Last Window of Opportunity ?

I have a right to ,

>    change my mind

>    influence others to change their minds

>   even admit that I could have been wrong

Till yesterday , I supported Arvind Kejriwal that AAP should neither take nor give support to BJP / Congress , in order to form a government in Delhi

Then I remembered that Mahatma succeeded in throwing out British from India , by changing their mind-sets / their hearts

British left when they realized that,

>   Entire population of India rallied behind Mahatma

>   Mahatma's weapon was , " Love / Non-Violence / Self-purification "

Well-meaning leaders of BJP / Congress / AAP have the same opportunity once again , after some 66 years

This time , to throw out " Corruption / Criminalization of Politics "

How ?

>   They must come together and form ,

      "  ALLIANCE  FOR   POOR   PEOPLE  (  APP  )  "

>    In Delhi , share Ministerial  seats in following proportion,

       *  BJP.............5

       *  AAP  .........  4

       *  Congress....  1


No deal ! No horse-trading ! Just an equitable formula !

    Call it " Politics of Proportional Representation " , where all parties

     get one or more seat on the government , depending on the number

     of seats won . And no fear of ever-hanging sword of " No - Confidence " motion  !

    

     At some future date , this principle can be enlarged to all parties ( in

     proportion to the percentage of votes won ) , even if it fails to win a

     single seat  - the ultimate representation of people's will  !

After that , if you wish to " Oppose " , then do it from within the System

     No more " Opposing without Accountability "  ! 

>    From their respective Poll Manifestos , pick-up " Pro - Poor " agenda and

      create a "  COMMON  MINIMUM  PROMISE  (  CMP  ) ", comprising of ,

      #     From BJP Manifesto

          *  Make a special provision in primary education for students from

              rural , backward and disadvantaged groups

          *  Build tower blocks for slum-dwellers

          *  Reduce power tariff by 30 %

     #   From  AAP  Manifesto

     

      *   Install CCTV in rooms meant for registering FIR

           *   Run Courts in 2 shifts

           *   Build 200,000 public toilets

           *   Meet 20 % of city's electricity needs thru solar power in 10 years

           *   Expand Metro rail network

           *   Pass Jan Lokpal Bill

           *   Decentralize executive power

      #    From   Congress  Manifesto

           *   Provide easy loans for self-employment ventures

           *   Implement the third phase of Yamuna Action Plan

           *   Enhance generation capacity by 2600 megawatts

Mahatma's concept of " Satyagraha " to overcome evil forces , was an example " Out - of - Box " thinking

No one in the World believed that it could work

It is same with the concept of " Politics of Proportional Representation "

Experts and Pundits are bound to rubbish it  !

But Rahul Gandhi , Rajnath Singh and Arvind Kejriwal have this very small window of opportunity to throw out the burden of historical baggage

Their names will get prominence in India's Resurrection , if they grab it  !

*   hemen   parekh   (   14   Dec   2013  /   Mumbai  )

Uneducated Hummingbird

What did people of Delhi speak on 4th Dec  ?

Here is a list of learned , trying to figure out  :

>    Political  Pundits

>    Anchors  and   Analysts

>    Sundry  Psephologists

>    Erudite   Experts

>    Confused   Panelists  ........etc

They are saying :

"   People of Delhi were fed up with unsolved local issues and UPA - 2

    corruption . So they voted for AAP

    AAP is a local party , devoid of a nation-wide organization

    It has no access to unlimited funds from " Unknown Sources "

    And then , National issues are different

    So , forget about AAP beyond borders of Delhi  "

Naysayers should go and read the plaque on the gates of Sikorsky Helicopter factory in USA , which reads  :

"   By all known laws of Aerodynamics , the ratio of the weight of a   

    Hummingbird to its wing-span area,  is such that the Hummingbird

    cannot fly

   But poor Hummingbird never went to college and learned Aerodynamics .

   So , it goes ahead and flies anyway  !   "

It is the same with AAP

Its members never attended IIMMs ( Indian Institutes of Money Management - of which , as you know , there is one in every state  ! )

Nor did they learn , " Seven Irrefutable Laws of Looting "

So , come June 2014 , and AAP will fly all over India , on wings of hope and prayers of 725 million voters

Mighty will bite the dust

And Pundits will hum , a Hummingbird Tune  !

