What’s happening in Egypt is not unexpected; going beyond mandate always results in such turmoil and polarisation of society. Someone has very rightly commented on this crisis that Muslim Brotherhood came to power due to Arab Spring, not Islamic Spring; therefore, they have to take all the segments of society along just those who serve the interests of religious parties. Apparently, Morsi has learned a lot from Pakistan’s hardliner army dictator Zia-ul-Haq who amended the constitution to fool the general public that after Islamisation of constitution, all of their day-to-day issues and problems would be solved. Zia also used the referendum technique to perpetuate his stay in power.
It shall be noted that the Brotherhood won the election due to better discipline and a loyal political workforce; they got an upper edge in election due to indiscipline and divisions among liberal forcers. But that shall not mean that Brotherhood shall force their views on the whole population in the form of a controversial constitution. Has the draft constitution been debated by civil society and legislators in detail and a general agreement/consensus reached on this fundamental document? Answer to this question is a big No. Now Morsi wants to take a shortcut and push Brotherhood’s agenda through streets. It’s no good that people are chanting ‘erhal’ (leave) in Tahrir Square for a democratically elected president but at the same time he also needs to realise that he is not a dictator to enforce his will at gunpoint. It will be very unfortunate if this crisis gives an opportunity to army to make a comeback. One can only presume that better sense will prevail and the Brotherhood will not provide the golden chance to in-waiting generals to assert their authority – that would be the end of Arab Spring.