- American democracy finally won
Ubaidullah Nasir
It was the ugliest scene on the TV screens seen all over the world. Everyone who saw these scenes was surprised and biting his nail for what was happening in the oldest and most vibrant democracy of the world the USA was unimaginable. No one has ever thought in his /her wildest imagination that transfer of power in America will see such ugly shameful and condemnable in strongest possible terms will take place in such a way where the followers and supporters of a defeated candidate will turn into thugs and dacoits of democracy and will storm the parliament building (The Capitol Hill) to turn the election results. The American police took immediate action kicked out the thugs and killing four of them. The American Congress undeterred by this ugly scene declared Joe Biden as the next president of America even Republicans stood in support of Biden and finally Trump accepting the defeat announced to hand over the presidency to Biden on due date i e 20th of January. After shaming his nation he finally announced “Even though In totally disagree with the outcome of the elections ——–neverthless there will be an orderly transition of power on 20th”
There was no parallel in history of modern America what happened on that fateful day. The insurgents acting at the behest and encouragement of defeated President Donald Trump vandalized speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office smashing windows looting and briefly taking control of the senate chamber where they took turns posing for the photographers with fists up on the dais where Vice President Mike Pence had just been presiding outside the building they erected a gallow, punctured the tyres of Police vehicles.
The storming and siege of Capitol hill was the climax of a weeklong campaign by Trump filled with baseless claims of fraud and outright lies to try to overturn the election he lost. He also fought the results in courts with dozens of spurious law suits that he lost too. He even encouraged his supporters to confront Republican law makers going against him to side with the constitution. He repeatedly told his supporters to march Capitol where the vote tallying was about to get underway, the violence started few hours later.
On the other hand majority leader Mc Connell said “the voters,the courts and the states have all spoken, if we overrule them all, it will damage our republic forever.
Though after seeing all the paths closed for himself Mr. trump accepted the defeat and announced transfer of power on due date but the fact remains that immediately after the announcement of election he has been saying that even after defeat he will not handover power. His refusal from the start to concede the election to Mr. Biden coupled with his call to his supporters to make it clear that they do not accept defeat made him the main culprit of this shameful episode. Initially Republicans failed in their duty to condemn Trump’s announcement not to accept the defeat fearing loss of Trump’s vote base .Some Republican leaders mustered the courage to say that they did not support what Trump is saying and planning but most of them either kept silence or did not call him out firmly enough or openly supported his brinkmanship.
However, Republican and Democrats both joined hands in condemning the violence and expressed their determination to carry out what they called a constitutionally sacrosanct function. They refused by resounding bipartisan majorities to deliver Trump the election reversal he demanded. Even Vice President Pence who loyally served Trump made Biden’s victory official declaring that Biden has received 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232. He further said “violence never wins freedom wins and this is still people’s house.” They tried to disrupt our democracy but they failed said a senior Republican senator.
Thankfully Americans and their constitutional institution are strong enough to defend their democracy had these institutions were subservient to any ideology of leader this episode would have been the death knell for American democracy. The US Supreme Court gave a demonstration of its independence when it rejected a law suit seeking to overturn the election results earlier many state courts have also rejected this plea and all bluffs of Trump were called off. Even officers in Georgia refused to obey Trump’s order to ensure his victory. The senate too recovered quickly from the assault on the Capitol to certify the victory of Biden and Kamala Harris. The system will certainly rise to the occasion when the time comes to fix the accountability of this incident. Even Mr. Trump may feel the heat for inciting the violence and attack not only on a building but on the very democratic system of the nation.
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had condemned the incident and said that democratic process can’t be subverted by unlawful protest the way he has interfered in American election and sided openly with Trump and hoisting of Bhagwa and Tiranga at the Capitol hill during assault on it will certainly effect Indo US relations in days to come. The rightwingers in America are doding great disservice to India by such silly acts. They may feel the heat of American laws. The FBI is investigating the matter many heads may roll including some of Indians.
