No Effort is Small
by Neelima Choahan
WITH Delhi set to go to polls on May 7, I took the opportunity to engage a small group of young voters about the upcoming general election.
The members were all part of a youth group at the Delhi centre of-an organisation focusing on the study of Vedanta.
Two amongst the group were first time voters while one was still underage.
Before the talk I had assumed that any patron of the organisation would necessarily support the BJP.
However, I was in for a surprise as it seemed that most of them were considering voting for Congress.
I started the meeting with the aim of initiating a discussion about the election. Once, I established that they were all registered voters, I proceeded to ask them what they thought about the present government.
One person said that though he was a BJP supporter he did not think his one vote would make a difference.
Two of them said that they were happy with the work done by the Congress candidate in their constituency so they were leaning towards the UPA.
I reminded them that local issues were best left to be considered during Municipal Corporation and state election. While, on May 7, the Delhi elector needed to focus on national issues like defence, foreign and economic policy.
Touching upon issues of security I asked if they were happy with UPA Government’s response during the Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2008.
One of the first-time-voters said though she was unhappy at the breach in security that had led to the attacks, she was largely satisfied by the Government’ response.
I asked them to compare the US’ aggressive response to September 11, 2001 terror attack in New York to the Manmohan Singh-led Government whose actions seemed to be limited to exchanging letters with the Pakistani Government.
I also pointed out since then the US had never again experienced another such attack on its soil. On the other hand, 67 Indian cities were blasted in the last five years of the UPA Government rule.
Championing the need of a strong and able leader, I spoke about the present dangers to India from its neighbour.
India is more vulnerable today with an unstable and nuclear armed Pakistan, an aggressive China, the built of Islamic terrorists training camps in Bangladesh and Nepal.
One of the Congress-leaning voter then pointed out how the highest number of terrorist infiltration were from Congress-ruled Rajasthan while BJP-ruled Gujarat reported the lowest number of figures.
Touching upon communalism, a young first-time voter said she prided herself for belonging to a tolerant nation. But she agreed the diversity in India owed its existence to the pluralistic tradition of Hinduism.
Finally, I rounded up the conversation by reminding them that a vote for UPA may mean a Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav or Mayawati as Prime Minister.
The infighting between the various factions of the UPA meant that the ruling coalition is an opportunistic alliance.
Whereas by voting for the BJP-led NDA electors knew exactly what they were getting.
I feel the meeting went well as we openly discussed performances of both the NDA and UPA. The talk managed to crystallize the main issues facing the country and the results of choosing the wrong party.
But whether the meeting will result in a vote for BJP that only May 7 will tell.
Comments
7 Responses to “No Effort is Small”
Very nice effort. Well you did your Karm, so kudos for that. For all those youngsters out there with misconception that Indira Nehru Feroz Ghandi was the best PM, please read this: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dreaming-a-bad-dream/453825/0 by Ms. Tavleen Singh and http://www.slideshare.net/bjpuploader/emergency-1271449?type=presentation
Advani for PM!
In these type of gatherings BJP cadre seems to forget to communicate to the young voters, their strongest point of maintaining internal democracy system in the party.We must tell the youth that Mrs sonia Gandhi is President of Congress party since last 13 years whereas in BJP we have seen many organisational changes during those years.Whoever wins these elections,There is every possibility that Sonia ghandhi will remain president of Congress party for years to come as
if it is a private business enterprise.The same can be said for Bahujan samaj party whose unquestionable leader is Ms Mayavati and samajwadi
party, since it’s birth,has one and only one leader Mulayam singh Yadav.this list can go on and on.However in BJP, we will have a new president or Mr Rajnath singh will have to seek a reelection for the post.The world is changing rapidly and a party like BJP only can accept the challenge to dynamics of the changing scenario in the world as there is always leadership changes which is essential for new age governance,new thinking and a healthy democracy.
Your effort should also not get wasted. I promise that my whole family will vote and I will ask my friends to do the same
Neelima, well done. I think your argument that “when you vote the congress, you are also voting for the corrupt Yadav twins, Mayawati or the MAHA corrupt Sharad Pawar as PM” is the icing on the cake. These two Yadavs need to tag along behind MrsG because they have to saved from CBI in disproportionate asset case and chara case. In case you happen to meet more youth, please enlighten them on the misdeeds of the CONgress for almost 5 1/2 decades. I only hope that people realise how hollow their fear of communal tension is if and when the BJP comes to power. A little common sense would tell, that no party can get away perpetuating communal violence.
The shameful dynasty politics practised by the congress must be exposed to the youth of India. Indian youth struggles so hard to establish a career and earn a living. The youth has to fight the intense competition in building a career. Yet there is one family in India who generation after generation keeps ruling us and we remain silent prisoners of our destiny.
We are doing our bit to group as many people as possible.
Pls join these groups:
http://www.smsgupshup.com/groups/myindia
&
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/tamilbjp/
मीडिया का सफ़ेद झूठ
आज कल जितने भी न्यूज़ चैनल हैं सब यही साबित करने पर तुले हुवे हैं कि बीजेपी के पास कोई मुद्दा नहीं है .इससे बड़ा सफ़ेद झूठ और क्या हो सकता है .यही न्यूज़ चैनल्स बीजेपी के द्वारा उठाये गए विभिन्न मुद्दों पर आधारित विज्ञापन चला रहे हैं और कहते हैं कि बीजेपी के पास कोई मुद्दा ही नहीं है .क्या इससे यह साबित नहीं होता कि आज की मीडिया विश्वसनीय नहीं रह गयी है .