Rajasthan activists laud KAM Meghalaya candidates’ fight for transparency in election
Rangad, MKSS stress the need for social security for unorganised sector workers
Shillong, Feb 19: Nikhil Dey, one of the founding members of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), said on Sunday it is a challenging task to bring transparency and accountability into the electoral sphere as it has remained the major source of corruption in the country.
Speaking at a press meeting of KAM Meghalaya, Dey said it is important to raise voices against corruption in the election sphere because it is where people choose their lawmakers.
“We often raise our voice against this corruption from outside but occasionally we need people from inside to raise their voices to show that it is possible to end this corruption. We have come here to support KAM Meghalaya and a set of independents who are fighting the elections with a commitment to the issues which we have been fighting for for the past several years,” Dey said.
The MKSS members were in Shillong to boost the campaign of independents Angela Rangad (South Shillong), Wanpynhun Kharsyntiew (East Shillong) and Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh (North Shillong).
Praising the manifestos of Rangad and Kharsyntiew, Dey said the documents were prepared based on people’s suggestions and this is how it should be done. He added that it is a victory that these candidates are promising transparency in their works and allowing the public to ask questions.
Shankar Singh, another founding member of MKSS, spoke about how the organisation brought changes in the panchayat elections in Rajasthan. “Even in such a small election procedure, lakhs of rupees would be involved. But our candidate would go around with his manifesto and tell people that there is no money and all he could give was his hard work. People believed him. It was a first time for them and they voted him to power. So, this can be changed.”
Rangad, who had fought for the rights of street vendors and workers of other unorganised sectors, said, “Our fight has always been for transparency and accountability as we believe that development cannot come without this. We reject the idea that elections can only be fought with money and muscle power. The abuse of power has to be checked. This campaign is about rejecting that politics and believing in a new one. Only then we can start talking about development.”
Rangad as well as the MKSS members insisted that there should be social security laws for the unorganised sector workers that Rajasthan has also ensured. “Now, there is security for these workers in rural and urban Rajasthan. This shows that it can be done,” Dey said.
