Politics
Anti-incumbency: For UPA or NDA?
Jan 27th
As elections draw near, a very interesting scenario seems to be emerging. Especially, watch out for Uttarakhand and Punjab. To start with the two states were declared to be a cakewalk for the Congress. But as campaigning picked up, things started to change. NDA is making an all-out effort to retain the two states. Now, whether NDA succeeds in capturing the two states or not, it’s certainly not going to be easy for the Congress.
Maya’s Jumbo Fear Captures UP Polls
Jan 13th
It was ridiculous to see political parties demanding eclipsing of Elephant and Maya’s statues in Uttar Pradesh. So from Samajwadi Party to BJP to Congress, all not leaving any stone unturned to stop the Jumbo from moving ahead. They run to the Election Commission asking it to save them from the rampaging Elephant and put road blocks.
The Next moment brand new plastic sheets and clothes being bought and brought to the parks and the exercise of covering Mayawatis and Jumbos begin. It was a sight one could never imagine in an electoral battle — parties getting scared of a non-living element. For these parties, fear seems to be that if these Mayas and Elephants are left uncovered, they may weave Maya’s magic around the electorate in the state.
Has Mayawati and BSP’s election symbol become so huge that it is threatening to overshadow all others in the UP electoral scene? But is that so simple? Are the electorate so foolish to get inspired by only a few statues? Is it not the insecurity of Maya’s political opponents that is forcing them to do the most hillarious thing to have ever heard — run to the Election Commission asking it to cover the statues in Lucknow, NOIDA and all other places or else we will be in trouble. Let’s not underestimate the intelligence of an electorate.
To me it sounds hillarious because I have during the last couple of decades of active journalism, have never heard or seen something so ridiculous. If Maya’s elephants are to be covered, then why not all the bi-cycles plying on the road, or the Lotus in the ponds and take it to the extent of asking people not to wave their hands.
For, bi-cycle is the symbol of Samajwadi Party, Lotus of BJP and Hand of the Congress. If this happens, life may just come to a standstill in UP. In my view, electorate have time and again proved that they are smart enough to decide what’s good and what’s bad for them. It’s not statues that win you elections. It’s the caste equation, better election management or call it manipulation, money power, muscle power that win you elections in Uttar Pradesh and not your manifestor or issues that you raise.
Instead of issues, UP election scene is getting hotter and hotter day by day with ”frivolous” issues. Election Commission takes the centre stage, ensuring that every party is heard and their concerns addressed. From covering of these statues to prevening Ministers from wooing voters by making policy announcements, UP election scene is being captured by non-issues. Salman Khursheed, the country’s Law Minister has found himself in trouble for backing his wife in the Farukhabad assembly constituency. He opened his mouth and indicated how the Congress party is trying to create a quota within quota for the econominally weaker section of hte society. He was seen as trying to woo voters in his wife’s constituency. Next was the BJP reaching the Election Commission Headquarters at Ashoka Road to lodge their strong protest on the gross violation of the election rules by the minister.
While both these issues have been dealt with top priority by the Election Commission, there are numerous serious issues which have completely gone unnoticed. Seizure of fake currency, illicit liquor or cash for distribution only shows how much these parties try to do to tilt the balance in their favour.
There’s no real attempt to check the flow of liquor in this election bazaar. Every day Foreign, Indian, illicit liquor is being seized from across the state. But no heads have so far rolled on this count. The unchecked flow of money and liquor power has always tilted the tide in favour of candidates and parties. Interestingly, there seems to be no fight among political players. No one really raising the issue. They know that if you curb this, their plan may also go awry.
Election Commission promises that the polls would be free and fair, but for that to happen it’s not elephants or Maya’s statues and posters which require to be dealt with, but more importantly the smuggling of cash and liquor into the UP’s election bazaar needs to be checked and checked fast.
it’s time, parties should understand that electorate are fools only till the time they want to be. Not always. Or else, India’s democratic set up would have crumbled long back. Voters understand the best who can do better — elephant or bi-cycle.
Let’s respect the electorate — the pillar of world’s biggest democracy. They are no pushovers.
Making Mockery Of Anna’s Movement
Dec 23rd
You call it an ego battle in the garb of Parliamentary supremacy or misplaced arrogance, the UPA Government seems to have made a mockery of the Anna Movement. The battle was against corruption, but it has been quietly, systematically and shamelessly turned into a battle for reservation. And why blame the government alone, our entire political class has proved yet again that they know the art of diluting important legislation to ensure a safe future for themselves.
