A peculiar trend has emerged in contemporary politics; diversity of politics is today viewed as enmity. There was a time when bitter prominent political rivals used to be immensely respected by establishment some time even more than members of ruling party. Once, Shri Pranab Mukherjee told me that he was badly ticked of by Mrs. Indira Gandhi for his comments about Shri Bupesh Gupta and Chaudhary Charan Singh in spite of the fact that both these gentlemen were not at all kind towards Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Congress party. During Pandit Kamalapati Tripathi’s stint as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister a very prominent Jan Sangh leader of Eastern Uttar Pradesh Shri Yadvendra Dubey was so close to Tripathiji that members of Congress Party used to hold his Darbar to get close to the ears of Pandit Kamalapati Tripahtiji. Sri Morarji Desai wanted to initiate certain proceedings against Dange the veteran communist leader, but Pandit Gobind Vallabh Pant, then Home Minister of India refused to do so. He bluntly told Prime Minister Pt. Nehru that Dange is not created in one day and you never know, you may need Dange’s services at any point of time for critical need of the country. Up till 1975, when emergency was proclaimed by Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the culture of giving respect and treating political rivals with dignity was order of the day. Everything changed thereafter and things got from bad to worse.
Recent statement of Smt. Jaya Pradaji reportedly praising Rahul has created ripples in our party. Jaya Pradaji merely mentioned that any youth who works hard deserve to be the Prime Minister that includes Akhilesh along with Rahul. Abu Hasim Azmi spoke some plain truth recently in a meeting at Azamgarh and certain vested interest reacted very angrily and Mr. Azmi invited some wrath from my party high command. Even, I praised Atalji recently in my blog and I am waiting for my turn of being ticked off by my party. Today, small and petty minds have occupied leadership at all levels in all parties and tolerance of talent of rivals is no longer appreciated. Old stalwarts like Mulayam Singhlji, Atalji and Chandra Shekharji adhered to some kind of interactive politics with opponents. Mrs. Sonia Gandhi’s benevolent attitude towards Late Chandra Shekhar during his last critical years of ailment is also adorable. Even I am grateful to my friend Shri Arun Jaitely who came all the way to Singapore along with his wife and my friend Shri Farooq Abdulla during my kidney transplant surgery. Politics is a vocation of public service and parties with different ideologies are only streams which are meant to converge into one motto of doing good to people at large. So, why should we be petty and prejudiced for nothing? Let us take a resolve in this New Year for being truthful in our appreciation for our rivals’ good work and not to treat them with contempt of enemy. Madam Mayawati, you may probably not agree with me.
I wish a very happy and prosperous new year to all of you!
Happy New Year, Amarji
Sitting here in the morning…I started my New Year with Amitji’s blog and now urs….
Your blog today is mind provoking and interesting…Truly..we should appreciate people who deserve kudos and also be open to criticisms if people do not work hard..Some people get into politics and then treat it as a power game….only talk…and no work….Who will take stern actions towards them and reprimand them …..or will it be protection from the party members…Look at Rahul Mahajan…..After his dad’s murder and his unbecoming behaviour with drugs….All was exposed..but does he have shame…No!!!!Similarly…people forget the wrong deeds….Look at Bill Clinton…after all those episodes of infidelity and lies…and more lies…they are living their life as if nothing happened…Why? Because morality is not an issue or are they wearing a mask of repentance???only God knows!!!! Now..ND Tiwari episode..Tiger Woods..These people have been exposed…but I can vouch for our country where such hooligans are getting away scot free…..
Anyway..this is a topic of debate..I would love to know ur thoughts and what other readers think?
Hope health, wealth and prosperity touches ur feet this year 2010…
Regards
Alka
Dear Shri Amar Singh ji,
Wish you and your family a very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2010.
Regards
Deepak T
Namaste Amar Singhji,
I totally agree with what you are saying. Praising or appreciating good work done by anyone from a rival / opposite party is a good sign, which indicates the maturity and broadmindedness of a person.
