Loyalty Redefined – The 10 Janpath way!

Loyalty is a very strong word and exudes stronger emotion…it is both individualistic and holistic. When I say individualistic, it can be like loyalty to friends, loyalty to family, spouse, fav singer/actor etc but the loyalty on a holistic level is loyalty for a larger cause or an ideology. Plainly speaking, I mean loyalty to nation and its people.

But, in both the cases, the basic fact remains that it takes a long time to deserve or get the loyalty of someone. Especially so in the case of politicians who have to go back to electorate after every five years.

A politician spends ages to get loyalty of his people, people who trust him and send him to power. We have seen leaders across parties who had earned loyalty of the people because the leaders were loyal to the country and its people.

But having said so, Congress party in last few years have redefined the meaning of loyalty. It has treated those people with higher regards & rewards who have remained LOYAL to 10Janpath ahead of the party, forget being loyal to state, electorate and nation. Though it has been a tradition within the party, this LOYALTY to 10J & getting rewarded for the same has assumed blowing proportions in last few years

Two glaring examples in last 31 days-

Mr. Tarun Gogoi – Mr. Gogoi is an experienced and cunning politician. Man who grew under the shadows of Late Hiteshwar Saikia, has always been known as 10J Loyalist and the inhabitants of 10J came to his rescue when he was targeted by one and all for his callous handling of riots in Bodo areas. Riots which continued for almost a week saw over 1.5 lakh people getting homeless apart from loss of life and property. The reason for the riots has been systematic pogrom of allowing Bangladeshi illegal immigrants who have moved over to the state and acted as precious vote bank for the Congress regime in the state. Gogoi did not do anything to control or contain the problem.

Instead of him being immediately replaced for not being able to control the riots, 10J showered all its blessings and support to ensure he remained the CM.

Mr. Ashok Gehlot – He is the CM of Rajasthan and a known loyalist to 10J. While he achieved nothing great but during his tenure, Rajasthan was in the news for the murder of Bhanwari Devi, a murder in which Congress leader Mr. Maderna, close to CM, was involved. CM did not take any action until media upped the ante and he could feel the heat.

This was followed by Bharatpur riots where again he was found acutely missing in action. Some 13 people lost lives.

In the last three days, Rajasthan has been severing under heavy rains which has already claimed 37 lives but what does the CM do? He refuses to visit the effected areas since  he found it more important to organize the welcome party for Ms. Sonia Gandhi and now he has also refused for a all party meet (demanded by BJP) to address the problems caused by the rains.

Both the CMs continue but did Congress party and 10J think even for a minute about the loyalty of the people of two states who voted them to power? Do they even consider the feeling of the people who feel cheated since they empowered these two people who did everything except delivering their promise to the people of their respective states.

But who cares since Congress has redefined the meaning of Loyalty!

Khamosh – Quiet India

So at last our Government does it!

I am sure soul of Joseph Stalin & Joseph Goebbels, must be very happy today, wherever they are.  Our country which basked in the glory of “Freedom of expression” has now made its citizens yearn for “expression of freedom” and sadly enough not much choice is being given. What else can be said when the Government is trying to gag its citizens.

While in the recent past, we saw, if I can call it. monarchies like Egypt which gave in to the voice of its citizens, but here in our own backyard, things are different.  Here, the Government of the “so called largest democracy of the world” is leaving no stone unturned in doing everything undemocratic. Why is it doing so?

The most important and undeniable fact is that Government is well aware of the power of the opinion and how, in the current date, this opinion is very much against its working , its ethos and its existence. And why not! What has this Government done to alleviate this feeling of despondency, disgust and betrayal from the minds of its citizens.

While this Government, since its first day left no stone unturned in breaking all records in corruption (though our brave smart and “witty” PM had assured nation that it will eradicate corruption in first 100 days-well yes this government knows how to joke) but then that killed the financial health of our nation which was known as Sone Ki Chidiya but UPA got all its motivation from British concept of “drain of wealth”.

BUT, the recent incidents which shook the social fabric of the nation were the final blow that this beleaguered nation could take.  These incidents manifested, yet again, the intent of our Government in NOT resolving key isues which can break our nation.

It yet again manifested the short sightedness of this government which can literally put our peace and unity at stake, for its mere survival.

While UPA had already shown its non-tolerance to Public angst on the midnight of 4^th/5^th June 2011 at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi which resulted in the death of a 51 year old Rajbala who was a “THREAT’ to the nation oops the government perhaps. But that is past!

The recent Assam riots which was a conflict between Indians and Illegal immigrants was ignored. Of course it resulted in over 70 deaths and millions going homeless but it did not register any urgency in the government.

If it was not enough, there were “incidents of small violence” at Azad Maidan, Mumbai on 11^th August. The violence happened at a ‘protest’ movement by a muslim organization Reza Academy which protested against Assam riots (but didn’t B’deshi muslim illegal immigrants take part in it) and so called violence against muslims at Myanmar! Reza academy is perhaps more concerned about incidents involving community members form other nations!

And the final crusher came in the form of mass exodus of NE Indians which was evidenced at Bangalore, Pune & Mumbai . The exodus happened after a SMS based threat created panic in the minds of NE Indians settled in these cities. Government quickly called the entire SMS a rumour which perhaps it was but fact remains it made thousand flee from one part of their own country to another. And case in hand is the Maharashtra Government which did nothing during the exodus from Pune but now is offering “chartered planes” to bring back the NE Indians. Hasn’t the maharasthra Government heard of something called Train which is more economical?