Ultimately, a strong anti-corruption law would turn out to be a spanner in the desire of many who wish to amass all the wealth through dubious means. The likes of Laloos and Mulayams are all busy working overtime to achieve indirectly what the government could not achieve directly. The UPA has been struggling hard to wriggle out of the Lokpal controversy as fast as possible, even if that meant turning the corruption debate into a reservation battle and throwing all legislative rules out of the window.
All those who thought that when the Lokpal Bill will finally be tabled, the debate would be about the inclusion of CBI and PM and C & D employees. But soon after Sushma Swaraj stood up to object to the introduction of the bill, the debate swiftly moved towards discussing reservation in Lokpal. Our self-proclaimed kingmaker Laloo Prasad Yadav got up to congratulate the government on respecting the demand of the ”Akhliyat” and reintroducing the word ”Minority” in the final draft bill. No one really cared if the Constitution provided for a religion-based reservation or whether an investigation body should have the provision for reservation.
Thereafter, all leaders went about objecting or defending the granting of reservation to the minority in the yet-to-be created Lokpal. Why was the word Minority dropped from the draft Bill? Why so much of a hurry? Why this rush to push Lokpal Bill? Why succumb to pressure from an old man? Parliament is supreme, so why worry about another hunger strike? There’s only one Father of the Nation and no one can claim to be another Father of the Nation. No one should be allowed to challenge Parliament’s supremacy. Why fear a mass agitation? All such voices or noises were heard in the Lok Sabha. One wonders if these words were to prove the power of Parliamentarians or to hide the fear from an old man.
What was most surprising is that leaders who till yesterday charged the government of ”managing” the CBI, were today busy declaring the premier investigating agency as ”independent”. Why should CBI be brought under the purview of Lokpal? It is doing a fine job. For them CBI suddenly became a holy cow. Let’s talk in specifics. Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav was heard saying that ”Parliament Is Supreme. CRPc and other law are there to deal with issues. Courts are there to deal with cases of corruption. What is the hurry to create a Lokpal? This may sound ironical, but it’s true. Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav is the same politician who declared that he would go to the people’s court when charged by the CBI of corruption in the Fodder Scam case and was arrested. But in Parliament the same Mr Yadav displayed utter contempt for people’s movement.
Interestingly, the people who raised their voice against a strong and effective Lokpal, aimed at checking corruption, are themselves facing charges of corruption in various courts. So can they be expected to advocate a fight against corruption? They say Parliament is supreme, but conveniently forget that the same Constitution which they cite to prove their supremacy says people are supreme and even the Constitution can be amended, if people so desire.
Their attempt is nothing, but to negate the public response the Anna movement has generated across the country. It may just be an attempt to bring to naught what has been highlighted by one and all — that there is a need to rid India of the cancer of corruption. People’s representative are today out to suppress people’s voice. Reservation is just an excuse. The attempt is to negate what Anna Hazare has achieved — bring to the fore the failure of the political class in putting a powerful institution in place to battle corruption in the country.
But why should we at all have reservation in bodies like Lokpal (since that’s what we are debating for now)? Why every single issue in the country has to be turned into quota politics? Just because it’s all about political survival for some. Laloo eyes revival in Bihar and Muslims hold the key. Mulayam has his eyes set on UP elections, just a few months away and he so far has projected himself to the messiah of Muslims in the state. They are both fighting to regain the crown.
And if we really want quota in Lokpal, then why not in investigative agencies like CBI, NIA or constitutional and statutory bodies like CVC or Election Commission? This is absurd and hilarious… This country certainly doesn’t require quota raj to fight corruption.
I will never forget 13/12
Dec 13th
It was a winter morning and as usual I was preparing to leave for office. I was working with UNI (United News of India) those days. Since I was covering crime as my beat, like most of the other crime reporters my day would start a little late around 1230/1300 hrs as our days would extend late. Also, I remember I was not quite well that day. So was delaying my departure.
Around 1115 hrs got a first call from one of my sources saying that something has happened in Parliament. Checked with my Delhi Police sources and was told that there is some trouble inside the Parliament building. Anything in Parliament was big. So I forgot about taking bath or changing and started to call as many sources as possible (Not working for a TV network then, there was no pressure to be on location for live reporting). I switched on the TV and they were also running about some commotion in Parliament.