I hope this trend continues.
Just like you, even i do wish that all polliticians from rival parties read your blog and adapt the same positive attitude and serve the public better.
Happy new year once again.
Love
Pratik.
PS : I sincerely hope that u passed on my best wishes and greetings to Mr. Rajiv Kapoor and the family.
Dear Amar ji,
Wishing u happy new year.
I am visiting ur blog since last three days and thru yr blog i came to know more abt u.
It really enhanced ur respect in my heart.
I want to konw ur view on reservation..
Regards
Pramod Tiwari
Dear Amarji,
I recollect and read again the victory speech of President Obama Jan 19,2009. I repeat just one line
Obama: \I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen. McCain\
And I understand exactly what you are saying and this is what I mentioned yesterday in my new year wishes which I repeat again.
2009 is empty, 2010 is full. Let the leaders of India in all fields have a grace-full New Year 2010. Yes I agree with you , we must uphold and respect truth and be quick to praise,applaud, congratulate, appreciate, thank and slow to criticise,abuse, find faults.
Best Wishes
Mario
Dear Amarda
Let me quote a few lines from my article which mentions the same feelings that you have given vent in your blog -
Bitter words which no respectable politician would use were flung on TV channels by Mani Shankar Aiyer of Congress I and Barkha Dutt. Sometimes, makes us hard to believe that Congress I would allow such venomous outflow against a political colleague. I had heard similar words used by CPI leader Atul Anjaan just before the elections. He lost miserably.
Chandan Mitra did us proud by bringing us to understand the real Advaniji who would cry after seeing the Tare Zameen Par. I too cried after seeing the movie. He gave an insight on Advanaji who had to make an unhappy decision on Kandahar. Farouk Abdullah the then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir agreed to it.
Chandan Mitra, The Real Winner
http://www.boloji.com/opinion/0774.htm
Regards
Amitabh
Dear Amar Simgh ji,
The practice of showing respect to political rivals may be frowned upon by political parties – but it does create a goodwill among the people.No one likes to see leaders calling each other names and taking potshots at each other.In fact, when some of my friend attended TV debates in the studios, they said that the conversation among political leaders during the commercial break was better than the actual show! Because they were fighting on camera and as soon as the cameras were off they started chatting like friends!
Dear Aditya, I do not feel any thing wrong in this dual behaviour off and on camera as long as arguments on camera are based on issues and ideology. Two individual can have difference of opinion on a particular issues but may still share good personal relation. I may not agree with Shri Arun Jaitely kind of politics but personally we share good rapport with each other, same is the case with my several friends who are affiliated with rival political parties.
Dear Amar Singh ji,
I also agree with you that personal friendships should not be affected by political beliefs and in fact I appreciate this kind of a mature outlook,but for the viewer it can be a little funny to see leaders who fight everyday on tv debates being very nice and courteous to each other off camera! I guess we should also learn to respect them for being mature and keeping their political differences aside
Amarji Namashkar,
My points exactly as you have mentioned… In fact ‘Bolo tah Duhk Nah Bolo tah dukh’ politics being politics completly on another level, I think if in Life mankind took the approach of being a little bit in line with reality n truth, we may just have a more peaceful life… I truly understand and empathise with your predicaments… But at times we too must let bygones be bygones.. otherwise ‘Log Jeena Hi mushkil Karde gay’.. Hai na?? Have a wonderful day tomorrow in Dubai, and hope you n all the family n friends had a blast today at Krishnaji’s party
My lov as always
Anu
Yes Anu, I agree with you. Treating adversaries with dignity should be thumb rule in all spheres of life.
Thakur Sahib
Well said. I hope others out there are listening.
Best wishes
Rajendra S Negi
Amarsingji, great thoughts on politics. Your philosophy of serving the people and your country should be the prime motive of all politicians.
