‘Pioneer-Dilli Billi’- 4th.April.2010

Once upon a time money was not an issue in politics. I remember my father narrating a story to me of his first election in 1962. He was the Congress candidate and he had to fight against his lawyer friend from the Jan Sangh. In those days a couple of hundred rupees were enough to fight an election. There was no personal enmity between the candidates. It was just who delivered better. And who had a good rapport with the Aam Admi. The candidates were still friends for life. They had simple lives, no fuss. At that time there were hardly any politicians and they were like any other people. Having grown-up in a political household which was like any ordinary household where your father leaves for work like any other father. There was nothing special at all; no facilities, no extra pocket money, no special status, nothing.
Today whether it is a Mayawati being garlanded with a garland of crores or any other politician being weighed with gold coins or being crowned with a jeweled crown, why can’t we just stick to the old norms of just plain Marigold garlands? Why do we have a convoy of 10 cars with a politician and 6 security gaurd cars? I am just so fed up of walking into a shop and witnessing a politician’s child with 10 gaurds. If it wasn’t for the over powering gaurds I would have not even noticed the plain Jane or some spastic child who has an insecurity problem. It is annoying seeing and observing the self importance of these guys. It is irritating beyond belief when these good for nothing “Gunda” type politicians walk in with a horde of clone looking guys making way for the useless khadi clad.
The politicians today are so carried away with their self importance and always looking for media attention that they can go to any extent for it. They make controversial statements which are foolish and even pay for the broadcasting. The vulgar display of money always done by Mayawati amazes everyone but she uses it effectively. Her Dalit voters live their dreams through her. They cannot believe that one of them has made it. And the more she does this vulgar display more they applaud her. It is her PR tactic with her own. She cares too hoots for the big wigs.
The other thing is personal enmity in today’s politics nothing is in good spirits. The more you demolish your opponents whether it is in personal attacks, whether it is sting operations; or by any unfair means they will go the whole hog. Misuse of power, false cases using everything in ones power for negativity is scary. Its never ending. Where and how is it going to end? This pettiness of sorts is getting to the common man. For him today a politician is the pits. He has no time for him. What can change all this?
The young educated who are now entering politics, the Rahul Gandhis and like him who do not believe in playing these dirty games. They are not crafty enough. They have seen the world and know how to gain votes by delivering to their voters. They are decent .They do not use power brokers or middle men. They are wary of them. But as the only body who is listened to now-a- days is the Supreme Court. It is high time they stepped into to put a stop to vulgar display of money and misuse of security forces to protect the insecure, self important, goons and also some criminals. Even India’s Home Minister does not either have a convoy of cars or gaurds when he travels. And that’s the way it should be.