Letters to Mr. Advani: Part 2

My last blog was dedicated on the need for Governance and leadership. I think, there is one lesson that expected all leaders ought to know by heart, the duty to ensure that they get elected and the need to some level of opportunism. My current blog is about some of the issues where I see BJP simply failing to capitalize on. Yeah Yeah – I am talking about Delhi (my Janam bhoomi and Karma bhoomi up till recently)

Sir, there is a wide discontent in the Delhi traders regarding sealing drive of MCD and the indecisive nature of the center and that of Delhi government. It is time, that there is a stronger leadership in Delhi.

If I may submit, we have Mr. Sahib Singh Kataria who is a spent force and Mr. Madan Lal Khurana, is proving to be controversial for good. Though I must admit that he was the only leader who did try and capitalize on the issue, but there is no substitute of discipline and being a good party worker.

But then what is the core issue that I trying to state, it is simple, there is a need for a better leadership who can take the Delhi to the new levels. Delhi has been ranked as the Number 1 destination in labor market by various survey’s – but the same has not really translated to large projects in Delhi. Most big projects seem to be coming in larger NCR, which I must admit is not bad, but then Delhi has to be able to stand on its own feet, in a sustainable manner.

There is a need to create business districts that can get non labor intensive business to establish and flourish, we would need to take lesson from failure of Nehru Place and Bhikhaji Cama Place. We need leaders with a vision of making Delhi a world class city and the each world city will need to have marvels of modern architecture (not just history – which Delhi has plenty) and an economic infrastructure is truly world class. Some of the immediate needs for Delhi can be:

1) Integration of the bus services with the Metro, we would definitely not want all the good work of DMRC to go down the drain.
2) Improve security, especially for Women, as I write about this, I think there is so much that can be done and one cannot write enough. I think some of the issues that root causes that cripple Delhi are:
a. Students in Delhi have been involved in petty crimes collecting hafta in the name of jagran or simply chits, such goondas have not been on the police radar for long but are the breeding ground of crime
b. Politics in Jamia and Delhi Univ now are breeding ground of criminals more than leaders of tomorrow, a repeat of what happened in MP where a teacher was killed by students can also happen in Delhi and would not be surprising
c. Schools at the MCD level have failed to gain fully engage students, I think, the systems needs to focused, not just raising standards but helping them be better citizens, the situation is serious and possibly the toughest to handle. I am not aware of some shortcuts that will solve the corrupt and substandard education system, but a ray of hope is that in the experiments of minimally invasive education conducted by the chief scientist of NIIT Sugata.
d. Local MLAs are often seen encouraging college mafia lords and providing protection – I think Bihar is not the only place where it happens
3) Focus on setting up some ITES/ IT campuses within Delhi
4) Enforcing law and order in the city transportation system

I seem to be writing my wish list but my biggest wish is the possible the toughest and a challenge that may be one of biggest challenges to India after population and education – How do we clean the law enforcement agencies?

The uniformed services are one that have always evoked a evoked a sense of pride as the uniform that they wear a symbol of India, but the police services are one of the most corrupt and possible responsible a great portion of the Indian woes. This is one issue I have no idea of solving – any comments sir?