As one of the largest democracies in the world goes to the polls - there's been a lot of posts, write-ups and active debates around who one should and shouldn't vote for - I myself have participated in some discussions and I of course have my own opinion.
But today - as the city that I come from - Mumbai - goes to the polls..I sit here feeling like quite the outcast.
My status as an NRI (Non Resident Indian) - makes me Indian only in name, so it would seem, because "the largest democracy in the world" - does not provide the most basic democratic right - that of voting - to us Non-Resident "Indians".
The NRI community consists of over 2 million people (approx.) living, earning or studying in various countries around the world, they are one of the larger contributors to the indian economy by way of investments and they are also the face of India - winning laurels in many fields - that India can be proud of.
One would think the number is significant enough for the government to actively look into facilitating a way for us to vote by absentee - infact - till as late as 2010 NRI's had no right to vote at all!
As my fellow indians go to vote today -
-- I hope that they vote for a government that has India's social growth in mind
-- I hope that they vote for a government that has India's economic growth in mind
-- I hope that they vote for a government that has India's security in mind
-- I hope that they vote for a government that focuses on the infrastructure needs in rural areas as well as the cities
-- I hope that they vote for change
And for my part - I hope (without a vote) for a government that believes in making India truly democratic - a vote for all and all this for one vote!
