RESPECT THE WILL OF PEOPLE: NISHIKANT THAKUR

RESPECT THE WILL OF PEOPLE: NISHIKANT THAKUR

24-JAN-ENG 15

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------The atmosphere created in the country regarding the Bihar assembly elections has finally become clear after the results were declared. The NDA is going to form the government with a huge majority. In my journalistic career so far, my experience has been that until the results are out, you cannot be completely certain about the final outcome. No one can know what the society, and especially the voters, have decided. Secondly, when a storm comes, it's not just the unripe and ripe fruits that fall, but even big trees are uprooted. The analyses of big analysts vanish like pollution from smoke. Secondly, Bihar is deeply entrenched in the caste system. It must have also learned a lesson that there is no benefit in pretending to be caste-conscious today. It will now have to find a representative who will work towards making society caste-free. The decision rests with the people, so give them a candidate who is capable, works at the grassroots level for society, and lives for its development. But this doesn't happen; instead, candidates are fielded based on caste, a conspiracy is hatched to plunge society into utter darkness, and bitterness is created by giving opportunities in the elections.

Everyone already knows what was good and bad about the Bihar election results. However, there hasn't been a review of why the people of Bihar reduced the opposition to such insignificance. Many big leaders emerged, but it seems they could not understand the intentions of the people. Now you can level a thousand accusations against the government or the Election Commission, but the decision made by the people can hardly be changed. It is said that only the loser cries out. They will list many reasons from their side, but the representatives were elected by the people. You are also right that the winner rules. Their merits and demerits are discussed in history. When you go among the people, you fail to convince them, you cannot win them over, then why do you cry out about your defeat! Your accusation that those in power are strong is also true. They are absolutely right that they are in power, and therefore strong; because the administration cannot be with you, as its commitment is to the government, not to the people. They are very far-sighted and understand the political climate like a meteorologist, so they cannot be with you. Even if you talk about the constitution or invoke morality, they are with you only according to the prevailing circumstances, not permanently. Willingly or unwillingly, they adapt themselves to the ruling party.

It would not be correct to say that Bihar has not developed; development has taken place. Today, if you go to any village, you will find road connectivity and continuous electricity supply, but there are no means of employment. The youth of Bihar have to go to other states for their livelihood and face humiliation. No, you won't see any reduction in crime. Because while we talk about the winds of development blowing in Bihar, we also have to consider how big industrialists are murdered, how opponents are shot dead in broad daylight inside hospitals. On what basis can we then say that Bihar has developed? On the other hand, we warn the entire country with the slogan, "Do you want the return of jungle raj?" Then why and how would anyone invest their capital in that jungle raj? If employment is not a problem there, then wherever you go in the country, you will find laborers from that state. Yes, it is also true that people are entitled to find employment according to their qualifications anywhere in the world and have the right to earn their livelihood. It's not that all the laborers there are from Bihar; if you look at the same city in the country, you will find that the high-ranking officials of that city are also from that state. But what is the benefit of that, because only by leaving that state can someone become a high-ranking official? This is also because our government has not been able to improve the standard of the education system there even after so many years of independence. As for employment, when we win elections based on the narrative that twenty years ago there was a reign of lawlessness in the state, and that it will return, then who will come to invest their money there? It's true that you won the election on this very slogan of lawlessness and your government has been formed, and it's quite strong, so now find a solution to Bihar's biggest problem. If there were truly good schools in Bihar, good hospitals for healthcare, and all the means of employment available within the state, then who would want to leave their homes and families to face humiliation in other states? Now, the confidence with which the people have voted for the NDA government this time will certainly benefit them in the coming years. Intellectually, this state has led undivided India since ancient times, and while that may never happen again in the future, it is possible that the state, which has ranked 24th in the country in terms of development since independence, can climb a few steps higher.

In fact, Bihar witnessed a change from misgovernance, and also saw that Nitish Kumar stood with the people, and he is a powerful, educated, and experienced leader who emerged from Jayaprakash Narayan's movement. Yes, he has always been a target of criticism, because when someone reaches great heights, some of their own people try to pull them down. But Nitish's image has remained untarnished to this day. However, his wavering policies... His tenure has certainly been challenging, but remember his first term, when the people of Bihar only dreamed of electricity, and there were no roads to reach the villages. But as his term progressed, all these facilities became a reality in Bihar, and today you can easily travel from city to city and village to village, and enjoy the benefits of electricity equally in both urban and rural areas. This is a fact. Now, those who relentlessly criticize the promises made before this assembly election—such as giving ten thousand rupees to women's accounts, waiving electricity bills up to 125 units, increasing old-age pensions, and providing facilities to students—are clearly failing to see the truth and are only seeking self-glorification through criticism. It's true that our constitution gives us the right to criticize, but that doesn't mean you should get so lost in criticism that you lose touch with reality. Now, instead of criticizing the new government, we should focus on discussing our development and looking towards a brighter future. Saying that we will bring the moon down for you is utterly unrealistic. Therefore, we should have realistic expectations of a bright future from the new government