BY PROF. S. K. BHALLA
”What is the constitutional and moral responsibility of the CM in cases of large scale communal riots”? This is the question of Jai Ram Ramesh, a congress leader. According to his party, the SC orders of upholding the SIT clean chit to the then CM Gujarat in Gujarat riots is deeply disappointing and asked whether the CM had no responsibility in cases of large scale riots. The basic fundamental question remains still unanswered viz “Is the responsibility in such cases only of the Collector and DCP? Will the CM, Cabinet and State Govt. never be held accountable”? Opined Ramesh. He went a step further that some questions would continue to haunt PM Modi.
It is a fashion in our country that most of the politicians consider themselves to be above the law of the land. “After the assassination of Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984 by two of her Sikh bodyguards, anti-Sikh riots erupted the following day. They continued in some areas for several days, killing more than 3,000 Sikhs in New Delhi and an estimated 8,000 – 17,000 Sikhs in total were killed across 40 cities in India.
The Home Minister made a statement on the floor of the Rajya Sabha that the number of Sikhs killed in Delhi during November 1984 riots was 2146; 586 persons.” In 1984 after anti-Sikh riots, Rajiv Gandhi justified killing. He had said, Jab bhi koi bada ped girta hai, to dharti thodi hilti hai.
Our Sikh brethren cried foul and it took decades before some steps were initiated to heal their wounds, but they shall never forget that darkest period in the history of India.So many questions crop up in mind as to how our system operates.
In a different context a lot more has happened / is happening in our J&K @ militancy. So many people from different communities have died and none of the former CMs have been made accountable for reasons quite clear. A few small time politicians have been named and shamed but the top Boss so far as bad law and order is concerned remained unscathed. These are uncomfortable questions and haunt the right thinking time and again.
Good governance is a dream of all of us but a lot more is required on this front. Mere speeches and platitudes in seminars will do us no good as the ground realities have always remained very bitter.
Satayameva Jayate!