News has just come in that the Maharashtra government has changed its mind on introducing sex education in schools. Now, it won’t. The reason: opposition from MLAs cutting across party lines. The BJP went a step further and claimed that introduction of sex education is anti Indian culture. Yeah, sure! I guess BJP members are all products of Immaculate Conception.
Going by the logic of sex education offending our traditional beliefs, shouldn’t we be doing a Bamiyan at Ajanta, Ellora, Khajurah and other ancient monuments of importance for they dare to depict gods and goddesses in the nude or in various stages of undress?
Or is the logic that when we have Band Stand, the beaches and other places where young kids can have practical sex sessions and discover the secrets of nature themselves, why waste time and money trying to teach them the very same things in school? These places are in Mumbai and I am sure similar places exist where readers live.
And lest I forget, autos and cabs are other places where semi-grown kids can experiment, albeit under the watchful eye of the much experienced drivers. I guess the argument is that these drivers can correct and may be personally teach kids if they get it all wrong.
Humor aside, when will politicians realize the virtue of education, education of any kind? Our cities are brimming to the full with people, space is at a premium, and frustrations are running high. Adding to that would be lack of knowledge leading to misconceptions and the eagerness to experiment without fully realizing the consequences of actions.
These were the same politicians who yelled from roof tops of the ills of Dance Bars and their degrading effect on our culture. The result, dance bars shut down, and dancers turned into fulltime sex workers. And now we have the Indian Cricket League and the Indian Premier League having women wearing next to nothing dancing in front of a billion Indians of which children form a significant part. But I guess nudity with Political blessings and permission (read Sharad Pawar) is not offensive to our traditions. In fact, we may be upholding the values of the Ajanta era, right Mr. Politician?
And last but not the least, for a country with over a billion people, isn’t it surprising that our politicians find the very mention of sex taboo? I guess we are all children of Immaculate Conception, and sex has nothing to do with us being the second-largest populated country in the world. No wonder the West still thinks of India as a land of snake charmers and rope trick magicians.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Hungry Kya, Eat a TV
The hungry and impoverished in India are likely to shift to a new diet—television sets. At least that’s what seems to be the idea of politicians cutting party lines across the country. First it was Karunanidhi in Tamil Nadu, then YSR Reddy in Andhra Pradesh, and now the Congress in its quest for power in Karnataka is promising a TV set to people below the poverty line. How blessed are we to live in such enlightened times.
On Tuesday, there was a photograph in one of the national dailies where Naxals in the Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh were being given TV sets. It was then I realized that people had turned Naxals and picked up arms and killed people because they did not own TV sets. Until then, I always thought that they were protesting hunger and lack of opportunities to earn a decent living. How wrong was I! And I have the humble politician to thank for clearing my long-standing misconception.
Earlier, the self–appointed champion of the masses, M Karunanidhi, had promised TV sets to the poor and is still busy fulfilling that promise. Yes Mr. Karunanidhi, like Marie Antoinette you say, if you don’t have bread to eat, try a TV set. How very sensitive. People do not have food to eat, jobs to earn a livelihood, but TV sets they must have.
And now the Congress is planning to do the same in Karnataka. Distribute TV sets to the poor if elected to power. Yeah sure, it isn’t your money anyways, right. All parties realize that the tax payer is stupid and will not fight for his rights. So to fulfill their poll promises they will dip into the pockets of the tax payer. That’s a nice way of doing business, I say. Zero investment and five years in power. I guess it pays to be a politician in this country more than anything else.
For a change, how about preparing workable plans for poverty alleviation through providing gainful employment to the poor? How about devising strategies to ensure that the kids of the poorest of the poor have access to quality education? How about thinking of ways to provide drinking water and electricity to the needy? And for a change how about visiting your constituencies at regular intervals and ensuring that these plans are implemented properly and the benefits are accruing to the target audience and not their own lackeys and yes men? And by all this, I do not mean Reservation.
If politicians are ready to do all that and more, I am sure every single tax payer will happily pay his/her taxes, not look for ways to fudge and cheat, and will every year not end up feeling that his/her hard earned money is being extorted from him and then squandered on foolish, unworkable schemes and that a large part of the tax collected is not ending up in the pockets of ministers, their henchmen, and the babus.
