Whom should people respect?

Politicians have long back ceased to deserve any respect of the people whom they represent in LS/RS and state legislatures. They have become a burden on peoples’ conscience. But a ray of hope emerged when Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam became President of India and Mr. Manmohan Singh became Prime Minister of India. People thought that if not more then at least two people are there who command the respect of Indian people. But it turned out to be a short dream. Their actions and inactions on OBC quota issue have projected their image as mere politicians who have no respect for self and also for the people. The argument that they have to discharge their constitutional obligations and can not take an opposite stand which they might personally think is right holds no water. They have a very simple option – resign from such posts which force them to take wrong decisions and prevent from taking right decisions. People of India do not respect them as they are President and PM of India but as they are good human beings.

I may be wrong in my assumption that they do not support reservation as the only way to create equal opportunities to bring social justice in Indian society. They might be having the same personal view as the decision the cabinet taken under pressure from its allies and leftists forces. But then they should have come clean and told the people about that. PM talking of pain on doctors’ hunger strike and giving them assurance that no injustice will be done to them goes contrary to the decision they have taken. What has happened is bad. It has become worse as the decision was taken by PM and endorsed by President (in his talks with the students). Who so ever high one is, but playing politics in the name of social justice will not earn them any respect.

It is very disappointing and discouraging that in a Nation of so many people one does have even a single person who one can respect and accept as his or her role model.