Hypocrisy of Democracy

"I hate politics" is the fashionable answer to all matters related to democratic politics in India and especially in the Bengali middle and upper classes. Politics is for the crass and the course. People just like to talk about what is going wrong over a cup of tea and espouse solutions that never reach the mainstream society as these people never engage to the largest process of democratic exercise in the world.

 

Banks apparently do not encourage giving loans to people who have politically inclined setup at home. Such people are deemed as none-reliable for banks to lend money to!!! One cannot proclaim political inclinations at work place for the fear of losing ones means of livelihood, forget about unionizing for the greater good or rights. On the flip side, one cannot get anywhere without an affiliation with the ruling party. Be it jobs, admission to schools and colleges or even getting a ration card. So, one is forced to do the bidding of the ruling party in the state.

 

This vast majority in Bengal is either too disengaged from the course of political process in the state or are not allow to vote by the ruling party. When CPI(M) ruled, they would not allow voters deemed as "other" voters into the rolls. Since monopoly is the most efficient form of business, TMC has also mastered the art of not allowing voters to register whom they deem as "other" voters. Therefore, the BJP is losing out on invaluable voters and votes who would otherwise be supporting them in the upcoming elections - civic and assembly elections.

 

More importantly is the threat of physical violence in the state. In the 21st century Bengal, free speech (which is a fundamental right in the Indian Constitution) is rewarded with imprisonment, harassment and humiliation. The act of voting or even the intent to vote for an opposition party is a question of physical safety. The threat is used to deter any deviation from the dictated lines of control and polling directions by the ruling party. CPI(M) cadres perfected the art of coercion and TMC is using the tool and method with élan.

 

Exercising the democratic right to vote (again enshrined in the Indian Constitution) is a duty of every citizen of the country. But this duty is looked down up and deterred in every given opportunity. Six out of 10 eligible voters are not registered in India. 65 million women voters are not registered in the country. This is just an example of how apathy has percolated into the larger society.

 

During the 2011 Assembly elections, a staggering six lakh out of more than 14 lakh new voters registered in poll-bound West Bengal fells under the 18 to 19 years age bracket, the State Election Commission observed that about 20 to 25 per cent of the State's youth in the same age bracket is yet to register their names with the Commission. Incidentally, persons in the 18 to 25 years age bracket comprise 75 per cent of the more than 14 lakh new voters in the State ahead of the State Assembly elections.

 

If this was the situation in the last Assembly elections, imagine the situation in 2016. This hypocrisy in democracy needs to stop and stop now. Period. There can be no change and no progress without the true value of an independent vote.

 

And this is more important now and more than ever for this large group to be engaged in the democratic process. The future of our state depends on it. As a BJP member please ensure that all voters in your area is registered and voting without fear or favour.

 

For more information and aid in the enrolment process please write into Samvad Cell.