The Lok Satta Party is spearheading a citizens' movement for Surajya beginning from Andhra Pradesh on March 23, 2008 (77th death anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh).
Announcing this here today, Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan (Dr. JP) said that while the Swaraj movement sought freedom from colonial rule, Surajya movement aims to free citizens from the chains of corrupt and distorted rule. While Swaraj movement achieved its objectives through non-violence and non-cooperation, Surajya movement will be based on the power of the vote.
Dr. JP said the Swaraj movement has yielded us self-governance and since independence, significant progress has undoubtedly been made across several fields. "However, the present political and governance culture has reduced this hard-earned Swaraj to Swaha-raj where public good has become merely incidental to the fulfillment of vested interests of a distorted political culture."
Dr. JP said that the nation today faced several critical challenges. They include:
- Eliminating the pervasive and monumental corruption from our society and replacing the notoriously kleptocratic governance culture with a truly citizen-centric one
- Establishing a political culture that is free from criminals and political dynasties
- Ensuring equitable access to quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities to every citizen irrespective of his or her position at birth
- Eliminating societal discrimination based on caste and creed, and providing genuine opportunities for vertical growth to all sections of society
- Ensuring true devolution of power to local governments, and empowerment of citizens
- Ensuring access to speedy and affordable justice to all sections of society and restoring the rule of law
Dr. JP said: "There is a pressing need to build a credible, just, and equitable society that provides dignity, justice, and opportunities for all."
A number of renowned social activists, including Magasasy Award winners, are taking part in the Surajya movement. They include:
:: Anna Hazare
:: Ramesh Raamanathan (Janagraha)
:: Madhu Kishwar (Editor, Manushi)
:: Desikan (Catalyst Trust)
:: Sandeep Pandey
:: M. V. Devasahayam
:: T. N. Seshan
:: Shiv Khera
:: Julius Rebero
:: Arvind Khejriwal
Thanks for the efforts taken by you sir to make our country a real "Surajya". I think Corruption is the main cause for blocking the Development of our country .
ReplyDeleteWe need to tell the young generation to fight the corruption and develop a strong core from our villages to give a Farmer centric government.
Dear Dr. JP,
ReplyDeleteCan a non-resident indian citizen come and take part in your party activities during his/her visit to India? I would like to participate, as this would give me a chance to give back something to my country during my trip to India
For those supporting commercial exploitation of Kolleru lake, here is a lesson from Burma's Irrawady Delta
ReplyDeleteThe delta had lost most of its mangrove forests along the coast to shrimp farms and rice paddies over the past decade. That removed what scientists say is one of nature's best defenses against violent storms.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/09/asia/mangrove.php
Hi JP ..
ReplyDelete1> i respect the loksatta party .. but as of now ur party only attracts the educated ppl mostly .. so how do u plan to come into power .. if u have popularity only in a niche segment of society ..
2 > i believe there should be a mission statement which should also be popularised among ppl and slo the party cadre ..to unify and envigorate ..
3 > plz improve the party website .. n popularise it better ..
Many people are interested to join in Lok Satta party.
ReplyDeleteBut I search in the Internet I couldn’t get any online registration form.
If that facility is available it is a very good for IT people and also have a different forums available to share their Ideas and thoughts.
Most of the people they want to do social service but they need in search of people who are doing the social services. we will find very rare people in our surroundings
If these links already available plz send me the URL(links).
together, WE can make a difference
sashi7999@yahoo.com
Thanks for being a change agent.
ReplyDeleteChange is happening world over, the coming decade is going create new world order.
For Gandhi, the spirit and the soul of India rested in the village communities. He said, "The true India is to be found not in its few cities, but in its seven hundred thousand villages. If the villages perish, India will perish too."
What would Loksatta like do on Gandhi's vision for village society and Swadeshi.
Loksatta is seen as urban movement. 'Real' change has to come from 'real' India which lives in villages.
