“The time for action is now”, says RV Krishnan. Thereafter a creative audio-visual presentation was followed by a quick quiz. For instance, did you know?-

• In the 2004 elections, Congress Party won with just 15 percent votes?
• Only about 48 percent of the total population votes?
• In the 2004 polls, there were 220 political parties?
• 400 million or 40 percent of Indians are illiterate?
• 550 million or 50 percent are unemployed?
• 40 million children are illegally engaged in child labour?
• Just 1 percent of Indians pay personal income tax?
• For each rupee meant for the poor, 12 paise reach them?

The party’s manifesto was also shown and parts of it were read out (the full text can be viewed at www.professionalspartyofindia.com).

With its motto “ACTION FOR CHANGE” posted on the big screen, R.V. Krishnan addressed the audience.

The keynote speech said the physical and intellectual squalor in our country that has created unbelievable poverty and appalling conditions for hundreds of millions of Indians, is entirely a consequence of political mismanagement. The only way this can be corrected now is “Top down”, meaning the first change has to happen in the people representing us in our Parliament. Unless educated, qualified professional Indians sat in Parliament, the vulgar ostentation, apathy and incompetence of the Indian politicians shall continue to bleed the nation.

PPI believes that in 60 years of self-governance, the educated middle class has never taken a lead in Indian politics and that’s why unqualified opportunists, many of whom are even criminals, are masquerading as representatives of the people. The time has come for this 250 million middle class Indians, collectively described as “professionals” to get involved, get elected to Parliament and give the country a clean and professional environment to live and work in.

PPI aims only at the 250 million middle classes because they believe that this section of India is large enough to bring about a change. During the convention, figures were presented to back up that belief. They claimed that PPI’s message can reach 250 million middle class Indians today, thanks to modern communication technology and the response the party has already got shows a great promise.