Author:
Publication: tehelka.com
Date: June 18, 2002
URL: http://tehelka.com/channels/currentaffairs/2002/jun/18/ca061802zafar.htm
Can Kalam rise above political pressure
and in these trying times act as the defender of the Constitution? Zafar
Agha asks
Who says President-in-waiting Dr
APJ Abdul Kalam is a novice in politics? Kalam may not be an expert in
Constitutional affairs. He may not be a politician in a conventional sense
of the word. But he surely knows the art of politics well. And, he makes
no bones about displaying his political leanings. Kalam, for instance,
virtually regrets being a Muslim. Instead, he publicizes his "Hindu Muslim"
identity. Kalam makes extra efforts to emphasize his vegetarian food habits,
his love for the Bhagvad-Gita and the Upanishads.
These are calculated political moves
to appease the Sangh Parivar and indicate that his is the Hindutva politics
with the rightist and militarist vision that fits into the Sangh mould.
Kalam has virtually indicated that his politics is essentially Hindutva
politics. India is a democracy and every citizen has the right to choose
his political leanings. If Kalam's politics is the Hindutva politics, no
one should have regrets about it.
But Kalam is no longer an ordinary
citizen. He will soon be the guardian of India's Constitution and the supreme
commander of our forces. Besides, Kalam will be the president of the country
in difficult political times when the office of the President is becoming
extremely crucial. After all, we now live in an era of alliance politics.
Our politics is deeply divided along caste and communal lines. We have
reached a stage wherein the Sangh is challenging the very basic norms of
our politics. The BJP is openly pleading for fundamental changes in the
Indian Constitution.
Can Dr Kalam rise above political
pressure and in these trying times act as the defender of the Constitution?
This is the question nagging lots of Indians who feel that India needs
a president who could rise above petty political interests and act as the
true guardian of the Constitution rather than acting an as agent of any
political ideology. Making certain noises and showing off one's political
leanings is justifiable on Kalam's part till he is busy into the run-up
of his election to the highest office of India. After all, he is the BJP
nominee and he has reasons to appease them.
But Dr Kalam will be on trial once
he takes the reigns of the country and guides its destiny. His job will
then be to rise above Hindutva politics. He would then have to avoid all
sorts of pressures on him. He will then have to give up his political leanings.
That is the reason India's political spectrum except for the Left is behind
him expecting he will be a neutral umpire once he resides in Rashtrapati
Bhawan.
Making ones political leanings clear
is a different matter before elections. But assuming the highest office
of country is altogether a different ball game. Once elected as the President
of India, the country will expect Dr Kalam to forget his leanings and preside
over the Constitution as it is left behind by its founding fathers and
not be guided by the kind of the Constitution that the Sangh wishes to
thrust on India.
