N O T A ( None Of The Above )

It is a good thing that , during next month’s State Assembly elections , Election Commission will add , on the EVM ( Electronic Voting Machines ) , a button marked , “ NOTA “

No doubt , at the behest of the Supreme Court

By itself , that may not prevent corrupt and/or criminally-charged candidates from getting elected, but it is a good beginning nevertheless

If ALL the voters do come out to vote and a great majority of them click, NOTA in a particular constituency , then we may safely assume that none of the contesting candidate is CLEAN , in the eyes of the voters

And if the list of the candidates appearing on EVM , includes a person who is a CURRENT MLA , then people’s verdict is loud and clear ,

“ You have failed us . Get out and make way for an honest person “

But the electoral reforms will remain incomplete , till voters get a right to,

Ø  Cast a NEGATIVE VOTE against any particular candidate instead of the entire panel. Every voter gets to cast only ONE vote - either positive or negative !

Ø  Recall a inefficient and/or corrupt existing MLA , anytime during tenure

People  of  Delhi  !

With an AAP candidate to choose in each and every constituency , you don’t need NOTAP ( None of the above person )

On 4^th Dec , just go out and “ Vote-AAP “ !  No less than  40  !

You already have a THIRD FRONT !

·          hemen  parekh  (  08, Oct  2013  )

Come Out in the Streets !

When Anna and Arvind sat on a fast in Ram Lila ground in 2011 , millions of people came out on the streets in support of the Jan Lok Pal Bill

But neither fasting nor outpouring on the streets made any impact on the arrogant MPs and Ministers of Lok Sabha

They went to the extent of preaching ,

“ You cannot make laws on the streets. For that , you must contest polls , get people to vote for you – then occupy your seats in the Lok Sabha “

Arvind realized the harsh reality of the current political rot in the country. Man Mohan Singh’s India of 2011 was not Mahatma’s India of 1941 !

In 2011 , there was no place for a peaceful “ Satyagraha “ .

[  Q: Will fasting by Chandrababu Naidu and Jagan Reddy succeed ?  ]

Apparently what worked with the “ Gora Sahibs “ way back , was not working with the “ Brown Sahibs “ now !

So , what were his choices ?

Ø    Change the rulers by resorting to an “ Armed Revolt “ – as recently witnessed in a number of Arab / Moslem countries ?

Ø    Form a political party and fight / win the elections , to change the corrupt system from “ within “ ?

For Arvind and his “ believers “ , the idea of violence was an anathema

So , very rightly , they decided to fight the elections

People of Delhi !

If you want the Democracy and Decency to triumph over Crime and Corruption of the Mighty , then , on 4^th December , come out on the streets of Delhi once again

And elect , at least 40 AAP candidates to Delhi Assembly

Remember , it has to be either 40 or forget  !  Minority is powerless  !

·          hemen  parekh  (  07  Oct  2013  )

Your Move !

Supreme Court has made its move and prevented  “ convicted “ criminal MPs / MLAs from occupying their seats in Lok Sabha / State Assemblies

But even Supreme Court cannot prevent,

*    Parties from giving tickets

*    Candidates from contesting

*    Voters from electing

-      a crime-charged ( but not yet convicted ) politician

Voters of Delhi ,

But you can !

By insisting / demanding that Congress / BJP / AAP, put-up on their web sites , full “ Janam-Kundli “ ( Life-Story ) of each and every candidate

That must include :

Ø  Financial Status ( Assets / Liabilities / All Bank Accounts – including foreign )

Ø  Criminal Status  ( FIRs / Charge-Sheets / Convictions / Appeals / Jail-terms served )

Ø  Nexus Status  ( Positions / Ownerships held – past or present – in Companies / Organizations / Trusts / NGOs / Businesses etc )

Ø  Family Status ( all of the above mentioned info for each member of the immediate family )

Ø  Affiliation Status ( Membership of and positions held , in any/all political parties , present and past )

Each  Janam-Kundli  must be capable of being :

Ø  Downloaded

Ø  Forwarded

Ø  Emailed

Ø  Shared on Social Networking Web sites

I have a feeling that only Aam Admi Party ( AAP ) will come forward to accept this challenge

If so , your choice is clear :

Enable AAP to win at least 40 seats on 4^th Dec 2013 !  No less !

People of Delhi ,

Now  is time for YOUR MOVE !

·          hemen   parekh  ( 06  Oct  2013  )

Time to Stand-Up / get Counted

For the voters of Delhi , Dec 04, 2013 will be the time to stand up and get counted

How they opt to get counted will decide their future for the next 5 years

What are their options ?

Ø  Vote for Congress

-      And continue to suffer for the next 5 years , as they have been suffering for the past 15 years

-      Of course , they will have the satisfaction of having themselves elected their tormentors  democratically – hence suffer in silence

Ø  Vote for BJP

-       Lesser of the two Evils !

-       Voters may even look forward to some small improvements in their surroundings if , BJP also wins 2014 National elections with an absolute majority . Rub-off effect from a friendly Center !

