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B.N.Gururaj, Advocate

A Partition is now in progress in the State of Karnataka, after the fashion of partitioining of Hindu Joint Families. The coparcenes are Yediyurappa the Chief Minister and the Reddy-gang. Since the elders of the family, viz., the High Command has decided that Yadiyurappa must remain the CM but the Reddy gang must not be displeased, the former has been advised to yield to all the demands of the Reddy gang, be it postings of officers or making the former Speaker of Legislature Mr.Jagadish Shettar a cabinet minister. Though there are five crore stake holders and host of newspapers and magazines, all are apathetically watching the partitioning process as though they have nothing to loose.

BJP high command has given green signal to the Reddy gang to loot the State as best as they can. Otherwise, why else the Reddy gang would want their henchmen officers posted at positions of their choice? Only the fool and the naive would believe that the Reddy gang is driven by the altruistic motive of betterment of the State. Reddys are essentially businessmen, who are in politics to protect and augment their business interests.

The lack of interest shown by the Opposition Leadership and the Governor in the goings on in the Government is indeed shocking. None has shown the guts to call the Chief Minister and ask him what is the sanctity of the so called Core Committee which is supposed to decide all matters.

Indian constitution has adopted the Cabinet form of Government, where the cabinet is ultimately answerable to the Parliament or the Legislature. By forming the core committee loaded with the minions of the Reddys and Yeddy, the constitutional power vested in the cabinet has been usurped. This extra-constitutional body will act as true cabinet, but will not be accountable to the Legislature. The cabinet, which is answerable to the Legislature will be reduced to the role of a rubber stamp - approving whatever the core committee decides.

BJP, Yediyurappa and the Reddys are making mockery of political system adopted in the Constitution. But, the Governor does not even seem interested in knowing what is happening. He is too busy acting as the political agent of congress bosses from Delhi.

By

 

B.N.GURURAJ, Advocate.

 

Our Union Home Minister Mr.P.Chidambaram must have a strong sense of bad timing. A few days back, he stated that Maoists are not terrorists. He must be ruing this statement. Within next couple of days, the Maoists hijacked an entire train for release of one of their comrades. Fortunately for him, this dumb statement has not yet come in for public criticism.  If people who cannot be put down even by armed police and army, if these people use sophisticated weapons against the army and police, aren’t they terrorists. If these people are not terrorists, what is the label to be affixed to them?

 

Paradoxically, in the Karnataka High Court, someone filed a PIL seeking action against people who had attacked churches in Karnataka. The petition also labeled such attackers as terrorists. The High Court prudently cautioned the petitioners not to use strong labels like “terrorists” to people who attacked churches.

 

What emerges is this: for the liberal brigade, an attack on a church, or mosque, or a criticism of minorities is an act of terrorism. But, Maoists, though wield as sophisticated a weapon as the army or armed police, they are not terrorists!

 

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In this blog, I have generally given the middle name “timid” to Dr.Manmohan Singh, our esteemed Prime Minister, who also happens to be a sardarji. Sardarjis are generally known for their boldness, bravery and assertiveness. But, here we have a Sardar PM who is ready to genuflect before the adversary.

 

In recent times, China has behaving rather provocatively towards India. First, the issue of passport to Kashmiris on separate sheet of paper instead of stamping on the passport. Second, incursions into Ladakh and red-painting areas claiming China’s right over the land. Third is the Arunachal Pradesh episode where the Chinese objected to Dr.Manmohan “timid” Singh’s visit to that State for electoral propaganda. This would have been unthinkable in any other regime, but for the timid spineless regime of Manmohan Singh. Besides, Chinese release statement that visit of Dalai Lama is unacceptable to them. Today, someone has stated that Dalai Lama’s very presence is a political problem to China.

 

Surprisingly, within a week or thereabouts, Manmohan Singh and some Chinese counterpart meet. As per newspaper reports, there is no whisper about either Ladakh incursions, or Arunachal Pradesh antics. All they talk about is business. The crumbs that come to India by way of business with China is more important than the territorial integrity, strategic interests of India, and most importantly self respect of a nation.  

 

China never does anything by accident. It is always by design. They have generally managed to lead the Indian Government by its nose to wherever they have liked. They are actively participating the so-called development in PoK, they are arming Bangladesh, they are arming Indian Maoists and other insurgents, they have more than friendly relationship with India’s neighbours such as Pakistan and Sri Lanka. China is trying to surround India with hostile elements both from within and from outside. But, all that our PM can talk about is business and earning few more dollars. How shameless a PM can get, and how shameless he can render a nation?

 

Even Pandit Nehru, the closet communist did not stoop this level of lack of self-respect. Manmohan Singh is worse than him. Definitely Indira Gandhi, for whom I do not have much respect would not have behaved so shamelessly. 

Politicians, especially the Indian type seem to be the scum of this earth. Nothing is holy or sacrosanct for these people crazed with electoral politics and electoral brownie points.

When Karnataka has suffered greater calamity due to unprecedented floods, the Central Government releases emergency funds which is barely a third of the money released to the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

The Congress leaders in the State of Karnataka, instead of working for the cause of the people of the State act like the agents of the Central Government and gang up against the State Government. They accuse the State Government of not utilising some other grant given by the Central Government, though they know that funds allocated for one purpose cannot be diverted for other purpose, even for flood relief.

The Central Government is playing typical disaster politics just as Indira Gandhi used to play. Starve and harass the States ruled by the opposition Government. She perfected this technique during the Seventies and the Eighties. It has become the ingrained work culture of Congress - to place politics above people.

It is because of this petty mindedness that Congress has become all but extinct in Karnataka. But, this party with only leaders does not seem to have learnt its lessons.

In between there are stories that such of those calamity hit districts, which has influential leaders, or which are pro-ruling party are getting better and faster aid and relief than other districts which are in the opposition camp. What can be more despicable than this?

It seems that the electoral system in this country is designed to bring to power only the enemies of the public. These leaders deserve to be lynched by the public.

Almost sixteen months after coming to power, the BJP in Karnataka has realised that its ministers have not learnt the job. Hence, a seminar lasting about four days has been arranged for the Ministers of Mr.Yadiyurappa. Who can be the best teacher, but the person who has traded the path of development of State successfully? It is not surprising that the choice of being the first teacher fell on Mr.Narendra Modi, the much beleaguered, but one of the most successful chief ministers of our country.

When Mr.Narendra Modi does something or says something, his detractors cannot be far behind, nor can they keep quite. Predictably tirade has started against him. One more round of condemnation of Mr.Modi for Gujarat riots, questioning the wisdom of holding classes and seminars for ministers sixteen months after coming to power, "what are the ministers doing sitting in the class room, when the state is reeling under heavy rains and floods?" (you can read drought for rain etc), 'why hold these classes in the precincts of a monastery?". "Why outside Bangalore when it results in vacuum in the State Secretariat?". Next, why should RSS men come and lecture to the ministers? Why did not the CM make the seminar more broad based by inviting management experts?

Of course, detractors can ask any question and any number of them. It is their right. In fact, the right to oppose is more valuable than the right to agree.

Firstly, the ministers are ultimately answerable to the public, at least in the final analysis when they approach the voters for votes in the next election. Thus, a successful politician is in a better position to tell the ministers what the performance should be and how that should be made to reach the knowledge of the voters. No management expert can successfully tell the politicians how to relate with voters. There can be no better person to tell that than a successful politician like Mr.Modi. Why not he? He is one of the most dynamic CMs, notwithstanding the controversies that surround him, even his detractors concede that he has brought about sea change in Gujarat in the last one decade time. Of course, the detractors say that he has managed it because of his autocratic style of functioning! If a minister is autocratic in dealing with the bureaucracy, what is wrong. Autocracy should not be directed at the public as was done during Indira Gandhi's regime.

If the seminar were held in Bangalore, few if any would have attended the seminars, what with the demands of supporters within the State Capital. It was a good idea that it was held away from the madding crowd. Next, how does the choice of venue matter, be it a resort, or a monastery? When the Government spent about five lakh rupees for similar brain storming session few months back, the opposition parties condemned government for wasting public money. Now, if the seminar is held in private precincts without spending those precious few lakhs, the government is again condemned for choosing a monastery as the venue! Best example of "damned if you do, damned if you don't".

The fact that such programme was not held soon after the ministry was sworn in can hardly be a justification for not holding it now. That criticism hardly meets common sense. The Government has another three and a half years to go through its term. It is not necessary that the ministers must continue to flounder without direction for the rest of the term also. That hardly makes sense.

As regards flood, or drought or rains, is it necessary that the entire ministry should stay in capital or in the place of trouble? Isn't there a government functioning? Aren't there plans to meet the exigencies? What could be wrong in making bureaucracy responsible for meeting the emergencies?

If good ideas can come from unusual sources, and responsible governance can be taught by unusual people what is wrong? Once in a way, even RSS might have some useful idea to tell the government. There is a old Sanskrit adage, "listen to the valuable advise coming even from a small boy, or a parrot!" (Yuktiyuktam shrunot tavad baladapi shukadapi).

Criticism should not be for the sake of criticising. It should be constructive. It must contribute to what little good work done by the Government. The opposition parties must realise that their job is to be a watchdog and ensure that the Government performs responsibly for the larger benefit of the public. Scoring Brownie points may get the opposition politicians publicity. That neither benefits the Government, nor the public, certainly not the politicians mounting them.

YSR’s Death – This is Congress Culture

 

By

 

B.N.Gururaj, Advocate

 

 

One is compelled to harbour mixed feelings about the death of Y.S.Rajashekara Reddy, the CM of Andhra Pradesh. The response to his death shows that he was a hugely popular leader within his State and might have risen to great heights even in the national politics. But, that was not to be. He died, the way he did.

 

The dynastic rule is so thoroughly imbibed by the Congressmen, that almost like a knee jerk reaction, there are moves to make Rajashekara Reddy’s impetuous son the successor. Apparently, all is not well with this move, either within the AP congress or at the centre. Hence, there has been some delay.

 

This step, of elevating the son to incumbency is not something unusual. Almost twenty five years ago, when Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her body guards, even as her body was awaiting cremation, the congress leaders, in unceremonious haste got Rajiv Gandhi, then a total political novice except for being a junior MP, sworn in as the next PM. I wonder how Rajiv Gandhi agreed to it, when his mother lay dead, that too killed in a ghastly manner. But, then that seems to be the seductive force of power. All decency and caution thrown to wind. Even son did not care for the dead mother, in his haste to grab the thrown.

 

Now, this drama is being enacted in Andhra Pradesh, paradoxically under the Presidency of none other than Rajiv Gandhi’s widow Sonia Sphinx Gandhi! There is no end to public indecency and shamelessness.

 

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From Hindu view point, death of Rajashekara Reddy has significance. A closet Christian, he did not display his Christian credentials in public life, and passed for whatever he was prior to converting to Christianity. During his time, Christian evangelism reached its zenith in Andhra Pradesh. Minority communalism also received new impetus. One has to merely see Hyderabad city dotted with little little mosques. Road from Hyderabad city to Rajiv Gandhi airport. Almost every half a kilometer, there is a petty mosque, which will turn into a pill box, the moment there is some communal strife.  Hinduism, being common enemy of both the Abrahamic religions, was put down slowly and steadily during the regime of Y.S.Rajashekara Reddy.

 

His attempt to allow incursion of Christian evangelism in Tirumala are well known. On account of protests from Hindu leaders from all over the country, the attempt abated. It would have perhaps, resumed with the passage of time, as Hindus have little collective memory. During his chief ministership, there were allegations that Tirumala’s famous laddus were made by the contractors who were Christians, an allegation never conclusively refuted by the TTD administration and the Government.

 

There was strong accusation against his son Jaganmohan Reddy that once he blasted a Hindu shrine in the garb of using explosives in the mine. This accusation was also not investigated to establish either his innocence or his guilt. The reason is that all people around Rajashekara Reddy said “Why?” Yes Sir!”

 

By

 

B.N.Gururaj, Advocate

 

The crises faced by the BJP is manifold, as the plural term ‘crises’ indicates. Its leaders have lost credibility and control, and are no longer respected, not even for their past achievements. The leadership is not even given the basic courtesies due to them by the party colleagues. To approximately quote a Kannada proverb, BJP has become a broom whose tie has been loosened.

 

At this stage, whom does BJP turn to for help and guidance? Predictably, the RSS. Unfortunately, the RSS has carefully kept itself outside the electoral heat and dust. Its workers no doubt participated in electoral campaigning in the past. At least as far as the public knowledge goes, RSS has no more experience in the electoral politics and parliamentary democracy beyond this.

 

The crises faced by the BJP is very complex. It commences with the immediate cause of electoral failure. But, in the immediate past, there have been many causes for this culminating failure both inside and outside the Parliament. The immediate reaction to demands for discussion and dissent within the party has been one of closing the lid on a boiler without any safety valve.

