By Salman Sultan, TwoCircles.net special correspondent

Azamgarh: UPA government has been installed in the center for a second time. The election result was surprising even to the strong supporter of Congress/UPA. No one in his wildest imagination thought of UPA forming a government on its own strength. The dictum “Nothing succeeds like success” proved right and accolades started flowing for Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Mr. Rahul Gandhi. Such terms as “Rahul Factor” was hastily coined and analysis of election result started being linked to Rahul’s election campaign. Suddenly, even critics of Rahul Baba started visualizing the charismatic personality of Mr. Rahul Gandhi.

TwoCircles.net sought views of a varied group of people, inclusive of students, in Azamgarh and presents it as this video report.

Pratiksha Srivastava d/o Mr. R.L. Srivastava is a student of B.Sc. II (appeared in exam) and is also doing NCPUL (National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language) computer course. Her father, earlier in Air Force, works as a teacher. Pratiksha’s hobby includes gardening and household chores. She reads India Today magazine and goes through “Dainik Jagran” (Hindi daily newspaper). Pratiksha believes in a politics free from all differences of caste, poverty, etc. She does not like cheap politics. She feels that Rahul Gandhi will be effective in doing something for young generation and feels that no government can keep tall promises but central government may not be effective in implementing its program because of state government. She believes that only improvement in educational standard can make a change in our lives and likes Congress only because of Rahul Gandhi otherwise she thinks all parties are same.

Umar Farooq s/o Dr. Afzal Ahmad (general physician in the adjacent city of Mau) is a student of M.Sc. (Physics, appeared in final year exam) and is doing NCPUL computer course. Umar feels that this time UPA government will perform better as it is devoid of left front. He thinks that N-deal was in the interest of our country but the Left objected to it. Similarly Left objected to P.M’s reform in economic sector. Umar has various expectations from this government especially for its program for youth as this government is going to establish new IITs. He appreciates Commission for Higher Education and feels that this HRD minister will be better for minorities. Umar is all praise for the good work done by Rahul Gandhi in recent elections and has high expectations from him. Umar wants a probe in Batla House and other doubtful encounters. He would like this government to work for the security of minorities and avoid such encounters in future. He prefers reservation on economic grounds.

Safia Bano d/o Mr. Arshad Mujtaba (works in a private firm in Saudi Arabia) is a student of B.Sc. II (appeared in exam) and is doing NCPUL computer course. She hopes this government will bring changes but prefers to wait and watch. She likes Congress because of Rahul Gandhi and believes that all youth would like to see him as P.M. She feels that as R.G. has traveled all the nook and corners of the country and has listened to peoples’ problem, he will be better for minorities. As per Safia UPA means R.G. She favours reservation in education and feels that only change in education policy like education to poor people can bring changes. Safia is not very hopeful of cessation of fake/doubtful encounters.

Ashish Asthana s/o Mr. O.P. Asthana has passed B.Com II and is doing NCPUL computer course. He feels that UPA will do better this time as earlier it was doing good work. It has come to power again because of performance. He is against reservation for minorities as it is bad for society but favours facilities for education of poor people. He feels that UPA is doing this. According to him UPA was under pressure earlier and cites obsequious behaviour of our P.M. in front of Mr. Bush. This time it will not be under pressure and therefore perform better.

Salahuddin Parvez s/o Mr. Kamal Mustafa has passed B.Sc. and is doing NCPUL computer course. He has a lot of hope with this government, as there is lot of youthful faces in it. He feels that this government got its second term because of youth power. He favours reservation on economic grounds and is against reservation (employment) for Muslims. He suggests the government to act instead of giving speeches.

Dr. Zafar Obaid Azmi, member Jharkhankd Vikas Manch- a political party led by Babulal Marandi, obtained his Ph.D. in History from Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi. Dr. Zafar thinks that a government is required to run the country and there is nothing extraordinary in UPA’s second term. He feels that UPA has come to power on technical grounds and not on performance, as the opposition parties did not perform well. He doesn’t expect much for minorities although feels that such an impression is being created by this UPA government. To support his argument he cites non-implementation of Sri Krishna Commission report, dragging on of Liberhan Commission (it took 17 years to submit report) and much hype over Sachar committee report. He complains of low representation of minorities in the Lok Sabha, as tickets are not given to them. He would like minorities to get united in order to show their strength. Dr. Zafar feels that new ministers e.g. HRD will not make much difference as the policy remains same. He is not hopeful of minorities getting a better share in government grants and feels that we need to build our own infrastructure. Dr. Zafar Obaid is against reservation as he thinks earlier we had a mentality to support others. He suggests mutual support in community development, legal issues, etc. He is critical of the affirmative action of Mr. Salman Khurshid and feels that it is just to misguide the community. Dr. Azmi relates UPA success in U.P. to the anger of minorities that was directed towards SP and BSP. He feels that the mandate is clear message (warning) given by minorities to the government to perform or perish. He considers the second term of UPA as an opportunity for Congress to do something for minorities. Dr. Azmi considers a blunder on part of UPA not to institute an enquiry in Batla House encounter when so many questions were raised on its being genuine. This actually is a blot on previous UPA government and minorities feel unsafe. Confidence of minorities will be restored on seeing the transfer of words into action. Home Minister went to Kandhamaal and expressed shame but that is not enough, as he has to provide security. Dr. Zafar Obaid Azmi would eagerly wait for the government to deliver.

Shahabuddin (village Kakrahta) owns a grocery store in the city. He feels that the government is O.K. but is not functioning as desired i.e. it has no control on price rise. For improving electricity neither center nor state government is doing anything. Shahabuddin feels that the government will not do anything about minority as it has yet to implement Sachar Committee report and it constitutes commissions (Ranganath Misra) just to deceive Muslims. He doesn’t favour reservation on the basis of caste but on the basis of need (economically weaker section).

Mahendra Kumar Chauhan, owner of “pan” shop is happy with the government and has no problem whatsoever with this UPA government.

Sheshnath Singh, proprietor of a stationery shop and court correspondent of “Jan Morcha” (first cooperative daily newspaper of India), thinks that the second term of UPA was due to drama (fight for leadership) created by opposition. He has no expectation from this or other government. He opines that as opposition has 70 or so leaders who wanted to be P.M. and because UPA projected only Dr. Manmohan Singh hence people wisely voted UPA to power in national interest. Rahul factor also worked as R.G. worked among Dalits and youths in the interest of nation. He strongly advocates reservation for minorities and also for both minority and majority on economic ground. He feels that those opposing reservation for Muslims have no national interest and they don’t consider minorities to be national of India. These people are of low mentality. Mr. Sheshnath emphasizes valuable contribution of Muslims in building up this nation and feels that Muslims have broadened the frontiers of our country but on the name of “Hindutva” we lost some parts and our frontiers shrunk. Muslims loved the country but our political leaders don’t love it. Had I been in government, I would have created patriotism among political leaders and have assured that political leaders should not enhance their property after coming into politics, said Sheshnath. He further said that such enhancement in property should become national property.