The news about the MIC’s increasing marginalisation is not premature. As a matter of fact, the news is quite telling as well as symbolic of the steady and precipitous irrelevance of the organisation. Ironic isn’t it? Here is a party that has been more stubborn than a dumb mule, refusing to recognise the growing predicament of a vast cross-section of the Indian population in the country.
For years, the MIC insisted on dictating to the people – rather than listening to the voices of the people it purported to represent. One of the clearest and loudest messages coming from the people was that they were being badly squeezed from all directions. But the MIC refused to listen. From the casual to the devoted supporter of the MIC, the message again and again was that we’re being marginalised. But the MIC refused to listen. As the message from the marginalised people and those seeing this marginalisation process creep even closer and closer to them got louder, the more stubborn the MIC got and refused to listen; refused to take note; refused to try to understand.
As the news for the common person got worse, the less it seemed the MIC was inclined to listen. It couldn’t be bothered. As the common MIC supporter got more marginalised, the party became less willing to acknowledge and respond. Ironic isn’t it? By not responding to the marginalisation of the common Indian voice, the MIC itself has become marginalised!
The MIC is now marginalised within the BN/UMNO regime. That’s after all exactly what the current hullaballoo about the MIC-UMNO/BN squabble is all about. Ironic that the MIC should be crying that it is being marginalised by not featuring more prominently in Najib’s cabinet. I suppose you could say Samy and the MIC is getting a whiff of his own medicine. And from the looks on their faces, this medicine is quite a bit tart and tough to swallow for the MIC.
Despite this irony about being marginalised, there remains one critical difference: those voters astute enough to recognise that the MIC ignored and even abetted the marginalisation of Indians decided to move and find themselves a new political home; someplace where they’re welcome. But it looks like as the MIC becomes increasingly marginalised in the BN, despite what the MIC and the Central Working Committee may like to project, the donkey has very little options. At the end of the day, it’s got to eat the grass provided by the master.
And eating the same grass merely makes it even sicker.
G. Krishnan
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