Are we ready to stay united for a longer battle?
2008
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Rishabh Srivastava - Profile
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Awareness, Politics, Society, Terrorism
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Awareness, Politics, Terrorism
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But it would be remarkable to see if this anger can be converted into some action. I have been involved in few of the movements before, where the start is just too good to believe but then it becomes more than difficult to sustain the movement. If this is only a knee jerk reaction or mere emotional outburst, then I doubt anything will change. The problem with our people is that they give reactions but very few come forward to initiate and support it with actions.
Even if 0.001 per cent of the people gathered in the rally come forward to convert words into action, we can expect some change. We need to realise that it is futile to form so many groups or forums. I observed that there were more that 10 groups in the rally. The divided numeral groups will not serve the purpose.. Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean. It is thus important that all the citizens come under ’one banner only’ with the same goal. It is this disunity, which makes our politicians not take our stance seriously.
Politicians know that the resentment in people will die in next few months. And they have reason to believe so, every time people come together in the time of crisis and then get busy with their own personal lives. As a society, we are selfish, lack concern for fellow human beings and have no sense of true patriotism.
If we want to bring some changes in the system through a movement then it is extremely essential to stay united, prepare for longer battle, focus on long term goals and be ready to demand our rights each time those are denied to us. We all belong to same human race.
We must feel the pain of others and that should motivate us to continue this battle unless things really get sorted out.
At the same time it is extremely important that the youngster who has been in slumber for long time should wake and take responsibility in building the nation. We need to demand and stand for our rights. We need to be an active participant in the revolution that will witness the emergence of India as a better nation in every aspect and then will we be able to call ourselves a super power. It is time for common man to be a rebel, at times peace does need some fight (non-violent one, of course).
There is a quote, which reads “People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” It is very important that we all use the light coming from fire within and remember that revolution is not a dinner party. For the time being I am keeping my fingers crossed, hoping we will not let this pass just pass away.
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Well said. Here’s a first step that We, The People, can take right away…and demonstrate peoples power! Read on…
How are ordinary people to express dissatisfaction? They can write letters to the editor, but how many can be published? Taking to the streets is an option, but is that a desirable one? Will it bring results? History has repeatedly shown that such events are usually forgotten over time and people revert back to meeting their ends meet! The vote is the only weapon people have, it appears. However, who does one vote today? The worse of the two or many candidates? How does the voter convey his powers through this weapon…Many are talking about Rule 49-O, as if this Rule can bring down government and politicians. No way..not in its current form anyway OR in the proposed reform format per Part 1 Chapter 7 of Proposed Electoral Reform sent to the Prime Minister (reproduced below). However, there’s a first step…a starting point if you will…to demonstrate the Power of the People…Read on….
The current Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections is flawed and powerless as well as it exposes the voter! It needs to be modified to allow for a column in the ballot paper “None of the Above Candidates” so a voter can tick that if he does not wish to vote anyone.
STATUS AS OF NOW: Pending since 2001 – PROPOSED ELECTORAL REFORM
See http://www.eci.gov.in/PROPOSED_ELECTORAL_REFORMS.pdf Proposed Electoral Reforms … Recommendations since 2001 and resubmitted in 2004. Part I, Chapter 7 reproduced here..
7. NEGATIVE / NEUTRAL VOTING
The Commission has received proposals from a very large number of individuals and organizations
that there should be a provision enabling a voter to reject all the candidates in the constituency
if he does not find them suitable. In the voting using the conventional ballot paper and ballot
boxes, an elector can drop the ballot paper without marking his vote against any of the candidates,
if he chooses so. However, in the voting using the Electronic Voting Machines, such a facility is not
available to the voter. Although, Rule 49 O of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 provides that
an elector may refuse to vote after he has been identified and necessary entries made in the
Register of Electors and the marked copy of the electoral roll, the secrecy of voting is not protected
here inasmuch as the polling officials and the polling agents in the polling station get to know
about the decision of such a voter.
The Commission recommends that the law should be amended to specifically provide for negative / neutral voting. For this purpose, Rules 22 and 49B of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 may be suitably amended adding a proviso that in the ballot paper and the particulars on the ballot unit, in the column relating to names of candidates, after the entry relating to the last candidate, there shall be a column None of the above, to enable a voter to reject all the candidates, if he chooses so. Such a proposal was earlier made by the Commission in 2001 (vide letter dated 10.12.2001).
(A petition by the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties seeking such a provision filed at the time of the
recent general elections is pending before the Honble Supreme Court)
Do you believe the government from the current breed of political parties will APPROVE the inclusion of these clauses? They will forever be ‘pending’, least of all ‘legislation’ by the Government.
Therefore, an alternative forceful method has to be devised to get the government ‘to listen and adhere to the voice of the people!’
Draft of PROPOSED Amendment should be:
“1. If the voter does not wish to vote any of the contesting candidates, he shall put the prescribed mark on the ballot paper at the place within the space containing the symbol of “none of the above candidates”;
And, To give more force to the rule, additional clause(s) should be added … for eg.
2. (i) Notwithstanding anything contained in any Article of this Order, if the number of “none of the above candidates” votes exceeds 50% (fifty percent) of the total votes cast in any constituency, the Returning Officer shall cancel the election proceedings after giving an immediate notice and inform the Commission accordingly.
(ii) Where election proceedings are canceled under clause (2i), fresh proceedings shall be commenced in accordance with the provisions of this Order as if for a new election and the Candidates who contested will not be eligible for contesting again.”
A cohesive online and offline Campaign to get these clauses included in the Conduct of Elections Rules will be a huge ‘first’ victory to the People’s Power.
And this should happen IMMEDIATELY at least PRIOR to the Upcoming Parliamentary elections on April 2009. Any takers?