Politics in India

With the election fever gripping the country, politics at the national level is at the top of mind for everyone. As usual, media, politicians and the gossipers among you and me have worked hard to keep the sensational topics at the helm. So let me put down my thoughts down here, hopefully they will serve as good notes to check back my thinking over the next few years. When it comes to putting forward your views, and specially so on politics, disclaimers are a must. And I am not going to go without one. So, the views here are solely mine based on ill read news and half baked thoughts on politics - I am no expert on these matters. Further, had I wanted a debate on my views I would have put these thoughts out on Facebook. Though, you are most welcome to share your thoughts out in the comments below.

So with that let me touch a few topics that are high on mind share.

The national elections are on. And there are a lot of parties involved in this.

Netas: Netas are threatening, bribing and more visibly cajoling voters. There are hate speeches being delivered. Interviews to media are being managed. There are a few prime netas at the core of the debate and let's see what they stand for.

Narendra Modi: The front runner according to multiple surveys for prime minister candidature this year. The person who is touted as an extremist and a pro Hindu leader. A leader who divides. Well, here is what I think. I am in no position to pass a judgment on Modi's involvement in the 2002 riots, but more often than not, if there is smoke, there is fire some where. Modi might have taken actions that were against a community. He did not possibly act like a father in the family who asked his kids to not continue fight and become friends unconditionally. He favored a kid more than the other, leaving the other kids cribbing about favoritism. I think Modi was potentially wrong here and he could have done better.

When it comes to development and governance, I believe there is nobody who comes close to modi. He is far far ahead of his close contenders.

Now this leaves us to weigh modi on the two aspects above and decide on the guy. May be because I have Hindu religious roots, it is easier for me to say that I think India will be better off with modi then without him. My Muslim friends might not use the same lens as I do.

Rahul Gandhi: Please spare me. A brat who just happens to be a Gandhi can't lead this country. This is not what I have come back from US to see.

Media: The media is keeping the debate about extremism,  development, dynasty and every thing under the sun alive. It is also holding hour long modi interviews where he doesn't get cross questioned. Well, it did not take cross questioning to flounder Gandhi. He floundered anyways, and thus did not return to TV.

International media: International media is busy bashing modi and how US and UK don't support him. I wish these countries were minding there own businesses then poking there noses in other countries matter. Where were these countries when a genocide was going on in Rwanda. I am sure these countries are worried that modi will take a pro Russian stand if he comes to power. But for that it would only be these countries at blame, they never thought modi would lead India and were busy passing sanctions on him. Whatever the election results might be, I wish international moral police to keep there thoughts to themselves. It is so difficult to know the reality about what is happening in a neighbors home, leave aside a home that is in a different society.

Indian economy: What waste full last five years. When the  economic growth is so poor, how would business work. And if they do not work, how would they offer work opportunities to others. The economy is in tatters due to corruption and no decision making. Tax payers money has been used to distribute food and laptops. I wish the money was used in something more concrete: infrastructure  development, education. Something that could have enabled people to earn for themselves.

Well, while there is a lot more to be written but let me take a break here. The rest might come out in some other post.

Laxmikant