So at around 5:50 PM, we all started from our office to Al-Saj auditorium.
On reaching the venue, I was at first disappointed to see that it had the banner "Youth Congress Campaign". We had wished it to be more of a discussion forum about "youth joining politics" led by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, without much focus on any particular political party. However, a welcome note by Dr. Tharoor was of comfort to us, as he did mention that the session would be an interactive discussion. Towards the end, we were convinced that Youth Congress was serious of having the youth getting in politics to shape the future of our country!
To start with... Opposition Leader Shri. Oommen Chandy, Trivandrum MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor, AICC Secretary Jitendra Singh, MLA Wahid, DCC President V. S. Sivakumar were the prominent figures around. It started with a welcome speech by Shri Wahid; followed by Dr. Tharoor, Shri Oommen Chandy & Shri Jitendra, all speaking of youth and politics and Youth Congress. The message was clear: it is important that youth join politics to shape the future of the nation & that Youth Congress was the best option for the youth to have their say in Indian politics.
Am cutting short the introductions; moving on to discussions. You can skip the first two questions straightaway; we have interesting ones down the line...
Question 1 >>
It was a 19 year old girl student from Law School from Pune (or somewhere). Do not remember what exactly she had asked; but it was something like what was her best option to join Youth Congress.
Answer 1 >>
AICC Secretary had explained how one could become a member & then do this & do that. Dr. Tharoor handed over the membership form.
Question 2 >>
It was from someone working in Technopark. He had asked something like what was the road map for the youth to join politics/ Congress (or something like that... I must be getting older; I cant remember anything).
Answer 2 >> Refer to Answer 1 above
Now we move on to rather sensitive & interesting issues.
Question 3 >>
It was asked by none other that my colleague, Sreenath. It was about the road widening issue. He had expressed his despair in knowing that all the parties including Congress had joined hands to decide that we do not want wider roads and wanted to know the reason! He also mentioned how other cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad & Chennai were so much into development of infrastructure.
Answer 3 >>
Shri Oommen Chandy had replied to this one. He detailed how our state was different from other states (population density aspect). His version of the story (as I remember it): [start of story]It was decided years back (during the Congress tenure) that we would have 30m wide 4-lane highways in Cherthala - Kazhakuttom stretch. Land was also acquired for this purpose. But then, the elections had advanced and they could not start the construction work. The next government after the election (the present one), in the first few years had insisted that there would be no tolls in the highways and this caused the project to go off-rail (as NHAI had insisted on tolls). Recently, the present government had given the go ahead for the tolls; but then land acquisition & people displacement had again become the problem. The people, who had gone through the pain once earlier, were really reluctant to go through it all again. And so an all party meeting was convened, and it was decided that we have 30 m wide road. But then the Centre had intervened and now they have made it clear that it should be at least 45 m. In light of these recent developments, it again requires further discussion to find the way forward. [end of story]
But somewhere, it sounded that the Congress has deviated from its earlier stand that a 30 m road would do. It seems that they are now ready for solution which takes care of people concerns while implementing a 45 m wide road. That's good news now!!!
Question 4 >>
It was from another person working in Technopark. He had explained the difficulties the people who were getting displaced would have to face. He had stressed the point: whatever it be, we should ensure that all the concerns raised by the affected people are properly addressed.
Answer 4 >>
Dr. Tharoor had answered that he completely agreed to his comment. And that development comes with pain to a few. He agreed that the solution must address all the concerns.
Question 5 >>
Now I had mustered the courage to speak aloud. I wanted to know his take on a solution that had come to my mind for the road widening issue.
Answer 5 >>
He had dismissed the solution; his version of the story: [start of story] Govt. cannot be in real estate business building homes for people. All Govt. could do was to offer right prices for the people, who would have to take care of themselves.[end of story]
It now turned more of a debate; I did intervene every now and then for I was not at all convinced. The govt. could find this solution easier as only less land was required to build these complexes which could accommodate multiple families. Lack of space was a challenge to the govt & the people being relocated; and this solution would make it easier for both, as it involved significantly less acreage of land.
Shri Jitendra had taken over; he did mention how it was difficult for the people to go for govt. built apartments; how such similar solutions were a failure in his part of the country.
Anyway, it ended up just like that. I was not convinced; but then you don't need to be. I still believe that it is not that this particular solution is wrong or impractical, but it is that how we implement this solution that makes it right or wrong! Nobody would want to stay in a leaking shaking apartment built by govt.; but if Govt. could assure & guarantee a decent apartment, and that too, pretty close to where they are now; I feel, people would be willing to take this option. I do agree that implementing this is a challenge; but, if we could do it efficiently, this could be an option, right? Anyway, Dr. Tharoor thought otherwise; he did not agree to this solution at all; but its just my thought anyway.
Question 6 >>
I had come back to the original topic of the discussion - youth joining politics. I had asked "What do you think is an inspiration for the youth to join politics?" I had mentioned that it was frustration with the system that brought me to this event in the first place. Its corruption, politics inside politics, never ending sagas of flyover constructions (remember it is the very same flyover) etc. that comes to one's mind when one thinks of politics.!!!
Answer 6 >>
Dr. Tharoor mentioned that its the frustration of the youth that should inspire the youth to join politics. He explained one should be inside the system to shake it up & solve the problems and that one cant do much from outside.
I do agree to his take on this that one should be inside the system, but then... I mentioned that the problem was that its is not any better inside the system as well and that all parties were just the same for a layman. Corruption & playing politics seemed to be the only agenda... He stressed on how Youth Congress was different and were assuring us that it is the right forum for all youth to be a part of it. With that I came back to my seat :)
There were one or two more questions; which I do not remember now. I don't think I heard those questions right. The session ended soon thereafter, we all were told to have the party brochures & membership forms (if interested).
On my way back home around 7:45 PM or so, while I was stuck in the traffic in the NH Bypass, I heard a siren followed by a state car flying by, through the wrong side of the road! Not sure who it was; but for sure, the car knew no traffic jams! I see why "our leaders" do not need wider roads!!! They never seem to be affected by any traffic, right? And with police escorts, state cars might have never had any accidents either... So why bother at all!
Disclaimer:
1. I speak for no political party; this was the first political meeting I had ever attended.
2. The questions & answers detailed above are as how I understood/ remember it; I think I have got its essence right. In case I have missed out any of the critical points or in case of mistakes; it is unintentional and I apologize to the the leaders who had joined the event, all those who attended the event & all the readers of this post.
3. No offense of any sort meant to any person/ party/ group/ faction.
Jai Hind!
That was how Dr. Tharoor ended the session and so be it here as well!
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