Himachal shows the way
The old order changeth, yielding place to new. That’s the
immutable law of nature. If things stall and do not undergo change, be it life,
love or politics, lassitude and indolence fester and weeds of corruption and
arrogance blossom in the rancid cesspool of ennui. Viewed against this
backdrop, the (not so) bhola-bhala Himachali has acted with exemplary sagacity
and political farsightedness and stopped the BJP’s fire-spewing juggernaut, nay
‘bulldozer’, on its tracks against all odds. I therefore personally salute my
fellow Himachalis and with a bowed head say aloud: “Vande Himachal!”
No, no, no … the so-called ‘bhakts’ need not fume and fret, nor unsheathe
their saffron-tinted knives. Firstly, because unlike our intrepid Deepika
Padukone, I take scrupulous care in regard to my sartorial choices and use the
‘besharam rang’ for wear with more discretion than valour. Secondly, my views
on the Congress, the Emergency excesses and Indira Gandhi’s transgressions with
the core constitutional dharma need no repetition– although I hold its towering stalwarts like
Nehru, Patel et al in high esteem, and always will. But it is now sickeningly old stuff. How long
will the BJP keep on baking its political bread in the anti-Nehru/Gandhis oven
while in its own time the liberating, humanistic spirit of democracy has
received the worst ever hits from its danda of bigotry and majoritarianism?
It would have been an absolute disaster had the Congress
leadership thrust a dynast as the new CM on Himachal. But, despite pressure and
even uncouth show of noise and muscle, wisdom prevailed and a humble,
blemish-less, well-grounded and more deserving person was put on the saddle
instead. CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has his task cut out. The party has promised
the public moon. State coffers are empty- thanks to appeasement politics of
‘rebris’ that has become a new normal in Indian politics. It is therefore
worrisome how he will bring the gasping, tottering economy on its feet and
fulfil the grandiose promises made in the manifesto. It would obviously require
economic genius of the highest order, tough austerity measures and bold
initiatives to deliver.
But, seemingly, the new CM has got his priorities right. The first
few baby steps of the new government kindle hope. Electric vehicles; no
unnecessary transfers and bureaucratic reshuffle that every new government
undertakes with impunity to create its own political coterie ignoring merit,
for instance. Sukhu’s insistence on
heliports instead of international airports is also sane and sagacious; his
love for the orphans and the destitute is laudable. Personally, I loved his
non-superstitious stance by giving a decent burial to the practice of assuming
the high seat after ‘shubh muhurat’ decided by an almanac-wielding Panditji!
It is early days yet. But let’s give the new captain a chance, and
hope that leaving the trodden path of imposing monstrous multi-crore
megaprojects that ravage our lands, trees, rivers and pristine hills and spawn
unbridled corruption, will instead opt for eco-friendly avenues of development.
Well, good luck Mr Sukhu ji! We paharis have set the ball rolling at the
polling booths. Now give us a good, saaf-suthri sarkar that serves as a beacon
of hope for other states also.
Himachal has shown the way: from stagnation to the refreshing wind
of change. Resurgent Rahul keeping his head up in the deluge of slander and
smear is sewing the tattered psyche of the nation with the thread of
inclusivity, love and mutual co-existence that have been our core values,
through the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Let us hope it will help the country rediscover
its original genius and burst the over-bloated bubble of hubris, bigotry and
religious intolerance hovering over Bharat Mata.
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