A FEW HOME TRUTHS
I believe now more than ever, it is critical for political leaders to do what is expected from them: LEAD. Lead not only with confidence but also with a profound sense of caution and intelligence. This sense of history dawned on me when I was out on the bloodied streets of Mumbai, in November 2008, pitching in to do whatever I could to save lives. In light of the Mumbai terrorist attack and the global financial crunch, I'm convinced that leadership with conscience is the need of the hour. The inclusive politics I've always advocated and practiced is at threat from a divisive brand of politics that works on the colonial principal of divide and rule. In November 2008, I was shocked - as you - to find that the leaders who established a media presence on the strength of a politics of hatred were missing when we needed them to lead the people and offer resolution. Instead, they went into hiding, thereby disclosing their incapability ' and their terrifying indifference. On April 30th, 2009, we have the opportunity to elect our representative to the highest legislature in the country, thereby empowering a Federal Government and a Prime Minister that can best represent us, and our nation's interests. It is critical that we, as Indians, utilize our precious vote to guarantee ourselves political stability. A stable government is imperative not just for sustaining a rapid rate of economic growth or ensuring an effective and consistent foreign policy in line with
Mumbai's Development: Worked with the Maharashtra Government to establish Force One, Mumbai's own NSG-styled commando battalion Wrested Rs.1,200 crore central funding ' the highest in the country ' for re-laying Mumbai's decaying storm water network Worked in parliament to establish the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), with the aim of providing central assistance towards urban renewal projects across Indian cities, of which Mumbai and Initiated the Beautification of Marine Drive and Gateway of India promenades Secured funds for upgrading major hospitals: Rs.120 crore from the Union and Maharashtra Governments for Coordinated between various government agencies and the private sector to ensure that the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Mumbai Metro and Trans-Harbour Sea Link projects become a reality Sourced additional funds from Pressed Mahanagar Gas Ltd. to extend its network of piped natural gas to cover Secured the Union Government's research-related grant of Rs.100 crore for Staunchly opposed corruption in the BMC (e.g. the Mayor's proposal that meant virtually 'gifting' away the landmark Crawford Market to a builder) Launched the debate on converting 600-acres of mill lands into open spaces and affordable/low-cost housing Provided Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds to various housing societies such as the Cuffe Parade Resident's Association and Altamount Road Resident's Association, towards their beautification Determinedly promoted student activism and youth affairs through SPARSH, an NGO providing free computer education to economically underprivileged primary and secondary students of over hundred schools in Mumbai, and SIGMA (Stimulating Inspiration Guidance and Mentorship Association), connecting industry with academia; by helping upgrade educational infrastructure using MPLADS funds ' e.g. setting up a brand new audio-visual (A/V) lab for the students of Wilson College, Chowpatty In Parliament (www.parliamentofindia.nic.in): Participated in numerous parliamentary debates/questions, notably on the Supplementary Demands for Grants; Indo-US Nuclear Deal; 26/11 Terrorist Attack on Mumbai Earned the privilege of initiating the Lok Sabha debate on the Right to Information Bill, now turned into a vital act The average number of questions asked by an MP over the past 5 years is 135. I raised 472 questions in the 14th Lok Sabha The average attendance in parliament of all MP’s from Outlook Business Magazine rated me as one of the best performing MPs based on a wide range of criteria On Parliamentary Committees: As member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, worked on the indigenization of Defence Production, Defence Budgeting, creating consensus towards setting up a Unified Command for the Armed Forces, and the Welfare of Ex-Servicemen As member of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Urban Development, took active part in deliberations on Mumbai's rightful claim for increased central assistance for various urban infrastructure projects. However, I would not like to take this opportunity only to highlight my achievements; rather, I would like to use this space to open a conversation with you about the future of our city ' and our country. Hungry for transformation, we are prepared to drop our differences and unite to become the change we seek. Now, with the Lok Sabha elections looming before us, it is crucial that one of us engages in politics in the belief that our own future is at stake. To surrender political differences for the larger good to benefit us all, that's the heart of my agenda. I am writing to you, therefore, on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections to ask for your full and wholehearted support so that I may continue my work with the same determination and dedication as thus far. I invite you to come on the same page as I, so we can continue to shape Mumbai's and In deep gratitude, I remain, Your MP, Milind Deora |
My reply:
Dear Milind,
It is interesting that you should write to me on the eve of the election. What were you doing for 5 years? There is no point pointing fingers at other parties, what had you done to ensure that
Before we have global ambitions can we cast an eye on the local? Gone through Badwar park fisherman colonies and the slums up north of that? Seen how they live? It is good to pave the footpaths and beautify
Can you give us an account of how that 1200 cr were spent? Are you in a position to say that there will be no flooding now on? You have secured a lot of funds, the development of the city is not very noticeable, except for the digging of roads. Whether they will change into metros and flyovers is yet to be seen.
