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MAKING OF THE PRESIDENT, 2012
(Extracts of talk delivered by Maj. Gen (rtd) Vinod Saighal at the India International Centre on March 21, 2012)

Introduction

Madam Chairperson, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentleman. This is the fourth in the sries of talks delivered by me in the last three years on the subject of electoral reforms and the working of the constitution. (Reconciling Coalition Dharma, Good Governance and National Security (2009) was turned into an Occasional Paper, No. 9 of the IIC; Is the Constitution being constitutionally Undermined? (2010); Judicial Activism: Panacea, Bane or Boon (2010)

In the last case it was my contention that the judiciary had been relatively inactive, mostly restricting themselves to lamenting on the decline in governance and other such remarks. Had they taken matters in hand the country would not be facing the prospect of the parliament and state legislatures being over-filled with legislators with serious and heinous criminal cases against them. The umber has been rising steadily with each election. The judiciary must feel responsible, while there is time, for a fair portion of the blame for the existing state of affairs.

In a manner of speaking serious criminals are and will be heading ministries in practically  every state and the centre as well as enacting legislation, or, more importantly, preventing enactment of essential legislation that debars them from contesting elections under Representation of People Act (1951) or other legislations to curb despoliation by various mafia type vested groups.

The recent UP elections give an indication of the seriousness of the situation.

  • Out of the 403 MLAs analyzed for Uttar Pradesh 2012 Assembly Elections, 189 (47%) have declared criminal cases against them. In 2007 assembly elections for the whole of Uttar Pradesh, out of 403 MLAs analyzed, 140 (35%) MLAs had declared criminal cases against themselves.
  • The top 3 MLAs who have declared the maximum number of serious cases against themselves are: 1) Mitra Sen (SP, Bikapur constituency) with 36 criminal cases including 14 cases related to murder, 2) Sushil Singh (Independent, Sakaldiha) with 20 criminal cases including 12 charges related to murder, 3) Ram Veer Singh (SP, Jasrana) with 18 criminal cases including 8 charges related to murder.
  • Among other parties, the following MLAs have declared the maximum number of serious criminal cases against them, 1) Mohd. Aleem khan (BSP, Bulandsahar) with 3 criminal cases including 4 seious IPCs. These serious IPCs inculdes 1 charges related to murder and 1 charges related to rape, 2) Ajay (INC, Pindra constituency) with 8 criminal cases including 3 charges related to murder, 3) Upendra (BJP, Phephana) with 11 criminal cases including 5 charges related to murder, 4) Mokhtar Ansari (Qaumi Ekta Dal, Mau Constituency) with 15 criminal cases including 8 charges related to murder.

Raja Bhayia another known legislator with several criminal cases him has been made a minister in the new SP government in UP and given charge, of all ministries, Prisons.

Look at the iron grip in the largest state after SP got an overwhelming majority

In one of the earlier talks I had mentioned that the number of criminals presently in the Electoral College has reached such proportions that should a call be given for all legislators with criminal cases against them to unite, they can easily vote in an arch- criminal as the next president.

                                                   
Here I would like to dispel the erroneous belief ingrained in large number of people that the office of the president is largely a ceremonial one and that the occupant of the Rashtrapati Bhawan is a mere rubber stamp. Nothing could be further from the truth.

CONTRARY TO THE COMMONLY HELD BELIEF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA IS NOT A FIGUREHEAD.

HE/SHE CANNOT be deemed to be a RUBBER STAMP. ALTHOUGH SUCH TENDENCIES BECAME THE NORM WHENEVER THE PERSON SELECTED OWED THE APPOINTMENT TO THE RULING CABAL, OR IN CASES WHERE THE INCUMBENT FELT A DEBT WAS OWED FOR THE SELECTION. PRIME EXAMPLE OF PRESIDENT FAKHRUDDIN ALI AHMED SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY POST-HASTE AS DEMANDED BY MRS INDIRA GANDHI IN DECEMBER 1975.

THE CASE OF DR. KALAM WAS QUITE DIFFERENT, WHEN HE SIGNED THE ORDER TO DISSOLVE THE BIHAR ASSEMBLY AT MIDNIGHT WHILE ON TOUR IN MOSCOW. IT MIGHT BE RECALLED THAT THE DISSOLUTION WAS CARRIED OUT IN 2005 BY THE GOVERNOR’S COUP TO PREVENT NDA FROM FORMING THE GOVERNMENT NEXT MORNING BY TESTING THEIR MAJORITY ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE. LATER, AFTER BEING CRITICISED STRONGLY FOR SIGNING THE ORDER WITHOUT DUE DILIGENCE, IN INDECENT HASTE, DR. KALAM EXPRESSED REGRET AT HIS DECISION, AND SAID IT WAS A LEARNING CURVE. EVIDENTLY, BEING OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND NOT HAVING ACCESS TO ALL THE FACTS AND INDEPENDENT ADVICE, HE FELT PRESSURED INTO SIGNING, THINKING THE EMERGENT SITUATION WARRANTED IMMEDIATE ACTION.

