Youth for Equality picks their ' Lok Umeedwar' ex-army officer Sangeeta Tomar

Youth for Equality, famous for its anti-OBC reservation demonstrations in 2007, brought out its manifesto and announced the name of its first lok umeedwar (people's representative) on Tuesday. Sangeeta Tomar, who will contest from the New Delhi seat on a YFE ticket was chosen from among 53 "applicants'' through a three-phase screening process that included an interview, group discussion, open house debates and voting by residents. Forty-year-old Tomar was among the first batch of women officers to be commissioned into the Indian Army in 1993. She has a degree from IIM Indore and has worked as an HR manager. Her campaign a gruelling 18-hour schedule on some days is being funded through donations from YFE members who say the decision to contest from New Delhi was taken because the constituency has the most number of voters who would "subscribe to the YFE ideology''.

Tomar says it was her father who first told her about YFE and how they had started an initiative to choose a people's candidate. "I thought it was a very fair way to choose a candidate and sent in my CV. There was an interview, a group discussion and a public debate before I was chosen by the audience. It was a very different kind of experience from the usual political process.'' The Alaknanda resident says she has already covered large parts of the constituency and the response has been "very positive.'' "The way people are reacting to me and the interest with which they are listening to me is truly encouraging,'' she said. She may be facing political Goliaths of the likes of Vijay Goel and Ajay Maken but this David is confident of winning. "Why else would I be here,'' she asks. Apart from the expected pitch in favour of affirmative action rather than reservation, the manifesto includes disallowing people accused of heinous offences from contesting elections, introduction of "none of the above'' choice on the EVM and a "right to recall'' elected representatives. There is even talk about changing the system of governance to a two-party system similar to the one in the US.

Source : TOI

Freedom is NOT free

(received by email. not a personal experience)

Something to ponder !!

This past week I was on a four and a half hour, non-stop flight from Seattle , Washington , to Atlanta , Georgia . In all my years of traveling, I have learned that each time a plane has the opportunity to stop, there is potential for unexpected challenges. Flight delays, weather and airline crews can create unanticipated challenges on any trip. Therefore, I always try to fly non-stop between my destinations. About an hour into this particular flight, the Captain's voice rang over the intercom. He asked if there was a physician or nurse on the plane. If so, he asked them to identify themselves by ringing the flight attendant call button beside their seat. I listened carefully but heard no one ring their bell. I immediately began to wonder what was happening.

In a few minutes, the Captain informed us that there was a medical emergency onboard and asked again if there was a physician or a nurse who could help. When there was no response, we were told that we were going to make an emergency stop in Denver , Colorado . He apologized but told us that there would be a medical emergency team waiting to meet us at the gate, and that we would probably only be delayed by about thirty minutes. Though it was necessary, we knew we would all be inconvenienced by the extra stop. About half an hour later, we landed at Denver International Airport and the medical crew immediately came on board. However, everything took longer than had previously been expected. An elderly gentleman, about 85 years old, had suddenly taken ill. It was not clear whether he had experienced a stroke or a heart attack. Even after the gentleman was carried off of the plane, we still sat there for quite a while. The original "short" stop turned into about an hour and a half.

When we finally pushed back from the gate and were in the air, the pilot apologized profusely for the unavoidable delay. He said that since the stop had taken longer than expected, those passengers who needed to make connections in Atlanta would miss their flights, but would automatically be booked on the next flight out. You could almost hear the moans and groans throughout the airplane of everyone who was being inconvenienced by the unexpected stop. Then the pilot did one of the classiest things I have personally ever seen or heard anyone do. He spoke into the intercom and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I thought you might be interested in one bit of information. The elderly gentleman who was taken off the plane was a Marine in World War II. I am holding in my hand a copy of the Congressional Medal of Honor that was awarded to him and signed by President Harry Truman in 1945." The pilot went on to say, "I realize that we have al l been inconvenienced today. However, in light of the fact that this gentleman was a war hero and was inconvenienced for four years of his life in order that we might experience the freedoms that we enjoy today, I thought you all should know that." Immediately, the airplane was filled with applause. Everyone was cheering and so pleased to know that the gentleman had been cared for in a way that was fitting and appropriate. As we continued to fly, I thought to myself, "Isn't that interesting? We were concerned that we were inconvenienced for a couple of hours, and yet this gentleman's entire life was interrupted and inconvenienced for over four years while he went and fought in a war to protect the freedoms and values that we love and hold dear in this country today." I breathed a prayer for the gentleman and asked God to bless him for all he had done to help us understand what freedom is all about.

Dont we wish our citizens in this country also have this same type of attitude towards our Soldiers?Since - FREEDOM IS NOT FREE