What have you done about policemen who openly take bribes on all the south mumbai nakas? of buses that honk in the early hours and bully traffic. of red lights thwarted because there is absolutely no cop around? These are highly visible signs of lawlessness. The RTI guys have struggled so hard to get a foothold as activists, that your efforts look like comfortable potshots in high places.
You went to parliament 75% of the time? I can’t not go to work 25% of the time. How did you manage? And if others are doing even less why didnt you kick up a shindig? We would have voted you for doing just that.
What is the public expenditure on you? Can you please send me an honest account? I dont want to spend so much on any of you. Do you think that will ever happen? I want you guys to travel in the heat of the trains, bump up and down on potholes, take delays at goverenment offices, be faced with bribing for your rights, and know what it means to be a common man or woman. I want you to know exploitation and fear. Be common for a month? Can you?
If your party is hoisting candidates with convictions will you raise your voice against your high command and call their hypocrisy to account? Do you have that courage? I dont want you to wrest money, I want you to be my voice because I cannot be heard in those halls of parliament. And my voice is asking questions on corruption and accountability. It wants to be heard like millions of my bretheren. You cannot be my voice because you will not speak my thoughts or fight my battles. Your agenda is not mine.
Will you have the fortitude to respond to this letter, or will your lieutenants delete it as soon as they read it? Will you pretend that you get so many letters that you can’t possibly read them all? Will you dismiss me as a woman who does not know the complexities?
You have a man like Adi Godrej rooting for you. A man who own half of Mumbai. Will all your combined power and money buy my maid a decent night’s sleep? That, my dear Milind, is the question. The rest is dross. The fluff that you pull over all eyes and more importantly your own eyes, in actually believing that you did a tremendous job, is the final irony. Can this nation, in all honesty, afford any of you?
In distress and frustration,
me
“Will all your combined power and money buy my maid a decent night’’s sleep? That, my dear Milind, is the question. The rest is dross”…..That line says it all…Your letter has poewer and poignance….PGR
Unable to post comments on your GB..??..:(
As am away from Iland these days… have sent you an email my dear… Luv, Pra
I tried to write something in your GB… But they say I am NOT your friend.. :O((
Looks like the fake frustrated charlatan pretending to be Lissome Lady, is still hiccoughing around the iland venting his/her miserable spleen. My gb is back to \”only friends\” folks, so that the lunatic can be kept out like one keeps rabid curs at bay by shutting them out on the streets. One needs to kick away the shameless hag who keeps coming abegging to be shunned over and over. Has to be an obsessive masochist.
G Man G.. the education cess is going same place where other taxes go. Just coz we pay a tax for education will not make the nation educated. For that we need policy. Years ago during Rajeev Gandhi regime we heard a lot of a New Education Policy. Does any text of that exist ? Was it anytime implemented, and can anyone recall anything from the same ? Successive govts. have had a vested interest to keep the nation uneducated and illliterate. The ONLY place where literacy was taken seriously has a 100 % literacy and a Left Regime. Just based on that do we advocate a 3rd Front govt. after our elections ? My graetest fear from my reading of the election scene is that since both Congress and BJP will fall abysmally short of the magic number (272 ?) despite all attempts to forge a selfish power sharing coalition, the one that fears getting outnumbered may throw its weight with the 3rd front, supporting it from outside. This will lead to fresh elections within a year and doom to the outsider./
I agree with most of what you write, buy how is all this connected to only Milind Deora ? To single someone out coz his incharge of e propoganda included your name in an email that was mass mailed to most of his constituents (that is a presumption, without being presumptive) does not stand to reason.
Party based elections is the only thing that works in our country. Not that there have not been well meaning independents before. Seshan and Bhatia tried it - from Delhi South and Pune- and they didnt make even a scratch, what to talk of a dent. If the same ppl had accepted party backing; which was offered; they would have romped home to victory.
The same is being tried by Meera Sanyal and Cdr. Gopinath and a few others. As Manmohan Singh says, these will be only spoilers and have no chance to do any better than Seshan, Bhatia and Co.
Milind Deora only represents his political party, just like whosoever (forgive my ignorance) represents another.
Change I believe, Amit, does happen. It has happened in history and India will not be an exception. The question however, how much suffering must we undergo before we get wise.
