Monday, May 9, 2016

என் மக்களுக்கு சில வார்த்தைகள்

என் பார்வையில்: கொள்கைகள், தலைவர், நடத்தை, வரலாறு என சிலவற்றை அடிப்படையாய் வைத்து 5 பெரும் கட்சிகள் பற்றிய ஒரு முன்னோட்டம்.

.தி.மு.க. (ADMK) - சர்வாதிகாரம். ஒருவரே முக்கியம் என்ற கூட்டம். மானமும் நீதியும் ஓங்கிய தமிழ் பண்பில், நிங்களும் காலில் விழ தாயார் என்றால் வாக்கு செலுத்துங்கள் இவர்களுக்கு.
தி.மு.க. (DMK + நாட்டின் கரும் புள்ளியாக மாறி விட்ட காங்கிரஸ் ) - இத்தனை நடத்தும், தேர்தலில் நின்று, வாக்கு கேட்கிறார்கள் என்றால் நம்மை முட்டாள் என்று தானே நினைக்கிறார்கள். நீங்கள் முட்டாள? 60 ஆண்டு கால இருளுக்கு காரணமானவர்கள் இவர்கள். அவ்வளவு எளிதில் மன்னிப்பு தாரதிர்கள்.
மக்கள் நல கூட்டணி (DMDK, MDMK, VCK, CPI, CPI (M)) -  இவர்களிடம் மாற்று ஆட்சி, மாற்று அரசியல் காண இயலாது. சந்தரப்பவாதிகள், பதவி மோகம், நிலையாக நின்று எடுத்ததை முடிக்க தெரியாதவர்கள், தலைவர் என ஒரு தொடக்கம் இல்லா முண்டங்கள். [கனவில் கூட விஜயகாந்தை என் நாட்டின் முதல்வாரக சிந்திக்க முடியவில்லை].
நாம் தமிழர் - தமிழ், தமிழ் என்று கூறி (ஆம், 60 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் நடந்த அதே கதை) நம்மை இன்னும் என்ன செய்ய வருகிறார்கள் என்று விளங்கவில்லை. தமிழ் நாட்டை கொங்கு, மதுர, சோழம் என்று கூறு போடாமல் இருந்தால் சரி.
பா.ம.க. (PMK) - சாதியில் வளர்ந்து வாழும் கட்சி. இதற்க்கு மேல் சொல்லவேண்டுமா? இன்னும் 5 ஆண்டுகள் கழித்து, இவர்களை பற்றி சிந்திப்போம்.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

NOTA: An Overview


This is an attempt to explain NOTA in simple terms. I tried to keep the article strictly to topic because NOTA discussion tends to take us to other issue. Those issue needs to be discussed but this is not the article to it. I welcome all views and debates. If I there are any spelling or grammatically mistake, bear with me. I am blogging after long time and I felt that out of touch while doing this topic.

I urge all of you if possible to go through this document, Supreme court order judgement copy when it declared NOTA should be added in Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). Wherever I say, supreme court order, I am referring from this document.

NOTA? What it is?

NOTA abbreviate to “None of the Above”. It gives voters a right to “Not to Vote”, an option (button) present in the voting machine for voters to cast negative voting during elections. But these negative votes are discarded during counting process as invalid votes, (i.e.) it has no bearing on the outcome of that constituency election.
Symbol of NOTA in Electronic Voting Machine
NOTA Symbol in Electronic Voting Machine
For example: In Arcot constituency, total of 10000 votes got polled.
1) 9900 people voted for NOTA - marked as invalid.
2) 80 people voted in favor of candidate X.
3) 20 people voted in favor of candidate Y.

So out of 100 votes, Candidate X got more votes and by it, he/she will be declared as winner. There is no re-election or there any handicaps in the rights Candidate X can normally posses. Because there is no provision of negative voting exists in our constitutional law, in fact RP (Representation of People) Act states, “Election is only a means of choice or election between various candidates to fill a seat” and “Candidate who gets more valid votes shall be declared as winner”.

What was the need for NOTA, then?