As an educated Indian who cares about her country, I really hope and pray that by the next elections, Lok Satta wins substantial number of seats in the local assembly. Only one suggestion if you don't mind...try and get the party to the villagers and people living below the poverty line. Educated people like
ReplyDeleteus read your blogs, watch the television and know about you...but people who do not have such facilities need to know more about what you can do for them.
Congratulations to you for coming second in Khairatabad constituency in the recent by-elections. This is just the beginning.
Regards.
Dear JP
ReplyDeleteI am thoroughly impressed and fully motivated after listening to many of your videos on the youtube.
I have a few suggestions. I would love if you take these suggestions as to-do actions.
Lets take benefit of low-hanging fruits post-bye-elections
1)Lok Satta party office must be open on sundays.
Volunteers can take care of meeting interested people on sundays. This will show that our party works tirelessly and ever ready for new ideas and actions.
(I would have been an active member today, if yesterday the office was open. I started to listen to u on saturday. It didnt take long to invoke fire in me)
2) Discussion board in loksatta.org webiste.
a) At present our website has loads of information, but no interaction.
b) loksatta discussions happen at your blog or party blogspots and loads of other discussion forums and groups in yahoo and google sites.
c) We need to consolidate our ideas and actions. We need to get into a flow. It happens only if we are focussed.
3) Action Plan for the diverse human potential within party cadre.
a) there is a huge bandwagon behind us.
i) we can work on writing blogs and increase awareness. get much needed funding. motivate connected india.
ii) Do animated movies for campaigning and easily send the message accross. we can use these animated movies for advertising.
iii) we can make use of latest technologies to create maximum impact virtually.
b) Journalists
i) We need to be on the print and TV\Radio media daily without fail. journalists can make huge difference in marketing our ideas.
ii) Our articles need to published everyday in as many news papers.
c) Doctors
i) start free treatment camps every sunday.
b)Blue colored workers
i) they are our main strenght. if an educated person says some thing to poor people, then they would sometimes feel that this is not practical. They believe that this is possible only for well-off people. But if an auto driver says to his community not to drink, it makes a huge difference. if he makes the parents of his community's children understand that the only difference between an IT guy and their daughter is education and healthcare. he might believe it.
Good oraters and Auto guys can make a potent combination in spreading the message accross the streets.
These guys are our true strength.
4) WE MUST WIN SEATS THIS TIME:
We will be at the inflection point. This will become our first strong step forward in reclaiming the lost republic. If we dont manage it, this will be the lost chance, we have to wait longer to make the difference, we will have to strive harder and that could be demotivating too.
Fear of failure is the best motivator for many of us.
We have to win atleast few seats this election.
5) Diversify our portfolio
The following campaigns are minimum must
a) Vote Hyderabad\Andhra Movement
- Motivate people to get 100% turnout.(i will elaborate this in future)
b) Come Lets Just Do IT
This will be our call to our NextGen to join the revolution
c) Techno-Police Movement
- Usage of Technology in policing. The hapless police is trying to fight the people's utter lack of sense.
d) Cataract surgery for India.
- Anti corruption drive to save police and judiciary system.
- loksatta has been doing this to get effect, lets accelerate.
e) Demand Education Drive.
- Another Loksatta strong area.
e) Health is wealth drive
f) Save India movement
- This will be our ultimate weapon.
Lets ring the bell. lets whistle the sleeping brains awake.(like what happened to me).
My dear JP sir, this is India's cry for you. Are you ready to put the next foot forward??
Having come so far, are you ready to lead india?
Dr JP,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the efforts in rooting out corruption from the sytem. But my advise is to make sure you involve non-controversial people in your movements. Mr.Sandeep Pandey has some extreme views. He has the right to say whatever he wants, but LokSatta Party needs to stay away from people with extremist views both left and right. Our goals should be making sure every child in this country irrespective of where and which family he/she is born into has equal opportunites to success...