Some use it as a stepping-stone to build their empires and help build such edifices of others as well through all their contacts.
I have learnt that you among the many are not such a person but a true and a humble human being who is genuinely keen to help others in need. That is all people in your constituency can ask for. In addition, I am sure they receive this all the time.
Yes, today in India, political divide is increasing and petty politics is on the increase. When one party tries to do something good for the country and in the eyes of everyone, it seems good, because of party politics there is opposition for the sake of opposition. Sad but true.
Anyway, enjoy your stay in Dubai.
A happy new year to you and the Family.
Dharmen
Dear Amarsinghji,
I read your post on Atalji today and it is very encouraging to know that we still have a few politicians even today who cut across all party lines and appreciate members of they are otherwise ideologically opposed to.. Mr Arun Jaitley’s visit to Singapore too must have irked many on both the sides. We have too many politicians who are petty and who want the attention of the media by hook or crook. Kalyan Singh’s comments about Atalji and the words used by Beniprasad verma for him on the floor of Parliament was simply disgusting and deplorable.
Kudos to you for expressing your embarassment on your comments on Soniaji.None would do that. Will your party High Command take any action on you for this too?
Shubha
Respected Sir,
It is sign of moderation .I remember your and your party’s effort for saving our Govrmnt in last year.By your support we got stability not only in goverment bt also in economy.As citizen I thnk it is one of key chapter in Indian politics.
we all r Indians and work for India and I hope our great country will become superpower in the world.
DO YOU HEAR AMAR THE ROAR OF A LION (MS) ON MAYA, WILL YOU BE THERE IN LKO ON 20TH JAN FOR YOUR ARREST?
Will demolish parks built by Maya- says Mulayam
At last the roar of the lion, MS is in the air but it s too late…To talk of demolition is bad what instead he should do is to put these projects before a review committee to take appropriate action. After all Maya has lead a Govt. legally constituted and expenditure well passed by the legislatures. It is different thing that she has used her position in doing some use less thing by which people at large are not going to be benefitted. It would have been wise for MS to take these issues in legislatures and in street then not now. People of the State would not spare these two leaders for doing and undoing things by them. Both are heavily dependent on electorates which come from caste and groups’. MS is feeling pinch of this now so one day will Maya will also feel but by then it will be too late.
It has been bad luck of UP that we have such leaders. It has been bad that other parties like BJP and Indian Congress had played like the second fiddle and not initiated any action in this regard.
Maya has behaved like true Moughal Badshah busy in constructing Taj Maha at the peril of the masses and ignoring the call of the development. Sh is busy in creating monuments so that she can live in the memories of dalits of the future generations. But these dalits would not know how many jewels and diamonds this grand lady had acquired for herself at their cost. She simply befools these so called dalits by using them. Where is the real development of dalits? I see them doing same things what their ancestors were doing. Nothing has been done to give them education, good living, better sanitation, empowerment at grass root level etc.
These are warning signals better get alerts lest it’s too late…
Dear SP Singh ji,
It really pains to see the state of affairs in the state of UP which was once known for giving maximum number of Prime Minister to the country. I wish some sense prevails on madam Mayawati.
SP Singh ji,
I would also like to add that tit-for-tat policy will do more harm than good. After all, as politicians always say, they are democratically elected representatives of the people. You and me and million others should have no grounds to complain. Demolishing statues or the parks is not a solution. People should first be educated to understand what should be expected by them of their leaders in first place. The state of affairs we witnessing today is not a creation of one day. There is a long legacy behind it.
Namaste Amar Singh ji
Happy New Year to you and your family!
I have been reading your blog from the first day you started to write. I came to know about your website through the great Mr Bachchan. I feel great pleasure to write to you sir.
I admire the friendship you and Amitji hold. God bless this special bond you and Amitji have. Thank you so much for what you are doing for the people in India.
