Gujarat assembly on this Saturday has passed a controversial bill which makes, for the first time in the country, voting mandatory in local body polls.
If I really have to take a stand on this decision, I am against it. I agree democracy comes with responsibilities but I guess its a matter of choice rather than duty. Its my expression, its such a power if one is forced to use it then he may hurt himself and so the society too. Today we really have to choose between dacoit and murderer. And if so then the age to vote has really need to be reconsidered. Having interest and knowledge on politics is not mandatory. Its by our choice not by force.Thats why constitution says by the age of 21 I am allowed to marry but not should be married. Its my right to talk when I talk not my duty, and thats what freedom stands for. In news paper or website' polls we see sometime a third option called, can't say, that's not there for no reason. It represent the people who can't take stand or not willing to take stand on the provided opinion. It is a group in itself, they can't be avoided or crushed in a healthy democratic system. Strength of democracy is that its always reasonable or questionable by the public itself. Democracy is not about right and wrong, its about opinions. To respect each opinion is the strength of democratic system.
And more to it the system need to think that what could be its later consequences. In India its really tough to get your ration card and if you lucky enough to get it then please do check the names. Mostly they are spelt wrong and not for once or twice may be after you third correction. They even argue with the spelling of your name. They will tell you have a wrong name! And add to it India is full of various cultural practices, like in Gujarat we have tradition of writing the surname first then your name with sub title "Bhai" or "Ben", compulsorily. No matter how you wrote on your birth date certificate or school leaving certificate. So transferring your identity document is not an easy job in our system.Then Students like me who are out to study for years cant even think of applying for new voter ID in their new locations and how can you force them to vote for such a place where they are not in touch for a long time. Or else it will become a family practice like it is now. Most of us vote for that party for which our father stands and then so mother. Its like a newspaper habit from years my dad is reading Times of India so do I. Tomorrow if the government cancels my registration to vote from one locality then it becomes its responsibility now to make sure that I get my registration from another locality also.
And if you really forcing us to vote then even government should be equal enough so that if it fails to provide us the opportunity then even they could be penalized for the same. But then for me its more of autocracy rather than democracy.
I believe the approach should be reverse, rather government make the polling so simple and easy that one on its own come to vote rather being dragged. A doctor can't force his patient to make him fit rather he should make the treatment so happy enough that he himself get on his own to fight with the disease. Forcing patient for medicine can cause an another severe disease too.
Sometimes, not taking a decision is the best decision.
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