Political Reforms

Political Reforms
Since past few days mercury level of political arena is on the way of touching a new height with the on going political war of leaders of North India especially of the Bihar with the young Maharshtrian leader Raj Thakre. If we look at the root cause for all these unpleasant happening we are bound to end with political desire of proving the regional supremacy of self over the others.
In fact this regionalism is seeded with our constitution though I am not a constitution expert but surely an Indian with a little bit of wisdom to take the measures of the situations. At the time of independence country was divided into state on the bases of language and unfortunately during these over 60 years of post independence we fail to develop attitude of being Indian still we are Punjabi, Gujarati, Bihari, Rajathani, Maharashtrian or North Indians and south Indians. As we are living in the democratic setup and it is most suited for the political parties to have small but very strong supportive vote banks hence political leadership of the country has preferred to work for keeping the regional identity intact instead of developing attitude and affection for the national identity among the generations of post independence era.
This is always said that there is a silver lining in the dark clouds. In fact this ongoing political dispute is that silver line which must be utilised for initiating the script writing for the much needed political reforms. On my experiences as the common citizen I am putting up some reforms.
Constitutional
There will be no states in the country, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari whole land will be a nation. This is sure that an opposing argument will be based on difficulties at administrative levels but this can be solved with making provision of increasing the powers of local bodies at the city / village levels and increasing the number of members of Lok Sabha there must be a representative of every five Lakh voters in the dense population areas and for three Lakh voters in the areas of dispersed population.
As there is provision of development funds for every Member of Parliament so this can be made compulsory for all the political parties to face the elections with their proposed development plan for every constituency by utilizing this fund. Winning party which fails to complete less than 80% of proposed development will not be entitled for fighting election from that constituency in the next election.
People often complains and there is truth in it to considerable extant, that MP or MLA of the area has not worked for the all round and equal development in the constituency and has utilized most of the funds for providing facilities to specific area of the constituency. To avoid this I am suggesting change in method of declaring winner of election, instead of present total number of popularity votes, candidate who stood first on the list of popularity votes at 70% of total pooling booths will be declared winner. This might rarely happens that a candidate might get higher votes but as that candidate fails to gets first position at 70% of total pooling booths so this candidate will not be the winner.
There is another way also in which every pooling booth will be converted into single vote and candidate standing first and second will get it. For illustration suppose in a constituency there are 500 pooling booths so a candidate will be entitled for getting maximum 1000 votes and any candidate getting 700 votes should be declared winner. For getting pooling both vote this will essential for the candidate to get at least 20% of total votes. [If 1000 people have voted at least 200 must have voted for that candidate]
Any member of Parliament changing party six months prior to election will not be entitled for fighting the forth coming election on the ticket of newly joined party and will have to wait till next election for being a candidate from the same constituency.
Political parties failing to win 10% of total seats will loose their registration with election commission and their candidates who had won that election will have to join any other party within 30 days of such action.
Political leaders will not be entitled for accepting any gift / donation either from common citizen or from any commercial establishment for self or for party.
Political parties will get election fund equivalent to 5% of aggregate of development fund received by their Members of Parliament.
Candidate are allowed to make maximum election expanses at the rate of Rs. 5/- [Five] per voter and has to submit details of proposed expanses while filling the election forms. Election commission will give Rs. 1 Lakh to every candidate who keeps total election expenses within Rs. 10 Lakh and gets Rs. 1 Lakh from the party election fund.
For registering a party with election commission, which can be done one year prior of next scheduled elections, this will be mandatory to have endorsement from at least 15 present or past members of Parliament who are entitled for fighting election and give written commitment of fighting next election as party candidate of this new political party. Election commission will charge Rs. 30,000/- for registering a political party.
In the case of death / disqualification of a member, instead of holding fresh elections, candidate stood second in the previous election will become member for rest of the term. This rule is applicable only if the time for the next scheduled election is higher than six months, other wise party president will look after the developmental works of the constituency without having voting rights or right of participation in the parliament functioning.
