APP is sacrosanct

The ruling Aam Admi Party and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are sacrosanct. So, media must not make any commentary on their wrongful action. Kejriwal’s law minister Jitendra Singh Tomar has not submitted his forged law degree because he has given explanation in a letter to him that no wrong has been committed in acquiring the law degree. Now it is final. This is Kejriwal’s quality that whenever any charge is leveled against his minister or government, he makes the guilty his own judge to pronounce judgement. Now it is for the people to believe how much truth is in it. It is nothing but his farce. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal became satisfied with Tomer’s explanation and took no time in blaming media for raising the controversy out of proportion. He says that it reflects that media has taken supari to finish off AAP. If he has his way, the death of farmer Gajendra Singh at APP rally at Jantar Mantar in Delhi also was not because of inciting by his party workers and leaders but of some other causes. If he is to believe, APP leaders were delivering speeches from the dais at that time and they were completely oblivious of what was going on the tree on which the farmer Gajendra had climbed for committing suicide. So he thinks that media must not raise and give coverage widely only because the incident had taken place at APP rally. If media had done his way, it would have been praised by him. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wants media to write only those things which please him. When he along with his party leaders was agitating and getting wide media coverage and he had become its darling, he had all praise for it. But when he came to power and media started to make critical commentary on the functioning of his government, it has become his eye-sore. Delhi CM Kejriwal must know that it is media that made him leader of the stature of what he is today. Media is the fourth-estate. It is not dependent on the government and its prime duty is to become the eye and ear of the people. It is only exposing Delhi AAP government’s malfunctioning before the Delhiites as well as the nation. If ruling AAP continued to function as authoritatively as it is doing, it will finish off itself and media need not take supari to do it. It is Kejriwal desperation that he has charged a large section of media to conspire to finish AAP off. Kejriwal has been of the approach of his way or my way. Whatever he says is correct and whatever is said against him is incorrect. His attitude is like British monarch about whom it is told that king can do no wrong. So according to him, he can do no wrong. Media will continue to make positive commentary on the functioning of the government in Delhi. Whenever the government does well, the media highlights it. What does Kejriwal want media to do? Should it not expose his government to public scrutiny by presenting the facts before them? If media report is wrong about the forged law degree of law minister, why does Kejriwal government not set up an enquiry committee to look into it? Kejriwal’s blame on media for conspiring to finish off APP has born out of his desperation.

Rahul in combative mode

Congress Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi has now become politically combative over the farmers' issue. Back from 59 days of leave for sabbatical, he has swung into action politically and attacked the Modi government on the plight of farmers and its Land Acquisition ordinance, which his party terms as anti-farmer and pro-corporate. The ruling BJP may say that his sympathy for farmers is a mere political ploy, but he has succeeded in infusing confidence and courage in party leaders and workers to rise all over country. Rahul has rightly chosen the issue of farmers and labourers to attack the government to send the message out that Congress party always stood for the poorer section of society. The way he is taking up the issue of farmers and attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cornered the government. He is hitting the government where pinches it most. The main thing for Rahul Gandhi is to be constantly raising the issues of people's concerns before the government so that a message could go out among them that they have also alternative in him. He must not adopt hit and run method, which he has been doing so far. Apart from farmers' issue, there are several others on which the Modi government has been below expectation in terms delivering promises to the people after being in office for 11 months. Disillusion among the people has started developing with the Modi government. It is because that the government has not done anything spectacular that the people could feel. As far as the price rise and employment issue is concerned, it has not shown any improvement on these two vital concerns of the people. Farmers' suicide is going on as usual and it has become bitterer when Haryana minister states that the farmers who commit suicide are cowards. It reflects how lightly the ruling BJP takes up the issue of farmers suicide. Rahul Gandhi has started acting for the party when it needed him most. He has the strength of putting in hard labour that she showed by trekking 20-25 kilometres to Kedarnath to dispel the fear among the people to visit there in the wake of last year's massive damage to lives and property due to unprecedented floods and sliding of hills and cloudburst. He has rightly sarcastically attacked PM for his foreign visits with pomp and show, but he has no time to visit the farmers who are in dire need. PM should also visit them to see personally the loss to farmers by unseasonal rains and hailstorms. By drumming the bringing down from 50 to 33 percent loss of criteria to be eligible for relief can not serve the purpose. He must take account of what is going on the ground. Congress President Rahul Gandhi unleashed a scathing attack on prime minister Narendra Modi and the NDA government in Lok Sabha over the farmers issue prompting the ruling party to make a counter attack that triggered ruckus in the house. Rahul has rightly questioned PM’s 'Make in India' campaign by asking whether the farmers don't 'make in India'.The ruling BJP-led NDA needs to give answers. What is government is doing for them. Farmers are the first example of “Make in India” concept because they feed the entire nation by cultivating the land. Rahul had travelled to grain markets in Punjab's Sirhind, Khanna and Mandi Gobindgarh towns on Tuesday in the second class general compartment of a train to interact with them about the problems they are facing with procurement and lifting of wheat stocks.

