Dear Mr Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
A very good morning to you sir. I believe the parliament is still non-functional over the so-called "coal-gate" scam. So hopefully, you may have a few spare minutes in your busy schedule to at least gloss over my humble letter. I heard that you recently retorted to opposition's attack in parliament with an Urdu couplet -
"Hazaaron Jawabon Se Acchi Hai Meri Khamoshi, Na Jaane Kitne Sawaalon Ki Aabru Rakhe"
This translates to - My silence is better than a thousand answers, because it is veiling the premise/prestige of myriad questions.
I must say, it was an excellent repartee, a gambit to take the attack to the opposition and question the authenticity of their questions without having to answer one. Also, it exhibits your ability to hit back criticism.
But unfortunately, I was shocked to hear your words. Let me explain why!!
Democracy is established on accountability. Once a ruling party has been given the mandate to govern, it automatically becomes accountable to every citizen of the country. Accountability is the most primal distinction between democracy and autocracy or dictatorship. As a ruling party, it behoves you to listen to every citizen of India and answer every question any citizen of India has through proper channels. There is no way on earth, your refusal to answer questions of representatives of people (no matter how eloquently presented) can be justified in a democracy. It is blasphemy for a disciple of constitution and personally, this for me stands out as the biggest blemish on your term as PM.
I do not take sides. I understand opposition's unrelenting attack and exaggerated criticism for their own gains. I understand that clogging the functioning of parliament and asking for your resignation is again constitutionally reprehensible. You have the majority and if they have objection to you being the Prime Minister, they can introduce a no-confidence motion. But having said that, you cannot exonerate yourself from your fundamental responsibility of being accountable for your actions or in-actions. Our whole constitution is built around transparency, right to information and right to question.
I see you as a good, God-fearing man, of unparalleled academic acumen and humblest of demeanour. What I want to see is a man with gumption and fire in his belly to make things right. I want to see a Prime Minister who is passionate about his governance and defends himself through good governance KPI's. I do not want you to resign but I expect to see you come out and take the ownership of all of this.
Mahatma Gandhi, father of the nation always suggested that it is ultimate bravery to accept your mistake and rectify it. If you think mistake has been done, accept it and rectify it. To be honest, it won't even affect your vote bank. It would impress the cognisant because you would be the first among generations of politicians, to admit their mistake and work towards fixing it. And the in-cognisant shall vote the way they always do - under their local leader's influence based on whatever topic is exploited close to elections - religion, region or caste.
Even after plethora of scams under your governance, commonwealth games, 2G, coalgate to name a few, everyone still believes you are an honest man who is finding it hard to discipline his coalition ministers and other senior party leaders. But history will not remember you as an honest man if you fail to address all this mis-governance. History does not remember what impression you have on people as much as the financial losses that government exchequer has suffered during your prime-ministership.
I apologies if I disrespected you in any way in this letter. You are the leader of my nation and I submit to you. But at the same time, I have constitutional right to question you and this letter is a reminder of the same.
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Shivank Kaul
