Senior Politician needed for 2014 Indian Elections

Dear reader, I need some help. A leading Indian political party has asked me to articulate an ad for recruiting politicians for upcoming elections in 2014. I have come up with the following and I need your help to validate or change it.

Senior Politician needed for 2014 Indian Elections

Responsibilities

·        Contest and win at least one Lower House seat (Lok Sabha)

·        Organize election campaign and raise funds for elections

·        Party’s go-to person for collecting kickback (or bribe) and distributing it

·        Manage groups responsible for religion based riots

·        Coordinate rallies to disrupt law and order

·        Strategically plan meetings with partner parties to set price of MPs

·        Collaborate with the underworld to ensure party priority are met

·        Be an expert in keeping senior members of the party happy

·        Pretend to care about society and poor

Required qualifications and experience

·        Lie smoothly

·        Experience in directly and indirectly asking for cut

·        Able to cheat with conviction and without fear of god, government or law

·        Never allow anyone to awaken conscience

·        Experience in successful embezzlement of minimum 10 Lakh rupee

·        Able to handle firearms for party’s interest

·        Has proven to be the toughest ruffian and hoodlum of the city

·        Capable to operating accounts in Switzerland and other foreign countries

·        Understand Indian judicial system and has experience in getting acquittal

·        Able to operate from the prison in an unforeseen situation

Salary:  It is a commission based job and unlimited potential. India is a rich country with lots of tax and foreign aid. You will be part of the system to bag all this money.

Dear reader, feel free to add if missed any specific point and of course I am more than happy to delete any point that is not correct.

I cannot decide if this post is fiction or non-fiction.

Mumbai 26/11 Attacks and India Now

Mumbai terrorist attacks of 26/11 (26 November 2008) continue to haunt the people of Mumbai and Indians across the world. With a single arrest and trial, India and in particularly families of the victims are still waiting for the execution of the death penalty even after three years of the attacks.

At a broader level people of India continue to wait for security, law and order. Clear exposure of vulnerability to terrorist attacks, wide spread media coverage, numerous victims and bravery stories of 26/11 attack did not appear to change the mechanism to protect the citizens. With the attack of this size, one would imagine a fundamental shift in handling terrorism, focused & proactive approach to come up with a series of changes in policies, and implementation of strict law maintenance procedures. However it seems like asking for protection from internal and external terrorists is a wrong expectation from government machinery. Some terrorist acts since Nov 26, 2008:

• 13 February 2010, Pune, 14 killed, 60 injured
• 7 December 2010, Varanasi, 2 killed, 37 injured
• 13 July 2011, Mumbai, 26 killed, 130 injured
• 7 September 2011, Delhi, 12 killed, 76 injured

Terrorists continue to slaughter innocent, average hard working men and women while politicians are busy with scams and corruption.

Do you see an end to it?

North Carolina Joins Anna: India Against Corruption

On Wednesday August 17, 2011, several hundred people participated in a Candle Light Vigil at Bond Park, Cary, NC in recognition and support of Team Anna and its fight against corruption in India. Men, women, students, and youngsters joined hands for this common cause. Besides discussing the differences between the bills proposed by the government and Team Anna, people signed a petition for submission to Indian Consulate at Washington DC. It is one of many efforts by Non Resident Indians around the world.

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Author’s Note: - Why it is important for Indians to support this movement?

1. Truth and honesty are the foundation of India’s great heritage. Indian culture, society and value system revolved around genuineness, fairness and legitimacy. Teachers, parents, elders, leaders, books and religious scriptures quote examples of truthfulness and integrity of our ancestors. Our ancestors set an example for our value system. With the current corruption levels, what kind of example are we setting for our children? Are we going to give example of ministers with highest number of frauds?

Is not current corruption level challenging the basic fabric of our society? What is the evolution of social and value system if we don’t stop or make an effort to stop the corruption?

2. Despite being the 5^th largest economy in world (after the USA, EU, China and Japan), per an estimate 25% people still live in poverty while elected politicians and leaders have millions of dollars in foreign banks. Scam, cheatings and bribery by high level elected officials is common news item.

Is that the right environment for a growing economy? Is that the right atmosphere to maintain law and order conducive for growth?

Corruption is hurting India economically and socially. It is challenging the fundamentals of Indian civilization, traditions and morals in turn integrity of Indian nation.

Kill the corruption before it kills India.

Jan Lokpal Bill is the first step in eradication of corruption. After losing hopes from democratically elected leaders and the parliament, Indians all over the world support Team Anna whose ideas resonate and relate with the common public.

Every drop in the ocean counts. Let us keep adding drops in the ocean of support for anti corruption movement. Let us make it strong and immense to crumble and eradicate the deep routed evil of corruption from India forever.

