Khan . . . Can he ?

we are living in a 24 hour surveillance world by a 24 hour media world and a very vigilant public with very low opinion about the political establishment.

Under these circumstances it is the responsibility of each politician to uphold their reputation and demonstrate their ability to adjust to the public duties that is expected of them.

Yes I am talking about the recent "alleged" allegation that the shadow Transport Secretary and a hopeful mayoral candidate and the current local Labour MP for Tooting Mr Saddiq Khan was using his mobile phone while he was driving.

The allegation is still an alleged one. But the fact is that a person of Mr.Khan`s stature should not have even been in a compromised position so that someone was able to allege .

Currently in UK the voters have very low confidence in the people who are said to represent them. So it is the duty of such leading politicians to behave in such a manner that would. bring back the respect .

It does not matter which party you support it is very encouraging to see people like Sadiq Khan specially from an ethnic minority rise to the top of the party that they represent on behalf of their electorate.

But then they must demonstrate a high sense of morality to show that they are like normal people bound by the law of the land.

It is the feeling that the political class think that they are above law is the very same feeling that waters the political apathy among the voting public.

For us to see a very integrated multi culture society we need more people from the ethnic minority to get involved with the democratic politics of this country.

The said offense has not proved yet. The police have even not said they are pursuing with this. Above all we are yet to hear the  storey from Mr.Khan`s side.

So we will have to wait to form our final opinion of Mr.Khan.

Now for the Tory MP Mr.Justin Tomlinson, we cannot blame him if his real intention was that to prove that everyone is equal before the court of Law. But him being a Tory MP and Mr.Khan being a Labour MP it does cast a shadow in the decision for him to expose Mr.Khan and report him to the police.

By no means that I am contemplating that what is alleged is proven that Mr,Khan should not face the music.

On the other hand it is also gives a bad taste to think that the personal hatred between the politicians can run this deep.

Well let me finish this column by saying it is utter disappointment for me to see a young budding politician to jeopardise his prospects due to an ill judged action such as this.

Let us wait and see how this whole affair will pan out.

Sakthi Sakthithasan
 

Inheritance Tax ! is it fair ?

I was driving back from work yesterday evening. As usual I was listening to my favorite radio station LBC. And it was the Drive Time hosted by none other than Ian Dale.

Well topic under the discussion was " Should inheritance tax be scrapped or not ? " this was a topic that is very interesting to me.

Why you may ask ?

Well I am in my late fifties and has been very careful in my life with the help of my wife and has saved some for our rainy day and had our aim firmly fixed to move to a house where we are happy and would not move  from there.

Surprise, surprise we found such a property only about twelve years ago. I make it I was then in my late forties. Why you may ask it took to come to that age to find a property that we would like to settle in ?

Well person in a normal employment it is a slow process for anyone to attain a status to afford such a property.

Well being a first generation immigrant who has not inherited a penny from anyone else naturally it would take a long time.

Well this is where I go back to the program that I was listening. A gentleman who was a tax expert came on the radio and argue the fact that it is fair that people who has property above a certain threshold pay inheritance tax.

This was against a question put by Mr,Ian Dale that why people should pay tax again on the first instance they have already paid tax towards buying the property in addition to paying tax while they earn and save to buy that property.

Well following the tax expert there was another gentleman who came up with nice children storey
about squirrels collecting nuts for winter. I suppose you are wondering where ids this leading to
Quiet a few of you would have already heard this story. Apparently there were two squirrels   One was busily collecting nuts for the coming winter while the other one was spending his time with other squirrels playing away.

Hard winter came the squirrel that put away the nuts for the winter was sitting inside his nest and feeding himself with the nuts he saved for himself while the other one was out in the cold trying to find food for itself.
The squirrel that saved called the other one in and gave some of his nuts and advised him to save when he can.

What is the moral of the storey you may ask. Of course it is that saving in time helps when you are not able to work as you were.

The interesting thing was that the person who came on the  radio who said this story to stress his point that listening to the previous tax experts argument who was insisting that it is the people who have should look after the have nots sounded like the following ,

The squirrel that did not save the nuts for winter came kicking the door of the squirrel who saved for the winter and said " you have more than you need " and took half of his nuts.

