Gujarat: Are polls the answer?

'Are we a banana republic?'

Wed Jul 24 16:33:10 2002
Name:RAJENDRA
Email:maurya_rajendraprasad@rediffmail.com
Your Views:Narendra Modi is called "Chote Sardar" and the phrase suits him. I don't understand why Congress, Samajwadi, RJD, CPM are fearing to face election. If they have work for the society then they will definitely win. Let the election be held at the earliest so that these parties can know the mood of Gujratis and Hindu community

Wed Jul 24 17:08:11 2002
Name:Raj
Email:prapal@mantraonline.com
Your Views:I do not understand politics but how can a citizens's right to exercise his franchise be curtailed? Then what is democracy? If the political parties are to decide when they will face the electorate, then why call ourselves the largest democracy in the world? If after 50 years of being a republic we cannot trust our own Election Commission to ensure a free and fair election, then we must call ourselves a banana republic. Right?

Wed Jul 24 18:51:10 2002
Name:Jay
Email:depjay@yahoo.com
Your Views: The opposition to polls in Gujarat is yet another example of the biased secularism practiced in this country. If elections can be held in Kashmir when lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits are living in migrant camps (a sizeable number of them outside the state) then what's the problem holding them in Gujarat where only a few thousand people continue to remain refugees. None of the opposition parties insist that the Pandits return home as a pre-condition to holding elections. Also, while there is so much concern for the riot-affected, the Godhra train-burning incident has been completely forgotten. Does anybody (especially the so-called secular-liberal-intellectual brigade) think about how Godhra survivors or relatives of the victims are coping? I don't think so.

Wed Jul 24 19:31:14 2002
Name:d.k.sengupta
Email:senguptadilip@hotmail.com
Your Views:I am not a politician and have'nt sided any political parties so far,hence my comments shouldn't be taken politically. Lakhs of kasmiri-pandits are still refugees in their own land,the press/opp.parties/gov kept utter silence for years, probably because they are Hindus. where as few thousands of Muslims are in the camps as per your reports,healthy-hearty and making happy go round with large-scale nikahs as marriage rituals with all pomp-shows. still you all are against the election process as if Modi/BJP are coming back with the thumping majority? +This fear psychosis of this party called BJP has united the opp. parties /press/TV-channels (latest not passing the bill by the Congress, with obvious supporting the channels who were with the same tune with congress on decrying the Hindus/Gujarat. Today the Hindu militancy if any, is the creation of the ruthless abuse by the Muslim anti-national/anti-Hindu attitude with the support of the opp. parties& now joined by the large section of the press with the support of the foreign countries. More such actions on the part of oppositions for Muslim votes would help BJP-forces to a land-slide victory.You can judge!

Wed Jul 24 20:46:00 2002
Name:prakash
Email:shailesh_graphic@rediff.com
Your Views:no elections should be conducted at least for another six months

Wed Jul 24 21:08:59 2002
Name:Vijay
Email:Vijay_km@rediffmail.com
Your Views:Elections should be held in Gujarat. If you always support particular community like what pseudo secular parties are doing since partition, there will be no communal harmony in India .

Wed Jul 24 21:46:30 2002
Name:Reddy
Email:Reddy2002_jr@rediffmail.com
Your Views:There are very interesting views from many people. Some people are expressing views against BJP, Modi, RSS.... I will ask them one question. Can you (if you are not a Muslim) live happily in the area where Muslim population is above 20%.? We all know, you can't. Because they are still living in 6th century (in uncivilised society) and always getting support from pseudo secular parties for the sake of the votes. So, raise your voice against the illiteracy, unemployment and fundamentalism in Muslims. Don't try to teach the 'secular' lessons to the Hindus (or its organizations). The religion itself is secular. Just look at the history of all religions.

Wed Jul 24 22:37:22 2002
Name:Rahul Vitekar
Email:rahulvitekar@metacrawler.com
Your Views:If Elections and the Electoral Defeat of the Present Government is going to improve riot relief and rehabilitation, they might indeed be the need of the hour. Unfortunately, the fact that the likely election result is still not clear inspite of the culpability of the ruling establishment speaks volumes of the kind of society we live in. If elections can be held in a climate free of any fear and tension and the number of riot victims yet to be helped is comparitively less, then elections should be held. All those who have submitted their messages and those who have read them have an opportunity to influence the poll outcome. Cyberspace might be a privileged medium, but it is exponentially effective for reaching out to other people. Let us ponder over what we can do. An Electoral Defeat for the BJP in Gujarat is a litmus test of sorts for the survival of our pluralistic society. For if those who were responsible for the riots and are voted back to power, they will stand vindicated in their beliefs and actions. And wreak Havoc on our country.Let us resolve to make a difference in whatever small way we can.

Wed Jul 24 23:59:07 2002
Name:shafali verma
Email:shafaliverma_aligarh@yahoo.co.uk
Your Views:Because Mr. Modi take the benefit of killing of inocent people

Thu Jul 25 00:04:14 2002
Name:shiva shankar.M. rao
Email:ssmr@rediffmail.com
Your Views:Relief and rehabilitation should gain precedence in Gujarat. It is unfortunate that the state is facing a series of mishaps, be it natural or man made. People of Gujarat, in my opinion are the most amiable ones in the country. They deserve to lead a peaceful and a happy life.

