ये चुनावी खेल है !!

ये चुनाव का बड़ा रोमांचक हो रहा  खेल है,
राजनीति के टी २० में यहाँ बहुत से क्रिस गेल हैं|
सब बड़े नेतायों में जहाँ हो रहा हेड और  टेल है,
तो  छुटभैया नेतायों का भी हो गया मेलामेल है|
हर आदमी के वोट की लग गयी यहाँ सेल है,
कहीं किसी की जात तो कहीं धरम का मेल है|
चुनाव आयोग की जो थोड़ी बहुत नकेल है,
वरना हर नेता के पास पैसा और बाहुबल है|
मीडिया तो इन नेताओं की बन गयी टेल है,
इनकी वो खबर लगती ज्यादा चाट और भेल है|
वायदों को लेकर ये नेता अब तक  फ़ैल हैं,
जनता ने लगायी फिर से आशायों की रेल है|
भैया, ये तो चुनावी तमाशा देखने का खेल है,
बजाओ ताली नेता के लिए और बोलो आल इस वेल है !!

What about voting rights of NRI ?

Voting right is a fundamental right of a citizen of any democratic country. Theoretically, every NRI has a right to vote, but practically none of the over 25 million NRIs actually participate in voting due to outdated laws of India. Unfortunately, there was no provision of NRIs to register as a voter till 2010. Though, NRIs were given voting rights in 2010 through an amendment in the Representation of People Act, 1951, but a majority of NRIs are unable to vote as they have to travel all the way to India to exercise their voting right.

Currently, as the law is defined, people have to vote in person in their constituencies except government official and Army personnel, who can use postal ballots. This regulation is seen as restrictive as only 10-15 thousands Indians living around the world have registered as voters, the maximum being from Kerala. Only 10-15% of those registered voter actually did vote in any election so far .In today's global world where people around the world travel for work, pleasure and family commitment, Indian Government law is still medieval as far as casting the vote is concerned.

The govt is ignoring a section of the Indian citizen and denying them their fundamental rights due to policy paralysis and lack of decision making. The same Govt. and political parties have been trying hard to attract the NRIs and people of Indian origin around the world to invest and do something in India. But there is no reciprocating mechanism to provide them a fundamental right, which is practically denied because of lack of Govt initiative. The political parties specially like BJP and AAP get lots of funding from NRIs, but there is no political will across political spectrum to do something about this issue.

This a shame for NRIs to not to be able to raise this issue significantly. There are large NRI communities which are supporting different political parties and provide them funding too. Almost all the NRIs have their view about India whether it is about how to eradicate the corruption or it is about development of India. Most vocal voices across the internet can be head from NRIs on  this General Election but unfortunately none of those voices are going to convert in the vote.

There are three options to achieve NRI voting, first postal ballot for registered NRI voter, second is online voting and third is voting at Indian consulate in the foreign countries. This needs amendments to Representation of Peoples Act to have a provision for "Absentee voting facility" for Indians living abroad. BJP has been the only party which is raising the issue of NRI voter right largely because of very significant support to the party from NRI community.  Election commission has been trying to implement this but it doesn't look like that it can be done for this General Election.

Most democratic countries like US, UK and other European countries provide the voting rights to their citizen living outside the country. India which is not only a largest democracy in the world but also have second largest diaspora around the world, should have done something more concrete towards the democratic rights of their 25 million citizens living abroad. I hope that better sense prevails and new Govt will do the same soon.

चाय वाला

चाय के नाम पे राजनीति में उफान से देश में आम चाय वाले के उत्साह और अचम्भे को कुछ पंक्तियों में पेश किया है ....

आला रे आला  'चाय वाला' आला,
   उनके आने से देश का हालत है सुधरने वाला,
वो आये है तो सूरज का उजाला होने वाला,
      वरना  यहाँ  तो  सब  था  काला  काला ।

पर हैरान परेशां है वो बाजू का चाय वाला,
      ये नेता  चाय का स्टाल क्यों खोलने वाला,
क्यों कल तक कोई नहीं था पूछने वाला,
       क्यों सब पुकारे आज चाय वाला, चाय वाला।

ऐसा क्या कर दिया मैंने, पूछा चाय वाला,
        जो नहीं कर पाया वो भैया बाजू वाला।
न कर पाये वो सुबह शाम का दूध वाला,
       न वो रद्दी, सब्जी, पान या  झाड़ू वाला।

हमने बोला, तेरी किस्मंत का खुल गया है ताला,
       इस चाय ने तुमको है विशेष बना डाला।
तुम जैसा एक नेता जो मिलने वाला,
    जिससे देश का चहमुखी विकास होने वाला।

