One of the most respected Canadian journalists, Val Sears of the Star, talking to his colleagues in 1962, reportedly said: "To work, gentlemen, we have a government to overthrow." It is not known the context of this statement but the media have to be vigilant about any wrongdoing by the government. Media should never try to fill the opposition's institutional role.

In fact, the major problem with our institutions is not the government, but the way the opposition parties do their job. Bhaarat has basically been without an effective opposition. In the absence of an alternative, this makes talking about a bad government a futile exercise.

Opposition parties should create political alternative policies which are worthy and meet the expectations of the public rather than imitating the ruling or other parties.

Recent election results  reflect how at both national and local levels, the BJP not only lacks the ability to set an agenda, but also the modesty to try to understand and ameliorate the problems of the common man, much less the larger national interest.

Hindu varna dharma barred concentration of political and economic power in the same classes; this is being violated to the detriment of citizen and state. BJP’s real problem is a secret resistance to Hindutva. Apart from giving the backward leaders token representations in their party, the BJP has done virtually nothing to bridge the divide between the upper and the lower sections of the society. Little wonder then that the backwards hardly vote for the party. The BJP's interpretation of "Hindutva" too is skewed. For the party, "Hindutva" is not about opening the temple doors to the backwards, it is not about eliminating the caste divisions in the society, it is not about giving the pride of place to the women in our society. "Hindutva" to the BJP is all about banning Films and books, smashing and vandalizing Art galleries, driving pioneer Artists like Hussein into exile, banning supposed vulgar forms of music, opposing minorities and their cultural practices, acting like the moral policemen on anything and everything under the sun, the list will go on. It must purge itself of non-performing leaders across generations and uphold the Hindu ethos in the best interests of the people.