Superstition Haunts Assembly

The honourable members of the Rajasthan Assembly are a scared lot. They fear for their lives at the hands of some supernatural power.

It was superstition at its best last week when the house witnessed chaos and pandemonium over legislators’ claiming Vaastu dosh in the building. There was a clamour to call in priests and sorcerers to exorcise ghosts and spirits from the August house.

Indeed, an extremely sad state of affairs as it involves persons who have been democratically elected to uphold the Constitution and have taken oath of office in the name of Constitution.

And the Constitution provides no space to ghosts and spirits – in short, superstition.

In the section V of the Indian Constitution, Article 51A on Fundamental Duties says “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India…” enumerating the duties; subclause (h) goes on to say “To develop the the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform”. What can be seen unfolding in the Rajasthan assembly bears no semblance to the oath taken.

So, does the behaviour of the Rajasthan legislators fall in the category of violating the spirit of the Constitution and the oath they took?

That politicians are a superstitious lot is no secret, …read more