इसमें हमे भी कुछ फायदा होने वाला,
    इसका जवाब है एक सच कड़वा वाला  ।
गरीबी को सबने चुनाव का एक खेल बना डाला,
      ऐसा ही  हैं  ये नेता राजनीति   वाला।
चाहे फिर वो हो  ये  पहले पार्टी वाला,
      या हो वो  दूसरा  और  तीसरा  पाला।

सुन ले पते की बात भाई चाय वाला,
      चुनाव का गणित  है ये  बहुत काला।
ये चाय की दुकान है नेतागिरी की शाला,
   तेरी गरीबी का उपाय कोई नहीं ढूँढने वाला।

बेरोजगारी का तो कुछ नहीं  होने वाला,
      और  न  रुकने  वाला कोई  घोटाला।
असली मुद्दो की जगह आम राय से,
    सबने तुमको ढूंढ लिया है 'चाय वाला'।।

How did Congress transform into dynastic party !!!

Last week when we witnessed first interview of Rahul Gandhi, I started thinking about Congress party and when this party became a symbol of dynastic politics from once upon a time a democratic outfit. Why is there no other leader who can challenge the Gandhis, why is there no ambition for top post from any other congressman and why is there no value for merit and talent based leadership on top in Congress?  I tried to capture this transformation of Congress Party and inner party power equation from Independence till now.

Nehru and Patel Era:
Congress was a symbol of democracy and the party fought the struggle for independence. The inner part democracy was very much part of this organization and evident when Nehru became Prime Minister in 1947. Sardar Patel, Subash Chandra Bose and Mahatam Gandhi all were elected President by voting before Independence. There were lots of talented leaders and there were ambitions and ideological differences among them when India became independent.

Shahtri & Syndicates:
After Nehru's death in 1964, There was a power struggle among Lal Bahudar Shashtri, Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi. Then Party president K Kamraaj made Lal Bahadur Shastri Prime Minister based on majority view within Congress.When Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister for first time, there was again a political contest between her and Morarji Desai. As most of the congressmen were against Morarji Desai so she could become Prime Minister. Till here, I would say that Congress was very much democratic and at some extent had merit based leadership.

Indira Gandhi & emergence of one power center :
In 1969 when Indira Gandhi had given order for nationalization of banks and most of the powerful congressmen of Syndicate were not in favor of that decision. Congress was divided in Congress(S) and Congress(I). The name, Indira Congress indicates that the party was driven and captured by one person, Indira Gandhi. Indira Gandhi had become very popular at that time because of her populist work. She won the Election and Syndicates were lost heavily. This was a beginning of one Power center in Congress. There was a slogan that time which justifies the whole theory "Indira is India and India is Indira".

Gandhi Family & sycophant :
When Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in 1975, we can follow the history of emergency and find out how did this family start ruling the country. Sanjay Gandhi took lots of decision during Emergency and the Gandhi Family had become the ruling family of this country during the time. Sanjay Gandhi was killed in 1980 but Indira tried to bring his elder son Rajiv into politics. We can get to know how much desperate Indira Gandhi was to continue her dynasty from Menka Gandhi' one interview. In that interview Menka said, "Because Indira wanted her son to be heir of her power ,so I had to go from that house."

When we are focusing on the Indira Gandhi and family during this time, there were some inspiration within congress cadre to become Prime Minister. Pranav Mukhraji, Arjun Singh and VP Singh were among some powerful congressmen who were having their eyes on Prime Minister's seat.  Gandhi family was surrounded by their well wisher and sycophant leaders and they always made sure that nobody can challenge the Gandhis.

Rajiv Gandhi and symptoms of dynastic rule:
When Indira died in 1984  and Congress decided to make Rajiv Gandhi Prime Minister, It was in pathway to become dynastic party. The murder of Indira brought lots of sympathy to family which helped the family to get the public sympathy. But, There were dissenter within congress ranks. Paranb Mukharjee wanted to become Prime Minister but was sidelined and later thrown out of Congress.
Rajiv had seen lots of resistance from his ministers to keep power withing himself and his circle. Arun Singh and VP Singh made it very difficult for Rajiv Gandhi to become one and only power center of Congress party. VP Singh not only resigned from cabinet and Party but later became Prime Minister. We had been witnessing the symptoms of dynastic rule but there was lots of struggle within the party's ambitious leaders which Indira and Rajiv had to face so far.

