The Most Anticipated and keenly watched event in the world is underway … In India
Hello friends.
“The Festival of Democracy” is a very fitting term used to describe elections in India. Indian elections involve staggering numbers due to the country’s massive population and the scale of its electoral process. India has the largest electorates in the world, with over 968.8 million eligible voters as of recent years. To accommodate the vast number of voters, Indian elections require a vast network of polling stations. During national elections, 1.2 million polling booths are set up across the country to facilitate voting. Voters across 543 electoral constituencies will elect a legislator to represent them at the Lok Sabha— the lower house of India’s Parliament. Election Commission of India will deploy 15 million people to oversee the operation. Electronic voting machines (EVMs) are used extensively in Indian elections to streamline the voting process and ensure efficient counting of votes. Hundreds of thousands of EVMs are deployed during elections to accommodate the large voter turnout. Despite logistical challenges and varying levels of accessibility, Indian elections often witness high voter turnout. In recent elections, voter turnout has typically ranged from 60% to 70% or even higher in some regions.
Overall, the numbers associated with Indian elections underscore the sheer scale and complexity of the electoral process in the world’s largest democracy. Despite the challenges posed by such vast numbers, Indian elections are conducted with a commitment to fairness, transparency, and inclusivity.
India’s geopolitical position and growing economic influence make its elections crucial for global stability and international relations. The outcome of Indian elections can impact diplomatic relations, trade policies, regional security, and cooperation on global issues such as climate change, terrorism, and economic development. India’s economy is one of the largest in the world and a significant driver of global economic growth. The policies and reforms initiated by the government, which are often shaped by electoral mandates, can have far-reaching implications for international trade, investment, and economic stability. India is a hub for technology and innovation, with a booming IT industry and a burgeoning startup ecosystem. The government’s policies and initiatives, influenced by electoral mandates, can shape the trajectory of technological advancements and innovation, impacting global trends in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and digital transformation.
India’s strategic location in South Asia makes it a key player in regional stability and security. Elections in India can influence dynamics with neighbouring countries and broader regional issues such as border disputes, cross-border terrorism, and geopolitical rivalries. India’s approach to addressing global challenges such as climate change, public health crises, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development is influenced by its domestic policies, which in turn are shaped by electoral mandates. International cooperation, collaboration and coordination on these issues often hinge on India’s stance and actions. The outcomes of Indian elections resonate far beyond the country’s borders, impacting various aspects of the global landscape.
The ground report and all opinion polls are pointing towards a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi with thumping majority, which is a big testament to the work and policies of current leadership in India. All the economic indicators are very strong and the whole world is looking up to India for growth and opportunities. Isn’t that good news for the rest of the world including Canada which is grappling with so much uncertainty at economic and social fronts! Stable and strong leadership in India along with philosophy of ONE EARTH, ONE FAMILY AND ONE FUTURE will only help humanity.
The large Indo Canadian community has a huge responsibility on their shoulders to ensure our beloved homeland, Canada, makes the best use of economic opportunities New India presents. We as a community should work towards fostering better understanding between both nations and act as a bridge to rebuild a strong, trustworthy, sincere, and impactful bilateral.
Another important issue I wish to touch upon is the debate around foreign interference in Canada and India being dragged into it by some vested interests who have been working consistently for long now to derail and hurt Canada-India bilateral. Having worked in the community for quite some time now, we are not hesitant to say that there are very active, aggressive, and violent groups within Canadian society who for reasons better known to them do not want this relationship to flourish. To them, even the adoption of universal truths of being one with existence and popularity of much needed Yoga, Ayurveda, Mindfulness & Meditation amongst Canadians is threatening and misconstrued as examples of foreign interference. I’m familiar with how peculiar it sounds, but this type of resistance isn’t uncommon among these groups.
We are totally against any sort of foreign interference in Canada or for that matter in any sovereign nation. We are equally against letting some people use that as a tool to block positive initiatives by governments and community organizations like CIF to overcome differences. We as responsible Canadians should also call out our fellow citizens and certain elected representatives who meddle in internal affairs of other friendly nations for short term political gains, at the expense of national interest. We all have seen public boasting by some of these elements who have openly admitted funding certain political parties in a foreign country to get them elected and even negotiated deliverables post election for their benefit. That is real interference right from our soil. And ironically these are same people who get space and all the opportunity to be advocates against foreign interference in Canada.
Regrettably, in Canada, some individuals are exploiting the generosity and goodwill of this great nation to harm Canada and Canadians in pursuit of their narrow agendas. There is need for collective work and collaboration by all like-minded Canadians who love Canada and want Canada to always be the best place to live on this planet. We are in this together and will always be!
Thank you