 

At this juncture, leaders of RSS who hardly have exposure to the Parliament, inter-party relationships and electoral politics are making decisions for BJP – RSS is deciding who will exist from leadership position, who will step into the shoes of leaders, how the ideological face of the party should change. The leaders of RSS who are advising BJP leaders are far younger (in these organizations which are known for their Gerontocracy) and definitely far less experienced. One can hardly expect Mohan Bhagwat with no direct exposure to politics to tender useful advise to Advani, who is far more experienced and mature. If leaders like Advani and Rajnath Singh are lame ducks, the RSS leaders leading them are blind. It is a case of the blind leading the lame, both destined to meet their doom. Or worse, to quote Katha and Mundaka Upnishads, blind leading the blind, andhenaiva neeyamana yathandah!.

 

What the two organization are unable to realize is that the present spate of dissent and rebellion is not going to be cured by cosmetic changes at the top. The two organizations are at cross roads. They must, more importantly, decide what should be their relationship in future – that of parent and child, or two equals, or two distinct organizations trading their own chosen paths.

 

One thing is clear BJP leadership, those exiting and those entering are unable to handle the role of being Hindu protagonist. Last two elections have shown that the BJP is no longer able to handle the baggage of Ram Janmabhumi and the issue of attacks on Hindu society, having admitted muslims in its rank. It cannot even freely discuss the Hindu concerns anymore in the party’s official forum.

 

It seems that time has come for BJP to shed its baggage of being Hindu protagonist and become a political party like any other in the country. Having experienced corruption within its ranks, “operation Kamala” and the like, BJP can be a fair match for Amar Singh and his ilk when push comes to shove.

 

It is necessary that the pro-Hindu elements must exit from the BJP and form separate political party, not with a view to capture political power, but to become a large enough pressure group to prevail on any ruling Government to ensure that Hindu interests are protected. Otherwise, the conflict between pro-Hindu elements, and liberal elements like ABV and JS will continue to debilitate BJP. It is time for these elements to part company.

By

B.N.Gururaj, Advocate

During the previous regime of UPA, Lallu Prasad Yadav lorded over the Lower House. His ministership and election to the lower house seemed justified because he spoke quite enterainingly. His village boor style jokes and wits went straight home. Now, sadly for him, he just another MP. Ministership has elluded him this term, though he was proclaimed as a great performer and achiever, and was honoured with visits to B Schools for delivering lectures to the Bright Young Men about how he made the Indian Railways turnaround, giving examples of of how a cow herd gets hold of bull! So much for management savvy Lallu. Now, he is back to his state to lick his electoral wounds. Now he wants to work for building the party and reach voters in each village. One is reminded of the Hindi proverb Hazar choohe khaker billi Haj gayi, after eating thousands of mice, the cat decided to go on Haj pilgrimage!

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Coming to Karnataka, the Heir Apparent of Karnataka's first family, that is HDD family, HDD junior no longer has interest in continuign as MP. He finds state politics more charming and lucrative. What is central politics without ministership.  One who started his hunt for ministership by meeting none less than Sonia Sphinx Gandhi ended up meeting and begging underlings like Ghulam Nabi Azad! He also ended up giving unconditional support to UPA, an unsolicited support.

Now, HDD Junior wants to resign to his elected post of MP. That is, so much of public money and private money spent to get him elected is going to go down the drain. The voters have to suffer another bout of electoral propaganda and go to polling booths for voting, all because, HDD senior and Junior find that Lok Sabha is no longer good enough for HDD junior.  It is strongly recommended that if HDK resigns, the cost of last election must be fully recovered from him.

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Generally, I have high regard and respect for Sikhs, fondly called as Sardarjis. I have never subscribed to crude Sardarji jokes, whih mock at them, treating them as dumb fools. However, now that the Sardars have gone about on  a destructive spree all because some religious preacher was killed in the distant Vienna, one has to revise any good opinion, one might have entertained about the intelligence, industriousness etc of Sardars. It is utterly illogical and senseless to destroy public property in India for a killing that has taken place in Vienna. How do these worthy sardars expect their anguish and grievance to be redressed by destroying Indian railways' coaches, buses belonging to public transport, and by attacking district collectors?

By

B.N.Gururaj

Recently concluded election for the Lower House of the Indian Parliament has given comfortable majority to the UPA alliance lead by Congress. Petty regional satraps are falling over one another to give support to Sonia Sphinx Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. Even the Royal Famliy of Karnataka, lead by HDD has not been left behind. After trying to meet the Empress, the HDD Junior has met some underling and given the letter of unconditional support of all the three MPs to UPA, for nothing in return. The man who hid his face from cameras and met the Empress just before the election now has his face blackened. The ambition of getting mining ministry to put down the mining kings of Karnataka has been dashed to ground.

