For A Jail Bharo Andolan

The Times of India’s leader article today is titled “They Have Failed Us,” referring, of course, to our “political class.”

What is a “political class” in a democracy? Unless there is a clear “Us” and “Them” here. And “They” are not “The People.”

Now, let us turn to what this failed class is saying and doing.

They are all engaged in sham diplomacy with Uncle Sam. So we have Condoleezza Rice shuttling between Washington DC, New Delhi and Islamabad. We are complaining about Pakistan to her. She is asking Pakistan to “get tough on terror.”

Note that US Intelligence failed in both Iraq as well as Afghanistan. Why drag the US into our affairs – unless it is just a ploy to make “The People” believe that “They” have friends On High?

In the meantime, and this is noteworthy, our foreign minister first assures the media that there will not be any military action against Pakistan. He then backtracks, and says this can happen. We might be headed for War – but our foreign minister doesn’t know it. So who knows it? Someone even higher up.

And this is the precise danger: All the action we see is from On High. And all our security threats are on the ground. And, what is more, all the public anger is on the ground too.

An interesting opinion today comes from Dhiraj Nayyar, wherein he talks about “We, The Elite,” referring to the English-speaking upper class, the English media etc. He notes that this elite must play a constructive role in channelizing all the public anger that is frothing over right now. As a member of this elite, allow me to suggest some concrete action.

Many are talking about a Tax Revolt, something I have supported for over 10 years. However, at this precise moment, I suggest we look for ways to get Liberalism onto the centre-stage of Indian politics.

Indian democracy has been hijacked by socialists, communists, communalists, casteists – all ideologies based on “groups.” Only Liberalism can counter this by focusing all attention on The Individual, his Rights, his Properties and his Liberties. This is the pathway to real freedom.

Secondly, only Liberalism believes in Urban Local Government – strong Mayors in every city and town, and this is the only way we can see positive change On The Ground – which is where all the problems lie. And this means better security too.

Thirdly, terrorism is also based on group thinking, whether Islamic or Hindoo. Once again, the political language of Liberalism can help reduce inter-faith tensions. Do not forget that the terrorists in Mumbai say they were egged on by the anti-Muslim rhetoric of Narendra Modi and Togadia. Ugh!

So my suggestion for concerted political action by “The People” is this: Let us undertake a “Jail Bharo Andolan” outside the Bombay High Court soon, to press for the hearing of SV Raju’s PIL against the Representation of Peoples Act that disallows Liberalism from Indian politics. Raju is president of the Indian Liberal Group and his PIL has been pending for over a decade now. I recently met Raju and he was bemoaning the fact that he may well be dead before the court decides to hear the case.

I will end this post here. Let me gauge the response to this idea before proceeding further.

Yes. A Second Freedom Struggle Awaits.

And a Second Republic is the goal.

If you believe in Liberty Under Law, get set to protest strongly against this socialist monopoly over our politics.

As Desai says, “They Have Failed Us.”