BY HINDSIGHT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BIG MISTAKE ON THE PART OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND ITS PARTISAN GOVERNOR BECAUSE IN THE ELECTIONS THAT FOLLOWED THE PEOPLE OF BIHAR RETURNED NITISH KUMAR AND NDA WITH A THUMPING MAJORITY; AND HAPPILY, BIHAR HAS TURNED THE CORNER SINCE THEN. AS FOR NITISH KUMAR, HE HAS NOT LOOKED BACK AND THE MISCHIEF MAKERS THAT ORCHESTRATED THE EXERCISE HAVE PAID A HEAVY PRICE. CONGRESS AS WELL AS MR. LALU PRASAD HAVE BEEN PRACTICALLY WIPED OUT IN BIHAR AS VIABLE POLITICAL FORCES.

THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA HAS ENORMOUS DISCRETIONARY POWERS IN AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT UNDEFINED.

EXAMPLES ABOUND:

PRESIDENT ZAIL SINGH SAT ON THE    CONTROVERSIAL POSTAL  BILL TILL IT LAPSED.

 

DURING THE LATTER PART OF RAJIV GANDHI’S TENURE AS PM, THERE WERE FEARS THAT MR. ZAIL SINGH WAS GOING TO DISMISS THE GOVERNMENT ON SEVERAL CORRUPTION ISSUES: CZECH PISTOLS CASE, HDW SUBMARINE CONTRACT KICKBACKS, AND BOFORS.   ALTHOUGH IT NEVER MATERIALISED THE THREAT WAS TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY.

EXTRACT:

The judge’s Drama

Many year ago, when I petitioned President Zail Singh for permission to prosecute former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for abetting corruption in the Bofors deal, the President sought the opinion of retired Chief Justice of India YV Chandrachud. The judge, after studying my petition, opined that the prima facie case did exist. However, in the interest of stability and national interest he advised the President against granting me permission. The President complied with the advice. Had the permission been granted, the court would have admitted my petition. A Prime Minister facing a corruption case in court would have given Parliament the opportunity to address the issue. The end result of the scandal may not have been as harmful to the national interest as it became. After his retirement, President Zail Singh confessed to me that he had erred by not accepting my petition.
Rajinder Puri, The Sunday Statesman, 4 March, 2012 P# 7
                               

THE CORRUPTION CASES TODAY ARE OF AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE HIGHER THAN THOSE ON THE EARLIER OCCASION. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT IN THE ‘LEAST’ WORRIED ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL INTERVENTION, BECAUSE THE ‘LADY’ PRESIDENT OWES HER ELEVATION TO THE LADY WHO HAS BEEN RUNNING THE COUNTRY BY REMOTE CONTROL, OVER THE HEAD OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

 

THIS ASPECT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL BE MADE AT TH END OF THE PRESENTATION. THOSE WHO WISH TO GO MORE INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A PRESIDENT CAN ACT ON SUCH OCCASIONS CAN SEEK CLARIFICATION DURING THE INTERACTIVE SESSION.
                                   

PRESIDENT NARAYANAN REFUSED TO SIGN THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ELEVATION OF JUDGES TO VACANCIES IN THE SUPREME COURT TILL A DALIT WAS ALSO APPOINTED TO THE HIGHEST COURT. IT IS SAID THAT IT WAS AT HIS INSTANCE THAT THE FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA MR. BALAKRISHNAN – WHO PERHAPS WAS NOT THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS OF CHIEF JUSTICES AND IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION ACCORDING TO SOME REPORTS – WAS ELEVATED TO THAT BODY.

THIS IS ANOTHER CASE OF DEBASEMENT OF THE HIGH OFFICE. THE POLITICAL LEADERS OF LATE WISH TO GO FURTHER BY BRINGING RELIGION INTO THE ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT. ELABORATE

                                                               
THERE IS ON THE FACE OF IT NO TIME LIMIT ON THE TIME THAT THE PRESIDENT TAKES TO APPEND HIS/HER SIGNATURES TO BILLS FORWARDED TO HIM/HER. NORMALLY WHERE THERE IS A STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WITH A SINGLE PARTY IN THE MAJORITY OR A STABLE COALITION THE PRESIDENT INVARIABLY GOES ALONG WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S RECOMMENDATIONS.

