Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Pressure mounts on Congress Party

Though media speculation that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is going to resign on January 3, 2014 to make way for Rahul Gandhi has been junked by the Congress Party, one thing is certainly clear that the party will have no option but to announce its prime ministerial candidate for 2014 Lok Sabha elections very soon. With falling popularity graph as reflected in the defeat in just concluded assembly elections, the Congress party has been put in a tight spot. The main opposition BJP has already announced the name of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate and he with full support of his party has been campaigning for the elections strongly all over the country. In the given situation, the Congress Party has to announce its candidate that may be none other than Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The media speculation about PM resigning on Jan 3 may be the handiwork of the Congress leaders who are strongly pleading for Rahul Gandhi as their prime ministerial candidate. Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambram also favours the announcement of party’s prime ministerial candidate. As far as media speculation about the resignation of Prime MInister is concerned, it is now no longer any issue. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is certainly nowhere in the reckoning for the third consecutive time. Even if PM Singh resigns now and Rahul Gandhi is made Prime Minister by the Congress Party, there would be no improvement in the electoral prospect of the party in Lok Sabha elections due to paucity of time. Falling popularity of the Congress Party due to misgovernance, price rise and corruption in its government at the Centre clearly reflects that the Party can not win majority or emerge as the largest political party in Lok Sabha after the elections in 2014. This is the main reason behind reluctance of Rahul Gandhi to take the responsibility of leading the party as its prime ministerial candidate. It is clear in the nation that the Congress party can not move even a step without the consent of Nehru-Gandhi family. Moreover, it is also clear that the member of Nehru-Gandhi family is not compatible to lead the coalition government at the Centre. So, in the given situation of impossibility of the Congress Party to win majority of the seats in 2014 Lok Sabha elections to form government on its own, Rahul Gandhi is not enthusiastic at the idea of his name being announced as party’s prime ministerial candidate in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. BJP has already painted 2014 Lok Sabha elections as straight electoral fight between its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. With good gathering in Modi’s meetings, BJP is in upbeat mood and appears to be self assured of the power at the Centre in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. So, Congress leaders mounts pressure on the party to announce the name of Rahul Gandhi as party’s prime ministerial candidate to counteract the BJP’s onslaught led by Modi. Rahul Gandhi as party’s prime ministerial candidate will undoubtedly galvanize and energize the party cadres and workers to fight with confidence in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Insensitivity of SP Govt

The insensitivity of Samajwadi Party Government has crossed all limits. On the one hand, Muzaffarnagar riot victims are shivering in biting cold with no roof over their heads in relief camp and Saifai Matotsav is being celebrated with all pomp and shows in the home district of the Young Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of Uttar Pradesh on the other. UP CM Akhilesh is the son of Samajwadi Party Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. Mulayam Singh Yadav has been a seasoned politician and he claims to be the torch bearer of Samajwadi movements in India after late Ram Manohar Lohia and Charan Singh. Now, he has set his eyes on the chair of the Prime Minister of India. That is why Mulayam made way for his son Akhilesh Yadav to become the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh after his party recorded landslide victory in the last assembly elections. Samajwadi Party government of Mulayam Singh Yadav in the past is remembered for deteriorating law and order and Goonda Raj. Even after that, the people of the state reposed faith in his young son Akhilesh and elected him to power with massive mandate with the hope that this young man would not follow the path of the previous regime of his father and set an example of development and peace with modern mindset. But all the hopes of people in Uttar Pradesh were dashed to the ground when Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav miserably failed to come out of his father's coterie and shadow. The old Samajwadi fellows of his Father Mulayam Singh Yadav have misguided him that resulted again in the Goonda Raj in Uttar Pradesh. SP government in Uttar Pradesh has always pursued a politics of division between Minority and Majority community under its scheme of vote bank politics. SP leaders always impressed on the Muslim minority that it is only because of them that they are protected and privileged in the state. However, matter of the fact is that in the name of benefits for Muslims during the reign of Samajwadi Party are mostly availed by the so-called Samajwadi Party leaders and followers from Muslim community and the common Muslims get nothing from SP government. Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is also called Maulana Mulayam because of his excessive affinity at least avowedly for the Muslim community in 1990s. But he has shown his insensitivity to Muslims’ plight when he said that the victims in the Muzaffarnagar relief camps are Congress and BJP workers who deliberately make much hue and cry to defame the Akhilesh Yadav Government of Samajwadi Party. The insensitivity of SP government has come to the fore when UP Chief Secretary said before media that no death is caused by cold and if that was so no body could be alive in Siberia. The Chief Secretary was refuting the charge of children's death from cold in relief camps of Muzaffarnagar. The mockery of Samajwad is made by none other than the Samajwadis, which is seen when luxury and comfort at public exchequer are displayed in Saifai Mahotsav on one hand and abject poverty, helplessness among riot victims in camps and callousness of the UP govt towards them on the other.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Cong election exercise

Congress Party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi appears to have realized that the rising prices of essential commodities, food grains, green vegetables and corruption have caused humiliating defeat of the Party in the recently concluded assembly elections in five states. That is why he is holding meeting with top party leaders and Chief Ministers 12 Congress-ruled states to prepare strategy so that the humiliation of defeats in assembly elections may not be repeated in Lok Sabha elections. Congress Party tally in Lok Sabha can only improve if its government at the Centre reins in price rise and corruption forthwith. Misgovernance and corruption of the Centre have also played key role in Congress party defeat in the recently concluded assembly elections. Congress party also needs to galvanize the organization all over the nation for fighting Lok Sabha elections. It is in disarray. The unbridled price rise and the corruption during the Congress-led UPA-II regime have given the message among the common people that Congress Party leaders and ministers are completely unconcerned about their plight. That is why they have reflected their anger in the just concluded assembly elections in four states where Congress Party has been badly routed. If the Congress Chief Ministers failed to act against hoarders, black marketeers, agents and touts to bring down the prices of essential commodities, party is sure to be wiped out in Lok Sabha elections next year. Congress leadership must think that the common people have nothing to do with the downturn in economy all over the world. Their main concerns are prices of essential commodities including food grains that should be avail to them at cheap and affordable price . Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself assured the people umpteen times that he would bring down price in hundred days. His government failed to do. So, he has lost credibility among the people. The message has gone loud and clear among the people that it is beyond Congress-led UPA government to check price rise and corruption. So if Rahul Gandhi has to be in reckoning in the race for Prime Minister of the nation, he must first put pressure on Manmohan Singh government to act to check price rise and corruption immediately. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi held meeting with 12 party Chief Ministers in Delhi to prepare strategy to fight the coming Lok Sabha elections. There is no doubt that the Congress workers are badly demoralized in the states where it has been thrown out of power in the recently held assembly elections and also in the states where it has been out of power for more than two decades. UP and Bihar are among them where Congress Party is out of power for more than two decades. These two states are politically most important and play a vital role in the power play of the nation. The twelve states where Congress Party is in Power are relatively small states. Party's first strategy would be to win all Lok Sabha seats from there and stop the wave going against it in other states of the nation. He must galvanize the party organization and put life into it in the state of UP and Bihar to take on opposition in LS elections with full confidence. Time is running out. So, UPA-II govt. must act fast. Otherwise, Congress is doomed to lose LS elections.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Time for Left to introspect

There was a time in Indian politics when the Left parties were considered a strong political force all over the nation. The decline of the Left started gradually after 1990s. The Left leaders never paid any attention why their support base was declining and they were disconnecting with the people at the grass root level. As long as they identified themselves with the poor villagers and urban dwellers, they were reckoning in politics of the nation. The Left were very strong in West Bengal and Kerala and these two states were their strong bastions. Now, they are ruling only in Tripura. West Bengal was the strongest bastion of CPM and they were in power there for more than 30 years. But Trinamool Congress Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee threw Left out of power in 2011. It has not only been thrown out of power in West Bengal and Kerala by Trinamol Congress and Congress Party respectively but also made politically irrelevant in Bihar. Bihar was also the strongest bastion of Communist Party of India (CPI) in 70s. CPI leaders were very popular in the state. But with the demise of old stalwarts like Chaturanan Mishra and Bhogedra Jha, there is hardly any leader left in the party from the state who could be known at national level. The disconnection with the people at the grassroots level has been the main cause of the decline of the left. With the fast changing time and economic scenario, the political stage has changed. The Left failed to be compatible to the changing political and economic scenario of the nation. The Left leaders should have thought that now there were no takers for their principles of Marx and Angels. The Stalinist attitude is no longer acceptable. Old and out-dated approach in managing the economic affairs of the state will throw the nation into isolation. Left leaders are no longer prepared to accept the changing economic trends of the world. And this is the main cause that their support base is shrinking very fast day by day. What worse can be expected of the Left when no political party in the state of Bihar shows any interest in aligning with them. The Left leaders must read the writing on the wall that if they failed to recognize the changing economic scenario of the world and continued to preach the people about the principles of Marx and Angels and their views on economy, they are bound to be reduced to negligible importance in the politics of the nation. Undoubtedly, the Left leaders are considered honest and sincere to the cause of the poor and downtrodden. But because their leadership has become disconnected with the people, they fail to reach to them. If there is one political party, which raises voice against price rise, corruption and the cause of people first, it is certainly the Left. Until and unless, the left leaders reconnect with the people at village level and convince them by their action that they are their saviours, they cannot retrieve its position in Indian politics.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Lesson for political class

