Knee-jerk reaction

The Samata Party is the first to promise a Constitutional amendment to debar non-natural citizens from holding the key posts of President, Vice-President and Prime Minister in its election manifesto. Some political leaders like Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray have already made such a demand. What prompted the demand 50 years after India became independent is Sonia Gandhi’s plunge into electoral politics. Needless to say, the fear is born out of a simplistic assessment of the electoral situation. As of now, there is no indication that the widow of Rajiv Gandhi will be able to influence the electoral outcome in such a manner that she will become the natural choice for the post of Prime Minister. Winning a majority in the Lok Sabha is one thing and attracting crowds at public meetings quite another. In the 1977 elections also Indira Gandhi had attracted large crowds even in constituencies where her candidates had lost their deposits. Thus to all intents and purposes the demand is a knee-jerk reaction. In anycase, such an amendment to the Constitution can be effected only with two-thirds majority in Parliament, by when Sonia Gandhi would have either been consigned to the electoral dustbin or would have emerged as the king-maker, if not herself the king. Thus the threat of a non-natural citizen becoming the country’s leader can be averted only by the people themselves.

That is exactly what the founding fathers of the Constitution had rightfully envisaged when they vested sovereignty in the people. Surely they were not unaware of the constitutional provision in the US which, despite being a nation of immigrants, debars first-generation citizens from contesting for the post of President, while they can hold all other posts. They left the matter entirely to the wisdom of the people. Of course, they also entrusted them with the power of amending the Constitution to suit their changing needs. Seen against this backdrop, the Samata Party is within its rights to promise an amendment to the Constitution. But in doing soit does not realise that it is not any particular post that Sonia is aspiring to. She only wants to ensure that the dynasty is in overall command of the situation, both political and governmental. Consummate behind-the-scenes manipulator that she is, playing this role during the last seven years seemed to be second nature to her. The state of sycophancy in the Congress being what it is, it will be easy for her to control both the government and the Congress without holding any post and thereby any responsibility if her gamble in the election succeeds. In fact, by proposing such an amendment, the initiators of the move will only be strengthening Sonia Gandhi’s hands. Instead, they should take up the challenge of exposing her so-called disdain for electoral office and all the responsibilities that go with it.

An amendment, on the other hand, will imply that the voters cannot be trusted. Besides, it will create a new class of citizens, who will feel unequal and insecure. At a time when the nation rejoices in Mauritian leader Cassam Uteem making a visit to his ancestral village in Uttar Pradesh and it remembers Chengaraveetil Devan Nair, who became President of Singapore, such a move will not show the country in a good light.