 

1) Secrecy of voters choice in election:

This was the first and foremost reason for introduction of NOTA button in voting machine. Before NOTA, voter can exercise “Not to vote” through two methods: 49O and ballot paper tricks.
  • 49O - voter has to fill form 17A (details of voter) and has to mention why he decided not to vote.
  • Ballot Paper - It’s a normal paper with candidate name & symbol printed in it. In polling booth, voter had to cross mark “X” over the symbol/name on the ballot paper and put it into ballot box. So, if any votes decides to not to vote for any candidate. He/ She can simply put the ballot paper inside the box without any cross mark in it. In booth, it will be counted as vote but while counting, that vote will be discarded as invalid since the ballet paper of the person has no cross mark in it.
Both methods had maintained the secrecy of voter choice as per our constitutional law. But since Election Commission started using electronic voting machine (EVM), ballot papers are discarded and 49O method exposes the voters choice of “Not to vote” in the polling room. In EVM method, a beep sound will be heard whenever the voter presses a button on voting machine in that room. So, if you choose 49O, there will be no sound and hence, voter is exposed to party members/ public present in that room of his choice which might invite problem to him/her.

Now, with the introduction of NOTA, voter can press that button in EVM and beep sound will be heard (sign of valid vote). No one knows unless until voter exposes himself of his choice of voting.

Note: NOTA button will always be present in the EVM. If there are 32 candidates contesting, EVM will have 33 buttons: 32 buttons, each for one candidate and plus one for NOTA.

2) Democracy as per our constitutional law

I would like you all to read the earlier stated RP Act law again and put special emphasis on bolder part, “Election is only a means of choice or election between various candidates to fill a seat”.

Article 19 - 22 in our constitution, deals with right to freedom. These constitutional law guarantees all individuals the right to speak, criticize, and disagree on a particular issue. It stands on the spirit of tolerance and allows people to have diverse views, ideas and ideologies. Not allowing a person to cast vote negatively defeats the very freedom of expression and the right ensured.

Every person who is present in electoral roll in Y constituency must be able to vote in that constituency during election. Just because he/she chooses “Not to Vote” or believes none of the candidate worthy of his/her vote, shall not be deprived from expressing his/her views and same being heard. And NOTA fill this gap for voters.

3) Increased participation in electoral process

So many people decides not to vote for various reasons. But if voter decides not to vote due to following reasons like no trust in government, candidates are not worthy, dissatisfied in election process, want to protest by abstaining from voting, then they get law endorsed method of doing it called NOTA.

49O method is not well known and involves many processes which may irritate voters. Our constitution felt (based on Supreme court order), NOTA simplifies the process voter go through for right to “Not to Vote” and at same time presents legitimate option to voice their choice which whole world come to know during counting process.

4) Government is for and by the people

Quoting from Supreme Court order statement will be apt to explain this,
a) In a vibrant democracy, the voter must be given an opportunity to choose none of the above (NOTA) button, which will indeed compel the political parties to nominate a sound candidate.
b) By providing NOTA button in the EVMs, it will accelerate the effective political participation in the present state of democratic system and the voters in fact will be empowered.
c) Furthermore, a provision of negative voting would be in the interest of promoting democracy as it would send clear signals to political parties and their candidates as to what the electorates think about them.

5) Reducing Illegal/Impersonate/Bogus votes

By providing NOTA and not enforcing voter who come to polling booth that they must choose anyone of the contesting candidates, Election Commission expects people who stay away from casting vote will exercise atleast NOTA and thereby can minimize or even eradicate practice of bogus voting.

Why I should choose NOTA?

You must be the change, you want to be 
1) Supreme Court judges nailed the reason what can happen choosing NOTA, “an option gives the voter the right to express his disapproval with the kind of candidates that are being put up by the political parties. When the political parties will realize that a large number of people are expressing their disapproval with the candidates being put up by them, gradually there will be a systemic change and the political parties will be forced to accept the will of the people and field candidates who are known for their integrity.

2) Contesting candidates must be credible enough to be people representatives.  

3) Make your vote invaluable. If you feel none of the candidates are worthy of your vote, you should choose NOTA and exercise your constitutional right to vote, thereby becoming good citizen too.

4) Will encourage and can provide a way for educated youngsters/new parties/new ideology in the election.  How? You may ask, simple answers is, most of Indian political situation is such giving a feeling that it doesn’t encourage new alternatives from existing parties available in that state/place. When someone sees so many people of not happy (higher % of NOTA), he/she may be encouraged that people are ready for new alternatives. Delhi state election (AAP party, how its functioning is irrelevant to the topic) will not be seen as one of incidence. It doesn’t even have to be party, it can be educated youngster standing for ward member in his/her street, village president in his/her village, counselor in his/her area. All revolution starts in from small change.