HOWEVER IN WEAK COALITION GOVERNMENTS THE PRESIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF THE PERSON IS OF HIGH PERSONAL STANDING, CAN KEEP THE GOVERNMENT ON TENTERHOOKS ON SEVERAL CRITICAL ISSUES.

IF NOT SATISFIED WITH ANY MATTER PLACED BEFORE HIM THE PRESIDENT CAN ALWAYS REFER THE MATTER TO THE SUPREME COURT FOR JUDICIAL OPINION OR EVEN FOR A CONSITUTION BENCH ON THE MATTER.

THE PRESIDENT CAN HOLD UP THE CLEARNCE FOR THE NAME OF A GOVERNOR PLACED BEFORE HIM.

THE MOST CRUCIAL DISCRETIONARY POWER OF THE PRESIDENT MANIFESTS ITSELF IN THE CASE OF HUNG PARLIAMENT. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A CONVENTION THAT THE FIRST PERSON TO BE CALLED TO FORM A GOVERNMENT AND PROVE HIS/HER MAJORITY ON THE FLOOR SHOULD NORMALLY BE THE ONE FROM THE PARTY HAVING THE LARGEST NUMBER OF ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, HOWEVER THERE ARE VARIANTS. SIMILARLY, IT IS ENTIRELY UP TO THE PRESIDENT TO ALLOCATE THE TIME AVAILABLE TO THE LEADER SO ASKED FOR PROVING HIS/HER MAJORITY ON THE FLOOR. IT COULD BE AS LITTLE AS 48 HOURS OR SEVERAL DAYS. THE PRESIDENT’S JUDGMENT IN THIS REGARD CAN BE ENTIRELY SUBJECTIVE. NOBODY CAN QUESTION IT.

THERE ARE OTHER AREAS AS WELL WHERE THE PRESIDENT, SHOULD THE INCUMBENT SO CHOOSE, NOT PLAY BALL WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

IN A MORE RECENT CASE THE PREIDENT OF INDIA COULD HAVE – IN FACT SHOULD HAVE – SUMMONED THE DEFENCE MINISTER AND THE ARMY CHIEF ON THE UNSEEMLY ISSUE OF THE CHIEF’S AGE THAT DRAGGED ON INTERMINABLY IN THE MEDIA AND DIRECTED THEM AS THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF TO SETTLE THE ISSUE IN-HOUSE. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE ARMY CHIEF COULD HAVE DEMURRED AFTER A PRSIDENTIAL DRESSING DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED.  BUT THEN THE MANNER OF SELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT INCUMBENT HAD LEFT MUCH TO BE DESIRED.   

 REMEMBER THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY

SHOULD LAW AND ORDER BREAKDOWN THE PRESIDENT CAN EXERCISE SEVERAL OPTIONS.
                                

THE FACT THT WHENEVER OPPOSITION PARTIES OR GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO FEEL SERIOUSLY AGGRIEVED OFTEN LINE UP AT THE RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN TO EXPRESS THEIR GRIEVANCES PERSONALLY TO THE PRESIDENT IS INDICATIVE OF THE FACT THAT THE PEOPLE OF INDIA FEEL THAT THE PRESIDENT IS IN A POSITION TO SEEK AN EXPLANATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT, TO ADMONISH IT, OR EVEN TO ADMINISTER SOME CORRECTIVE. THIS REPOSITION OF FAITH IN ITSELF ADDS TO THE PRESTIGE OF THE OFFICE WHICH WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE ENHANCED WERE THE PERSON OCCUPYING THE HIGHEST OFFICE BE ONE, WHOSE PERSONAL STATURE IS OF A VERY HIGH ORDER. 
                                            *
Now let us pause to look back as to how the 2007 election took place. It is very instructive.

INDIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2007 – REDUCED TO A ZERO SUM GAME
(Addressed to All Indians Who Can Feel, See, Hear and Who Care)

That the downslide in the Indian polity, which has been going on for many years, is fast reaching its nadir is borne out by the manner in which the selection of the President has been conducted by the political class and, furthermore, the style in which electioneering is being orchestrated. A quick glance first at the selection procedure.

