This is how government must work: it must concede the right to peaceful assembly and protest, and it must undo injustice.
Let us return to the present day. The Modi government was forced to concede the principle of accountability when it fired Dharmendra Pradhan over the botched functioning of the exam system. This concession came after it became clear that the government’s posture, including the prime minister’s Instagram videos, was not acceptable to the protesters.
The government is now resisting the firing of the chief election commissioner. He is of great importance to the BJP, as we have observed not only with this mess of the SIR but also with his conduct towards Opposition parties.
The furious back-pedalling on the SIR shows that the government has become alarmed and wants to be seen making minor concessions so that the anger dissipates. A tweak in the process here, a new form filled there.
Alas, this has not worked because citizens have seen how egregious the whole electoral roll scandal is. The problem for the government is that once a large enough section of the citizenry has taken to the streets, the state has to fold.
This happened with the farmers, it happened on the issue of the NRC, and it happened with Dharmendra Pradhan. It will happen again, because there is no real alternative.
Gyanesh Kumar has another two-and-a-half years left in office, until January 2029, and it is hard to see the government being able to hold on to him, however precious he may be to Modi, until then. If the protesters remain mobilised, the government will be compelled to do the right thing ultimately and concede again the principle of accountability.
It seems absurd to say this, but it is appropriate: the Modi government must learn from the conduct of the British raj with Gandhi at Champaran. Accept the right to peaceful assembly; reverse the injustice done to crores of voters; punish the man responsible.
Views are personal. More of Aakar Patel’s writing here
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