Sunday, April 7, 2019

Who to vote in the next general election?



As election draws closer, you get to hear a lot that if Congress wins it will make Maoists and terrorists happy and if BJP wins India will become a Hindu Rashtra. Both are very dangerous arguments. India will remain India and it will remain a democracy irrespective who forms the next government. Many thinkers and politicians said the same after we got our independence that India will be fragmented into pieces, but we have come this far despite all our problems and issues, and we are doing good if not the best.

Your job as an electorate is and should be to vote and vote for the right candidate. Candidate who can take care of the people in her or his constituency. There are many local issues like water, electricity, need of schools, hospitals, roads, sanitation, agriculture. Someone who can provide a better life to her or his people and not someone who will just make empty promises. Someone who will not divide based on religion, caste but will try to unite people.

Election should not be one-man vs the other or one-party vs the other. Our political system is different and there are many choices. As a voter you cannot be and should not be devoted to one party if there are better alternatives. As Dr Ambedkar said “in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship.” One should always be mindful of that otherwise you forget what is right and what is wrong.

What we want is a nation where everyone is free to wear, eat, speak whatever they want within the freedom provided by the constitution. There is misuse of this power at times but then law should take care of that.

Many a times we happily share negative or damaging videos of someone you don’t like. We are served what sells the most. We should try to refrain from that as denigrating someone is not going to make your case stronger. Nobody is going to be helped by pointing fingers at each other. It will only generate hatred towards each other.

At the end you should do your bit to help in nation building. Do not drive on red signal, do not throw garbage on the door, switch off the electricity when you leave home, help someone who is in need, smile often, and more importantly ask questions when you feel something is not right.   

Whoever wins or loses, India will win!

No comments: