Vote for change

People's yearning for change in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh has resulted in the defeat of the ruling BJP in all these three states. The change and the anti-incumbency factor worked against the BJP. The underestimation of the opposition Congress by the BJP also contributed to its defeat. BJP was in the delusion that now Congress stands defamed among the people and its leadership is novice without any determined purpose and direction. So, people will never look towards it. But the youthful leadership of Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his effort to present a united face of the party in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan resulted in the win. Except for Chhattisgarh where Congress swept the BJP, it faced a tough contest in both Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Despite ruling for 15 years, BJP under the leadership of the outgoing Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan gave a tough fight to the Congress and the difference in the number of winning assembly seats between the two parties is marginal. BJP has won 109 and Congress 114 in the 230 member assembly of Madhya Pradesh. BJP had been ruling Chhattisgarh for the last 15 years. Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajastha were the strong bastions of BJP in the Hindi heartland. The defeat here by the Congress gives an ominous signal for it in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Though the just-concluded assembly elections were considered to be the semi-final before the final of 2019 Lok Elections, it is not necessary that semi-finalist always wins the final. But the victory of Congress party in these three BJP-ruled states has at least boosted the morale of its workers, leaders and top leadership. After 2014 worst-ever defeat, the party cadres were demoralized by one defeat after another. Congress party leadership realized that to win the election against the formidable political opponent like BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he will have to work 24x7. Congress party President Rahul Gandhi laboured hard and led the party from the front in all these election-bound states. His hard labour and concerted effort yielded fruit that within a year of taking over the mantle of the party, Congress has wrested three states from the BJP. Congress alliance with TDP against TRS in Telangana has failed completely. TRS under the leadership of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao routed the Congress - TDP alliance and won the assembly elections with a massive mandate. He came back to power on a very strong wicket. Congress party has also lost its last N-E state of Mizoram where MNF ruled the roost. It won the elections handsomely. BJP must learn a lesson from this that the people know everything. Only tall talking cannot yield fruit for a long time. The people want to work on the ground. Firing in air cannot serve the purpose. The popularity of Prime Minister can no longer help BJP win elections without doing anything concrete on the ground. Yes, PM Narendra Modi is still the most popular leader of the country. But when the issue of hunger, unemployment, health facility, price rise comes to the fore, the reality of the ruling party is exposed. People want work and nothing else.

#MeToo campaign also gathers momentum in India

It is good that #MeToo campaign is also gathering momentum in India with the revelation about sexual harassment by one woman or the other on daily basis. Casting couch had already been there in Bollywood. Here also under #MeToo campaign, Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta has alleged that veteran actor Nana Patekar had sexually harassed her. After her recounting of alleged sexual harassment by Nana Patekar, some other Bollywood actresses have also come forward with the story of her sexual harassment by the actors. Woman and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has rightly said that action should be initiated against all those who are accused of harassing the woman sexually. A news editor of a prestigious English Newspaper has reportedly resigned from his post over the charges of sexual harassment. #MeToo campaign launched by the women is a courageous act. It reflects that women are no longer subservient to the men. They have also gathered the courage to raise voice against any kind of harassment. It also shows that the time is changing very fast with growing awareness among all sections of the people. Ten years back, the woman did not have the courage to raise her voice against the highhandedness by the man. #MeToo has infused courage and confidence among women all over the world. The incident of casting couch or sexual harassment has been found on large scale in the entertainment industry. Two to three cases of sexual harassment under #MeToo campaign have come to light. The field of journalism is also not free of the incident of sexual abuse. All men must realize now that women can no longer be intimidated to keep silence over their acts of molestation and sexual abuse against them. Rape and other kinds of sexual abuses must be kept under the category of heinous crime. The govt. must support #MeToo to boost and encourage women to raise voice against all kinds of injustices against them. #MeToo campaign helps the women empower themselves in the society. It is because of this campaign that those who are involved in sexual abuse against the women would always be in fear that their acts of misdeed could come any time to light. The #MeToo storm has gathered momentum with more women recounting their experiences of sexual harassment in the entertainment and media industry; leading to actor Rajat Kapoor apologizing for his alleged misconduct and AIB facing uncertainty after two members distanced themselves from the comedy group under a cloud. The Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC) has also rightly called upon media houses to set up institutional mechanisms for complaints of sexual harassment. It is true that many of the complaints have gone unheard despite being brought to the notice of the authorities concerned. It is disturbing and a matter of grave concern. More and more victim women must come forward and expose the victimizer. # MeToo campaign was born amidst Tarana Burke narration of sexual abuse that left her speechless. It happened in 1997.