Non Gandhi Era & failure of other leaders:
In 1991 after Rajiv Gandhi's death, congress leader wanted Sonia to become Prime Minister and take advantage of situation based on emotional support of people to Gandhi family. She refused to become Prime Minster. Narsimha Rao was the only Congress leader lately who was able to keep power well without blessings of Gandhis. Though, he had power struggle with ND Tiwari and Arjun Singh suring that and in 1994 both of these leaders decided to leave Congress to counter Narsimha Rao.
In 1996, Narsimha Rao lost election and Sita Ram Yeturi was elected ahead of Shard Pawar and Rajesh Pilot.Ironically, this is time when other congress leaders had an opportunity to lead the party, misdeed of congress top leadership made all the way for Gandhi Family to come back into power.

Sonia Gandhi & emergence of Full dynasty rule:
In 1999 Sita Ram Teturi was stripped off the power. Sonia Gandhi was made President of Congress Party which was seeing its all time low. Sonia Gandhi was able to infuse the confidence in congress cadre. Congress worker were seeing only hope in Gandhi family and they have been disillusioned by other congress leaders. The last power struggle in Congress which we witnessed was veto of Sharad Pawar against Sonia Gandhi. Bu he had to leave the party with leaders like PA Sangma. From 1999 the party runs around only Sonia Gandhi and there seems to be no ambition in other leaders to get the top post.

The dynasty rule within the Congress Party and no opposition to top leadership has few main resons. Firstly, there were so many promising leaders tried to challenge the family in past which includes attempt of  Sharad Pawar, PA Sangma, Rajesh Pilot and Jitendra Prasad against Sonia Gandhi. After so many failure to challenge the Gandhi in past has deterred the leaders to do so. The sycophancy has reached to its limit within party. Secondly, there is no mass leader who has a mass appeal to people of India other than Gandhis within Congress Party , all the good leaders are either regional leaders or not a mass leader at all. Unfortunately, Congress Party today runs around Gandhi family and will probably look the family to lead in future.It has truly become a dynastic heritage of Gandhi family.

Tweet @austerity

The internet in India is not yet mature to make any political or social movement but one social networking site is making some political uproar . The twitter controversy on the name of austerity created by loyal congressman who do not miss a single chance to prove their loyalty to high-command. One sentence written by Minister twitter is having two objectionable thing for Congress ..first one is cattle-class and second is holy cow. Every congressman seems to have an objection on cattle class but sycophant congressman have a bigger question how we got somebody in congress to dare the "holy cow".
First aspect itself is non-issue. I agree that cattle-class is derogatory to say for economy class but was the part of original tweet which has asked the question to Tharoor, "whether he will travel to Kerala in cattle-class" and Tharoor replied wittingly without knowing the upcoming problems from his own party man.
I believe the Second keyword "holy cow" means someone whom nobody can dare to oppose .This is actual worrying all the congressmen who always sing praise song for madam and somebody who recently joined party and does some nonsense twitting is showing his unwillingness to madam's wish.
I want to say something on this wish , which Tharoor can not say publicly for some obvious reasons. The way Government and congress party acted on this wish is utter nonsense. Congress shamelessly named this wish to “austerity drive”. Everybody wants these netas to use public money wisely but to name it "austerity drive” and intend to do it for a while is cheap publicity and mere tokenism not more than.
Intention of Sonia Gandhi may be good to insure the austerity in the party and government, but not actually working. In order to establish this so-called austerity practice, Gandhi family is leading from the front and making fool of themselves. They are flying in economy class and traveling in trains making discomfort to common man. Sonia Gandhi traveling in an aircraft with common man reprieved 10-12 seats from choice less common man and adding other discomfort to fellow common passengers. Rahul Gandhi’s travel plan blocked the station gates for common people for some hours. How much money government will save and how much more it will invest in security arrangements to make sure Rahul Gandhi travels in train safely, it needs to rethink. Revisit to the whole idea is needed not to do it for publicity and votes than actual saving from this.
And actually the original idea is good but needs better planning and more better implementation. India is a poor country where public servants need to follow principals and rules in spending public money without any direction from any high-command or special situation like draught. Government needs to insure the good practice guidelines which can save the public money not only for these ministers, MPs but also bureaucrats who also misuse the public money.
The bigger question is remained answered from where the whole thing started, the draught situation. Government needs to tackle the drought , insuring the drought relief fund should reach to every affected man ,taking steps to stop scams in draught fund , making preempt steps to stop future farmers suicide in the country. If government does all these then we may not need the money saved from this mere publicity.
At the end, we need austere in behavior of politicians like our great leaders Mahatma Gandhi , Lal Bahadur Shastri. Recent example of austerity is leaders like Chidambaram who does not need any security and travel with one or two guys all over the country. We cant force this austerity on any of our politicians. If we will , that would be temporary. If these leaders are not like the way we want then it’s the fault of all of us “the electorate“.