By rejecting VIP culture and saying no to government security and bungalow, CM-elect of Delhi and Aam Admi Convener Arvind Kejriwal has set a lesson for the political class whose standing has fallen to the lowest level because of its pomp and show on the expense of public exchequer. It is not only Arvind Kejriwal but all his ministers would not move to government bungalow and take security. They will live as Aam Admi as they lived before being elected to the legislative assembly. Opposition parties may say it symbolic but Kejriwal’s rejection of VIP culture will have lasting impact on the common people of Delhi. Aam Admi ministers, MLAs and government officials will also not use cars fitted with red beacon and hooter. They will identify themselves with the Aam Admi. It was the first promise made to Delhiites during election campaigns and they have kept it before the oath-taking ceremony. The leaders of two major political parties-ruling Congress and Opposition must learn a lesson from Aam Admi, though there are a few Congress leaders also who have taken neither any government security nor big bungalow. The chief characteristic of Aam Admi Party leaders is that they are easily connected with Aam Admi, which the Congress and BJP leaders fail to do because of their lavish living style at the expense of public exchequer. The lavish lifestyle of the leaders of these major political parties causes aversion among the commoners for them. Their appearance in the public with posse of security personnel repels the commoners from them. Their VIP culture on the basis of public mandate and at public exchequer has also been exposed by the Aam Admi during Delhi election campaigns. The common Delhiites found the leaders of Aam Admi as their part and parcel. That is why they voted for Aam Admi Party on the large scale. Aam Admi’s stunning success in Delhi assembly elections is a very clear message for the political class in general and Congress and BJP leaders in particular that if they failed to understand the strength of Aam Admi in democracy, the days are not far off when Aam Admi party will send them bag and baggage from the entire nation. CM-elect Arvind Kejriwal is most probably going to be sworn in on 26 December at Ramlila Maidan as Chief Minister of Delhi. With his swearing in ceremony, a new chapter not only in politics of Delhi but also of the entire country will begin. Kejriwal’s sincerity to work for Aam Admi itself reflects that he will leave no stone unturned in fulfilling his commitments to the people. Though Kejriwal is going to form his government with outside support of the Congress Party against which he has fought elections and won, stability of his government will always be in question.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Kejriwal evades responsibility

Aam Admi Party Convener Arvind Kejriwal appears to be in Hameletian Syndrome over the formation of government in Delhi. He is in two minds on taking support from Congress. It also appears that the AAP is itself divided on the issue of government formation with outside support from Congress. It has defeated Congress very badly on the issue of corruption and price rise. AAP also appears to have realized that it is not only very difficult but almost impossible for it to fulfill the promises it made in elections. That is why it is going to stage drama of consulting 25 Delhiites to know their views on government formation issue with Congress support. Arvind Kejriwal also must think that democratic system demands that there must be government formation on the basis of single party or multi-party majority to serve the people. If Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP fails to form the government in Delhi, a clear message will go to the people that AAP is deliberately evading responsibility for fear of its inability to deliver on the huge promise it had made in elections. While the situation in Delhi demands up on AAP to form government and deliver. It has undoubtedly got the stunning victory in its debut elections. It has achieved rare feat in winning the confidence of Delhiites in so short time. So, it must respect Delhiites’ verdict and form the government. Despite the unconditional support of Congress Party and its unanimity on 16 conditions out of 18 conditions put forward by Kejriwal to form government, he is still dithering on the issue. Public pressure is mounting on him and his party leaders for forming the government. Delhi elections have thrown up hung assembly. BJP won 32, AAP 28, Congress 8 and others two in the house strength of 70. It is necessary to win at least 36 seats for working majority in Delhi assembly, which no party has got. In the given situation, either first or second largest political party has responsibility to form government and deliver on the promises it made to Delhiites in elections. It is simple thing to understand that BJP despite emerging as the largest party in Delhi assembly, it refused to form the government because no support for it was forthcoming. As far as the AAP is concerned, it can not evade responsibility to form the government when it get outside support to prove its majority. Only taking high moral ground in speech can also prove to be disastrous politically for AAP if it does not form the government in the obtaining situation after the election result in Delhi. AAP must not linger to keep its grandstanding issues alive up to the Lok Sabha elections to exploit the situation politically in its favour in other states of India like Delhi.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Launch diplomatic offensive against US

The arrest of Deputy Consular General Devyani Khobragade reflects the US highhandedness and tendency to impose its over lordship on the citizens and officials of other countries. The US authorities arrested Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade in public on charges of visa fraud. 39-year-old Khobragade, a 1999-batch IFS officer, was taken into custody last week on a street in New York as she was dropping her daughter to school and handcuffed in public on visa fraud charges before being released on a USD 250,000 bond after pleading not guilty in court. The US authorities have deliberately let down the prestige of India by arresting Khobragade in public on the street of Newyork. There has been sharp reaction and public outrage all over India over the undignified behaviour meted to Indian consular IFS Devyani Khobragade in US. India must take it very seriously and ask the US that no relation is more important than its prestige. The US authorities must have thought that given the good and friendly relation with India, their rude and undignified behaviour would cause sharp public outrage and could strain in the relation between the two couuntries. If the US authorities had given any importance to US relation with India, they would not have mistreat Devyani Khorbragade. It is right that Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi did not meet the US delegation visiting India. India’s sentiment is so hurt and bruised over this type of Shoddy treatment to Indian Consular by US officials that Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar also did not meet the US delegation. Diplomatic row between the two nations is bound to arise. US is only required to know that it must not treat India so lightly as it treats other countries of the world. Self dignity, civility and gentlemanliness are kept above all considerations in India. How the US authorities dared insult an Indian woman IFS officer in public. Why did not they consult with high-ups in the Indian Embasssy in US before arresting Deputy consular General Devyani Khobragade? India must raise the issue of dignity with the US at the highest level as soon as possible and ask to behave with it on equal footing. The action of the US authorities is completely unacceptable to India. India has rightly said that it has taken very seriously the treatment meted out to its Deputy Consul General in New York Devyani Khobragade by the US authorities and that it has put in motion the process to deal with the issue in an effective way.

Friday, December 13, 2013

AAP’s inability or betrayal of mandate

It is nothing but Aam Admi Party’s (AAP) inability or betrayal of Delhiites’ mandate despite unconditional offer of support to it to form the government and come up to voters' expectation by the Congress party. It is now clear that neither the BJP nor the AAP is going to form the government in Delhi. Both have the same reason that they do not have required number of MLAs. It is also amply clear that the Delhiites have voted for change of Congress regime with coalition government. That is why they have thrown up hung assembly. BJP with 32 seats has emerged as the largest political party in Delhi assembly followed by AAP with 28 , Congress with only 8 and others 2 in the house of 70. As according to the constitutional provision, Lt. Governor invited BJP legislature party Harshvardhan and asked him to form the government but he showed his inability on account of being short of required number of seats to prove majority. After BJP, Lt. Governor invited AAP legislature party leader Arvind Kejriwal for meeting to explore the possibility of government formation by him. AAP is to meet Lt. Governor today, but already made it clear that it would not form the government despite unconditional support of 8 MLAs offered by the Congress Party that makes up the number required for majority. Now it is clear that that Delhi will go to polls in the next six months. President’s rule will be imposed in absence of the elected government. By not trying to explore possibilities of alliances to form the government both by BJP and AAP, they show their moral high ground with an eye to exploit it in their favour in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Both BJP and AAP also try to send the message to Delhiites that they are not impatient for power and they can not adopt horse trading and sale and purchase of Legislatures. They do not want to show that they are not forming the government because of the big promises, which are very difficult to be kept, made by both BJP and AAP to Delhiites during election campaigns. Both BJP and AAP make their field for future political prospects. But have they ever thought what about Delhiites who have given them mandate to give relief. In democracy, the people vote for government and not for elections again within six months. AAP must think that rigidity has no place in politics. When Congress party extends it unconditional support to form the government, why do not they do it and deliver to the people they promised them? They can reduce 50 percent of electricity rate, provide free water supply, act agaist the alleged corrupt leaders of BJP and Congress leaders and appoint much touted Lokayukta and come to the expectation of Delhiites. Otherwise, the clear message will go among the Delhiites that AAP made promises, which can not be kept, and they do not know the ABCD of politics. Stunning victory for AAP is meant for providing Delhiites good and corruption free government. By not forming the government, BJP and AAP both have betrayed the mandate of Delhiites. It will certainly not brighten their future political prospects.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Regressive, but not repulsive

The Supreme Court verdict that homosexuality is crime may be regressive but it is not repulsive. The apex court has set aside Delhi High Court verdict of 2009 in which it had decriminalized gay sex. Guy rights activists are dissatisfied over the Supreme Court verdict, and they consider it as violation of their rights. They also consider the SC verdict as human rights violation. They feel that the right to equality guaranteed by the Constitution of India has been taken away. The section 377 of IPC makes gay sex a punishable offence. According to it, life imprisonment may be handed to the person guilty of gay sex. Consensual sex between two adult persons may not be considered a crime but it looks unnatural. In the name of modernity, advancement and progress, no liberty can be allowed to pervert the culture and tradition. We are not western society. We are bound by culture and civilization. The bench of honourable justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhya has rightly set aside 2009 Delhi HC judgement on Gay sex. Union Government of India with the consent of Parliament is empowered to do away with section 377 of IPC which makes gay sex a crime. It is correct that our constitution has given equal rights to every citizen. But it does not allow the citizen to indulge in criminal act as long as section 377 of IPC is in place. The LGBT be must be given freedom to live life in their own way. No body has any objection. But it must be in a proper way without violating social ethics, tradition and culture in the name of modernity, advancement and liberalism. A bench of justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhaya has set aside the 2009 Delhi High Court judgement which had decriminalized gay sex. While setting aside the order, the apex court allowed the appeals filed by various social and religious organizations for making gay sex a criminal offence. The apex court has observed that there is no constitutional infirmity in section 377 of IPC which makes gay sex an offence and added that it is for the legislature to look into the desirability of deleting the provision from the law. The verdict has come on the petitions of several anti-gay right activists, social and religious organizations against the 2009 verdict of the High Court, which decriminalized gay sex.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Deliberate disruptions