I am looking for a day where a child does not sit on a floor in a class room, or beg on a street, or work in a coffee/retail shop, or wash clothes, or lift bricks to survive... I volunteer for a non-profit org working for upliftment of the kids in India...
BTW, I have read/listened to your views on domestic policies but did see the same on foreign/national security policy. What's your view on national security, terrorism, POTA, relations with SAARC nations, illegal immigration from Bangladesh, relations with US, china, etc...
Keep the movement/party going.. we are with you.
Good to know that, Lok Satta is all about action as much as they are for words, which is a rarity in the current political "sorry" scenario.
ReplyDeleteI feel sad and regret my state of mind and social/georaphical existence, all I can do to support you is donate at LokSatta.org . I wish you all the best, and vow my allegiance to help you right now in a small way and may be more in the future. I guess for me loksatta is the "change we believe in" .
Sir,
ReplyDeleteIm happy that i found a way to interact with you. Im shocked to see the amount of response your blog has infact, well im disappointed. You are well known and your fame is well deserved.
Sir Im a student in my final year doing B.tech, I really cant express how much i adore you. I do my best to convince everyone whom i come across to vote for Lok Satta including my family. I often failed to convince, and not even my dad though he adores you he is not ready to vote for lok satta.
Im sad that i myself will not be able to vote to lok satta inspite of all my efforts to get enrolled in Voters list, i couldnt, the simple reason being bad governance, complex procedure to get registered, lack of information. I always wanted to face the system which is why I personally went to revenue office trying to find out what to do and how to get enrolled, sadly everyone was busy, I somehow found the information and submitted the form along with all the required proofs, i went to check in a post office if my name was there, sadly it never showed up.
Sir i have a strong wish that you should come into power. Even if thats not possible, I wish you are the person who could spark a revoultion and make everyone realise that its time for change.
When Chiranjeevi launched his party he said that he would root out political corruption and now I see him shake his hands with the same corrupted politicians, im not sure if they are just simply joining the party or they will get a ticket for contesting the polls, if that is the case then its the same old governance that we will see again.
I was schoked at what our chief minister criticized at you, asking you to first win one seat and then debate in house because thats the best place to debate about public.
I think what chief minister said is true, nobody ever really cares for people except to criticize each other, and so neither did he hear or see anything wrong going with citizens.
I think your message should reach the masses which is when you will be able to make a difference, an average graduate himself cudnt understand when i speak to them, all they are interested is in a person who acted in front of the camera, or the hi tech naidu for his roads and IT boom or the Doctor. And I in no way excpect a literate to understand what lok satta is all about.
I had a strong wish that chiranjeevi if he really wished for the welfare of people he should join into lok satta party. The party has a crystal clear view of how governance should be, how different bodies like police should be independent, and how everyone can be held accountable by the court of law. It needs a mass figure to take your message to everyone.
I will continue in my efforts to convince people to vote for Lok satta.I wish to meet you in person at the earliest possible. Sir i know that your time is very precious but i will be very happy if you can atleast reply me back with a few words.
Dear JP,
ReplyDeleteI shared my article on term limits with a friend of mine.
he thought I should share it with you. He thinks term limits is a subject that if applied in India would help to refresh the system.
My article focusses more on the U.S., where voters are passionately in support of it-irrespective of fact that their elected representatives are not.
I also discuss foreign examples. At the local level term levels and nonpartisan elections have produced some terrific innovative mayors for Bogota and some Brazilian cities.
If you are interested, please check the short version of the article when it appears on the website:citymayors.com
You can then request the long version thereafter.
Best,
Mayraj
P.S. You might also be interested in my China article, which discusses the integrated federated urban systems of china, since they reflect a type of approach similar to what Lok Satta supports in the Vote Mumbai program. China is just deeper and more varied. I also have other articles that generally discuss this approach to local systems which is the silent revolution around the world.