Also, every single tax payer realizes that growing inequalities are not good for society as a whole and is a harbinger of violent revolution. And no one wants a bloodbath on their hands and their conscience. So dear Mr. Politician, it’s high time that you and your ilk stop preying on other’s fortunes like vultures for personal and political gains and assume the responsibility that it promises while assuming power. The promise of building a nation and ensuring that each citizen gets to live a life of dignity.
On Tuesday, there was a photograph in one of the national dailies where Naxals in the Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh were being given TV sets. It was then I realized that people had turned Naxals and picked up arms and killed people because they did not own TV sets. Until then, I always thought that they were protesting hunger and lack of opportunities to earn a decent living. How wrong was I! And I have the humble politician to thank for clearing my long-standing misconception.
Earlier, the self–appointed champion of the masses, M Karunanidhi, had promised TV sets to the poor and is still busy fulfilling that promise. Yes Mr. Karunanidhi, like Marie Antoinette you say, if you don’t have bread to eat, try a TV set. How very sensitive. People do not have food to eat, jobs to earn a livelihood, but TV sets they must have.
And now the Congress is planning to do the same in Karnataka. Distribute TV sets to the poor if elected to power. Yeah sure, it isn’t your money anyways, right. All parties realize that the tax payer is stupid and will not fight for his rights. So to fulfill their poll promises they will dip into the pockets of the tax payer. That’s a nice way of doing business, I say. Zero investment and five years in power. I guess it pays to be a politician in this country more than anything else.
For a change, how about preparing workable plans for poverty alleviation through providing gainful employment to the poor? How about devising strategies to ensure that the kids of the poorest of the poor have access to quality education? How about thinking of ways to provide drinking water and electricity to the needy? And for a change how about visiting your constituencies at regular intervals and ensuring that these plans are implemented properly and the benefits are accruing to the target audience and not their own lackeys and yes men? And by all this, I do not mean Reservation.
If politicians are ready to do all that and more, I am sure every single tax payer will happily pay his/her taxes, not look for ways to fudge and cheat, and will every year not end up feeling that his/her hard earned money is being extorted from him and then squandered on foolish, unworkable schemes and that a large part of the tax collected is not ending up in the pockets of ministers, their henchmen, and the babus.
Also, every single tax payer realizes that growing inequalities are not good for society as a whole and is a harbinger of violent revolution. And no one wants a bloodbath on their hands and their conscience. So dear Mr. Politician, it’s high time that you and your ilk stop preying on other’s fortunes like vultures for personal and political gains and assume the responsibility that it promises while assuming power. The promise of building a nation and ensuring that each citizen gets to live a life of dignity.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Have Old Parents? Throw Them Out
My mother and father are old. They can’t do most of the household work that they used to a few years ago. They remain sick for most part of the year. Their memory is failing. Even normal tasks like cleaning themselves up when they defecate have to be performed by others. Thought of sending then to an old age home, but that would be an ongoing financial commitment, and why waste money on something or someone that will fetch no returns? Killing them is fraught with legal trouble, for why spend time in jail for killing someone who may die any day soon? So what’s the way out? Just beat them up repeatedly until they can bear it no longer and leave the house on their own accord. If that doesn’t work, just throw them out of the house.
These dear friends are not my sentiments but certainly seem to be those of a growing set of people who do this and more to infirm parents as they are no longer of any use to them. Newspapers, TV channels are filled with such stories and the regularity with which such stories are appearing is frightening as well as depressing to say the least.
I can remember my parents fussing over me when I was little, cleaning me up when I defecated. Feeding me when I was hungry, accompanying me to school and bringing me back home safely. Staying hungry during lean times but ensuring that I did not stay hungry. Burdening themselves with loans so that I can have a good education, and working hard, sacrificing their own wants and desires so that they can fulfill mine.
And I think the parents of these people who are ill treating their creators would also have done the above-mentioned things and more so that they do well in life. After all that it beats me how can people be so cruel. Forget our own parents; we shouldn’t be so cruel with anyone in life. So it beats me as to how come people have the heart to do these things. How can they eat their meals in peace, sleep well at night, and fuss over their own children even as their creators are reduced to a life that even a stray dog should not be made to live?