Two-plus-two dialogue must be meaningful

The first edition of two-plus-two talks begins in New Delhi between India and the US. The Indian side is represented by the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the US is represented by its Secretary of State Pompeo and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis. The talks were held in a very cordial atmosphere. Now, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in New Delhi for talks, they'll seek to bring the two countries closer than they've been since the Cold War. Their agenda for talks is believed to include key issues such as anti-terrorism, maritime security and countering China's growing influence in the Indian Ocean. There is no doubt that this two-plus-two talk will strengthen the relations between the two countries. But at the same time, it is also necessary that the agenda of talks must be discussed threadbare and all efforts must be made to find how to fight terrorism to finish in right earnest. There is a natural similarity between the US and India. The US is the oldest democracy of the world while India is the largest one. Both attach utmost importance to the freedom of individual and both are against any kind of discrimination. There is religious freedom in both the countries. There cannot be any discrimination against anyone on the basis of caste, creed and religion. Both believe in the theory of peace and progress. Both are adamant to fight terrorism to the finish. The US appears to be distancing from its blue-eyed boy Pakistan for its roguery and deep involvement in abetting, aiding, sponsoring and encouraging terrorism in the recent years. But the need of the hour for it is to cut off all relations with Pakistan. The US is advocating for cutting down financial assistance to Pakistan as its fight against terrorism is not satisfactory. But it must know clearly that the terrorism has been the instrument of state policy of Pakistan. It has not abandoned this policy since it adopted just after it came into existence. There is also no secret that Pak military is the head of all terrorists’ activities and no democratically elected government dare defy it. Whenever the democratically elected Pak govt. ignored its military’s dictation on the issue of terrorism, the coup has been staged and the govt. is thrown out of power. It has been the history of Pakistan. So, visiting Pakistan by the US secretary of state and Defence Secretary before taking part in the two-plus-two dialogue with India in New Delhi does not hold good for the relations between the two countries. The question here arises that when the US is well aware of Pak's deep involvement in promoting terror not only against India but also the entire world, why does it hesitate to take strict action against it for once and all? What was the need of the US to send its Secretary of state and Defence Secretary to pacify new Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan? Strengthening relations with India is good for peace and progress in the region, but it will be better if the US stops all financial assistance to Pakistan for its total failure on the issue of acting against its home-grown terrorism. The US must ensure by putting pressure on Pak that its soil is not used for operating terror against India. The message against terrorism must come out loud and clear of the two-plus-two dialogue between India and Pakistan.

