RUMOUR AND ITS PSYCHE

In this blog I will be sharing my views on rumour mongering and how it can end up in polarizing the society which already do exist but will act like adding fuel to fire.

See,for this purpose let's see the anatomy and psychology behind it.During any crisis be it riot,war or pandemic,we have always seen a surge in rumour mongering and circulation of fake news.this trend has been noted through century,in some cases these rumours have been planted deliberately by vested groups or in some case it may have originated from not a credible source and such rumour mongering can have terrible social crisis.Example-during 1984 anti Sikh riots rumours were circulated that Sikhs were accumulating weapons in Gurudwaras around the country.During wars and epidemic during Europe,rumours were circulating that Jews were deliberately poisoning the wells.Now,during Covid crisis rumours mongered that Muslim shopkeepers and vendors were deliberately spitting on fruits and trying to spread the virus,which was an old video which came into the right context.But,in all these cases it has been noted that these rumours have gained widespread acceptance and they end up in polarizing the society.

Here's the anatomy of fake news-

1)Ring of truth(Half truth,plausible)- something that is reasonable because human tendency is to believe anything that is plausible.So,element of half truth makes it believable because something completely illogical we may not believe it but something plausible,we might end up believing it(it should be in the context).

2)Strong emotion attached to it-this always effect the collective psyche of the person.

See,if ten friends go to a restaurant and one of them orders Chicken Biryani,than no need to show the menu to rest of them or they will pretend like going through menu but ultimately end up in ordering Chicken Biryani only.See,this human psychology,they are driven by collective psyche.

3)Spreads rapidly,especially during times of crisis.

 So,with the emergence of new form of communication the rumours have not only become a social threat but also a security threat.The creation and emanating of fake news increases rapidly during crisis because human psychology is driven by heard mentality when faced by external threat.

So,when there is war,civil unrest or disaster group dynamics come into play and likes in particular group show solidarity and treat the unlike's with suspecion.

So,this war between likes and unlike's create fertile ground for propagation of rumours specially during crisis.As rumours circulate the mutual suspicion between likes and unlike's start coming true and will end up in polarizing the society. 

SOLUTIONS

Restrictive laws in place,it will help in punishing the ones who have created and circulated the rumour.

But,this will have only limited impact.Along with this we need leaders of society to play a effective role to tackle rumour mongering.Community leaders and democratically elected leaders have key role to play in preventing the rumour.

   

RAJASTHAN POLITICAL CRISIS:MOCKERY OF JUDICIARY

In the recent couple of months  several incident happened in  Rajasthan politics that is totally unconstitutional.The state government accusing the central government for misusing the office of governor and involving their party members in horse trading has made the politics look funny more than ever.But,in all this blame game the constitution and its laws have been misused and presented like it can be toppled by any government in power.The similar incidents have already happened in Madhya Pradesh,Karnataka and Manipur where the opposition government was enjoying the victory unaware of the future.See,defection of MLA is not a new concept,it relates back to Gaya Ram of Haryana who changed his party thrice in course of 24 hours and to prevent such things in future,Anti Defection Law was introduced which has become a toothless tiger.But,in all this the judiciary is being used as a puppet  where it needs to be questioned every time by filing a PIL despite all things written in constitution,let's analysis the events which happened in Rajasthan's politics and how it is unconstitutional.

The rebel MLA'S were facing the disqualification proceedings at Rajasthan legislature and accordingly the anti defection law contained in the tenth schedule of Indian constitution,the speaker of Rajasthan assembly was supposed to take a call on disqualification of of rebel MLA but even before the speaker could take a decision the Rajasthan high court stepped in and on the basis of petition filed by Sachin Pilot camp,it has ordered the speaker to maintain the status quo with regard to the disqualification proceeding,basically judiciary has intervened in matter of disqualification on ground of defection even before speaker of house took a decision on it.In several cases it has been made very clear by Supreme Court that judiciary shall not intervene in matter of disqualification on the ground of defection before the preceding officer of the house has made his decision.