One session after another of Parliament has been failed to function during the tenure of UPA-II. This is perhaps the last session of Parliament in this dispensation of the UPA government before general elections. Lok Sabha elections are going to be held any time between March and May 2014. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s dispensation never saw the smooth functioning of Parliament. Opposition parties raised one issue after another and the ruling benches always opposed them resulting in the din and bustle inside the house, and Speaker was left with no option but to adjourn the House for the day. This has been regular phenomenon. In the last four and half years of UPA-II, Parliament has witnessed the same situation i.e. of disruptions and non-functioning of Parliament. Every session of Parliament has witnessed only disruption, bedlam and chaos and no constructive debate and discussion. Parliament is the highest Panchayat in democracy where public, national and international issues are expected to be discussed and debated in detail. But neither the opposition nor the ruling parties are interested in constructive debate and discussion. Every political party tries to put its views and interest above every thing. Running into the well of the house, uprooting mike, tearing up papers and flinging furniture at opponents have become the fashion among the members of Parliament. The developing trend among the political parties is a serious cause of concern in democracy. Member of one party is not prepared to hear the other. MPs are also less concerned about constructive debate and discussion on any issue and more about grabbing the media attention by behaving awkwardly in the house. The ongoing session of Parliament has important business to transact but so far its first three days have been sacrificed at the altar of disruptions, chaos and bedlam. All political parties have their separate political agenda. No one is prepared to listen to the other. That is why Parliament has failed to function so far since its beginning. This is disastrous for the democracy. The responsibility to run the Parliament smoothly falls on treasury as well as opposition benches. Both have to listen patiently to each other’s point of view. Both are equally responsible for continued disruptions in Parliament.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Break stalemate and form govt

Delhiites have given their mandate for hung assembly and consequently coalition government. But one thing is certain that they have given mandate against the Congress rule of 15 years in Delhi. The third force in Delhi, which has emerged very strongly in its first attempt, is Aam Admi Party (APP). Its emergence with so massive public support is unprecedented. The atmosphere among the people is so disillusioned due to the misgovernance, price rise and corruption in the Congress regime that they saw hope in AAP. APP is only little more than a year old. During its very short period, APP founder, convener and supremo Arvind Kejriwal caught the imagination of Delhiites and they started rallying around him with hope and aspiration. Kejriwal’s AAP has fought against both Congress and BJP, the two traditional political parties in Delhi. AAP has won 28 and BJP 32 assembly seats, Congress 8 and others 2. Neither BJP nor AAP is in a position to form government on its own. Congress is nowhere in the field. Now with the notification of election results, the way is clear to start government formation process. Lt. Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung will explore all possibilities of government formation. Though neither the BJP nor the APP is in a position to form the government, democratic norms and tradition make demand on them first the BJP and then the AAP to try to form the government to work for the people about which they have promised to them. BJP being the largest party has bigger responsibility to give a try to government formation exercise. In the given position of hung assembly, the two big political parties BJP and AAP must try to find like minded party or parties to form the coalition government on common minimum programme to deliver. Both BJP and AAP have made great promises to the people and they gave their mandate. They can come together to form the coalition government as people have given their mandate to them against the Congress to rule together. But after weighing future political prospects and present profit and loss, both BJP and APP refuse to form the government. Delhiites have given clear message for coalition government opposed to Congress. If they do not form government, they disrespect Delhiites’ mandate. Lt Governor Najeeb Jung is now expected to formally explore all options to put in place a government and is likely to call BJP, which along with its ally Akali Dal’s one seat, has support of 32 MLAs in the 70-member House. If BJP declines such an offer, then Jung may ask AAP if it was willing to explore the possibility of government formation. In case AAP also refuses to take the offer, then the Lt Governor may be left with little option but to recommend central rule.

Monday, December 9, 2013

People’s anger against Cong over price rise

The complete rout of the Congress Party in the four state assembly elections reflect the anger of the people over price rise and corruption against the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre. Congress lost Rajashthan to BJP very badly and the BJP retained its rule in Madhya Pradesh and Chattishgarh for the third some in a row. BJP retained power in Madhya Pradesh under its leader Chief Minister Shivraj Singh with 2/3rd majority for third consecutive time and won power from Congress under the leadership of Vasundhra Raje Scindhia with massive majority. BJP Chief Minister of Chattishgarh Dr. Raman Singh also scored hatric, though with narrow margin. Congress lost Delhi very badly, which it ruled for 15 years continuously under the leadership of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. The loss of Congress in Rajashthan and Delhi is more because of the failure of its government at the Centre in containing price rise and corruption than of the failure of these two governments in the states. The unbridled price rise and corruption in Congress-led UPA government made the people in Madhya Pradesh, Rajashthan and Chattishgarh look towards BJP as their savour and voted for it in large numbers. The most stunning result of the assembly elections is of Delhi where the new one and half year old political outfit Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) under the leadership of bureaucrat-turned social activist-cum- politician Arvind Kejriwal got unprecedented success by winning 29 seats. AAP fought both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP on the issue of corruption. As far as corruption is concerned, AAP considers both Congress and BJP as the two sides of the same coin. AAP caught the imagination of Delhiites and they saw in it as an honest alternative to both Congress and BJP. Most of the Congress and BJP vote banks shifted to AAP. It played major role in decimating the Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s regime of 15 years. Though the main opposition BJP exploited Delhiites’ anger against Congress over price rise and corruption by winning the largest number of seates in Delhi assembly, AAP has provided the most honest and credible political alternative of Congress and BJP for principled politics to Delhiites. Delhiites have voted for AAP in large numbers but they have given their mandated for hung assembly. Even emerging as the largest political party in assembly, the BJP is also four short of simple majority in the asembly of 70. APP has won only 28 and Congress could not even get double digit. It is the most ignominable exit for the fifteen years rule of Sheila Dikshit in Delhi. Though the Congress has retained power in Mizoram, its worsening performance in MP, Rajashthan, Delhi and Chattishgarh assembly elections needs immediate introspection. Unbridled price rise during the Congress regime of UPA-II has become the signgle most important factor of people’s wrath against the party. If it wants to be in reckoning in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Congress must analyse the assembly election results seriously and take remedial measures urgently. Otherwise doomsday awaits Congress Party.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Symbol of sacrifice

Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first elected black president, was widely respected for his role in fighting racism in the country, and for forgiving his former white captors after his release from prison. Mandela died early Friday at his home in the suburb of Houghton in Johannesburg following a lengthy illness. He was 95. Nelson Mandella’s, an anti-apartheid icon, demise is not only a loss for South-Africa but also for the entire world. He was a symbol of human hope and dignity. He sacrificed prime period of his youthful life in fighting against apartheid regime in South Africa. He had been in jail for 27 years to end the rule of racial discrimination. He was a great friend of India. South Africa as well as the world has lost an apostle of peace and human dignity. He was a great inspirational force in fight against any sort of injustice in society. Mandela had got inspiration from our father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. Nelson Mandela was lovingly called Madiba. He was a great friend of India. He was a man of firm determination to fight out racial discrimination out of South Africa and wherever this evil existed. He fought against this evil with unwavering zeal and gusto. He was also a great statesman. India always held him in the highest esteem. With Mandela’s death, the light of sacrifice for human dignity has gone. He never became disheartened in his fight against racial discrimination. He also showed forgiveness of the highest order when he forgave his while captors after coming out of prison. He was a great believer of social harmony and peace. He in his fight never resorted to violence. His struggle against injustice and suppression of humanity in South Africa was very much influenced by Gandhian thought. The highest civilian award of India Bharat Ratna was conferred on him for bringing South Africa and India closer to each other.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

BJP’s game plan

BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at Lalkar Rally in Jammu has called for debate on Aricle 370, which provides special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. BJP has been making demand for the complete abrogation of Article 370 since its Jansangh days. His call for debate is just opposite to his party's stated stand that constitutes the core of its ideology. It means there is a politically well-thought out game plan to get power at the Centre after 2014 Lok Sabha elections if ever the BJP under his leadership wins considerable number of seats and emerges as the single largest party. Modi’s call for debate to know whether this Article 370 has benefited the state of Jammu and Kashmir clearly reflects his indication about softening of stand on it. It has triggered a fresh round of debate on the controversial issue. But many legal experts are of the view that abrogating the provision would put the accession of the state to India in jeopardy. Modi is a prime ministerial candidate of the main opposition party of the nation. He should have maintained his sanctity and avoided as important and controversial issue as Article 370. He should have refreshed his knowledge about it. As is the usual with him that he always takes little care about the correctness during his public speech, he has also done the same thing here on article 370. To reap political benefit, he said that with Article 370 in place in Jammu and Kashmir, the women of the state loose the right to property if she marries outside the state. It is wrong. The High court of Jammu and Kashmir in its decision has already granted equal right to man and woman in the state. Now the question arises why Modi has raised the controversial issue of Article 370 at this point of time when his party has been demanding nothing less than its complete abrogation. The core issue of BJP has been Abrogation of Article 370, Introduction of Uniform Civil Code and Construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya and because of these core issues, it has been considered as untouchable by the secular political parties of the nation. BJP could only form the alliance called National Democratic Alliance under its tallest leader Atal Behari Vajpayee and ruled the country for six years from 1998-2004 when it put these three core issues on the back burner. It is clear that to find alliance partner is the most important requirement of BJP to form government in 2014 if ever it won considerable number of Lok Sabha seats. So, raising the issue of article 370 in Jammu and softening stand on it by none other than its prime ministerial candidate is nothing but the BJP’s game plan to expand its acceptability among different regional parties to reach the magic mark of 272 seats in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

APP’s credibility shattered

The sting operation carried against the five Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) prominent leaders has exposed everything before the public. The video of sting operation, which was played out on every news channel clearly shows that the AAP leaders are no different from other political leaders against whom they never get tired of making caustic remarks in public. AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal who always talked big things and claimed honesty in public life is its chief characteristics, now behaves nothing different from other political parties when his own leaders were shown allegedly taking money in hard cash from the undercover reporter in sting operation. He has defended in same when faced with corruption as the other political party leaders do. Instead of taking action against the AAP leaders who were shown on national TV screens taking money in the sting operation, the AAP party has defended them. It has asked Election Commission to go into the allegations against its leaders. It appears that the AAP considers itself as moral trend setter and whatever it says is right and all others are wrong. Undoubtedly, hardly in its one year of life, it has gained enormous popularity in Delhi and it had become a real challenge for the two measure political parties- Congress and BJP, but the sting operation against its leaders has exposed the hollowness about its claim of honesty and integrity in public life. In the first instance, Delhiites believed AAP leaders' claim about honesty and probity in public life amidst the all round moral and ethical degeneration in political class, but the sting operation against its leaders has damaged its credibility badly and now it stands nowhere in the coming assembly elections in Delhi. Delhiites have come to realize that AAP too is no different in anyway from the Congress and the BJP. AAP boss used to say that all political leaders across the party line are corrupt, criminal minded and betrayer except he and his leaders. If the AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal had taken immediate action against all those party leaders who were shown to be talking about illegal practice with undercover reporter in the sting operation, his image would have unscathed. With the disclosure of malpractices being carried out by the five AAP leaders in the sting operation, the way AAP boss showed adopting dilly-dallying approach about the immediate action makes him no different from others. AAP should have immediately taken against its leaders against whom the allegation of corruption has been made in the sting operation. Delhiites had expected that AAP leaders would behave in a much better way than the leaders of other political parties. But now when AAP's acts are no different in any way from others in the case of corruption, Delhiites’ hope has been dashed to the ground, and now it stands no chance in Delhi assembly elections.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Moral degeneration all pervasive

All types of charges have already been slapped against Legislative and Executive and the faith of the people in these two pillars of democracy have already been shaken only because moral degeneration is all pervasive in them. With the sexual assault charge by a law intern against the judge of the apex court and the same charge by a fellow woman colleague against a reputed Editor Tarun Tejpal of English news magazine Tehelka both representing the judiciary and the press respectively, the faith of the people in these two pillars has also been broken. They were so far above all suspicions. A junior woman journalist of Tehelka news magazine has levelled charges of sexual assault and rape against the founder editor Tarun Tejpal in Goa, which is mentioned in her email to Magazine’s Managing Editor. Tejpal always claimed to uncover whatever illegalities going on in society, politics and government. But the sexual assault charge against him is a matter of shock and shame for the people as well as media fraternity. Being an editor of repute, Tarun Tejpal was always expected to take moral high ground. After the charge of sexual assault, Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal became the judge himself and pronounced punishment to undergo penance and leave from the duty for six months because his conscience started biting him for his wrong doing. He mentioned all this in his email to managing Editor of the newsmagazine. The managing editor did not consider the letter to be sent to the police immediately she received from the aggrieved journalists in which charge of sexual assault and rape against the Editor Tarun Tejpal is enlisted. It means that the attempt was made by the management of the news magazine and Managing Editor Shoma Choudhary to hush up the case and treat it as magazine's official matter. This is lawfully wrong. Managing Editor should have sent the letter of the woman staffer to Goa police as the incident took place on November 7 and 8 in the lift of a starred hotel during literature festival organized by the Magazine. Tarun Tejpal is one of the most senior editors of the nation. He has been a known figure of media. If the media personality like Tarun Tejpal could fall so low and forget how to protect the dignity of woman in general and woman staffer of his news magazine in particular, what we can expect from other media men. His alleged behaviour with the woman staffer is not only a slur on his face but also on the entire media. Media has been known to speak against any kind of injustice in society. If media men behave in an idiotic manner, what others would emulate from it. Since the magazine’s editor has done wrong, he must be arrested immediately by the Goa police and there must not be any political interference in the case under question.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Race for election promises

There is a race for making election promises to Delhiites between the ruling Congress party and the new entrant in frays the Aam Aadmi Party in the assembly polls. APP is opposed to the opposition BJP as well the ruling Congress in Delhi polls. The main opposition BJP is yet to release its manifesto and follow the suit. There is every possibility that BJP will also tread the same path of making big promises without saying how to keep them when it would come to power. Both Congress and AAP have released their populist manifestos and have made promises to Delhiites to bring the Moon for them. Congress party has been making promises after promises for the last 15 years. It would have hardly kept 25 percent of its promises in the last 15 years. As this is the first year of elections for AAP, it is new and inexperienced in the art of hoodwinking the Delhiites. AAP in its manifesto has made promises to reduce the electricity bill to half and give water free to a certain quantity if elected to power. But it has failed to explain how it would fulfill the promises. AAP has also promised to provide quality education in Delhi government schools. Congress has been in the business of making promises since it came to power for the first time in 1998. Undoubtedly, it has undertaken development work on the large scale and improved the services of electricity and transportation. It has also worked hard to bring down pollution level considerably low in the city. With the running of Metro Rail and low floor DTC buses in the city, the transport services have immensely improved. But the National capital Delhi still lacks several civic amenities to be called a world class city. Delhi still deserves more. As the city represents India in every aspect, its development is still uneven and suffers from regional bias. Take for example; Central and South Delhi are far more developed than the East, North-East and West Delhi. This unevenness in the development of the national capital Delhi must be done away with immediately. By making promise to reduce the electricity bill to half and provide free water supply to a certain quantity, AAP has touched the inner chord of Delhiites as they were hit hard by costlier electricity and water in the Congress regime of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. How realistic the promises made by AAP is yet to be experienced, but one thing is clear that the cost of electricity is dependent on the cost of coal. The costlier the power company purchases coal, dearer becomes the electricity. The voters of Delhi are the best and the most competent judges to deliver their verdict through ballot. They have the best mind to test the sincerity of political parties, no matter how big promises are made to them. Whatever may be about the fulfillment of promises made by AAP to Delhiites through its election manifestos, it deserves a chance to rule Delhi.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Rift must be sorted out

The rift between Anna Hazare and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, which has arisen over the issue of funds raised during Anna agitation against corruption, must be sorted out immediately.The difference between social activist Hazare and AAP boss Kejriwal is not new. The rift started between the two since Arvind Kejriwal decided to form a political party named Aam Aadmi Party.This exchange of letters between the two about the accounts of funds raised during Anna agitation has made everything open. From the letter of Anna Hazare to Arvind Kejriwal, anyone can draw inferences that the former is not satisfied with the accounts of money collected in Anna’s name during his anti-graft agitation. Arvind Kejriwal has explained his side very clearly and satisfactorily. He says that Anna Hazare whome he considers his Guru has hurt him by questioning his honesty. Arvind also says that the money collected during Anna agitation was accounted and audited well by a special team sent by Anna hazare to his satisfaction. He says that no money has been diverted or spent on the election campaigns of AAP in Delhi assembly elections. But he needs to satisfy Anna Hazare personally by making his accounts crystal clear before the public. The money collected by issuing SIM card in the name of Anna Hazare was not in his knowledge. So, every thing appears suspicious. This has to be cleared by Arvind Kejriwal without any loss of time as he is an important stake holder in Delhi elections. Kejriwal along with all other AAP leaders allege that the Congress and the BJP leaders are trying their best to create rift between him and Anna Hazare. That is why they are misleading him. Their allegation is strengthened by the unsavory act of throwing black ink at Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders when they were holding press conference at Constitution Club in Delhi. The man who threw black ink and raised slogan like Anna Hazare Zindabad claimed to be a BJP worker of Ahmednagar in Maharshtra, though the BJP has rejected his claim. Whoever he may be, disrupting press conference of a political party is wrong and anti-democracy. It must be condemned by all poitical parties. The unsavoury political incident like this must be discouraged in democracy. It is also a reality that if the increasing popularity of AAP among Delhiites in a very short span of time is anything to go by, it is certain that in Delhi elections it has become a great challenge to both the Congress and the BJP. It strikes at the roots of both the parties and forces them to go on back foot. Both Congress and BJP are badly perturbed over AAP’s entry as a third formidable force in Delhi elections. AAP’s main election plank is anti-corruption on which both the major political parties are on weak wickets. As far as the rift over the accounts of money collected during Anna agitation between Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal is concerned, it is urgently required on the part of Arvind Kejriwal to make everything open in public to come clean to uphold his unquestioned public image.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Inhuman act