Take a judicious decision on SC/ST Act

The Parliament has unanimously upturned the Supreme Court decision about the SC/ST Act. The apex court decision is that the FIR cannot be lodged without the approval of the police officer of the Deputy Superintendent level and arrest cannot be made before investigation about the authenticity of the complaint. The SC/ST people all over India had called Bharat Bandh, created chaos on streets and destroyed public property on the large scale against the SC’s decision. The apex court verdict in regard to SC/ST was judicious and no upper caste people oppose it. But the Narendra Modi government at the Centre along with the support of all opposition parties upturned the SC decision and passed the bill incorporating stern clauses in it. Now, it has been enacted as the bill got the President's assent. The upper caste people across the nation are up against the SC/ST act, which has been arbitrarily promulgated by the government to keep the community in good humour only for the sake of vote bank politics. SC/ST constitutes 20 per cent of the total population of the country. No political party can afford to take their annoyance. So, it is only because of the vote bank politics that the sterner laws have been enacted by the Parliament to win the favour of the community without taking into considerations its misuse with malice against the upper caste. With the passing of the SC/ST bill, a fierce opposition by the people of upper caste has been recorded across the nation. The upper caste people in Madhya Pradesh even allegedly threw sandals and chappals at the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan election cavalcade. It is not only MP, but almost all states of north India have witnessed vehement opposition to SC/ST act enacted by the Parliament. The Upper caste people have rightly charged the government and all other political parties with dividing the society. The new SC/ST act is more stringent than the laws framed by the British rulers. They have described it as a black law. No upper caste man/woman is against favours and privileges conferred on SC/ST by the govt. They have been availing of various government facilities since the Constitution came into force. Has anyone belonging to upper caste ever raised any voice against it? They are also against any kind of atrocity on them. But the law enacted by the government empowers the police to arrest any upper caste man/woman howsoever high social prestige he/she may enjoy at even minor charge against him or her levelled by the SC/ST people. It is going to be a draconian law against the upper caste people. The move by the government with the support of all opposition parties amply reflects that they have played at the SC/ST tune only to please them. The upturning of the Supreme Court decision about the SC/ST by the Parliament unanimously has hurt the psyche of all upper caste men and women in the country. The political parties have no right to insult, humiliate, suppress and harass one community at the cost of another only for the sake of garnering votes.

Petrol, diesel prices up, rupee down to all-time low

The price of petrol and diesel is going up and up on daily basis. It has touched a record all-time high. On the one side petroleum prices are rising unbridled and the value of rupee against the dollar is falling and has touched all-time low on the other. The rising prices of petrol and diesel have a cascading effect on all essential commodities, and ultimately the common poor people are burdened. As far as the NDA govt. at the Centre is concerned, it washes its hands off the rising prices of petrol and diesel by saying that it is because of international market behaviour that they go up. The price of petrol in Mumbai has crossed Rs. 80 per litre while it is to touch Rs. 80 in Delhi. With the increase in the price of diesel, the carriage cost of all commodities of daily use naturally goes up, and that is transferred to the consumers. So, ultimately the common consumers bear the brunt most due to rise in petroleum prices. Here, the double game of the NDA govt. at the Centre is exposed. When the crude oil prices in the international market were at its lowest level two years back, the govt. did not cut down the prices of diesel and petrol nor did it slash the excise duty and tax to benefit the consumers. It said that the profit earned from the petroleum products in terms of excise duty and taxes will be used to benefit the consumers when the price of crude would go up in the international market. In the prevailing scenario of the international oil market, the rise in the price of petrol and diesel is a must. But by cutting down the excise duty and other taxes levied by the states and the Centre and bringing the petroleum price under GST, the govt. can provide relief to the customers. But it is itself trying to earn a profit by imposing excise duty and other taxes on petrol and diesel. The weakening of rupee against the dollar is also a major cause of concern for the government. It has gone all time low. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the senior BJP leaders had criticized the previous UPA government of Dr. Manmohan Singh for the unbridled rise in the price of petroleum products and the falling value of rupee against the dollar. But at that time, the record was not made as they have done now. PM Modi and other BJP leaders made a mockery of the previous govt. for its inaction to bring down the prices of petroleum products. They claimed that they would bring them down this way or that way. But now, they wash their hands off any accountability and cite international market price as the cause behind the rise in prices of petrol and diesel. It appears that everything has been left to the mercy of gods. No effort is being made by the Ministry of Petroleum to halt the rise in petrol and diesel prices. The time has come for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene to stop the rise in the price of diesel and petrol any more.

