WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THE
TOUGH GET GOING - LOK SABHA ELECTIONS IN UTTARAKHAND
It was some time back that, in my
correspondences with Arvind Kejriwal about the state of things as these
obtained in the country and the pathetic rhetoric and acts of realpolitik,
which had besieged and overtaken any meaningful and visionary politics in the
national domain, that he was confident and optimistic about a revolution and a
change happening. My disgust and cynicism was premised on my understanding of
the helplessness, which had taken a bone
crushing grip on the people of the country who were ensnared by the political
system, that had embedded and entrenched itself in the past 64 years since
independence and become a precursor of doom than hope. The only way, which gave
hope to me was the outbreak of anarchy and a revolution, which settled with a
military takeover or a dictatorship. But, Arvind and his courage to take the
political satraps of the two national political parties in the elections for
the assembly in the National Capital Region ( NCR) of Delhi, was the revolution
and change that he was confident about. He, when challenged to enter politics and
bring about the change, which he and his supporters were demanding from the
political leadership of the country from the outside as citizens, took the dare
and launched his own party, AAP. His gumption was steeped in the support and
will of the people of an inclusive society comprising the poor, the
underprivileged, the marginalized minority, and the burgeoning middle class as
also the well heeled and rich who were equally suffering from the arrogance,
political subterfuge and callousness of the government. That, the AAP has
formed the government in Delhi with Arvind as its chief minister is a political
miracle, which none had ever expected but is now history.
The success of AAP and the belief in
participatory democracy, which it has brought into the heart and minds of the
people, is the bigger narrative that is slowly and surely playing out in the
country. With the coming general elections to the Lok Sabha scheduled in phases
from April to May 2014, the youth and most other hapless and desperate people
who have lost hope in the democratic system as it exists in the country, are
simply gung ho on the likelihood of candidates of the AAP contesting from as
many parliamentary constituencies and eating into the huge pie of 543 seats,
that will be contested. The AAP being an embryonic political outfit must keep
it simple and in keeping with what its national leader professes, servant hood
with courage, humility and individual dignity. It is important that members and
elected representatives of AAP do not get embroiled and inveigled into
pontificating on various important, critical and sundry national issues and
debates, which are aired in the public domain and are the electronic media’s
oxygen, now. But instead wait, be patient with themselves and assert their
integrity and intentions with solidarity and celebrate and share the belief of
participative democracy, as best they can. After all it is not as if the
country is going to come to a grinding halt in the absence of inputs from the
AAP. The bureaucracy, technocrats, corporate houses and service providers who
essentially are charged to run the affairs of the State and the Nation and do
business, respectively will give adequate time and space to the new political
dispensation to embed itself, grasp the nuances of governance, reflect upon
policy making and take stock of the gaps which impact National interests and
articulate effective measures to bridge these.
Uttarakhand returns five MPs to the Lok
Sabha and it is an excellent opportunity for the AAP to contest all these seats
in the coming elections. The massive and unfortunate disaster which befell the
State in Jun 2013 and the suffering it has brought to the people of the hills,
is a telling tale of the misgovernance and corruption, that the people of
Uttarakhand have suffered at the hands of the two political parties which have
steered its fortunes ever since its formation. None can come clear on this
charge of lack of vision and humongous corruption at various levels of its
political leadership and tiers of its supplicant bureaucracy. It is an open
secret that, the previous and present governments have illegitimately profited
from the coffers of the State and also from the dubious deals in real estate.
The Disaster Relief Management Organization, which was to spontaneously act and
help restore the situation during the devastation which struck Kedarnath,
Rambara, Gaurikund, Guptkashi, Rudraprayag, Srinagar, Pithoragarh and
Uttarkashi was more of a disaster itself and has been taken to the cleaners by
many an informed persons. Had it not
been for the derring-do acts of the personnel of the army, air force, para
military forces and the state police to some extent, the tragedy in loss of
human lives could have been manifold more. When it came to the relief and
rehabilitation work subsequently, many NGOs and civil society organizations and
corporate houses as part of their responsibility towards society, put their
best foot forward and are continuing to provide what best relief these can in
terms of resources and material to those affected in the disaster. The
Uttarakhand Ex Servicemen League (UESL) is one such organization, which is
registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and has done, and
continues to do yeoman service for the afflicted people of the areas, which
were struck by the unfortunate tragedy. The guiding spirit of this effort and
initiative has been Brig (retd) Rajender Singh Rawat, Vishisht Seva Medal who
is the secretary of UESL. There are many more such ex servicemen in the towns,
villages and interior regions of Uttarakhand who have selflessly committed
themselves to public service, without any obligation, expectation, monetary
compensation or else favor. This is the spirit which identifies with the
philosophy and thought process of the AAP and with which these veterans have
performed for the good of their people. Therefore, it is people like these who
risked their lives and who dug deep into their pockets which has only their
pension to draw from, who should now participate in the political resurgence of
Uttarakhand and make it fulfill the aspirations and ambitions of its people.
The opportunity is huge and must be availed of, not for position, power or else
status but simply service and providing a corruption free government. The State
which is considered to be a ‘Sena Bahulya Pradesh’ must have a commensurate
stake in its governance by these veterans, who are its shining glory. The
outcome and the success of those who contest the coming Lok Sabha elections
from the ex servicemen fraternity, will usher in a wave of desirable change and
success in the Vidhan Sabha elections, as and when these are held. The AAP has
a huge ground swell of support in the cities and upper reaches of Garhwal and
Kumaon and all that is awaited is a deserving candidate from each of the five
constituencies of Uttarakhand. Victory is assured, provided the AAP considers
extending the date for the filing of candidature of those who are keen to
contest and make it 30th instead of 15th Jan 2014.
The Ex Servicemen community of Uttarakhand
is proud of the game changer in Indian politics, that Arvind Kejriwal and his
team have turned out to be and put a huge premium on the participation of as
many ex servicemen in the ranks of General, Brigadier, Colonel, Major, Captain
and Personal Below Officer Rank (PBOR).
Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal
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