By Thangamuthu Jayasingam –

Dr. Thangamuthu Jayasingam

Rudyard Kipling states elegantly in ‘IF’,

“If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distant run”

Many of us face this, and later regret to state ‘it is only that minute’ I lost my temper other wise, I would not have done it. Unfortunately, It is that minute that matters and not all the thousand of minutes before or after. Swami Vivekananda says in one his preaching ‘it is easy to be a hermit in wild with no interference but more difficult to practice purity living with all forms of distractions around you’. This again reiterates that, it is what one does when confronted with issues that matter, rather than all the preaching you make when you are completely free and away and are non accountable. It is that minute….

It is that minute now for the President and perhaps the Prime Minister. Elections are over, Prime Minister is appointed, there si support for a stable government. Every move that is made now, will be weighed against the pledges they made and the principles they preached. It is only the time will tell your success or failure; their ratings.

The National, List and the enrollment of those who lost at elections

Many had already commented on it but it is important to also realize that many hundreds who had not, are talking about it in the rural areas. How can a loser be appointed to the parliament under the National List? Yes, I am aware that the act provides for it. If so, then it is the act we should change as much as we did with 18th amendment, if necessary. The VOTE is considered as a symbol of democracy and also the power of the people and once they had spoken, then there should not be means to alter it. This violates the basics of the principles of the VOTERS POWER and rights of the people to elect their representatives? Look at the case in Kattankudy. On the announcement of appointing a member who was not elected, there had been violence against those who ‘may not have ‘ voted for that candidate. Few had been in the hospital. Is this the price one has to pay for exercising their rights? NO. The same is bound to happen in all the places, where such replacements have taken place, whether physically, mentally or socially. Is it correct to assign power to those who have been rejected by the people at an election specifically made for their selection. It is different from those who have not contested as they are appointed to the parliament, on their own merit, and with no rejection by the people. The ONUS is also on the persons concerned, should they accept such a post or position having lost at the election? If these such appointed members become further as MINISTERS then the fundamental of the FRANCHAISE would be in question, do they represent the people? This will be an issue spoken of the ‘government ‘ and ‘presidency’ over the years as a historical mistake. If the power is to vested in a few against the peoples wish, then the democracy takes a walk out of the back door. It is that minute that matters..

Number of Ministers

Other issue that is in the cards now is the number of Ministers and Deputy Ministers. This was discussed a lot and arrived at a consensus as the 19th amendment. To review this at this minute is wrong as ‘more politics’ will be in place rather than principles. We had agreed for 30 ministers and 45 deputies and let it be that and no more. I am aware of the possible pressures in the higher ground but it is at these moments of such pressure does a SATESMAN and LEADERS shows his dignity and courage. It is that ‘ONE MINUTE’ that goes in history. The pressures and threats would be gone in a few days or months, but the error you make would go in history and would be taken as the precedence of all the ‘compromises’ you may have to make away from your principles and preaching. It is not worth it. It is surprising to note that on one hand, appointment of losers by the national list is justified from the legislation,. But, on the other the legislation to have only 30 Ministers is being reviewed for change. If true, hypocrisy at peak. It is this minute that matters….

People gave a mandate for the changes to the President on January 8th and on trust they endorsed it on 17th August also at his request. If these are not made then he would another person in history who had promised many and delivered few. The score card reduces him to a mere Political leader away from a Statesman. This country needs a Statesman for it to develop along the lines of democracy and governance principles. The President in contest at the moment whether he makes himself a Politician or a Statesman would be recorded history. Could he make this minute into the long Sixty seconds? I think, he can and he should, in the interest of the country and principles that people wish to be associated with.

The minute that makes history is ‘that one minute’.