In the last few days, I have been reading news articles in the newspapers, Internet and social media on the views of our friends in the Congress Party on the banning of opinion polls. In response to that, two Tweets caught my attention. BJD’s Lok Sabha MP, Jay Panda wrote in response to that, saying “Next step, curb opinions” and Chetan Bhagat Tweeted, “Ban Opinion Polls. Better ban opinions. Or best, ban polls.”
Friends in their humour there is a profound message.
Those who have followed Indian politics and the workings of the Congress party after Independence would agree that the stand of the Congress Party does not come as a surprise. The biggest casualty of the Congress Party’s arrogance while in power and its tendency to trample over institutions has been our fundamental right to Free Speech.
It was not too long ago that the UPA government showed us how intolerant it was of social media criticism when Twitter handles were suspended by the government. On that occasion I had blackened my Twitter display picture as a mark of solidarity with all those in social media who were speaking up for free speech and expression. On the Nirvan Diwas of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in 2011, many central ministers spoke of controlling social media. Irony truly died a hundred times over that day. Some months back a restaurant in Mumbai was threatened for expressing its opinion against the UPA’s policies in a creative manner on a sales receipt.
At a time when the nation is reeling under high prices, and unemployment is rising, we have this shameful spectacle of a central ministry writing to media persons regarding the television coverage of the PM’s Independence speech on the 15th August, that too two months later. This is clearly a case of terribly misplaced priorities. Energy is being wasted on non-serious issues by this government instead of addressing the pressing issues of national importance.
I would also like to ask my media friends why they are silent on these proposals and advisories aimed at restricting their freedom of expression?
As for opinion polls, it is not that I have any particular affinity for them. In fact, I am quite aware of their limitations. Our enlightened pollsters made assertions about how Gujarat will vote against the BJP in 2002, then again in 2007 and even in 2012 with such great confidence only to be proven incorrect by the people.
However there is an important principle and ethic here that holds true for every party and government. From Bhishma in the Mahabharata to Kautilya in the Arthashastra we have been taught how important it is for those in government to be attuned to public opinion. A government that is in denial over where the public opinion really stands is doomed to be thrown out of power.
Opinion polls in India have a mixed record. They get their predictions right sometimes and not so right some other times. It is up to us as political parties to determine what to do with the findings of an opinion poll.
If the poll is favourable we are free to become complacent or we can continue our work on the ground without becoming over- confident. If they are not favourable to us, we are free to reject the numbers and remain in denial or we can choose to take corrective action where it merits.
To resort to extreme steps simply because the opinion polls do not tell us what we may want to hear is utterly puerile.
My concern is not limited to this proposal to ban opinion polls. Tomorrow, the Congress may seek a ban on articles, editorials and blogs during election time on the very same grounds. If they lose an election they may then seek a ban on the Election Commission and if the courts do not support them then they may say why not ban the courts! After all this, a party that resorted to imposing the Emergency in response to an inconvenient court verdict.
I am glad that my colleague Arun Jaitley ji has raised these issues in an article as well.
If you ask me, the solution is much simpler. Rather than cope with these authoritarian and subversion tactics of the Congress, it is better we reject the anti-democratic Congress not merely in an opinion poll but in the polling booth where it matters the most.
People are the best judge!
From the BJP prime-ministerial candidate's blog