The BJP and the BSP must act against their MPs-Dinu Bogha Solanki and Dhanajay Singh respectively- for their alleged criminal activities. The CBI for his alleged involvement in the murder of RTI activist Amit Jethwa has arrested BJP MP Dinu Bogha Solanki. As the case is related to the state of Gujarat whose Chief Minister is Narendra Modi, it needs immediate action. Narendra Modi is BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. He never tires of providing a far better alternative government than the present one Congress-led UPA at the Centre if voted to power in the coming 2014 Lok Sabha elections. BJP must expel the MP immediately so that people should realize that the party cannot tolerate crime and corruption which comes in the way of providing good governance to the people. BJP must not treat its MP's arrest by the CBI as its highhandedness. Amit Jethwa was an RTI activist and working for uncovering the black deeds of mafias. If the BJP failed to act against its MP Dinu Bogha Solanki, it will give the message out that party is no better than any other in the political field, rather it is worse. Jagriti Singh’s act of brutality towards her domestic helps is inhuman and shocking. She is the wife of BSP MP Dhananjay Singh. She had allegedly beaten one of her domestic helps to death at her husband residence in Delhi South Avenue MP flat. Dhananjay Singh is himself history sheeter as several criminal cases are pending against him in the court of law. He is BSP MP from Jaunpur of UP. Though Dhananjay Singh MP and his wife Jagriti Singh have been arrested by Delhi police, their brutal acts amply reflect that they have no fear of law. BSP supremo Masyawati is known for cracking down on history sheeters, proclaimed criminals and strictness in respecting rule of law. So, she must not take any time in expelling Dhananjay Singh immediately from the party to give the message among the public that acts of crime are intolerable for her. There is no dearth of atrocity and brutality against the domestic helps by their employers in Delhi. No day passes without the appearance of the news in newspapers about the brutal treatment meted out to domestic helps by their employers. All those working as domestic helps ( Male and Female) at the residences of ministers, MPs, businessmen, bureaucrats, Executives, Shops, Hotels and other well off persons in Delhi are generally treated by them as their slaves. The treatment meted out to all the domestic helps by Jagriti Singh at her residenve amply reflects it. She is herself a doctor and wife of BSP MP Dhananjay Singh. But her brutal action towards domestic helps reflects that she is inhuman. So, she should be treated as such by the police. It is also a fact that mostly the domestic helps come from very poor background and they are migrants. They move to big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and other in search of job. There is no one to look after them. They are at the mercy of their agents and employers. They use them without showing any mercy, and no labour laws are followed. So, the government of Delhi with the help of Delhi police must act immediately to implement the labours strictly. Among the domestic helps, there are mostly children below 14 years of age in large numbers. They must be freed, and appropriate action must be taken against their employers immediately.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Honesty unquestioned, but failed to act

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s honesty and integrity is unquestioned. No charge can be slapped against him for any of the scams that have surfaced in his government. Mr. Singh has said that he is prepared to face the CBI as he has nothing to hide in Coalgate, which surfaced when coal ministry was under his command. His preparedness to face the CBI if required itself reflects that he is nowhere involved in Coal scams. The entire nation considers Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the man of honesty and integrity. But at the same time, it is his inaction that has resulted in a number of scams like 2G Spectrum, CWG, Coal and others. Prime Minister is head of all the ministries of the government. He should have close vigil on the functioning of every ministry in his government. He is the head of his Cabinet. Which Cabinet minister is doing what must be in the knowledge of Prime Minister? No scan can take place in a day or two. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is honest and no body questions this, but it does not mean that all his ministers are honest. If that was so, there could be no scam. Prime Minister is the prestige of the nation. He must not be quizzed by the CBI in Coalgate. But his lethargic attitude and gentlemanliness had been exploited by his ministers and bureaucrat in the government. And for that, there may be penalty against him.Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is a world-renowned economist and not only in India but all over the world his authority on economics is unchallenged. Before being the finance minister in the Narshimha Rao government in 1991 for the first time, he had been teacher and governor of Reserve Bank of India. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is also called the father of economic reforms in India. It is he who had been credited to bring a turnaround in economy in 1991. No charge has ever been levelled against him. It is innocence that is reflected in his statement that he is prepared to be questioned by Coalgate under the instruction of Supreme Court. If he had been watchful of the activities going in different ministries and taken action immediately, this situation of loss of face would not have occurred for him. It would be totally unjustified for the opposition to demand CBI investigation into the role of prime minister in the Coalgate.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

BJP’s face in Delhi

At last, the BJP president Rajnath Singh announced the name of Dr. Harshavardhan as the party’s Chief Ministerial candidate for Delhi, which goes to poll on December 4. BJP made Vijay Goel the Delhi party unit president in February and since then it was in the air that he would most likely be the party’s chief ministerial candidate assembly elections. Goel himself considered as the face of Delhi in the coming elections. He posed himself against Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. But as his style of functioning and track record caused discontentment among the Delhi BJP leaders, the party realized that it might missed the bus if it made Goel as the Chief Ministerial candidate. Vijay Goel also has no support from party’s doting parent the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, which matters most in the BJP. And that is why BJP chose Dr. Harshavardhan over Goel for its face in Delhi assembly elections. As BJP is the main opposition party in Delhi and it is fighting to oust Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit from power on the issues of increasing corruption and price rise, its previous record in power and presently in MCD can not be considered as above board. But as far as corruption, infighting and groupism in party are concerned, Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel's credential is not unquestioned. This year’s Delhi assembly elections assume special significance. This is because for the first time the contest is going to be triangular with the entry of the newly founded political outfit Aam Aadmi Party led by former bureaucrat-turned social activist Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP has decided the issues of corruption and price rise in this year’s elections in Delhi. It is posing challenge to both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP in the same way. It is equally cutting into the vote banks of both the parties. It has gone from strength to strength in its yearlong life. It is holding both Congress and the BJP equally corrupt. BJP considers that AAP takes away its votes and makes its path of defeating the ruling Congress in Delhi very tough. As Harshavardhan is known for honesty and integrity and favourite choice of RSS, he is considered by the party as most suitable anti-dote for Arvind Kejriwal’s campaign against rampant corruption in Sheila Dikshit govt. APP has already described Dr. Harshavardhan as Dr. Manmohan Singh of Congress to be made bulwark against BJP’s corrupt practices like Congress. Harshavardhan is also a veteran organizer and also known for starting anti-polio campaign when he was the Health Minister in Delhi Government in 1993-98. While Vijay Goel is neither enjoying clean image in Delhi nor has he the quality of carrying all sections in the party together.

Friday, October 11, 2013

God bids adieu from Test cricket

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who is considered as god of cricket by his fans, has announced that he would retirement after 200th test against West Indies in November. Sachin Tendulkar has been a legendary figure of cricket since his advent in the cricket test match series against Pakistan 24 years ago. He has been extra-ordinary and exemplary in the game of cricket. From the first day onwards, the way he played against the world famous pace batteries of Pakistan clearly reflected that one this tiny boy of 16 would grab all the fame and records of cricket, leave all great players of the present and the past back, and emerge as the greatest of all time to come. Sachin’s reflexes and footwork may have slowed down in the last two years and because of that the series in the last two years, he has failed to come up to the expectations of cricket fans. His performance on the field has always been scintillating since the beginning of his cricketing career. The passion he has showed for the cricket has been exemplary. And it is his passion that has made him the greatest batsman of the world. It is now almost impossible in the century for any batsman of the world to equal his record 100 century in the international cricket. The cricket fans all over the world have always given him standing ovation in the beginning and the end of his innings. Sachin Tendulakar has made us proud with his bat in the world of cricket. The beauty of his batting lies in playing the most dreaded fast bowlers very easily with sending their bowls for four and six fluently. He strikes awe in the rival team as long as he was on the wicket. The legendary batsman like Sachin Tendulkar does not emerge in every century. He is god-gifted Indian batsman whom all the players and fans worldwide have always held him in the highest esteem. The consistency in performance with his bat sets him apart from all other batsmen. To maintain consistency in performance, fitness on the field and electrifying response with bat has been his hallmark. Sachin Tendulkar is the symbol of pride for Indians. His devotion to cricket has been superb. He is unmatchable and unique. With retirement after his 200th test, cricket fans all over the world will miss the magician of cricket. Tendulkar, who has scored a monumental 15,837 runs in 198 Tests at an average of 53.86, said it was hard to imagine a life without playing cricket. Tendulkar, who has already retired from the ODIs last year, thanked the BCCI for its support throughout his career and for allowing him to walk into Test sunset at a time of his choosing.

Monday, September 23, 2013

An act of hate

The two incidents of terror- one at a Mall in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, and the other at a Church in Peshawar of Pakistan- have saddened and shaken the world. There are two Indians among 68 killed by heavily armed Somali Islamist militants who stormed a packed mall in Nairobi and engaged in fierce fighting with Kenyan soldiers backed by Israeli special forces trying to rescue about 30 hostages and end the bloody siege that entered a second day. In another blood bath carried out by Pakistan Taliban, about 60 innocent persons were killed in the bomb blasts at a famous church in Peshawar of Pakistan. The Christian minority has been targeted by the militants to avenge the drone attack in Pakistan by the US as reportedly claimed by them. The indiscriminate firing by the Al-Shabab militants, a wing of Al-Qaeda, was patterned on Mumbay attack of 26/11. The target of militants' attack was westerners at the Kenyan capital Nairobi Mall. The entire international community condemns these acts of hate. India is shocked and saddened and expresses its solidarity with the Kenyan government and the people in this hour of crisis. The most dangerous trend that has emerged from the Nairobi Mall attack is that the militants enquired about the religion of their targets there and they killed only those who were non-Muslim and Muslims were allowed to go out without any harm. In the Peshawar Church killing the Christians were their targets who account for 4 percent of the population of Pakistan. US must realize the ground reality that the target in these two attacks of the Islamist militants has been westerners and Christians. The attack on US installation by Al-Qaeda in Nairobi has also been carried out in the past also. The US must also know there is connection between world-wide and Pakistan, which breeds terrorism that bleeds the world. It is not only India, which bears the burnt of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism most but also the entire world, especially the US. US must also know that whatever aids it provides to Pakistan from time to time for the safeguard of its strategic interest in South Asia, it is like the poisonous snake that bites even the master who offers it milk. So, the US must take the killing of westerners and Christians in Nairobi Mall and Peshawar church respectively very seriously. The beginning of terror acts with open religious tinge is very dangerous. Up till now, it was said that terrorism has no religion. But now with the Nairobi Mall killing, it has come to light that the Islamist militants only targets non-Muslims. It is high time for the entire world to make concerted effort and rise above self-interest by big and powerful to wipe out the terrorism from the face of the earth.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Modi elavated, Advani isolated

