India’s Politics – The Road Ahead

Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished guests. I may not be exaggerating when I say we live in turbulent times today – economically, politically and socially, all of which have brought to focus, the urgency and importance to introspect, gauge and re-draw economic policy, social policies and political thinking. What was accepted a year ago in all the three spheres is now passé. Today, it’s survival that is important – economic survival, social survival and in a way, political survival. The events of the last 6 months, have thrown up a whole new set of issues and questions, that we in positions of power the world over either knew and didn’t want to address, as the going was good, or simply bluntly, were not aware of the same.

The economic downward spiral that started last September led to a massive restructuring, if I may say so, of the politics that is or will be practiced the world over. The election of Barack Obama in the US was a clear indicator that no more was colour, social status or economic status are the criteria to elect leaders to public office, but more importantly, it was the policies of the leaders – inclusive policies that would bring them to power and allow them to unveil their programmes in the government. The subsequent collapse of governments in Finland and near collapses in Ukraine and other nations of Eastern Europe and the world at large, brought out this stark reality that the politics of the future is one of inclusive growth – growth for the people, of the people and by the people.

Whilst one may argue that the political process and franchise in India has always been inclusive of the people and as the largest democracy in the world, we have amply demonstrated this, the fact of the matter is our politics and policies have over the years been perceived by different sections of society to favour one or the other, depending on which side of the fence you sit on. Rightly or wrongly, each side has its own

grievances of another being favoured, and creating a divide economically, socially and politically. Whilst the markets boomed, and money was to be made, these issues would not be made to aware by the vested interests, but as time goes on and the economic hardships start hurting, these issues, however trivial they may be, will be brought out and be used as a weapon to achieve political mileage.

This is the fear we need to address, and for this we need to change with the world and adapt a new set of ideas and thoughts.

Close to 60% of the population of India is below the age of 50, a group that will drive the future of this country. This group has lived through the age of television, radio and the internet, and have accessed and become aware of what they need individually, their neighborhoods collectively or the cities with their states jointly, to make India a power in its own right. In a sense, this group of which I am one, is impatient for change, impatient in wait and wants answers immediately. This way of thinking, this desire to bring about the difference is the challenge to other 40% that is part of India.

It’s not about them versus us, but about us bringing them in – being inclusive in our approach to solve the various problems that plague us. They have not lived through the partition to experience the pain, but whilst realizing that what happened was not right and was condemnable, now want to look beyond and move on. Politics of hatred and divisiveness to this new generation is the thing of the past, its now sadak, bijli and paani, and how we in government will go about delivering the same.

No more is this group willing to wait 5 more years for a quick fix, 5 more years to give one dispensation a chance to rule or 5 more years for India to shine and Aam Aadmi to benefit. They dare to dream, daring to hope – dream for a better India and hope for a better India. To this group its not whether one leader is better than the other, it’s who delivers. I may be here today, I am young, but if I don’t deliver, I can guarantee you that there would be someone else in my place come the next election. They don’t see who is a Muslim, who a Dalit, who a Hindu who an OBC.. .to them its what are you going to offer that makes life better, TOGETHER.

The general perception is that once elected we are part of an exclusive club; a club that does what they believe is right and according to their whims and fancies. A club that is loath to accountability, transparency, equality, the right to be questioned, and afraid to be directly elected. These five factors have become the driving force for this new grouping of voters, who may have in the past shunned stepping out to vote, but post 26/11 are determined to step out. No more will they be concerned if the respective parties have put up A B or C as a candidate. What they will see is whether A, B or C adhere to what they want – Accountability, Transparency, Equality, right to be questioned, and if he or she is part of the constituency, and more importantly the right to be recalled. Whilst the latter has never been practiced in India, the thought process amongst this new grouping is just that – that enough is enough, if the elected representative can’t deliver, then even mid way through his or her term, a recall should take place and someone who can deliver is elected instead.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this I believe is where we are headed. People have lost faith in the politicians and the system, but not hope. To them now the five criteria detailed above is the Holy Grail to elect anyone to public office. Aisahi chalta hai attitude that may have been the forte of the voters who stepped out to vote in the past is gone. It’s now a Challenge – Vote Karenge aur Dikhaenge. Challenge to show up in large numbers, Vote Karenge to exercise their franchise which they took for granted in the past and Dikhaenge to show the politicians that people power can do amazing things….in as sense we all are on notice – we the politicians - to adapt to the changing times, accept certain realities and work with the people; and the new grouping of voters - to come forth, participate in the process, share their ideas and collectively work towards the betterment of India

If this doesn’t happen we won’t have the right to criticize our constituents into not coming out to vote, and they won’t have the right to criticize us for not including them in the decision making process.

Thank you.