Thursday, May 18, 2006

Democrocy Side Effects!!!

As everybody in India, I am also proud to be citizen this democratic country. But past few days I am getting thought about our democracy. Are we really justified in calling ourselves democratic? Well few incidents in recent days have fuelled these thoughts.

First issue is the reservation for OBC’s. Well nobody in political circles is prepared to investigate the real problems and needs of this issue. Govt does not have valid data about OBC social status in India. But nobody can dare to ask for sake of loosing votes. Just fuel public sentiments and derive political mileage is motto of the politicians. Does anybody have nay data on how this reservation policy has actually helped real needy people? Can the govt explain why the percentage of reservation gone up from 8.33% in 1950 to 50% (67% in places like Tamil Nadu). But who cares. For politicians these communities are just vote banks even these kind of issues don’t help them in long run. Remember the biggest debate of last decade it was Mandal vs Madir. And see where are two leader who were at forefront of these issues L. K. Advani for Mandir and V P Singh for Mandal. In fact V P singh has now come down to local issues like slum demolition in Mumbai.

He was who introduced Mandal report which likes of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had rejected to implement. In fact Rajiv Gandhi once said the report to be can of worms (how correct was he!). But I think Congress and Sonia have short (or convenient) memory. Thanks to vote bank politics of democracy.

Another issue is banning films like Da Vinci Code. I can not understand if the film gets released in Italy/Rome why it can not be shown here. Let people decide what to watch and what not to watch. Again Govt feels to look after the minority vote bank of Christians. I am sure there would lots of Christians who would not mind release of this movie. But still there are hurdles for movie even if majority of people want to see it. (including good amount of Christians). But some Bishop or Mulla creates a hue and cry and whole thing stops. This I call as Minority appeasement.

Today I think the debate between people like Agarkar and Tilak over Good Governance or Self Governance took a wrong turn. I think Good Governance was required before self Governance. Of course I don’t want to suggest the freedom struggle was un necessary. I truly respect all people who selflessly sacrificed their lives for our freedom. But after 50 years of freedom why these politicians are still making billion fools out of us. To me only the colour of the ruler has changed and not the style of ruling that is divide and rule on caste. Shame on us!

1 comment:

Sam said...

You may be opening too many doors here dude !

let the sleeping dogs lie ...