No politician will be entitled for fighting more than five elections irrespective of wining or loosing the election and this will be inclusive of the elections at the city / Village level.
Independent candidates will not be allowed to fight elections for the Lok Sabha, however their participation will be allowed in the city / Village level elections. Here also provision should be made for providing development fund and pre election announcement of development plan by the candidates at the city / village levels.
Rajya Shabha will not exist. President of India will have right of appointing 20 members for Lok sabha but these appointment member will not be entitled for becoming a minister in the government and eventually function as independent candidate.
There will be no reservation in any field on any bases and there will be only one set of laws for all the Indians, irrespective of their caste, religion or region of living. Using a word indicating caste or religion of any citizen will be a punishable crime.
This is common observation that these days working of Parliament House gets hurdles or withheld for this or that reasons hence to avoid this, provision should be made that members must get allowance on the bases of working hours of the house instead of present one which is based on the number of days.
This is also observed that certain politicians are enjoying same portfolio in the ministry for several terms which often leads creation of non satisfaction and irregular [region wise] development works by that ministry. Provision should be made that no politicians should be allowed same ministry for more than three years in the entire political career. However post of Prime Minister & Finance Minister will be free from this restriction.
In the case of ruling party don’t have any member matching with eligibility criteria for the Finance Minister, can appoint any suitable candidate. In that case one member of the party will have to resign from the membership of Parliament and person appointed as finance minister will be treated as representative for the constituency of resigning member.
Baring the Prime Minister, all the ministers and Members of Parliaments will be entitled for 3BHK flat in multistoried building for their residential purpose in Delhi on rental basis. The rent will not be in excess of 20% of salary and allowances and will be deducted at source. All the members have to vacant this flat one month prior of the elections and have to submit such certificate to election officials if fighting elections.
As in the present era politics is no more act of social service and being member of Parliament involves more than adequate economic gains hence if any member needs a security will have to pay for this.
Eligibility Criteria
This is most strange and truly fascinating fact about our country that for being selected to post of forth grade employee say peon one needs to have a minimum educational qualification equivalent of 10 years of school education but for being a politician, representative of millions and nation’s police maker you are free from such obligations. We are often complaining about lowering of moral behavior by the politicians but never put stress for combining the educational qualification with the essentials of political leadership. As at the time of independence educational levels in our country were lower in the true sense but during these 60 years we had marched miles and miles ahead on the road of increasing educational levels hence this is most appropriate time to make certain essential educational levels for fighting elections. My proposed educational eligibility criteria is
For Village Level Elections: Minimum 8 years of school educationFor City Level Elections: Minimum 12 years of school education For Being Member of Parliament: A degree or professional diploma For Being Minister: Post GraduationFor Finance Minister: Economics Post Graduate or CEO of a corporate house with five years experience. For Defense Minister: Retired armed force personal of rank of Major and above or IPS personal of equivalent post. For Prime Minister: Minimum one year’s experience of being a minister is desirable but not essential.
The most and all important eligibility criteria for being entitled as a candidate in any election, person must not have any past criminal record and at any time of election process should not be in prison even due to political reasons.
To Young Indians
I know my most of proposals will be out rightly rejected by majority of the present political leadership of the country, but frankly speaking I had not written a single word for them, all this is about a hard to achieve challenge for younger Indian generation and written for the purpose of awakening them. Once I had read a meaningful and inspiring thought “Be the change you want to see”. I wish to further ahead of this that this is always the younger generations which are willing for change and have the energy sources essential for bringing the change. I wish to say identify your energy potential and instead of using this for destructive works by playing at the hands of politicians, be politicians, utilize these huge energy channels you have for making self and every citizen of country, an Indian in true sense. Do remember old aged persons can only suggest directions for the action but can’t initiate an action this is the reasonability of youth to act and bring a desirable change.