Amitji writes in his blog to visit your blog and sir, in your blog you have ‘Websites you must see: Amitabh Bachchan’s blog”. What a great friendship. I am not a good writer like you and Amitji so please forgive my errors.
God bless you with good health. Great to see you are doing well after what you went through.
All the very best for 2010.
Kind Regards
Ashwini (Sydney)
परम आदरणीय अमर सिंह जी,
आपके विचार न सिर्फ मनन योग्य हैं अपितु वैश्विक राजनीती हेतु भी विचारनीय हैं | मैं अभी दक्षिण अफ्रीका में भारतीय स्टेट बैंक में पदस्थापित हूँ एवं इस देश की राजनीती का भी दर्शन करने का लाभ प्राप्त हो रहा है यहाँ पर राजनैतिक प्रतिद्वंदिता की पराकाष्ठा है अभी एक वरिष्ठ राजनेता के देहांत पर भी जो उलजलूल वक्तव्य दिए गए उन्हें देख कर आपका राजनैतिक सहिष्णुता को बनाये रखने का विचार मुझे केवल भारत ही नहीं किन्तु वैश्विक स्तर का लगा है|
शायद इस परिपेक्ष्य में अम्रीका का मॉडल सराहनीय माना जाये जहाँ राष्ट्रपति पद के प्रतिद्वंदी श्री ओबामा एवं श्रीमती क्लिंटन अब एक साथ देश हित में कार्यरत हैं| दुसरे की रेखा को छोटा करने हेतु बराबर में अपने द्वारा बड़ी रेखा खींचना ही नैतिक व्यवहार है जबकि द्दोसरे की रेखा को छोटा करने के लिए उसकी रेखा को ही मिटाना अत्यंत अनैतिक और वैमनस्य पूर्ण | विडंबना यह है की आजकल की भारतीय राजनीति में द्वितीय विचारधारा वाले व्यक्ति अधिक हो गए हैं बहुत अच्छा लग रहा जब आप जैसे वरिष्ठ नेता संस्कारित व्यवहार के पक्षधर हैं एवं औरों को प्रेरित कर रहे हैं |
आपकी दक्षिण अफ़्रीकी यात्रा की प्रतीक्षा रहेगी और यदि इश्वर को मंज़ूर हुआ तो संभवतः भेंट भी सकेगी और हम कृतार्थ होंगे | मेरा सुझाव है की आप अपने ब्लॉग पर संक्षेप में विभिन राजनैतिक विचारधाराओं पर शैक्षणिक प्रकाश डालें | हम में से कई समाजवाद, कमुनिस्म (लेनिन/मार्क्स / माओ), दक्षिण पंथी, राईट विंग, फासिसम, इत्यादि शब्दों के डिक्शनरी अर्थ तो जानते हैं किन्तु राजनैतिक विचारधारा से पूर्ण परिचित नहीं हैं|
देवेन्द्र शर्मा (डरबन)
Dear Sir,
That is because politics has become so personal and a livlihood or hereiditary business wherein the heir is supposed to expand. Forget policies. Tell me where is the civility between Karuna and jayalalitha. What is the difference in their political leanings? It is all personal fiefdom whrein the other political rival is an aggressor or usurper. What is the policy of BJP in supporting Shibu Soren a convict.
Dear Amarji,
There are few people are in the politics who do not want to creat any controversary but yet around there for no faults of yours.
I think you are a right person in wrong party, or you need a dynamic principal secretary to change yr image,give a serious thought.
Best Regds
Sir,
I do not want to sound writing back at any particular political comment, but I always wonder do we really have dearth of competent and capable young people who could be our potential future leaders, that we need to choose from a few on the basis of their political lineage.
In one way Dr. Abdul Kalam and Dr. Manmohan Singh were cases of pick and choose, but purely on the basis of their intellectual capability. The two did not have any lineage to prove.
Political lineage is rapidly becoming order of the day in the name of so called grooming. Competency या Ability को ताख पे रख दिया है. With this rate we can know who will be the Prime Minister during the time of our Great Grand children.
