BJP’s presumptive candidate for the prime minister post, Mr. Lal Krishan Advani,is upset with the Congress alliance because it has betrayed the "common man." We would like Mr. Advani, an ancient politician, to define who the"common man" in India is.
Does Mr. Advani define the"common man" as a man who tills the land to make a living? A marginal farmer who barely grows enough grain to feed his family, a man who is dependent on weather Gods to be able to survive? If yes, then UPA has allocated Rs 30,100 crore for Rural Employment Scheme for such 60 million common men in India.
Or, does he define the"common man" as a man on the street who has no employment, neither land nor special category labeling (OBC, BC etc) to get a government job. A man who lives on the street and dies on the street, a man who is barely surviving on $1 per day. Well sir, then Bharat Nirman Yojana which was allocated Rs. 40,900 crore should take care of these"common men" who number roughly 70 million.
Or, is a"common man" the person who goes hungry every day. The man whose sweat of the brow is not enough to get him and his family the daily bread. Well, here we go! The UPA government has allocated Rs 8,000 crore for Mid-day Meal Scheme to feed these hungry souls. Total population 50 million not counting their families.
So, Mr. Advani, we are all ears. Who is this"common man" that the UPA alliance has gone against. Is this someone real or just a bogeyman? Something similar to the"foreign hand" specter raised by Indira Gandhi every time she could not explain her failings.
The problem with people like you, regardless of the party affiliation, is that they haven’t the foggiest of idea who the common man is. Let us tell you who is this"common man."
The common man is a man who is not interested in your Ayodhaya scam. You and only people like you will add fuel to this unholy fire to gain your petty ends.
The so called leadership of your party is bereft of any fresh ideas and philosophy otherwise you would not be speaking of the common man. Instead, you will be speaking of a great country whose people have similar goals– employment, education for their kids, a path forward, hope for a better future, and a safe living environment. These are common goals of all us and they make us the"common man."
The common man is a man who is not interested in the corrupt and cowardly schemes of the UPA, and the Congress party in particular. One look at the leadership of Congress and you know that this party has been taken over by the ancient leadership who is still living in the past.
Their modus operandi is simple– if there’s a problem, shift somebody around, show you are doing something and move on– and minds corrupt. If this party had any ideas, they would be talking about the aspirations of“common man” of young India, the India that generates so much foreign exchange that the country is finally out of the morass of begging for foreign exchange.
Or have you so quickly forgotten those says Mr. Man Mohan Singh when you were down to selling gold to rescue the nation from the abyss of disaster.
The young India’s aspirations want to rise high and touch the stars. But alas! They are pulled down by our incompetent leadership and somnolent opposition. This incompetence in leadership is common for all us and that makes us"common man."
So, before you start picking up cudgels for the"common man," Mr. L.K. Advani, try finding something common with this“common man.”
Martand Pandey is a columnist for Indopia. Write to him atMartand.Pandey@indopia.com
