No Option ?

Arvind Kejriwal is left with no option but to form the government in Delhi

By agreeing with almost all the conditions stipulated by him , Congress has left him with no excuse , not to form a government

Although it is difficult to say what motivated Congress to accept AAP's conditions , here is my guess :

>   As in the case of " Tainted MPs " ordinance , Rahul Gandhi forced the

     issue , because he too , genuinely believes in decentralization of

     democracy

>   By hook or by crook , Congress wants to keep BJP out of power in Delhi

>   Congress may have realized that in case of a re-poll , it would end up

     losing even its current 8 seats . A terrible omen for 2014 elections !

>   In any case , on most of the issues raised by AAP , there is a lot of

     commonality in the poll manifestos of Congress and AAP

     Not accepting AAP's conditions would be tantamount to saying ,

     "  But our poll promises hold good only if we are voted to power  "  !

>   In view of the 2014 national elections , Congress wants AAP to remain

     pre-occupied with governance of Delhi , effectively putting a brake on its

     national ambitions

>   By agreeing , Congress wants to divert the attention of the people from

     its murky past and let them focus on the re-invented image of ,

     "  Congress - the Reformer  "

>   If , with its backing , AAP succeeds in delivering good governance in the

     next 6 months , Congress can share the credit of being , " Pro Poor

    People "

    That would enable Congress to tell 760 million voters ,

    "  We can deliver good governance nation-wide, if you vote for us "

At this point of time , trying to figure out the motives of Congress is irrelevant

It is entirely possible that , on the condition of strong Lok Ayukt in Delhi , counter-condition of Congress , could be a trap for AAP to walk in  !

But knowing that fully , AAP must take the risk  !

When he went to attend the second Round Table Conference in London ( 1931 ) , Mahatma Gandhi realized that it was going to be a failure

He was acutely aware of the trap laid by the British

But he saw that the hopes of millions of Indians fighting his non-violent movement , were riding on his trip

So he went

My uncle , poet  Meghani  sent following poem to Mahatma :

"  Even as you know the futility of your mission ,

   O  Bapu ,

   Drink this last cup of hemlock ( poison ),

   You ,

   Who have drank oceans of poison

   Served by the British ,

   Do not throw away this spoonful  "

Poor people of Delhi are saying something similar to Arvind , today  !

*   hemen  parekh  (  17  Dec  2013   /   Mumbai  )      

Perennial Poll Promises

When elections are near , all political parties re-invent themselves by releasing their poll manifestos

Briefly - and as vaguely as possible - listing things they will do if voted to power

But , once in a while , person writing the manifesto gets carried away and ends up promising something " Specific / Time-bound " ( horror of horror ! )

Eg:

The BJP manifesto released on 3rd Dec 2012 , before the Gujarat Assembly election , promised that , if voted to power , BJP government will build for the poor of Gujarat ,

>  50 lakh ( 5 million ) houses in 5 years

     =  10 lakh ( 1 million ) every year

     =   2,739 every day

     =     114 every hour

     =         2 houses every minute  !

Obviously , business-friendly BJP government must have pre-qualified housing construction companies in advance and kept tender documents ready

Or sent out SMS , welcoming TATA / BIRLA / AMBANI / L&T etc to come and set up a dozen factories to mass-produce pre-fabricated houses

Poor people of Gujarat are not bothered with what this promise will cost or how will BJP government raise the money required ( approx Rs 1,00,000 Cr )

They are merely asking :

"   Since we voted you to power for the 4th time , nearly one year will be over on 26th Dec 2013

Where are those 10 lakh houses  ?

When can we move in  ?  "

Do I hear BJP saying :

"  What temerity  !

    How dare you ask such inconvenient question  ?

    And don't ever ask about progress report on our promises to ,

    #   Double electricity production

    #   Double road network

    #   Give jobs to 30 lakh women

    #   Insurance for all

    #   Pure drinking water for all

    #   Irrigating 16 lakh hectares

    #   Take Narmada water to Saurashtra

    #   Build state-wide Wi-Fi Network

    #   Loan guarantees for self employed

    #   Cheap loans to farmers  ............  etc

    Where have we said ,  WHEN  we will do all those things  ?

     Can't you see we are thoroughly  CONSISTENT  in our poll promises  ?

     Haven't we been promising the  SAME  things for the last 13 years  ?

    Can't you wait till 2018 State elections to enable us to re-promise all

    these things - just like Congress promising to abolish poverty for the past

    65 years ? 

    Can't you see we are extremely busy with passing of a lame Lokpal Bill , in connivance with most political parties - after scuttling it in Rajya Sabha , 2 years back by proposing 200 amendments  ?  "

Now please !

Let no one think of filing an RTI application  !

All political parties are unanimous in keeping themselves out of the purview of RTI  !

*   hemen   parekh (  16   Dec   2013   /   Mumbai   )

     

Unconditional Support ?

To form a government in Delhi , both BJP and Congress have offered AAP , an Unconditional Support

Arvind Kejriwal is asking ,

"  For how long  ?  3 weeks  or 3 months  ?  "

He cannot forget what those parties did to destroy the " India Against Corruption " movement in the Ramlila grounds in 2011

So  he has asked Sonia Gandhi and Rajnath Singh ,

"  Forget about   ' giving '  un-asked for unconditional support

   But since you have been so magnanimous , here are my 18 conditions for

   ' taking ' your support

   Do you accept  these conditions  ?  "

Sonia and Rajnath are silent  !

They don't like being exposed  !

A Congress spokesman even said on TV channel last evening ,

"  Most of what AAP proposes , require mere administrative decisions .

   Our support does not come in picture "

A BJP stalwart said,

"  How can there be any government without a strong opposition ?

    

Of course, we will oppose you whenever we disagree with you .

   How can we tell you now , which of your 18 conditions , we will

   oppose - and when ?

   When time comes , we will get a signal from our high command  "

As Arvind knows too well , both BJP and Congress will simply wait for the very first opportunity to pull the rug from under the feet of AAP

Irrespective of who introduces a " No - Confidence " motion in Delhi Assembly , each will give the other , an " Unconditional Support "  !

It is a pity , no TV anchor is asking them :

  Madam / Sir ,

   Does your unconditional support mean , you will decide ,

   >  Who will introduce a no-confidence motion and when ?

   >  Who will ask the LG , to recommend President's Rule and when ?

   >  Who will take the credit to discredit AAP , and when  ?

   >  Who will brag to Delhi-ites, " We had told you AAP cannot perform " ?

But people of Delhi are asking  following questions ( no doubt, inconvenient to BJP / Congress ! ) ,

   >   If unconditional support only means , mere postponement of the re-

         poll , why not get over with it , right now  ?

   >    What is game-plan of Congress / BJP ?

   >    How can we put an end to this absurdity called " Support "  ?

   >    Isn't it time to give 50 seats to AAP in re-poll  ?

  

*   hemen   parekh   (   14   Dec   2013  /  Mumbai  )

    

  

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  )