Maha assembly polls very crucial

Political friends and partners have turned foes to one another in the poll bound Maharashtra. 25 years old alliance between Shiv Sena and BJP and more than 15 years old friendship between Congress and Nationalist Congress Party have broken. All are contenders for power on their own in this assembly election. All the major political parties Shiv Sena, BJP, Congress and NCP are going to fight assembly elections in the state of Maharashtra on their own. This is the first election scenario of this kind in 25 years of Maharshtra politics. If the poll survey undertaken by various agencies is anything to go by, no political party is going to secure majority in the state to form government on its own. Though there is every possibility of post poll alliance after the announcement of election results, it is almost certain election result will throw up hung assembly in Maharashtra. The main cause of breaking of alliances is nothing but the chief ministerial ambition of all major political parties, which are in play in the field. Shiv Sena and BJP were natural alliance partners ideologically and so were NCP and Congress. It is correct that Congress is faced with anti-incumbency factor of 15 years but other parties’ prospect is also not very bright. After more than 5 months of being in Power at the Centre, the Narendra Modi -led government at the Centre did not so far come up to the expectation of the people. So, disillusionment among them to the government is natural. Shiv Sena criticises Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his total failure to reply appropriately to Pakistan's frequent violations of ceasefire. It has rightly attacked prime minister Modi over paying no attention to the border firing by Pakistan and his inability to stop its atrocities. Pakistan has been firing continuously on the Indian side because the government was not taking any firm steps. Shiv Sena once the closest friend of BJP has made serious allegation against Prime Minister Narendra Modi of undermining the national security of India. Now any Indian can also ask PM Modi as to what about his claim of having 56-inch chest during Lok Sabha elections to reply Pakistan with doubly force if ever it did any mischief. Houses of the people as far as four kilometres away from the border have been badly affected by the continuous firing. So far seven persons have been killed and nearly 70 injured in the ceasefire violations by Pakistan since October 1 with over 16,000 people migrating to safer areas.

Hooting is unacceptable

The hooting of the Chief Minister of Jharkhand Heman Soren by BJP workers in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a government function to inaugurate power related projects is the third in line after the same treatment meted out to Congress Chief Minister Prithvi Raj Chavan and Bhupendra Singh Hooda of Maharashtra and Haryana respectively. It is the beginning of worst kind of treatment to political opponents. It is in no way permissible to hoot out opposition leaders by the ruling party workers in presence of none other than Prime Minister.All the three Chief Ministers represent the opposition space. They are Chief Ministers of three poll bound states who were hooted and jeered by BJP workers in the same fashion. They were hooted to show how unpopular they are in their own states. So, hooting has been committed under a deliberate political game plan by BJP. Hemant Soren was hooted the moment he stood to deliver his speech at the dais in the presence of PM Modi. He continued his speech amidst hooting, but expressed his displeasure publicly by terming the behaviour of the BJP workers as an attack on the federal structure. This type of hooting of opposition leaders by BJP workers in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who happens to be the top leader, clearly reflects his contradictory stance. At one time PM Modi advocates for co-operative federalism and opposition leaders are hooted in his presence at the other. It may be the style of functioning of the Prime Minister Modi to belittle the opposition leaders or political rivals within his own party in public presence. As PM Modi tours only the poll bound states of Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Jharkhand, it may be his political intention to show the opposition Chief Ministers in bad light before the public at the functions organized by the government. Congress Party Chief Ministers have decided to boycott Prime Minister Modi’s meeting. Maharashtra CM did not turn up at PM Modi’s meeting in Nagpur for the inauguration of Metro rail project. Though it is not appreciable, the discourteous behavior with opposition leaders the ruling BJP workers is also a dangerous trend for the future of democracy in India. After the first incident of this nature at a government function in Maharashtra the Chief Minister of the state was hooted in the Presence of Prime Minister Modi, he should have issued a clear instruction that this type of behaviour by party workers will not be tolerated at any cost. The way crowd mostly comprising BJP workers behaved with the opposition Chief Minister in the presence of the Prime Minister Modi can not be appreciated. This is democracy. People are sovereign. This time they voted for BJP, next time they may give their votes to some other parties to power. If their workers and cadres behaved in the same way with BJP leaders, what would the do? So, BJP must take stringent action against those party workers who hoot out the opposition leaders at the functions organized by the government in PM’s presence. Uncivil political behavior must stop.

PM Modi’s control is now complete

With the appointment of BJP General Secretary and its master strategist Amit Shah as the new president of the party by Parliamentary Board, the highest decision making body, the control of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on government as well as organization is now complete. PM Modi leaves no stone unturned in ensuring his stamp everywhere. Now both the PM and BJP President are from the state of Gujarat. Amit Shah has been PM Modi’s most trusted lieutenant since his Gujarat days. He was Home Minister in the state government when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He had to resign from the Modi ministry in Gujarat because of his alleged role in the fake police encounter cases. He has been a controversial but charismatic leader of the BJP. The credit of achieving spectacular victory in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections goes to Amit Shah as he was the in-charge of elections in the state. His spectacular success in UP catapulted him to the highest post in BJP. Winning more than 70 Lok Sabha seats out of 80 from the state of Uttar Pradesh is not an easy task. He has made it possible almost single-handedly. Amit Shah is also relatively young and dynamic and expert in infusing zeal, guts and courage in party workers to fight the opponent at the right point of time. It is also said that he has vast experience of galvanizing the party workers to fight the opponent successfully. It is alleged that he can also play communal and emotional card very shrewdly to polarize the voters in his party’s favour. With Amit Shah at the helms of the party, PM Modi will always be rest assured that he will have no problem from the side of organization. Now PM Modi is the law in BJP and no leader of the party can throw any sort of challenge to his authority. Now it is be everywhere Modi and none else in the BJP. Fifty-year-old Shah was trusted with the significant organizational role after he brought about BJP’s extraordinary victory in Uttar Pradesh and was able to nearly triple the party’s vote share in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.Shah has succeeded Rajnath Singh, who is now the Union home minister.He is expected to give a complete makeover to organizational structures, replacing at least three vice-presidents and three general secretaries, who are now ministers in the Modi cabinet. Shah was the Gujarat home minister under Modi when was chief minister of the state.He had to step down in 2010 after allegations that he sanctioned a fake encounter by the state police, which saw three Muslims being killed by officers who alleged they were terrorists planning to assassinate Modi. He also faces murder charges for allegedly allowing the encounter killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kauser Bi. Shah denies the charges saying they are a political conspiracy.

First big test for Modi begins With the beginning of the Budget session of Parliament, the first big test of the newly elected Narendra Modi-led NDA government begins. The first day of the Budget session witnessed the ruckus created by the Opposition Congress and other parties over the issues of price rise and railway fare hike. Congress MPs rushed to the well to demand adjournment motion over price hike. The opposition members were so agitated and vociferous over the issues that the Speaker had to adjourn the Lok Sabha for the day. The scene that was witnessed in the Lok Sabha is not new. When BJP was in opposition, it had also created ruckus and bedlam in the Parliament on most of the days over same issue in the last 10 years during Congress-led UPA government. Now the Congress is in opposition and the BJP is in power so it is facing the same situation in Parliament from the beginning itself. Neither the ruling BJP nor the opposition Congress-led UPA loses anything and the ultimate looser is only the people of the nation and the national exchequer. Congress-led Opposition wanted to discuss the issue of price rise under adjournment motion as it is directly affecting the day to day lives of the poor people. The momentum of price rise of all essential commodities, including food items picked up during the previous UPA government is now getting speedier and speedier without any check. People are being burdened in the same way as in the previous government. So they find no difference between the two governments. They are confused which one of two is lesser evil. The all round rise in prices has made the lives of the poor very difficult. A sense of betrayal is being felt by the people because the Narendra Modi's promise of Ache Din (Good Days) appears to be in far distant. The people have also started saying that Ache Din for BJP leaders has come, when will it come for them? Modi-led NDA government hiked rail fare and freight before the budget session to avoid embarrassment in the Parliament. If the behaviour of the opposition Congress party inside and outside on the first day of Budget session is anything to go by, Narendra Modi-led NDA government must not make mistake of taking the opposition lightly. The action of the Congress party clearly showed that it was very much concerned with the common men's problems and it would never be found lacking in grilling the government on the issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must realize that the people saw in him their hope and aspiration. That is why they gave him massive mandate rule in the hope that he would bring relief for them. Now it is up to his government to deliver on the promises without any loss of time. The issues of price rise and rail fare hike have disrupted proceedings in Lok Sabha on the opening day of the Budget session on Monday with Opposition insisting on a discussion on the matter through adjournment motions.

