OPPORTUNISM IN POLITICS

There was a time – Jai Prakash Narayan was several times invited by Pt. Nehru to join his cabinet but each time he refused to oblige him. Jai Prakash narayan clearly told that his ideology and way of working did not match with Nehru style, as such there was no question of joining the union cabinet in his leadership. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also offered a respectable post in the party by Pt. Nehru in 1957 to which he also politely refused.

What happened to politicians of present era? No body wants to sit in opposition. Last year in July, 2008, Mayawati’s BSP voted against UPA, opposing the nuclear deal on behest of left parties. They exploited her slept ambition of being Prime Minister of India. She started day dreaming. During last general election she used unparliamentary language for Congress, especially for Rahul Gandhi. Now she has extended unconditional support for Congress-led UPA government. Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party also announced its support in Mayawati’s style despite the UPA’s reluctance to include it in the new government. Laloo Yadav also fought election against congress by tooth and nail. He has also extended his unconditional support to Congress without being formally requested to do so. Another aspirant of coveted chair of Prime Minister, the leader of evaporated Third Front Devegauda has also extended his support without consulting his mentor, the left leader Prakash Karat.

Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, Miss Mayawati and Mr. Laloo Yadav are afraid of CBI where a number of corruption cases are pending against them. Mr. Devegauda is a very cunning politician. His eyes are simply on a berth for his son in union cabinet.

The politics in India has entered into a new era of opportunism where there is no place for principles, ideologies, character and high moral values.

A SETBACK TO UP GOVERNMENT

When any act or law is implemented with vested interest and sweet will of a person, it is defamed and gradually loses the faith of common people. During Emergency, keeping aside all democratic norms Mrs Indira Gandhi misused the MISA (Maintenance Of Internal Security Act) and DIR (Defence of India Rule) and put entire opposition behind the bars. Even great men such as Mr Jai Prakash Narayan and Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee were not spared. In the eyes of Mrs Gandhi, they were the greatest threat to National security. No bail was granted to them. They had to spend nearly two years of their valuable life in the jails of Independent democratic India. Similar game was played by Miss Mayawati, the Chief Minister of UP and Mr Varun Gandhi was falsely implicated in National Security Act. Had the High Court not come forward well in time, the life of this young politician would have been spoiled. Thanks to Advisory Board of Allahabad High Court – it did not follow the guide lines adopted by executive on ruler’s behest and saved the career of a youth. Our judiciary is well known for its delayed justice but in this case it has set a good precedence of quick and in time justice. It is a major setback to authoritarian attitude of UP Government. It is an undemocratic theory to curb the activities and voices of opposition by misuse of laws and government machineries.

DAY DREAMERS

Leaders of all political parties – small or big – regional or national nowadays, are day dreaming for the coveted chair of Prime Minister of India. A common electorate when starts reading newspaper in the morning, finds a new name added daily in the list of probable. How many Prime Ministers India can afford after election! Only Congress and BJP are capable of touching the mark of three figures after results are declared. If they project Man Mohan Singh and L.K.Advani as the future Prime Minister, it appears natural and normal. But when Laloo yadav, Ram Bilas paswan, Mulayam Singh yadav, Mayawati, Jay Lalita, Karunanidhi, Sharad Pawar, Kamath Ajit Singh, Devgoda, Chandra Babu Naidu etc start day dreaming for Prime Ministership, with the help of handful of MPs, one surprises and laughs at them. These aspirants are so serious for their goals that they may go to any level, join hands with any party or group. If Taliban is helpful in fulfilling their dreams, they won’t hesitate in taking their help.

For Laloo Yadav, BJP is the greatest threat to the nation . He describes it a communal party. When he was made Chief Minister of Bihar for the first time with the help of Jansangh – the original version of BJP, he had declared RSS and Jansangh, secular and nationalist organizations on the floor of Lok Sabha after emergency. Mayawati enjoyed the chair of Chief Minister of U.P. three times with the help of BJP. Is it not a proven fact? CPI and CPM had also shared power with Jansangh in several states after 1967 elections. In center also they were allies when United Front led by V.P.Singh was in power. Jay Lalita, Karunanidhi, Navin patnaik, Chandra Babu Naidu – they all have been political partners of BJP till recent past. Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru had invited RSS to participate in Republic Day Parade of 1963 after China’s aggression. Mr Narsingha Rao, the then PM had expressed faith in Atal Bihari Vajpayee and requested to lead the official Indian delegation to Geneva UNO summit. Mr. Vajpayee successfully led the delegation and gave befitting reply to Pakistan’s allegations of atrocities in Kashmir. Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat as their move was turned down by majority. Even China had supported India. Now BJP has become untouchable for them. If BJP offers the chair of Prime Minister to Laloo, Mayawati, Devgoda or even to left stalwart Mr. Kamath, will they deny it in the name of communalism?

The words – secularism and communalism are used by politicians only for their vested interests as and when required. Electorates of India are aware and will give befitting reply to these opportunist politicians, hankering after power and the coveted chair of Prime Minister Of India.