The Selectors Cabal

  • The Ruling Party. Not more than half-a-dozen people who call the shots, all vying with each other to show their loyalty to the dynasty; They are rewarded accordingly. The present head of the dynasty having already reduced the stature of the Prime Minister to its lowest point since Independence would now like to create a similar dependency in the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Concern for the national interest or the dignity of the highest office was never a consideration. To quote the media, the ultimate choice, where due diligence evidently had not taken place, was the lowest common denominator in the search for consensus within the UPA.
  • The UPA (or the governing coalition). The coalition partners were generally willing to follow the ruling Congress provided there were to be a consensus within the UPA. The major wreckers of the consensus within UPA were the Left parties led by the CPM.
  • The Left Parties. The principal wreckers who have ceaselessly undermined government consensus on practically every major issue. Again the decision-making cabal comprised less than six people.
  • The Principal Opposition Party. One point agenda to try and foist a person most suited to their right wing ideology. The cabal at the top comprising doddering old leaders of yesteryear who simply will not let younger people come up to revive the decline in the party. Their own fossilisation resulted in the selection of a candidate who is older than their tired selves.
  • The leader of the BSP. Reaches agreement with the Congress leader on mutually beneficial considerations (well documented by the media). Neither leader interested in a person of eminence and integrity becoming the President.
  • The Other Political Parties (collectively calling themselves the Third Front). A motley group; the less said about their concern for dignity, decorum or concern for the national interest the better. 
  • Common to all the political parties (mentioned above). Zero inner party democracy or consultation with the rank and file. No concern for what the people of India are saying or feel about the nationally humiliating political machinations.

We The People of India (The Largest Democracy in the World) had absolutely no role to play in the selection process. The political class was and remains totally immune to the voice of the overwhelming law-abiding, non-agitating, non-rabble rousing majority. Technically, since the party cabals have taken over, the people of India, at this stage of the election, are as removed from the process of electing the president as would be an astronaut sitting on the moon watching the process without in any way being able to affect it. In other words just about thirty people (the cabalists), perhaps each one having several skeletons in his or her cupboard, and many of whom are known to have subverted and continue to subvert the legal process, will decide the outcome, completely disregarding the views of one billion plus Indians. Reduced to its essentials this is the stark reality, which the people of India, the Election Commission and the Courts must face. The system worked reasonably well the way it was designed when the legislators who form the Electoral College were people of standing and when such a large percentage of them were not criminals, bootleggers, mafia dons, tax-dodgers, smugglers of people, currency, goods and the like. Evidently, something needs to be done before the next presidential election barely four months away.
                                     
Making of the President – But not at the cost of Unmaking of the Indian Constitution. The article reproduced below appeared in the Economics Times (30 May, 1997), fifteen years ago, prior to the election of the president of India at the time. If anything, it is more relevant today when partisan politics and vote bank politics threaten to further erode the functioning of the Constitution.

Under these circumstances the selection of the President in July 2012 is an important landmark. Before the political parties again politicize the highest office in the land and end up by degrading it to their own level (as was the case in 2007) the Indian public or “We the People” must act decisively to prevent a similar outcome.

India has thrown up non-political, iconic figures who are not only role models but enjoy respect even across India’s frontiers. There are many such names. They include Mr. Sreedharan of Delhi Metro fame, Azim Premji of Wipro, Narayan Murthy of Infosys, and Mr. Justice JS Verma a former highly respected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court  amongst others. Were a national referendum to be taken each one of them would easily garner well over 50 percent of the national vote. The figure could actually go up to 70 or 80 percent. The question then arises that if India is blessed with people of such high distinction, moral fiber, public esteem, proven competence in their chosen fields, enjoying international respect then why are the People of India deprived of their services for occupation of the highest office in the land? It is time that ‘we the people’ took the process away from the political bahubalis and coteries and made it a truly democratic one. There is still time to do so.
                              
Shall I use the Biblical invocation “Go ye and carry a message far and wide that the election of the next president of India must take into account the desire of the people of India.

To achieve the desired results and to prevent political chicanery from vitiating democracy at the apex the following action needs to be started immediately by all concerned.

Media to start highlighting the possibilities open to the public through public pressure on each one of the legislators having an electoral college vote;

  • Flooding the print media with letters to the editor.
  • Indicating their preferences to the electronic media every day at every opportunity.
  • NGOs, RWAs, Ex-servicemen Leagues, Schools colleges, IIMs, IITs and all other bodies and institutes of similar nature to hold public meetings and pass resolutions;
  • Eminent citizens’ groups to personally approach and persuade some of the respected names mentioned earlier to enter themselves as candidates of peoples choice; fine tuning for ultimately putting one of them as the people’s candidate would follow; CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM and regional chambers of commerce to take the lead in this exercise.
  • Any other activity of this nature that creates an irreversible momentum for democratic fulfillment.

     To conclude allow me to suggest Madam Chairperson (the talk was chaired by the Director, India International Centre, Dr. Kavita A Sharma) that this august institution, the IIC remains in the vanguard towards this laudable aim. Seminars, lectures, discussions and several meetings with education institutions as frequently as possible in April, May, June right up to July. The crescendo so created should reverberate across the land and the seas to the NRIs as well.

 

Thank you for your attention.

 

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