With India having very serious concerns about Pakistan on one side, China on the other, is not the prospect of a 'regional' government worrying?
Absolutely. I have been writing about it, many have written about it. The government pays less and less attention about (national interests), that is why India is buffeted and slapped by terrorists, by China operating through Pakistan, by Pakistan operating directly, by Pakistan and Bangladesh operating together or by internal Left wing violence.
The Naxalite movement?
Yes, Naxalite violence.
With the situation becoming worse election after election, do you see a way out?
One solution would be for these two big parties (which are becoming smaller) to cooperate with each other. It is not likely to happen. This hurtling down, this is no longer a drift, is very rapid. It will continue till the day the system is not able to manage the situation or due to a serious internal or external shock. Then people may think of constitutional changes.
Do you think this particular parliamentary system is suitable for India? Would a Presidential system be better?
No, it is not suitable. I have argued this point in a book about our system (EM>parliamentary system); what we have made of it, what we can make of it. I have mentioned the type of changes which should be made for us to cope with the (present) situation.
The Presidential system is a more comprehensive system, it may be suited to India, but we may not be suited to the system.
Something like the American or the French system?
Elements of them may be suitable. For example, in the French system, you have two rounds of elections. Today you have 95 percent of the Lok Sabha members who are elected on a minority vote. If you have two rounds, at least you will have a more representative body.
In the American system, all the ministers are appointed outside the legislature. In our case, it could be a proportion, let us say one third is appointed outside the legislature. Changes of this kind could be made. Or compulsory voting or all elections (EM>regional and national) to be held simultaneously. Such changes should be made.
Image: Parliament, the bastion of Indian democracy.
Also read: India is a cargo cult democracy
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