Friends Of India

The Election Commission of India announced the general election to the 15th Lok Sabha on March 2, 2009. The elections will be held in 5 phases starting on April 26, 2009 and ending on May 13, 2009. The results of the election will be announced on May 16, 2009. Two phases are over by now.

In democracy the election is opportunity to discuss about the future of the country. The state of economy, the current policies, the achievements and failures of the current government etc. should be part of that discussion. Unfortunately our politicians and main stream media seems not interested.

Major parties published election manifestos as usual. It talk about subsidies, pensions and free stuff. Also some useless claims of secularism, stability and security. But all of them failed to provide a plan for the future of our country in this fast moving interconnected world.

The major discussion points of our politicians are still around secularism. All of them favouring religious and communal elements and accusing the other for the same. Is anybody want to talk about corruption, illiteracy, poverty, accountability, responsibility and infrastructure development? Is anybody want to see a plan for the future? Is anybody want to think about our challenges and using our strengths and capabilities to address them? It is unfortunate that we have many politicians who want to lead but none have the better future of the country in mind.

Is the people of India deserve better? Yes. This is the time to act and ask questions. The power to change the discussions and change the direction of our country are within ourselves. If you are interested only in food for today, your god and your own ego then there won't be any change. Your vote in this election can be an instrument for that change.