A wake-up call for political leadership

In an age when much is being done by politicians to enhance their mass presence in social media platforms, it is appalling to see them democratically-challenged on issues that touch the masses. If Twitter and Facebook can spring changes in the Arab world, the nation-wide protests in India will serve as a good lesson in politics for the biggest democracy that the socially connected ‘Team People’ can no longer be treated as fractured vote banks.

The young woman christened ‘Amanat’ is still fighting for her life two weeks after the gang-rape and brutal assault she was subjected to in a moving bus in Delhi.

Equally battered and bruised, India as a nation is fighting for systemic change to ensure crimes like rape and sexual assault on women are dealt with stringent laws — in a country where social and cultural ethos continue to remain highly anti-woman.

It was at a poignant time like this that the prime minister of the country asks on national television ‘Theek Hai?’ meaning ‘Is that all right’ in Hindi, after his short and impassive address to the nation on Monday — eight days after the rape of the 23-year old medical student. It was indeed a question he should pose in earnest to the collective conscience of the country’s political leadership that has shown gaping disconnect with its people.

If the brutality and audacity of the rape is a wake-up call to the slack policing in the capital of India, the conspicuous absence of politicians of all class and colours from the nation-wide protests is a clear sign of their disengagement with democracy. Tear gas and batons sent a dismal message of political apathy.

It was in an unprecedented outcry against the increasing sexual crimes on women — Amanat being the latest victim in the “rape capital” of India — that a sea of protesters thronged India Gate and Delhi’s powerhouses located at Raisina Hill. Braving the Delhi winter, the demonstrators were chanting slogans and waving placards seeking a guarantee that another Amanat will not suffer.

What started as a trickle soon turned into a mass demonstration of the people, by the people and for the people. And while swarming protesters turned violent and clashed with the police, the buck stops with India’s political leaders.

Not only did they fail to guide and lead the crowd, both the ruling and opposition parties did nothing to connect and engage with an emotionally-charged crowd. Notwithstanding the fact that there were rabble-rousers and vested interests among the protesters, by and large, they were genuinely angry men and women, demanding justice for the rape victim. Their patience waned in the knowledge that the loquacious leaders did not care to lend their voice to a nation that was seeking reassurance for women’s safety.

Had anybody from the political ilk come forward and expressed solidarity for the ‘India against Rape’ campaign, the unfortunate public-police clash could have been averted. According to reports, more than 100 people were injured, out of which 60 were policemen. A constable died in the scuffle.

The easy way out for the government was to resort to aggressive policing. Several rounds of water cannons and tear gas shells were used to dispel the protesting crowd. Their sloganeering was interspersed with lathi charges by police. But the public held their ground against a leadership that refused to listen.

Except for a few feeble and scattered political voices that emerged at a later stage, the government remained tight-lipped till fresh waves of intensified protests swept the capital city last Saturday and Sunday. Even the prime minister’s televised address — the first by a political leader after the rape incident — came only after blood was spilled on the street.

In a delayed response, the political class is waking up to the public uproar and is promising an overhaul to existing laws. A parliamentary committee has been set up to review and recommend changes to anti-rape laws. The opposition is mounting pressure on the government to make police accountable. The home minister is convening a meeting of chief secretaries and directors general of police of all states to take stock of the crime against women. The judiciary will be looking into fast-tracking rape and sexual assault case against women.

However, for a matured democracy like India, it is a shame that the government underplayed people’s ‘genuine and justified anger’ as the prime minister himself put it.

Political gibberish by senior leaders like Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, explaining the practical impossibilities of politicians interacting with protesters, will only help in deepening the divide between a protected privileged political class and the aam aadmi (common man).