Dead LO'c'K SABHA

The next time you brave the incessant rains, the potholed roads, the irritating traffic jams and what not in bid to reach your workplace on time; you can draw some inspiration from our Lok Sabha members.

As per news reports Lok Sabha sat for 7.42 hours in 10 days of the monsoon session which accounts for just 12% of the total available sitting time. 88% time was lost to adjournments. 7 bills were introduced and none were passed. This is the productivity of people who pull the strings of our country!! No wonder India is lacking direction due to futile legislation and add on to it the pathetic implementation. 

Important bills like Land Acquisition, Direct Taxes Code Bill, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill are in queue to be passed. The much disputed Food Security Bill of an ambitious UPA also makes to the list.  

Over the years our parliamentarians have been governed by their humongous ego which disallows them to budge. Chained by loyalty and commitment to their respective parties, our MPs can’t avoid a cynical view about most proposals presented by the opposition group. Obstinacy often shrinks the bandwidth of functioning of our parliamentarians. As a result important legislations remain unfocussed. Previous grievances which are often least related to the bills engulf much of the sitting time. In the current monsoon season anti Telengana protests, missing Coalgate files did the same. The affairs are worth debate but yet shouldn’t be done at the cost of important bills. 

Political issues arising from every day India and most frustratingly from corrupt, inefficient politicians are never ending. Stalling sessions at the expense of ‘need of the hour’ laws symbolizes insensitivity and lack of prioritization. Perceiving everything in terms of political edge has been paralyzing India for years. Filibustering, shouting of acerbic remarks leading to chaotic Parliament and its eventual disruption needs to be checked. One shouldn’t get offended at everything. 

The MPs need to be sensitive about the bigger picture. Their experience should help them gauge the implications waiting to arise from their abysmal productivity. A more coherent and united Parliament is what India needs.

Every citizen of India is directly or indirectly affected by the legislations passed in the Parliament. We all look up to our MPs for proper administration and for laws needed to drive the nation properly. It is time the notion got cleared –

It is not the people who owe their existence to the Parliament; rather it’s the Parliament which is solely for the service of the people.

                                                   Pic Courtesy : The Hindu

                                                     Green: Sitting hours
                                                     Red   : Lost Hours

272+ @ 2014 Elections

With the country slated for general elections in 2014, political parties are busy gearing themselves for the grand event. The election mode turned on, a move by any major political party is bound to be seen in context of wooing the electorate. Onset of this political atmosphere also brings enough fodder for every responsible citizen of India to get engrossed. This fever can only be expected to rise and become more political in the process of build up to 2014. 

For many years now, Congress and BJP have been the major national level political parties. The others are regional parties. But India being a multiparty country ensures enough strength of the latter, both in terms of number and also the impact on the political landscape. But still the general election in India has always been a battle between the Congress and the BJP. This time around on menu is Mr. Narendra Modi and Mr. Rahul Gandhi. Although their names haven’t yet been declared officially, there is no stopping the media and the social networking sites in breathlessly showcasing the 2014 election as a showdown between the two.

Despite towing his controversial image Narendra Modi is the choice of BJP because of his popularity and his much advertised Gujarat success. On the other hand Rahul Gandhi who is although not that expressive on public forums emerges the best man for Congress. He being a youth icon (somewhat, mainly for his age) and most importantly being the Gandhi scion explains the choice. Supremos of certain regional parties expressing their ambitions of becoming the next PM is frankly  perceived by most as a dream which is least likely to come true. Thus Modi vs. Rahul Gandhi is what most of us are anticipating for. Polls on ‘Who is the better PM?’ or ‘Who will be the next PM?’ are often conducted by media and networking sites. 

But the election is more than just the individual Modi, Rahul battle. The real contest is between their armies (their political parties). The scenario is different from other countries like US where two candidates engage themselves in epic debates to persuade the electorate in voting either of them directly. In India we elect a Member of Parliament from each constituency. This choice is mainly dictated by local issues of the constituency. So because of our decentralized election process the question-who will be the next PM, may not find that much importance at the grassroots (constituencies). A recent poll conducted by a news channel showed NDA getting 158 seats, UPA 132 seats and other political parties getting 253 seats. This is where the collision of coalitions comes in the picture. Both NDA and UPA cannot reach the magical figure of 272 without joining hands with regional parties.

Today’s national politics is heavily commanded by coalitions. Nitish Kumar withdrawing support from NDA on issues with Modi was a big blow. His party JDu willing to support UPA on terms of Centre conferring special status on Bihar will be a big game changer. Recently when Sonia Gandhi tried to intervene in the Durga Shakti Nagpal’s affair, Samajwadi Party threatened to withdraw its support in passing UPA’s Food Bill in the Parliament. Given the importance of the bill for UPA, it’s the coalition that will prove the most decisive. 

The country is currently disarrayed by the Manmohan Singh government. Dissatisfaction is brewing in minds of many people as UPA has failed on many fronts. Comparatively Modi who is more active, communicative and well connected with the public holds an edge. Success of Gujarat development backs him. For many who want actions and commencement of development Modi government might be the best choice. But Modi who is often called a ‘one man army’, someone who doesn’t entertain opposition needs to induct that flexibility for harnessing successful coalitions. His alleged involvement in 2002 Gujarat riots has always proved to be a big blot. It continues to be a major impediment on his way to fulfill his national dreams. Like many people (especially minorities), many political parties might think twice before they support NDA. For them the extra Hindu votes might not be good enough to compensate the loss of Muslim votes. The image of Modi has been blown so much out of proportion that BJP/NDA has become synonymous with Narendra Modi. That is where NDA lands itself in troubled waters. 
For its success BJP can’t allow Modi become something which is more than the party itself. Then only people who are sceptical about Modi can vote for BJP freely. But coming full circle the question remains the same, will Modi’s projection as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate provide that freedom to such people.

