Ab Ki Baar Biden Sarkaar
“American society is a such a bundle of contradictions and fake contradictions that if you don’t have an adequate sense of humour, you will definitely collapse”
- Malcom X (Famous human rights activist who was killed in 1965)
Going by the number of people infected by the Coronavirus globally, the United States is in the first position and India is in the second position. Those who call India as the world’s largest democracy term the United States as the world’s strongest democracy. The poor achievement of the United States in handling the Coronavirus has succeeded in opening the eyes of crores of people who believed that America is heaven. It has now emerged clearly who is going to be the new President based on a clear majority in the elections held over the past two months. The whole world is watching how the sitting President is adamant about not giving up his Presidency. It is now a matter of curiosity to see whether the President would depart with dignity or behave like a famous Indian journalist who behaved without a grain of dignity with the police. In case he displays his characteristic stubbornness, the dramatic developments that might take place in the coming few days will reveal to the world the limitations of the world’s strongest democracy.
America has the tradition of reelecting the President for the second term and this has happened for the last 30 years. Exception to this tradition has taken place only four times in the past 100 years. In this context, many had expected Trump to win. In India, many who had found resonance in Trump’s racist politics had turned into his enthusiastic supporters. Indian rightists in the US had also identified themselves with Trump. Besides, during the run up to the preparations for the American elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi threw all diplomatic graces to the wind and announced Ab ki Baar, Trump Sarkar’. Subsequently, Trump reiterated the same in his inimitable style before Indian origin American voters. With Trump’s defeat, such people are now disappointed as though they have lost a close friend.
Who is good for India – Trump or Biden, Republicans or Democrats? Many are intrigued with these questions. If one were to listen to both sides of the argument, it reveals the old-world innocence and foolishness of finding liberals in administration. Anyone who is familiar with American history and is aware of its present-day politics will not expect big favors from the United States as its approach to domestic issues and its stand on international issues has two goals: One, to protect the interest of corporates who control the country and two, to ensure that different classes of people are subservient to the ruling parties.
Many had seen a saviour in Trump after seeing Modi emotionally jumping and embracing Trump every time they met. They also believe that Trump’s party is a friend of the ruling party in India. These people don’t seem to remember that Trump’s Republican party had denied visa to Modi when he was Gujarat Chief Minister and was facing allegations of mass murder or that Trump humiliated India as a ‘dirty country’ before the whole world a month after Modi had emotionally announced Ab Ki Baar Trump Sarkaar. .Joe Biden’s Indian supporters are also the same. Biden has an experience of 36 years as a member of the Senate and eight years as vice-president of America and has shown respect for India. He had announced way back in 2006 that “It is my dream to see India and America as the closest nations of the world.” Biden’s supporters have a lot of expectations from him going by his vast experience and commitment to human rights and religious freedom and his decision to choose Kamala Harris, a woman of Indian origin, as the Vice-President. A decade ago, when Barack Obama of Biden’s Democrat party became the President, there was a lot of expectations from him as well. Modi with great enthusiasm had fondly called Obama as ‘Barack, Barack’. But India did not benefit very much from him as well.
It will be a great favour if, forget helping the world, American Presidents and the ruling parties reduce the damage they cause to the world. Nobody will expect any contribution towards maintaining world peace from the country that has made as its own the main business of selling weapons. But, we can consider as a great favour if the Biden government reduces even partially America’s traditional vicious plans of warmongering in different parts of the world with the sole purpose of selling weapons. Those who run the American administration can initiate several programmes for the country’s progress and wellbeing. The discrimination faced by non-whites, especially Blacks, in America is at an alarming level. The fact that it took the country 233 years after its independence to elect a person of Black origin as President indicates the deep-rooted racism in that country. Even though there are several laws against discrimination based on racism, racial tensions are so obvious that it is difficult to hide them. The Whites treat the Blacks and other colored people with disdain. Also, racial minorities face a lot of discrimination.
Similarly, the difference between the poor and the rich has grown and reached gigantic proportions. Though the country has enough wealth and resources, it is in the hands of a few and about 40 per cent of people are poor and about 12 per cent are in extreme poverty. The problem of air pollution has reached serious proportions, affecting almost 50 per cent of the people.. About four percent deaths occur due to the intake of polluted air. About 15 per cent are unemployed and the crime rate has been rising. Last year, the country recorded about 12 lakh cases of murder, rape, burglary, assault and other such crimes. Americans are less than five per cent of the world population but, people in America’s jails constitute around 20 per cent of the total prisoners in jails in the entire world. Slowly, awareness is growing among the people there about the problems and imbalances of that country . The new government under the leadership of Biden should adopt a sensitive stance towards these realities and function in the true spirit of the concepts of freedom, equality, and public welfare enshrined in the American constitution instead of preaching to the world.
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
