DEMOCRACY VS GUN IN BIHAR: WHY ARMS LICENSE TO PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES

13-JUNE-ENG 7

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------Democracy in Bihar is based on a long struggle, public participation and the spirit of development. But recent news has forced democratically minded citizens across the state to think. The Bihar government has talked about giving arms license to Panchayat representatives – Mukhiya, Zila Parishad member, Sarpanch, Ward member, Panch etc. The question arises that why do Panchayat representatives need guns?

The basic objective of democracy is – dialogue, public participation and equitable development with peace. There should be no place for guns or weapons in it. Panchayat representatives are the government of the village. Their job is to go among the people and solve problems, speed up development work and establish harmony in the society. But if now they have to pick up guns for their work, then it is a danger signal for democracy.

If the government feels that Panchayat representatives need weapons for protection, then it simply means that the law and order situation in Bihar is weak.

Is the government admitting that it is unable to protect its representatives? Is this decision not like giving a free hand to criminals - that now the representatives will also be forced to take up arms?

If the representatives feel insecure and carry weapons, what kind of message will go to the general public? Will the general public also run towards weapons?

In a democracy, problems should be solved through the Constitution, law and dialogue - not guns.

If Panchayat representatives get threats, then give them security. But giving guns is not a solution to this problem, but the beginning of new problems.

It is not that this is happening for the first time. Earlier also some representatives have demanded security. But the government's talk of giving arms licenses en masse shows that there is an atmosphere of fear in the state, which is a worrying situation for any democracy.

We don't need guns - we need trust. We don't need fear - we need development. We don't need weapons - we need the Constitution in hand.