Posts Tagged ‘mathura’
Mathura violence: Guess who people blame for it?
Violence in Mathura and ensuing politics has taken center stage. It will remain in focus till 2017 elections. While BJP MP Hema Malini not even spends time in her constituency, let alone having moral decency to live there, there was hardly any opposition attack on Akhilesh Govt.
Since I was born and brought up in the city of Agra, next to Mathura, and am in constant communication with people in the area, let me give you some pulse. People are blaming Modi. Yes you heard me right, Modi. Here’s why. People have long stopped blaming SP Govt for the misrule. In 2014 they channeled their anger and gave Modi 72/80 seats. That’s the best they could have done. There is no more anger or any feeling against SP Govt. Who can the poor people blame now? The one person they thought would solve all of their problems two years ago.
SP Govt is not coming back in 2017. Past 4 years have been a missed opportunity for the young Yadav. The whole Yadav clan is more concerned about their cut in any deal that is done anywhere in UP, than about the development. Everyone knows that. Though there have been some development, but that can be attributed to time more than anything else.
If I talk about the city of Agra, only after 2014 washout did any promised infrastructure projects started. Maybe prodded by Modi, maybe out of fear. The biggest winner in 2017 is going to be Mayawati. I have said in the past and I will say it again, 72/80 was not a fluke. It was the anger of the people against SP. BJP MP’s should have been proactive and hard working at least in UP. But with people like Hema Malini who is not even there to listen to people, let alone work for them, I am afraid last 2 years have been a lost opportunity for BJP too.
I personally don’t blame Modi; he has done what he alone could do. I am disappointed by the BJP MP’s. They should have worked aggressively with people, for people; Engaged with them; Brought development to their constituency. Alas! We got nothing. The anger and exasperation that is building in the people will hurt BJP in 2017. SP is not coming back. The biggest gainer would be BSP, if BJP MP’s didn’t buckle up.
Assam win was not a fluke. Having spent 4 years in Guwahati and being in touch with people there, I can tell you, BJP and RSS worked hard since 2014 to prepare the stage for 2016. They were not just sloganeering but working for people at the grass root level. Its high time Modi takes his MP’s to task. It’s one year to go, there is still time for course correction.
Vrindavan Widows: The Helpless Old Ladies
My hometown, Agra is next to Vrindavan. A drive to the temple and back used to be our once in month getaway, growing up. The place is divine in the true sense. You will have to visit once to get the feel of it
Recently the female MP, who is an actor by profession, made a comment on the widows that stay in the city. They were called unwelcome beggars among other things.
I am not really sure since when these ladies started coming here. But it has been quite some time. “Going by your deeds, I don’t expect you will take care of me. If your father goes before me, I will got to Vrindavan and live there”, mothers chastise their sons in this side of the world, albeit in jest.
I won’t take a theoretical approach here. I will admit, as per my first hand knowledge, what the MP said is true to some extent. They do beg for money and a lot of people who visit the city are more than willing to help the old ladies in whites. But this is where the truth of her statement ends.
I agree that most of the ladies come from across the country. But they come here when they have nowhere else to go. When the husband dies, the house and the money is gobbled up by the relatives in remote villages even today and these ladies are left with nothing.
Just because there exists a place called Vrindavan, a large number of them are alive. Or else they would have been dead by now. It needs to be celebrated and not looked down upon. Virndavan has become synonymous with LIFE for such ladies across the country.
The MP was recently mocked for not spending time in her constituency where ideally she should permanently stay. Given this background, such a statement reeks of desperation to rake up some local emotions and make her presence count.
Being a lady herself, she should have used this as a divine opportunity to serve and take care of vulnerable and helpless ladies. Small scale industries can be set up here, utilizing this ready made labor. This would not only give them a dignified life, but also take care of the issues that the MP has mentioned.
But Alas! That would require her devoting time and energy here. It’s more convenient to visit for a day; make some disparaging remark; go back to Mumbai and sleep in peace.
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