Between Karunanidhi and HDD senior, perhaps the former takes the cake of the farmer, when it comes to shameless nepotism. Predictably, Karunanidhi has stayed with the winning side and now wants his pound of flesh, no less than seven ministries, three of them to his own offsprings and a grand nephew. There can be no doubt whatsoever that DMK is a family affair. Two more persons who have the good fortune of being named by Karunanidhi are his bagmen, their main job is to rob the ministries which they head for the beenfit of the leader and his party. 

Instead of the party working for the public welfare, the public seems to have voted DMK for the familiy welfare of DMK gang boss. In this case, it is the voters' face that has to turn read at the conduct of their chosen representatives.

Third in line is the inimitable and voluble Lallu Prasad Yadav. Having lost the bid to ditch congress lead UPA alliance, now he has become so polite and gentlemanly that "he does not want to utter a single word against Soniaji". By being polite, he is still hoping to become some minister, if not railway minister.

Sharad Pawar the prime minister in waiting has already fallen at the feet of Empress Sonia and is ready to accept any ministry, including perhaps Women and Child Welfare ministry. He has already paid obscience tot he empress for securing ministrial berth.

The sorry spectacle of the post election scramble for power and position to make money and weild influence would have been an enjoyable comedy, if only these jokers had no power to control and influence our lives

By 

B.N.GURURAJ, Advocate. 

Death of a person, even of a murderous character like Vellupillai Pirubhakaran, is not something to cheer about. But, with his end, thousands of civilians have been greatly relieved, the civilians who were the hostages of LTTE and the target of Sri Lankan army. With the confirmed death of its bete noir, the Sri Lankan army should now rest its arms and allow the Tamilian civilians to return to civilization and normal living. For Sri Lankan army to pursue unarmed civilians will be tantamount to genocide. Though Sri Lanka defiantly went on to wage war on its own territory to rid it of LTTE, she must show the sense to stop, now that the militancy has been firmly put down. Even more important is to rebuild that part of its own territory which has been devastated on account of armed attack, and has not known peace for the last four decades. In the true sense of the term, this is the Aryan-Sri Lankan Invasion of Dravidian-Tamilians. The separatism sowed by Justice Party and Dravida Kazhagam has paid disastrous dividend.

 

United Nations Organisation’s role in the whole matter has been dismal, as has been the case since its lack of voice in the Iraqi attack on Kuwait and its silent role of allowing US aggression at that time; further lack of role in US attack on Afghanistan, and hereafter, on Iraq itself. United Nations has been nicknamed as United States Nodding Organisation. Apart from issuing condemnatory statements from time to time and making suitable noises, UN has done precious little during all these aberrations which made a mockery of amity of nations. UN did not even lift its little finger to help the Tamilian civilians escape the murderous fire of Sri Lankan army.

 

The tragic affair that has just been concluded in the Sri Lanka also has a message for the separatist movement, both armed and unarmed, the world over, especially in India. Sooner or later, the Governments and the people will be forced to exercise their might and put down separatist movements. Terrorism may thrive and continue for some time, even decades, as did LTTE movement. But, come to an end, them must.

 

The position of north east, most part of Kashmir Valley is no better than north-eastern part of Sri Lanka was under the LTTE. Neither the Central Government, nor the State Governments have much control over the Maoist infested districts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh. The writ of the government did not run at either of the places. The government existed only nominally in and around the capital cities. But, at some point of time, when all the peace efforts were obfuscated by LTTE, Sri Lankan nations has decided to hit back decisively and destroy the deep rooted terrorism on its land.

 

Though Indian government does not admit that it is not in control of the insurgent areas within its national territory, it is clear to the Indian citizens that Kashmiri separatists, backed by Pakistani Jihadis, the Maoists and Christian terrorists in the north-east can strike and kill anyone at will, without giving two hoots to the Governments and security forces.

 

Instead of ignoring the problem and allowing it to grow to the stage which reached in Sri Lanka, the Indian Government has to take steps to end terrorism of all varieties on Indian territory. A government which cannot exercise total control over its territory is no government at all.

 By

 B.N.Gururaj, Advocate.

 Now the Indian parliamentary elections have come out and the voting public have clearly chosen the political parties lead by congress. During the pre-election stage, the congress party was forced to nominate Dr.Manmohan Singh as its future prime minister under the taunts from L.K.Advani. Otherwise, as is usually the case with congress’s political culture, the prime minister would have been ‘appointed’ by “the Family”.

