The Hindu : New Delhi News : Poll campaign with a difference

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 07, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Poll campaign with a difference

By Mandira Nayar

NEW DELHI, APRIL 6. This is an election campaign with a difference. A bunch of youngsters are spending their summer vacation touring the country to ask people to vote against communalism. Part of Youth for Peace, a group launched under the banner of ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy), these enthusiastic teenagers are determined to get their voices heard.

"The need today is to raise our voice against this attack on our common heritage. The problem is that the Bharatiya Janta Party is an outfit based on a communal agenda. It is important that people vote against it. It is a party which has many faces, and while talking about them, it is essential that we keep in mind their appendages like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Look what happened in Madhya Pradesh. We were told that the main issue in the recent State Assembly election there was development, but actually it was fought on caste lines. Our campaign `Meri Awaz Suno' will expose their true face,'' said Swapnil Gupta passionately.

Travelling across 52 cities in more than 15 States, this group plans to use its most potent weapon to battle communalism -- idealism. Packing more than one city in a day, these youngsters aim to be able to spread this message to a large spectrum of people. "There will be a reception in each city for them. They will address a press conference and talk to different sections of society so that they can reach a large number of people. We thought of carrying exhibitions, street-plays or movies, but then decided against it. I think the best way to get the message across is to speak,'' remarked Kandala Singh.

Uniting youngsters from different parts of the country on a platform for peace, Youth for Peace, aims to prove that Generation Y is not aloof and unconcerned about India's future. "We started Youth for Peace last year after we went to Gujarat for our summer vacations. We found that many of the young people were very communalised, which really got us concerned. There is no students' movement. We thought it if there is a platform for students where they could get involved with issues through culture it would change mindsets. I also think violence is a part of an attitude we are raised with; we find it okay to watch a wrestling match. I think it is essential to make peace cool,'' she added.

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