Rev. Dr. Richard Howell  |   AIM June 2004 Issue

Mrs. Sonia Gandhi's decision to say NO to the office of Prime Minister of India has injected the much needed moral dimension to India's political life. "Politicians are the cancer of our society" said the erstwhile Chief Election Commissioner Mr Lyngdoh . Cancer by nature feeds itself on the body. Therefore, it is dangerous and has to be operated upon early other wise it can prove terminal. As a democracy we can't get rid of politicians yet one can hope that Mrs Gandhi's NO would light a candle that will become a beacon light for politicians indeed all over the world. For her NO to a constitutionally legitimate elected office there are no parallels in the history of the world. The Lord Jesus Christ had taught power is for service, and there is no doubt Mrs. Gandhi will be in a much better position to serve the country. Service to the nation and not attraction for office is what she espoused. What then is her service which she rendered by a simple yet most powerful NO? The answer to this question requires an understanding of the context in which the NO was said.

If the BJP led NDA government was serious about forbidding a person of foreign origin from holding the high office of PM by passing legislation. They did manage to pass POTA by calling a joint session of the parliament. But why didn't they do so? Because for them the issue of foreign origin was a handy weapon to rouse the emotional cords of the masses of India as and when needed.

Mrs Gandhi's NO was not born out of fear of Sangha Parivar's vicious campaign against her foreign origin. For during electioneering she singlehandedly fought the onslaught of BJP's campaign and came out victorious. The Sangh Parivar thrives on its divisive and communal politics. The religion caste/race and ethnicity are the ideological foundations on which the votaries of Sangh Parivar are nurtured. This has divided India and we have witnessed much bloodshed and hate campaigns particularly against the minority communities. The essence of the Sangh ideology is to highlight differences, to reject an inclusive view of India and focus on a 'we' and they' conflict. The reaction of BJP leaders to Mrs. Gandhi being sworn in as PM explains the point well, the old tune of Hindutva arousing hatred and dividing the nation on communal line was out with full force of revenge against the verdict of the people who had rejected BJP led NDA government.

Mrs. Gandhi had foreseen a divided nation and she chose the right time to say NO. I believe Mrs Gandhi in her political carrier never aspired for the office of PM yet the post of the President of AICC gave her the needed power to serve. Her NO shows she loved India more than the office of PM. She envisions a strong, stable and secular India moving towards ethnic reconciliation. Her NO has shown the way of peace. The BJP led NDA government lost as one commentator said, "due to the arrogance of power".

They focused on the personality and the result was the instant creation of brand Vajpayee that they hoped would sell well in social and economic marketplace. They spent crores of Rupees to create an image in order to get votes and gain office. It did not work. It was practice of politics without principles. Brand Vajpayee was pitched against Sonia. But Sonia won both in politics and its moral principles.

There is much talk about Mrs. Gandhi killing many birds with one stone: 1 she has disarmed BJP of its primary weapon, her foreign origin, 2.She has established her Indianness 3.She has silenced the critiques of dynasty. 4. She has given her children plenty of time to be groomed as mature political leaders.

The sound of victory in Delhi sent panic signals in Tamil Nadu state. The chief minister who's AIADMK in alliance with BJP could not even win a single seat in the elections hurriedly withdrew the anti people legislations. One major step was the withdrawal of the controversial Freedom of Religion Bill.

The elections have shown democracy is well and alive and the voters cannot be taken for granted. Democracy in India will have to face new challenges-fighting terrorism, adjusting to globalization, taking care of the poor and the marginalized, the Dalits in particular. The incumbent government knows the system will have to work much better than it did under NDA. This would involve making democratic decision making more effective, reintegrating constitutional liberalism into the practice of democracy.

Constitutional liberalism is not about the processes for electing government but, rather the goals of the government. The autonomy of the individual has to be protected, his/ her dignity has to be safe guarded against coercision whether it comes from the state or religion, the rights of the minorities upheld and those taken away restored. Those with immense power in India must embrace this responsibility, lead and set standards that are not only legal, but moral. Without this inner dynamics, democracy will become an empty husk.

The greatest achievement of Mrs Gandhi's NO to power has already provided the much needed moral example for our beloved India. Even top people must reflect this moral principle. No one is above it.