Indian Democracy and Political apathy.
After 70 years of being Independent, We are proud of India being the Largest Democracy. We still look at our neighbours, Pakistan and Bangladesh and argue that we are not a Hybrid or Authoritarian Regime atleast. Some even argue, Oldest Democracy USA is also a Flawed Democracy and so are we. Some even say Why should we care what Economists thinks, we are a True Democracy and we are on our way to become the most powerful and wealthy Nation in the World.
Can we say we are a TRUE Democracy ?
We have had 9 MP’s including Indira Gandhi’s husband, from one Single Family. off which, Three Prime Ministers from three successive generations. The fourth generation of the First Prime Minister is the President of the Party which is currently in the Opposition and recently made a claim to become the next Prime Minister of India after the forthcoming General Elections in 2019. So much for the Largest Democracy.
Where the custom is for the young to touch the feet of the Old, Here we have retained the days of Raj. Rajas are History and so is British Raj. They have only been replaced by the Indian Political Raj.
Politics has since become a Family business across the Country. In Karnataka three generations of this Gowda Family are in the Politics as of today. Where in the second son of the former Prime Minister, who became the Chief Minister for the second time, went on to says that he has no obligation towards the Citizens of Karnataka as a CM, but only to the Congress Party who are supporting him in the assembly to become the CM.
Time and again multiple BJP leaders speak for the Hindu community and seemingly triggering hatred towards other faiths and particularly towards Muslims. They seem to have positioned themselves as the Party for Hindus than for India and Indians. They are playing to the insecurity of divided Hindu communities over the appeasement of minority by the other Political parties.
Communist Party seems to have taken the stand to interfere in one Religious practice of a community as the primary manifesto of its government. A Supreme Court judgement which selectively chooses to interfere in Religious practice of one faith has been taken up as the most important cause, which the government for once seems to be going all out to put in practice at any cost. and Literally at any cost.
A person raised hopes of millions who were tired of the Indian Political Raj, which had replaced British Raj and had evolved into creating a new class of Power and wealth among Politicians. Not only did he let them down, umpteen followers of the cause have since left him and has been reduced to a joke. Perhaps he has caused maximum benefit to all the political parties mentioned above than their own efforts of scaring, pleasing, breaking and dividing citizens in all the possible ways.
According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which analysed the election affidavits filed before the Election Commission, 34 per cent of the new MPs face criminal charges. 82 per cent of the MPs (2014) have assets worth over Rs. 1 crore each. The average Congress MP is worth over Rs. 16 crore while the BJP MPs, on an average, have assets over Rs. 11 crore. Become a Politician and the welath keeps growing, without any alternate job (as they can not hold it, or without any Business, as they dont claim to do any). India is truely magical.
Highest voting India has ever seen since Independence, was in 2014 Loksabha elections at less than 66.5%.
Urban Voters at 57.4% compared to 69.25% of Rural Voters.
More than 50% of Indian population being below 25 years and more than 65% are below 35 years, represented by an average age of an MP at 53.83 years.
68.5% of MP’s have got into Parliament securing less than 35% of the votes, if it was any school exam, they would have been declared FAIL.
Only 4 MP’s have got more than 50% votes, that includes our Prime Minister.
Why is that more than 40% of Urban (30% of Rural) Voters don’t vote?
Who is responsible for the apathy on the whole Electoral process and system? When will the citizens realise that they have been played by the very same Politicians and make the whole system so ugly that those who can make a difference are forced to keep away. Hope and Fear / Insecurity are two sides of the same coin. One plays it while the other gets played. One may vote for a candidate, based on their Faith, or community or caste or language or the promise of keeping another away. Who is voting for the development of the Community & Nation and happy & progressive life for all the Citizens?
India will face another General elections soon, we the people will carry the burden no matter what happens.