The recent Delhi Elections
have been on everybody's mind and the political outcome is anybody’s
guess? Today I have a guest post on this from my hubby Atul, who has passionately
been following these elections
The Delhi Elections represent a watershed in the history of
the young Indian polity. In no short measure, its outcome represents whether we
Indians really care or are pretty much agnostic to how we are governed? Are we
nothing but a herd of cows that care little who shepherds us and how? Delhi, which arguably has an informed electorate, the distinction of having the largest
per capita income and one of the highest literacy standards cannot but be
the first to answer the above questions? Our choice (read vote) today shall equally
reflect on us as a society – whether we want to see a decisive change by demanding clean and transparent governance or are we content with the existing
political skullduggery?
Ideologically, the existing politics and politicians, of
whatever hue – be it Congress or BJP or of regional parties have nothing new to
offer– more often than not they all seem to be a bunch of self-seeking
individuals having little to show for integrity and honesty.
We have seen it all – 66 years of independence has only
worsened the political value system – with politicians largely thinking of
politics as a business proposition. It’s not for nothing that Samuel Johnson
likened the patriotism of the politician as being the last refuge of the
scoundrel!
Corruption in this existing political firmament is pervasive
and has eaten into the progress that this country could have made given its
vast physical and intellectual capital. Most parts of the country remain
underdeveloped with poor or non-existent health, education and infrastructure.
The emergence of the one year old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has
resulted in not merely heckling the existing political class but more
importantly in capturing the imagination of the nation. It has made us think of
corruption as a dangerous and grave disease which is eating into the nation’s
ability to rapidly develop and progress.The Lokpal
bill agitation of Hazare and Kejriwal struck in public conscience the issue of
corruption and made people think that the Vadras and Gadkaris (if guilty)
should not be permitted to go scot free.
Pilfering of public money needs to be punished and corruption
in governance structures needs to be dealt with mercilessly.The emergence of AAP
as a potent third force in Indian politics is of tremendous significance, for
bringing the issue of political integrity and corruption to the center stage,
and for ensuring that value system based on bedrock of honesty and integrity in
public life becomes a non-negotiable principle of political governance. AAP‘s
existence at least holds the promise of a cleaner polity in the near future.
If AAP does not in the 2014 national elections emerge as a formidable political voice – we Indians would have lost this opportunity and pushed
back the path of development of this nation several decades back. The existing political
class which has monopolized power since independence represents essentially a
decadent political value system. They need to be shaken out of their colossal tolerance
for corruption… Delhi elections are a
litmus test not merely for AAP but more so for WE Indians – do we care to shun
corruption in public life or are we happy to live with ‘chalta hai’?
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