Today, I will begin my article with an apparently simple but a very crucial question: Are the Indian MPs answerable to the citizens of the country? Every five years, we, the citizens of India use our constitutional right to vote and elect a candidate to the Parliament (Lok Sabha). The MPs (Member of Parliament), as they are called take the oath to voice the grievances and long standing demands of the people of his or her constituency, in front of all political parties and the government.
However, all that I said just now is theoretical and said more than done. The actual case is far worse than we can ever think of. Except a handful, majority of MPs spend their time in doing simply nothing. Crores of rupees are given in the MP’s quota for spending the money for various developmental works and for bringing in some betterment in the lives of the people at large. But, finally what do we get at the end of the day – practically nothing.
Money comes and goes without anything happening worthwhile. Recently, Kabir Suman, MP of the Jadavpur constituency of Kolkata has shown his anger against his party – Trinamool Congress. According to him, his party is not allowing him to take on any development work. Suman finds no difference between West Bengal’s ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the opposition (his party) in misusing funds allocated for development work. He thinks himself to be almost a puppet in the hands of Trinamool.
This is the real scenario of the MPs, not only in Kolkata but in all parts of India. It is just that Kabir Suman has brought the matter in public, while most of them prefer to remain ‘quiet’ in such cases.
During the time of elections, we find the party candidates running in almost each and every home all day, asking for votes and promising all sorts of ‘good’ work that they are going to do once they are elected by the people. But, when finally the day comes of actually doing something, no one seems to bother the least. This is the real picture of Indian politics today, all sugar-coated words, but no real-time action.
If you get skin deep into such socio-political matters, you will find hundreds of live examples of MPs sitting idle without any initiative taken for improving either the health condition of people or starting any progressive works such as building proper roads in areas that doesn’t have one or improving the water resources by setting up pipes, tube wells in an area or locality.
Many a times, people get frustrated and literally humiliated in trying to take up their cause to the MP’s office. The party cadres are always there to make matters worse, and in times of need you will never find the sight of any party member or the MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) or MP himself/herself to extend you a helping hand.
I can give you one of my real life examples. In my locality, one of our neighbours met an accident. She burnt herself very badly and her condition was getting serious. She had to be rushed to the hospital, but her family was not getting any ambulance to take her there. It was actually a ‘bandh’ day (thanks to our political parties who just need any petty cause to call a bandh). There was no taxi or even a rickshaw to carry her and we were literally helpless at that point of time. Suddenly one of us gave the idea of calling the party office for some help. However, all went in vain, as the phone continuously rang and no one was there to pick it up. At last, finding no other way, we tried to contact the local MLA. But she was out of town (the cause: on a holiday with her family).
This is the true scenario of our political system and the people there in. Only the luckiest of us get their help at times of need, otherwise in most cases all the vows and promises made by these so-called people’s representatives seem no more than false decrees.
However, all that I said just now is theoretical and said more than done. The actual case is far worse than we can ever think of. Except a handful, majority of MPs spend their time in doing simply nothing. Crores of rupees are given in the MP’s quota for spending the money for various developmental works and for bringing in some betterment in the lives of the people at large. But, finally what do we get at the end of the day – practically nothing.
Money comes and goes without anything happening worthwhile. Recently, Kabir Suman, MP of the Jadavpur constituency of Kolkata has shown his anger against his party – Trinamool Congress. According to him, his party is not allowing him to take on any development work. Suman finds no difference between West Bengal’s ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the opposition (his party) in misusing funds allocated for development work. He thinks himself to be almost a puppet in the hands of Trinamool.
This is the real scenario of the MPs, not only in Kolkata but in all parts of India. It is just that Kabir Suman has brought the matter in public, while most of them prefer to remain ‘quiet’ in such cases.
During the time of elections, we find the party candidates running in almost each and every home all day, asking for votes and promising all sorts of ‘good’ work that they are going to do once they are elected by the people. But, when finally the day comes of actually doing something, no one seems to bother the least. This is the real picture of Indian politics today, all sugar-coated words, but no real-time action.
If you get skin deep into such socio-political matters, you will find hundreds of live examples of MPs sitting idle without any initiative taken for improving either the health condition of people or starting any progressive works such as building proper roads in areas that doesn’t have one or improving the water resources by setting up pipes, tube wells in an area or locality.
Many a times, people get frustrated and literally humiliated in trying to take up their cause to the MP’s office. The party cadres are always there to make matters worse, and in times of need you will never find the sight of any party member or the MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) or MP himself/herself to extend you a helping hand.
I can give you one of my real life examples. In my locality, one of our neighbours met an accident. She burnt herself very badly and her condition was getting serious. She had to be rushed to the hospital, but her family was not getting any ambulance to take her there. It was actually a ‘bandh’ day (thanks to our political parties who just need any petty cause to call a bandh). There was no taxi or even a rickshaw to carry her and we were literally helpless at that point of time. Suddenly one of us gave the idea of calling the party office for some help. However, all went in vain, as the phone continuously rang and no one was there to pick it up. At last, finding no other way, we tried to contact the local MLA. But she was out of town (the cause: on a holiday with her family).
This is the true scenario of our political system and the people there in. Only the luckiest of us get their help at times of need, otherwise in most cases all the vows and promises made by these so-called people’s representatives seem no more than false decrees.
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