Picture courtesy - Satish Acharya- Follow him on his Facebook page for more.
Whenever I would throw a racket for wanting expensive new toys, my parents - who pampered me despite being middle class - would resort to the ultimate deal-breaker statement - "money doesn't grow on trees." I would kick the dust off the ground and wished the money trees or tooth fairies would exist.
But our Prime Minister reminded me of my dad, whom I miss a lot, but no way striking a sincere image like the latter.
I find it baffling that this statement wasn't made when the multi-thousand crore scams came into the limelight. Where's all that money gone? Into the swiss banks. Nobody is making any use of it. All those trees chopped to make the money gone in waste, all lying waste in a dark cell.
What's funny is that the many beneficiaries of this scam may live a lavish life. But how much ever they try, they cannot spend even fraction of the money earned in scams on themselves. If you get too flashy, you may get questioned - which is still unlikely in our inactive public - but even if you do spend, how much money can you spend?
Most of it lies in the Swiss banks. So neither to they exploit the wealth and we are faced with deficits. Why not forfeit all that cash back to reduce deficits? Why again, do the 'aam aadmi sacrifice'?
The incumbent government has got itself a winner with the fuel hike and FDI "reforms".
Firsts - the corporate has backed the government, Happy by the fresh investments.
Second - the hiked prices will be passed on to the aam admi again. The corporate will take some hits, particularly the auto sector, but they'll find a way to wing it, yet again.
Third - All the attention is diverted from the scams. The government has earned itself a reformer and economy sympathy tag. This is what they used to win in 2009 and this is what theyre donning for 2014.
So its 3-0 against the aam aadmi. And the PM has the audacity to say that in their 8 year tenure, they;ve been working in the interest of the former?
Instead of looking into the findings of the esteemed audit body of our country, Mr. Singh prefers to negotiate policies on us like the canny insurance agents with back of hand calculations and a convincing story-line.
And Mr. Sushil kumar Shinde - the same guy who when CM of Maharashtra smiled for the press at the site of a bomb blast in Vile Parle, Bombay - said that the public will forget the scams. And were already seeing it unfold.
There were too many references to the 1991 reforms by the Prime Minister. I have two responses for that -
a) Grow up! Nobody will give me jobs today just because I scored a 90% back in 2005. And kids these days score such marks, my effort looks like a joke. Same to you Mr. PM. We all still pay you a lot of respect for those reforms, but at least I didn't by the connection.
b) Both that and these 'reforms' were nothing but last ditch attempts to bring in overdue policies, very openly flattering our own deficiencies. So after opening the economy in 1991 were still struggling to fund our needs - infrastructure being the prime - is what you callously imply?
If I had stones in my bladder, waited for ages and got it removed only when the doctors gave an ultimatum - would I be calling myself a reformist?
I am disappointed by the opposition parties. BJP - lost their 2004 campaign due to the India Shining campaign - a show about our growth rate which was supported by FDI. They are just being nagging shrews hanging on to every thing the Congress brings out, the latter using this now to gain 'sympathy of the incumbent.'
Trinamool Congress is the reflection of the original Congress. Both talk about the "aam aadmi' but they have only increased the burden of the 'aam aadmi'. (Yes Mamata, you have not rolled back my first class pass charges.)
SP and BSP were raided by CBI and mauled by the Congress in the UP elections not long back. And now both back the UPA. The reason they sight is to keep "communal forces" like Narendra Modi at bay. There is no reference of Mr. Modi who instead of looting the country or producing a son to continue a legacy in Gujarat, is busy delivering double digit growth in his state. Clearly the SP dalliance with Congress ( a double break up and patch up in as many months) has more than what meets the eye.
But we, the public, are nothing but a reflection of our Honorable Prime Minister. We haven't questioned the goings on, just quietly curse a few people toying around with our country's economy and pass elitist comments at a few who do try to make a difference.
It's time we rise. And no, you don't have to go out on protests or bandhs. Just do two things yourself, and tell two other people to do the same -
1) kick out the emotional ass in our brains. Vote based on performance - not caste, creed, family, sex, popularity or popular measures. If any ruling party makes a popular promise or policy look into the cost benefit not just for you but even the nation. Because, compromising vote bank policies often cause a burden to our economy, which my dear friend will be passed on to you - the "aam aadmi".
2) Kick our Physical asses to go out and implement that rational vote decision.
You ask how much difference will your one vote make?
I say that today I'm just one guy crying out loud to make a difference. There is Chetan Bhagat and his most recent book trying to encourage people to make a difference. And there will be many more.
Think of the many freedom fighters who gave up their lives. It may not have immediately lead to independence, but it got the nation moving. I am only asking for your rational vote.
All of us individual forces need to be ready for the slow but steady reform of turning the feudal democracy to the real deal.
And thank the fates that we still have the power to vote, power in our hands to make a difference. Jai Hind.