Have we as a people become so selfish and inhuman that we fail to see anything beyond self? Why do we fail to understand that as time passes and we become infirm, our children will do the same thing to us, as they will follow in the footsteps of their parents? And then we will have no one to blame for what goes round comes round.
These dear friends are not my sentiments but certainly seem to be those of a growing set of people who do this and more to infirm parents as they are no longer of any use to them. Newspapers, TV channels are filled with such stories and the regularity with which such stories are appearing is frightening as well as depressing to say the least.
I can remember my parents fussing over me when I was little, cleaning me up when I defecated. Feeding me when I was hungry, accompanying me to school and bringing me back home safely. Staying hungry during lean times but ensuring that I did not stay hungry. Burdening themselves with loans so that I can have a good education, and working hard, sacrificing their own wants and desires so that they can fulfill mine.
And I think the parents of these people who are ill treating their creators would also have done the above-mentioned things and more so that they do well in life. After all that it beats me how can people be so cruel. Forget our own parents; we shouldn’t be so cruel with anyone in life. So it beats me as to how come people have the heart to do these things. How can they eat their meals in peace, sleep well at night, and fuss over their own children even as their creators are reduced to a life that even a stray dog should not be made to live?
Have we as a people become so selfish and inhuman that we fail to see anything beyond self? Why do we fail to understand that as time passes and we become infirm, our children will do the same thing to us, as they will follow in the footsteps of their parents? And then we will have no one to blame for what goes round comes round.
Monday, March 31, 2008
India Split Wide Open
We are in the last leg of the Congress-led government’s five years at the center and all signs point toward this lame-duck coalition failing to return to power. And I say so because this government has managed to do more damage to the country than all previous Congress governments have collectively done in the past.
Five years in power and all the government has to show are schemes, many of them. The only problem being most of these schemes have failed at the ground level. Implementation has been laughable, and rife with corruption.
The Congress through out its tenure has been more worried about not rubbing the juvenile Left the wrong way than ensuring correct and productive implementation of plans that would help the people that need government help the most—the poor of the country. And for all its pro-poor shenanigans the Left has repeatedly displayed that it is no better than its opponents whom it likes to accuse of wrongdoing at the slightest of opportunity.
Farmers are committing suicide, prices of essentials are continuously hitting new highs, corruption is rampant, government projects like the highways project are running way behind schedule, the nuclear deal with the US appears to be going no where, and acts of terrorism are on the rise…the list is endless.
I think the Congress and its allies got it all wrong. Their sole reason for coming together was to fight communal forces (read BJP). And when any coalition is formed solely to keep one opponent out of power and progress of the nation is just one of the things in its long list of populist agenda, then that government cannot harbor hopes of getting reelected.
As shown by Narendra Modi in Gujarat, people will vote for progress. I am no fan of Mr. Modi and I condemn the 2002 riots. But one cannot deny that Mr. Modi has also done much for the progress of Gujarat as a state. And his personal image as a clean politician (read near zero corruption) is a huge plus. How many in the Congress can claim to be even 50% clean?
Gujarat has one of the best road networks in the country. The environment for business is very fertile and friendly, and the government has by and large acted as a facilitator of growth and not the guardian and guarantor of growth. The government has to realize that its job is to facilitate growth and not rig growth.
Another problem is the servile image that senior Congress politicians have portrayed in front of the public by falling at Sonia Gandhi’s feet and showing lack of decision making capacity without sanction from the High Command (read Ms. Sonia Gandhi). Forget what anyone else has to say, for me, personally, the capability of any party that can’t find a president from over 1 billion Indians by birth to take this country forward is debatable. That for me also shows the level of decadence in the thought process of the party and its leaders.
Did our freedom fighters sacrifice everything to drive out the British, only to give power back to a foreigner? And to make matters worse, hand over control to a person with no political experience other than being the daughter-in-law of the Nehru-Gandhi family? That to me shows the capability, or the lack of it, of the party leadership.
And now we have senior politicians singing praises of Rahul Gandhi, a political non-entity who has done nothing worthwhile in life that warrants the party to project him as a future prime minister. I have just one question—what is Rahul Gandhi’s qualification other than his surname to lead the Congress and at some point of time, the nation?