Political Play

Political Play

India the land of peace, understanding and mutual co-operation seems to be polarized on the recent nuclear treaty, it is not only the opposition that is on the other side of the decision of the government, as it happens in usual ways of democratic setups but one of the friendly political party, supporting coalition government, is putting a hard voice and showing intentions of even withdrawing support to government. Just look how the left is dictating the terms with their 65 members of Parliament in the house of 545 members. Ruling UPA is with house strength of 217 members, and if the external support of these 65 members is withdrawn than government will came in the minority and President of India will be forced to announce pre term elections, because the political situations are such that neither BJP headed NDA [186 members] nor the third front [136 members] are in the position of giving new government. The hard lines taken by Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and left leadership on the issue are holding over than 110 crores Indians as hostage for their ego clash. Political analyzers have started to look at political scene that might emerge if the country is forced to face pre term elections but if we look at ground realities we will find that certain following situations are against the preterm election.

1. Just look at the statement, of Shri. L.K.Adwani leader of NDA, “We don’t think that this is proper time to dislodge this government.” It also indicates opposition is not prepared to face the midterm election. It is possible that in all probabilities NDA will not support any “No confidence move” initiated by left in the house.
2. With the time wisdom of common men is grown and a visible faith on scientists and professional over the politicians is going to become new identification mark of Indian youth. The interesting thing is that all the scientists and technical professional are finding this treaty in favor of the country. Beside this left parties are also aware of the lost ground in their strongest hold West Bengal, due to agitation for farmers protesting against SEZ. Internal clashes are weakening party in their second strong hold Kerala and in the rest of country their presence and effect can easily brought down to earth.
3. BJP and NDA are not happy with the recently shifting of news focus over the Prakash Karant and few other left leaders, so they will not leave any space for making these villain in the vision of common Indians.
4. No political party is with the leaders to match with the fame of Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Singh, BJP might have dared for it but bad health of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and low acceptability of Lal Krishna Adwani is ceasing their fate.
5. Over all, all the political parties are aware of the fact that common man is become fade of political stability and if the preterm elections are held at this moment only congress party will be benefited from it.

So dear, don’t be so worry, wait with patience, this is a passing shower of unseasoned rain and the so called political stability of the country will return to normalcy in very short future.

New Kings of Divide and Rule

“Divide and Rule” the policy that has helped British rulers to keep intact their kingdom over the Indian sub continent for centuries. It was thought that with the independence and democratic set up this policy will die its natural death with time. Does it happen in our country? Surely the answer is not an affirmative one, considering the situations that even after a more than half of decade still we are not Indians but still are Punjabi, Marathi, Gujrati, Bengali, Tamil, South Indian, Assamee or Sindhi. Will you believe about one third population of America is of the citizens without American origin but they all are Americans.

Why this happens only in India? Minor things that can be overlooked at any moment become an issue of mass consideration. It might be the dress code of Tennis sensation Sania on the playing fields or the recent statement of Film Star turned politician Hema Malini with respect to North Indian especially people from U.P.

This was happening in past only due to politicians and politics because we were unknown with the art of living with these things and differentiate them to keep the politics away from our day to day life. It was real non pleasing status that we have reached destination where even our students were divided on the basis of casts. Thank to God slowly but surely [within a short span of 50 years] we had learned that many of politicians were the new carriers of “Divide and Rule” and for their self started using common citizen to achieve their own aims and objectives without bothering about National or social up-liftment.

Technology has made our life enriched with ever most comfort but this has also produce new carriers of “Divide and Rule”. It is fact that there is rate race for the top spot in the electronic media and nobody wishes or affords to be loser on the TRP grounds. This can be reflecting from the recent Hema Malini incident. Fortunately I have watched this entire episode very carefully what I have saw and heard was
Reporter: North Indians in Mumbai are not satisfied as they fail to get the desired status for them?
Hema: If they fail to get desired status they can go back.

Hema’s comment was just to produce a humor but these TRP thirsty News channels has started projecting this statement as the insult of North Indians especially citizens of U.P. The episode ends with the apology by Hema Malini for non committed sin. I wish to leave all of you with two questions

Is the apology of Hema Malini will remove the wounds created by so called insult and humiliation?

Will we allow these TV News channels to rule over us by there this policy of “Divide and Rule”?

