Varun Gandhi the
new and young face of Indian Politics is inheriting divisive politics, the
strategy adopted by slew of good Indians. Thanks to his speech and that should
have sparked the minds of intolerant hibernating sections of society. I greatly
appreciate Varun for his demeanor against the minorities. He is an astute politician
who knows “How to garner the attention of general public with the tactics of communal
rhetoric?”
Varun the descendant
of Nehru family has a great family pride attached to his name. With the degree
in economics from the London school of Economics and authored a book, it gives
a general feeling that he might have a good potential to be a leader. It was
quite disheartening to hear such a rancor speech from him. Are we still mired
in the age old Communal and hatred speeches with this young gun of India adding
to the fray?
Vote bank politics
which is in vogue during election campaigns is an appalling way to discriminate
people which encourages people to vote on the considerations of belonging to a
particular caste, creed or religion. The politicians have handled this weapon
extremely well to garner votes by breaking the society into major and minor
sections on grounds of religion. This divisive attempt has showered in an acrimonious
attitude amongst various communities. This has at times developed into a
killing rage with ruthless murder and destruction meted out to people of
different communities. This is a very sensitive issue and we don’t want another
Godhra riot or Anti-Sikh riot. Varun Gandhi’s diatribe against minorities in
order to appeal to the major community is a sheer attempt to galvanize the vote
banks. “Chopping of hands” or “Lotus Hand” and other verbal assault have the
potential to invoke another communal clash. This embodies the Varun’s immature
and intolerant attitude to popularize votes.
History has shown
us the painful and enduring genocides, communal violence, riots and host of
other grisly mass killings of people. I don’t like reading history books about
facts and the wars waged to get through the exam but we can’t miss the
important learning that we can carry it in our life. The humanitarian crises,
the sufferings of people, greed for power, incitation of hate speeches, racial
discrimination and slew of social messages that can really impart a rightful
mindset. Yes, we had seen these great communal riots with the dawn of that
thought of partition of India with two great religions of this world fighting over
and I am still watching it and my next^n generations will. Should it take another 1000
years of history to have a rightful impact and education to people? The
gruesome and horrific incidents that inflicted on people whoever it may be a
minority or any religion for that matter is a great cause of concern for every
citizen of this country. We talk about the ethnic killings of Tamil in srilanka
and are we giving the same attention to the insecurities faced by the minority?
Are our leaders taking the right lesson and I don’t think Varun did. We had
known this is not the first time. Let’s bring in Shiv Sena’s Bal Thackeray’s
hate speech and his deprivation of fundamental right to vote and to contest
elections has not elicited a meaningful attitude in the minds of politician.
Forget about the old politicians with their inexorable mindset but to see young
politicians like Varun who might be a future leader to be in the same lines is
very disappointing.
Campaigning is a
very good platform for any aspiring young politician to address larger sections
of society about their concerns and propagate your agenda to benefit the common
people. Being rhetoric and wanted to sound populist is common. What we need is
elitist. Elite in terms of addressing people’s concern upfront without regards
to any religious community, and bringing in transparency and greater governance
would be greatly appreciated. Varun with a degree in economics had a right
choice to address the current economic situation and bringing prosperity in the
lives of people but to our dismay he has turned out to be usual politician.
What we need is a true aspiring leader a class apart. With larger pie of young
citizens and urban population, you have multitude of ways to reach them, get
their expectations and address them. This remembers me the Obama’s reach for
people through internet and he rightly talked about the real concerns of
people. The Interview between Barack Obama and John McCain that was broadcasted
in CNN was really a splendid discussion about their plans and why they think it
will work and all sundry. I can’t expect such a discussion to happen in India.
We know the playing grounds are totally different but the manner in which they
carried out without much of a blame game can be emulated.
We as citizens have
a greater role to play in choosing the appropriate candidate. I would not
expect the next generation to say the antonym of secular as saffron. Secular outlook, good governance, transparent
administration, employment opportunities, improving agriculture, empowerment of
women, better economic policies, finer internal and external security to meet
any threat and host of other things is what we expect and no mud slinging or
vendetta politics. We should also address the concerns of coalition government.
We need greater education and awareness among the voter’s especially rural and
tribal areas to usher in a change. People who have myopic sight at elections
just to get into power with their hate speeches and stuff should not be voted
upon.
Varun should be
penalized for his communal speeches and election commission to its part has to
act decisively against any such act. There should always be a watch on
political speech by concerned authorities and should bring in justice faster
against those guilty of propagating hatred ness among communities. Let’s hope
we will see some light with the days to come.
P.S. the views are not against anyone but the free expression of thought
