Few days back when the nation was up in protests about the callousness of government on the Delhi Gang rape issue, the top brass in the government was busy doing damage control. From the hasty decision to tear gas the protesters at India gate, enforcing Article 144 to the last minute PR control by sending the victim away to Singapore. Something which appalled me, was the way our Prime Minister responded on national TV.
When a tragedy shakes a nation, if you happen to be in the US of A, the president is man enough to cry and visit the location and address the people. And if you happen to be in the world’s largest democracy, the VIP land of India, the top two leaders of the country (Our PM and Sonia Gandhi) cannot even talk to the nation, without reading from a script, or add a little bit of empathy or emotion in their message. It feels downright disgusting the kind of specimens we have installed at the country’s highest office.
The issue is not just about rape, but it opens up the ugly side of our democracy, to the point that its difficult to breathe in this polluted air. From scandals running into billions (public money) to the corruption in getting govt. related tasks done. I have a weird analogy, the way people behave on the road, is what reflects the character of the nation. A sense of entitlement, action without consequences, if no one is watching.. its not a crime!
The change does not begin by blaming the system again and again. The change begins by making choices personally. The choice about who to vote, raising voice, standing up to injustice and taking action instead of just being a bystander. Idle No More. Theek hai no more.
