India: Politics in the Times of a Pandemic
Even as India burns (literally) and the Modi government continues to play ostrich, refusing even UN’s offer to help with integrated supply chain for COVID19-related materials, Indians are pondering upon one (actually two) question — Couldn’t the elections and the Maha Kumbh Mela be deferred/shelved? Couldn’t the government ensure India is far from the madding crowd, instead of flagrantly violating social-distancing norms?
Maha Kumbha Mela is a religious Hindu festival that takes place roughly every 12 years, coinciding with Jupiter’s single circuit of the Sun. Some say it is the largest such gatherings in the world. The pandemic did not stop over 3.5 million religious minded from participating. They congregated in the holy city of Haridwar and took dips in the Ganges, throwing all caution and common sense to the wind. The Centre and state spent over INR12 billion (US$142+ million) on the Mela and expects to earn four times as much.
Ok, to shelve Maha Kumbh 2021 would have been a risk to the regime, lest religious sentiments are stirred and its vote bank dented. This is in spite of the fact that Uttarakhand (Haridwar is the third-largest city in the Indian state) witnessed a crazy 1,800% spike in active COVID-19 cases — 1,863 to 33,330 — between March 31 and April 24, a period coinciding with Maha Kumbh.
But what about elections? They surely could have been deferred, via President’s Rule or extensions to the state governments, possibilities as per the Constitution of India.
Beginning March 27, elections were held in the states of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Large rallies and campaigns, including those attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi — often without a mask — marked the process.
As per the Indian Constitution, President’s Rule can be imposed when elections cannot be held on account of circumstances such as war, epidemic, pandemic or natural disasters. Likewise, the term of the Legislative Assembly (normally it is five years) can be extended in such extraordinary situations. To get a Cabinet nod on any of these would not have been a problem as the ruling party — with absolute majority in both Houses of Parliament — rules.
Did we hear of the constitutional provisions being considered? Of course, not! For rulers don’t rule; politics does.
And, the people be damned.
Would the political parties in these four states have agreed upon a presidential rule? Could not the central government let the incumbent governments (Opposition parties in three of the polling states) continue for an extended period? Of course, not!
Because, politics must rule.
Politics make strange bedfellows in India. It also makes politicians blind towards what is right and benefits the masses. India is 20% of the world population, far too many heads for politicians to think about. To many socio-cultural complexities, too many reasons that keep colliding with ethics and morality.
Let people be damned and politics rule. Right?
Ugh!
And we are talking of the largest democracy in the world!
When will we as a nation learn? From our own mistakes, from others? Last year, in the US presidential elections, the contrast between the two parties was too evident — the incumbent threw its might into campaigning aggressively, social-distancing and the pandemic be damned; the other, maintaining safe distance, its representatives resolutely stuck to the pandemic protocol. Citing Pew Research Center findings, FiveThirtyEight.com reported in July 2020 how the Republicans seemed less concerned about the pandemic mere five months before the polls.
That the Democrats had a resounding win indicates they were perceived as a group that could rise above electioneering and politics, and think of the greater good. The masses, perhaps across political lines, felt they cared. With US on a slow, painful path to recovery, President Joe Biden wishes a “safe, happy 4th of July with your family and your friends and small groups in your backyard”, even as Republican-led states continue to shun pandemic protocols.
The Democratic win, with masks on and active social-distancing, should have made known to the Modi government that leadership is not about politics and posturing. Instead, the government has invited upon itself all-round indignation and outrage for not having the “courage”, for “the air of complacency and denial” that pushed a gasping India into “COVID hell”.
The elections are over. Is that a relief? Counting is on. We can only hope (and pray) better sense prevails, gatherings and mad celebrations that follow a win don’t become a reason to flout social-distancing yet again. With the news of a deadlier triple mutant virus coming from West Bengal — one of the election states — its a recipe for Disaster 3.0.