 

Unfortunately, Manmohan Singh is a politically timid person. He has not seen the hustle and bustle of electoral politics. He has not faced any Lok Sabha election and won his laurels. The one time, he tried, he lost his bid. Thus, he has always been a minister by gaining entry into the Parliament through the back door of Rajya Sabha.

 

Though Dr.Manmohan Singh was projected as the prime ministerial candidate by the Congress, the incumbent himself did not face any election and win his seat. Therefore, to treat the victory of congress and UPA as a verdict in favour of prime ministership of Manmohan Singh seems a little far fetched.

 

This is the unfortunate feature of parliamentary model of democracy. This is true at least in India. The victorious candidate or party has the voters’ mandate by way of success. But, that is construed as voters’ approval of all that the party or the candidate does. Indira Gandhi was highly adept at this technique. She proclaimed from tower top that everything she did had the approval of the ‘people’s court’, including depriving people of their freedom and fundamental rights during the infamous emergency.

 

Now, fortunately, the Indian voters have not been so foolhardy as to give even simple majority to a single party, much less two thirds majority. Thus, no matter, how authoritarian the tendencies of congress are, there is no immediate threat of Sonia Sphinx Gandhi becoming another Indira Gandhi. But, we have seen that under the present political dispensation, ideology or loyalty to party / leader alone need not work for perversion of systems and constitution. During the parliamentary ratification of civilian nuclear deal with the USA, we have witnessed how the congress managed to push its agenda through the parliament. During the present age, where money, power, favours and quid pro qua are the decisive factors, there is no telling which way the democracy will head in future, without an alert and strong opposition party. Karunanidhi can be bought by giving ministerial berths to his family members. Mulayam Singh and Mayawati can be bought by appropriately rewarding their nominees in the Central Government. Many more petty parties can be persuaded in similar manner to join the bandwagon of UPA and support all its agenda. Baring about 190 MPs who belong to NDA and Left parties, practically anyone will be a game for poaching by the UPA, albeit on its own terms.

 

Now that UPA is in a more comfortable position in the lower house, it is all the more necessary for the NDA to be alert and diligent in discharging its duties as opposition party.

 

By

 

B.N.GURURAJ, Advocate.

 

During the first phase of voting for Lok Sabha in Karnataka, as also in other parts of the country, people in public life, the politicians, the Election Commission and Media alike have been alarmed at the low voter turnout. The average appears to be less than the average voter turnout in the last Lok Sabha election of 2004. Of course, the analysts blame it on voters’ apathy, disillusionment of voters with politicians, lack of faith in the contesting candidates and so on. Some political parties spelled out other reasons like too little time granted by EC for conducting election propaganda, too many restriction on canvassing, which prevented the political parties and candidates from reaching maximum number of voters.

 

No doubt, our voters, especially urban voters think that watching TV or DVD or cricket is more important than voting. Unfortunately, around times like examinations and elections, there are always some cricket match or the other to distract the voters.

 

But a feature article in Prajavani came out with more interesting practices adopted by the candidates and political parties. One is of course, directly bribing voters to cast vote for their candidate. This of course, does not result in reduced voter turnout. The second trick is to bribe hard core supporters of opponent with twice the sum of money, so that they do not vote. Village leaders and elders are bribed heftily to ensure that their populace do not vote. In order to ensure that the voters do not double cross them, the followers of the candidates apply indelible ink to the left index finger of the voters and take away their ID cards. The cards are returned subsequent to election day.

 

There are of course, more traditional and time tested methods of preventing voters, by threatening the voters, killing a couple of voters and so on. These may account for more missing voters than bribery.

 

No doubt, bribing for not voting might not account for all the missing percentage of over 40%. But, the fact remains that voting in our country has become something of a charitable act, not a civic duty. It is as though the voters, instead of exercising their constitutional right, are doing favour to someone by casting their vote. It might be a fact that the candidate voted for benefits. More importantly, it is an expression of the choice of voter for the kind of government he wants.

 

One radical suggestion is to make voting compulsory. This, will go the same way as many coercive laws in our country. Does the government have the machinery to compel crores of voters turn up at the polling booths, or prosecute cores of voters for failure to vote. Such provision to compel the voters to cast their vote might be a bigger and spectacular failure.

 

One device that can be adopted is that on the election day, all the TV channel should be forbidden from telecasting any program including news. They must be directed to commence their broadcasting only after 5.00 pm. On the election day, all cinema theaters must be compulsorily closed. Thirdly, the municipal authorities must forbid any major cricket match, or football match, hockey match etc in public places on the election day, until 5.00 pm. These steps might help bring more voters to polling booth than making law to compel voters to cast their votes.