You have the power

3 Dec 2008

Pissed about what happened at Bombay? Tired of inept and toothless politicians who make the same promises every single time and yet… here you are in the aftermath of yet another attack?

Feel that lighting candles, wearing black (clothes, armbands), doing silent protests and signing “I’m outraged” petitions are sweet, thoughtful but ineffective?

Then here’s the cause for you. A group of people have come together to take on the government. Demand real change. There’s a real list of demands.

Ok, cool, you say. But how on earth can you enforce your demands?
Well, with your vote of course.
D’uh. But all the political parties suck.
Exactly.
Huh?
Withhold your vote. Go to polls. Most definitely go. But mark that you are withholding your vote. You are officially abstaining and recording your abstinence.
Why does that matter? The party with the most votes wins.
Not quite. There’s a wonderful little clause, 49-O of the People’s Representation Act that says if a majority abstains, the results of the election are voided.

HOW FREAKING AWESOME IS THAT??

That is power – in YOUR hands!!! I am so excited I am jumping up and down.

Oh and one more thing. You know your taxes that you pay every year? The country counts on it to run. Stop paying that until the demands are met (I’m not asking you to violate the law – read the manifesto on how you can still be a good citizen)

Excited? Good. Read the draft manifesto.



Every single Wednesday until the demands are met people will gather at all the major metros. Join them. Sign the petition there. Go to vote and abstain. Refuse to pay your taxes if the demands are not met.

Join the people-powered movement.

You have the power. Use it for good, young Jedi.

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December 3, 2008 | Filed Under India, Politics Tags: ,

Comments 
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Comments

  • Hey i loved your article. The things told by you were absolutely true. But do you think by just blog we can reach to every human being. People behave so disgustingly at a times that they don't even care what is going on in the world. And then they will say India ka or duniya ka kuch nahi ho sakta. Disgusting.. I hope the step take n by you can make some miracle..
    One more thing. Its true all the politicians sucks............
  • mg
    Have just blogged about the tax issue
  • mg
    Along with a demand for more accountability (which I think should be strengthened in this petition) there should be a clear and explicit deman for the depoliticisation of the judiciary and the judicial process and for Justice. Starting with 1984, there have been so many riots and the perpetrators have not been brought to justice! What about terrorists like Narendra Modi who are walking about absolutely free and those who participated in the anti-Sikh riots of 1984?
  • Totally agree.
  • Rational Human
    Not paying your taxes and depositing them into a Counter Terrorism Action fund is still illegal. Taxes are currently not allowed to be contingent on getting what you want. It's not payment for services rendered (though it should be) but a hold up- a demand of "give me your money or else... (go to jail)".
    Imagine if all rich libertarians in the US decided that they wanted a flat tax (or better yet, a sales tax!) and refused to fund the US Government until those demands were met, but agreed to deposit their money in a nationalised bank (wait! nowadays, any US bank would meet that criteria) ... They'd end up in jail (or as I'm sure it'll come to be known, The Gulag)

    49-O is awesome but as Vidya points out the problem in India is a poorly educated, gullible populace- they'll vote for who ever promises them the most (see the DMK's promises in TN)- and all the "elites" in the world ain't going to fix that! (too small a population base)
  • Re: not paying taxes - true. But sometimes you have to do it to get the government to do the needful. As long as it is non-violent and doesn't kill innocents, civil protest is a good place to start. After all, what Gandhi did was illegal too (not equating that with this though!)

    I agree on the poverty issue. BUT - everyone who won't sign up to this - give me a freaking alternative. Any alternative!! One of the reasons India never freaking moves forward is that all we have are people who shoot down proposals. Give me a proposal that works instead!!

    Rational Human - the previous paragraph is not aimed at you. It is aimed at every smart person who can find holes in any plan but not actually propose a plan themselves.
  • Rational Human
    Actually, there is no section 49-O in the constitution (the constitution of India consists of articles and not sections).
    There is also no such provision in the constitution under any article. The closest thing is section 49(o) of 'conduct of election rules 1961
    " Elector deciding not to vote.-If an elector, after his electoral roll number has been duly entered in the register of voters in Form-17A and has put his signature or thumb impression thereon as required under sub-rule (1) of rule 49L, decided not to record his vote, a remark to this effect shall be made against the said entry in Form 17A by the presiding officer and the signature or thumb impression of the elector shall be obtained against such remark." (see the Wikipedia entry on 49-O)
  • Shripriya,
    49-0 is awesome, I wasn't aware of it! I wish these energies do get focussed and do not mean to sound pessimistic.

    But how does one prevent a bunch of political parties buying out people and making them vote? When it is the question of the next meal to eat or the security money provides I am sure there will be hundreds willing to take it.

    Are we as citizens willing to take a stance and not paying that bribe to the official who does something for it? The parties and politicians are not something that have descended out of the skies but they are made of the same material as the people. Corrupt people create corrupt politicians. Whether it is the issue of copyrights, corruption, environment , or even filing an FIR / complaint or going to the court why do we as a nation lack ethics, take easy routes and never go the legal route? So how do you think politicians would change without this essential internal character change among citizens?
  • Vidya - all valid points. I don't know how you prevent vote buying. Maybe by hoping the poor would prefer to live safely than have a temporary handout - why on earth wouldn't they be pissed as hell too? Maybe you have to buy votes. I hope not.

    I do think you need the "vote banks". You can get them by paying or making them care. The draft manifesto will first have to be translated into the local languages. It is not going to get far in English!

    There are lots of details that need to be clarified for this to work. But this is the first hopeful effort I've seen that has some chance. Hope can be in silent prayer or hope can be something that can translate into tangible change and this has the potential. But potential is not enough... let's hope enough smart people get involved and figure out the nuances!

    Offer to help - prem.panicker at gmail dot com is collecting volunteers to join the effort.

    Re: corruption - don't know if you have to tackle it with this problem, but it has to be, you're right. What about the Singapore approach? Publish, punish and jail anyone giving/taking bribes. It would have to an independent body that you believe is not corrupt (d'oh)... I don't know if there is the appetite to tackle that quite yet...
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