Double-Speak

India has not allowed its historically principled position on Palestine to come in the way of engaging further with Israel on other fronts. In fact, there is a healthy and growing trend of trade and commerce, purchase of military hardware and sharing of crucial intelligence with Israel that need not warrant surrendering a moral position on Palestine. Statecraft and diplomacy need not fall prey to bigoted partisan politics that demonstrates a smallness of spirit based on religiosity. Not disallowing or pulling-up those who do not respect the country’s sovereign position is tantamount to legitimizing double-speak

- BHOPINDER SINGH

Agreeing and disagreeing with each other's political position is essential in a healthy democracy.

However, there is an onus on those in the Government of India or those holding Constitutional positions to abide by the sovereign's official position - or else clarify that they personally hold a different view from the one held by the government of which they are a part.

While such personal honesty of holding a contrarian position from that of the dispensation of the day is common in mature democracies like Great Britain, it is not so common in India. On the contrary, Indian politics is given to painfully insincere homilies like, "abide by the decision of the party like a disciplined soldier" etc. Brexit is a great example of how many prominent people within Britain's various party ranks held divergent views, and often made common cause with many across the parliamentary aisle - as voting for-or-against their partisan lines is the norm there.

But an essential feature of British politics is the relative probity, integrity, and steadfastness to hold a contrarian opinion publicly (not secretly fearing any career backlash). They do not resort to mealy-mouthed innuendoes, loaded statements, or even resort to surreptitious dog whistling to suggest a position that is contrary to that of their party (or the government, if they are part of the same).

Within the Conservative ranks, David Cameron was replaced by Theresa May, who was replaced by Boris Johnson, who was replaced by Liz Truss, till she was finally replaced by Rishi Sunak.