Press Note on Dr. JP's Bangalore Meeting on 17th July
Dr. JP: We require new politics for a new generation of Indians!
Delivering the key note address to a gathering at the Kalyana Mantapa in Koramangala, Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) of Lok Satta Party urged the people to work together to create a political transformation in the country. India requires a new politics for a new generation. The 500 seating in the hall was overflowing with people comprising youth, men and women and senior citizens, some having to sit uncomfortably in passageways.
The introductory address given by Dr. Ashwin Mahesh, editor India Together and member of AbiDe Taskforce, said Dr. JP cannot be introduced as a statesman or a politicians as this would not cover a range of other possibilities that he can do. Three things he has noticed in course of his long association with Dr. JP is his respect for politics and that it represents a way of giving voice to aspirations of people, he being a national person and he fact that he is touched by human suffering at a very personal level. His work as a member of the National Advisory Council (NAC) and his contribution to the drafting of the Right to Information (RTI) legislation is scarcely recognised.
Initiating his address Dr. JP thanked the audience for their overwhelming presence inspite of it being a working day in Bengaluru, in the midst of bad weather and peak traffic. The diversity of people that have come show the resilience of all people for a change. When India got independence in 1947, it constituted 2% of global GDP. This dropped to 1% in 1991 and by 2009 has only recovered enough to reach the 2%. But the potential of India is to reach 18-20% of global GDP, second only to China. However, to make this happen first world economy cannot be sustained by third world politics. In the present state of affairs, politics will derail the economy.
Dr. JP brought out the five challenges faced by India today
* Abject poverty
* Poor education system
* High degree of centralisation in administration
* Endemic corruption
* Political parties today are captive of feudal families
JP recollected that India can boast of more leaders during the independence period than any other country. But today the finest in India are moving away from political engagement. True politics is a noble endeavour and we cannot shun it. Afterall Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were also politicians. It has to be redefined as new politics for a new generation of Indians. He urged people to contribute to this in varying degrees depending on their commitments.
He emphasised that Lok Satta is eagerly looking for leaders. Bengaluru which has shown the way forward to the world in important sectors, can also bring out leaders to transform politics in the state!
The interactive session following the address saw an overwhelming response. There were more than 170 written questions from the
audience and the volunteers had a tough time managing time. The interactive discussion touched upon a wide range of topics, including the National ID project, caste based reservations, leadership in LSP and analysis of recent elections in A.P.
Dr. Meenakshi Bharath concluded the meeting by urging the attendees to become part of new politics for the new generation.
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