From Vote Chori to Rath Chori: A Systematic Undermining of Indian Institutions

From Vote Chori to Rath Chori: A Systematic Undermining of Indian Institutions

We have seen, as highlighted by the leader of the opposition, how the ruling government has been accused of vote chori (electoral theft). The methods may differ, but the intent remains the same. For the people of Bihar, this may feel familiar — or it may not. This isn’t their fault; over generations, they have been conditioned to accept such realities as part of political life.

But the real issue today is not vote chori. It is something far deeper — rath chori.

The rath (chariot) has always held a deep fascination for Sanatanis. It was the first symbol they weaponized during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, where the political war cries began with a Rath Yatra that swept across the country. This wasn’t just a journey — it was a spectacle of mobilization and polarization.

That weaponization of the Rath Yatra also carried with it an implicit clarion call: to overthrow the Indian Constitution, which had stood as a beacon of welfare, justice, and equality for millions. But their plans went astray. The Constitution survived, and it became firmly entrenched as the supreme law of the land.

However, having tasted the power of using the rath as a political weapon, these forces have now shifted to what can only be described as Rath Chori. They have hijacked the Constitutional chariot that carried the message of peace, justice, and welfare.

In truth, the rath that carries the Indian Constitution today is its institutions — the judiciary, the legislature, the media, and other pillars of democracy. Rath Chori is, therefore, nothing less than the systematic capture of these institutions.

Unfortunately, the Indian Constitution does not clearly spell out what must be done when the very system meant to protect it is used to undermine it. This institutional capture — this Rath Chori — represents the gravest threat to our democracy yet.

Faking Co-existence (The pseudo Co-existence)

The rich pretends to co-exist with poor, the white pretends to co-exist with the black, majority pretends to co-exist with the minority. And result of this pseudo co-existence is that the next generation which couldn't figure out this pseudo co-existence is at cross roads watching all the tamasha happening in the society and unable to take sides.

The next generation believed that fissures within the society were minor and hence they could concentrate on bigger goals of humanity. But people who faked co-existence have come out with innovative method of electing radicals to achieve their purpose of getting rid of the co-existing partner.

The side which faked co-existence couldn't believe that Constitution would come in their way of realizing their devious dreams. Constitution armed those people who were affected by the pseudo co-existence.

When coming to India, ancient people mastered the art of pseudo co-existence i.e. to fake co-existence despite being divided into castes. And they became rattled when foreign forces shed light on this pseudo co-existence practiced for thousands of years.

Capitalism added to this pseudo co-existence, where in a company you can find people of different level working under a single roof but they were never single at heart. 

To achieve co-existence we need to defeat the pseudo co-existence.

World's largest employment guarantee program - Part 2

In this second part of the four part series I would like to highlight the role of MGNREGA in adding value to the Constitution of India.

From the MGNREGA government website, MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee for 100 days of employment per year to every rural household in India. This ensures that eligible households have access to a minimum level of employment, helping alleviate poverty and providing a safety net during periods of economic distress.

The primary objective of MGNREGA is to enhance the livelihood security of rural households by promoting sustainable rural development. The program emphasizes the creation of productive assets such as water conservation structures, rural roads, and other infrastructure projects that contribute to the overall development of rural areas.

MGNREGA is designed to be demand-driven, meaning that employment opportunities are created in response to the expressed demand from the rural community. The beneficiaries have the right to demand work, and the government is obligated to provide employment within 15 days of such a demand.

The act promotes the active participation of women in the workforce. One-third of the beneficiaries are women, and efforts are made to ensure that at least 50% of the workers are women. This not only contributes to women's empowerment but also addresses gender disparities in rural employment.

Continued....