Ø  Vote for Aam Admi Party ( AAP )

-      In each constituency , get AAP candidate to distribute to all the voters , signed copies of his / her LOCAL MANIFESTO and DECLARATION filed with Returning Officer

-      In each Election Sabha , ask Arvind Kejriwal to re-commit his party’s promise to pass Jan Lok Pal Bill ( for Delhi ) within 15 days of assuming power. Get it in writing !

-      If he does , then vote for and elect , AT LEAST 40 AAP CANDIDATES on Dec 04 .

   Remember , if AAP cannot form a government  entirely on its own strength , they cannot bring about any reforms !

   It has to be , either an Absolute Majority or a minority with nothing more than a nuisance value !

-      For the next 5 years , for Delhi-ites , this is their last chance to get a corruption-free government

Delhi-ites ,

-      This is your  ONLY HOPE ( light at the end of the dark tunnel ! )

-       You have only ONE option !

·          hemen  parekh  (  05  Oct  2013  )

4 Down / 1400 to Go !

Yesterday , CBI court convicted following in the Fodder Scam :

Ø   Lalu Yadav   ( RJD ) ………………………………..  5 years

Ø   Jagannath Mishra  (  Congress )………………  4 years

Ø   Jagdish Sharma  (  JD – U )…………………….  4 years

Ø  R K Sharma  ( RJD )………………………………….  5 years

People are demanding that ,

Ø    CBI assert its new-found and Supreme-Court inspired “ Independence / Courage “ to book those highly-placed politicians involved in CWG / 2G / 3G / Coal-gate / illegal mining and other sundry scams, and on-the-double

Ø    Lower Courts / High Courts and the Supreme Court display a greater degree of “ Judicial Activism “ in protecting the rights / interests of common man

Let these convictions mark the “ Beginning of the End “ of the Scam-raj and Crime-raj which has engulfed Indian politics for the past 20 years

People are counting :

4 Down / 1400 to Go !

·          hemen  parekh  ( 04 Oct 2013 )    

Dynasty Rule ?

All over the world , mighty Kings  – and their successors – ruled many countries for centuries

Few hundred years back , oppressed / suffering people revolted and brought in other forms of political governance , such as Democratic /  Communist  /  Socialist

But dictatorship did not go away . Even today , it persists in parts of the World , supported either by local armies or by some far away Super Power having vested interest in continuation of Banana Republics

But in apparently democratic systems , what makes persons like Silvio Berlusconi /  Mugabe  / Sonia Gandhi , continue to rule ?

Silvio and Mugabe are not even dynastic !

When a majority of voters continue to elect / select them , year after year , there is no point in blaming the “ Dynasty “ ! 

Just keep watching ,

Ø    Jagan Reddy

Ø    Tejaswi Yadav

Ø    Uddhav Thakerey

Ø    Jyotiraditya Scindia

Ø    Sachin Pilot

Ø    Milind Deora …  etc

Apparantly , the Sons ( Sun ? ) are rising in all directions !

Blame the people , if you must !

Influence and change people’s  thinking , if you can

 !

These politicians cannot continue to occupy their positions of power , unless people continue to vest them with those powers !

NDA Inc !

Rahul Gandhi may still become the next PM of India , if he succeeds in convincing the people that there is nothing inherently “ Evil “ about dynastic rule

Evil lies in bad governance

·          hemen  parekh  (  04  Oct  2013  )

Why ? Why ? Why ?

For many hours yesterday , on a number of TV channels , experts were asking :

Why,

Ø  Man Mohan Singh cow-towed before Rahul ?

Ø  Cabinet surrendered its supremacy to Sonia ?

Ø  Sonia kept quiet against son’s insubordination ?

Ø  Sushma Swaraj ( & Co ) did not oppose the bill initially ?

Ø  Milind Deora was silenced ?

Ø  Samajwadi Party wants the Ordinance passed – even as a Bill ?

Ø  Narendra Modi is deafeningly silent on the entire episode ?

Ø  Subramaniam Swamy feels dejected ?

Ø  Rajnath Singh is trying to corner all credit ?

Ø  Sharad Pawar was sulking with back-stabbing ?

Ø  Manish Tewari was just about to cry ?

Ø  Mahesh Jethmalani had no answer for Babulal Bokhadia ?

Ø  Ram Jethmalani called Rahul , an unlikely hero ?

Ø  Gurudas Dasgupta sounded “ holier than thou “ ?

Ø  Kapil Sibbal / Chidambaram hid from the media ?

Ø  Rahul failed to apologize to PM , in public ?

Ø  Arnab Goswami forgo his divine right to drown the voice of panelists ?

My own take of the entire episode :

Ø  Why keep asking the “ why “ ?

Ø  Why must we forever try to figure out the “ cause “ ?

Ø  Why are we obsessed with the presumed  ulterior “ motives ” ?

Ø  Why can’t we just be happy that the will of the people has prevailed ?

Ø  Why not let the future unravel itself ?

Ø  Why not rejoice with the outcome ?

Ø  Instead of merely speculating what will happen next , why not people – and media –assert themselves and speak up loudly about,

#   Political parties to be covered by RTI

#   Electoral Reforms

#   Women’s Representation

#   Jan Lok Pal Bill…etc

Let us send out to the corrupt – and power hungry – politicians , a  very loud and clear , “ Do or Die “ call  !

·           Hemen  parekh  (  03  Oct  2013  )