Pandit Nehru was the apostle of peace, progress and development

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is not only the first Prime Minister but also the maker of modern India. He may be the first among equals if we talk of all the PMs of the country so far, but he is the only one who made a great sacrifice for the freedom of the country by passing his youthful days in different jails of the country. He has been considered to be the statesman of the international repute. As far as the freedom fighters are considered, he is the greatest after the father of the nation Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi. Pt. Nehru spent his youth in different jails during the freedom struggle. Pt. Nehru's contribution is only second to Mahatma Gandhi in freeing the nation from the shackles of British rulers. Pandit Nehru was not only the leader of India but also the world. He gave the nation a direction of peace, progress and development. He made an immense contribution to the launching of the Non-aligned Movement to make the world multi-polar. He had a scientific bent of mind and laid the plinth of industrialization and helped much in developing scientific temper in India. All symbols of progress in the country so far testify the fact that Pt. Nehru was the apostle of peace, progress and development. He was a liberal, forward-looking, progressive, vibrant and multi-faceted personality. If anyone in India thought about the development of the nation, it was Nehru who was the first to do so. He has been incomparable all his life. He was a giant while other PMs were dwarf before him in terms of political and national stature if we ever tried to put him in their line. In the given position of Pt. Nehru, any attempt by the incumbent government at the Centre to undermine Nehru Memorial Museum and Library at the historic Teen Murti Bhavan in New Delhi where he spent his life as the first Prime Minister of India would certainly boomerang on it. Nehru Memorial Museum and Library has kept the memories and description of the legendary Pandit Nehru. His contribution and works for the nation would prove to be an inspiration for the coming generations. He was a versatile genius. Pt. Nehru also wrote books of world repute. He was an acclaimed political leader. He led the nation from the front before and after the Independence. He was a true democratic who never undermined his political opponents and rivals despite being the most popular mass leader of the country. He was very fond of children. Which is why he was also called Chacha Nehru. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has rightly written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to leave the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) "undisturbed". He has rightly said that this would be respecting both history and heritage. The NMML was established in the memory of India's first prime minister and the museum at the Teen Murti House has preserved some rooms as they were at the time of Nehru's death.

A legendary political personality with national vision

Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was the tallest statesman, political leader, parliamentarian and multi-faceted personality after country's first PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. His sad demise has created a vacuum, which cannot be filled. In his more than six decades of political life, he has been flawless in all fields whether it is public or private. Former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee was lovingly called Atal Ji by his friends, fans and followers. He was a versatile genius and outstanding poet. His poetic talent was incomparable. He was the last leader of his generation, who treated his political opponents as rivals, but not as enemies. He was the first Indian representative at UNGA who spoke there first time in Hindi. He was opposition leader at that time when the then Prime Minister Narshimha Rao sent him to UN to represent India. It was his political astuteness, diplomatic skill, liberal outlook and forward looking qualities that attracted the attention of the ruling party despite the fact that the party he represented was ideologically opposite to it. He was an extraordinary orator and exponent of political conscious. He was a political genius and it was his qualities that despite major differences with the ruling Congress party, he always supported the government on foreign issues in the interest of the nation. Atalji was a true democrat and nationalist who always kept national interest uppermost. He was the member of Parliament for more than 5 decades. It was Atal Behari Vapayee about whom Pt. Nehru had said that one day he would become the Prime Minister of India. Nehru always praised Atal's oratorical talent. It would not be out of place to say that former PM Atalji was Pt. Nehru of the BJP. He was loved as much by his party workers as by others. His contribution to the nation building is immense. He was always positive. As Prime Minister of the nation, the Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojna has been his brainchild. He became PM of the nation three times. Atalji never belittled the development made by the Congress government for the nation after India got Independence. He said that if he would say that there was no development work in the last 50 years, it would be undermining the nation. The nation has developed in the last 50 years, but a lot still to be done. He was a large-hearted politician. It is who said about Pakistan that we can change friends but we cannot change neighbour. With broad thinking, he started peace process with Pakistan despite its misadventure like Kargil war. Atal Behari Vajpayee was a true democrat and believed in the principle of live and let live. In Atal's demise, BJP has lost its jewel while nation has lost her great son. He was one of the ablest sons of Mother India. People, political leaders and workers irrespective of their affiliation, all loved him very much. We along with the entire nation condole his death.