Glimpses of statesmanship

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first speech in Parliament to the debate on President's address to the joint session on his government's agenda clearly reflected that he is not as painted by the opposition but believer in the principle of working together for the development of the nation. Modi showed his commitment to fulfill every promise made in the agenda of his government which was told in President's address. He spoke in a way that clearly showed that a little bit of statesmanship had dawned on him with becoming the Prime Minister of India. He dwelt on every issue that the country is facing these days. First and foremost thing in his speech was that he pledged to take along the opposition in running the government despite its negligible presence in Parliament. Modi spoke about co-operative federalism without which the Union of India cannot achieve the desired goal of development. Adopting big brotherly attitude towards the states ruled by opposition parties will result in confrontation and that will mar the pace of development. So it is very good that Prime Minister has said about promoting co-operative federalism. PM Modi's commitment to the development of the poor makes the opposition charge against him hollow that he is working only for the benefit of Corporate and Industrialists. Modi lauded the role of labourers in the development of the nation. This is praise worthy. His first speech in the Parliament makes it clear that he is very much interested in working for the all round development of the nation with the weaker section of society on top of his priority. For that he rightly asked for support from all corners. There was not even a single sentence in his speech that could antagonize any section of society. With landslide victory and single party majority after 30 years given to BJP by the people of the nation, it is clear that the nation wants decisive and action-oriented government for development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also dwelt on how to do away with the criminalisation of politics. He rightly said that his government would request the Supreme Court to decide the culpability of any member of Parliament against whom there is a case within a year. If the MP is freed of all charges, he or she would sit in Parliament and if found guilty he or she would be in jail. It would be a very good move to deal with the criminalisation of politics. The most important thing that PM Modi said is that like Mahatma Gandhi's movement for freedom, there is a need to launch movement for development by all of us. His speech is full of positivity and in his first speech in Parliament he appeared to be committed for the development of the nation.

Worsening power situation in Delhi

National capital Delhi has been facing the worst type of power crisis when the heat wave in the city is at its peak. As Delhi is under President’s rule and Lt. Governor is head of the administration in the national capital, the Centre government can not evade from its responsibility. There have been more than 15 hours power cuts in almost all parts of Delhi. The people of the city in different parts have come out on the streets in protest against the long power cuts when the summer is at its peak. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of good days is about to come has started pinching the Delhiites most in the first place. Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal has blamed the previous Sheila Dikshit government for the long power cuts in the city. But the ground reality tells just the opposite to what he says or blames. It is during the Congrerss regime of Sheila Dikshit government that power supply in the city was well maintained. There was uninterrupted power supply to Delhi for 24X7. Delhiites were misled which the Congress party failed to counteract and it was badly defeated. Delhiites voted for the BJP overwhelmingly in the hope that it would provide better government. Though its coming to power is only a matter of days, blaming the previous government for power cuts can not be the excuse. The government of the day at the Centre must take serious note of long power cuts in the national caspital Delhi and act without any delay to plug all the loopholes in the supply of electricity to the city. Delhiites did not vote for Sheila Dikshit government because they were displeased, disillusioned and dissatisfied with it. They gave votes to BJP and sent all its seven candidates to Parliament not for living in darkness and sweltering heat. The condition of national capital Delhi has become worse than that of a country side village in terms of electric supply.Central government is partly responsible, if not wholly, for it. Delhi is not an ordinary city but it is the nation capital of India. If the condition of electricity and other civic amenities continued to deteriorate with the change of government at the Centre, it would send a very bad message about the newly elected Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. A well-planned campaigning against the Congress-led UPA government was launched by the BJP in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections. Congress was badly defeated by it. Narendra Modi-led NDA government was formed at the Centre with promise of good days. But in contrary to the promise of good days, Delhiites are facing the worse days under his government. Union power minister Piyush Goyal has blamed the Sheila Dikshit government for the power crisis in Delhi and assured that the situation will improve in the next two weeks. It is nothing but ridiculous in its crudest form of explanation by the Union Power Minister.

Rising crimes against women in UP

It is not only Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh where two Dalits sisters were gang raped and murdered but also the north eastern states of Meghalay where some GNLA militants blew up the head of the woman because she resisted their rape attempts. The all time greatest playwright Shakespeare had rightly said in 16th century that the frailty thy name is woman. Shakespeare’s saying about woman is being exemplified in the 21st century. The way woman is treated in society by man as a very soft target to satisfy his bestial instinct is very bad. That is why the crime against women is rising. The UP govt. has totally failed to take any stringent measure to check crime against women, which is a serious cause of concern for the society. It is not only Uttar Pradesh where crime against women is committed without any fear of the rule of law but the other parts of the country also can not claim to provide full proof security to women against crime of any type. A woman who is sexually assaulted and killed in many cases might be anyone's sister, mother, daughter and wife in the society. If by launching awareness in society that the woman whom one amongst us sexually assault and murder may be our sister, daughter, mother and wife, it might be possible that the realization would prevail and crime against women would come down itself. As far as the rule of law in Uttar Pradesh is concerned, the lawlessness has been the hallmark of the Samajwadi Party in the state earlier also. And Akhilesh Yadav government of Samajwadi Party is no different from others of its ilk. So, we would be foolhardy to talk about the lawlessness in Uttar Pradesh as long as SP government of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is in the saddle there. UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s defence of his government is that it is media which highlights the crime against women while it does not do in the case of other states. It is no excuse that the crime against women is rising in Uttar Pradesh because the situation in other states is no better. It is a ridiculous explanation from the CM of a state. Women are raped and murdered and then hanged from the tree in UP. The entire state of Uttar Pradesh is in the grip of criminals and they make women their prey at will. It clearly appears that there is no fear of law. Lawlessness is at its lowest ebb. In the worsening law and order situation in the biggest state of the nation, the Centre can not sit as a mute spectator beyond a limit. In the given situation Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bhar has rightly raised the issue of rising crimes against women in UP in Lok Sabha. Time has come for the Centre to intervene in UP’s deteriorating law and order affairs and ask the Akhilesh Yadav government either to enforce rule of law in the state or face the wrath. Union water resources minister Uma Bharti has rightly that there would be a debate in the Lok Sabha on rising crimes against women and the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.

Insensitivity of UP govt

The Badaun gang rape and murder of two teen-aged sisters, who happen to be Dalits, and several rape incidents in various parts of Uttar Pradesh hang our head in shame. UP govt. has lost the sense of insensitivity. When Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav asks the journalist you are not in danger in an answer to a question on barbaric incident in Badaun, it clearly shows his disrespect to the people’s concerns. It becomes more shameful and painful because the Chief Minister of the country’s largest state is Akhilesh Yadav, who is young and educated to whom people gave their mandate overwhelmingly to bring the state back on the track of development and progress. But the young CM has dashed the hope of the people to the ground in less than two years of his rule as yet. Law and order in Uttar Pradesh is at the lowest ebb and it appears that there is no rule of law in the state. The state is run on the principle of might is right. Despite the fact that people have rejected Samajwadi Party in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, it has learnt no lesson. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has completely failed to come out of the old guards of the party, who have been famous for encouraging the partymen to take law into their hands whenever the party is in power in the state to establish jungle raj. The two Dalit girls were gang raped and murdered in a village of Badaun. The girls had gone out of their house in the evening to attend the call of nature, but they did not return. The villagers found them hanging from the mango tree in the morning in a orchard of the village. The surprising thing is that among the five accused in the gang rape and murder incident the two of them are policemen. This shows that the persons who are entrusted to the protect the people have turn attackers. Protectors have turned into killers in the state of Uttar Pradesh.If police had taken timely action, this tragedy would not have taken place. The important thing here is to mark that SP goons have no fear of police. The police force in the state is so demoralized that police personnel are fearful of the SP goons. It clearly appears that Uttar Pradesh government is under the influence of criminal elements and because of that it can not act against them. Centre must not only carry out its ritualistic responsibility but also intervene and must ask state govt. that if it failed to restore rule of law, option is in place to impose President's rule. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited Badaun and met the family members of the deceased girls and consoled them. The father of a deceased girl refused to accept any monetary help and demanded CBI probe into gang rape and murder. Victims’ family considers this incident is even worse than the incident of 16 December, 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder. The father of the murdered girl demands that the culprits must be hanged publicly as they hanged his daughter from the tree. The law of our land does not allow tit for tat action despite the rules were made stringent to protect the women from sexual assault. But until and unless fast disposal of the cases of these types are not taken up by the court of law and stringent and deterrent punishment are not awarded on rapists-cum-murderers, the sense can not prevail on them. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is reportedly ready for CBI probe. It is now for the Centre to make announcement immediately and ask the investigating agency to do its job very quickly and impartially. It is not only law and order on which Akhilesh Yadav government has completely failed but also on the front of electric supply he is awefully short of people’s expectation in the state. The entire state of Uttar Pradesh except the home district of the CM and his family has been plunged into darkness. It clearly appears that the state has slipped into medieval age because of inept action of the SP government of Akhilesh Yadav.