Looking at the larger perspective, are our political parties so intellectually bankrupt that they can’t find about 545 qualified, well educated, clean candidates from a population of over 1 billion to send to the Lok Sabha and take this country forward?
I guess the answer is no. There is no political will to upset the corrupt, money making ways, be it the Congress or the BJP or any other party. And we people also are to blame for the current situation that we find the country in.
If memory serves me right, veteran journalist Abhay Mokashi had contested either a Lok Sabha or Assembly election as an independent from the Mumbai North-West constituency on the plank of good governance and willingness to fight corruption. He lost his deposit.
That to me shows how our people fail those who want to work for the country’s progress and not the self. So I guess we deserve to be ruled either by a Congress led or a BJP led coalition that will continue to milk the country dry of its last drop of humanity and we individually will continue to remain happy in our 600-square-feet islands of tranquility that we like to call home, while our real home, the nation, bleeds to death.
Five years in power and all the government has to show are schemes, many of them. The only problem being most of these schemes have failed at the ground level. Implementation has been laughable, and rife with corruption.
The Congress through out its tenure has been more worried about not rubbing the juvenile Left the wrong way than ensuring correct and productive implementation of plans that would help the people that need government help the most—the poor of the country. And for all its pro-poor shenanigans the Left has repeatedly displayed that it is no better than its opponents whom it likes to accuse of wrongdoing at the slightest of opportunity.
Farmers are committing suicide, prices of essentials are continuously hitting new highs, corruption is rampant, government projects like the highways project are running way behind schedule, the nuclear deal with the US appears to be going no where, and acts of terrorism are on the rise…the list is endless.
I think the Congress and its allies got it all wrong. Their sole reason for coming together was to fight communal forces (read BJP). And when any coalition is formed solely to keep one opponent out of power and progress of the nation is just one of the things in its long list of populist agenda, then that government cannot harbor hopes of getting reelected.
As shown by Narendra Modi in Gujarat, people will vote for progress. I am no fan of Mr. Modi and I condemn the 2002 riots. But one cannot deny that Mr. Modi has also done much for the progress of Gujarat as a state. And his personal image as a clean politician (read near zero corruption) is a huge plus. How many in the Congress can claim to be even 50% clean?
Gujarat has one of the best road networks in the country. The environment for business is very fertile and friendly, and the government has by and large acted as a facilitator of growth and not the guardian and guarantor of growth. The government has to realize that its job is to facilitate growth and not rig growth.
Another problem is the servile image that senior Congress politicians have portrayed in front of the public by falling at Sonia Gandhi’s feet and showing lack of decision making capacity without sanction from the High Command (read Ms. Sonia Gandhi). Forget what anyone else has to say, for me, personally, the capability of any party that can’t find a president from over 1 billion Indians by birth to take this country forward is debatable. That for me also shows the level of decadence in the thought process of the party and its leaders.
Did our freedom fighters sacrifice everything to drive out the British, only to give power back to a foreigner? And to make matters worse, hand over control to a person with no political experience other than being the daughter-in-law of the Nehru-Gandhi family? That to me shows the capability, or the lack of it, of the party leadership.
And now we have senior politicians singing praises of Rahul Gandhi, a political non-entity who has done nothing worthwhile in life that warrants the party to project him as a future prime minister. I have just one question—what is Rahul Gandhi’s qualification other than his surname to lead the Congress and at some point of time, the nation?
Looking at the larger perspective, are our political parties so intellectually bankrupt that they can’t find about 545 qualified, well educated, clean candidates from a population of over 1 billion to send to the Lok Sabha and take this country forward?
I guess the answer is no. There is no political will to upset the corrupt, money making ways, be it the Congress or the BJP or any other party. And we people also are to blame for the current situation that we find the country in.
If memory serves me right, veteran journalist Abhay Mokashi had contested either a Lok Sabha or Assembly election as an independent from the Mumbai North-West constituency on the plank of good governance and willingness to fight corruption. He lost his deposit.
