A dangerous spiral

All those who saw Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi fumbling for a reaction to the vandalism at the BCCI office in Mumbai on Monda...

All those who saw Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi fumbling for a reaction to the vandalism at the BCCI office in Mumbai on Monday will know that his priorities are downright wrong. Pressed repeatedly by newspersons to make a statement, he refused to condemn the criminals and sought refuge in ignorance. This is utterly deplorable.

It is also humiliating for the people of Maharashtra to see their chief minister in such a state of paralysis. The primary duty of ministers under the oath of office is to uphold the law. Joshi ought to know that anyone unwilling to assume that responsibility is unfit for the job. In a democratic system of government, ministers are not permitted to adopt the stance that the Minister of Sports reportedly does, that they are Shiv Sainiks first and ministers afterwards.

There is no authority, no purpose or agenda for ministers which can stand above the law. It is Joshi8217;s responsibility first to publicly condemn the wreckers of BCCI property as criminals and ensure theculprits are arrested and prosecuted. Second, he should take action against those instigating goondas to commit criminal offences.

The overwhelming impression of the last few weeks is that BJP leaders are being driven by events rather than the other way round. Party leaders trying desperately to play down their differences with the Shiv Sena in the hope of keeping the coalition afloat even though it is obvious by now that the Sena and the BJP are locked into a dangerous spiral of action and reaction.

The BJP has tried everything from civilised phone-calls to Bal Thackeray, mantra-like repetitions about sports not mixing with politics, reminders that India8217;s reputation in the world is at stake. Everything, that is, but treating the whole matter as a law and order issue. So its efforts have had no effect. There is no evidence Shiv Sainiks realise they have gone too far. Indeed, it is very likely their leaders don8217;t know how to get off the tiger, to stop the process they have set in motion. All that is left,it would appear, is for the Union Home Ministry to provide unprecedented levels of security to cricketers, stadia and everyone connected with the matches.

Anti-terrorist operations in Kashmir are beginning to pale by comparison with the security bandobast required to protect cricket from Shiv Sainiks and copycat groups outside Maharashtra. It is a sure bet that the only people who are amused by this spectacle is the ISI. Is the country going to have to cross its fingers and hope for the best? Or does the government have other ideas for averting a disaster? In classic tragedy all the players do what they have to do and roll relentlessly towards doom. But why wait for it to happen? It is hard to believe the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition can survive for very long after what has occurred. Knowing this should strengthen the Union government8217;s will to do what it needs to in a timely and orderly way.

A meeting of the two allies has been called for January 24 to take stock of the situation. That meeting should bebrought forward so that the BJP can explain clearly the full consequences of Sena lawlessness to its partners.