Well begun is half done

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started his innings very well. The swearing-in ceremony of his 45-member Council of Ministers is over. He has taken charge and is well aware that now it is time for action. His ministry bears his stamp, and no sign of any intereference in the formation of his Cabinet by the BJP’s doting parent Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) has been seen. By nature Prime Minister Narendra Modi never likes to be guided or dictated by anyone. He takes his own decision and once taken, he puts everything into it to implement successfully. So, it is none but PM Modi’s way in the formation of his government. The two most senior BJP leaders L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who were the faces of the Vajpayee-led NDA government, had been deliberately sidelined for the time being on the ground of their being over-aged as RSS issued instruction that leaders above 80s would not be taken into government and they would work as mentor or guide of the party. On account of the seniority of these two leaders, it would be very difficult for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring them to account for the lapses in their ministries. Their exclusion of from any role in the government clearly shows that Prime Minister Modi has got free hand to run his government. It is also clear from the massive mandate that Modi got that no leader of the party can show tantrums to him nor any alliance partner can do any bargaining. Though this is the first day of Prime Minister Modi in his office, he is a man of action. So on the first day itself he will show his grit and decision making capacity in his first Cabinet meeting, which is scheduled to be held today at 5.30 PM. The economic condition is going from bad to worse and the inflation is unbridled. Prime Minister Modi knows it well. The people, who have given him massive mandate to alleviate their pain and sufferings caused by sky-rocketing price and unchecked corruption, have very high expectation of him. To confront with the problem of economic crisis like situation successfully must be the main task of the new government. The hope of the people from this government is very high and it is also correct to say they run out of patience very soon at least on the issue of price rise. So Prime Minister Narendra Modi must act withoult any delay to bring down the prices of essential commodities and food items so that the message could among the public that this is the government that acts. As far as the presensence of heads of governments of Saarc nations at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony at his invitation is concerned, it is noble attempt to improve relations with all neighbours in South Asia. It also shows the statesmanship of our new Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Every one knows that talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his visiting Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Shaif will give no result, but the start has to be made that Modi did successfully. By cutting the size of his Council of Ministers considerably in comparison to the previous government's huge and heavy one, PM Modi has given first signal that he is going to do in the same way as he promised to do while election campaignings. Minimum government and maximum governance was his slogan in the election campaigning. So, his Council of Ministers reflects it amply. It will not only cut down the expenditure of the government in this very tight position but also streamline its functioning.

Sharif's overture to peace

With the confirmation of acceptance of invitation by Pak premier Nawaz Sharif to visit India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister - designate Narendra Modi, Pak Premier has made it clear that he wants to improve relations with India and establish peace in the region. Though there is still not any clarity about Sharif's agenda of visit to India or any bilateral talk with Indian Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif has given very positive signal by responding to Modi's invitation very positively and his attendance at the swearing-in ceremony of Modi on May 26 will a fillip to peace process between the two neighbours. Nawaz Sharif has taken very bold step to visit India and attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister designate Narendra despite resistance of hardliners, Pak army and ISI. Jama-Ud-Dawa boss Hafiz Saeed, who is the mastermind of 26/11 attack on Mumbai, has openly opposed Sharif’s visit to India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi. The acerbic speech against Pakistan during the electioneering by PM designate Narendra Modi is known to all. It is also well-known that Modi's BJP is known to polarize the majority community in its favour in India by speaking against Pakistan during election time. Narendra Modi did it very successfully. If Narendra Modi wants to project himself as a liberal leader after winning the elections with massive mandate, why did he go all out against Pakistan during electioneering for beheading of the two Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani soldiers? At that time it appeared that the moment Narendra Modi would form the government at the Centre, he would give order to Indian army to do tit for tat against Pakistani soldiers posted on the border on their side. Prime Minister designate must know that the people of the nation have very quickly understood that his party BJP just does opposite in the government to what it does while in opposition. Though it is a very good move to invite all the leaders of saarc nations to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM designate Narendra Modi, overenthusiam may prove to be detrimental to national interest. It may be possible that the army the most powerful in Pakistan may have given green signal to Nawaz Shaif to visit India at this auspicious occasion so that a message could go across the world that Pakistan is very much interested to improve relations with India. As far as personal interest of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in improving relations with India is concerned, his record has been positive. But the question here arises how far he can go towards improving relations with India without the active cooperation of Army, ISI and militant organizations in Pakistan. Army has always been the most important voice in Pakistani establishment irrespective of who rules there. Pak army has always been supreme, no matter army or civilian rule is in place there. India must always be wary of Par army because it was Sharif who was Pak premier when despite the creation of euphoria over the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's bus ride to Lahore in 1999, Kargil war was imposed on us by Pak army, though we defeated them convincingly. And as a consequence of it, army staged a coup and Nawaz Sharif was deposed. So, the governments of India and Pakistan must not create any euphoria over Sharif's visit to India and be always alive to the developing situation.

Friendly gesture

Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi has invited all the heads of governments of the SAARC countries to his swearing-in-ceremony to be held on May 26 in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. It shows that he wants friendly relations with all the neighbours. It also gives signals his primacy to peace and development in the neighbourhood. Modi is going to focus on foreign policy matters in a very positive way. The invitation to Pak Premier Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in-ceremony gives clear signal that Narendra Modi usually known as the bitter critic of India’s arch rival Pakistan now very much interested in establishing peace in the neighbourhood. Though Pakistan foreign ministry has confirmed the invitation, Nawaz Sharif’s participation in the swearing ceremony is yer to be decided by Pak establishment. Since Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi has got absolute majority in the Lok Sabha elections, he has appeared very positive, friendly and a forward-looking personality to give India a new way of peace and development. By inviting all the heads of SAARC countries, especially Pakistan, Narendra Modi wants to give a clear message to the world that the perception of his being hardliner which was created by his rival political leaders at home and abroad is totally false and he solely believes in peace with all. He has also given the message in the neighbourhood that there is no need to be frightened with his being the prime minister of India. As far as India’s arch rival Pakistan is concerned, Narendra Modi wants it to be rest assured that he would never behave with it in such a way as it could displease it. As long as he and his party Bharatiya Janata Party was in opposition, he always opposed any attempt of the previous government to improve relations with Pakistan. So, an impression was created that he was against Pakistan and animosity with it would increase with Narendra Modi at the helms of affairs in India. As far as relation of India with its neighbours is concerned, it has been bitter during the previous government. Narendra Modi has felt it rightly. That is why it is for the first time that all the heads of governments of Saarc nation have been invited to attend the swearing-in- ceremony of India's PM. An impression will be made that the new government in India is inclined to establish friendly relations with all its neighbours. Friendly relation with neighbours is good but it must not be at the cost of national interest. The BJP-led NDA government under the prime ministership of Atal Behari Vajpayee had very good relation with Bangladesh but how it treated with our BSF personnel is known to all. Another incident is of the hijack of Indian airlines to Kandhar and at that time Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had very good relations with neighbouring countries. So, good and friendly relation is the need of the hour, but not at national interests.

War of ideology

Congress leader and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi, who is compared with her grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi in look and charishma, has rightly said to the Congress workers that her cousin Barun Gandhi has gone astray to contest LS election as BJP candidate. So, it is not a family tea party but an ideological war in Lok Sabha elections. She also appealed to Congressmen to bring him back on the right path by casting votes against him. Barun Gandhi is fighting Lok Sabha elections as BJP candidate from Sultanpur under which comes Amethi from where Priyanka’s brother Rahul Gandhi is fighting for the third term. Undoubtedly, Barun Gandhi also represents Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.He is the son of late Sanjay Gandhi, who was a Congress leader and younger son of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. Priyanka being the in charge of Amethi and Raeberali constituencies for Rahul Gandhi and Mother Sonia Gandhi respectively has rightly alleged that Barun has betrayed the family by accepting divisive politics of BJP against which Gandhi family has made great sacrifices. Rajiv and Indira Gandhi were killed by terrorists. Indira and Rajiv sacrificed their lives for keeping India united and its secular fabric intact. They always fought under the banner of Congress Party against the BJP. Even Sanjay Gandhi took BJP head on. He was the youthful face of the Congress Party, though died premature in a tragic plan crash. Having kept all these things in view, it is apparent that Barun and Maneka Gandhi, both are BJP leaders, accepted the divisive ideological belief in stark opposition to their family’s political and ideological belief. Due to the family differences, Maneka Gandhi and her son Barun Gandhi chose the other way that is completely different from Nehru-Gandhi family thought, belief and ideology. Because of this, they have naturally lost the advantage of public attraction for Nehru-Gandhi family attraction. This time, Barun Gandhi has chosen to fight Lok Sabha elections as BJP candidate from Sultanpur with the intention of getting public sympathy because of belonging to Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. To make the matter clear among Congress workers of Sultanpur, Priyanka Gandhi asked them to vote against him so that he could be brought back on the right path of secularism to which Nehru-Gandhi family has inalienable bond. It appears clear from her appearance, body language, tone and tenor that Priyanka Gandhi takes after her charismatic grandmother Indira Gandhi. This time, the Congress party is passing through difficulty in the Lok Sabha elections because of anti-establishment anger of the people. Congress needs a charishmatic leader like Priyanka Gandhi at this juncture. Priyanka Gandhi is the last trump card of the Congress party and it is almost certain that if it fared as badly as predicted in this Lok Sabha elections, she would definitely made a decisive plunge into electoral politics and take the party out of woods.

AAP’s Delhi bastion shaking

Delhi is the bastion of Aam Admi Party. It has born here and risen to eminence in the shortest possible time. Within a year of its birth, AAP came to power by winning 28 assembly seats in Delhi elections last year. It has fought both the major political parties-Congress and BJP- in Delhi. It has labeled both of them as corrupt and inefficient to provide good government to Delhiites. It appealed the people in Delhi most. Delhiites felt that they got alternative to the mainstream political parties. That is why they supported AAP in assembly elections. With spectacular victory in Delhi assembly elections, AAP formed government and its convener Arvind Kejriwal became the Chief Minister. AAP promptly delivered its promises made to the Delhiites immediately after forming government. It reduced electricity rate by half and provided free supply of water up to 700 litres per day. As the Arvind Kejriwal government was dependent on the outside support of the Congress Party, CM failed to get along with coalition partner and ultimately resigned in only 49 days on his own. It was not his inability but inexperience and over ambition to emerge on the nation political scene to make claim for the post of prime minister after Lok Sabha elections that Arvind Kejriwal resigned. But 49 days of Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi left at least one thing in the mind of Delhiites that it was an honest government and it had noble intention to serve them with honesty and sincerity. Arvind Kejriwal’s running away from the government is because of his inexperience and lack ability to cope with political and administrative challenges. This tendency may have shaken the faith of Delhiites in his commitment, and that is bound to reflect in the result of Lok Sabha elections for all the seven seats. Opinion polls undertaken by different media agencies also point clearly that AAP is not going to bag all the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi because of the drifting of its supporters towards Congress and BJP. As BJP had emerged as the largest party in assembly elections, it would bag up to five Lok Sabha seats as predicted by an opinion poll. Congress is also improving its position and trying hard to retrieve its pre-eminent position in Delhi. And it may get 1 and AAP’s position slid from its unenviable position in Delhi assembly elections. The graph of BJP is bound to go up because of the 10 years of anti-incumbency factor of the Congress-led UPA government going in its favour. As Congress-led UPA government has completely failed to rein in corruption and price rise, the ire of the people against it is just natural. Whatever may be the result of Delhi assembly elections, one thing is certain that Delhiites are convinced that it is only AAP which can not compromise with corruption. They also feel that it is only AAP which can provide corruption free government and have intent to act against price rise to provide relief to the poor Delhiites.

BJP’s impatience for power

To get power by hook or by crook has been the ultimate aim of every political party. No matter how elections are won, they have to be won at all costs. The main opposition party BJP in whose favour 10 years of anti-incumbency factor of the UPA government is going in this general election is in upbeat mood. It inducts every leader of consequence without checking his or her background to win elections. A few days back, Hindu Sena Chief Pramod Muttalik was inducted in the BJP by its Karnataka unit without taking national leadership into confidence. It was done only to boost votes for the BJP to win elections. But when nationwide hue and cry over induction of controversial leader raised against whom there was a charge of vandalizing the pub and attacking the women, the central leadership swung into action and annuled his membership of the party. This incident shows that the BJP wants to win elections even at the cost of compromising with the ideology. The same incident occurred on Friday when the expelled controversial JD (U) leader Sabir Ali was inducted into the party at the recommendation of the Bihar unit. Just after Sabir Ali’s induction, the voice of opposition to his entry raised from within the party. It was raised by none other than one of the most senior leaders and minority face of the party Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. He called Sabir Ali the friend of dreaded IM terrorist Bhatkal, and also made critical comment on the party leadership in his tweet that after Sabir Ali, the underworld don and India’s most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim could also join the BJP. It is not only Naqvi but several other senior BJP leaders and party’s doting parent Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) have already expressed displeasure over Sabir Ali’s induction into the party. This amply reflects that there is deep anguish and disquiet among the senior BJP leaders over the entry of controversial expelled JD(U) leader in the party. It is correct that Sabir Ali is a Muslim leader and his induction into the party would atract Muslim minority towards it in the election time. But when his personality is controversial and his entry into the party would give the message among the public that when the question of votes arises, BJP is no different from the Congress party and it has also no qualm in compromising even with its core ideology. Fight against terrorism has been the main party plank on which it seeks vote in elections. But when BJP leaders themselves question the credentials of the new entrant on the issue of terrorism, how would the general people believe its commitment to fight against terrorism. Apart from the controversial political background, Sabir Ali never tired of attacking BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi when he was in JD(U). He was the most vocal voice in JD(U) against Narendra Modi. BJP must have thought twice before inducting Sabir Ali into the party. Its blindness to reason in pursuit of winning elections will ultimately alienate lakhs of committed cadres and workers.

Face saver for Advani

The way BJP is behaving with its patriarch is wrong and sending the clear message that all is not well within the party. Everything may be right in fight for power, but not in terms of behaviour with the seniormost leader. It is nothing but the power struggle in the open. Infighting for getting power within Bhartiya Janta Party among senior leaders is not new. Advani should know that his marginalisation in the BJP began with party's fountainhead RSS taking side with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Since the appointment of Narendra Modi as Election Committee Chairman against the wishes of Party’s patriarch Lal Krishna Advani, it became open that a section of senior leaders is against Modi’s emergence for top post. Advani in a fit of anger resigned from all party posts and wrote a letter to Party president Rajnath Singh expressing his displeasure over ongoing activities in it and its deviation from its path. Anyhow Advani was mollified for the time being and he withdrew his resignation. After that, Narendra Modi was made PM candidate in 2014 Lok Sabha elections and this decision had full backing of BJP’s doting parent Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh( RSS). Despite the fact that BJP cannot move even an inch without the approval of RSS, Advani failed to realize that Modi’s emergence for the top post of prime ministership of the nation if ever the party won Lok Sabha elections has RSS blessing. Advani has also failed to realize that generational shift is taking place in the party very fast and it has come to know that it cannot win power under his leadership. He is also no longer the blue-eyed boy of RSS. It is also a fact that Advani has been nursing the ambition of prime ministership. Undoubtedly, he is not only the tallest leader of the BJP after the retirement of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee but also of the nation. So the BJP must pay utmost respect to him. Otherwise, a message will go out in the public that when the party does not respect to its senior most leader, what it will do with the nation. Advani also understands that 10 years of anti-incumbency of the ruling Congress will go in favour of the main opposition BJP. It is also a fact that BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi has galvanized the public through his vigorous campaigning all over the nation against corruption and price rise during 10 years of UPA rule. His encouraging speech has made the party workers all over the nation upbeat. Both the BJP leadership and the RSS must realize the displeasure of the party’s patriarch off and on does not augur well for the party despite Modi’s wave as claimed by it in this Lok Sabha election. BJP’s patriarch has been representing Gandhinagar seat in the Lok Sabha since 91. He has won five times from Gandhinagar since 1991. This time amidst apprehension of Modimen going against him there to damage his election prospect, Advani showed reluctance to stand from there and expressed his desire to fight from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat in MP. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is considered to be his loyalist, and in the present scenario of the party MP CM is more reliable than Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for Advani. But as RSS is not on the side of Advani any longer, he had to bow to party’s wishes to fight from Gandhinagar seat. Though RSS succeeds so far in dousing the fire in BJP, horrible fire is yet to erupt in the party over the issue of prime ministership if ever it wins Lok Sabha elections.

A big flop show

It has become a fashion among our politicians that before every Lok Sabha election all chief ministers of opposition parties in different states start taking initiatives to form a front of like-minded political parties to stake claim for the post of Prime Minister if ever hung Lok Sabha would be thrown up. Undoubtedly, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamul Congress boss Mamata Bannerji moved in this way and started advocating of forming a Federal Front to realize her prime ministerial ambition after the Lok Sabha elections. To take her prime ministerial ambition to the logical end, she got the support of noted social activist Anna Hazare all of a sudden. Anna Hazare, social activist and anti-corruption crusader, who stirred the people of the nation and forced the Manmohan Singh government to pass Lokpal Bill to combat corruption, wrote letters to 17 political parties inscribing in it some valuable points to check corruption but no one except Mamata Bannerji responded to his letter and that is why he offered his support to her Trinamul Congress in the Lok Sabha elections. This is the first time Anna had offered his support to any political party of the country. It is on the issue of forming political party the differences between his former lieutenant, most obedient disciple and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that the separation between the two took place. Anna and Kejriwal chose their own ways. Arvind Kejriwal ultimately formed a political outfit Aam Admi Party (AAP), which won Delhi assembly elections and formed government, though it lasted only 49 days. Anna was the most popular personality in India as long as he fought against corruption by being apolitical. His apolitical status appealed the youths most and because of this he became the most popular anti-corruption crusader of the nation. But once he sided with a political party - Mamata's Trinamul Congress, he no longer remained apolitical and lost some support. His coming on TV channels in an advertisement appealing the countrymen to support Mamata Bannerjee also did not go well with the general public. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerji failed to understand that Anna was icon among the youths and general people as long as he remained apolitical. People extended him massive support to fight against corruption, and not for favouring this or that political party. No chief minister belonging to state-based political party can pull the crowd in national capital New Delhi at a meeting without proper canvassing and propaganda. Anna Hazare seems to have gauzed the people’s response to Mamata’s rally in advance and expressed his inability to participate in the meeting on health ground. He may have fallen ill suddenly as he is old and feeble, but his absence at the meeting embarrassed Mamata Bannerji most. It was necessary also for Mamata to address the empty chairs to realize the fact that she is not as much popular as in her home state West Bengal. It also reflects that she needs to remain in Bengal for years before aspiring for the post of prime minister.