That to me shows how our people fail those who want to work for the country’s progress and not the self. So I guess we deserve to be ruled either by a Congress led or a BJP led coalition that will continue to milk the country dry of its last drop of humanity and we individually will continue to remain happy in our 600-square-feet islands of tranquility that we like to call home, while our real home, the nation, bleeds to death.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Rules Are Meant To Be Broken
Rules are meant to be broken. I guess, a more politically correct word would be circumvented. This is more so if we are from India. And before patriotic souls take my comment to heart and cry foul, I would say at least read me out before you bring that frown on your face.
We do follow rules, but those set by us. So each individual decides what is right for him or her and behaves accordingly. If that is what we call following rules, then we do follow them to the T.
I am driving on a four lane highway and my lane is moving slower than the one to my left. So what will I do? I will just veer left. I don’t have eyes behind my head, so it’s for the guy behind me to be careful. Cutting lanes is against the law, but my personal law book doesn’t say so. So there i go.
I am walking on the road and suddenly I feel the urge to urinate. What do I do? Find the nearest wall, aim and shoot. So what if I am wrong, it’s nature and nature cannot be controlled. But if someone else is peeing on my wall, then the laws of nature change. And I reserve the right to decide what’s right and what’s wrong.
I will cross the road when the traffic light is green. It’s the duty of the drivers to wait until your lordship crosses the road. And if someone honks or abuses me I will let loose a volley of expletives. And why shouldn’t I do so when my fundamental right to cross the road has been questioned? Damn the traffic rules, did the lawmakers consult me before framing them?
I will use public transport but will not pay for it. And why should I? I have helped elect the government, and hence, government property (read public property) is mine. And if caught, I will either feign ignorance of the need to have a ticket, or thrash the ticket checker for having questioned my very right to use public transport.
I will stick bills on walls, write slogans, spit betel leaf, and indulge in many such creative pursuits. It’s my country and I will do as I deem fit. No questions asked.
And when I am asked as to what happens to responsibility that comes with ownership, I will say it should be a collective feeling. And collectively we choose to act independent. Hence, many a time I am left wondering if Democracy is the best thing for juvenile delinquents like us.
For, if being independent means behaving thoughtlessly and selfishly, then we won’t last for long as one nation. It’s just a matter of time before someone else colonizes us and then we will follow rules, because we understand only one language, the language of fear.
We do follow rules, but those set by us. So each individual decides what is right for him or her and behaves accordingly. If that is what we call following rules, then we do follow them to the T.
I am driving on a four lane highway and my lane is moving slower than the one to my left. So what will I do? I will just veer left. I don’t have eyes behind my head, so it’s for the guy behind me to be careful. Cutting lanes is against the law, but my personal law book doesn’t say so. So there i go.
I am walking on the road and suddenly I feel the urge to urinate. What do I do? Find the nearest wall, aim and shoot. So what if I am wrong, it’s nature and nature cannot be controlled. But if someone else is peeing on my wall, then the laws of nature change. And I reserve the right to decide what’s right and what’s wrong.
I will cross the road when the traffic light is green. It’s the duty of the drivers to wait until your lordship crosses the road. And if someone honks or abuses me I will let loose a volley of expletives. And why shouldn’t I do so when my fundamental right to cross the road has been questioned? Damn the traffic rules, did the lawmakers consult me before framing them?
I will use public transport but will not pay for it. And why should I? I have helped elect the government, and hence, government property (read public property) is mine. And if caught, I will either feign ignorance of the need to have a ticket, or thrash the ticket checker for having questioned my very right to use public transport.
I will stick bills on walls, write slogans, spit betel leaf, and indulge in many such creative pursuits. It’s my country and I will do as I deem fit. No questions asked.
And when I am asked as to what happens to responsibility that comes with ownership, I will say it should be a collective feeling. And collectively we choose to act independent. Hence, many a time I am left wondering if Democracy is the best thing for juvenile delinquents like us.
For, if being independent means behaving thoughtlessly and selfishly, then we won’t last for long as one nation. It’s just a matter of time before someone else colonizes us and then we will follow rules, because we understand only one language, the language of fear.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Politics Rocks, Literally
Politicians’ sons and daughters are getting married in seven-star hotels. The guest lists read the who’s who of the power circle. Fifty or hundred course meals are served and government machinery is seen serving its political masters at the tax payer’s cost. And in villages across the country the growling sounds of empty stomachs are growing louder by the day. I know politicians are doing nothing illegal, but how ethical is splurging on personal celebrations by a class under oath to uphold the basic rights of their countrymen? If that’s ethical, then what’s the difference between a Monarchy and a Democracy?