Sir, I saw you speak in the Lok Sabha channel on nov 8, 2008. The program was possibly on electoral reforms. You were impressive.
ReplyDeleteThe fragmentation of the electoral system has given rise to a lot of '5% scumbags'. All they need is marginal vote enough to win a couple of lok sabha seats from their district. Once they build this marginal vote, they can indulge in any amount of blackmail of the system using this marginal vote as their shield.
There are two ways to tackle this - I think you spoke about changing the first past the post system to 'proportional representation' system. I dont know if it will go the full way. A group of the 5% scumbags can gang together to get a 25% share and a proportional seat. Or the leading players can still be interested in using these 5% scumbags.
I think we can also strike at the root cause. Make it impossible or costly for the 5% scumbags. The 5% scumbags have it easy today because they can bestow group benefits exclusive to their group. This drives away voter interest from 'common benefits' like education or infrastructure or good, corruption free, governance. The pathetic record of our governments since 1947, majority of them Congress, does leave them with no choice. But even if that were not the case, exclusive benefits to the group will always be a uneven contrast to collective benefits.
Caste based reservations is the single biggest, and easiest, group benefit that drives a horde of these 5% scumbags.
I believe if that is fixed, a lot of the 5% scumbags will simply cease to have a reason to exist.
You spoke of Karunanidhi's color Tv. That is because he is now forced to 'innovate'. The group benefits have been exhausted in TN - about 97% of the population of the state is BC MBC SC etc (source: NSSO survey). That gravy train has no more room so he has to find something else.
I dont know if you track this blog anymore. The way you spoke was impressive, wanted to let you know.
I appreciate your efforts and thoughts to change our society. But when the society was will change? Now a day’s so many people are searching blogs, but no one comment on this blog. When these people were will aware. Nobody have social responsibility to change our political system. I am really sorry about it. We got freedom before 60+ years, but there is no development in this country. I hope all people are aware about in this regard.
ReplyDeleteWith warm regards
Amar.
google
Dear JP,
ReplyDeleteI'm a recent visitor to your blogs. I've browsed through your various postings and the impression I get is that your views and ideas are quite practical at many levels and if implementated honestly will go a long way in achieving the desired results.
But thats where the catch lies "honesty in implementation" . We as humans have a tendency that when things do go well to blame the people who lead us but that I guess is intrinsic to the human nature and theres nothing we can do to eliminate it but we can surely make efforts in reducing the "politician bashing culture".
To do that one has to look into the mirror and identify and be honest about the faults in each one of us.
We at present have the most idealistic and honest politician controlling the reins of our vast nation but theres only so much that he can achieve or do and the leader of opposition is a man whose vision of India is limited to a "Bhavya RAM temple in ayodhya" .He flip flops each day and his naked desperate ambition to be the PM is becoming more obvious as he gets closer to the day he meets his maker.
But their chances of re-election is 50-50 for either candidate. SO who elects them -its us. So why blame them ? we have a choice and its chalk and cheese. We get a society we vote for.
Above was my rant:-
Below is my solution -
All these mammoth issues we have as a nation is one of bad junk diet. We eat rubbish all the time even though it may be tasty but it is plain junk.
We need to concentrate on healthy and stamina building diet and this will reduce our tendency to take short cuts and make us less selfish,less greedy, less conniving ,more content -atleast the ruling class and the middle class should.
It's always nice to have intellectuals as rulers and not crooks. Great going Sir.
ReplyDeleteDear JP sir
ReplyDeleteIam inspired by your speeches and your sincerity towards politics and serve people.
Sir people these days are not simple and they donot like sincerty or something else most of the people are attracted to film stars who make cheap comments and they are saying that your party people cannot win, you donot get even the deposit. I feel that you are not concentrating on publicising your party in youth. I think u need to send ur thoughts in to the minds of youth at college as well as university level. Do something which makes students at university as well as at college level gets attracted to you
Thanks for your active participation in the politics of MY country. What I wanted to bring to your attention however is the need of many people to pander to the poor.