Internal tussle over ticket distribution in BJP

With the approaching of the Lok Sabha elections, every political parties are busy with distribution of tickets to candidates to contest elections. All are facing problems with this task and internal tussle among the candidates to get the choicest seats have come into open. Leaving one party and joining another by politicians is a normal development when elections are at hand. Every political party faces this problem. As far as the internal tussle in the main opposition party the Bhartiya Janata Party over ticket distribution is concerned, it has come into open. The way senior leaders in BJP were sidelined and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was projected as PM candidate has made the reality amply clear and gives clear signal that the days of elders in the party are numbered. But they are not prepared to hang their boots up if the tone and tenure of one of the most senior BJP leaders and former party president Murli Manohar Joshi at his press conference about the media speculation that his Varanasi Lok Sabha seat is being given to PM candidate Narendra Modi to make his victory sure and certain is anything to go by, it is clear that he is inclined to fight from Varanasi and not in a mood to leave for any one. Likewise, BJP MP Lalji Tandon from Lucknow has already made it clear that he is not going to leave the seat for party president Rajnath Singh to contest from there. There are reports in media that Rajnath Singh presently representing Ghaziabad is in a mood to contest this time from Lucknow. Undoubtedly, anti-incumbency factor of UPA is going in favour of BJP-led NDA. If the opinion polls and different surveys are anything to go by, BJP is far ahead of UPA in the coming Lok Sabha elections. With Narendra Modi as BJP PM candidate, his forceful and convincing speech and his attack on Congress-led UPA against corruption and price rise have certainly stirred the people to vote for change of the government at the Centre. But as the internal bickering has been the bane of BJP, which has already proved disastrous for the party in 2009 Lok Sabha elections, it appears that this time it is also heading to meet the same fate if the problems of ticket distribution are not sorted out amicably without any loss of time. BJP openly claims that there is Modi wave in the nation. If that is so on the ground, why its PM candidate Modi himself is looking for a safe LS seat. He is the prime ministerial candidate and if onion polls are anything to go by, he is also the first choice for prime ministership. He can contest from anywhere and win to prove his popularity. Whatever Naredra Modi wave is in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, BJP senior leaders also want to take advantage of it and that is why they are reluctant to leave the seats which are considered party’s bastions. The need of the hour for BJP is to present united face before the people in Lok Sabha elections. Otherwise, all its claims of wave will fizzle out.

Right reason behind refusal

Retired Supreme Court Judge K T Thomas has rightly refused to head Lokpal Search Panel on the ground of its futility. It is correct to say that when there is need or need not to accept search panel recommendation by the Select Committee, it is a futile exercise. The search panel recommendation has no binding on select panel. So, it is not worthwhile to head the search panel. Eminent jurist Fali Nariman has already opted out of the panel on the ground that the best would be get overlooked. The resignations of these two eminent jurists cast doubt on the intention of the government. Lokpal Select Committee consists of Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha Speaker, Supreme Court Judge and eminent jurist. The Select Committee would recommend name to President to give his assent for the appointment of the top anti-corruption watch dog Lokpal against corruption. The appointment of Lokpal had been hanging in balance since 1968 when it was initiated for the first time in Parliament. The ground reality behind its being hanging in balance for so long time is that no government at the Centre irrespective of political party was inclined to appoint top anti-corruption watch dog Lokpal. When the protests were launched all over India under the leadership of social activist Anna Hazare that galvanized the people against corruption, the Manmohan Singh-led UPA-II government was forced to act. In August 2011, the protest against corruption was so strong in Delhi under the leadership Anna Hazare in Delhi, who sat on fast unto death at Ramlila Maidan for Jan Lokpal(Lokpal), that the entire Parliament saluted him and assured of introducing the Lokpal Bill. The protests against corruption were so strong that it appeared as if entire Delhi came out on the streets in support of the protesters. It is not only in Delhi Anna Hazare campaign against corruption also galvanized the entire nation equally. It appeared as if a wave was blowing across the nation against corruption. Realizing the anger of the people, both the ruling and opposition parties agreed in principle to introduce and pass the Lokpal Bill in Parliament. Parliament passed it and the nation hoped to get it finally. But as the transparency and impartiality in the process of appointment of Lokpal is suspect, there may be once again a long wait. Justice Thomas and jurist Nariman have resigned from Search Panel. Retired Justice Thomas refusal to head the search panel is right because when there is no binding of its recommendation on the Select Panel, what is its utility? Government must make its intention clear. Otherwise, the appointment of Lokpal will remain elusive.

Evolve self-correcting mechanism

In the recent days, lots of paid news have come to light. There is an allegation that some media organizations are publishing paid news to boost their finance. This is very bad. Media has a great role and responsibility in building a nation. It is the eyes and ears of the people. Neutrality must be maintained by all media houses at all costs. Media person and organization must not be pro or anti-government. They must always be pro-people. They must publish news articles in an impartial ways. They should always be unbiased towards any issue confronting the society. Every news article must be weighed and be given prominence according to its informative, social and national value. Press is the watch dog of society. If it resorts to paid news for mopping up its finance, what will happen to society? It makes opinion against and in favour of any issue. So, its impartiality must be kept intact. Paid news is meant to serve the interest of an individual or organization. So, any encouragement to paid news by some publications will jeopardize their credibility. To check publishing of paid news, self correcting mechanism is the best way. First of all, media has the responsibility to give the nation a direction how to deal with the burning issues like poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and uneven development in society. Press is the fourth estate so it can also not connive with its responsibility of nation building. It is not a shop of consumer goods always eyeing on profit by packaging them attractively. Media must not be marketised and it should not operate at the direction of Corporate. Media is the voice of the voiceless. So, it must bring out issues of poverty and underdevelopment in society before the government of the day and hold debate and discussion on them to find out their solutions in the best way. Press must bring the news as it is before the people but must not put with the intention of serving the interest of a particular person or organization. In the age of breaking news at every minute, the mediamen are in so made haste to break it before the people so to be ahead of all other media organizations, they do not care to know about its authencity. To produce a news story in a sensational way is also not good. This type of news create panic and fear among the people. President Pranab Mukherjee has rightly voiced his concern over the practice of paid news by some publications to mop up revenue.

Third Front takes shape

Third Front idea is good for the political environment of the country.In view of the approaching Lok Sabha elections, the formation of political conglomeration of 11 non-Congress and non-BJP political parties is good for the people to make choice. Third Front consists of non-BJP and non-Congress political parties. The idea of third front is a necessity for the nation at this political juncture where it appears that there are only two political parties capable of providing government to the people after the Lok Sabha elections. Third Front leaders have met in Delhi and vowed to provide a non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and non-Congress Party alternative to the people of the country. The meeting was attended by eleven leaders of main regional parties and they focused on strengthening the democratic framework, accountability in the government and establishing a firm secular order in the country. Though this is not the first time that the Third Front is going to take shape, at least it has formed governments three times in the past and run them successfully. It has failed to succeed because of the over ambitious nature of its leaders. If it has to succeed, the leaders of the third front must keep their personal interests set aside to give the people a permanent political alternative to non-Congress and non-BJP. All the times in the past whenever third front government was formed, it provided a clean and efficient government to the people of the nation. Left parties have always played a pivotal roles in the formation of Third Front. The eleven parties that participated in the meeting of third front must first of all try hard to expand it by persuading Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnayak of BJD, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee of TMC, BSP supremo Mayawati and DMK supremo Karunanidhi to come on their platform to provide a solid alternative to non-Congress and non-BJP . This type of political front is the need of the hour for the country. It is also open that BSP, SP, DMK and AIADMK are sworn enemies in their respective states. They are politically on the two opposite ends in their respective states. Barring Left, the influence of all the parties in third front is confined to the boundary of the state in which they operate. Left Parties have the ability and capability to give the conglomerate of the 11 parties a shape. There is multi-party democracy. Congress and BJP try to make it a bipolar political system. It is not good for Indian democracy. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jaylaliththa, Uttar Pradesh ruling SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav should keep their rivalries against Left, DMK and BSP respectively to the state level politics and come on the single platform to give an alternative to non-Congress and non-BJP to the people on permanent basis. It is in the interest of the nation. The stronger alternative to non-Congress and non-BJP is provided, the better result it will give the nation.

Lalu down, but not out

The report of 13 RJD MLAs breaking away from the RJD in Bihar and forming a separate group in the assembly to support the Nitish Kumar government may be a set back for party supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav but it can definitely be said that he still holds influence on the M-Y equation of votes built by him in the state. Though nine of the 13 RJD MLAs have got back into the party fold and participated in the legislative party meeting called by Lalu in Patna and expressed confidence in his leadership, one thing is certainly clear that his grip on the party has loosened a little. Lalu Prasad can not fight elections as he is a convict in fodder scam. Now-a-days, he is on bail from Supreme Court but not freed from any charge. After the release from the jail in Ranchi where he was undergoing imprisonment in the fodder scam, there appeared among Muslims, Yadavs and his other vote banks a renewed sympathy for him that could pave way for him to come in the limelight. But the developing situation within his party can not give him solace especially during the time Lok Sabha election is at hand. It also reflects that there is certainly some unease among his party MLAs because of his strong advocacy in favour of the Congress Party with which he is adamant to make poll pact in the Lok Sabha elections. It may be possible that the ruling JD(U) under the instruction directly from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would have poached on RJD MLAs to make up the shotage of MLA for proving majority in the assembly if ever vote of no confidence is moved against the government in the assembly at any point of time in the future. Undoubtedly, Lalu Prasad is the single leader in Bihar who can stand upto the rising popularity of BJP under the leadership of its PM candidate Narendra Modi. He can stop Modi’s Rath in Bihar as he had stopped BJP patriach L K Advani’s Rath in Samastipur in the state 24 years back. In alliance with Congress, Lalu Prasad Yadav is still the biggest force in Bihar to keep the secular credential of the nation intact. There may be corruption charges and the charges of misgovernance in Bihar for 15 years that the Lalu-Rabri duo ruled the state, but it is he who gave voice to the voiceless in the state. It is not only Lalu but almost all the leaders across the party practises caste-based politics. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of JD(U) is also practising caste-based politics. He has also divided society on caste lines. Dalits and Mahadalits are examples in sight. The present political scenario in Bihar is that no political party can claim to be in command in the coming Lok Sabha elections. BJP has cetainly created a wave like situation in favour of its PM candidate Modi but as far as the natural support for an individual leader is considered, it is again only Lalu among Muslims and Yadavs who are still his strong supporters.