India: Political and Electoral Reforms

We Indian are not just became habituated with the corruption by the politician but also had learned the art of living with it. Otherwise what else is preventing us for raising our voice against it? People says India has changed a lot, the days of dynasties are over, No dear nothing is changed if you think deeply, though on a visible change is that know people have choice of electing rulers of own choice, where as in the past it was destiny that who will be the ruler.If the present political environment which on run towards being worst with time remain in continuation surely India will be heading to face a dictatorship in very near future and what the bare thought freedom we are enjoying will become a thing of past. So dear friends this is right time for awaking, I am calling especially youth to come forward and work for the most needed political and electoral reforms which are the need of hour to keep intact our status of being citizen of a democratic set up.

Political Reforms:

Surely the our present political situations have reached to status of being liable for undergoing a renovation and to make the political sky of the country, pollution free and more worth for living following reforms must be implemented with immediate effect.

** Introduction of Law Council to look after, the review and reconstruction of the constitution of the country, define the duties and responsibilities of public representatives, beside fixing their salaries to appropriate and reasonable level and keep on working for rules and regulations that can meet with our changing social demands. This will leave government with the only implementation of laws. How ever every suggestion of this council will be under go a debate in both the existing houses by the elected public representative before being called law.

Construction of Law Council: There will be just 25 persons appointed by President by India for a term of three years with fix remuneration of Rs. 25,000/- per month to each. The sole and one eligibility criteria will be that these persons should not be related with any political party directly or indirectly and selected from various fields as fallows
4 High court retired Judges3 Supreme Court retired Judges3 Armed forces retired personals [Brigadier or equivalent]2 IAS retired officers 2 University Student representatives [preparing for Doctorate in Law and under age of 35 years] 3 Professional [having a practice of 10 or more years] [like Doctors, Engineers]3 Representatives from the corporate houses2 Supreme Court practicing lawyers [at least 10 years experience]2 University Vice Chancellors retired [Law background essential]1 President of India [Working as the Honorary Head of council]

** We are one of the biggest populated countries and if we take the problem of residential area and the unaffordable expenses made on the security of Ministers and other politicians my suggestion will look worth gold.I suggest construction of multistory buildings for the residence of Ministers and other political personalities as this will not only solve the problem of residential area but will also bring the security expenses to minimum.

** There must not be different set of laws for the people on the basis of religion or the area [as are there in present constitution]. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, whole land is one country India hence there must be a universal and same set of laws. Similarly we are being known as Indian to world so there is no need of different sets of laws which divide us into various religions.

** Politics is no more a social service. It has started journey on the roads of professionalism and like other professions started to run in heredity. In the laws of our land there is no provision of making expenses on the security of professionals, I suggest the same status for the politicians. There is high life risk is involved in the professions related with coal mines and armed forces and peoples are entering in these profession on their own risk. Why we wish to keep apart politic from these high risked professions?

** There should not be any type of reservation, as every candidate will compulsory submit plan of development for the area before the election [see electoral reforms] so it will make no difference who is representating which constituency? Imprisonment [for any reason] will be treated as a disqualification.

Electoral Reforms

** There must be a minimum level of education for being liable for contesting in elections. My suggestions are For Village level Bodies : At least 10 years of schoolingFor City Level Bodies : At least 12 years of schoolingFor State Level : At least Graduation For National Level : At least Post Graduation or a professional degree

** It will be mandatory for every candidate to submit year wise plan of development for the area, indicating year wise proposed details of expenses to be made from the discriminatory fund.

** An elected candidate must published year wise asset details of self and relatives in a comparable table format highlighting the additions at the bottom of table.

** All elected candidate must publicized the achievements regarding the development of the area on yearly basis with quoting commitments.

** During the membership no one will be allowed to hold any post in the co-operative institution or NGOs [even honorary].

** An elected candidate will compulsory will remain present in and available for meeting with public in the constituency.

** All the seating members have to vacant their government residence at least 15 days before the election and should submit such certificate issued by appropriate authorities before the electoral officer of area.

** An elected candidate will be liable for calling back if fails in Publishing year wise asset details of own and relatives. Completing less than 80% of the committed development. Being present in at least 24 public functions held in the constituency during the year.

** In the case of call back of elected candidate, one who was second in the election will be declared elected for the remaining period of term of house and will work according to submitted plan of development for that specific period.

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