Well what a good comparison I thought. Quiet elegantly yet very simply explained what I was thinking. You work hard all your working life and skimp and save for something you strive for while some people you know do not give a hoot about the future and spend all they earn.

later on in the life you are taxed on the property you leave behind to your off springs in order to help the off springs of the people who lived lavishly beyond their means.

Well how is this Fair ! thought ?

Someone could call this "social justice" ! is it ?

Well you tell me ! ! !

Sakthi Saklthithasan

Oh yes I am an immigrant ! Am I ?

Back to the old drawing board !

Another season of party conferences is coming to an end ! Oh this is autumn is it not ? the green leaves of the trees are also nearing their seasonal end.

I  cannot believe how quick five years has flown past by. Yes ! another General Election is looming in front of our eyes.

Quiet a lot of times I ask myself as a first generation immigrant what are my expectations from these elections. Then the million dollar question follows am I fully engaging myself with this election ? Or is it a simple case of it does not matter who wins as long as I am alright ?

Well if this question need to be answered properly we need to have genuine deep cleansing of our thoughts.

Whether I like it or not the fact is General Election and the results do matter to me .

Why?

because this is my country the place I am living and the surrounding are my lively hood and everything that affects the stability and the security does matter to me.

The needs of me has changed over the years. The political views and leanings that I had when I first arrived here has changed over the years .

Why you may ask ?

When I first arrived in this country I was a young 18 year old student now I am a 58 year old father with a married son.

There is a vast difference of my needs then and now naturally I have grown in my opinion towards the life over the years. Hence my political views have changed as well.

Then a Labour party supporter but now ? I am not sure.

I may even sound a bit hypocrite saying that at times I see even UKIP reflects some of my views now.

I see some may mutter that people like me have a special name "Bounty" brown outside and white inside. Well I am sorry to disappoint you guys .

I am not at all that way. I am proud to call myself British

why ?

this country is the country which gave great opportunities to me that did not depend upon my race or culture. Treated me equally and encouraged me to lift myself.

It is my duty to integrate myself in the political process as a true citizen.

What troubles me is the party that I supported then does not allow me to support them now .

Why ? a big question may arise.

With lot of aspiration and lot of hard work  I have elevated myself and pushed myself into the Middle class band but why I feel that the party I supported then is looking at me and saying Hey you are better than most so we have to tax you more , we have to put you in the same bracket of someone who has inherited wealth ?

While lot of people who were in the same situation as me did not worry about tomorrow did not worry about a rainy day.

we as a family did go without lot of comforts and sacrificed a lot so that we do not depend on the state when we are old.

But  now we are classified as someone who have and expected to carry the burden of have nots at the same level as someone who has been rich for generations.

Please do not jump into conclusions that I am against government looking after the people who genuinely need help and understand that I need to contribute fairly towards that.

But what is the word again " fairly "

Well it is strange ! but voting in this general election will be a long thinking process for me .

Oh yes I am an immigrant ! Am I ?

Sakthi Sakthithasan

It is a waiting game is it not ?

All the excitements are over now.

Yes ! Scotland has decided . . . .

All the arguments of will it? or will it not ? has ended.

But the big question is, has it resolved all the problems or started some new ones. Well the short lived unity among the so called big three political parties has ended mutually.

New suspicions has been created in the minds of the political parties and they have once again withdrawn themselves back within their party lines calculating their self interest.

Prime minister has reiterated his support for greater devolution for Scottish assembly but has introduced a new condition that it should coincident with their last election pledge of Only English MP`s vote for English issues.

On the outset there is nothing wrong in calling for English MP`s vote for English issues but according to Labour party this undermines their chances of governing UK if they come to power.

The fact is that a Labour majority is always secured with large Scottish MP`s support. Then according to political analysts if there was a Labour government they would be in  the majority for one day and will not have the majority another day.

Then one should ask the question of should a reasonable call for English MP`s for English issues be denied because that would be against a particular political party`s interest ?

Well the other suggestion is that  it may be time for Labour party to do a soul searching to find out why that they are unable to gain enough support in England. In that case should Labour party ask a question that are they representing the aspirations of the English regions of UK.

It has given a spring in the steps of Nationalist parties like UKIP and English Democrats. I suppose that it gives them a chance to clean themselves of racist elements and involve in a true general national aspiration.

Big constitutional questions have arose aftermath of Scottish "no" vote. There have been big concessions promised to Scottish assembly in the final stages of the referendum by none other than the governing party of UK.