Then a source of mine told me ‘’sir lagta hai koi terror attack hai. Woh s…. fire kar rahe hai….). That was the first time I thought it was really serious. Terror attack on Parliament was huge. I had seen a terror attack at Red Fort just a year ago. So knew that this is the next stage of terrorism in India. Red Fort attack was smaller in nature considering that it happened at night and they had attacked a security picket. That was the first attack on the symbol of Indian Independence.
But the attack on the highest seat of Indian democracy was any day much bigger.
Security in Parliament was very different then. Our office was located in Rafi Marg, next to Parliament Street and it was a five minute walk to Parliament. We used to enter from the main entrance without much of a security check. At best the security there would ask us for our Parliament pass. Not so much frisking or scanning. Cars did not have any RF tags. The general car park pass was sufficient.
Till then, armed security men were not there inside the building. It was only in periphery that armed security men would be stationed. However, it all changed in minutes.
I kept making calls while realising that I was stuck at home. If I moved out, I would be handicapped as I would be in noisy environment and listening to what information was flowing in would be difficult. It was a different story then that I was among a few who had been given cell phones by office (Cell phones were costly and not provided so easily with full reimbursements.) I had no such fears as I knew whatever number of calls I make, I would get the money back. So kept making calls and collect as much information as possible.
Sources kept updating me. Then came the news that a CRPF security personnel on the main entrance who gave these terrorists a chase was shot dead and the march of the terrorists to enter Parliament building continues. As the terrorists attempted to move inside the building through gate no. 1 and 12., the watch and ward staff and Parliament secuirty first pushed everyone inside the building and started to shut all gates.
One after another, Parliament building became out of the bounds. From MPs to media to visitors, they were all locked up inside the building with clear instructions to be careful and not sneak out.
I got another call saying that they are five in numbers – appear to be LeT or JeM commandoes. They are well trained and are carrying bags on their shoulders. Their car may have RDX. Could be a fidayeen attack. But the terorists had come with a clear design of entering the building.
TV was barred from shooting inside and cameras which had recorded all the events, could not go out. So nothing that was happening inside could be seen. We could not know more than what we were being told through our sources and at times some official of the Delhi Police.
Outside the buidling, TV crews kept talking to worried and shocked politicians and eye-witnesses. Media put their job ahead of life and kept reporting whatever they could from right outside the building which was under terror seige. It was also not sure if there was a backup terror team waiting to support. So the tension was mounting.
The operation continued for the next hour-or-so and one by one all terrorists were shot dead. Their RDX laden car was neutralised and the terror attack at the highest seat of democracy came to an end.
But for all times to come what was left thereafter was the shock of the attack, the grief of the families who lost their heroes and a completed changed security scenario in Parliament house.
Walking inside the Parliament building is no longer the same.
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FDI Debate: Mamata, Karuna Not ‘Kingmakers’
Dec 2nd
Upto 100 per cent FDI in retail sector has become a headache for the UPA. Even as the ruling coalition grapples with the price rise-corruption crisis, it is now faced with the biggest political challenge during its seven-year rule. Worse, it is facing crisis within its own grouping. TMC and DMK have made life difficult for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the government having committed itself on FDI in retail announcing that a rollback is completely ruled out, things are not quite positive for the coalition which seems to be crumbing with each passing day.
Pawar slapgate: Time to address public anger
Nov 25th
It has been described as the most audacious assault on the political class ever! A man appeared from nowhere and slapped Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who is incidentally also the big boss of international cricket. It has sent the entire political fraternity into a tizzy. The political class is unitedly demanding stringent action against the culprit of slapgate.
Noida land controversy: Builders hit a roadblock
Oct 21st
The Allahabad High Court verdict has put the builders lobby in a fix. With the High Court ruling in favour of farmers, builders have now just one stop left – Supreme Court. If they fail to convince even the Apex court, it would mean a dead end to their hopes of developing residential properties on agricultural land for commercial profits not just in Noida Extension but elsewhere as well. In fact, this one step would open the doors for many to go ahead and protest or object the acquisition of their fertile land for commercial benefit. So in coming days expect courts to be flooded with PILs or petitions from farmers across the country against such acquisitions and development of commercial residential properties.
Farmers are justified and builders have their grievances. They are fighting their battle in the courts, but the worst affected are the hapless common middle class families who had booked their flat after calculating their monthly budget. It maybe a setback to builders (who we all know pulled all strings to get such prime land at throwaway prices) but it is a bigger setback for thousands of families who had their dreams set on owning a house. With builders lobby not too sensitive to the customers’ concerns, one can’t actually promise that things would be fair to these families. What will happen to the money that these hapless families have invested in these properties? Will they get the refund with the 18% interest that builders themselves charge for any default by a customer? This time builders have defaulted for whatever reasons – so will they pay the penalty to these families as well? Farmers have their grievances and so have these families.
