JANTA KI RAAY???????

Doesen't janta ki raay count in the largest democracy in the world??????????

Don't I at least get to say who I would like to see as my President - as the Representative of my country - as the Leader of our Defence Force - the Final Decision Maker etc etc. Yes yes I know the President is only the titular Head bla blah blah - the de facto and de jure etc etc...

But I do have an opinion and I want a choice to exercise that opinion. I know we execrsie our franachise when we'r electing the Prime Minister.

In my opinion, the Prime Minister heads the Cabinet, he is the actual head of India, as in the working head. But its the President who is THE face of our country. His is THE signature which makes a bill a law, he is THE ONE who has the authority to declare India to be in a state of war, he is THE ONE who may grant a pardon to some poor soul and give him a fresh lease of life.

Why do we have to make do with one of the also rans as our President. Oour outgoing president, Abdul Kalam Azad, a world famous scientist, a visionary beyond par and a man who was above all the political games and muck. A man to whom we the next generation can look upto and learn from, a man who came from the back and beyond (as we the urban dwellers would say), a Muslim to boot to head ISRO, to head our country, a man who thinks its the children and students whose opinions are important and not to be dismissed, a man, an author, a motivator, a teacher, a leader, a man who would never compromise on his principles, someone we can all look upto and so will the rest of world. Which country can say with pride that they have been led by a nuclear scientist.

And now in his place who are the probable contenders - a bunch of political washouts, also-rans, yes-men and chamchas. Men who would never hesitate to compromise on their scruples and the country to save themselves and their party and their leader, not to mention a quick buck on the side. why don't we just auction off the chair. men who wouldn't think twice before passing some worthless bill into a law (something like more reservation for the SC/ST/OBC - others stop studying and working)

Imagine a scene where the auctioneer (now that would start another race) brings down his hammer to say "Going once going twice and sold to the man with the big red huge suitcase"

And while I am at it, how is it that in a country of more than one billion we cannot come up with some women as contenders for the Presidential post. I propose Shabana Azmi for one, Kiran Bedi as another and Renuka Chowdhury as a third. And no I will never ever consider Mrs. Sonia Gandhi's name as President becasue of the very simple fact that she is not an Indian by birth. She will never be able to gauge the pulse of the nation and at the risk of repeating myself, SHE IS NOT AN INDIAN.SHE IS AND WILL ALWAYS REMAIN AN ITALIAN.National pride is also something.

It appears that the elections for the highest post in the country turn into an arena for all the politicians to showoff their political might (read number of votes) and call in their favours. This should ideally be an election where we, the people of the country have a say - Of the people, by the people, for the people in the true sense of the term.

JANTA KI RAAY LI JAAYE AND JANTA KI RAAY SUNI JAAYE