Well it is now time to put their words into action. And  a unified approach between the political parties is required now more than ever.

But will the leaders of the major political parties will be brave enough to take bold steps for the greater good of the country.

It is a waiting game is it not ?

Sakthi Sakthithasan

Oh ! No ...... No...... Yes

Oh ! no,no,no . . .Yes

Remember the comedy program " The vicar of dibly ".

The past few days have been like that in media world. The frenzy of the referendum in Scotland has evoked all sort of debates and all kind of speculations about what will be the outcome and the effects of it.

It is ironic that until very recently this whole issue of Scottish referendum has been pushed to the back burner by the all major political parties.

And now ! 

They are all acting as if they have woken up from a bad dream and trying effect a change that they all want.

One may ask whose fault that the situation has arose that all three main party leaders had to put their differences aside and rush to Scotland to keep the unity of the United Kingdom.

Some may put the blame on our Prime Minister`s doorstep since he is the one who agreed to allow this referendum to be held.

The other mistake some may point out is that while Alex Salmond asked that the people should be asked to questions on the ballot paper our PM steadfastly refused and said that there will be only one choice available on the ballot paper.

But how far is that true ?

The plain fact is does the Scottish public has the will to go it alone ? And has there been all the necessary economic calculations has been done ?

Well I for one  among the population that was ignorant to the real effects this voting saga going to cause until I saw a recent program by Andrew Neil.

What a revelation it was !

Yes whether the Scottish public votes "YES"  or "NO" this is going to make a permanent change in lot of aspects.

Yes now all the parties are talking about great devolution of powers from West Minister to Scotland . In reality it means that Wales and Northern Ireland will expect the same degree of devolution for themselves.

Where would be the poor "England" population will be left ?

At the mercy of others I suppose, as usual.

Times are changing . What was unthinkable few years ago is becoming a reality now. There are two ways we could react to this.

We could be dragged into the changed environment kicking and screaming or

We could just accept the change and make that work to our advantage.

It is a waiting game is it not ?

But who are the "game changers" ?

Sakthi Sakthithasan

Do we really understand . . . . . . ?

The world today is tearing it apart through pure greed and selfishness in the name of Religion, Language and Race.

There are majority of us which ever community, cast, country, colour we belong , long for peace. We want to live peacefully with our neighbours, Friends and so forth but unfortunately the war is being forced on us by some bloody minded people who do not have any consideration for human being.

There are people dying in hundreds through deceases for which no cure so far. Yet we are conducting wars and killing people in the name of religion and lots of other reasons.

Most of us are sitting in our comfortable lounge all over the world and witnessing these horrible stories that beamed from these war fronts.

But do we ....... do we really understand the risk and hard that is endured by the poor journalists who put their life at risk to bring these horror stories to the eyes of the world so that the right minded people will unite together and bring an end to these horrible wars.

I was driving in my car to work this morning listening to my favourite Nick ferrai on LBC . There was serious discussion about the horrible incident of an American Journalist beheaded.

There were comments made to the effect that "these journalists know the risk that they are taking so it is down to them " yet we are so eager to watch and listen to the stories that these journalists are bringing over.

For argument sake let us say there are no western journalists there and would be happy to listen to the stories from other journalists who would spin the stories to suit themselves ?

In addition we are only concerned about the journalists who are killed but do not think about the mental agony of these journalists who return after covering such horrible incidents.

It takes a lot of effort for them to return to their normal life and make the necessary adjustments to bring them back into the normal day to day routines.

For example if one journalist comes back after witnessing some horrible sufferings and his wife may complain that the washing machine is not working , in his mind he might think after all the deaths I witnessed what is so important about a broken washing machine. But fir his wife it is important so there may be some issues and differences crop up between them.

I just quoted a simple example but there are complications that arise like these through which they are expected work themselves through.

Yet we are just sitting in our lounge and Say . . . .

Let us hope and pray all these wars come to an end and the people left to live their life in peace and also pay the respect due to the journalists who risk their life to highlight the misery of the people who are not fortunate enough to sit in the armchair and watch the war on the TV screens.

Sakthi Sakthithasan

Rise of UKIP . . . . . and the fall of LIBDEMS

What a week ! What a drama !

A week in politics is a long time that is what a past political leader quoted. Yes it is proved correct yet again by the political waves that has been created by the last week`s Local and European election results

Up until now there were only three major players in UK`s political ring but now a fourth hat has been thrown in as a result of the outcome of the last weeks elections.

