In a strikingly remarkable comparison, T N Ninan in his column “Our feudal democracy” (Weekend Ruminations, September 22), underscores the poor health of Indian democracy and its questionable future. Other realities add to the grim picture — Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main contender for power, has its own share of feudal lords and a fractured central leadership. And did King Henry VII have feudal lords comparable to the likes of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Karunanidhi? In fact, the former has reduced democracy to a mockery. After opposing the nuclear deal tooth and nail, he changed his mind overnight, presumably for a price, to rescue the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) -I. One day he is against Pranab Mukherjee as a presidential candidate, another day he backs him. He is against foreign direct investment in retail but stands by UPA-II to keep communal forces at bay. Really? Or is it to seek reprieve from the Central Bureau of Investigation cases or extract more financial aid from the Congress?
Unlike the House of Lancaster and House of York, there is no chance of partnership between the Congress and BJP since both are vying for the same cake of power by hook or crook. However, given the clean track record of the Election Commission and the wisdom of the electorate to throw out the unworthy, there’s a ray of hope in this pathetic scenario.
Y G Chouksey, Pune
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