In metros and large cities, the moral police are busy clamping down on couples, opposing Valentine’s Day, enforcing dress codes for women, and giving lectures on morality. A few hundred kilometers away, women in villages don’t have enough cloth to cover themselves and lead a life of dignity. And I don't see any moral police there upholding the dignity of these women. There’s no gain in trying to save those without voter cards, is there?
Political parties and religious organizations are on the ball ban movies, plays, and books that they think are obscene. Reasons given include rape scenes in movies infringe on the dignity of women, the story offends the sentiments of the religious, a book can affect the psyche of young readers and negatively alters their outlook to life, and the play violates the spirit of humanity. Every time I switch on a news channel, all I can hear of is some woman being molested, people killing each other in the name of religion, and the list in endless. And I don't see these people who are so eager to clampdown on art anywhere in the picture trying to protect these real life victims or ensuring justice for them. No one wants long term commitments, I guess.
Every business worth its salt talks of corporate social responsibility. Every NGO claims to be helping the poor. Every government claims it is the messiah of the masses. If everyone is so busy helping the poor, then why on earth is the number of poor increasing by the day. Or are we to believe that the poor are leveraging the benefits of being poor? I guess aimless charity is a fashionable and visible way of building brand equity. That it benefits no one is a different matter.
And last, if political parties and leaders spend the money that they waste on election campaigns on improving the life of the common man, they wouldn’t have to campaign in the first place. But then what’s the fun in helping people in need. The law of life is to help those who don't need it and condemn those who need it. It’s akin to gifting a Mercedes to Mukesh Ambani. But that’s what people do, don’t they.
In metros and large cities, the moral police are busy clamping down on couples, opposing Valentine’s Day, enforcing dress codes for women, and giving lectures on morality. A few hundred kilometers away, women in villages don’t have enough cloth to cover themselves and lead a life of dignity. And I don't see any moral police there upholding the dignity of these women. There’s no gain in trying to save those without voter cards, is there?
Political parties and religious organizations are on the ball ban movies, plays, and books that they think are obscene. Reasons given include rape scenes in movies infringe on the dignity of women, the story offends the sentiments of the religious, a book can affect the psyche of young readers and negatively alters their outlook to life, and the play violates the spirit of humanity. Every time I switch on a news channel, all I can hear of is some woman being molested, people killing each other in the name of religion, and the list in endless. And I don't see these people who are so eager to clampdown on art anywhere in the picture trying to protect these real life victims or ensuring justice for them. No one wants long term commitments, I guess.
Every business worth its salt talks of corporate social responsibility. Every NGO claims to be helping the poor. Every government claims it is the messiah of the masses. If everyone is so busy helping the poor, then why on earth is the number of poor increasing by the day. Or are we to believe that the poor are leveraging the benefits of being poor? I guess aimless charity is a fashionable and visible way of building brand equity. That it benefits no one is a different matter.
And last, if political parties and leaders spend the money that they waste on election campaigns on improving the life of the common man, they wouldn’t have to campaign in the first place. But then what’s the fun in helping people in need. The law of life is to help those who don't need it and condemn those who need it. It’s akin to gifting a Mercedes to Mukesh Ambani. But that’s what people do, don’t they.
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Business of Eradicating Poverty
Politicians are making generosity with public money a habit. Finance ministers keep waiving off loans, PSUs keep waiving off debt, babus keep getting pay hikes for doing nothing, and now even a political non-entity called Rahul Gandhi appears to be unhappy with P Chidambaram’s Rs600 billion largesse. Gandhi wants the waiver spread to be bigger.
Yes why not, it ain’t going from his pocket, is it? And not for a second am I saying that farmers shouldn’t be helped. Any citizen in distress should receive comfort from the government. My question: is waiver of loans the correct way to go about it? My answer: No.
By indulging in such political gimmicks all we are doing is relegating the farmer from the farmer class to the beggar class. And what makes the government think that a one-time waiver is going to prevent the farmer from assuming additional debt? Or does this and successive governments plan a similar or larger waiver every 10 years?