Yes how else would Nigel Farage react ? He has forcast his results correctly and proved all the UKIP sceptics that his party is never to be taken so lightly.

It is a matter of opinion that is UKIP likely to hold onto this popularity come the general elections in 2015 or not. It is definitely a warning shot fired at the foot of the other so called major parties.
The deep recession and a following austerity programme that hurt the middle and lower income people and the topic of Immigration that lingers in everyone thought as a bad taste.

It is now a serious argument that Britain should remain in the European Union in the present structure. It is a fact that UKIP is campaigning for a complete widhrawal from the union where as Conservative party while not advocating the widhrawal but insisting on new framework.

So where this popular support that UKIP gained is coming from ?

Well poor old Nick Cleg who got his knuckles wrapped ! it seems that Liberal Democrat who once

enjoyed the privilege of benefiting from the midterm blues seems to have lost their spot to UKIP ? or is it the consequence of the policy of unreserved support for the European Union ?

Well only the people who voted against them would know the answer to it ?

does that mean that I was not one of them ? Well it is my privilege to know it and yours to find it out .

I came to this country about 40 years ago on a 1st generation immigrant`s point of view it is a fact that the country as a whole is facing a difficult problem.

the important question are we equipped to handle the influx of people at this rate ? Is it inhumane to say that the present time requires a different way of handling the immigration ?

It is easy to critise the policies of the government when you are in opposition but when the roles are reversed they find themd-selves in a little bit of bother.

We have seen this time and time again.

Then what so good about UKIP emergence as a political force ? The ability to argue the important issues without being branded as people with racial views has been unleashed.

Now the path is open for constructive discussions about immigration and to find a way that will reassure the general public.

It is also vital the argument about the continued membership in the European union and Immigration masks other major issues and policies of the parties.

While accepting that Nick Clegg has been severely dealt with a blow it is also important to admire his steadfastness in his pursuit to make the coalition last the full term in the national interest.

It is sad to see that a politician like Nick Cleg who was brave enough to form a coalition with a party that was completely opposite to his party in the political spectrum being lambasted for the bad performance in the elections.

Politicians should put the peoples welfare first and put the betterment of the country first. By taking part in the government Nick Clegg and his party did the very same.

LibDems were brave enough going against their grains to co-operate to steer the economy of the country in the right direction.

The upsurge in the support of UKIP has only strengthen the hand of David Cameron who is seeking to modify European Union. The electoral results is blessing in disguise for him. He could now take his argument forward with the EU.

Well the things are not looking very good for Labour party either. Whether it is because of Ed Milliband or not they do need to perform better if they seriously thinking of forming the next government.

It is also a major concern for all the leading parties in the major EU partner countries since they have not performed well in EU elections.

The danger the complacency might allow the extreme right wing parties to gain support. And it is the duty every democratic politician to make sure that they do not allow this to happen.

On the whole the last weeks election results were good as it has given full support to any part but made every party to seriously look at their policies. This will only help the democratic cause.

Sakthi Sakthithasan

UKIP , is it the fourth force in British politics ?

UKIP , a word ringing in the ears of every British public. The word Racism and UKIP are being mixed in abundance among the political elite in UK now.

But is it really true ? Is it fair to accuse UKIP of racism ?

A big question !

Needs to be analyzed with great care because the answer to this question might change British political landscape out of recognition.

Then why there is this big concentrated effort to paint UKIP as a racist party among the leading politicians ?

It is not that every leading politicians among the the most popular three parties (LabConDem) are accusing UKIP while it is also true that there are pockets within UKIP where there is racism rests.

But then tell me in which party there are no one with racist views.

We are all human beings and we all have tendencies of having fear of the unknown and at times this fear overcomes the rational thoughts. But what we have to be careful is our ability to distinguish between the concern that arises out of genuine fear and hatred born out of prejudice.

If there are no forum to debate the genuine fear that the majority of the people have then that is the chance for the people with extreme views to thrive.

If the truth be told it is UKIP which brought this argument to the forefront and this is what gave a great opportunity for the other so called major parties to get engaged in this debate in a constructive way.

It seems at least on the surface that UKIP is enjoying a wave of support. In the past we have seen BNP and other extreme right wing parties with outwardly racist policies engaged in the British electoral process.