Strengthen Indo-Afghan relation

Afghanistan has been our traditional friend and it assumes significance from strategic, security, business, cultural and other points of mutual interest. After the death and destruction of lives, property,important cultural and historic structures of importance by the of outlawed Taliban, India is playing vital role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Maintaining friendship with Afghanistan even in its trying times of Russian intervention and outlawed regime of Taliban, India has always been with it. It never supported Russian intervention in Afghanistan despite enjoying time -tested friendship with it. Afghanistan has also respected India's interest in the region’s geo-politics by not allowing the dominance of Pakistan there even because of being very near to it from the distance point of view . If Pakistan had become able to establish its dominance in Afghanistan, it would naturally pose security risk for India. Once it set its foot, its nursery of terrorism would also start functioning from there with single motto of disintegrating and destabilizing India through sponsorship of terrorism by being behind the scene. Afghanistan never allowed this type of situation to develop. On this front, it never allowed Pakistan any space to inflict harm on India. It is because of Afghanistan's friendly approach towards India all the time that it undertook massive relief and reconstruction task there after the overthrow outlawed regime of Taliban. India is still engaged in the reconstruction of Afghanistan with men and materials on the largest possible scale despite losing lives in terror attacks there. The visiting Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has rightly called for more Indian investment, especially from private sectors. Indians and Afghans are not only friends but also very close with each other from the culture and civilization point of view. Both share each other culturally. That is why President Ghani talked of Tigore and the Kabuliwala brand during his interaction with the media persons in Delhi. It is good that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is the strong exponent of strengthening relationship with all the Saarc members in general but Afghanistan in particular. Afghanistan President has called for more Indian investment in the country. He has rightly said that Afghanistan is pivotal for the growth of Asia. Afghan President spelt out what Afghanisatn would like from India and how India could help in development of the country. India has invested over US$2 billion in infrastructure projects and the social sector in the country in recent years but has stayed away from engaging militarily in the 13-year-long war. This is Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani his first official visit to India.

Human catastrophe

It was the monstrous earthquake that wreaked unprecedented loss of lives and property in Nepal. It has caused fear and havoc among the people. Apart from the heavy casualties in quake hit areas of Nepal. Nepalese capital Kathmandu has been the worst hit. Its historic Dharhara Tower and several other structures of historical importance and tourism were raged to the ground by this demonic earthquake the intensity of which was 7.9. The people are still feeling innumerable number of aftershocks, which creates panic among them. Not only human lives have been lost in the city of Kathmandu, its historic and tourist spots have also been destroyed. Though it is a natural fury of the worst kind, the responsibility of the people and the government to take precautionary measures can not be given a go by. Nepal is passing through one of the most difficult times. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rightly said that its tragedy is our tragedy. He has also given an account of statesmanship by swinging into action to provide relief and rescue to the friendly country Nepal in its difficult hour. It is his credit that he has taken initiative to help Nepal from the front. India is the first country whose four planes carrying men and materials for relief and rescue landed in Nepal. It also shows PM's foresight on the issue of relationship in Nepal. Earthquake is the worst kind of natural calamity of which there could be made no prediction despite the advancement in science and technology. India stands behind Nepal in its tragedy. This is the worst earthquake in Nepal in 81 years. More than 3000 thousand people were killed. It was the dance of death and destruction of lives and property on Saturday when hit by earthquake of 7.9 intensity. As the epicenter of the earthquake was near Nepal's capital Kathmandu, it has been worst hit. In addition to the huge loss of lives and property, all the historic buildings, most of the famous temples in Kathmandu and all other historic heritages were completely destroyed by the monstrous earthquake. Not only Nepal, many parts of Eastern India suffered from the wrath of devastating earthquake. A total of 72 deaths have been reported in India of which the maximum casualties have been from Bihar. There can not be made any prediction of earthquake but one thing that is in the control of the people and the government is to build buildings, brides and dams of earthquake resistant materials like the practices in Japan. Government of India has shown prompt action in providing help in relief and rescue operation to its neighbouring and friendly country Nepal in this hour of crisis. All possible help must be provided to the victims of earthquake in Nepal and India. It is the great loss to Nepal. The entire world under the banner of UNO must come forward to provide relief and rescue operations to the people hit severely by earthquake. It is the geological development under the earth that results in earthquake. The government of India is making all possible efforts to provide maximum help to Nepal. An inter-ministerial team comprising senior officials from the ministries of Home, Defence, External Affairs and NDMA has been sent to Nepal to coordinate rescue and relief operations in the quake-hit country. The stranded tourists in Nepal are being evacuated through air and road route. Gratis Visa is being provided to the foreign nationals. The central government is in regular touch with the affected state governments.