BJP named Gujarat Chief Minister and popular party leader Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate in 2014 Lok Sabha elections despite stiff opposition by party’s mentor, guide and one of nation’s most prestigious and senior most leaders Lal Krishna Advani. It is a fact that at present Naredra Modi is the only hope for the BJP so it did not take time to name him as its prime ministerial candidate, pushing party’s Vishmapitamah into isolation. Advani and former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee have been the founder members of BJP. They are credited with bringing the party to this level from where it makes claim to power for the second time. BJP came to power in 1998 for the first time. Lal Krishna Advani, who was called Loh Purush, had played more aggressive role in projecting the BJP as alternative to the oldest and longest ruling Congress party by taking up the issue of Hindutva openly. Gujarat Chief Minister Naredra Modi today may have left his inspirational guru and mentor far behind in popularity, but the BJP and Modi both must not forget that they are his creations . BJP also must not forget that old is gold. And the uncivilized manner in which it has treated its parental figure L K Krishna Advani shows its disregard for our civilization and family discipline. Undoubtedly, Modi is the most popular leader of the BJP but it does not mean that the party should treat its creator as shabbily as has been done with Lal Krishna Advani. With the nomination of Narendra Modi as it PM candidate, the BJP stands divided today and gives birth to the question that when over his name itsself party stands divided, how would he be able to keep the nation united if ever he becomes the PM. By nominating Modi as PM candidate, ignoring blatantly wishes and aspirations of L K Advani, the BJP has shown its excessive hunger for power. The Lok Sabha elections are still 6 months away. There was no need for the party to show this type of haste in declaring its prime ministerial candidate, bypassing its most senior leader. It is not only the Vishmapitamah of the party L K Advani but also the two other most senior leaders- BJP Parliamentary party leader Shusma Swaraj and Murli Manohar Joshi -were also opposed to the declaration of Modi’s name at this point of time, though they fell in line and went with the majority decision of the parliamentary board. Besides being the most popular leader of BJP, Narendra Modi is also the most controversial one. He has still not come out of the shadow of 2002 Gujarat riots. The stigma of one of the worst communal riots depicts him as divisionary force while the nation needs unifying one to keep its chief characteristic unity in diversity intact. The allegation against Narendra Modi being a divisionary leader is his biggest drawback. Though how far the BJP is correct in nominating him as party PM candidate will only be told by the LS elections result in 2014, one thing is certain that he will certainly polarize majority community in his party’s favour to some extent and minority in its totality against it. One thing that goes in his favour is that he is credited with delivering good governance, clean administration and zero tolerance to terrorism but another thing that goes against him is that he is considered to be dividing, and not unifying leader.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Nation’s concerns justified

Though Union Defence Minister AK Antony has denied media report quoting National Security Advisory board Chairman Shyam Sharan that China has occupied 640 Sq. kilometer area in Laddakh in Parliament, it is the issue of national security that needs urgent assurance about border security from the government. The Govt must not conceal any thing on issue of Chinese incursion into Indian Territory. The issue of Chinese incursion into Indian Territory had rocked both houses of Parliament earlier also. In the wake of Chinese incursion into Indian Territory in April, National Security Advisory Board Chairman Shyam Saran had submitted a report to the Prime Minister in which he had concluded that China was in occupation of 640 sq km area along the Line of Actual Control. It has caused anxiety among the people all over the nation over the security of our borders. This is the issue of national security. So, MPs rising above party politics have shown solidarity and unity on this issue of urgent attention. Defence Minister has told the Lok Sabha that India is capable of guarding its borders. But MPs are not satisfied with his statement in the House. The question that concerns the nation most is that why Chinese troops make incursion into Indian Territory in Laddakh area time and again. Do they test our patience or want to read the reaction of Indian troops to their mischievous activities? India must ask China at the highest level to stop these activities by its troops on the border forthwith. Otherwise, consequences may be grave and far-reaching. Chinese double standard has already been experienced by India. So, it is better not to rely on Chinese assurance that border dispute will be amicably resolved. India too wants to resolve border dispute with China amicably. China has always been trying to weaken India by diverting its attention on the issue of security of its borders, so that it could not achieve anything positive. It supports and provides all helps to India’s neighbours, who are considered hostile and inimical to it. Besides, incursion into Indian Territory, China always instigates Pakistan to create mischief in India. How big terror violence may take place with Pakistani support in India, China never asks the former to refrain from sponsoring terrorism into India. It has now started to have its feet in Nepal and Sri Lanka also to exploit the anger among the people in these two countries against India. So, China is not only directly posing threat to our territorial integrity but also trying to get us encircled by our neighbours.All these issues need to be raised at the highest level with China very urgently. And nation must be assured of safety and security from all outside threat. We must not appear weak and divided on the issue of our national security. The message from the Parliament must go out loud and clear that India is well prepared to give befitting reply as and when required to any hostile nation howsoever strong it may be.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Music provides healing touch

The music concert is going to be organized Shalimar Garden, Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir by the world-renowned music conductor Zubin Mehta. It is being opposed by the separatists and little known militant outfits. Music concert in Shalimar Garden is hosted by German ambassador to India Michael Steiner. More than 15 00 guest have been invited to attend the music concert and rejoice the moment. The ground reality of trouble-torn state of Jammu and Kashmir will be expressed through this music concert. It may not bring 70,000 people, who lost their lives in the two decades of long disturbance and bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir, back to life but one thing is certain that this music concert by world renowned music conductor Zubin Mehta would mesmerize the assembled guest in the garden and give a healing touch to the people. His music would develop love and affection among the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This programme of music concert will certainly provide a respite from discord and disturbance. People in the state will have opportunity to lighten their mind from the fear of terrorist violence. As the fear of terrorist violence always lurking in the minds of the people, music concert conducted by the world famous Zubin Mehta would provide the people ecstasy and hilarious moment. The common people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir are culture and music loving. The music is ingrained in their mind. The music concert will also help promote the culture and civilization of the state. Separatists and secessionists would never like the programme of music, which brings peace and tranquility in the Valley. The handful of separatists and secessionists must not be allowed at any cost to disrupt and disturb the music concert of Zubin Mehta, which is going to paint the ground reality of Jammu and Kashmir before the world. The state government of Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre must provide all possible protection to the organizer, conductor of the music concert and the people, so that the music concert could be conducted peace fully. A message must go out from here that the common people of Jammu and Kashmir have nothing to do with terror activities and they want only peace, amity and development. Unfazed by opposition from separatists and threats from little-known militant groups, preparations are on in full swing for the ‘Ehsaas-e-Kashmir’ (Feel of Kashmir) music concert. This music concert features world-renowned music conductor Zubin Mehta in Srinagar on Saturday. German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner, who is hosting the concert before a specially-invited audience of 1,500 guests, is camping in Srinagar to oversee the preparations for the event to be held in the famous Shalimar Garden built by Mughal Emperor Jehangir. Steiner has visited the venue where he was briefed about the security measures being put in place in view of threats issued by three less-known militant organizations against holding of the concert.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

US strike against Syria appears imminent

The United States is planning to strike the war-torn Syria in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack by Assad’s regime on August 21st, which killed thousands of civilians, including hundreds of children.If the body language, stance, motive and precedent of the US president Barack Obama are anything to go by, the US-led strike of the West against Syria is imminent under the excuse that Syria govt. had used chemical weapons against the civilians. Though Nato Chief has not dwelt on the strike against Syria, his belief that the chemical weapons were used by Bashar al-Assad government against the rebellions also makes the strike imminent. UN investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syria is underway and its report is yet to come. It would be better to wait for the UN report and after that, there might be discussion on whether to attack Syria in a limited way or not. There has been worldwide condemnation of chemical attack on civilians in which thousands of lives were lost and the number of women and children among the deceased was enormous. Whoever did this crime must be awarded deterrent punishment. Though it may be possible that to defame the Assad government the chemical gas named Sarin may have passed into the hands of terrorists and it may be their handiwork, this must be thoroughly probed before any plan of action against Syria is taken. Syria is a sovereign country. Many countries in the Middle East are expected to come out in the open support of Syria as Iran has already announced its support for it if the US strikes it, besides that Russia and China have already opposed US strike against Syria. The US-led attack on Syria will also no longer be limited to it, and it will naturally spread in the entire Middle East. Oil reserves in the Middle East have its own importance. The supply of crude oil from there will be badly affected, and consequently India will put at a great loss. Strike against Syria will have negative impact on already staggering Indian economy. So, India will never support the US strike against Syria. Traditionally also, India has never been on the side of aggressor. It is against the attack on the sovereignty of any nation, though it severely condemns the chemical attack on civilians in which thousands were killed. The US has the tendency of attacking the sovereignty of the nation which it dislikes under one excuse or the other. The example of US military intervene in Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq is already before us. India must support the stand taken by Russia and China against the US on the issue of attacking Syria. Its highhandedness against the weak and small nations and its expansionist and imperialistic ambition must be opposed with all might. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has rightly warned Western military strikes will risk igniting a ‘regional war’. He has also said that France would face repercussions if it takes part in US-led plans for military action against Syria.