If we look at the small number of professionals who have entered the fray, we can see the kernels of that change we are talking about. To become a movement will take a while, if they are not consumed by greed and corruption enroute and if we who support them do not lose heart and let go in our indifference. It is slow but it is there. I am sure parties will think a lot before fielding criminals, where they would not have given it a second thought before. That is change. The RTI is being pursued relentlessly by activists like our friend ghostie and that is a change. True it will not happen in our times for us to enjoy the benefits, but surely we can all pitch in to make it better for our kids and redeem some of the mistakes we made in not speaking or acting up.
I do not really believe that people in the west are more educated, sophisticated or evolved. They appear to be so because long practice in “accountabiliy” has conditioned them not to break rules, to listen, to be socially conscious, to raise protest and pass this on to their children. // I agree with r that what is lacking is accountability. If you look at how those corp guys in the US squandered the bail out funds you know taht they are not overly honest either. But they will not get away. No matter what their positions they will go to jail for a fairly long period and be treated as prisoners not guests. The system that ensures that power to the judiciary is what makes it different. When I talk of candidate selection, I hope to get there some people who will talk of making systemic changes and making it possible to address our woes in the real sense of the word and not merely give it a cosmetic bandaid.
Amit Ji we all are paying an education cess on our income tax. Where is that money going? It’s being corrupted away. Corruption prevents the effective deployment and utilisation of resources. That’s my point. We have the resources and mechanism for their utilisation, It’s just the lack of accountability and transparency that’s fuelling corruption and preventing the effective use of mechanisms to provide effective governance for education/literacy / poverty alleviation. ……Gman
That was quite a fitting reply.
G Man well said, but tackling corruption is only one of the keys. We need several others, like one to open up literacy, other for education, yet another for poverty….. in short, we need a Master Key to solve various problems; just tackling only one at a time will again lead to failure.
The issue here is that there is a disconnect between the ruling / governing class and the masses. The worst damage that was done by two individuals. One by Late Mr VP Singh who fractured the society into small bits along caste /class/communal lines To him in my opinion goes the credit of being the most destructive PM we have had. The second Individual is Mr Rajeev Gandhi who democratised corruption by creating institutions that allowed grass root level people like gram sewaks and corporaters or Nagar parshads to have access to bribes. What was left was completed by adoption of NERGA. All this created a dependence of bulk of voters on the corrupt grass root level municipal corporaters / panchayats / gram sewaks and the lot. We need to radically alter our system of governance to get rid of corruption and corruption enabling rules and laws. That is the key …..Gman
and not a proviso for democracy. But if you say a modified system with a different set of crieria for qualification will work, that is also full of pitfalls. That is how dictators are born. They are highly motivated and intelligent ppl; i once heard a very wise friend of mine say that all of today’’s criminals are yesterday’’s gifted children who did not get the right education, or something similar. We do need a new system, but we will have to either move it succesfully thru parliament, or on the wave of a revolution. I dont see a constructive possibility in either of these. It is good to have progressive views, much like the brilliant school kid who gets a 100 in English Literature, but that will not dent the ground realty that ours is a system that is based on the greatest spoils shared by the greatest number, and once we have that as our sytem, none can change it. Not you with all your anguish, not anyone else with all good intentions. You may say i am an incorrigible cynic….
To take your last first, dropping of that word made that entire paragraph redundant. If the person who edited was such a prude, s/he is also devoid of perception and perspective, for there was much else in the original that could have been retained to heighten the impact. In a paper where even the views of the writer are altered, one cannot look for the right views to be promoted// Well, if i tried to provoke you, i was a complete failure. Still i want to take you on a few aspects where i dont agree with you. If you are saying that democracy as applied in India is not the correct system for countries like ours, i will not disagree. Democracy as evolved and practiced in the west presupposes a level of education and sophistication (dont force misunderstand that word) which is as yet alien to us, and devoid of that its success at solving today’’s problems is not possible. You try to hammer democracy into our system by modifying the criteria of candidtae selection. That normally is a result
Well, because you badgered me I made the move to TOI… and I am not surprised at all at the lil bit they doled out. No one will like someone like me Amit. I am like the conscience they all buried. :))) Ya I too noticed their aversion to the word phallic. For a paper who loves to show men and women in states of near coital nudity, do write up and headlines that are suggestive and titilating, that piece of prudery made me laugh. So typical and metaphoric of who the hypocrisy and hey no sense of humour… hahaha
The word elite is yours not mine. I am calling for education of the right kind, I am calling for service of several years, I am calling for a competency mapping of the candidates abilities, I am calling for a disclosure of wealth and criminal records to be made mandatory. In fact i would say the person must grow out of the masses, having worked and lived with them, but not sharing their ignorance. He needs to have a track record, and be elected to some offices before he hits the jackpot chair. There must be some systems of tranparency. I can only ask.. u may say this is a dream but hey, to me its simple. The people complicating it have an axe to grind, but let us not say it is a complicated problem. It is not. This business of anyone can stand for election must change. It is a romantic 19th century euphoric view. Today we live in a very complex world and we need new systems. So, sorry sir, only the tried and tested may claim the privileges.