If it is so, what was wrong with our erstwhile princely state system, I would like to know your views on this and if possible sometime I shall put up the same question to Jaya Pradha ji.
Regards
Deepak T
Dear AmarSingh ji,
Politics comes with its own set of rules. You can remain in the same party and not criticize other individuals from same party who are on the other side of fence. Say, a Congress MP like Jagan opposing Telangana issue came on the wrong side of even high command.
I appreciate that this collective approach and attitiude towards showing solidarity needs to be there but at times individuals need to surface and show their opinions as individuals. I higly appreciate Jayaprada’s comment about Rahul Gandhi in personal space.The same attitude should remain when you even criticize an individual.
It basically demonstrates of your individuality and your stand
आदरणीय भाई साहब,
सबसे पहले वर्ष2010 के आगमन की हार्दिक बधाई और शुभकामनाएं स्वीकार करें.
मैं आपके विचारों से पूर्णतः सहमत हूं. राजनीति में परस्पर विरोध के बावजूद व्यक्तित्व के सम्मान के मानक अब टूट रहे हैं या यूं कहें कि टूट चुके हैं. जैसा कि आपने अपने लेख में ज़िक्र किया है. ऐसे में आदरणीय जयाप्रदा जी की पहल निश्चित रुप से स्वागत योग्य है और उनके बड़प्पन को दिखाती है. ये उन लोगों के मुंह पर भी करारा तमाचा है जो उन्हें एक तंगदिल और फ़िल्मी नेता बताते रहे हैं.
लेकिन भाई साहब, यहां ये समझना ज़रुरी है कि व्यापक तौर पर ये राजनीतिक चिंतन की गिरावट की वजह से हो रहा है. जो व्यवहार में भी देखने को मिल रहा है. क्योंकि चिंतन और कर्म का सीधा सम्बंध है. ऐसे में मूल्यों और विचारों की ये गिरावट दुःख पहुंचाती है लेकिन इसके लिए हमारी राजनीतिक बिरादरी ही ज़िम्मेदार है।
पुनः नववर्ष की शुभकामनाओं के साथ …
सुधा अशोक पाठक
लखनऊ
Well, politics is a profession and politicians need to be professionals. One of the key quality a professional should demonstrate is that of respect towards other professionals.
Now the big question is Are all the present day politicians professionals. If not, then respect to others is just one of the qualities they need to exhibit they would be (are) lacking on others as well.
If we develop(teach) professionalism in politians respect towards fellows will automatically come.
Dear Mr.Singh:
A very well begining with the blogs and your official website. Couple of observations:
1) this website still is not working properly. For e.g not opening fully with mozilla firefox
2) The post nade by you (blogs/opinion) there the text is not getting fully displaced hence appearing incomplete.
All philosophy by every politician, but whoever getting power doing the same think what other politician doing.
I saw your interview on NDTV,You said a lot about your health.
So please take a time off listen to your inner voice that demands peace and then practice it for a time.
All karmas have a dharmas,Do your karma with the dharma,Today health is your need of the hour and you have to do it with dharma,So your inner voice have spoken to you to have time for health and your family.
Just start the journey for yourself and only yourself.Forget the world.Take a break and enjoy the moments with your self and family.
GOOD LUCK.
dr.satyendra singh says:
January 17, 2010 at 1:16 pm
sir,
after styding your post, I felt that you are reall worried about samajwadi party.
no one can deny your abilities.
your way of mamnagement.
You are right sir, akhileshji is entirely different personality
And He really deserb a free hand to bring up party becz youths are seeing towards him
and his way of working ,responding will defintely work in achieving the lost game
along with support of you elderly people.
Regards.
Dr. satyendra Singh
Amar Singhji,
I totally agree with what you are saying. Praising or appreciating good work done by anyone from a rival, opposite party is a good sign, which indicates the maturity and broadmindedness of a person.