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Credits:- Candle Light Picture, taken from Facebook (AIDCONFERFENCE – Pubic library) and picture of India taken from Google.

Related Articles:-

1. India Against Corruption

2. India on 65th Anniversary of Independence

India on 65th Anniversary of Independence

15^th August 2011 marks India’s 65^th anniversary of Independence from British after a long struggle and a bloody partition. Where is India today after 64 years of Independence?

	Achievement	Yet to achieve / failure
Economy	India is 5th largest economy in the world after EU, USA, China and Japan	Though India is rich, Indian people are poor. GDP per capita remains low and stands at 163rd in the World. According to a study, 25% Indians still live in poverty.
Literacy	According to 2011 census, literacy rates stands at 74%. In 1947 it was around 12%.	Average literacy rate of the world is 84%. India still has most illiterate people in the world.
Population	Per 2011 census, India’s population is 1.21 Billion. The rate of population increase has decreased.	India is likely to bypass China in 2025 and expected to have population of 1.6 Billion in 2050. Are population control program really working? In addition male to female ratio is high and there is always a question if that is due to abortion of female fetus.
Corruption	Democracy and strong media are supposed to keep corruption in control.	Corruption remains very high. India is ranked 84th in corruption index measurement. (Rank 1 means least corruption)
Government	While several new and old countries went through or are still dictatorship, military rule or anarchy, India continues the present a good example of successful democracy.	21 month period of emergency rule imposed by then prime minister Indira Gandhi will remain a block spot in Indian history.
Secularism and religion	India is truly a secular nation. At one time three key powerful positions were held by minorities – a Sikh PM, a Muslim President and a White female ruling party’s president. People are free to practice and choose any religion.	While religion is used as a card in election by all parties, a layman always worries about Hindu Muslim communal riots. Babri Mosque episode still haunts both communities. Massive massacre of Sikhs in Northern part of India in the first week of November 1984 hints the superficiality of secularism.
Foreign Relation	Being a major economic power and a successful democracy, India enjoys good relations with the USA, Russia, Japan, the UK and most other developed countries.	No viable solution of Kashmir problem is in sight. Kashmir remains an obstacle to build good relationship with Pakistan.

Contradictions in the achievements are clear. But India has been and probably will remain a country of extreme contradictions for several years to come. A relatively new country with one of the oldest civilization and glory of rich history, India always mesmerized rest of the world. With over hundred languages, a foreign language English is and will remain the common language among Indians of various regions. A wealthy may spend more money on a single meal than monthly salary of the person preparing the meal. Coexistence of luxury houses and slums constantly points to an incredibly high inequality between rich and poor. Culture, tradition, clothing, language and values vary dramatically based on religion, urbanization, education level and economic status. Towering disparity gives the impression that every Indian has its own India.

But that is the beauty of India and makes it a unique country in the world. Just being an Indian gives a sense of unity regardless of differences. Accepting the dissimilarities is inherited in Indians. Unity in diversity holds absolutely true and makes India the most vibrant place in the world.

Often one hears ‘You can take an Indian out of India but cannot take India out of Indian’. Is not that statement correct in spite of of issues, problems and challenges?

Happy Independence Day to all readers and a peek of India through Gateway of India

Reference:-

1. India Fact Book
2. Literacy Rate in India
3. Current Population
4. Demographics of India
5. Corruption Index

India Against Corruption

Social networking sites and email chains are pleading support for 30th Jan 2011 rallies organized by “India Against Corruption”. A number of prominent people and religious leaders support the cause and protests may influence the anti corruption bills. Waking up to fight against corruption is a good first step by Indian public. While waiting to see the impact of Anti Corruption rallies in sixty cities of India, common public can take concrete steps to curb corruption:

• Say ‘No’ to agents asking bribe for Driving License. Discard the driving license if obtained using corrupt means and get a new one without paying any bribe.

• Pay traffic violation fine and avoid under the table transaction.

• Set a single price of properties. Make cash (black) and white parts history.

• Stop paying kickbacks for winning government contracts.

• Construct buildings, bridges and roads with appropriate material instead of using that money to bribe for the approval.

• Declare income honestly and pay required taxes.

• Just pay the required fee for birth, death or marriage certificates.

• Use talent and merit to get a job. Let losers use money and/or contacts for jobs.

• Vote for honest and capable candidates.

The list is endless but fundamental principle is the same. Be honest and do not use illegal, unethical or corrupt means. Kill the corruption by NOT becoming part of it. Corruption will cease from our society if all of us follow our ancestor’s core value system i.e. honesty. 

What do you think?

References:-

• Hindustan Times News Article On Rallies
• India Against Corruption Event List