OPPOSITION MPs MARCHED AGAINST THE EC

OPPOSITION MPs MARCHED AGAINST THE EC

12-AUG-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

DELHI----------------------------The march of opposition MPs from Parliament House to the Election Commission office began amidst heavy security cordon and tension by Delhi Police and ended after some time. But on this pretext, Rahul Gandhi, the entire opposition and their questions about the Election Commission once again dominated TV channels and social media since morning.

The purpose of this symbolic march was clear - the opposition wanted to send a message that it is not in the mood to sit silent on the questions related to the Election Commission. The opposition wants answers from an open platform in the interest of the country and the Constitution, not in closed rooms.

When stopped by the Delhi Police, the opposition MPs led by Rahul Gandhi sat on a dharna on the road itself. Rahul Gandhi wanted to address the country on this occasion through the MPs who were part of the march and the media, but the Delhi Police snatched his mic and took into custody all the opposition MPs who were protesting with him.

But the voice of questions is not suppressed by detention. The question is why is the Election Commission silent on the allegations of making fake votes? The question is also why the government is not ready to discuss the issue of in-depth revision of the voter list issued in Bihar in the House?

The monsoon session of the Lok Sabha is going on. It is natural that if the government discusses the SIR issue of Bihar in the House, then there would be no need for protests on the streets.

When the government works only in its own interest and imposes decisions on the basis of majority, then the Parliament becomes a place for merely putting a formal seal. There is no place for debate, dialogue and disagreement. The result is that the side representing the voice of the people is gradually sidelined, so that decisions can be passed without any challenge.

In an aware society, the job of the opposition is to stand equal to the government and ask questions, expose the mistakes and protect the rights of the people. When this role is suppressed, then in reality the people are deprived of their power. Democracy does not only mean casting votes in elections, but also that the voice of the people is heard every day, on every platform and policies are made in their interest.

If there is a mess in this process and the opinion of the public is not recorded properly, then it weakens the root of democracy. In such a situation, it is the right of the public to demand answers from the ruling party and remind them on every platform that the legitimacy of power comes from the consent of the public and not just by sitting on the chair. Democracy is alive as long as the voice and questions of the public are alive.