At last, rule of law enforced

A court in Jodhpur sent self-styled godman Asaram to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with charges that he had sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl. Police arrested the self-styled godman Asaram for an alleged sexual assault on a 16-year-old school girl at an ashram in Jodhpur. The girl had lodged a police complaint on August 20, accusing the 74-year-old Asaram of sexually assaulting her at his ashram. It is correct to say that as long as the rule of law was not applied the self-styled godman remained at large for more than 10 days even after the charge of sexual assault of 16-year-old girl at his ashram was levelled against him. Asaram has a large following among Hindu community and he has established more than 450 ashrams in India and abroad. His asset runs in crores and he has been living a lavish life. It is because of vote bank politics that his arrest was delayed. But the lone campaign against the accused godman was launched by the media of the nation that brought pressure on the government to ask its police to act against Asaram. The sixteen year old rape victim was living at his ashram. His parents were the followers of Asaram. That is why they had admitted her daughter to his asram for studying there. The girl herself lodged FIR with the police at Kamala Market police station in Delhi about the sexual assault on her by Asaram. Though the charge of sexual assault is true or false is a matter of investigation, it was so grave that if the accused were an ordinary man, he would have been arrested forthwith. But as the charge of sexual assault was against self-styled godman Asaram, he was provided enough time to make way-outs. The moment the name of Asaram figured, the main opposition party BJP came out in his support on one hand and Rajasthan Congress government of Ashok Gehlot with an eye on coming assembly elections instructed the Jodhpur police to go slow against the godman so that his large followings could not go against the Congress party on the other. This is the deteriorating culture of our ruling and opposition political party. The Asaram incident also shows that the political class, especially, the ruling and the opposition has no respect for women in society. After the Nirbhay 16/12 incident, laws against sexual assault on women were enacted afresh and made stringent, but to no effect. New laws against sexual assault under which the complain with the police by the women is enough for the arrest of the accused. The delay in the arrest of Asaram has exposed how everything in the functioning of the government is based on political gain and loss motive. If media had not built enough pressure, Asaram might have been left to roam freely from one city to another to hold his Satsang.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Belated, but historic

At last, the Food Security Bill has been moved belatedly in the Lok Sabha and passed ; it is going to be the only great achievement of UPA-2 Government in the last four years. After the passage of Food Security Bill in Lok Sabha, it is now almost certain that this historic bill for poor Indian will see the light of the day. It is most likely that Upper House will also clear the Food Security Bill. Food Security Bill is the brainchild of Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The fervent appeal she made to all the MPs in Lok Sabha in her speech during the debate on the bill clearly reflected how serious she was to ensure that now no Indian should go hungry. Her stress on the point of resource crunch that India has to manage resources to feed its poor amply reflects about her sincerity to get the Food Security Bill passed in the Lok Sabha. It is certainly going to be the game changer for the Congress-led UPA to bring it back to power for third consecutive time. Food Security Bill certainly identifies the Congress Party with the Aam Aadmi. It will strengthen its bondage with the poor common people of India. With the nearing of Lok Sabha elections, this Food Security Bill will certainly turn the table in elections in favour of the Congress party. As Food Security Bill is important politically and it is specially meant for the poor people of India, no political party dare oppose it despite their strong reluctance initially. Food Security Bill will also help Congress hide most of the scandals that have broken out during its regime. As no political party could dare vote against this bill, it was passed in Lok Sabha very smoothly. After MNREGA, it is the Food Security Bill that has the potential to get the ruling Congress-led UPA through the coming Lok Sabha elections if it was implemented in the remaining 8 months period properly and sincerely. The Food Security Bill seeks to provide cheap food grains to 82 crore people in the country, ushering in the biggest programme in the world to fight hunger. The ambitious bill was adopted by the Lower House through a voice vote after a combined discussion on the measure and a statutory resolution seeking to disapprove the ordinance promulgated on 5th July. Over 300 amendments moved by the opposition were rejected. The legislation was passed after a day-long debate during which Congress President Sonia Gandhi, during her maiden speech in the 15th Lok Sabha, said, “Our goal for the foreseeable future must be to wipe out hunger and mal-nutrition from our country.”

Monday, August 26, 2013

Vote bank politics in full swing

Neither the ruling Samajwadi Party of Uttar Pradesh has any thing to do for the uplift of Muslim minority in the state nor the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has any thing to do with Hindu religion. Both are playing the vote bank politics. With the nearing of Lok Sabha elections, the political parties have started practising vote bank politics in full swing. VHP’s Chaurashi Koshi Parikrama Yatra is a glaring example of vote bank politics being indirectly undertaken at the behest of main opposition party Bhartiya Janata Party to polarize Hindu votes in its favour in the coming assembly elections in five states in November and Lok sabha elections in May 2014. It has been the habit of BJP to exploit the name of Lord Ram for Hindu votes. Though Chaurashi Koshi Parikrama Yatra by the VHP, which is one of the offshoots of Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, was stopped and not allowed to even undertake yatra upto 84 steps by the Samajwadiwadi Party government of Uttar Pradesh, it has brought the issue of Hindutva to the fore before elections again. UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav government, initially, indicated that a compromise was reached with the VHP that it would undertake Chaurashi Koshi Parikrama Yatra peacefully in Ayodhya, but later on realizing that the message would go out in public about its hands in glove with BJP, it took harsh measures against saints and stopped them from embarking on their mission. It is the fundamental right of the individual to carry out religious practices without any control. It is not possible for the government in a secular state to allow the religious practices, which are carried out with purely religious motive and intention. VHP’s Chaurashi Koshi Praikrama was purely guided by politics. The government in a secular state also must not take harsh measures against majority community unnecessarily to keep its minority vote bank intact. RSS is the doting parent of BJP, VHP, Bajran Dal and other Hindu outfits. All its organizations are working for the benefit of one another. So, with the nearing of elections, VHP has strongly raised the issue of Ayodhya to benefit BJP politically. The way Chaurashi Koshi Parikrama Yatra was stopped before its took off reflects that it was like a match fixed between the ruling Samajwadi Party and the VHP. Both showed how serious they were in protecting their respective vote banks. The common general people of Ayodhya have shown little interest in Chaurashi Koshi Yatra of VHP. They have clearly understood that VHP is the pawn in the hands of BJP. Ruling SP and BJP are trying their best to create communal tension in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 Lok Sabha members, to polarize the votes of majority and minority communities.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Delhi gang rape replicated in Mumbai

16th December gang rape has been replicated in Mumbai. The entire nation is shocked, anguished and saddened over the brutal gang rape of 22 years old woman photojournalist in Mumbai. We hang our head in shame over the Mumbai photojournalist gangrape. To protest December 16th Delhi gang rape strongly, the people all over the nation had come out on streets. They were protesting against the rapists and demanding the stringent punishment for them. Even the government in Delhi started trembling at the rage of the people on streets against the incident of brutal Delhi gang rape. The Government of India also acted promptly and enacted the stringent law to punish the rapists very quickly. But if the gang rape of 22 years old photojournalist is anything to go by, the laws made by the government after Nirbhay gang rape incident did not make any impact. It did not deter the criminal minded people of the society to attack the woman sexually. It also did not strike any fear among them. Mumbai photojournalist gang rape has proved that it is not effective. How stringent law be enacted there will be no impact on the rapists unless and until there is awakening in our society against rape and any kind of assault on women. So, social awakening about crime against women is also very important. Like Delhi, Mumbai is also a metropolitan city. Delhi is the national capital while Mumbai is the commercial capital of the nation. One thing also to be taken seriously into consideration is that until and unless the law enforcing authorities strike fear among law breakers, they will not hesitate in committing heinous crime like rape, which is also an inhuman act. Mumbai photojournalist gang rape took place around 6 PM as reported when there was no dark. The photojournalist is working with an English Life Style Magazine. She was working on a project in which she had to file the photo of the area where the incident took place. It was an industrial unit. The five rapists raped the photojournalist one by one after she was separated from her friend with whom she had gone there to shoot the photo. The rapists bound her friend’s hands and also beat him mercilessly. So, when the woman journalist is not safe on Mumbai streets, what can be expected of common Mumbaikers? So far Mumbai was considered to the safest metropolitan city of the nation. But the gang rape of photojournalist has hung the heads of Mumbaiker in particular and the entire nation in general in shame. The government should immediately undertake both tightening of law and order machineries and launching of social awakening programmes on crime against women. All accused of rape must be brought to book as early as possible and the rape case hearing must be done by fast track court so that it could be ensured that deterrent punishment was awarded to the rapists as early as possible. This will also send the message to criminal minded people in society that if they dared attack women, they would be punished stringently. It is not that there was no law against the attackers of women before the Nirbhai Delhi Gang rape incident. The most vital issue is that how effectively the laws are executed against the rapists so that they could be awarded deterrent punishment very quickly. A second accused in the brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old photojournalist was arrested on Saturday from south Mumbai even as police launched a manhunt for three others in the case, which sparked a wave of protests.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Finding way to remain unquestioned