Kejriwal's escape route

By resigning as Chief Minister of Delhi over the issue of Jan Lokpal Bill, Arvind Kejriwal has found his escape route. He resigned because his Jan Lokpal Bill to fight corruption was voted out by the opposition BJP, supporting party Congress, JD (U) and lone Independent MLA on the ground that its way of introduction is unconstitutional . The entire house except the ruling Aam Admi party did not oppose it because it was the suitable weapon to fight corruption but because of its unconstitutional way of introduction in Delhi Assembly. Delhi is yet to get full statehood and it is still a Union Territory. No Bill in the Delhi assembly can be introduced without the nod of Lt. Governor Najib Jung. If the Bill requires finance from the consolidated fund of Government of India, it must take approval from the ministry of Home. Neither Lt. Governor nor the Ministry of Home was taken into confidence by the AAP government and introduced the Jan Lokpal Bill on its own to fight corruption. Lt. Governor Najib Jung had already asked the Speaker of Delhi assembly not to allow the introduction of Jan Lokpal Bill as it is unconstitutional. But as Kejriwal was adamant on introducing the bill to martyr himself on the issue of fighting corruption, AAP government resigned under a well-thought out design to exploit it politically in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Undoubtedly, Arvind Kejriwal is honest in every respect but at the same time he is adept in blaming and defaming others. By resigning over the issue of Jan Lokpal, he has tried to give the message among the people that only he and his Aam Admi party leaders and workers are honest and the rest are dishonest and corrupt. But one message has gone among the public loud and clear that governance is out of question for him and he and his Cabinet have run away from the responsibility given to them by Delhiites. Now Delhiites will certainly think twice before casting vote in favour of Arvind Kejriwal. Being the head of the Government, Arvind Kejriwal should have been more patient and considerate. If he was so much interested to deliver on the promises he made to the people of Delhi, he can not do it by running away from responsibility. He can not deliver on the promises on streets. To fulfill them, he has to be in government. If he was so much interested in passing the Jan Lokpal Bill, he could have put pressure on the Centre to get clearance from it. So, his resignation is a well-calculated move to fight Lok Sabha elections and tell the people that he resigned because he failed to pass Jan Lokpal Bill to fight corruption as promised to Delhiites.

Blot on democracy

February 13, 2014 has turned out to be the blackest day for democracy in India because of the most unseemly behaviour by some MPs inside Parliament on this day. It is not that this shame is tagged to it because of anyone else’s action but some of the members of Parliament inside it. The moment Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde rose to introduce the Telangana Bill, a member of the House reportedly expelled by Congress only yesterday used pepper spray and some other supporters and opponents of Telangana started fisticuffs. The pepper spraying caused coughing and nauseating feeling among the members inside Parliament and even some complained of uneasiness who were immediately provided medical aids. The reports have also emerged through TV news channels that even one of the TDP MPs swung even knife in the Lok Sabha. For some moments, a complete chaos occurred inside the Parliament and members started running to get out of the Parliament. Some members fell inside it and they were sent to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for first medical aid. The pepper spraying even caused coughing to Speaker Meira Kumar. Though this is most unsavoury incident in the history of Indian Parliament, this has been condemned by all parties and leaders. They have demanded severe punishment to the members who have acted like criminals inside Parliament. The government must not escape from its responsibility to hold the parliamentary session peacefully. The tension over Telangana had already been running high since the beginning of the last session of Parliament before Lok Sabha elections. Both opponents and supporters of Telangana had taken their respective political stands. UPA government had already committed itself to Telangana without taking into confidence all stakeholders. The demand for Telangana is not new. It is as old as the demand for separate state in other corners of the nation. Some new separate states were also created without any acrimony and bitterness as is being seen in the case of Telangana. Most of the MPs irrespective of the political affiliations are not in favour of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to make Telangana. They oppose any attempt to divide Andhra Pradesh. While the MPs from Telangana region want a separate state at all cost. Congress-led UPA committed to Telangana because of its dipping political prospects in the Seemandhra region. So by conceding the demand of Telangana to the people of the region, Congress party tries to compensate its political loss in Seemandhra region. That is why the nation is witnessing the most shameful incident inside Lok Sabha because of the most unruly behaviour of its members from Andhra Pradesh. Though Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar suspended 18 MPs for this most unseemly and unprecented incident, they have broken the laws and action must be taken as law demands against criminal act. The action of these MPs clearly reflected their criminal intents. So mere suspension of 18 MPs for the remaining period of the session would be like letting them off very lightly. They have committed crime inside the Parliament so the deterrent punishment would be institution of criminal case against them. Being the largest democracy of the world, our heads hang in shame over the unseemly action of our lawmakers inside the Parliament. When lawmakers break the law willfully, what can we expect from others? No one is above the law so criminal case must be lodged against all those MPs who were involved in fisticuffs and pepper spraying.

Demeaning Parliament

It now clearly appears that our members of Parliament have lost sense of courtesy, discipline and accountability. There is free for all inside the Parliament. MPs behave as if they owe no responsibility to the people who have sent them here. They are only denigrating all democratic values and importance. They demean Parliament to the lowest level. Parliament is considered as the temple of democracy. But its sanctity is now openly flouted by its own members. The situation in Parliament for the last 5 years is no better than a fish market where only noise is heard. Its honourable members maintain neither any discipline nor courtesy and decorum inside the Parliament. Since the announcement of a separate state of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh was announced by Manmohan Singh-led UPA-II government, its opponent and supporter have made it a point not to run the Parliament. All limits of parliamentary discipline, courtesy and decorum were crossed today when the four of UPA Union Ministers from Andhra Pradesh ran into the well against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana and forced the Union Railways Minister to stop his interim railway budget speech and lay his budgetary speech papers on the table of the House. This is first time that a Parliamentary proceeding on the day of rail budget has been disrupted in this way. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed extreme unhappiness over the unruly behaviour of MPs. He has said that his heart bleeds to see what is happening in the House. This is very unfortunate that our representatives in Parliament adopt this type of unruly behaviour. How can the people expect to make law from these types of lawmakers when they themselves indulge in unruly behaviour inside the House? This is very bad omen for democracy. It is natural for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to become very sad over disruptions in Parliament. But has he even once thought why this type of anarchy and bedlam have been created in Parliament over Telangana? If Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had developed consensus over the creation of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, this type of unsavoury situation would not have arisen in the Parliament. The demand for the creation of a separate state of Telangana is not new. It is a decade long demand. It means that the UPA government went for Telangana only to compensate its possible political loss due to its unpopularity in Andhra Pradesh. The UPA government’s political move of Telangana has backfired on it. Huge public exchequer is wasted daily because of disruptions in Parliament. At least Six bills of public interest are pending. And now there is no hope of passing them. This type of disruptions in Parliament is very dangerous sign for democracy. People are watching keenly the drama of chaos and anarchy inside the Parliament.

Softening of US towards Modi

The meeting, which is to be held this week, between US ambassador Nancy Powell and Chief Minister of Gujarat Naredra Modi in Ahmedabad amply reflects that the US is now softening its stance towards him. US appears to have felt that that it can now no longer ignore Modi, whom it denied visas for more than a decade, because of his rising popularity since he was made BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held in April-May. The crowds Modi draws in every meeting amply reflect that he could well become the Prime Minister by winning majority in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Though the US has said that it is a part of its concentrated outreach to political and business leaders, it is endeavour to keep in touch with possible PM. It is a fact that India being its close strategic partner, the US can not ignore the political leader who could well become the Prime Minister. As far as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is concerned, he is a duly elected chief Minister of an Indian state. There is nothing wrong in meeting between Modi and US ambassador. Modi is holding a high constitutional post. Denying him visa by the US as yet is nothing but its highhandedness and an endeavour to defame a duly elected leader of India. Before this meeting between Modi and Nancy Powell, the German ambassador and UK high commissioner have already met him. As far as the alleged involvement and role of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat riots is concerned, it is under Indian investigative and judiciary to decide his culpability. The SIT has already given him the clean chit. US has no right to interfere in our internal matter. It also matters little whether the US gives Modi visa or not not. But this week meeting of the US ambassador Nancy Powell with Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad clearly reflects that the message about the strong possibility of his emergence as the possible winner in Lok Sabha elections has gone out. And India’s strategic importance for the US has compelled it to send its ambassador to Ahmedabad to meet Narendra Modi. US softening of stance with Modi also makes it clear that the super power has started seeing him as the possible premier of India. US has nothing to do with Congress and BJP. It only sees its own interest. So, it has started to keep the future door in India open if ever Modi becomes the prime Minister.

