If today’s youth could voice their opinion about the political affairs in the state, then it will perhaps emerge more as concerns over the future of their country.
The ‘I change, India changes’ event organised by UTV Bindass at Horniman Circle Gardens on tuesday saw several college students raising questions to a panel comprising candidates contesting in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. ‘I change..’ is a nationwide initiative to create awareness among students about elections and voting.
The youths’ concerns ranged from national security, lack of political accountability and a regressive political system to social issues like women’s safety, education and job loss. The voice for a stable and capable government resonated at the Horniman Gardens ground.
The panel consisted of Congress party’s Milind Deora, Shiv Sena’s Mohan Rawle, independent contestant from south Mumbai Meera Sanyal and National Congress Party member Jitendra Ahwad from Thane. The discussion was moderated by Govindraj Ethiraj, editor in chief of UTVi.
The panel stressed on the importance of youngsters taking active interest in politics. According to the 2004 voting records, a meagre 12.5% of the people within the 18-30 age group voted.
“Youth’s participation in the political affairs of the country is a welcome change,” said Deora.
Sanyal too hailed the enthusiasm of the youth present at the venue. “Only your participation in the country’s politics can change the system and remove the cynicism that is setting in with regards to politics,” she said.
While the discussion centred mainly on the concerns voiced by the audience, the pitch changed over issue of secularism as Rawle and Ahwad got into a heated argument over their respective party’s political agenda.
Also a part of the event were the performances, laced with political overtone, by the five campus theatre groups from Jadavpur University and Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata, Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology (Delhi), Institute of Engineering and Technology (Lucknow).
