It was a great escape, a providential escape from sure death for Donald Trump. An assassin’s bullet just grazed his right ear. There was blood. There was evil. It is believed Democracy does not draw blood to choose its leader, ruler. But unfortunately it does draw blood like it happened with Donald Trump last Saturday and before him in America.

While violence is inevitable and part of the war, violence cannot be inevitable and part of an election. Political violence of this kind is totally unacceptable. Period. Specially in an election to choose our rulers through ballots, there is no room for bullets.

After Trump was defeated in his attempt for a second term in office by his present rival                              Joe Biden in 2021, Trump has been demonised no end as a threat to Democracy and                                          more by the Democrats — the American Left-Liberals of the kind we have here in India opposed to BJP and Modi. In a sense we can draw a parallel of Trump to Modi. This comparison may appear odious as comparing one child with the other, but it is true.

Those who are desperate and impatient to capture political power demonise the putative favourites of the people as working to undermine the Democracy. Look, how in our country those who undermined the Indian Constitution are accusing BJP and Modi of trying to undermine our Constitution when in fact it was they who undermined the Constitution in 1975, bringing in Emergency.  Not just this, Congress later amended the Constitution any number of times to suit their policy and vote-bank politics. Wonder, why the Left-Liberals did not see Modi reverentially bowing to the copy of the Constitution in the Parliament? Was it the sign of his attempt to undermine the Constitution?

America is clearly divided as Right Republican (Trump) and Left Democrat (Biden). Just  as India is divided as BJP Right-wing (Narendra Modi) and Congress Left-wing (Rahul Gandhi). This comparison  may be only on the surface, deep down the issues and problems are different to America and India.

However, it is reasonable for Americans to anticipate what could happen in case Trump wins in November 2024. Like we in India were worried what would happen if Narendra Modi did not win. Fortunately, he won. I am sure if Trump wins in November 2024 election there will be a “America-India Bhai-Bhai,” a great camaraderie between two old friends!

Trump has already delivered his ideological trade-mark MAGA — Make America Great Again — red P-cap to Americans. Of course, those who agree with him will wear it, whether the cap fits or not!

Are there any caps in India to flaunt a party’s ideology? Yes, during freedom movement there was white, Khaddar, Gandhi cap looking like white paper boat. Then came the black cap of the same shape worn by the RSS. This was followed by Mulayam Singh Yadav’s red cap worn by his Samajwadi Party (SP) members and we see today worn by his son and SP Supremo Akhilesh Yadav (educated in SJCE, Mysuru). O, yes. What about Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) — white cap with party name printed on it.

There is a narrative making the rounds about what would happen to the US government after Trump takes the Reins of government. One is inscrutable. That is about replacing some of the government employees comprising mostly civil servants who, the Pundits of the Left think, are insulated from partisan pressure. But Trump is not sure about this thinking of the Democrats and may replace them with political appointees. Well, for obvious reasons. I guess we in India too have the same problem or call it dilemma.

For decades we had one party Government, Congress, and the civil servants were used to its patronage and ideology. I  was told Modi had this problem during his first term — the problem of detoxification, to humour. Modi had to deal with civil servants who were loyal to Congress.

Be that as it may, I personally feel that this idea would encourage the pernicious “spoil system,” as after winning a war. This is not good for good administration. Instead, the new Leader (winner) should show his leadership by winning the loyalty of the civil servants which is MOST important for good governance. But should not the President or Prime Minister reward those who helped him win? Yes, but not by replacing the government employees. Indian Constitution makers are clever and wise. Which is why they created the gubernatorial offices of Governors and Chairmen of Commissions!

Musing over such questions, I am inclined to separate patriotic politicians from power-seeker politicians.

[To be continued]

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