Provided ,

>   Delhi-Success does not swell AAP heads

>   AAP can successfully fight - off , it's  " Inner Enemies "  of Greed / Ego /

     Envy / Arrogance /  Anger

>   Learn to love the " Sinner " , while hating  " Sin "

*    hemen   parekh   (  13   Dec   2013   /   Mumbai  )

DON'T BUDGE / DON'T FUDGE

Congress and BJP are still in denial , 3 days after election results

They refuse to believe that , for the first time , people had a real option

Not between Congress and BJP

But between Congress / BJP on one side and AAP on the other

But , both Congress and the BJP , are firm believer in ,

"  In politics there are neither permanent friends , nor permanent enemies  - only permanent interests , viz : , how to grab / stay in power "

To keep BJP out of power , Congress has even offered " Unconditional " support to AAP , if it wishes to form a government  !

Then of course , Arvind suggesting that Congress and BJP get together to form a coalition government , must be treated as a light-hearted joke , which , even Arvind does not take seriously  !

But it will be the END of AAP - and of Arvind - , if he compromises on his stand that ,

"  AAP will neither support anyone nor take support from anyone  "

This is the only thing that differentiates him ( and AAP ) from other power-hungry politicians

This is the only way he can prove to the people of Delhi - and 725 million voters of India - that , he is NOT lusting for power at the cost of principles

His message to Indians is loud and clear :

"  I highly value your votes

   But I will not compromise and take support ( even if it is offered and

   unconditional  ) from the corrupts , just to occupy a minister's chair

   We don't care for power

   I will not stab you in the back , even if you fail to give AAP , an absolute

   majority  "

ARVIND ,

Remember , AAP is NOT just any other political party

People of India are looking upon AAP as a MORAL MOVEMENT , for which , this country has been waiting for 65 years

The only way you can live up to your promises , is not to compromise  !

If you do not compromise  , people of Delhi will re-elect AAP with an absolute majority in the inevitable re-poll

And , in 2014 , people of India will follow !

*    hemen   parekh   (  11  Dec  2013  / Mumbai  )

World is Watching !

It is not only India

Entire world is watching what has happened - and continues to happen - in Delhi

Oppressed people of Tunisia , Libya , Iraq , Egypt , Yemen , and now Syria , took up arms and fought bloody battles to liberate themselves from the tyranny of dictators

Of course , in no small measure , due to covert help from the Western world

But India is the land of Gandhi ( - the ancient one , not the Dynasty ! )

And peace-loving people of Delhi needed no outside help to throw out Congress and give a mandate to BJP and AAP

But a fractured mandate that gives no party a clear majority  !

Apparently , people of Delhi failed to appreciate that a coalition government is a government that gets blackmailed by its coalition partners , whose sole aim is to make a ton of money  !

Exactly what has been happening at the Centre for the past 5 years , rendering UPA -2 , a Spineless Spectacle  !

Arvind Kejriwal realized this a long time back and over the past 6 months , repeatedly said ,

"  We will neither support any party , nor seek support from anyone  "

He is absolutely right when he refuses to form a minority-led government , under constant threats from corrupt partners

What next  ?

Although President's Rule is an immediate possibility , it is a pointless postponement of what is inevitable , viz :

RE-ELECTION

Let us get over it fast

Let us face the harsh reality of parliamentary democratic process

If people of Delhi want a stable / accountable / corruption-free government , then let them go to the polling booths  ONCE AGAIN , and give AAP , at least 40  SEATS

Let their message ring loud and clear , across the length and breadth of India , proclaiming :

"  Brothers and Sisters,

   If you want to get rid of corruption , give AAP , an ABSOLUTE

   MAJORITY  in 2014 National Elections

   NOTHING  LESS  WILL  BE  ENOUGH  TO  LIBERATE  YOU

   If you hesitate , and split your vote , you will have only yourself to

   blame  for your continued suffering "

*    hemen   parekh   ( 10  Dec   2013  )

Unsolicited Advice to Arvind Kejriwal

Dear Arvind ,

Congratulations to people of Delhi for reposing their faith in AAP

It would have been nice if AAP were to form the government

However , it will be much " nicer " that you will sit in the Assembly as a " Responsible / Constructive " opposition !

