Flights Of Fantasy
[ M Panging Pao ]
India is a democracy. Democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people, ie, a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation, usually involving periodically held free elections. Democracy enshrines equality for all persons in a nation.
India became a republic in 1950 and adopted the constitution of India. The constitution enshrines the principles of secularity, democracy, social, economic and political justice; liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; equality of status and opportunity; and fraternity: assuring the dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the nation.
Arunachal will witness simultaneous polls for the assembly and the Lok Sabha on 11 April. Though money is used in elections everywhere, the use of money during elections in Arunachal is on the higher side. The root cause of high money power usage during elections in Arunachal is the less voters/population. Due to the lesser number of voters in each constituency in the state, in most constituencies 3000-4000 votes are sufficient to win the elections. Candidates simply buy off these voters.
This is not possible in other constituencies of the mainland due to the higher number of voters – between 2-3 lakhs.
Being lured by money and materials, many Arunachalees are being sucked into cash or materials for vote politics. Clan- and tribe-based politics is still the mainstay of Arunachal politics. Voting based on ideology, development agenda and policies are still in the infancy stage.
The Northeast and Arunachal Pradesh lags behind other states and regions in almost all parameters like development, infrastructure, literacy, life expectancy, industries, health index, etc. Arunachal lacks industries and thus has limited sources of revenue generation. Therefore Arunachal is dependent on the central government for funds. Hence, most Arunachalees are dependent on government jobs. It is also known that Arunachal Pradesh stands very high in the corruption index and very low in the ease of doing business.
Isn’t it time for Arunachal Pradesh also to be independent in terms of revenue generation and dependency on the Centre? All Arunachalees want better roads, better electricity, better health care, better education, better internet/mobile connectivity, development and progress, and a safe society.
Therefore, during the upcoming elections, the readers must vote for further development and progress of our glorious state. It’s time for Arunachal to stand at par with other states of India. Please vote for development and progress of Arunachal; vote for better roads, better electricity; vote for better education, better health care; vote for lesser corruption; vote for secularity, equality, liberty and justice; vote for a healthier, happier and safer Arunachal.
We finally get the type of government and leaders we elect. Therefore let’s vote responsibly. We owe it to our children and grandchildren. The future of our nation and state is at stake.
(The contributor is retired Group Captain, Indian Air Force)
