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My Column 08-05-2024

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My Column 08-05-2024

We are in the second week of May. To say that it is very hot is an understatement of the year. The heat all across the country is unbearable. And stupidly, we are conducting our general elections now.

When it comes to voting, it is your sacred duty to vote, or so says everyone. You are supposed to vote, no matter what. At the same time the met departments issues advisary, saying do not step out of the house during the day time. Temperatures are in higher 35-43 degrees everywhere. And yet elections are taking place. It is obvious that the authorities do not care for the well being of ordinary voters. They should have thought a bit before scheduling elections in the month of May. But then, who cares???

The opposition made lot of tamasha about people standing in queues in cooler months of November during note ban aftermath. But they are not willing to utter a word about people voting in month of May where we are facing worst summer in history,

So much for the slogan, for the people, by the people. This brings me to the next issue. The country has been in the election mode for the last six months or so. Now the campaigning is at it's peak. Rallies are held during oppresive heat. While the speakers enjoy cool dias making the public seat in the sun. Of course, ordinary people rarely venture out to go for such meetings. The crowds are'managed' using the lure of green. But I really pity these 'supporters'.

I sincerely believe that there is no need for physical campaigning in these days of electronic media. I do not for a moment believe that the voters are swayed by what the politicians say in these meetings. Most of the time is spent cursing the opposing parties. The language used in these lectures is downright pathetic. Nothing of substance is ever spoken in these meetings. A politician has freedom to use foul language, say anything that comes to his mind. If a common citizen uses such language out of sheer frustration, he is immediately collared. Leaders go the extent of shedding crocodile tears to woo the voters. If anybody thinks that this has any effect on the voters, then they are day-dreaming.

The total expenditure in a general election runs into few lakh crores. Most of this can be avoided by avoiding physical campaigning, when you consider the amount spent on travel, election material like flags and other paraphlenia. The police and paramilitary forces are under lot of stress during these times. General public is at a big disadvantage during road closures due to VIP movement. All this is totally avoidable. But if our politicians were to be so considrate, we would not have been in a ness which is called politics.

I do not for a moment think that my writing is going to make slightest difference to the situaion. Howeve, I still urge my readers to respond by putting in their valuable comments to my article.