And learn your first lessons in functioning of parliamentary democracy

Remember , people of entire country will watch , how you conduct yourself

Will you continue with ,

>  Mud-slinging / Gallies / Abuses

>  Personal attacks re: corruption

>  Negativism / Sulking

>  " Holier - than - Thou "  attitude

Or ,

Whether you will ,

>   Be " Positive rather than Negative "

>   Be  "  Pro-active rather than Re-active "

>   Without waiting for BJP to introduce , take the initiative to introduce

     relevant Bills in the Assembly in respect of following items of BJP's

     Poll Manifesto

EDUCATION

>  Reserve 85 % seats in Delhi colleges for local students

WOMEN & CHILDREN

>   Set-up more fast track courts for speedy trial of women-related cases

LAW & ORDER

>  Set up 24 hour help-line

SC / ST / MINORITIES

>  Ensure speedy justice in the 1984 riots

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

>  Build tower blocks for slum-dwellers

WATER

>  Rationalize water tariff

POWER

>  Reduce tariff by 30 %

TRANSPORT

>  Introduce a centralized traffic plan

JOBS

>  Provide easy loans for self employment

OTHERS

>  Make Lok-Ayukta, an effective institution with sufficient powers

By being FIRST to introduce these Bills , you will prove to the people of India that,

"  Role of opposition is not confined to simply oppose whatever bills get introduced by the Government in power , but take upon itself to introduce whatever bills it considers vital for the welfare of the people who voted for them - and ALL the other voters who DID NOT vote for them  "

I believe your Lok Ayukta Bill is ready ( since you had planned to pass it on 29th Dec )

So , how about introducing that as an " Opposition Bill " as soon as Assembly gets convened ?

For a change , how about putting the ruling party on its back - foot ?

By being " Offensive " , you will put the BJP on the " Defensive "  !

Then people will know how sincere is BJP with its poll promises  !

For long , you have been talking of a " different kind of politics "

Now is your chance to convert  your  " Hypothesis " into a " Theory " !

Remember ,

Whether people of India will vote for AAP or not in 2014 , will depend upon you performance as a Constructive Opposition , during the next 6 months

*    hemen   parekh   (  09  Dec  2013  )  

Split India ?

On 9th August 1942 ,

When seventy one year old Bapu

urged the British,

"   Quit India  " -

33 crore Indians echoed,

"  Quit India  ".

It is different today.

Goondas wearing Gandhi cap

Are going around,

Pilfering / Stealing / Looting / Raping / Murdering,

Branding themselves

Bapu's " moral " ( ! )  heirs ,

Sinister whispering

"   Split  India  "



Fast forward

Another seventy one years ,

And it is different today .

Holding Bapu's broom ,

One Crore , desperate Delhi-ites

will  tomorrow,

March to the polling booths,

Shouting ,

"  Quit Delhi "

And silently sweep

Their dynastic , desi , immoral rulers

Into history's dustbin.

*    hemen   parekh   (  03   Dec   2013  )

Hell – holes of Delhi

A poet has said about Kashmir :

“ If there is heaven on earth anywhere ,

   It is here ; It is here  “

Having watched the horrible living conditions of Delhi slums  ( on TV channels ) over the past few weeks , if I have to describe these , I would say :

“  If there is hell on earth anywhere ,

    It is here ; It is here “

A TV anchor asks a slum-dweller ,

 “ Why do you live , right on top of a stinking sewer ? “

She replies ,

“  Because we have no other option. We have been living like this for past 30 years . May be we will continue to live like this till we die

   Once every 5 years , local MLA visits us , telling us

about all the glorious achievements of Delhi, viz:

Ø              Bright-lit Stadiums / Malls / 5 star Hotels

Ø              Dozens of fly-overs

Ø              Swanky cars on Rajpath

Ø              Highways and Expressways

Ø              High-rise office complexes

Ø              Imposing Government offices in red stone…etc

Then he says ,

“  If you elect me , I promise ,

 

Ø              Covered gutters / drains

Ø              More and better community toilets

Ø              Debris – free and wide lanes

Ø              Daily garbage collection

Ø              Clean / piped drinking water to every hut

Ø              Cheap electricity

Ø              Nearby school with teachers

Ø              Instant admission to modern hospital

Ø              A permanent job for everyone….etc    “

But once elected , he disappears

Only to re-appear after 5 years with same promises ! “

Then the TV anchor asks ,

“ So , which party will you vote for on 4^th Dec ? “

Lady answers ,

“  This time , we will vote for Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP ) “

Anchor :

“ Why ? “

Lady :

“  Things cannot get any worse !

   We must give AAP, a chance to live up to their promises

   We believe they will  “

*   hemen  Parekh  (  02  Dec  2013  )