Cong must consider Dwivedi’s views on reservation

Congress party must consider the suggestion of its Spokesperson and General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi that reservation must be based only on economic criteria, and not caste to uplift the society. He has made a blistering attack on the growing casteist policy being pursued by regional leaders mostly to build a secure caste-based vote bank for them. Caste-based reservation divides the society vertically on caste lines. Though advocacy of doing away with caste-based reservation and replacing it with economic-based reservation is Dwivedi’s personal view, the Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi must consider his view on reservation in the present day perspective. His view on reservation is most welcome to serve the true purpose of society. Reservation has only been provided to all sections of society on equal pedestal. And it can be only possible when reservation for jobs and admission in eduactional instution will only be based on economic basis. Now, the caste-based reservation in govt. jobs, admission in educational institutions has been in force for more than 60 years. However, no assessment has ever been made whether it has benefited the socially and educationally backward class people to serve the purpose or its benefit has been availed only by the people of socially and economically people of upper strata among backward classes, and the economically backward in real term have remained deprived of reservation benefit. It is a fact that the benefit of reservation in government/ PSUs jobs and admission in educational institutions has not reached to the really poor among OBCs or SC/STs. The benefit of reservation has either been availed by sons and daughters of the well off political leaders among SC/ ST, OBCs or by the effluent class people among them. Caste-based reservation may be according to the spirit of our Constitution but it has certainly not been beneficial to people who are really economically backward among reservation castes. Reservation also is a compromise with merit. It is retarding the growth of the nation, which is starkly evident that even after 65 years of Independence; we are lagging behind development in several aspects because of the caste-based reservation. Congress Party has been the chief exponent of caste-based reservation since its introduction. Caste-based reservation has only divided the society and promoted acrimony. Merit has been given a go by. So, the time has come to re-think on the issue of reservation by the political parties in power why we should not replace caste-based reservation with economic-based one to uplift the society in real sense of the spirit of Constitution. If economy is made the sole criterion of reservation, the larger number of people among SC/STs and OBCs will be benefited because they account for the largest number of reserved class people. Economic-based reservation will only serve the purpose for which our Constitutional maker incorporated the provision of reservation in our Constitution. If economy is made the sole criteria for reservation, it will only be opposed by castiest political leaders who are themselves well off and availed all the benefits of reservation by exploiting their poor caste men politically. Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi has given an excellent idea to the party for fighting against poverty and casteism in society. So, the Congress Party must consider it in right earnest. It will bring about a revolutionary change in society and prove a game changer if the Congress Party supports Dwivedi’s views on reservation.

Rao and Sachin deserve Bharat Ratna

By conferring the highest civilian award the Bharat Ratna on legendary cricketer Sachin Tentulkar and eminent scientist Prof. CNR Rao, the nation has honoured them in the most suitable way. Bharat Ratna was conferred on them by the President Pranab Mukherjee at a brief ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Both the recipients deserved it. There are other legendary sports persons and eminent scientists who have already made the nation proud in different streams of sports and science also deserve to be awarded with Bharat Ratna to promote sports and science in a big way. No body disagrees with the decision of conferring Bharat Ratna on Sachin and Prof. CNR Rao, but at the same time the government of India must not lose sight of other sports persons and scientists of eminence and acknowledgement for the highest civilian award. Both legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof. CNR Rao have done exemplary service to the nation. They are eminent not only in the country but also all over the world. They have set the record, which is impossible to be broken. The entire nation and all cricket fans congratulate them for their memorable services to the nation. Both have contributed to the nation to take it to a new high. Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is so popular among his fans that they call him the god of cricket. No other batsman of the world in the contemporary cricket can be expected to break his achievement in making runs. Sachin has always been considered as an extra-ordinary cricket player who splendidly performed in all formats of the game. It does not matter to him whether it is a test, One-day or Twenty 20 match. He always performed on the field like a master player. Sachin was a master blaster who put the ball of every bowler out of the boundary line with exquisite technique and prowess. In a fitting finale to a record-breaking career spanning 24 years, Tendulkar, a former India Captain, was chosen for the prestigious award, after his farewell 200th Test against the West Indies in Mumbai on November 16, 2013. Tendulkar has been a true Ambassador of India in the world of sports and his achievements in cricket are unparallelled, the records set by him unmatched, and the spirit of sportsmanship displayed by him exemplary. That he has been honoured with several awards is testimony to his extraordinary brilliance as a sportsman. Tendulkar has played cricket across the world and won laurels for the country during the last 24 years since a young age of 16. Prof. CNR Rao is one of the most eminent scientists of the nation. His contribution to build scientific temperament among his students, colleagues and researchers is exemplary. He is an extra-ordinary genius in the field of chemical science. An outspoken scientist, Prof Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao is a well recognized international authority on solid state and materials chemistry who has published over 1,400 research papers and 45 books.He is the third scientist after C V Raman and former President A P J Abdul Kalam to be conferred with the Bharat Ratna.Prof Rao’s contributions have been recognized by most major scientific academies around the world through conferment of memberships and fellowships and has been honoured with several national and international awards.He currently serves as the Head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India. The Bharat Ratna was announced after a gap of four years with Hindustani music doyen Bhimsen Joshi being the last recipient in 2009.

Least performing 15th Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha constitute our Parliament. Lok Sabha is called Lower House while Rajya Sabha is called Upper House. Parliament is considered as the highest institution in democracy. It is the place where its members elected by the people discuss the issues of public concerns on priority basis. But in the recent years, the sanctity of Parliament has been lowered to such a level as could be called it a fish market. It is only due to the unseemly behaviour of the some members of Parliament irrespective of their party affiliations, it is stalled umpteen times when in session thereby hampering its business. The 15the Lok Sabha, which is to end in a month, is proving itself as the worst performing. Since the Manmohan Singh-led UPA Government came back to power in 2009 for the second consecutive time, no session of Parliament has been allowed to run business for the benefit of the people. For the non-functioning of Parliament, both the ruling and the opposition benches are equally responsible. Neither the opposition plays constructive role nor the ruling takes upon itself the responsibility to run the Parliament for the benefit of the people. This term of the UPA government also appears to be worst performing since the country got independence. In less than a month’s time, the 15th Lok Sabha’s term will come to an end with the dubious distinction of being the worst performing House since independence, passing the least number of bills (165) in a five-year term. Of the 126 bills pending in Parliament, 72 are pending in the Lower House, which means they will die when the new Lok Sabha is constituted. The remaining 54 bills pending in Rajya Sabha will live to see another day but considering that the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill has been waiting for passage since 1987, there is not much hope for them either. The ruling bench must understand that it has greater responsibility to transact parliamentary business so that it could successfully deal with the problem of the people. If the Parliament runs for fewer hours, it means it would address to fewer problems of the people. The deadlock in Parliament over one issue or the other in its successive sessions result in the drain of public exchequer and hamper the development of the nation. Unless and until the confrontationist attitude both by the ruling and by the opposition parties is abjured, no session of Parliament can transact business. In the recent days, it has been experienced that most of the members of Parliament are more interested in attracting media attention than involving themselves in reasoned debate and discussion to find the solution of people’s problems. People elect their representative to Parliament to raise their issues and discuss them threadbare to find the suitable solution. Instead of that, the members are always indulged in vociferous speech without any rhyme or reason. Their main motive is only to grab media attention no matter whether it is for right or wrong reasons.

Wake-up call for AAP

Though it will be too early to pass judgement on the performance of one month old government of Aam Admi Party in Delhi, the survey conducted by various TV news channels to get Delhiites reaction to the achievement of AAP government is neither encouraging nor discouraging. But one thing is certain that almost all surveys show that AAP popularity is no longer rising. Rather, AAP’s popularity is declining. The functioning of the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also not been liked by the majority of the people. As Delhi CM has failed to deliver on the promises for which he had set time frame while campaigning during assembly elections and said that he would fulfill if elected to power. His promises on electricity and water are yet to be translated on the ground. CM Kejriwal's protest in defiance of 144 by sitting on dharna to defend his law minister Somnath Bharti has also not gone down well with Delhiites. Within a month of his taking over the power in Delhi, one of his MLAs Vinod Kumar Binny rebelled against him and has made serious allegations against his way of functioning, which has damaged his reputation in a very short time. Kejriwal must take serious notice of the lapses on his part. Otherwise, he will be treated like all other political leaders belonging to different political parties, who never get tired of making big promises that remain unfulfilled. Delhiites hold him in highest esteem among all political leaders. People have very high expectation from the Arvind Kejriwal government and they have voted AAP only because they had become vexed with the functining of the established political parties. In the given situation if CM Arvind Kejriwal takes every step with an aim of espousing his political interest in view of the coming Lok Sabha election instead of concentrating on fulfilling the promises he made to the people within the given time frame, it will be his great political folly and he will prove to be a political balloon which is bound to burst very soon. Undoubtedly, AAP Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attracted Delhiites and the people from different corners of the nation by his simplicity, honesty and sincerity to solve the problems. His behaviour and connectivity with the general people kept him apart from the rest of politicians. Delhiites still support him and he must be given enough time to prove himself that how his way of governance is completely different from all others. For coming up to the expectations of Delhiites, AAP government will have to act sincerely to deliver in time and refrain from politicking to go national in a big way. AAP government will have to realize that they have not impressed so far very much and if they failed to make impression in Delhi, its future outside it will be in oblivion. So, it is time for AAP government to act sincerely to make a lasting impression on Delhiites and send the message outside that there is a political party called Aam Admi Party which can provide alternative in a better way to the established political parties like Congress and BJP.

