I can't understand one thing. And it has been bothering me since I was
9.
Why can't civil servants publicly talk about/ or I guess 'declare' their 'political allegiance'?
Why can't civil servants publicly talk about/ or I guess 'declare' their 'political allegiance'?
To that question, a friend enlightened me:
Actually, it is because they are under the authority of the government, so they don't have the right to provoke anything that could cause turmoil. If anyone of them has a problem they need to adhere to the Trade Union. But you don't have the right to make a public intervention on the radio or scandalize governmental actions or participate in political instances that go against the government. Moreover, a civil servant has to be neutral as they may work in the electoral bureau on the elections day- as they do the counting and all. Hence, they have no right to show their political affiliation with any party.
Actually, it is because they are under the authority of the government, so they don't have the right to provoke anything that could cause turmoil. If anyone of them has a problem they need to adhere to the Trade Union. But you don't have the right to make a public intervention on the radio or scandalize governmental actions or participate in political instances that go against the government. Moreover, a civil servant has to be neutral as they may work in the electoral bureau on the elections day- as they do the counting and all. Hence, they have no right to show their political affiliation with any party.
And to that I replied:
You said that the civil servants ought to be objective in their approach and be this neutral kind of being. Fine that's comprehensible. But as I went to do some research and gathering information from people, apparently, by the mere act of going 'against' a particular will- be- government-party during electoral campaigning, many lost scopes of future promotions, were entertained with transfers to other offices far away from their home- basically they faced sheer discrimination. Fine, I agree that this whole civil obedience is required as part of the civil servant culture. But how can you expect civil servants to be neutral when their own government cannot be neutral about them?! So they have to bow their heads in submission just because of a certain fear?! WOW- Right democracy- a governmental system that serves. But I'm really sorry people, Voltaire once said- "To learn who rules, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.'' And just when I thought that a democratic government serves, not 'rules'..
MODI: "A nation is because of its citizens. If we give them a chance, without any hindrance, the government should just remove itself perhaps. You needed to attest your mark sheets by an MLA or a gazetted officer. This was happening since the British Raj. I removed it. You need to believe and trust your citizens. So, if you get a job, produce the original certificate, case finished. If I did not trust the poor of my nation, they would not have deposited Rs.500 crore in bank accounts."
You said that the civil servants ought to be objective in their approach and be this neutral kind of being. Fine that's comprehensible. But as I went to do some research and gathering information from people, apparently, by the mere act of going 'against' a particular will- be- government-party during electoral campaigning, many lost scopes of future promotions, were entertained with transfers to other offices far away from their home- basically they faced sheer discrimination. Fine, I agree that this whole civil obedience is required as part of the civil servant culture. But how can you expect civil servants to be neutral when their own government cannot be neutral about them?! So they have to bow their heads in submission just because of a certain fear?! WOW- Right democracy- a governmental system that serves. But I'm really sorry people, Voltaire once said- "To learn who rules, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.'' And just when I thought that a democratic government serves, not 'rules'..
MODI: "A nation is because of its citizens. If we give them a chance, without any hindrance, the government should just remove itself perhaps. You needed to attest your mark sheets by an MLA or a gazetted officer. This was happening since the British Raj. I removed it. You need to believe and trust your citizens. So, if you get a job, produce the original certificate, case finished. If I did not trust the poor of my nation, they would not have deposited Rs.500 crore in bank accounts."
The above is an excerpt of what Modi said yesterday during his address to the Indian Diaspora in Sydney. He was talking about trust. He was talking about how he can expect his people to trust him if he can't trust them.
How can the people
be neutral, objective, when their own government does not seem to do just the
same?