Politics – Gone to dogs? (13-May-2023)

A recent whirlwind trip to USA, after more than 6 years, made me realize once again that a commoner stand inoculated from all the politics – both internal and external.  The Octogenarian President had just announced his plans to contest 2024 elections again, that invited varied remarks from all quarters.  Irrespective of which way the decision goes with his impending court trials, a former President is still beaming hopes that he will contest again.  But then you and I termed ‘proletariat’ are going about our daily routines without looking back.

Contrast this with the situation in India where there is total unrest with turncoat politics in full display.  The current epicenter as I write this is Karnataka elections where the polling completed yesterday, and results awaited later this week; there is an expected 3-way fight among the three leading parties.  Which political party is better is not the topic of my discussion, but what it is – is how the votes leading to elected chairs leading to amassing more wealth is the laser-sharp focus of any candidate of any party?!

Our politician, read candidate, is quite confident that if he spends more money to buy votes, then with the passage of time he can become richer – the underlying cause that he so feverishly interacts closer to elections with the masses to attract their attention and hence their vote.  He is nonchalant towards the voter needs and manifestos are lip-service – voter rendered high and dry with the same set of tsunamis of pains continue which has made him immune too.  Civic problems go unaddressed, society issues not even heard, the crying continues.

When the election results are out, we see various “Operations” ploughed to achieve results what the elections could not demonstrate.  But we still call them “democratic” means and project ourselves as the largest democracy.  Where we expect our political system with their reins in the hands of the bureaucrats to address people’s problems and solve civic issues, we have our legal systems diving forward making overarching decisions that impact public life – same sex marriage, wearing hijab, and few more.  I for one always thought that the legal system has more than enough on its plate with pending cases from yesteryears.  Yet they find time to work in tandem with politicians to uphold democratic system and pass judgements where we wonder “did we need our judicial system to pass a judgement here?”  Well, there must be other compelling reasons.

A case in point – a supreme court ruling towards the end of last year ensured that street dogs are free to fend for themselves even though reported few cases had mauled babies and small children.  Rightly so, I would think with the court showing its compassionate façade.  Dogs are creatures too like humans created by the same Creator and have the right to live and share resources on this planet.  But don’t we question the legal system when anti-social elements create danger for basic safety and security of others in the society?  Where we have heard few cases go scot-free is not because the legal system is blind, but our system is corrupt and political honchos harbor such criminals.

Similarly, few rogue street dogs go scot-free while our ire targets the mongrels in general.  Street dogs mark their territory and operate in packs, and few rogues in the pack corrupt others and attack innocent people.  They sometimes become a menace and disturb the peace of the neighbourhood in the night with their howling and crying.  Old and sick people find it extremely difficult to deal with this for practical reasons as well as due to superstition.  But then we find these rogue dogs are increasing in their number with innumerable puppies joining them as they grow into adults, due to sheer energy levels.

Aren’t there government programs to neuter the dogs to curb their population?  Aren’t the growing number of street dogs posing danger to motorists?  Aren’t their presence to hunt in packs a scary proposition for elders as well as young children?  Why are their numbers growing when municipal agencies pick them up to neuter them, and put them back on the streets?  Aren’t they a nuisance with their night-time howling at high pitch that disturb people’s sleep?  Aren’t the feeders supposed to be their caretakers even though they operate clandestinely during night times?

Any reporting of the above to agencies concerned have fallen on deaf ears and blind eyes. Politicians and their party representatives knock on our doors to seek votes but are unwilling to hear our issues – street dog menace or otherwise!

Are we waiting for more deaths to happen due to mauling by street dog attacks or people’s mental health impacted due to disturbed sleep by dogs prowling the streets in the dark?  Politicians or bureaucrats or judges don’t walk the streets like we do; at best they may take a morning walk in a neighbourhood park to gauge the scare posed by street dogs!!  Few take their walk with their breed dogs on leash.  Viewing these street dogs from the comfort of their plush cars is an easy decision for us expecting empathy in this regard.

Residents like me, in certain parts of Bangalore have to digest the scare and the scourge waiting for judicial system to wake up.  Meanwhile, expecting anything from the politicians is amiss since they’re not going to wake-up ever, rolling in their own ill-amassed wealth!  Politicians are immune to people’s unending woes, while people are immune to their cries going unheard.  It suffices to conclude that politics has gone to dogs!