Strengthen relation with Japan

Strengthening relation with Japan is in India’s benefit and it will always help keep the China in check in Asia. With the growing relations with Japan in the field of economy and security, India will be immensely benefited. The close and friendly relation between Japan and India will also play as balancing act in Asia. Otherwise, China will continue to consider itself to be the sole leader in the region. To establish its supremacy and dominance in Asia, China sees India as its formidable rival. Time and again, China’s People’s Liberation Army personnel do mischief by crossing the Line of Control(LoC) and put up tent to show its claim on a peace of Indian land to the world. It also time and again encroaches on Indian territory adjacent to the border of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. While Arunachal Pradesh is the integral part of India and it will remain so. China still hesitates in recognizing the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and toes the Pakistani line and issues stapled visas to the Indian citizen belonging to Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh. While Jammu and Kashmir is the integral part of India and it will also remain so. It is the inalienable part of India. Shinzo Abe is the first Japanese Prime Minister to be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations and marvel at India’s military might showcased at the event. It amply reflects the cozy relation between the two nations. A regular consultation between the national security secretariat of Japan and India’s national security advisor was the big announcement of the two-day visit. Japanese PM has rightly said that a strong India and a strong Japan can come together and can do wonders.Though no major defence deals were clinched, the two countries decided that Defence Minister AK Antony will visit Japan this year. The two nations have also decided to conduct a joint military exercise in the Pacific Ocean.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has rightly emphasised on the importance of cooperation in the seas. India and Japan’s maritime exercises have now been established on an annual basis. The mood for growing trade and co-operation is so strong in India that Indian companies lined up for Japenese investments and technology. Since 2013, the engagement between the two countries has increased manifold. But is it just about economy or there is also a larger message to the other Asian giant, China? Mr Abe’s trip comes in between Japan and China locking themselves in a bitter row over islands in the East China Sea. In the given situation, closeness of Japan with India will naturally give headache. Both Japan and India have said that their growing relation with each other has nothing to do with China. Though both India and Japan maintain that their relationship is independent of their relations with China, strategic experts don’t find it to be entirely true. India hopes to gain from Japanese technology, capital and management methods and that Japan could help in the India story by creating modern infrastructure. The Japanese PM has assured that his country is interested in working with India in the areas of technology and human resources.

Celebrate Republic Day with national fervour and gusto

26th of January is very auspicious day for the nation. Nation celebrates Republic Day on January 26 every year to commemorate the date and moment when the Constitution of India came into effect. The Constitution of India came into effect on January 26, 1950 and the nation became Republic. The Constitution of India embodies the rule book how to govern and run the country. Republic Day is the biggest festival of the nation. It symbolizes the unique character of the nation. The unity in diversity of the nation is displayed. On this glorious day of Republic, Nation displays its rich culture and tradition. It shows its culture in different colours from all parts of the nation. Republic Day is the day of commitment to the nation. With the Constitution coming into effect on this day, the people got sovereignty and felt proud of rich culture and tradition of the nation. Republic Day gives us strength and infuses in us a sense of service to the nation. To mark Republic Day in a memorable and significant way, every year in New Delhi, capital of India, a grand parade is held that starts from the Raisina Hill in the neighborhood of the majestic Rashtrapati Bhawan and passes along the Rajpath thus ending at India Gate. On this glorious day every year, our military might is displayed through rehearsals that also send the message out that India is well prepared to give befitting reply to its enemy if ever it was compelled to do. All the three wings of our army display their prowess and combative skills in air, at sea and on land in a so clear ways that fill our country men with pride and enemies with fear and horror. Apart from the display of valour by Indian army, the nation assesses its achievements in every field and takes pledge to strengthen more and more to emerge as the super power of the world. Glimpses from all the 28 states and seven Union Territories are taken out on this day before the assembled guests, foreign dignitaries, President, Prime Minister and the people who watch the celebration on the occasion at Rajpath in New Delhi. It is extremely attractive. Different states take out their glimpses in different colours. Republic Day also shows how the people of different castes, creed, communities and religion live in harmony in the country. Republic Day is also important for us to make appraisal of the achievements the nation has recorded since Independence. Foreign dignaries participates in the function to watch our rich culture and display of military prowess and development in different sectors. Republic Day is primarily celebrated to strengthen the sense of dedication, loyalty, devotion and service to the nation. Every year on Republic Day a state guest from foreign country is invited to participate in the celebration of the day at Rajpath.The President unfolds the National flag as soon as the National Anthem is played and also addresses the nation with Republic Day speech. Furthermore, the Republic Day parade also includes lively displays and exhibits India’s rich and colourful culture and also brings the entire nation together. The parade concludes with the fly-past by Indian Air Force jets. The President, Prime Minister and other high rank officials of India on this occasion make their presence at Rajpath to celebrate the occasion.

Clear edge for BJP

Whether the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s aspiration will be fulfilled or not is yet to be materialized. But one thing is pretty clear from the mammoth gathering at his rallies and enthusiasms among his audiences that Narendra Modi is ahead of all among the Prime Ministerial aspirants in different parties. UP is the largest state of the country and politically most important, which sends highest number of MPs to Lok Sabha. There are 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP. That is why it is said that power at Delhi goes through Uttar Pradesh. It plays decisive role in determining the power at the Centre. All national political parties have centred their focus on this state. There were two rallies in the state- one of SP Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and another of BJP’s Narendra Modi. Both were well-attended rallies. Both leaders have claimed of doing better and better in their respective states. SP rules in Uttar Pradesh and claims to rule the state in better way than the state of Gujarat under BJP regime of Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Modi claims his achievements in the field of development are far better than ever done in any state of the country. That is why he always talks of his Gujarat model to introduce at national level if he becomes the Prime Minister. Both Mulayam and Modi challenged each other from their respective sites of rallies in Uttar Pradesh. Undoubtedly, Narendra Modi is considered as the development-oriented Chief Minister but at the same time, he is also considered to be promoting hardline Hindutva ideology and has failed to remove the tag of Gujarat Communal violence from his name. SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has been considered as the saviour of Muslim minority but his reputation as the messiah of Muslims has got dented after the Muzaffarnagar riots in Uttar Pradesh in the month of September 2013. Mulayam Singh aspires to become the PM after the Lok Sabha elections on the strength of his strong Muslim minority and Yadavs backing. But SP government of Uttar Predesh and his son Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s failure to come out of the shadow of his coteries and deteriorating law and order may make a mess of his ambition. If SP failed to win less than 40 Lok Sabha seats, Mulayam Singh Yadav will certainly not be in a position to claim the leadership of a non-Congress and non-BJP coalition in the event of hung Lok Sabha of which there is every possibility. The ruling Congress-led UPA is certainly not returning to power unless and until any miracle happens in the next two months before Lok Sabha elections. The anti-incumbency mood among the people is naturally very high because of Congress’ failure to check price rise and corruption. On these two fronts, it has proved to be zero. That is why it has to bear the brunt of people’s anger. As far as the BJP is concerned, its prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is certainly making an impact on the people and most likely it will emerge as the largest single party after Lok Sabha elections. BJP too cannot get as many Lok Sabha seats as to form government on its own but will must have edge over others.

Crime against women on rise in WB

Since Mamata Bannerjee came to power in West Bengal, the lawlessness, goondaism of ruling TMC cadres and crime against women are on rise without any check. Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee being a woman must show sensitivity to the safety and security of women. She must act without any delay to ensure the stringent punishment to rapists so that a message goes out that crime against woman is intolerable for the Chief Minister. But in contrary to safety and security to women in the state, it appears that there is free for all against them in Mamata Bannerjee government. It is very shameful that the rape of one woman after another takes place at frequent intervals in the state when a woman is at the helms of affairs. It is also very shameful that in the age of modernity and liberalism, the medieval practice is being practised without any fear of the state government in West Bengal. The Salishi Sabha on the model of Khap Panchayat in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana ordered the girl to be gang raped only because she failed to pay the fine of Rs. 50,000 for falling in love with the boy outside her community. This is the blatant violation of the freedom of woman in West Bengal. Very recently a lady working at fitness centre was raped and before that Mdhyagram 16 -years- old girl was raped and compelled to commit suicide by setting herself ablaze alive, the news about which appeared prominently in all national dailies and the entire nation felt extremely shameful over the incidents like these against women in West Bengal. The failure of the West Bengal Government is felt everywhere in the state. The gang-rape of the tribal girl on the order of Salishi Sabha belongs to Birbhum district which also happens to be the home district of President of India Mr. Pranab Mukherjee. The incident of Madhyagram rape and murder of the girl was brought to the notice of the President Pranab Mukherjee. The father of the victim met President and apprised him of the lawlessness in West Bengal. Criminals and Trinamool toughs are ruling the roost there The trend of rising violence against woman is alarming in the state. West Bengal being the home state of President Mukherjee, people of the state want to intervene through Governor of the state to direct the government to take stern measures against rapists and perpetrators of crime against women in the state. Trinamool Congress supremo and WB Chief Minister was voted to power only because the people of the state had become disillusioned with the previous Left Front government, which was in power for 32 years. The disillusionment with the Left Government among the people grew after 32 years, but it is evident in only two years with the Mamata Bannerjee government of Trinalmool Congress. The Kangaroo- court style justice delivered against a 20 year-old girl that she be gang-raped is not only abominable but also reflects the regressive mindset taking root in West Bengal society under Mamata Bannerjee regime. The girl was allegedly gang-raped on the orders of a salishi sabha, the state’s equivalent of khap panchayats.The police suspect as many as 12 persons raped the young woman. The ruling Trinamool Congress has been battling a series of sex crimes against women over the past two years. West Bengal topped states in crimes against women in 2011 and 2012, according to data from the National Crime Records Bureau.