Let us all vote and wait for the 2014 general elections to unfold. 

Regardless of what the result will be, Indian electorate as always will try to choose the best from the available alternatives which it thinks will steer the country to further milestones of development.

DIL HAIN HINDUSTANI..

Reminiscing childhood days and getting nostalgic in the process can often occupy you at times.

Come 15^th August and India would be celebrating its 66 years of Independence. Sights of few dukaans having enthusiastically displayed tirangas (of various sizes) for sale, flag decorations at certain places, malls sprinkled with shades of tricolor with alluring Azaadi sales are good enough to make an Indian remind of the upcoming Independence Day. But frankly speaking no Indian really forgets the approaching 15^th August. It’s always in our personal memory, not because of its historical importance but simply because of it being a HOLIDAY!!

But childhood was a contrast. In those days we had that extra bit of enthusiasm with us. School days (the then working days of our early life) were more desirable and fun loaded than a holiday. 

 Being school kids 15^th August was never a ‘stay at home and relax ‘holiday for us.

Prabhat Pheri organized early morning where we would walk in lines and shout out naaras was so much fun. Starting early morning ensured absence of any kind of traffic and thus allowed us to almost occupy the entire width of the road. Don’t know why, but I felt those 15^th August mornings so serene. I would get a virtual feeling of birds chirping and flowers blossoming, the one which someone gets on his/her birthday. Obviously 15^th August is an occasion of birthday. Birthday of our Independent India!!

Jab Tak Sooraj Chand Rahega Bharat Desh Ka Naam Rahega!!

Vande Matram!!

 

We would shout out these slogans at peak of our voices. Naaras and occasional gossips with each other would keep us occupied while we covered a big round around our locality and reached where we started – our school. We would then enjoy well performed programs based on national themes which were summed up by the National Anthem. I always felt the 15^th August National Anthem a bit different and special. Variety of musical instruments played beautifully and in coordination made the melodious anthem sound even sweeter and as usual aroused a sense of nationalism in all of us. After this we were given food packets (comprising of samosas and mithais) which very well made up for our morning hunger. I remember, I would then be escorted by my father to our locality stadium (JawaharLal Nehru stadium) to enjoy further programs. Flag hoisting, parade, group dances followed by much loved display of Jhaakis would keep me and many others bonded despite the scorching heat of the sun.

This year it’s our 67^TH Independence Day. Now that I have grown up and become more aware and interested in what’s going in our nation, 15^th August has become something more than just fun (except the holiday part of it). The PM’s speech at Rajpath has now become important to me and worth listening to. 

Obviously the day acts as a checkpoint where the nation momentarily looks back at its successes and failures and then plans to move ahead. 

                                                                                                                                   JAI HIND !!

A HERO WHICH THE SOCIETY NEEDS

A few days back while skimming through the Calcutta Times (the daily entertainment dose of Times Of India) my eyes stopped on something which was more than just entertainment. The section was basically aligned with an upcoming Bengali movie of Parambrata Chatterjee, but the person on whom the film was based is what interested me. 

It’s more than a year that BARUN BISWAS was killed. But undoubtedly his flame lives on. Not only is he an inspiration for the movie but is also the same for millions who are supporting and striving for a better society. Barun Biswas’s life is worth knowing and revering. Following it to an extent which one can is the next great thing. Surely, being someone like Barun Biswas requires extreme selflessness and sacrifices.  He was a true hero, a hero which the Indian society truly needs.

Barun Biswas, the youngest son of a farmer was a dauntless social crusader who feared none. As rightly described by his father, Barun had nerves of steel!! He had almost single-handedly raised voice against atrocities which the local goons had unleashed in his town –Sutia in North 24 Parganas. Rape had become an everyday thing in the town until he strengthened the people to take a brave stand against it.  Not only this, Barun also ensured the social rehabilitation of the rape victims by fixing their marriages and helping them financially. He taught poor children, bought medicines for sick, coached job seekers and arranged money for many needy families. He even campaigned and prepared a blueprint for the dredging of a canal to prevent flooding in Sutia and nearby areas. This was later accepted by the Government. In his early life he had cracked the West Bengal Civil Service Examination but he eventually made up his mind to dedicate his life for service of the society. 

Whatever he would earn at the end of the month, he would give it to poor families. He spent the least on himself and saved the maximum for the needy. He would even ask his family members to do the same. Barun would happily give his bed for someone to sleep and he would himself sleep on plastic sheets. Like any other unsung hero of our society Barun Biswas too, didn’t believe in advertising what he did. 

But today’s dark society ruled by politics, money and muscle power had already marked Barun for death. But still, as his mother says, Barun never went to back foot despite knowing the threats lingering around him.

July 5^th 2012- Barun Biswas was murdered by sanctioned goons of local MLAs who were badly affected by Barun’s work. A year later Barun’s family is still waiting for justice.

Who killed Barun Biswas?? – the title of the article in Calcutta Times looms in front of us.

Till the day Pratibadi Mancha (a social organization set up by Barun) raises its voice against all atrocities.Agreeing with what Barun Biswas’s mother said, I would quote her words -“Barun chilo, Barun ache, Barun thakbe”.

Can people like Barun Biswas blossom in our Indian society?? 

Surely, if political terror and its aided hooliganism is not stopped then one will be just left revering such great men rather than following them.