ReplyDeleteI think it becomes very important to seperate the issue of poverty from the issues of governance, public responsibility, morality, ethics, philosophy, religion and a host of other such areas of public interest that drive public policy in elected representatives. Pandering to poverty cannot and should not be encouraged to be a crutch that replaces or engulfs any of these.
PLEASE be impartial in your stance to both the rich and the poor. I am unabashedly rich, but not dishonestly and so I want the same respect, the same governance and the same importance. If you cannot provide it, in a few years time, I intend to. Thank you!
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeleteI admire you for the courage in taking the difficult yet possible challenge of taking India in the right direction.
I am a finance professional from New York but moving back to India to be with my family. I am curious to learn about your plan to make India an economic superpower of the future.
One of the major challenges is talent building among the youth who are the majority in this country? What is your plan for that?
I will certainly get more involved as I learn more about you and your party.
Thanks a lot
Srini Viswanathan
SUB: Resumes of party candidates.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if this is the right portal for this suggestion; I could not find any way to communicate this at the Party's website.
The party is not about Dr. JP alone. It would be nice to see a 'resume' of sorts for each of the party candidates.
This would help the voters of corresponding constituency to know more about their representative.
PS: The design of the party's website leaves much to be desired; but a good job overall.
Sub: BC United Front
ReplyDeleteI have tried to ascertain the ideologies of BC United Front party and how they align with Loksatta. My only source of information has been the titbits I could find on the internet.
While the said party is committed to eradicating differences between people that exist solely on the basis of birth; I am not convinced about the democratic nature of the party's organization.
As is clearly the case, the decision makers are more informed than I about the matter.
While the corresponding news article mentioned some common goals of both the parties, another posting by the Loksatta party elucidating the strategic and political (I use the word in a very good sense here) nature of this alliance is in order.
Sub: Comment moderation
ReplyDeleteThere are several pros and cons of restricting all to post comments on this blog. However, I would like to see no moderation, truly reflecting the democratic nature of opinion.
The comments themselves could be rated by other readers; thereby weeding out the spam / irate comments.
Dear JP,
ReplyDeleteCan you present some solid solution on how you will eradicate corruption from the System?
How will you change the scenario where you protect the individual have his or her rights (civil as well as property)?
How will you alter the corrupt branches of government, which has spread its roots to the private sector?
How will you address the greed which is the part of nature (not only human).
very good
ReplyDeleteJP SIR GOOD MORNING...
ReplyDeleteThis is PVG Raju from Adilabad, sir coming directly to the point.. as seen from today's politics, these un-useful parties/leaders again win in these elections i.e., 2009 genl.elections and rule our state/country as it is....
If we want to change these politics we have to go to the corners of state i.e., we have to cover all rural areas... for this i think that... what ever the results come from these elections, we elect our MLA's i.e., Loksatta MLAs from different constitutions so that in coming time all the problems what ever the people face for that we put a system and habituate the people to approach our MLA for their needs... than we struggle for solve that problem from village level to State level to prove our existance... and if the problems are solved our names will reach to the corners of rural areas so that we can easily take movement in upcoming 2014 general elections and than we will show "WHAT IS LOKSATTA?' and "WHAT IS JP?"
Sir for this i have prepared an Action Plan.... if u think this may be useful.. i will post it to you sir...
with regards...
PVG Raju, Adilabad 9396712777
jayaprakash sir
ReplyDeleteEducate, organise ,and Agitate "
but unfortunatly you adopted last policy
any how i wish all the best
Hello JP sir,
ReplyDeleteThe other day I was trying to fill a membership form for registration in LOK SATTA. I was taken aback when I saw fields for caste and religion in the form. May I know the motive behind gathering the information of the member's religion and caste?
To me, the very sight of it sounded so absurd that I abstained myself from filling the form.
