The people have spoken!

The people of India have once again spoken! In an unprecedented and totally unexpected result, they have voted back to power (and in a very decisive way), the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). It is indeed the triumph of democracy.

Whilst there is naturally plenty of cheering among various sections of the people on the one hand, and backroom analysis on the other, what is evident is that the people of the country have also given the UPA a "lifeline". This lifeline is a mandate to complete the unfinished tasks and also perhaps to tackle headlong those responsibilities that they were afraid to touch during the past five years in office.

These would include:

• To ensure that the Constitutional rights and the freedoms of every single citizen of the country are guaranteed and protected.

• To lessen the widening gap between the rich and the poor caused by the lopsided and anti-people development projects.

• To closely monitor the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, (especially in states like Gujarat which has paid scant attention to this important initiative for the rural poor).

• To widen the scope of the Right to Information in an effort to stop corruption and for greater transparency in public life.

• To put into place immediately a law against communal violence and ensure that the powerful and vested interests, including the politicians, are brought within the purview of this law.

• To translate the Right to Food campaign into very concrete action where the poor have access to timely and good quality food supplies.

• To ensure the independence of the Judiciary, the CBI, the Election Commission and other statutory bodies providing them with the motivation and the freedom to exercise total impartiality.

• To legislate as soon as possible on compulsory primary education and reservation for women in Parliament.

The UPA has a clear task cut out before it. The people of India have truly spoken out loud and clearly. It is definitely a vote for change, a vote for a better India. If the UPA fails to live up to the expectations of the people, they may not be given another chance. So "jago re" now!

(Fr. Cedric Prakash, sj is the director of Prashant, the Ahmedabad-based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace)