AAP Sweep

The victory, that Aam Aadmi Party registered could not have been more emphatic in demonstrating that honest and selfless work for people ultimately pays off. 10th Feb was a great day, and I hope it becomes and remains a memorable day for decades to come. Let it be the start of change in politics of the country, which will be more aligned towards the aspirations of people.  Let it be the sunrise of the day which will bring a new hope, where people strive to become honest and are praised and encouraged to be one. Let it be start of an era where politicians do not take people for granted who can be swayed by inciting passion of belongings. Societal change is an evolutionary process and let this landslide victory be counted as an important milestone.

Some news papers captures of this triumph. Daily many news paper comes to my office and I took the front page pic of this news and sharing here.

The Hindu

The Hindu Editorial

Deccan Herald

Deccan Chronicale

Indian Express

Rajasthan Patrika

Dakshin Bharat Rashtramat

The Economic Times

This is a progressive mandate and it has restored my faith in people's judgement. Nothing less than this would have sufficed. Delhi you are awesome. 

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Congratulation Aam Aadmi

After lots of ups and down and carefully maneuvering their steps in this knotty race of Indian politics, Aam Aadmi Party against the better judgement of all political analysts has come out to be the faith building instrument of a common man in governance and politics. As rightly said by Mr. Arvind Kejriwal it's not just a win of a Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) but win of Aam Aadmi, who stood up against undesirable practices in governance through a proper mechanism.

The win of 28 seats out of 70 seats with a vote share of 30%  for a party which was formed just a year ago is phenomenal. Now either they will sit in opposition or gear up for re election, they have instilled in common man a faith, and in established party a fear.

The decision of Arvind Kejriwal fighting election against Sheila Dikshit, an incumbent chief minister for 15 years and winning by thumping majority tells us all the story about the motives AAP is build with and support they have.  

The assembly election of Delhi and performance of AAP has changed the political scenario of 2014 general election all together. Now its no more a fight between incapable son of former prime minister and an accuse of mass murder. Thank you AAP for giving us an another option to chose from, rather than making difficult choice of pressing NOTA.

I just want to congratulate Aam Aadmi of Delhi for setting such an example before country that is going to galvanise the Indian democracy in times to come.  

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A Rational Approach To Popular Demands

Since the beginning of 2011 or rather by the end of 2010 when many prevalent corruption and financial irregularities cases in government were surfacing in the public, people's blood were scalding. By the mid of 2011 it took a form of huge movement under the banner India Against Corruption, People were coming out in streets with placards in their hands shouting to stop corruption and to pass Jan Lokpall Bill. Anna Hazare, the leader of this people's open show of discontent, sat on fast for many days. It seemed like whole country erupted in his support.

I was in my fourth year of college and frequent user of social media, so I was updated with the happenings. Lot of people in the campus of IIT Kharagpur also arranged demonstration and fasted in support of India Against Corruption. I too shared the same feeling like any other common Indian at that time, but I was not in support of movements like India Against Corruption in any way. Road blocks, fast, stopping government machinery to function properly never resonate with my conscience. Many people compared Anna Hazare with Mahatma Gandhi and anti-corruption movement with movements of Independence. But what they missed out is, not having power and having power and not executing it, are not the same thing. When the country was British colony there were no way to get your demands implemented through government machinery, there was no universal adult franchise, so intellectuals of that time took way to satyagrah and non-violent protests to get their voice heard and get their demands registered. But situation today is different, we have constitution and we have been practicing democracy for more than sixty glorious years. Now using same method to demand which we used to do in pre-independence era is not only inefficacious but also mockery of all the efforts of our great leaders which brought independence,democracy, constitution and adult franchise.

When India Against corruption website asked for suggestion from the people how to proceed with the movement, I created a account on their website and first thing I wrote was -- make a political party. So finally when Arvind Kejriwal announced to form party on 2nd Oct 2012, and  named it Aam Aadmi Party on 26th Nov 2012 I could't be more happier. But still after one year when Aam Aadmi Party is standing at the juncture of creating history and completely change the political scenario of the country, many people criticise Arvind Kejriwal for betraying Anna and making the movement against corruption weak. To all those people I want to say why Arvind Kejriwal made a right choice.

• Whom are you protesting against? This is your government, you have chose it with your conscience, and you have trusted it with your vote, now if it's not functioning as you wanted, should you not just throw it away rather than sitting on dhrana. What do you do if you hire a domestic help and they started stealing and slacking in work, you fire them, not sit on dhrana. So do the same here too, because you can. 