As for Rahul Gandhi’s demand, I have one question for the not so young leader. If you loan out a million dollars of your personal money to someone, would you so willingly waive of that amount on humanitarian grounds? Your political answer may be yes, but all of us know that you won’t do so and nor would any other politician.
That brings me to the question of are governments right in using public money for political gains? Again the answer is NO. And the waiver in this budget is just that, vote bank politics.
The Congress which always claims to be the messiah of the poor has been in power for almost 50 of the 60 years since independence. And they have shown similar largesse many a times in these 50 years in power. Then why is it that the number of poor has increased? If largesse works then shouldn’t the number of poor have declined significantly?
Indira Gandhi raised the slogan Garibi hatao (eradicate poverty) about 35 years ago. Sadly in many cases we have seen the party and its members eradicating the poor for personal gains (read real estate) and most of the times resorting to tokenism.
So when Rahul Gandhi talks of increasing the dole, it makes my blood boil. Why should I, a tax payer, fund these hair-brained, politically motivated flights of fancies of politicians, be it Rahul Gandhi or LK Advani? Tax payers do not work 12 to 14 hours a day so that political parties can keep milking the country dry for narrow personal and political gains.
It would make greater sense for politicians to use this money to build irrigation systems for farmers, teach them alternative professions that can help generate a livelihood in times when farming is not an option. Use this money for building roads, bridges, dams, airports, rail networks, the list is endless.
People can argue that these things are being done. I agree. But is enough being done? The answer again is NO.
I guess it’s time for us the commons to wake up and start asking the government to be accountable for the money that they spend, cut wasteful expenditure, stop resorting to political gimmicks, and build a nation that can compete with the best in the world.
It’s high time we stop just wearing our patriotism on our sleeves and start showing it through our actions. What say friends, are we game or are we content with things the way they are and wait for a white knight to come and save us, rather than assuming the responsibility of nation-building?
Yes why not, it ain’t going from his pocket, is it? And not for a second am I saying that farmers shouldn’t be helped. Any citizen in distress should receive comfort from the government. My question: is waiver of loans the correct way to go about it? My answer: No.
By indulging in such political gimmicks all we are doing is relegating the farmer from the farmer class to the beggar class. And what makes the government think that a one-time waiver is going to prevent the farmer from assuming additional debt? Or does this and successive governments plan a similar or larger waiver every 10 years?
As for Rahul Gandhi’s demand, I have one question for the not so young leader. If you loan out a million dollars of your personal money to someone, would you so willingly waive of that amount on humanitarian grounds? Your political answer may be yes, but all of us know that you won’t do so and nor would any other politician.
That brings me to the question of are governments right in using public money for political gains? Again the answer is NO. And the waiver in this budget is just that, vote bank politics.
The Congress which always claims to be the messiah of the poor has been in power for almost 50 of the 60 years since independence. And they have shown similar largesse many a times in these 50 years in power. Then why is it that the number of poor has increased? If largesse works then shouldn’t the number of poor have declined significantly?
Indira Gandhi raised the slogan Garibi hatao (eradicate poverty) about 35 years ago. Sadly in many cases we have seen the party and its members eradicating the poor for personal gains (read real estate) and most of the times resorting to tokenism.
So when Rahul Gandhi talks of increasing the dole, it makes my blood boil. Why should I, a tax payer, fund these hair-brained, politically motivated flights of fancies of politicians, be it Rahul Gandhi or LK Advani? Tax payers do not work 12 to 14 hours a day so that political parties can keep milking the country dry for narrow personal and political gains.
It would make greater sense for politicians to use this money to build irrigation systems for farmers, teach them alternative professions that can help generate a livelihood in times when farming is not an option. Use this money for building roads, bridges, dams, airports, rail networks, the list is endless.
People can argue that these things are being done. I agree. But is enough being done? The answer again is NO.
I guess it’s time for us the commons to wake up and start asking the government to be accountable for the money that they spend, cut wasteful expenditure, stop resorting to political gimmicks, and build a nation that can compete with the best in the world.
It’s high time we stop just wearing our patriotism on our sleeves and start showing it through our actions. What say friends, are we game or are we content with things the way they are and wait for a white knight to come and save us, rather than assuming the responsibility of nation-building?
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