But the larger issue still remains about the future of housing sector in the country. Will the sector boom, or will it go through a major slowdown? There is a phrase that I was told in school — excess of everything is bad. I am reminded of this because that’s exactly what’s happening today. In their lust for profit, these builders have been twisting rules through their powerful contacts. They have been acquiring land — mostly very fertile agricultural land around cities through all sorts of means to fulfil their lust. The problem really gets compounded by the absence of a proper and defined guidelines on the criteria of acquisition of land. Which land should be open for acquisition and where? This is a question which no government is willing to answer.
If no check is imposed, it would be a double whammy for those who want to own a house. First they would invest in a flat and then not get it. For farmers, the problem would be no less. They would lose their land and even when they get it back their fertile land would have become unfit for agriculture, due to the construction activities.
The question is key to our country’s future as well. Like the Western world, the problem of food security also stares at us, if proper corrective measures are not taken in time and if fertile, multi-crop land is ripped apart for acquisition like the way it has been happening, then there’s always going to be a problem in the future. Regulations should be in place to ensure that only non-productive and infertile land is open for acquisition. This would not just solve the problem of having new residential properties, but would also not displace farmers from the land which is their mode of their survival. A country like India which still is predominantly an agriculture-based economy would massively suffer if the percentage of fertile land is reduced. And this has to be consciously understood by all — state governments, centre and the builder community. I say the builder community also because the country comes first. After all, every citizen in this country deserves to own a house but it should not be at the cost of hurting somebody, the builders have a duty to fulfil!
I feel that while ruling on the validity of acquisition, courts should also consider directing the governments to consider framing proper land acquisition guidelines ASAP. Or else, disputes like these will keep cropping up and country’s food security concerns will never be addressed.
But will the political leadership in states or at the centre take the initiative? Maybe not as most of the builders are linked to some leader or a powerful lobby. Also, a large chunk of the profit that builders make from the projects unfortunately still goes into the hands of these lobbies, in all the wrong ways.
Mr Anna Hazare, Be Consistent
Oct 7th
”People should not vote for the Congress as it has not supported the Jan Lokpal Bill. It’s not about the image of the candidate, but about the image of the party which these candidates represent..”, these words by Anna Hazare just a few days ago created a flutter in political circles and brought smiles to the BJP. The statement was immediately interpreted as Anna clearly going against the Congress.
Now just check Anna’s statement yesterday, the social activist said, ”I am not saying that this party is clean or that party is not. What did we see in Parliament? Who was holding money in their hands? I am only saying that people should vote for candidates with a clean image, whichever party they are from. It’s important that people with the right image and character go to Parliament and Assemblies.”
Now, if we compare the two statements made by Anna Hazare, he seems to be contradicting his own stand. And there could be several such statements by him which is now open for interpretation, or worse, they are being misinterpreted every day. So is it advantage Congress or BJP?
In my view, it’s more about Anna taking a consistent stand. A flip-flop on political matters would slowly erode his stature which he has painfully built with the Jan Lokpal struggle. Also, he runs the risk of creating confusion within his ranks as some of his statements indicate that all is not well within Team Anna. If Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal are locked in a ego tussle or Kiran Bedi is busy nurturing political ambition as is being speculated, then the movement would soon lose momentum.
The challenge before Anna are mainly two fold – firstly, to keep his image intact and critically, keep his flock together.
It is a delicate time for Anna because if he doesn’t take one clear line on the political front and parties, it would confuse his supporters and people at large about his stand on crucial issues, especially when he has clearly indicated that he wants to influence the voting pattern in elections through his battle against corruption. We have seen numerous cases of people rising from nowhere to acquire an unmatched stature and then frittering it all away. In a sense doubt will be his biggest enemy, both inside and outside his camp.
Anna also runs the risk of destroying the own perception in the minds of the masses which has seen him being compared to Mahatma Gandhi. Anna’s lack of clear vision could create an impression where people would think Anna raised an issue but could not take it to a logical conclusion due to lack of clarity.
In the absence of a clear agenda, Anna and his movement may start fading away as the credibility factor could be questioned by the same people who are supporting him right now. Anna is in danger of losing the crucial X factor – credibility, if he loses his X factor, his movement will be known as a half-baked idea, lacking clear vision. So be consistent Mr Anna Hazare.