Conclusion:


After all this, from my personal view, one more point for what may happen with NOTA, I know many of you thinking, even if I vote for NOTA, X party/candidate will win election and nothing will change. Well, kind of but can’t say nothing will change if you vote for NOTA. Who knows it might be you just before the next election thinking same kind of governance happened and nothing changed, last time higher % of votes are for NOTA in my street/village/area/constituency, this time if I stand and explain people about my plan, people will listen because they are fed up with these parties.

Because for long, youngsters neglected elections because they can't stand against these parties (reasons well known) and people are bound to these party that people generally vote based on fanfare, money, caste, well known, monetary benefits and not the least on credibility of the candidate. If more people are voting for NOTA means, its time for youngsters with integrity and credibility to step up.

And to those saying I will stick to “choosing better among worst options available”, this method will lead to poorer democracy and worst situation. Supreme Court order statement emphasis certainly why you should not choose better among the worst and with that I sign off,

For democracy to survive, it is essential that the best available men should be chosen as people’s representatives for proper governance of the country. This can be best achieved through men of high moral and ethical values, who win the elections on a positive vote. Thus in a vibrant democracy, the voter must be given an opportunity to choose none of the above (NOTA) button, which will indeed compel the political parties to nominate a sound candidate. This situation palpably tells us the dire need of negative voting.

Vishnu Kumar,

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

பாலசந்தர்

பாலசந்தர் - Balachandar

பாலசந்தர் என்னும் ஒற்றை வார்த்தையின்
புகழுக்கு எண்ணாயிரம் சொற்கலோ வார்த்தையோ 
கோர்த்து சொன்னாலும் நிகராகா! 

அய்யனே! வெற்று மடல் ஒன்று வரும்; 
நீ பற்றுக்கொண்டு எழுதி களிப்பதிலெ 
என் பற்று கூடி விளங்கப்பெரும். 

கூடு விட்டு நீ போனாலும் 
உடுறி நீ வாழும் இதயங்களில்
வடுவாக என்றும் இருப்பாய்!

- விஷ்ணு குமார்  

Saturday, November 15, 2014

My Say :: Off the Record: Untold Stories from a Reporter's Diary

 Off the Record: Untold Stories from a Reporter's Diary

Stories of journalist recording of events.
Book is About:
Mr. Ajith Pillar, author lists out the important (if not all) turn of events he encountered during his more than two decade long journalism carrier. This is not an auto-biography or any personal take on history from 1980 onwards. This book is strictly about the situation that Ajith Pillai landed upon, tiring times he went through, process of looking for story, threats he encountered, principles he wanted to carry forward and lots more a journalist goes through in his professional duty.

Inside details:
As told above, book is a journalistic take on events unfolded in front of Ajith Pillai line of duty. But when you are in medium of recording events profession, as a byproduct you become a historian, writing down the years with facts. That's what exactly happened in this book. It sort of ends as history telling with ground details on events such as Kargil war, Underground world of Mumbai, manipulation of media by government and now corporate world, murky world of Indian Defence sector and scams, exposes/scandals, Slum that sold Kidney like flower in Chennai, 1996 J&K first election, first regime of NDA and last but not the least, interview with Dr.Varghese Kurien is the cherry on top of the cake.

My Take: 
Ajith Pillai wrote from what he saw. Its not a biased or loathing or boasting about one's carrier book. He rarely took side but when he did, he did with absolute trust that journalist must have on their story.

That's what I liked most. I would suggest anyone who is interested to know details (unpublished also) but facts on major issues happened during 90s and early 2000s to read this book.

If you want to be journalist, like to know about journalism and journalist life, this is a must read book for you.

Rewards:
You get from what you seek. This is the beauty of stories/books. I was interested about journalism and I was more than excited to know how would be the life of journalist and hardships they go through in collecting, narrating and publishing their story to world.

Actually I stumbled upon this book on amazon when I was searching for some other topics. I remember reading articles/features in Outlook produced by Ajith Pillai. So, I recognized the author and re-collected liking what he narrated in those few writings.That's how I decided to buy the book.

I liked the good. In the end, I gained more knowledge and felt enriched by the information's in the book.




Note: Purpose of this post is to make aware of such good and give outline about the readers like me who want their money spent to be worth.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

கண்ணதாசன் வாழ்த்து

கண்ணதாசன்
முத்தை தீர்க்கமாக அணியிட எடுப்பதிலும் 
முத்தை செம்மையாய் அணியிட கோர்ப்பதிலும்
முத்தையா தமிழ்முத்தையா நீ 
- விஷ்ணு குமார் 

ஆனித் திங்கள் பிறந்த ஆணித்தமிழன் கண்ணதாசன் பிறந்தநாள் இன்று.