Now I wonder how you got the impression that I am part of the elitomaniacs… nice word that… I am in my blog asking the guy what he has done for my maid, I am not fooled by his Marine drive decorations coz i suspect he has a few flats there and the market value must have shot up with the promenade view. so how did u come to such an erronous conclusion? If we cant put an educational qualification, next you will say why not have teachers and doctors who are anpad? after all 80% are so. How is the politicians job different? I believe we are all labouring under some gargantuan logical fallacy when it comes to our definition of democracy and leadership. With the result we tend to repeat the same myth over and over and it becomes ”true”. Our tragedy is that our leaders are emerging from the 80% illiterate, its inevitability is the tragedy. I have always said that we are unfit to have a democracy in the way we elect leaders without being informed.
hahaha Amit if you are provoking me I am not going to fall for it. There is nothing simplistic about being honest and doing a good job. It should be natural to all of us. But the conspiracy of the crooked and the corrupt and the fearful, makes it seem complex and people end up speaking of “limitations” and “restrictions” or “traditions” or ” practicalities” etc. to mask their ineffectiveness. Have you seen women sweeping the roads with gusto when one of these goons have to pass that way? Ever wondered what motivates their energy levels suddenly? Now that is dream world … unreal and surreal. not the honest desire to have them do it daily. All it needs is a few leaders in politics and media with ”balls” pardon the expression but it is the most apt.
That’’s bright news, indeed ! And this is just the beginning….
Just one more point… a short summary of LL’’s comments have appeared in last sunday’’s TOI as the lead letter. frankly, i am disappointed by this abridged letter. For, the TOI has deleted the adjective LL has so forcefully and effectively used to describe the structures that have come on Marine Drive.
It is nice to see that the TOI has given space to LL’’s ire on Milin’’s communique. Unless ppl like LL become regular features of popular and respected newspapers, they will only be like the occasional meteors; coming every 75 years but doing nothing in the interim. LL, you take up many a cause, that may or may not be good, but is sure much below your potential. Unless you write a regular feature in TOI you will not make a mark, only the occasional flash
Isnt Milind better than most others ? His bad luck is that he happens to be in LL’’s constituency. I would have been happy if even a single issue raised by LL was imbibed by even 3 or 4 candidates, cutting across party lines. LL provides simplistic and dream world solutions to real problems. India belongs to its teeming millions, as much as it belongs to the AC Drawing Room elite that has hijacked more than their rightful share. LL should avoid becoming part of those clans. We cannot impose educational minima qualifications to a country, where, as LL says, 80 % are below poverty line. These 80 % also have a right to represent themselves. Elitomania is something we should not become willing victims of. And if this is not acceptable to our educated, eloquent and articulate educated minority. as are not most concepts that strengthen the below poverty line masses, we should give democracy a burial. For, that concept when left to the elite has a danger of becoming a demoncracy.
I agree with you LL. This might also keep shameless opportunists like Sanjay Dutt, Govinda, Jaya Prada, Vinod Khanna, Dharam, Azhar, Rahul, Varun….etc etc at a distance. But these netas are, after all, reflections of the very society we live in. I, for one, am not shedding tears for anyone. Jaisi karni, waisi bharni. Cheers !
what a befitting reply…
Yes, Lissome ji, some ground rules must be set up. I very much like a repeatedly displayed advertisement by Tata Tea (Jago Re) where a voter asks for qualification of the candidate because he is applying for the most important job: that of managing the country. Such awareness is required from all voters ……ultimatery all rounds up to the education level….and all the vicious cycle.
Let me take it further Free. How about competence in Political science, sociology, economics, philosophy with psychology being compulsory? I am not saying have a degree, I am saying do a psychometric test to guage awareness, integrity, consistency, resilience etc. like an entry level exam. And the community service would be a big part of the eligibility criterion. Criminal cases and money declared - and more importantly “explained”. The TOI reports that some politicians have accrued crores in just a year, but stop short of that… they are never called upon to account, so do they care? In fact the public announcement of the crorepati will make the lesser minions salivate, as they see these as chaps who can at some level give them something. Kangal aur nek neta se humko kya milega… aur kya pata.. election ke baad woh nek ho ya na ho? sigh.. unless some ground rules are set… no chaanas yaar of us getting out of this deep rabbit hole.