Now, Kejri versus Kiran is complete

BJP took only four days after bringing first lady former IPS officer Kiran Bedi into the party fold in declaring her as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the party in Delhi assembly elections. The way BJP lobbied Kiran Bedi to join the party to become its face clearly reflected two things. First, the party realized that it had no match for AAP convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to give him a serious fight and second it showed bankruptcy in terms of ideology and leadership in Delhi party unit. It also appears clearly that after the not so impressive rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, it was felt by the BJP that PM will not be the face of the party in Delhi as was its tradition in Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir. It also reflects that the BJP is not so sure of victory in Delhi and any defeat in the heart of the nation would be damaging to the image of the PM Modi if the Delhi elections were fought by projecting him as its face. So the vigorous lobbying of Kiran Bedi, who was a little bit of BJP's leaning from the beginning as was seen during the Ramlila Maidan gathering for Anna Hazare movement against corruption in 2011. Overt or covert support of Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS), the doting parent of BJP, was provide to Anna Hazare Movement at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi against corruption. Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi are the products of Anna Hazare's movement against corruption. Both had shared the dais together under the leadership of note social activist, anti-corruption crusader and Gandhian Anna Hazare. Both have unblemished records in public and there is not any corruption charge against any one of them. Both have influence among Delhiites. That is why BJP brought Kiran Bedi against Kejriwal so that Delhiites could get alternative to Kejriwal's way of honest politics. Both Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi are honest and both have experience in governance. Kiran Bedi may have longer experience in governance, but Kejriwal still has edge over Kiran Bedi in politics and popularity. Congress which ruled Delhi for 15 years in continuity with Sheila Dikshit as Chief Minister, but with the worst ever defeat in 2013 elections, it has gone into background and its major vote bank shifted to AAP. So, both BJP and AAP consider Congress irrelevant in the upcoming Delhi elections. Congress may have gone into oblivion in Delhi in this election, but it has tenacity to spring up the moment its leadership takes to street. It also reflects in Delhi that the hope from Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned into hopelessness as Delhiites feel no from his 7 months of his regime. Delhi assembly election is also going to be a litmus test for the popularity of PM Modi. It is also a matter of prestige for the BJP to win assembly elections in Delhi to move ahead with its invincible innings since the last Lok Sabha elections.

Consolidate the favourable condition

India is the next door neighbour and one of the closest friends of Sri Lanka. The outgoing regime of Rajpakse, which was tilted in favour of China against the interest of India, after the defeat at the hands of opposition leader Maithripala Sirisena, who is considered to be pursuing foreign policy that would not go against the interest of India. Though India had no role in the elections of Sri Lanka in which outgoing President Rajpakse failed to get back into power for the third consecutive time with his defeat at the hands of Sirisena. India has vital interest in Sri Lanka. A large number of Tamils of Indian origin are living in Sri Lanka. India would never like any country at any cost to enter Sri Lanka to set its foot there to pursue its interest. During the outgoing regime of Rajpakse, China had got free pass in Sri Lanka and it also protected its interest with an intention of hurting India. It is the vital position of Sri Lanka for India from many points of view that our former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi had sent Indian Peace Keeping Force there despite fierce domestic opposition and inviting the wrath of LTTE, the dreaded Terrorist organization fighting for the cause of a separate Tamil State in Sri Lanka. Though Rajpakse regime dealt highhandedly with the Tamils on the one hand and encouraged Sinhalese to go on rampage against them, the Sirisena government appears to be striking a balance and bring all kinds of injustice and corruption of the previous government to an end. The eviction order of Station Chief of India's external spy agency issue reportedly by the Rajpakse regime because of the alleged encouragement to opposition in elections by India has no takers. India has never interfered in the internal affairs of any of its neighbour. But at the same time, India must be vigilant enough to keep its own space and foothold in neighbourhood protected so that no outside power could influence the rulers of the neighbouring countries. India has long coastal line with Sri Lanka. In the given situation, entrance to the sea in Sri Lanka by any other distant neighbour is detrimental to the interest of India. It must not be allowed. It would only be possible when the ruler of that neighbouring country is friendly and favourable. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed his inclination of promoting friendly relations with all since the day of his swearing-in ceremony and the warmth with which External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has greeted her Sri Lanka counterpart Mangala Sarmaraweera, the relation with the neighbours especially Sri Lanka is bound to be strengthened.

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.