Thu Jul 25 08:41:46 2002
Name:sibin
Email:sibin_@rediffmail.com
Your Views:my earnest opinion is election should be conducted only after necessary rehabilitations works were carried out. Unless peoples are properly placed in their homes how an election will be fair and impartial? Of course election is the basis of democracy, but to have democracy first we have to create necessary situation congenial for democracy, otherwise all efforts will be in vain.

Thu Jul 25 10:43:06 2002
Name:p.s.sastry
Email:sirgee_3@rediffmail.com
Your Views:Instead of ballot polls, people may prefer sample survey and photocell scanning.

Thu Jul 25 10:57:51 2002
Name:Salil
Email:salilsr@rediffmail.com
Your Views:Election will be futile,they have proved beyond doubt they can do what they want!!! Elections are no exceptions!

Thu Jul 25 11:48:16 2002
Name:Patel Jigar
Email:jnpatel2@rediffmail.com
Your Views:Dear Sir, I think election commission should continue with next election in Saptember. Now situation is absolutely normal in State and 99.99% people now back to home and going on work regularly. We can not stop election because of 12,000 people don't want to go back to their home and it's not government has to do every thing, it's they who has to do for theirself. Some people who are unfotunately not Gujarati taking very much interest in Gujarat to blame it. No its time to tell them not to do same. Now its time to get new government, so The People of Gujarat can give their view and its right time to get their view as Peoples memory is not to long. Some people intentionally making things wrong, just to show that there is still problem here and they can make Gujarat new play ground of Jehadis. To stop that it is required to go for early polls and what Mr.Modi has done is which one should do.

Thu Jul 25 11:48:25 2002
Name:A.M.Marathe
Email:amarathe@pol.net.in
Your Views:dear sir the opinion asked by you is all wrong, nobody would like to say forget riot relief and go for election, then why this question arises. has CM Modi or his party said it at any time? it is other opertunist oposition parties who feel that they have not projected gujarat issues properly and there fore are afraid of rejection by people at large. Have you followed the community reunion on the day of jagganath rath yatra? why opposition wants to keep the issue burning is it to win the votes of minority community? Indian politicians know only one thing: to oppose the ruling party. instead they should work together for communal harmony irrespective of their party or power.

Thu Jul 25 13:16:37 2002
Name:murali
Email:murali_kris18@yahoo.co.in
Your Views:this is merely apolitical gimmick. I think they should concentrate on bringing Gujarat back on to main stream before elections

Thu Jul 25 13:27:54 2002
Name:TIJO GEORGE
Email:tijoonline@rediffmail.com
Your Views: Modi-The Best Chef : Modi is the best chef in the last 50 yrs and not the best CM. Modi has made a spicy curry of blood and tears and now is doing what we call " Jale Pe Namak Chidakana".The money which will be wasted in these going to be unfair elections can be put to better use of rehabilitating the riot stricken people. It is better to impose presidents rule for time being and after creating a favourable condition for the citizens the state can go for elections. It is the only way to foil the chef's plans. Its time the Gujarati's should start a " Kartavya Yudh with a Karma Yatra".

Thu Jul 25 14:45:11 2002
Name:sham
Email:sham@yahoo.com
Your Views:I think this is a barbarian act of Mr Narendra Modi he should see that the rehabiliatation work go on after all the people are human and if Narendra Modi is a human than he must not do that

Thu Jul 25 15:31:27 2002
Name:Rama Aluri
Email:aluri_r@rediff.com
Your Views:Yes ..Elections is only the right answer ..for Gujarat.. because now the situation is under control..and people happy with modif govt. I fell it is a choice to people to vote ..who had done justice to them.

Thu Jul 25 15:34:10 2002
Name:RAJENDRA
Email:maurya_rajendraprasad@rediffmail.com
Your Views:Modi will definitely will win the elections by securing more than 90% seats in the assembly. No one can stop him to make the Gujarat as "Hindu rastra ka Hindu state". Let the Congress, Samajwadi,RJD & other luteras may favour the Muslims for obtaining their votes, but the people of Gujarat will give them answer on the ballot paper. This is the actual fear to Congress & Parties that they will not get even 10% votes of Gujrati Hindus. They have given command to S.Vaghela, but i think they have forgotten Mr. Vaghela's defeat in the last election. How badly he was thrown out from the politics by the people of Gujrat. God may bless to Vaghela.

Thu Jul 25 15:34:33 2002
Name:aluri
Email:aluri_r@rediff.com
Your Views:I won't agree with all u guys...conducting elections is the correct decision..because Modi can prove him from Voice of the people .. not from Media or congress.

Thu Jul 25 18:05:53 2002
Name:manish paturkar
Email:manishmanishp@hotmail.com
Your Views:i think polls in this environment would not be held properly and fairly. even the situation is getting to normal, it is not fully normal as not much time has passed and wounds still are green. Also, there is no point in leaving cheif ministership now, coz he wanted to leave, he could have left it before this, but then when he think he has credibly managed the problem there is no question of him asking for mid term polls. So, i think this is just a political move, but nobody can be blamed as BJP is playing game with rules which are pervasive in political arena today.

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