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.