WE THE GOVERNMENT

The social distancing message created some kind of negative attitude in the mind of the people.  Now they keep a mental social distance from the Central and State Governments as if the Government is a different entity apart from us.  We all forgot the golden saying that ‘PEOPLE GET THE GOVERNMENT WHAT THEY DESERVE.’  When governments all over the world appeal again and again to keep the social distance, many people are not following it.  And in democratic countries like India where the opposition has an important role to play to remain a watchdog, unable to do much politics make indirect NEGATIVE COMMENTS in positive ways.  The worst scenario is some of the anchors in a few TV channels.  They began to question the actions of the government and demand explanation and even report and statistics in the name of TRANSPARANCY—as if they have some Constitutional authority to do so.  They forgot that because they have license to broadcast and run the TV channel and report to the people as the fourth pillar of democracy they cannot DEMAND everything from the government.  The government, particularly the Chief Minister and other ministers and government officials are working round the clock to face the challenge of this Corona pandemic and they don’t have time to address the pity politics played by some Media houses and TV channels. And those who come for panel discussion, not understanding their social responsibility, ask so many foolish questions in the name of their democratic rights.  They all forget that even Democracy has its own limitations and the government is not under an obligation to disclose all the measures it takes to curb the spread of Coronavirus. And the opposition parties, as usual, not accepting their equal role in a democracy in the name of playing Devil’s advocate add fuel to the fire.

 For example, the opposition party leader in Tamilnadu demands the government to immediately convene an All Party Meeting to discuss the Corona Pandemic and the way to face it. If the government cannot arrange a physical meeting at least arrange a virtual conference.  Every sober and sensible citizen will easily read and understand that he is trying to politicize and gain some political advantage by making these kinds of statements.  If we allow the governments—both in the center to do their job and state and keep quiet doing our part by cooperating with them, we as THE PEOPLE OF INDIA can collectively overcome this pandemic. Another best example is the migration of several thousands of people that happened in Delhi towards UP based on some false rumor and message in social media.  Who spread such messages and why are the opposition parties playing politics even in such an emergency?  Who arranged buses for them to reach the UP border?  Even one opposition ex-party president appealed his party workers to provide food and water for those who are walking to reach back to their homes in their villages from some part of the country.  Foolish advice!

WE ARE REQUESTED TO SAY WHERE WE ARE AND NOT TO MOVE.  Why not the same party workers arrange for the staying of those migrant workers for three weeks and feed them?  In a country like India where we take care of animals and plants, won’t we take care of those poor people?  Already some people are even feeding stray dogs and animals. How much more they will do for fellow human beings. Already so many people are doing the same by feeding poor and needy people.  Every state government is not doing their best but doing everything that people require to arrange all kinds of facilities.  In a vast country like India, with more than 130 crore people, some errors might happen. But this is not the time to play politics. They forgot that they too, as representatives—even if they lost the election, are also part of the government and political system and should cooperate with the government rather than indirectly spreading rumors and messages to play politics in such times of crises. Apart from paying a price politically in future, they will also end up paying a heavy price spreading the virus to the common and innocent people who do not want and cannot play any kind of politics with them in such an emergency.

WE ALL, AS INDIANS, SHOULD NOT FORGET THAT WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT AND WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA HAVE MORAL, SOCIAL, ETHICAL, SPIRITUAL AND DHARMIC RESPONSIBILITY TO COOPERATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS THE TIME OF A COLLECTIVE ORDEAL FOR ALL OF US. AND WE CANNOT SIT IN THE GALLERY TO WATCH ONLY THE PRESENT GOVERNMENTS TO GO THROUGH IT AS IF WE HAVE NO PART IN IT.  THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION FOR US—EITHER TO SAIL TOGETHER OR TO SING TOGETHER.

COOPERATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.  IF NOT AT LEAST DON’T GIVE TROUBLE TO THEM BY BECOMING EASY VICTIM TO PITY POLITICS PLAYED INDIRECTLY BY THE OPPOSITION PARTIES.

STAY AT HOME, SAVE YOUR NEAR AND DEAR ONES—INCLUDING YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FELLOW INDIANS. DON’T CREATE ANOTHER ITALY, SPAIN OR USA IN INDIA.

Two to three weeks are not a long time in life.  Suppose if you meet with an accident and are hospitalized for treatment and forced to remain in bed for a few weeks or months to recover—what can you do?  You have no other option but to stay both in the hospital and home till your recovery with the help and co-operation of not only your family members but also so many others like doctors, nurses, friends, neighbours and even the government.  What you ought to do as an individual now we all have to do it collectively as one such accident happened to the entire world.

29-03-2020