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Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has supported Bihar CM Nitish Kumar breaking away from the BJP
If Nitish Kumar can stand up to the might of the ruling party in Bihar can Uttar Pradesh (UP) be far behind? To the ears of all those still with a socialist heart, Akhilesh Yadav's support for the Bihar Chief Minister is sweet music. Having watched the state's bulldozer loving government often treat citizens in a cruel manner, Nitish Kumar has shown the way to many other citizens who dream of a government with more heart.
"At present economic, and social justice in the state is turned on its head and the politics of the opposition parties seems helpless in doing anything about it," said a concerned citizen who did not want to reveal his name.
Om Prakash Rajbhar, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party chief said that a storm is visiting Bihar, and when a huge tree is shaken branches will break away. "Something important is about to happen in Bihar," felt Rajbhar.
"It is a good beginning," Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav told reporters soon after Nitish Kumar said that his political alliance with right wing politicians had ended on August 8. The day also marks the anniversary of the Quit India movement when in 1942, Mahatma Gandhi had given the call for the British to leave India.
What Nitish Kumar has done now is to strengthen democracy and weaken growing threats to freedom in the country. It is just the right time for the Opposition parties to say enough is enough. So far they have stood by helplessly watching a 'one-person-rule' trying to dig roots in the soil of the largest democracy in the world, believe many citizens in Lucknow.
In UP, the tone of Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has already changed. Akhilesh Yadav is the most prominent leader of the Opposition in UP, but the performance of his party has been wishy washy in recent times in defending the right of all citizens to a fair and just existence in the state.
The 49-year-old Akhilesh Yadav is a popular politician. He is a darling of sections of the youth. Female voters love him. He is well educated, and is respected as a family man. But his performance to stand up to the challenges of the day lacks lustre. Akhilesh Yadav is unable to spell out the alternative that he offers.
He is accused of lacking political wisdom, and not recognising the political timing of moments that could change the fortune of the state.
How different will UP be if the SP is voted to power is the question.
How will the SP make its rule more compassionate, fair and just? It is the failure of the likes of Akhilesh Yadav to make citizens dream of a better life in the future that is preventing them from being voted to power.
In the end, it is not Nitish Kumar or Akhilesh Yadav who will defeat those politicians who practice policies that people find unfriendly, but voters.
Love for the Tiranga
Anurag Bhadauria, Samajwadi Party spokesperson decided to mark 75 years of the country's Independence by taking out a motorcycle rally waving the Indian flag. The main streets of the city buzzed with the whir and whizz of countless motorcycles as SP members made this expensive display of patriotism at a time when petrol prices have skyrocketed.
Those who live without a roof over their head and continue to sleep on footpaths, stood up to watch the spectacular display of nation love, wondering when politicians will wake up to 'people love'? The country prepares to celebrate Independence from British rule on August 15. And different Indians are showing their love for the land in different ways.
"The Tricolour is our identity, our life, honour and pride of this country. The message of the Tricolour is that people of all religions should live together in this democratic country in peace," said the SP spokesperson.
Bhadauria is also a polo player, and indulged in yet another pageant where a video shows him riding a horse with the Tiranga flag in hand. However, the common citizen craves relief from his woes. The daily struggle of the poor is to be able to organise at least one meal a day.
There are reports that ration shops are refusing to hand over foodstuffs to poor people till they buy a flag for Rs 20. What are SP workers doing to help the poor receive the ration promised to them? How does the polo playing patriotism of Bhadauria help to feed the hungry?
"Where are we to get Rs 20 from", is the collective cry of the poor. The economy of the state is such that the citizen on the street is unable to dish out even Rs 20 from a pocket that has perpetually been empty for a long time.
Horrid 'Brother'
Just a few days before raksha bandhan, a horrific incident took place in an up market housing society in NOIDA. In a viral video, a male resident was shown abusing a fellow resident who is a woman. The woman was also assaulted by the man who is accused of making private use of the common area of the housing complex.
Now the man has been arrested and in a video is shown 'confessing' that he made a mistake to attack his female fellow resident because she is like his sister!
On this festival of raksha bandhan, sisters tie a rakhi around their brothers' wrist. He then promises to protect them throughout the year. In return for the rakhi the sisters receive a gift from the brother.
"She is a woman and she is like my sister. Certainly it was a mistake on my part and I do realise it. If she thinks I should apologise to her, then I can do it," the woman beater said in the video. "Whatever I said in rage to her I realised later that such language should not be used against anyone in life," he added. After having watched the video a viewer was shocked that he was calling the victim his sister. "What a horrible brother for any sister to have," was the last word.
