The government that strips the opposition of a uniform discussion on crucial bills should be called a dangerous trend, except that it has been going on for so long that “trend” is a wrong word.
It has recently been alleged that “too much democracy in India” makes “tough reforms” difficult. And the demolition of amendments against the slaughter of cows by the BJP government in Karnataka appears to be the party’s latest attempt to remedy the “excess of democracy” in India. The bill recently passed in the State Assembly followed what the Union government has been doing with several crucial pieces of legislation in Parliament: there was no discussion, there was no attempt at consensus building, there was absolutely no chance that the BS Yediyurappa’s cabinet will let ‘democracy’ hinder their pet project.
The new bill, an amendment to the existing anti-cow slaughter law, is controversial. It would surely meet strong opposition both inside and outside the Assembly. The bill has far-reaching repercussions and some of the provisions are oppressive.
Read: Karnataka Beef Ban – Beyond the Restaurant Menu, Here’s How Things Will Change
The bill denies citizens the right to choose their profession and means of subsistence, as well as food. In addition to this, search and seizure powers granted to anyone with a higher rank than a deputy inspector based on mere suspicion, can result in large-scale harassment, particularly against Dalits and minorities.
The official reasoning behind the new legislation is Article 48 of the Constitution of India, one of the guiding principles of state policy. Article 48 says: “The State will endeavor to organize agriculture and livestock along modern and scientific lines and, in particular, will take measures to preserve and improve breeds and prohibit the slaughter of cows and calves and other dairy cattle and cattle. threw. . “
It goes without saying, however, that the new legislation has little to do with “modern, scientific lines” and is about “Hindu sentiments,” whatever that term means in today’s polarized world. The state government, of course, can point to the Constitution all it wants, but it cannot be denied that by introducing such a law, they are exposing vulnerable populations to emboldened vigilante groups. While the bill itself is deeply problematic, what is even more is the problem that the BJP and its governments seem to have with “too much democracy.”
The school taught us that “democracy” is the government of the people, for the people and of the people. We have been told that Indian democracy has three pillars: the legislative, the executive and the judicial. The legislature makes laws; the executive implements them; and the judiciary supports them.
Except, as several people have pointed out, it is the executive, the government, that actually makes the laws in India, and not the legislature. Ministers write bills, and all that our legislators – you and my elected representatives in Parliament and State Assemblies – can do is vote on them and discuss amendments. And since 2014, even this limited role of the legislature has been rendered ineffective by the BJP governments.
It has become part of the course for the bills to pass in Parliament without any discussion or debate, and with the amendments against the slaughter of cows, the BJP government in Karnataka has pulled a leaf out of the books from its high command of Delhi. Some may argue that the rule of BS Yediyurappa went one step further: not only was the bill not debated in the Assembly, but there was no prior notification to the House that the bill was being brought in.
The bill was not mentioned at the Business Advisory Committee meeting. The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) made up of members from all parties decides on the Chamber transaction. From when the Assembly session should begin to what the session’s agenda should be and even how much time should be spent discussing what issue, the committee, as its name explains, decides how the affairs of the House are conducted. The current Karnataka Assembly BAC has the President, CM BS Yediyurappa, Opposition Leader Siddaramiah, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madhuswamy, JD (S) HD Kumaraswamy Leader along with several others.
Spokesman Vishweshwar Kageri said that at the Business Advisory Committee meeting, it was said that “important bills” will be introduced, a contested claim. The official agenda published on the website of the Karnataka Assembly does not reflect the presentation of the bill that discredits the statement of the Speaker.
Siddaramiah claimed that the copy of the bill was not even handed over to opposition parties before its presentation, as is the practice. So how are our elected representatives supposed to study the bill that they are technically supposed to be “doing”?
The House was suspended amid the uproar, and later that night the BJP went ahead with the bill and secured its passage with the opposition absent. When asked, the government used the extremely boring strategy: whataboutery. The BJP responded to the congressional charge that in 2013, when the then Siddaramiah-led government withdrew a similar bill against the slaughter of livestock, it was also done in a similar way.
Read: Karnataka Assembly passes strict law against cow slaughter amid uproar
For the government to find ways to rid itself of the opposition even from a discussion of such crucial bills is a dangerous trend. Opposition leaders have questioned the very need for such committees if the government ignores their role. The draconian nature of such a bill has been documented and has yet to pass the Legislative Council before it can become law. But the way these disputed bills are being driven by subversion of democratic practices shows a blatant disregard for democratic principles and institutions.
The BJP often indulges in scandal when asked about its autocratic ways. And as a last resort, they remind Congress and the people of the country of the Emergency that was declared 45 years ago. But the trend to override the rules, backed by a gross electoral majority and a weakened opposition, is worrying. The Livestock Slaughter Bill is highly contentious and promoting it without deliberating on the impact it will have on farmers, Dalits, minorities and other citizens’ rights is a blatant abuse of power by the government. Dissidence has been silenced in various ways to adapt to the situation, but when even elected representatives cannot debate in plenary session, serious doubts arise about the functionality of our democratic structure. And if this watered-down version of our democracy is also “too much,” then one has to wonder whether the mere holding of elections makes India a democracy.
Read: Farmers continue to protest in Bengaluru, condemn bill against slaughter of cattle
Opinions expressed are those of the author.
