Peace It Together

Editorial:-

Sikkim enjoys its politics. There might have a time some decades back when people would whisper the names of leaders and would keep looking over their shoulders even if they were thinking disaffection. That is clearly not the case anymore and people voice political opinion freely and loudly even to strangers on share-cabs. The voter turnout in Sikkim, much to the surprise of everyone, has been improving impressively over the past elections even when the electorate was not pulling any surprises. A high turnout is usually seen as a sign of the electorate uniting to shake things up. It has been quite the opposite in Sikkim’s case and the only explanation that comes to mind is that the electorate here wants a stake, so even when it is a pro-incumbency verdict they are serving up, they want to do so in high numbers. Voter turnout has grown from 65% in 1979, when the first Assembly election as a part of India was held, to 82% in 2009. Noticeably, women, even if their representation in the Assembly remains short of ideal strength, are taking to voting in earnest and their turnout has edged past the males who are otherwise traditionally seen as the more politically engaged. The point being made here is that people in Sikkim enjoy their politics. So, when violence is allowed to intrude and rain on the people’s party, it needs to be condemned and stopped. Some amount of violence is expected in a mega-event as an election when passions run strong and stakes are high, but that does not mean that it should be allowed to transpire without reproach. The law needs to be allowed in, interference shown the door and those who cast the stones made to face the music. This, as mentioned, is important not only to keep the lay citizens safe and secure, but also to ensure that the people’s passion for politics is not allowed to sour. Once that happens, politics is an already small Sikkim will become the nexus of those promoting personal profit and push the people away. That cannot be allowed to happen. The people need to wrest politics and political debate back from the violently inclined because when fists fly, reasoning sinks and without discussion and debate, there can be no democracy. Condemnation of every incident of violence will help, but what will help Sikkim the most is if the people consciously encourage more people to speak up in disagreement. Once people begin respecting, encouraging and supporting the right of other people to disagree even belligerently, an environment will have been created where political points are not scored over blows and people’s attention not attracted with arson. Everyone needs to chip in for that to happen and the process will have to begin with the people claiming back their space peace by peace…