We’ll poll through

Editorial fron "The Pioneer" appeared on July 05, 1999

That Indian democracy is resilient and firmly entrenched in the Indian consciousness has never been in doubt, but even so, the decision to stick to the election schedule for the Lok Sabha despite the war-like situation on Indian borders is both heartening and welcome. The senior officials of the Election Commission, who on Friday took the unusual step of calling on the Prime Minister and his senior Cabinet colleagues to get a first hand account on the Kargil conflict and examine its likely impact on the holding of elections have made it clear that the elections will be held in accordance with the schedule which is to be finalised soon. At the same time, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has also reportedly informed the Commission that the Government had no intention of seeking a postponement of the polls. This ends speculation that there might be some delay in holding the elections, given the ongoing border crisis as well as the consequent non-availability of para-military forces to ensure that the polls go off without a hitch. Indeed, as if to underscore the national consensus on holding elections when they are due in September, Chief Election Commissioner MS Gill emphasised that there was convergence in the perceptions of both, the Commission as well as the Centre on the general election. Both expressed the belief that the conflict should not come in the way of continuing with the vital democratic process. The Indian Armed forces are competent enough to deal with the enemy at the border; it is the duty of the rest of the polity to reaffirm their faith in the tenets of democracy.

Though the modern state of India achieved its independence from British colonial rule at the same time as Pakistan came into being, the history of the two neighbours in the last five decades has been a study in contrasts. Where Pakistan has been ruled for the most part by the army, which retains substantial control over the civil establishment, India has continued its tryst with democracy. Any attempt to play around with democracy has been soundly rebuffed and the Armed forces, which always rise to the occasion during war, are content to be in the barracks during peacetime. India’s plurality, its celebration of diversity and the total commitment to democratic norms and processes of the country’s people and leaders stand out in sharp contrast to the mockery of democracy witnessed time and again in our neighbouring country. Nobody in India gets picked up at midnight by the police for writing something that displeases the government of the day, Indian cricketers do not have to worry for their lives if they lose a match and Indian politicians, whatever their other proclivities may be, always bow to the inevitability of elections.

Undoubtedly, the ruling establishment of Pakistan, especially its army, must have waited to see if India would go ahead with the elections and the latest announcement will come as a shock to them. Now India must ensure that unless there is a grave escalation in Kargil or elsewhere and unless the war situation gets totally out of hand, the electoral process goes ahead full steam and once again shows the world what Indian democracy is all about.