The ancient Indian system of division of labour, devolved into the evil, we now know as the caste system. It took some thousands of years to do that. Turning the Indian democracy into a monarchy has taken a lot less. Of course, people who were not beholden to the Congress either knew that or could see it coming that it was going to go that way. I don't know why they are surprised now. The culture of sycophancy was always very brazen. Even today, the sole purpose of the Congress is to ensure the coronation of Rahul Gandhi. Even he has spoken about the seat of the PM like it was his birthright. There is no internal democracy in Congress. Congressmen clamour and run over each other to kiss the ring of their leader. We all know about that.
Unfortunately, the regional parties which came up to bring the local issues to fore have taken a page from the Congress Bible. Internal democracy in those parties were not even an issue since everyone accepted that the leadership positions belonged to one family no matter how incompetent the scion.
The only parties with any internal democracy are the BJP and the Communists. These are the only two parties with any kind of ideology. Agreed that the Communist ideology is evil and anti national but still they follow some principals no matter how warped.
The advent of the family rule does not bode well for Indian democracy. In order to avoid condemning the Indian democracy to the same dustbin as Monarchy (which is where it belongs), the Indian voters need to stand up and reject the incompetent sons and daughters of marginal fathers and mothers. The fate of the nation depends on it.
Is India sliding into a monarchy?
Is India sliding into a monarchy? In his splendid new book, India: A Portrait, historian Patrick French dredges up some startling data on the stranglehold of family and lineage on Indian politics. The research finds that though less than a third of India's parliamentarians had a hereditary connection, things get worse with the younger MPs. Consider this:
• Every MP in the Lok Sabha or the lower house of the Indian parliament under the age of 30 had inherited a seat.
• More than two thirds of the 66 MPs aged 40 or under are hereditary MPs.
• Every Congress MP under the age of 35 was a hereditary MP.
• Nearly 40% of the 66 ministers who are members of the Lok Sabha were hereditary members.
• Nearly 70% of the women MPs have family connections.
Read the complete article at:http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/2011/01/is_india_sliding_into_a.html
Unfortunately, the regional parties which came up to bring the local issues to fore have taken a page from the Congress Bible. Internal democracy in those parties were not even an issue since everyone accepted that the leadership positions belonged to one family no matter how incompetent the scion.
The only parties with any internal democracy are the BJP and the Communists. These are the only two parties with any kind of ideology. Agreed that the Communist ideology is evil and anti national but still they follow some principals no matter how warped.
The advent of the family rule does not bode well for Indian democracy. In order to avoid condemning the Indian democracy to the same dustbin as Monarchy (which is where it belongs), the Indian voters need to stand up and reject the incompetent sons and daughters of marginal fathers and mothers. The fate of the nation depends on it.
Is India sliding into a monarchy?
Is India sliding into a monarchy? In his splendid new book, India: A Portrait, historian Patrick French dredges up some startling data on the stranglehold of family and lineage on Indian politics. The research finds that though less than a third of India's parliamentarians had a hereditary connection, things get worse with the younger MPs. Consider this:
• Every MP in the Lok Sabha or the lower house of the Indian parliament under the age of 30 had inherited a seat.
• More than two thirds of the 66 MPs aged 40 or under are hereditary MPs.
• Every Congress MP under the age of 35 was a hereditary MP.
• Nearly 40% of the 66 ministers who are members of the Lok Sabha were hereditary members.
• Nearly 70% of the women MPs have family connections.
Read the complete article at:http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/soutikbiswas/2011/01/is_india_sliding_into_a.html
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