• You had your excuse of all parties are same whom I should vote for, so lets sit at dhrana instead. Aam Aadmi Party gave you option. They channelised the energy of dharna movement in campaigning for the support of cause in a more constitutional way, in a way our great freedom fighters wanted us to do. 

• If they are the one who are telling the government what to do and how to tackle the problems faced by common people, and we all are agreeing what they are demanding is for the betterment of us, then why not they are one who should go in assembly or parliament. After all it's democracy and no one's manor. 

New born Aam Aadmi party is contesting election for Delhi assembly and with scientifically coordinated campaign, the way they have organised their party and delegated volunteer work, that in just matter of one year they have reached the ears and hearts of people. This has totally proved wrong the hearsay that they are inexperienced and skepticism of how they will deal with the day to day twitch of government functioning.

Now when just one more day is left in campaigning for the election which is due on 4th Dec 2013, my fingers are crossed and I am hoping, people of Delhi, who has got this chance to be able to write this first chapter of this beautiful transformation of Indian political synopsis, would use their vote judiciously. I have trust in people of Delhi, who has against the better judgement of many political analysts have shown tremendous support and enthusiasm for this more rational approach to deal with popular demands in a democracy.  

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Suggestion: Impartial Investigation

In India, President is the head of republic. But since India is a democratic nation and the President is not directly elected by the people of India, he is not the supreme leader, though he is the formal head of legislative, judiciary and executive.

Rashtrapati Bhawan

Presidential Standard of India

President is the commander-in-chief of Indian Armed Forces and as we know the person who controls army is the omnipotent. But is that the case with our President? The answer is no. He appoints the chief of Army, Air-Force and Navy and can declare a war and conclude peace, subject to consultation with Parliament, the apex governing body of democratic of India. All international treaties and agreements are done on his behalf by the head of the party who enjoys majority in parliament. All money bill originates in parliament on his recommendation, he can declare emergency and dissolve any federal government given the consent of parliament. The 42nd amendment of the constitution has made it obligatory on the part of president to accept the advice of council of ministers. So in short he does everything in the country but can't do anything really without consultation with the parliament.

Whats the problem?

Back in 1946 when Indian constituent assembly started drafting constitution they wanted to give all power to common street people. Since each and every member[1] of the parliament is chosen by the people and from among the people, they had hardly doubted that people will lose faith in them. It was supposed that losing faith in parliament is like losing faith in self. So they vested all power in parliament and made it an apex governing body. But they kept the judiciary independent of legislative to have impartial judgement even on the matters that involves government. Now what is the case? Judiciary is independent but the investigative agencies on whose findings the court will give its verdict is in the hand of government.

Imagine the fate of a university where grading copies and declaring results is in the hand of professors but examination control committee which conduct exams is headed by student body.  

Recent case: A Hindi news channel Aaj Tak conducted a sting operation on the working of Dr. Zakir Hussain Memorial trust and came up with irregularities of INR 71 lakh which was endowed to trust to conduct a camp for differently-abled people, but that camp never happened. This trust is run by wife of Mr. Salman Khurshid, Union law minister of Govt. of India. Social Activist Mr Arvind kejriwal along with many supposedly beneficiaries from this camp wanted to meet Prime Minister to complain but they all were jailed. Mr Salman Khurshid came live on national TV and bashed all the protesters along with TV which conducted sting and heard saying "I will not give answer to anyone on streets". He also challenged to litigate the controversy to court.

Now, the aforesaid trust is in UP so the case will be between UP state government and trust run by family of union law minister. Chief minister of UP is Mr Akhilesh Yadav of samajwadi party and a case against his father Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav for disproportionate assets is pending in supreme court which will be investigated by CBI(investigative agency under govt.). So do we need Sherlock Holmes to figure out what will happen? Can we overlook the 'quid pro quo' case here? This wouldn't be the first time for central government to avail CBI.

Solution:  

Make the post of President apolitical. which can only be done by changing the way president is elected and not by giving resignation from primary membership of party after filling nomination for president. Anyway common people is not voting for president directly don't let MP's and MLA's vote either. I believe that the President should have an idea about the functioning of government and he should not be completely aloof of governance. So lets make it a bureaucratic post like a chief election commissioner of India or chief justice of supreme court.  Only all the IAS rank officers, few elite universities professors, judges of courts and high court will vote and elect the President. So will be the election procedure for governors for states.
All investigative agencies should be under President and Governors of states  and they don't need to consult government for any kind of investigation. Now a government or a "street person" anyone can knock the door of president for impartial investigation against each other. Let all other power of the President as it is. Even presidential judicial power like pardon, reprieve,remission, respite would now make some sense.


Give the man at least something so that  he wouldn't find it satirical when someone says His Excellency.   




      

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