Political thuggery has no place in a civilised, democratic society.

Enough is enough! It's time we citizens speak up. This country and its law abiding citizens can't be held to ransom any more by goons of MNS (and their likes) - who hide behind political affiliations and political protests. It’s time law of the land firmly catches up with these hooligans and appropriate timely decisive action is taken by law enforcement to bring them to justice and to deny them any sort of legitimacy. 

Peaceful political protest is a matter of right in any constitutional democracy but no right is absolute. Yes, liberty of political protest is granted by our constitution but this right is not absolute. Reasonable restrictions in law disallow any disturbance to public order or harmony, or any violent act or any intimidation of citizens with fear for their life or for bodily injury or for damage to their property or for economic losses or any trampling of rights of citizens.

Our democratic polity is founded on the bedrock of rule of law. Explicit or implicit threats of violence to law abiding citizens with respect to their life, liberty or property by such goons under the veil of democratic protest can't be allowed to go on unbridled without law enforcement taking appropriate and timely cognisance and suitably dealing with them. It’s time law of the land catches up with these thugs and hooligans threatening peace and tranquility in the community for their selfish and ulterior motives. 

Such extra-constitutional methods and criminal behaviour to gain political legitimacy and space are absolutely UNACCEPTABLE in any civilised democratic society / polity - governed by rule of law. In our constitutional scheme, no one has the right to take law or the role of law enforcement in its own hands or to assume the role of a public policy enforcer or to even act as the moral police. It is only the Government of the day which has the mandate to enforce law or to frame public policy or to curb citizen's rights in public and national interest. 

Time has come that these thugs and crackpots - who have scant regard for law of the land, who have little respect for rights of silent law abiding citizens, who have utter disregard for freedom and liberty of others, who care the least about national interest or about public order over their self interest and who keep daring and testing Government's patience and restraint, must now be firmly taken to task as per law. 

Without sounding repetitive here, these goons and thugs must be booked and brought to justice for their anti-constitutional methods such as criminal intimidation and threat to cause grievous injury or death or for disturbing peace and public order, or for instigating violence or for causing arson or for vandalising or damaging public property or for threatening internal security or for violating and curbing other rights of citizens in the bargain - as the case may be.

Moreover, this crooked narrative of democratic protests underlined by violence, arson, threats, fear mongering and criminal intimidation, must be condemned, opposed, dismissed and lawfully dealt with by civil society, with all the power and resources at its command. Civil society's voice and role in tackling with this disturbing narrative is no way of lesser importance here. It must enhance its active involvement in promoting and strengthening the narrative of rule of law, public order, constitutional values, peace and harmony and in bridging societal gaps, if any.

India is on the verge of becoming an economic superpower. This nation aspires to achieve that status and it is critical that these aspirations are realised soon. Peace, order and stability are therefore an absolute imperative here. Economic development and growth is not possible in an environment of chaos, disorder and insecurity. Decisive and efficient management of public order, safety and peace is the foremost function of governance.

Government of the day which is mandated to determine public policy and to enforce rule of law must gather enough political will so as to take firm appropriate lawful decisive action to bring the goons and thugs of MNS (and their likes) to justice and to ensure equality of all before law. At the same time, Government of the land is duty bound to ensure protection and safety of life, liberty and property of citizens. Government's response must instill confidence and adequate sense of safety and security in the citizenry. 

It is, henceforth, critical that the Government proclaims that there will be zero tolerance to any political hooliganism or to any violence or to any threats of violence or of public disorder being perpetrated under the veil of political protests by such goons and thugs. The Government must respond lawfully, appropriately and firmly and must be seen in such light so as to assure safety to its citizens besides sending a stern message to the goons of MNS (and their likes). 

Also, the role of national and local media in preventing this menace to spread further can’t be over emphasised here. Media coverage to these violent political protests and intimidation by goons serves as oxygen for such unlawful behaviour and designs. Space in media emboldens these goons who feed and thrive on publicity. Let’s not give the airtime and space that these thugs do not deserve. Anchors and editors need to exercise more discretion and self-restraint in choosing public interest over giving in to TRP led impulses. Media must seize on this important opportunity of doing a greater public service by shunning these hooligans, their narrative and their violent ways.

Finally, it's time that these goons and thugs of MNS (and their likes) learn a lesson that this nation is governed by rule of law. A stern message must go out from the Government to these hooligans that their threats, intimidations, vandalisation, violent and extra-constitutional ways will not be tolerated anymore and law enforcement will catch up with them in a firm and decisive manner, no matter what. This is what good governance and rule of law proclaim and demand and this is where the real challenge to governance lies today. 

p.s. By the way, I don’t carry any brief for anybody on the subject. Views are personal.