So what is different about UKIP to amass a great support that the other so called nationalist parties did not enjoy ?

Was it that the other parties such like BNP were openly racists and UKIP is not ? 

Well there are two plausible explanation for this.

1) It may well be possible that the people do not see UKIP as a racist party but a party who shares the genuine concerns that the majority of the general Public have.
2) The current economical situation coupled with the Mass immigration from the so called new entrants in European union and a real concern of the net effect .

In both cases it is a fact that it cannot be denied that there is a genuine concern among the British population about the European Union and the general immigration.

Be it for UKIP or not these concerns need to be tackled with every political party that has genuine interest in Britain's future.

If we as a whole nation fail to recognise the genuine people within party like UKIP and weed the real racists out then we are aiding the people with extreme views to hide within.

Well let us not accuse !

Let us engage !  in real meaningful debates and rest people`s genuine fear.

That is the only way  together we can defeat the people with extreme views.

After all I am immigrant (legal)

Sakthi Sakthithasan

Economy ! are we economical with the truth ?

We are all aware of that famous American campaign theme a few years back  " watch my lips it is the Economy you stupid ! "

That was then an election winning slogan but how are we advanced in campaigning for elections at present ?

We were told that we were in a recession equal to if not worse than the one in 1920`s . The argument of who caused it , is it the previous Labour Government or a common world dire banking crisis that led to that situation is an ongoing argument. we can argue about till the cows come home.

But what is important is what did we do since then ?  and where are we currently ?

The figures that are constantly coming from the official sources suggest that we are emerging out of the dark recession tunnel and can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

While not disputing that we are no more in the dire economical situation that we were in at the beginning of this government taking the power the Labour party`s argument is that the standard of living has gone down and the ordinary people`s day to day life is a struggle.

Yes it may be true that there are a lot of people struggling to meet the ends genuinely it is also true that a lot of people has been able to make themselves better by working hard and living sensibly.

There is nothing is free in this world. Whatever we have or what ever is given to us there is somewhere someone is paying for it. This is the hard fact.

What is the normal standard of living of a average person. is it not a fact if a person has a roof over their head and has three meals a day with a decent facilities offered to upbringing of their family that constitutes the standard of living.

We all would love live in a better house , drive a better car and send our children to a better school but is it all be given to everyone by default ?

Then what would be someone`s ambition ? What would be the hope of a better life and what inspiration that people will have to work hard towards a better life ?

As politicians it is not wrong to raise the bar of expectation in the public eye. That is the nature of politics.But on the same tone is is also important for the politicians to be explain in plain terms of the things that they can achieve in practice.

Being economical with the truth is the main reason for the public to be disillusioned by the politicians and make them loose interest in the democratic process.

There are people getting killed throughout the present world in the fight to achieve democratic rights but for those of us who are enjoying that right , we are taking that for granted and losing the chance to make the most of it.

I am not saying that it is not the duty of the government to make every ones life better and to have policies to effect that. I am also in full agreement that the people who are genuinely struggling needs to be helped to get themselves sorted out.

But it is heart breaking to see that some politicians are economical with the truth to get cheap political victories.

for the democracy to succeed while being critical of the mistakes that the government it is also important to accept the things they have done correctly.

To speak about the economy it is important that we are not economical with the truth.

Well for past labour party supporter I am not unhappy with the present coalition governments actions on economy so far.

Sakthi Sakthithasan

Nick ....... Nick ...... Nigel is here !

What a day ! What a debate ! What a difference !

Yes day after day heard the big build up to the debate between Nick and Nigel hosted by none other than my favourite Nick Ferrari .

What is all this big Hoo ..... Ha . . . .  we may ask . It is just a debate between two leaders of political parties with not a big significance we may think !

Oh ! then again one of the person who was engaged in this debate is our "Deputy Prime Minister" ...... Yes a person with high responsibility. Then how dare we classify him as a leader of an insignificant party ?

He is a leader of a party which played a pivotal role giving a steady government when the goings were unsteady at that time.

Yes ! I accept I never thought the policies of the coalition government was not right for the dire economical situation that we were in.

But I am humble enough to eat my hat . Yes the policies seem to be working all the indications are that we have turned the corner.

Well I must rush out and by another hat who knows I may be proved wrong yet again.

Let us look at the positive side however much the Labour party hates to admit there actually some little shoots of green color appears here and there.