Even if educated people and parties set out to change the society follow the traditional path paved by their predecessors, how can we change the society?
Looking forward to your response!
Excellent article. I really moved by your vision. I am ready to be a member of loksatta party.As I cannot vote from I will tell my family member to vote for loksatta. If I have the phone numbers of people in india I will spend some time by calling them to spread the message given by you.
ReplyDeleteDear Dr J P,
ReplyDeleteI will be glad if Lok Satta can convince election commission to consider NRI votes and provide such facility through IHC. Also, it will be great if Lok Satta can use youth to set up portal for eGovernance from grass root levels to reach out public in rural areas.
I wish you good luck and great success in your mission.
Warm Regards,
M V Chilukuri
all the right thinking rationalists, lovers of peace and democracy and who desire to transform this state into a state free from 3 dirty Cs (communal ism, corruption, crime), should strengthen the hands of Loksatta by voting in its favor.
ReplyDeleteSir,
ReplyDeleteI don't believe this, 10 of our friends voted to your party. Till the day of election, we were arguing about I support TDP , some others congress, and some for PRP,we went to the poll, we do deeply know who is right, blindly all of them seems to have gone for your party.10 votes definitely for Vijaya Rama Rao When we discussed outside, everybody voted for you. This is a change... I bet by next term elections, your party will have a huge support.
i heard that we have right to negative vote
ReplyDeletedo we really have such provision?
if yes plz stress this point as much as possible
thank you
Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan is symbol of honesty and integrity and offers real alternative to age old, corrupt and rotten political system in AP and India. I really hope and I am confident that he wins in Kukatpally so that he can stand upto these rotten politicians in defending the common man. I plead with the readers of this blog to consider taking action on huge amounts of black money stashed in swiss banks.
ReplyDeleteIf you are interested in taking action, visit my blog (http://indianblackmoneyinswissbanks.blogspot.com/).
Sincerley,
Citizen of India
Dear Jaya prakash Narayana Garu, I am very happy about your victory.I have to appreciate the voters of Kukatpally constituency for their smart decision. on this happy occasion I remember the saying of Neil Armstrong when he landed on the moon. In a similar way, hope that this small victory of yours today changes the entire political scenario of AP in the years to come.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to many more such victories. With best wishes.
S.J.F.RAVINDRANATH. sjfravi@gmail.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI am an ordinary citizen of India and Andhra Pradesh. I desperately want a "change" in our politics and the priorities of our govt and people.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see some light far way. People are realizing the importance of them taking ownership of their lives and slowly responding to what they need to do. And the bright example for that is JP's election win and the number of votes LokSatta got in various other constituencies.
But I am not happy with the pace in which it is happening. Why is the process so slow. Why cant people (including myself) take control of their lives and vote for better candidates who can be responsible and also be accountable. I have been following JPs answers on this and observed that Loksatta does not have the leaders (except for JP) who can influence people and build trust for themselves (the ration card example that JP points out). Obviously media does not help this cause and it will not even in future.
Then what is the solutions for this???
If PRP can get 17% of vote on its first election, why cant LokSatta. Other than having a charismatic person ( I also believe he is a very good human being) as a leader, what else does PRP have? The party went to masses and people believed that they can be trusted (though PRP did not get the majority, I still believe that getting a trust of 75 Lakh people within 9 months of its launch is commendable).
My question to JP is that what it takes to get charismatic leaders (with good qualities) to join hands with a party like LokSatta. If the cause is to bring better politics to the state, why cant LokSatta find the charismatic people into the party. It could be popular industrialists, well know personalities, film personalities or any one who can bring the masses to the party. I am sure there are many charismatic leaders who are well qualified and have good qualities. I would like LokSatta to rope in those personalities into the party to get the required mileage from people across the state. As JP has proved that people are in fact starting to believe in LokSatta, it is high time to accelerate the process and bring change.
Any thoughts?