The governor of the state function as constitution head of the state and it play a key role in governance of state and maintaining a political stability in a state as a result of constitutional duty placed on governor and his function crucially link between central government and state government.See,the issue is rebel MLA's have expressed there sense of no confidence in the government.The stability of state government has come under question but the CM of state has claimed that he has the necessary number to prove his majority and hence, he asked the governor for immediate floor test,that is for the test of confidence on the floor of house but despite the advise of CM,who heads the council of minister,the Rajasthan governor has failed to summon the session and he has been delaying the floor test,this leads to allegations that the delay is intended to buy time to opposition,BJP to indulge in horse trading inorder to bring down democratically elected state government.This delay on the part of Rajasthan governor to call for a floor test despite the advise of council of minister goes against previous ruling of Supreme Court,because in several cases SC has made it very clear that when it comes to summoning an assembly session the governor of the state does not enjoy discretionary power,infact as mandated by constitution the governor is bound by the aid and advise of council of minister.

So,the case of Rajasthan governor delaying the floor test and citing several reasons does not stand the test of constitution and judicial scrutiny.But,in contrast in MP we saw that governor was in hurry to conduct the floor test without providing the ample opportunity for the incumbent government.So,such contradictory behavior of governor and courts has questioned the constitutional laws and its enforcement.

Today,it is BJP who seems to topple the office of state governor and topple state governments.Back in 1960 and 1980 it was the congress which was  famous for using the office of governor for toppling the state government.This is clear contempt of court but no one has filed a PIL yet to remind supreme court of breach of there orders.Here,the judiciary has just contracted to a PIL thus making mockery out of it.    

INDIA AND NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT

India in its recent statement said that,India shall never be a part of any alliance system and even called upon the USA to look beyond alliances or power block against  Geo political rivals.The foreign ministry also said that India recognizes the non alignment principles are outdated and in today's multi polar world,a major power like India needs to take a definitive stand even at cost of taking crucial issues such as connectivity,maritime and security etc.See the non alignment principal served very well in bipolar world,between the then superpower USA & Soviet Union,it was because of this policy India managed to retain strategic autonomy and independence in its foreign policy even though it was forced to choose side between two super powers.

But,the year 1971 was turning point for India's foreign policy because during the liberation of Bangladesh war as the USA chose to sign with Pakistan and as it started threatening India with military consequences,India was forced to abandon the non alignment principle and India chose to side with Soviet Union in order to secure its national security.But after the collapse of USSR during the cold war era,the non alignment principle has lost its relevance and this has been rightly pointed out with India's foreign minister.The bipolar world of cold war has been replaced by multi polar world.

This means principle of non alignment requires different meaning in multi polar world.Today non alignment does not necessarily refers to choosing of side between super powers instead it refers to once independence in foreign policy without being seen as an ally of any country or being part of any alliance system.See,this stand publicly brought out by foreign ministry is a well thought out calibrated policy that has been adopted by the government of India.This policy that has been stated by foreign minister came under right time because currently we are dealing with double crisis one is challenge posed by COVID 19 and the other of ongoing border tension with China.In the middle of this challenging geopolitical tension the USA has been pushing India to join an alliance system known as QUAD,this group has been projected as a military alliance lead by USA against China's influence and aggression in Indo Pacific region,at a time when geopolitical tensions are at peak between USA and China and at a time when India is dealing with its own border tension with China,The USA has been pushing India into a alliance system and this undermines India's autonomy and national interest.

See,it is only India that shares land boundary with China and that too disputed one.India siding with like minding countries definitely provide a strategic leverage for India but projecting the grouping as military alliance goes against India's interest because the consequences of any Chinese aggression will have to bone only by India and not by any other QUAD  member.India's interest will be served if it establish a well coordinated relation with JAPAN,AUSTRALIA,USA and maintain a stable relation with China instead of moving towards constant conflict by becoming part of military alliance.But,in order to pursue such a diversified foreign policy differing interest and differing objective,India will have to retain its autonomy and independence in its foreign policy and this can be never achieved by an alliance system.