Well , yes there may be counter arguments thrown in to say the standard of living is not showing the benefit of the economical recovery . What are we having as the bench mark for standard of living. With whose standard of living are we comparing ourselves.

Well that is for another day. Let me not digress myself and become a professional politician.

Let me come back to the great debate . What is so great about it ? Nick Clegg who steadfastly tied to the European Union and Nigel Farage who was completely against the principles of the EU , what are they going to debate about ? They are only going to tell us what we all know . Aren`t they ?

That is where we are wrong. It shows the courage of two political leaders who was quiet willingly prepared to debate in public of a topic from the other so called major party leaders shied away.

What ever political color we belong to , what ever beliefs that we hold onto without a doubt the yesterday`s debate was a victory for democracy.

I sincerely hope  that the leaders will take a leaf out of these twos book and engage in meaningful debates that would resurrect the democracy and public will begin to have some trust in our political process.

It is a credit for LBC and Nick Ferrari who pulled this extra ordinary event and made all the political observers throughout the world to sit up take notice.

Well done Nick , Nigel and Nick

Sakthi Sakthithasan

It is Women`s day

Yes ! we have come to yet another women`s day. There are many people who wonder in this 21st century do we really need to have a day for women.

Yes on the outset with all the modern woman lib arguments and feminist institutions should there be a special day for women ?

However difficult being a man and to accept this I must say in my point of view yes there is till a need for women`s day in the stern age.

The people who argue against this will sight the fact that the women are doing as many important jobs which men do and also contributes as much as men in the present day society there is still a need to forcefully reiterate the importance of women in the social structure.

I have seen in many occasions a man who works for a woman boss finds it difficult that he has to accept the authority of a woman. Yes many a men feels that is beneath them to let others know their boss is a woman.

The modern world is full of opportunities but only for those who are willing grab them with both hands and not let them go. The steps to progress in their career everyone has several paths that they can choose.

But my friends ! on how many of these paths there are obstructions placed so that women may not progress as freely as men ?

Answer to the question above will be astonishing . Yes today's women face "glass ceiling " obstructing their way to the top. They can see the top but cannot reach it.

There are inequalities in the pay between men and women. There are daily women being attacked all over the world just being women. There are families scared to have a baby girl in some parts of the world.

But what are we doing ? still arguing that whether it is necessary to have an International Women`s Day or not.

We are all born in this world as equal. Whether we are born as man or woman it is not in our hands but why that is so that men seem to think that they are a step above women.

Whatever happens in the world it is possible to put a negative spin on everything . It is important to focus on the issues and for that reason it is a worthwhile thing to have a special day marked for that purpose.

Instead of arguing whether there is a need to have a day for women why don`t we examine as men do we give the deserved respect to the women.

Starting from . . . . .  our own family !

Sakthi Sakthithasan

 

Stepping into a New Year !

What a feeling !

What an anxiety ?

Yes when I teared the last date in the 2013 calendar that was the thought went through my mind . It was so easy to tear the page on the calender but was that that easy to wipe of the effects of the past year from my memories ?

No ! not at all !

2013 will be stuck in peoples mind for different reasons but there were some issues that were common for all of us.

Why ?

We are all humans and there several issues that has the same effect in every heart that has any humanity left in them.

The time has come to have some consensus politics . Yes now that we are in a changed world. The issues are not governed by pure policies but by the speed of the changing world.

so it is important that our approach to the modern day politics should also embrace change other ways  our younger generation would continue to loose the interest in modern day politics.

I am an immigrant of early seventies my issues at that time was vastly different from my issues now. I consider myself as a British Asian and part of the British Society.

The word Immigration strikes the same sentiments in me as an indigenous British subject to some extend.

but is it the only issue that is looming in front of us? it may help politicians to take a respite from the focus on the issues that is beyond their control to resolve but certainly there will be a point that they need to move away from this.

In my opinion it is high time that the politicians should come out of the shadows of the color of their parties and agree with each other in the most common truths.

A new kind of political ideology based on the co-operation between the different political parities in the common issues should emerge and that will be the only way that they can get the younger generation take an interest in politics.

after all every politician enters the politics to improve the life of the very people they co-exist with.

So let us take a fresh look in new year and march forward untied as a rich culturally diverse but united as a country respecting each others privacy and beliefs.

My best New Year wishes to all

Sakthi Sakthithasan