"Only home-grown regional parties can contest state assembly elections. No national-level party that has ruled the central government, with or without securing a majority in the Lok Sabha, or has active political presence or political participation in more than 1 state will be eligible to contest or field candidates in any state assembly election"
Such an amendment will ensure and maintain a healthy federal structure of India. It would also ensure that the cultural identity, heritage, language, customs & traditions including indigenous religious practices, cuisine, art, music and dance forms of every state is protected and nurtured. Protected from the direct or indirect efforts of ultra-nationalistic parties who believe in a misplaced, misinformed, illogical and fascist idea of one-India, one-language, one-religion and would waste no efforts to impose it on the vibrant, varied but vulnerable states. Nurtured by the local populace of the state who would have an inherent love, understanding and respect for their state's language, cultural identity, heritage, customs and traditions.
Unlike the United States of America or China where the entire country is homogenous in terms of language, customs, heritage, India is very heterogenous in most aspects. More like the European continent. But that's where the similarity ends. Deep within, India has become one by varying degrees and shapes over the last two thousand years. Every once in hundred years, different parts of this land were unified by a different dynasty that arose from a different part of the land. And these dynasties not only spread their local essence, but also assimilated something from parts it conquered. This was like several different flours with different textures, flavours and aromas being kneaded and folded and blended and mixed continuously. But each region's birth-right to speak its language, eat its cuisine, sing its songs and practice its customs were never under threat. And THAT is what Indian-ness or Bharatiyata is. Unity in diversity. India's unity will be under threat if its diversity is removed. Unlike Europe, our diversity is our cause for being united.
But, that can no longer be said to be the case now.
Nothing can threaten a nation's internal peace and stability than an attempt to change its DNA, its nature, its culture. Especially when the DNA is a harmonious amalgamation of differences. And one of the brutal ways to do that is to impose a national identity on the states. In an eclectic nation like India, true harmony has never come from ignoring, rejecting and eliminating differences. True harmony comes only by acknowledging, accepting and celebrating differences. India is like a human body where each organ performs its duty not despite being surrounded by totally different organs, but because of the mutual respect that each organ has for the ones beside it.
And such harmony is directly threatened by the imposition of an ultra-nationalistic ideology that dreams of homogeneity. Odissi and Manipuri dances are as much Indian as Lavani and Bhangda. Idli and Dhokla are as much Indian as Macher Jhol and Dal Bhati Churma and Litti Choka. And THIS is what makes India, India. The idea of India - its Bharatiyata - vanishes if this heterogenity is tried to be ironed out. And for the textures to not only survive, but thrive, only regional parties should rule each state.
Of course politically the regional parties would disagree and be at loggerheads with the national party in the centre. But such disagreements only strengthen democracy and not weaken it. It is often said that the good thing about democracy is that one can talk about what is bad about democracy. And the bedrock of a healthy democracy is freedom of speech. Not just for individuals and activists and artists. But for every state. And a state ruled by a home-grown regional party will find the content, the competence and the confidence to speak at the national level. This is something that will dissipate if a national party rules a state.
A national party at the centre should concern itself only with the larger, national and international matters such as the macroeconomy and international trade, geo-politics, external affairs, defense and such. While all other matters such as language, education, agriculture, industrial development and infrastructure are better handled at the state level. This is what was envisaged when national duties and responsibilities were delegated under the union list, state list and concurrent list. But for this to happen, states must have the freedom to take decisions and execute them. Something that is not possible if the CM's boss is sitting in Delhi.
Indians have seen that when a national party rules a state, the CM cannot even scratch his head without seeking permission from the high command. THIS is not how India was born. THIS is not how India evolved. THIS is not how India gained the admiration and respect of the world. THIS is not how India flourished. The idea of a politically impregnable and culturally vibrant India is of a healthy symbiotic relationship between the emperor and the various kings whose kingdoms together formed the empire. There were no puppets. Each king maintained his/her dignity and regional sovereignty. A national party ruling a state will have a puppet and not a king with self-respect.
And such an undesirable, unsustainable and disgraceful situation can be avoided ONLY by a constitutionally mandated and protected legislation.
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