The Hindu Business Line : Coalitions must work towards national interest

Now that the Congress will form the government, it is a golden opportunity for it to press ahead with economic reforms and push for good governance.

This is the time for Indians to forget their petty differences and come together.

Mohan Murti

“We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in future can be produced by our present actions; so we have to know how to act.”

As I write this column, the results of India’s general election are out, and I recall these powerful words of Swami Vivekananda.

I definitely feel a sense of pride when I hear Europeans refer to India, warts and all, as the world’s leading democracy, with a voter base almost twice the size of Europe’s entire population. Over the past weeks, Europe watched India, the world’s largest democracy, hold its 15th general election. Over 60 per cent of the 700 million registered voters decided the political future of over 7,000 candidates. Truly a democratic miracle.

Congratulations to the Election Commission in ensuring the free and fair conduct of the polls. It truly underlines the gargantuan effort that went into conducting the general election in India with all its problems of limited infrastructure, caste and communal divides, topographical extremities, and so on.

Now that the Congress will form the government, it is a golden opportunity for it to press ahead with economic reforms and push for good governance.

European Expectations

Many of Congress’ attempts at reforms were blocked by its former communist partners. Europe now is looking for a strong government in India, to push ahead with a raft of reform policies — such as privatisation and relaxation of labour laws — that stalled in the last five years, and to impose fiscal discipline. What European investors fear is a weak or unstable coalition government, as the world grapples with the effects of the global economic slowdown and layoffs.

While Europe has watched how admirably India has remained a functioning democracy against tremendous odds, it hopes that the Congress and the BJP, the two main national parties, will rise above petty squabbles and think of forming a national government some day.

National Interest

When war clouds gathered over Europe during 1938-39, the ruling Conservatives in the British Parliament made way for Sir Winston Churchill to be the war-time Prime Minister who, in turn, invited the opposition Labour Party to join the Cabinet. The labour leader Clement Atlee even served as the Deputy Prime Minister.

It was this astutely constituted coalition government that won the war for England. In this case, it was the national interest rather than the question of majority or minority party that prevailed. Neither party compromised on its principles but joined hands in national interest. It is this kind of coalition that needs to be emulated in India at this time of crisis and for a permanent solution to the coalition problems.

A national government formed on these lines will best serve the interests of the nation at this critical time when there is dangerous instability in all the neighbouring countries of the South Asian region.

The situation in the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tibet and Nepal is bothering everyone. And, what worries people is that no one seems to be in control of the situation in these countries and no one knows their future.

This is the time for Indians to forget their petty differences and come together. The level of insecurity felt by many in the country, be it expressed through activism, cynicism, fear or apathy, should motivate political parties to explore fully the implications presented by a divided ruling and opposition leadership.

The opportunities, however, have not passed by, they are merely changing. The future does not just happen, people make it happen — we all shape it and through our ideas, decisions and actions.

Repubic vs democracy

My father, living in a small village in Palakkad, Kerala, explained the difference, and as to why the founding fathers preferred the term ‘republic’ over ‘democracy’.

He said, “In a republic, everyone’s voice including that of the opposition, is important. Not just the majority voice, such as in a democracy.” If our political model is of billiard balls jostling against each other, then obviously we are a democracy in conflict. We definitely need to transform into a republic. In today’s borderless world this is both a moral imperative and a matter of self-interest.

We must maintain this global perspective. The world around us is changing faster than ever before. India must keep up with it. Europe and rest of the world are keenly watching us.

It was Kalidasa who said: “Janani Janmabhoomi cha Swargaadapi Gariyasi” (Mother and Motherland are greater than Heaven). Europe fervently hopes Indian leaders will rise to the occasion.

(The author is former Europe Director, CII, and lives in Cologne, Germany. blfeedback@thehindu.co.in)

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