Hyderabad: Morning walks these days are often used to discuss the upcoming elections. The walkers engage animatedly in discussions and those who want to concentrate only on walking, talk about it later over chai and juice.
Outside KBR park, Brigadier (retd.) S.N. Capoor, ex-general manager of Food Corporation of India, Govind Kumar, and communication manager, Amululu Katragadda, discuss the present state of affairs in the country.
KBR park has a huge board where the preference of voters can be seen by their signatures. A statement which most of them indulge in. But this motley group was appalled by the choices and debated about the opinions shared on the board and the increasing problems of double income groups.
Amululu argued, “For me, the one who can bring stability in the form of reduction in vegetable prices, hospital bills and excessive education costs is the one whom I would vote for. Presently, no one is talking about these issues.”
While criticism has taken an upper hand, there is no proper ideology of progress coming up. Govind Kumar said, “We are having too much of criticism in the forums of the political parties, forums of voters and also on social media. But where is the person who will say, ‘Yes, I have this plan to bring about the desired change’? We all understand that things have come to a standstill but who is going to push it further and how? There are no answers to these questions. Till we have a significant direction in which the political parties are planning to take the country, the choice of vote is going to be tough.”
While corruption has been the moot point in these elections, Brigadier Capoor said, “When was corruption not an issue in this country? The Right to Information Act has enabled one to get the maximum issues out, which would have never been known. But, having said that, is it the only issue that the country needs to tackle? We have larger issues like infrastructure, price rise, education and health. There is no constructive talk that one hears from any form of communication. We must not tolerate the kind of words that politicians are using against each other. It’s high time, as people we demand cultured and clean leaders.”