Just a thought. How about making it compulsory for all candidates to put in minimum 5 years of community service in the constituency concerned, without any political affiliation, before they can stand for any election? The modalities can always be worked out. Just as they had this tradition of going around asking for alms before one was accepted as a sanyasi..:)))
If I were leading India, I would be a Lee Kuan Yew. One stint of a good caning in all misdemeanours would right most wrongs here. I am a firm believer that Indians are intelligent, they populate the best universities in the US, they are hard workers, they built Dubai, they are shrewd look at the business diaspora.. what they lack is honesty and integrity. With a whip that will come into place. Then we can rule the world.. are you listening Raghu? This kind of democracy is not good for the uninvolved Indian.
Raghu everyone knows what has to be done, so there is no need to reiterate it. In a country with 80% poverty, illiteracy, ill health and rampant corruption you dont have to be a rocket scientist to put forth an agenda. I have given Milind the solution. Be common for a month. Live in the slums like a slummie. Be a Gandhi.. what did he do? wore loin cloth and washed the toilets with the harijan.. if you do that you cannot not know what is to be done for the masses. So Milind needs no education on that.. what he needs is the probity to face up to the truth that he has failed and he is weak. So let us not all pretend together is what I am saying.
well Hari Om…you also see what milind has done for and written in his letter to LL……and Lissome tell milind what is he expected to do and what is it that he has not done!!! please take a balancing stand …..
seems Freedom unbound is suggesting us to encourage some politician……I dont trust any politician…….i can trust someone who is India…
ha ha ha…your letter in your macho style…take the lead dear Lissome…lead India…well, Milind just counted his achievements in all these years to see that he still is remembered a good politician and someone who did something worthwhile…..no use pointing fingers at any politician dear!! any country needs a ruler and that ruler needs ministers….what to do in a democracy….elect the leaders and then one becomes the ruler………yes, like you, i too will speak and yes, it will just be absorbed in some chaos of winning drums of some elected party or some opposition slogans……nice blog…felt energetic dear…thanks
Fantastic reply Lissome. Mr Deora and his ilk have to stop taking the voter for granted. You stand for elections Lissome will work to get you max votes then we can start shaking up the parliament ….. Think about it ……Gman
Fantabulous reply Lissome Ji…. Absolutely stunning….. A standing salute to you for this reply… And did you get a reply for your mail…. If yes please share that also… Waise I know these people do not have the backbone to answer…..
Most appropriate answer, Lisome ji. You, an educationist, have clear perception of people’’s problems, though you”ve not carried out any special study in this regard. The M.P. of the area remains in constant touch with the public and his constituency. Why can”t his perception be that clear? The fact is that the politicians are not here to serve people; almost each one of them has his/her own axe to grind. They know that due to vote bank politics, votes are not going to be cast on the basis of actual performance, but on the basis of propaganda about the ”performance” , money power and caste power. Unless each and every voter of our country is educated and casts his vote on his individual assessment and not as part of a group or block, democarcy has no hope.
perfect ten answer,,heheee yeh naheen sudhreyngay…..
gr8! LL……..KEEP IT UP!…I AM WITH U…ALWAYS….
Brilliant LL. This guy should now show some sense and step down in favour of you ! I think Meera Sanyal too is contesting from the same constituency. We need to encourage ppl like her to come forward and usher in the change. Who the hell is he to claim credit for establishing a Commando Battalion? Huh! All the works he cites as credit are routine administrative responsibilities. How many times has he visited his ppl? How approachable he is to your maid and others of her tribe? Who are his advisors? Does he have a grievance cell? Why is he writing now? He has enough of money that he can work for the ppl even without being an MP. What is his personal agenda, irrespective of whether wins or not? If these career politicians have the guts and will, they should come and debate with ppl like you, me and countless others. Right out here on public forum.
Excellent reply. Congress is a party of sycophants. In this party all the buffons are dancing and competing with each other to please a lady who has no grass-root knowledge on any thing and who has nothing to do this country. Her coterie is thinking it as God-gifted opportunity of making money.
Milind ne shayad galat Aurat se panga liya, jo uski mail use itni buri tarah se backfire kar gayi….hehehe….
Good Job…