians be looked upon as rabble rousers,not as leading lights?We are really in a peculiar situation which is anything but educative.
In a country where polls spawn violence, deployment of huge security forces is the usual demand for ensuring free and fair polls,it is clear how far our political parties could prove their willingness and capacity to enrich our democracy encouraging free and fair elections and creating the right environment for the mass to be politically educated.A peculiar psychology dominates our political bosses and the parties-they are for democracy when in opposition and out to disregard Democratic values once in power.Every party,be it in power or in the opposition,fails to appreciate and tell us by way of their practice that democracy is a beauty when free debate and discussion is graced by sound logic,conscience and courtesy.
When these political parties rush to get entangled in such events on the ground to bolster and/or subdue dissent,it is nothing short of fishing in troubled water only for electoral gain sans consideration of national interest.It appears they do not have the patience and time to wait for the court to decide on the issue.Where is the conscience and courtesy which democracy demands from politics!
JNU has been the cradle of free thinking,and provides scope for brainstorming,fertilizing the mind of both the teachers and the students.Innovative thinking and new ideas may appear odd and unacceptable to those who represent the norm.Our politicians and parties do not and cannot often go beyond the norm.Neither the politicians supporting nor those opposing the police action in the JNU campus can dispassionately decide if certain students have gone to the extent of being 'anti-national' on the issue of the execution of Afzal Guru.Let us rely on the judiciary which has helped us time and again to tide over problems and crises.
