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Journalism of Courage
A lot of hot air is being blown around the ‘None of the above’ choice in the electronic voting machine. Is it really wise? Is the choice expected to “embarrass” our wily politicians and turn them into “messiahs”? And further, once the choice results in the non-election of any candidate, wouldn’t it lead to holding a re-election afresh for which it is only the poor taxpayer who has to pay?
There are better options that come to mind, including giving the electorate the power to recall the candidate. The process has to be defined clearly and should be a low cost exercise under the supervision of the EC. Or, it can be effected through the decision of a selected citizens’ committee so empowered. In such cases, when the popular opinion decides to recall the elected candidate, the cost of the re-election that follows should be borne by the recalled candidate. Also, a politician surrendering a seat from which he has been declared elected, should be made to pay the entire cost for the ensuing reelections, including the security deposits of all candidates. Attendance in legislature must be made compulsory, or at least 75 per cent attendance. Otherwise the elected representative must be made ineligible for the benefits associated with the office.
The role of most of our elected representatives over the years has been of one-upmanship for petty personal gains and cheap party politics. Responsibility and accountability to the public at large and the nation are of no concern.
The whole fiasco has been aided and abetted by that ostensibly greatest watchdog of society, the fourth estate — with a prominent visual media in the forefront. The highly imaginative, virulently speculative and extraordinarily inventive media continues to contribute, with its own innovative lip and thought reading interpretations, to the grand business of cheap publicity stunts of a stunted polity.
It is therefore, not altogether strange, that none of us are any wiser today as to the actual position or facts on any of the seemingly “earth shaking issues” that have rocked this country’s parliaments, legislative assemblies and the media over the last so many years. From the Godhra- Gujarat riots to the Kargil coffins scandal, to the Tehelka scam to Veerappan, the list is unending.
Should we not ensure that each and every issue/allegation made has to be supported by actual facts and figures? Should we not build a system which compels the government of the day to ensure “to the point” replies and the completion of inquiries in the fastest possible time? Surely, we, the people of India, need to exercise our franchise in a way to ensure that truth, honesty and uprightness prevail. We certainly deserve a system where the polity and media rise to the call of the moment to build a better tomorrow.
