Commentary/Saisuresh Sivaswamy
Mahanta and the art of brewing tea
It was not long ago that Bombay, Maharashtra's eyepiece and the
country's financial nerve-centre, was rocked by caste clashes.
The response from the central government was swift; the home minister
did not waste any time in warning the state government to maintain
law and order or else. The prime minister's attention was drawn
to the clashes, never mind that they were instigated by those
out to get political mileage. And Parliament's attention was
drawn to Maharashtra's inability to protect minorities.
That was how an incident involving the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya
Janata Party government was handled. Now witness the contrast
with a state government that has gone so far down the road
of lawlessness that its writ must run only in the secretariat.
For months now we have been reading and watching bytes that the
Assam government's writ does not obviously run in a large part
of the state. The Bodos and ULFA have combined to drive not
only confidence out of the state government, headed by Prafulla
Kumar Mahanta, but also that when it comes to acting vis-a-vis
the crucial North-Eastern state, the Centre is a hapless spectator.
For months we have been seeing that the United Liberation Front
of Asom has got its own machinery in place, and that it is collecting
levies like any other authorised arm of the government. And where
fear prevents people from paying up, retribution is quick. And
what does the legitimate government of the day do? Oh, it watches
meekly, tells you not to pay up, never mind if the price of non-compliance
could be your life, and where you pay up out of fear, even prosecutes
you for succumbing to blackmail and extortion. The blackmailers
and extortionists, meanwhile, go from strength to strength, while
it is the exact opposite with the enforcing authorities.
Why is the ruling United Front for once united in its silence
over the long-boiling Assam cauldron -- after all, its constituents
were the same who breathed fire and brimstone at the Maharashtra
government for an incident that happened on one single day? The
answer is evident: the Asom Gana Parishad which rules the state
has ensured its longevity by being part of the United Front. And
that also tells you why the state which is crucial to India's
geostrategic interests, has been speeding on the road to ruin.
The perception at the Centre now is that the state government
cannot be disturbed, since that will alter the delicate balance
of power in the United Front. Another reason is that by sending
Mahanta packing, they could actually be driving him into the rival
camp, never mind if it is evident to the world that he is unfit
to govern.
Given the chief minister's agitationist background, it is probable
that at least some of those who have been challenging his government's
authority in the hills once upon a time rubbed shoulders with
him, must have shared ideologies with him. And if it was anyone's
contention that the best person to tackle an insurgency is a reformed
insurgent, Mahanta has given it the lie. It may seem like an extreme
parallel, but in his case it is more like expecting Bhindranwale
to usher peace in Punjab.
What is any chief minister's or government's prime responsibility?
To ensure the safety of its citizens and their property. All other
things follow from this, but a government that is unable to infuse
a sense of security among its people has lost its mandate to govern.
Judged by this solitary yardstick, Mahanta ought to have been
shown the door long ago, but it has been his insurance policy
taken with the United Front that is saving him.
As the ULFA menace spread, and it became public knowledge that
his administration could do little to stop the spate of abductions
and killings, look at the way Mahanta has reacted. If he has declared
war on ULFA, then it must be a secret one for the public is not
aware of it. And anticipating the demand for his removal with
the continuation of his comatose government, he hit upon dragging
the Tata reputation through mud.
No, this is no defence of the Tatas who anyway are in no need
of any character certificate from anybody. It is obvious to even
the most casual observer that they paid off ULFA under threat;
they were not the only one; and certainly, they were not buying
peace with ULFA but merely safety for their employees and
their businesses. They were certainly not guilty of sedition or
anything anti-national that Mahanta may charge them with. Somebody
put a gun to their head and demanded a ransom, and if paying a ransom
was a crime, half of India must be criminals and the other half
extortionists.
If only one would pause and think of Mahanta whose job is to
ensure that business is able to function without any impediments
in the state; if Mahanta whose job is to provide safety to those
living within his boundaries; If Mahanta whose task it is to
put down lawlessness with a firm hand; if Mahanta has been fulfilling his
responsibilities, the answer is obvious.
His failure does not pertain to a single incident or event, his
is a failure on all fronts. And the longer he continues in office,
the farther Assam will slide from the national mainstream. The
feeling of alienation from India, already strong in the North-East,
will only intensify as the people realise that the rest of the
country is not interested in their plight.
Removal of the chief executive is not always a solution, nor bringing
in the military, but in a case like Assam, there is none other.
Sack Mahanta, place the state under the direct control of the
army, give the men in uniform a mandate to clear the region of
rebels within a specific time-frame, after which hold fresh elections.
There is a war being waged against the country there, and the
sooner we realise it, the better for the Union.
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