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Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Leader Page Articles

The challenges ahead

By R.K. Raghavan

Shivraj Patil starts with a clean image and we can expect him to fulfil his new role of stewarding what is generally looked upon as a political task with great aplomb.

WE HAVE a new Home Minister in the North Block. The transition from L.K. Advani to Shivraj Patil will be interesting to watch. Undoubtedly, the choice of the new appointee can hardly be faulted. He starts with a clean image, and if the poise with which he used to handle the Lok Sabha as Speaker is any indication, we can expect him to fulfil his new role of stewarding what is generally looked upon as a political task with great aplomb. He has the advantage of a well-oiled machinery in the form of the Ministry of Home Affairs that has a credible image.

It should be said to the credit of Mr. Advani that he strengthened the hallowed North Block traditions. My interaction with him in many situations convinced me that here was a seasoned politician who believed in going by the book even against the pulls and pressures of mundane politics. I know that he has many detractors who would berate him, among a host of other issues, for not having initiated more proactive measures to discipline the Gujarat Government in the post-Godhra scenario.

It is however eternally debatable how far under the present dispensation, New Delhi can pull up a delinquent State administration. I will be surprised if Mr. Patil does not experience similar situations where he will have to be firm against an errant State Government (even if it is led by the Congress) and some unreasonable political colleagues. He will also be judged from day one on how he copes with the unethical demands of a wide spectrum of partymen.

If I were Mr. Patil, I would accord top priority to the task of nursing the current happy state of affairs on the communal front. Barring the unhappy events in Gujarat during 2002, we have enjoyed relative peace for several years. I am not very sanguine that this will remain so in the context of the recent political changes. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has already gone on record that the BJP suffered electoral reverses only because it "betrayed" the Hindus! Nothing can be more categorical of its unhappiness with the existing state of affairs. Alongside this, the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra (which has witnessed many major riots in the past) is yet to be rid of its fangs, and its reduced influence at the Centre, accompanied by a rise in the authority of the Nationalist Congress Party is another worrying factor.

Just now the RSS denouncement of the BJP may not be an exhortation to violence to its cadres for carrying forward its agenda. But it is enough for one major incident to happen for attitudes to harden and the situation to reverse itself.

While the bonhomie with Pakistan continues — and lately there are no signs that Islamabad is unhappy with the fair harmony that exists between the major communities in India — it will be facile to believe that things cannot alter quickly as sequel to an unpredicted event. I would expect the new guard to take Chief Ministers of States into confidence for keeping a close watch on mischief-mongers in both the religious groups.

The Left extremists are still active in many parts of the country. I am particularly concerned over the freedom with which the People's War has been operating in Andhra Pradesh. With a Congress Government in place in the State, it may be reasonable to look for a change of strategy to buy peace, if not to neutralise the group. Even professionals will concede that the various strategies adopted till now have not paid dividends. It is anybody's guess whether the change in political alignments nationally could do the trick. Such complicated problems in a nation's life are better solved politically than by the brutal use of the law-enforcement machinery. This is a moment in our history when we may have to change gear and take a fresh look at the PW, the Maoist Communist Centre, the ULFA and a wide spectrum of other groups that do not believe in constitutional governance.

Recent changes have not left Tamil Nadu unaffected. The DMK has reasserted its strength. Fluctuations in political fortunes are intertwined with democracy and are most welcome if only to strengthen democratic roots in the country. The prospect of POTA being repealed is also strong. Sonia Gandhi and M. Karunanidhi have buried the hatchet, thereby showing remarkable maturity and magnanimity. However, these developments, coupled with the difficulties that envelop the LTTE in Sri Lanka, should not give wrong ideas to the few Tamil extremist outfits in the State that the LTTE is again welcome. This is not a fanciful projection of things to come. In any case, this is an aspect that deserves an eagle MHA eye.

The MHA has great stakes in the quality of policing in the country. In terms of maintaining public order, the Indian police have striven hard and generally helped to keep the national fabric intact. Even the worst critic of the police will find it hard to rebut this claim and deny them the encomium they richly deserve. But what should be of concern to the new Home Minister is the total loss of credibility of the police at the grassroots. The situation is nearly hopeless.

It is easy for the MHA to take the position that this is not within its province and that it is for the States to display greater anxiety and do something about this appalling situation. I believe Mr. Patil has sufficient goodwill from Chief Ministers to push some basic reforms that would make the police more sensitive to the common man. Crucial recommendations of the National Police Commission are still pending, and Mr. Patil's performance will ultimately be evaluated on the interest he shows in police reforms and the measure of success he achieves.

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