Larger issues matter

Sir, - The Supreme Court's observation that the people's will is subordinate to the Constitution is pertinent and laudable coming as it does from the apex court. We in India put too much faith in the so-called ``verdict of the people,'' and it has become the rallying cry of all corrupt elements from every segment of the political spectrum. The Indian electorate, for its part, is notoriously fickle in exercising its franchise: we vote with our hearts and not with our heads, much the same way as we enjoy our `masala' movies. All we need is a conviction, a `rath yatra', an assassination or even a price rise in onions and we toss reason out of the window.

Our politicians are only too aware of the vagaries of our democratic system and the glaring insufficiencies of our electoral process and exploit the situation to the hilt. The larger issues of probity in public life, transparency in decision making and good governance are conveniently forgotten.

We must also guard against attempts made by certain quarters to toy with the Constitution. As the Supreme Court has rightly pointed out, our Constitution is sacrosanct and nothing - not in the least the ``overwhelming vote'' of the masses - should be allowed to undermine its sanctity and subvert the greater purposes of our nationhood. For, we are only too painfully aware of how easily the masses can be manipulated and the ``people's verdict'' obtained. This should serve as a warning to those elements who by heinous means try to whitewash their own vicious agenda in the guise of ``popular opinion.''

Rinu Jacob,

Hyderabad

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