The ruling as well as opposition political parties has been seen to be on the same page when either judiciary or executive tries to control and contain the criminal and corrupt activities of political leaders irrespective of political parties. The people of the nation are perturbed at the reaction of the political parties in regard to the Supreme Court ruling that the MPs and MLAs cease to be the member of Parliament and state legislative assembly respectively the day they are convicted by the law court for more than two years. SC has also ruled that political leaders can contest elections from the prisons. SC ruling has been hailed nationwide. This ruling of the Supreme Court upset the leaders of all political parties and they felt that it was an affront to their supremacy. MPs and MLAs consider themselves as supreme and no institution can challenge their supremacy only because they are the members of Parliament and state assemblies. Undoubtedly, Parliament is supreme but on that basis only because being member of this supreme body, they can not become above law. All are equal before law. SC ruling on disqualification of convicted lawmakers is praise worthy and it would prove to be the corner stone in checking criminalization of politics if our political class had not united to make it null and void. UPA government's activism with full support of almost all political parties to negate SC has sent out the wrong signal among the people. It has also strengthened the view among the people about political leaders that irrespective of political affiliations all are one when their personal interest and supremacy are attacked. It also sends the message that the political class itself does not want to decriminalize politics. To make Supreme Court order ineffective in regard to disqualification of convicted law makers, the Manmohan Singh government has given nod to the proposal under which such MPs and MLAs will retain their membership till pendency of appeal but will be barred from voting and drawing salary. The proposal, in the form of Amendments to the Representation of People Act, will ensure that a lawmaker cannot be disqualified after conviction if his or her appeal is pending before a court and sentence is stayed. The Law Ministry's proposal to amend the Representation of People Act makes it clear that an MP or MLA cannot be disqualified after conviction if his or her appeal is pending before a court and sentence is stayed.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Shun confrontationist approach in Parliament

It appears that to adopt confrontationist approach by the opposition parties towards any move of the ruling parties has become a habit, no matter whether it is beneficial for the people or not. It reflects their their sole intention of disrupting the parliamentary proceedings on regular basis only to attract attention and score political points. This sort of behaviour is increasingly seen when elections come nearer. This confrontationist trend is developing very fast in Parliament among our political parties. It is very bad for national development and solution of the problems being faced by the people. All political parties are responsible for it. Today’s ruling party becomes tomorrow’s opposition. So, it can not be said that disrupting Parliament’s functioning is only the trait of particular political party when it is in opposition. Since Dr. Manmohan Singh UPA-II govt came back to power in 2009, the trend of disrupting the functioning of the Parliament has increased immensely. It has been the hallmark of this period in the parliamentary history. It sends the message among the people that all political leaders have made the biggest institution of democracy-Parliament- a place of chaos, anarchy and pandemonium. No session of Parliament in the last four years has been conducted smoothly partly due to the confrontationist attitude adopted by the opposition parties, especially the main opposition party the BJP towards the ruling parties and partly due to breaking out scandals and scams at regular intervals in Dr. Manmohan Singh-led UPA-II Govt. This is the last monsoon session of Parliament before the nation goes to Lok Sabha elections most probably in May 2014. In the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, Government wants to pass the Food Security Bill, which is considered to be the first of its kind in the world on such a large scale. With the enactment of the Food Security Bill, no poor or their child will go hungry as it would enable them to purchase Wheat at Rs two per kg and rice Rs. 3 per kg. It is not an ordinary bill and the day will be historic on which Parliament passes it. It will provide opportunity to 67 per cent of the population to purchase wheat and rice at the nominal price. Politically, Food Security Bill is definitely going to be a game changer. The Congress-led UPA will naturally going to be politically benefited as Food Security Bill would strengthen its claim of bondage with Aam Aadmi. No political party dare oppose the bill in open but the main opposition party BJP is aggressively looking for an excuse to stall it in Parliament. The ruling Congress-led UPA has also given the opposition parties one opportunity after another to grill it in Parliament. In the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, missing of files from coal ministry echoes in Parliament and Opposition BJP is adamant on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s speech how that happened before discussing any bill, no matter how important it is. It is almost a week of the session since there has been no discussion in Parliament. What has been seen is chaos and pandemonium over missing of important files from coal ministry and Telangana.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Enact law to ban black magic

The best tribute to rationalist Narandra Dabholkar would be to enact the law by Maharashtra government to ban black magic, superstition and inhuman practices in the name of religion immediately. Narendra Dabholkar was known for his over two-decade long campaign against outdated and inhuman social practices. He was 69 year old . He was head of ‘Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti’, an organization devoted to eradication of superstition. Narendra Dabhol was a rationalist who fought all his life against superstition, black magic, self acclaimed god men and all types of inhuman practices carried out in society under the patronage of politicians and religious dogmatists. His killing has shaken not only the men and women who think rationally in Maharashtra but all over India. His murder also shows how even in 21st century our society is still dominated by superstition, black magic and self-acclaimed god men. Dabholkar tried to awaken a sense of reasoning among the people and cautioned the society against all types of exploitation in the name of religion. Though he was not asking the people to be atheists, he propagated among them not to be misled by these self-acclaimed god men, practioners of black magic, superstition, tantras and mantras. Dabholkar murder is an attack on the constitution of the nation and the movement for the enlightment of society. He was very popular throughout Maharashtra. He founded ‘Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti and relentlessly worked for educating society against superstition and back magic. He was shot dead while on morning walk in Pune. Before his killing, there were attacks on him during his press conferences several times, but the Maharashtra police took no security measures. His death is a great blow to rationalism in society. Dabholkar had become an eyesore for the exponents of superstitions and promoters of black magic and inhuman acts in society. The politicians of our nation have also greatly contributed to the rise of god men like Dhirendra Brahmchari, Chandraswamy and others to promote medievalism in the society. If they had supported rationalism, our nation would have greatly benefited. Though the allegation has been levelled against some Hindu-outfits for the murder of Dabholkar by his supporters, it is a matter of thorough probe. First, his murderers should be brought to justice as early as possible by the Maharashtra police. Political parties and social organisations have rightly called for a day's bandh in Pune to protest the murder of anti-superstition crusader Narendra Dabholkar, even as police released the sketch of suspects.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Respect sanctity and tradition

Independence Day is celebrated every year on August 15 with full gusto and enthusiasm all over the nation. It is the most auspicious, glorious and happiest day for all Indians. Prime Minister addresses the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day every year. It is the day to rise above all political rivalries, discord and considerations. It is the day to affirm national pride and take vow to protect it at all costs. The entire nation celebrates it with full gusto and enthusiasm, forgetting all political rivalries and discord. Prime Minister does not belong only to the ruling political party but also the entire nation. In parliamentary democracy, disagreement between the ruling and the opposition parties is natural. But it does not mean that on this very auspicious day itself the prime minister should be criticized vehemently by the main opposition BJP leader and the Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi, who is most likely to be projected as the prime ministerial candidate of the party in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He should not let PM down by challenging him for a debate on development in the open while hoisting the flag on Independence Day from Bhuj College campus in Gujarat. 15th of August is the Independence Day and all Indians celebrate it with full gusto. The opposition party leaders have every right to criticisize the Prime Minister on other 364 days. At least on this auspicious day, there must not be any criticism of the Prime Minister. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi who appears to be in mad haste to become the prime minister of the nation after Lok Sabha elections in 2014 if the BJP wins. Modi must know that there are 28 states in India. So, there are 28 Chief Ministers also. All unfurl the flag on Independence Day in their respective states. And all are not Congress-ruled states. There are several non-Congress and non-BJP ruled states. No other opposition Chief Minister has ever challenged the Prime Minister on this auspicious day. Modi has not only criticized the Prime Minister but also let down the image of the nation, and by doing so in the eyes of foreign countries . Modi may be a good administrator and have provided good governance to the people of Gujarat. His Gujarat model of development may be the most suitable for the state, but it can not suit the remaining 27 states. He is also not only the single leader who has brought his party to power thrice and became the CM of the state three times in a row. There are also several other Chief Ministers who have won the state assembly elections and become Chief Ministers three consecutive times. Narendra Modi must not show his vaulting ambition of being the Prime Minister of the nation after 2014. His blunt and arrogant utterings against the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh have rightly been criticized all over the nation. It shows his trivial thinking and approach. He has to cover a very long distance to reach New Delhi and get power. And for that at least in India, he will have to go through penance for the alleged stigma of 2002 Gujarat riot. India is a secular and liberal nation and the leaders of sectarian belief are unacceptable.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

People in tears over onion price

The abnormal rise in the prices of onion, which has become the costliest vegetable item, will certainly have political impact. It is true that due to the vagaries of rain and drought, the onion was not cultivated on a large-scale this year. Maharastra is the largest producer of onion. It is produced on the largest scale in Nasik there. With the falling of its production due to drought and heavy rains in many parts of the country, its distribution and transportation from one place to another was badly affected. These factors have also contributed to the rise in its prices. But the state and the central governments are not meant for watching the exorbitant price of all food items, including onion as mute spectators. They have to act. If there is shortage in the production of onion, they should have instantly stopped its export to maintain supply and demand of the market to stabilize its price. Onion is being sold at Rs 80 per kg in Delhi. Even the well off persons can not afford to purchase onion in Kg and they have become compelled to purchase in grams. In the given situation, the poor people can only dream of eating onion with bread and salt. This is the position of national capital New Delhi. Here both at the Centre and in the state, the ruling party is Congress. Both the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit are watching the situation and uneasiness among the poor people because of the abnormal price rise of all food articles and vegetable items, including onion, which tops the list, as mute spectators. They appear to have lost sense of sensitivity. They have become insensitive to the problems being faced by the common people due to runaway prices of all food items, including vegetables. Their Aam Aadmi slogan is nothing but an eyewash. Profiteers, black marketeers and hoarders have a field day. There is no government agency active to check their activities. Neither the state nor the Central government rises from its deep slumber to act. It is the duty of both the Central and State governments to act to keep the prices of all essential commodities, including all food items under control. They should act to maintain the smooth distribution and supplies of all these items so that the poor people could not face any problem in feeling their stomachs. The Delhi Congress government of Chief Minister Sheila Dixit appears to have forgotten that it is the onion price which had gone beyond the reach of poor Delhiites in 1998 that helped her throw the Sushma Swaraj-led BJP government of Delhi at that time. Since then Chief Minister Sheila Dixit has been ruling here. If she continued to be slothful and did not take any action against profiteers, black marketeers and hoarders, she is bound to face defeat in the November assembly elections of Delhi.