Comments on: Mr. Advani: Watch your Mouth

By: Prathap G.

Prathap G. — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:30:03 +0000

What is my idea of being an Indian? And how can I be sure about Mr. Advani’s indianism?

Well, these are multi-Million Dollar questions only an erudite person of your standing and repute can elicit a response to.

I would reckon, being an Indian is akin to being a Slumdog.

This is your world, and hence, please excuse me for my tomfoolery in agitating your excellent disposition as a human being.

May God bestow unto you all the blessings that he possibly can.

By: Bikram

Bikram — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:11:27 +0000

Dear Prathap,

I appreciate the time you invested in first reading the post then commenting on it. Before writing anything further, I must tell you that I went to your blog and had a look so that I can get some idea about the person to whom I am going to write.

What do you exactly mean by tarnishing? If calling a spade a spade means tarnishing then I am sorry to say, I cannot help it.

And about selling the country to the highest bidder. Do you still believe your country has not been sold, and mind you it’s not the politicians alone who did this. Go to the nearest shopping mall and see everyone celebrating 4th of July!, or at least trying to do so.

Anyway, I am not a big fan of Mr. Advani or his party, and the reason being the lack of ideology in the party. I do not believe in the merits of religions and doubly don’t believe in the political or social system being centered on any religious ideology.

Prathap, please make me understand what your idea of being an Indian is? And how can you be sure about Mr. Advani’s indianism? And in the article you read above, I have not only condemned Mr. Advani as a person, but I have condemned his policy more in it. Mr. Advani might be warm as a person, but as a person who can think, he does not deserve any consideration.

And please do not talk about his retirement, talk about his failure. He isn’t retiring. He has failed!

By: Prathap G.

Prathap G. — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:22:47 +0000

I am at a loss to understand why a gentleman of your calibre indulge in tarnishing a statesman like Shri L.K. Advani, who for all practical purposes is an Indian to the core than those hypocrites masquerading as Indians who might sell India to the highest bidder right in front of your eye.

Leave Shri Advani alone for a peaceful retirement from politics, and may God bless you Bikram Singh Jee.

By: Bhavana Agarwal

Bhavana Agarwal — Sun, 10 May 2009 19:41:37 +0000

A very interesting discussion indeed! We usually talk on this particular topic, during elections. Most of the educated, thinking citizens want a change today. Many people whom I know have not voted in these general elections, including me. I am neither guilty nor ashamed of it. Surely, if there would have been an option “none of these” in the EVM then the number of educated, thinking voters would have genuinely increased. A lot many thinking young brains are required in the Indian politics today. Mr. Advani is old now and it is his ambition which is still quite young, but there is such a huge gap between his age, ideology and aspirations that his brain is playing a tongue slip! He is only a pawn at the hands of his political party with which he is associated. His party has a very non-secular approach towards managing the nation and addressing its problems! The hyper-active media, vigilant common man and educated thinking class still needs to pin point issues and take necessary steps to awaken the nation. The politicians are nevertheless doing everything which pleases them even in the wake of a grilling media. After all its democracy!

By: Narayan Choudhary

Narayan Choudhary — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:41:40 +0000

yes, that is right!
But you will have some people always staying behind on election day, thinking as it is just another holiday.
Of course one cannot force somebody to do something against their will, but what I mean is that it should made with “ample freedom”, and it is considered as a ‘duty’, like other duties such as filing your IT even when you do not pay taxes, or getting a new birth registered etc.

There should be some sort of sops for people who vote. Because after all it is their proactivism that is to bring the country the govenment in which these sit-hom-on-election-day chicks are just beneficiaries and are indifferent to most of the issues facing the society.

And yes there should not be any forcing! It is still one’s choice to go to the polling booth or not. If he goes there he will get those sops!

And sure, the “None of these” option would always be there! This option too comes with several other complexities. One needs to find out them and ensure that the election process does not get more taxing either on the people or on the public exchequer. I am sure there are ways to make people more accountable for what they get!
And sure it is not always a maverick thinking!

By: Bikram

Bikram — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:35:08 +0000

Narayan, my first remark would be: under no condition whatsoever the voting should be made compulsory.

I agree with your point where you say, there should be some arrangement to make the voting possible for people leaving outside their constituency, this indeed should be done.

And I am not in consonance with your though of making voting a week-long affair. This will fetch nothing but an unmanageable expense.

Well, indeed voting is duty, but will you endorse choosing an incapable person just because it is my duty to choose someone?

no Voting and wrong candidate produce a chicken and egg problem. some says, start voting and things will change and other says change the candidate and we will vote.

“None of these” comes to rescue for people who do not vote because of the quality of their candidates, and for rest of us, a proper education on the subject of voting is important.

Forcing anyone to vote by some law is a self-defeating logic for democracy.

By: Narayan Choudhary

Narayan Choudhary — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:21:02 +0000

Well Bikram,
These are very candid remarks on Advani.

I would agree with you that the voting should not be made cumpulsory. If Advani has said it, it is utterly premature. It is also very naive as it cannot be implemented given the present voting system being used in India.

However, I would like this to be implemented with some conditions.

1. The first of these is that the option of the “None of these” should be there.

2. Another would be to make voting possible for those who do not reside at the time of voting in their constituency. This would mean developing a mechanism for the voters so that they also vote despite being at any place, in India or overseas.

3. Ample freedom should be given to the non-voters to show their inability to vote.
The voting process may be prolonged and made easier, making it less taxing for the common people. This may include making the voting period for a constituency increase from one day to a week or so.
I know, there are several new things in it. But given the rise in technology, there are several other means to to identify people and take their votes into consideration.

There can be similar other ways to ensure that everyone votes without making an individual at a loss. Everybody has his/her rights to withold his/her opinion. And nobody can force them.
But at the same time, it is not just one’s right to vote, but at the same time one should also feel that it is their duty to vote! If democracy is to function in its true sense, it should strive to get the opinion of everybody!

By: Bikram

Bikram — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:29:33 +0000

Indeed Vivek. I agree with your point of view. So, the problem is god himself, isn’t it high time to denounce this fellow now?

By: Vivek

Vivek — Fri, 01 May 2009 07:32:27 +0000

It was indeed a pleasure to read your article on Mr. Advani. But believe me a power hungry person like Advani will never pay attention to the grass-root problems….He’s more interested in playing with religious sentiments of the people to further his interests.