Editor,
Apropos Mr M. J. Akbar’s article on why he joined the BJP (ST March 25, 2014), I would like to remind Mr Akbar and all readers that many years ago when George Fernandez supported the BJP, he was dubbed the Neville Chamberlain of modern times in an article by the former (i.e. Mr M.J. Akbar) which appeared those days in The Telegraph. Now that Akbar himself has joined the BJP for whatever reasons and justifications he had given, should he not be called the Neville Chamberlain of India’s 21st century?
Yours etc.
P Diengdoh,
Shillong – 3.
Democracy Demands Equality
Editor
After a gap of five years India is on the throes of another election. All the candidates sponsored by different political parties are making big speeches to woo the voters. But this time the election is low key. People are tired of false promises and ideologies. The Congress led UPA Govt in the last five years has overburdened the middle class with the increase in the prices of essential items. Secondly there was no effort to generate employment. Even if some employment is generated only a few have benefitted. Although much work has been done in the construction of National Highways, in education etc., if people cannot fulfill their basic needs all those efforts are futile. As far as education is concerned, it has no purpose unless skills are imparted. Nowadays we hear of young people committing financial crimes. But do we ever wonder why crime is on the rise? It is because people have to feed their stomachs but have no opportunity for decent work. It is the responsibility of the Government to fulfill the economic needs of the people, but over the last ten years the Government has only managed to create inflation. Most of the candidates contesting elections this time, not only in our state but in the entire nation, are multi-millionaires. How will they understand the sufferings of the common people? The Indian political system is capitalistic in nature with the dominance of the elite members of the society whereas those from the middle class cannot even think of competing. How long this trend continue? How long will we continue to live in deprivation? How long will only a section of Indians avail the economic benefits at the cost of the others? Will we ever have equality in accessing our economic benefits or will we always be treated as aliens in our own nation? In declaring election results the votes of all the people are counted without any caste or communal discrimination. Why then are we discriminated after government formation? It is high time to think of these issues else our future will be doomed. Ours is a secular nation and the largest democracy in the world and in order to maintain the true spirit of secularism we have to overcome all forms of discrimination and work unitedly to make our nation prosperous so that apart from political and social unity, the gap between the rich and the poor is also reduced, and equality is maintained. And if any special benefit has to be given such should be based on economic categories rather than caste-based.
Yours etc.,
Premankur Dam
Shillong-4