What did the UPA government do? Nothing? What did the “newly rewarded” Home Minister do? Nothing! Of course no media described the efforts of RSS to help our citizens from NE in all the cities. But it is a different story.

And if it was not enough, we got to know about the “father” of all scams- COALGATE which directly involved the PMO. It was but natural for all the citizens, who are also tax payers, to feel angry and vent their feelings?

And here comes the big question? How could people vent their angst when many and more think that many of the media fraternity (both print & TV) are not doing their desired job diligently. It is not sharing the news. In such an event, it was but natural for people to resort to social media to share their anger. What’s wrong in it?

But here our Government was “proactive” (maybe it is too inspired from Mr. Rahul Gandhi who thinks he is active for politics) to immediately ban some sites and taking this proactiveness, even further, it also banned some popular twitter accounts namely Mr. Kanchan Gupta & Mr. Shiv Aroor (both are eminent journalist, By the way). So is the Government so insecure as to get threatened by two people? Where is the equity of the Government, if it had any in the first place?

But the same Government was very quiet when people like Ms. Arundhati Roy vented her ire against our forces deployed in Kashmir, when she almost raised demand for free Kashmir? Why was Ms. Arundhati Roy NOT banned? Wasn’t she or rather ISN’T she a threat to our social and internal peace?

It is a time for a serious introspect for the Government. If it has to improve its image in the minds of the people, it should not just believe in placating those 500+ people inside the parliament but rather millions outside it. It should send right signals which encourages a public debate, it should take views in the right ernest and address them. Whether it does so, remains to be seen.

But till then, let it be Shotgun Sinha’s famous rhetoric for all o us – KHAMOSH because our government wants it so  

Tryst with Destiny - Sitting on a Time Bomb!

At mid-night, sixty Five years ago, our first Prime Minister made the nation and world ready for India’s tryst with its destiny…but years down that eventful date, I wonder what is the destiny of our nation? Have we understood and defined, quantified this word called destiny!

Two countries got their independence almost during the same time- India & China. While latter took their destiny seriously and grew leaps and bounds, India grew but not at the rate as was expected. Why? While comparing with China might be little unfair, as the laying foundations and principles have differed but after 65 years, it is time for us to retrospect on our destiny that was to be.

It is time to see the exact position of India, where it is. And I feel that presently we are sitting on a Time Bomb!

But before we proceed, let us consider indisputable facts :

v     Congress has ruled the country for 52 years

v     Out of the 52 years, one family has ruled the country for 43 years. (I have safely included the present Cong Govt of Dr. Manmohan Singh a part of the same family since his government is run by 10 Janpath)

So what has Congress, which ruled the country for the maximum time, destined for the country?

The country, initially ‘destined’ as democratic, secular, peace loving, developed country presents a different picture today!

The last 65 years has rather seen India getting more and more divided against getting united for a common cause, as was at least hoped for.  

While in terms of making a global presence, much more remains to be desired but internally too, today we are truly speaking of a nation on the brink of fragmentation. The situation can be drawn parallel from conditions before French revolution or in contemporary times, condition prevailing in USSR before it broke down.

This country has seen social divide beyond anyone’s imagination.  While riots on communal lines have been a regular feature, there have been new tendencies and upsetting trends, yet to be controlled.

No free independent country in history has seen an exodus of its own indigenous people out of sheer fear and threats but India achieved this dubious ‘feat’ when starting late 80s Kashmiri Pandits had to leave their own land of over 5000 years. The reason for this exodus was the complete blind eye policy of Congress regime under Late PM Rajiv Gandhi to the ever emanating threats of dissidence from the valley. Nothing was done then, Nothing is done even now.

 The Kashmir problem was the result of clear absence of anything closely resembling a policy, a short sightedness on the part of our first PM. Continuous suggestions from people like Shyama Prasad Mukherjee had gone unheeded and today we are facing this demon threatening our nation.

If Kashmir was not enough, the same mistake of ignoring warnings was followed by Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the daughter of the first PM, giving us the most unwanted and undesired problem of Sikh militancy. While the militancy was controlled, nation saw the riots of 84, which once again divided the country. It left a bad taste in the mouths of every Indian.

While talking of riots, of course 2002 Gujrat riots remains the reference point for all, but there have been riots at regular intervals before and after 2002 and most of them in Congress ruled states or during Congress at centre. No riot ends before leaving a sad memory in the minds of the nation, creating a further divide.

While the basis of secularism and democracy is all about giving same importance and opportunity to everyone irrespective of their case, creed, religion or gender, Congress unleashed and fanatically practiced the policy of “appeasement of few (read primarily muslims)  for their votes”. Of course, it won them seats but gave the country a mammoth problem. It opened a Pandora’s Box, which has not closed nor will, in a long time.

While congress did no thing to alleviate the conditions of muslims, rather it befooled the muslim populace but their canister of empty promises never ended.

While Shah Bano case is a clear example of apathy of the Congress in terms of its commitment to women and nation and brought forth its two faced principles, the appeasement of muslims has today created another problem called Assam (and many other states), a state which has seen a continuous influx of Muslim illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and sadly, instead of curtailing it, Congress ruled Assam encouraged it.  

In line with many riots in its past, Assam saw riots again in the month of July-August 2012, when the illegal immigrants from Bangladesh rioted with indigenous population of the state, with both State Govt and Central Govt remaining a mute witness for almost 3-4 days before some action was taken. Rather than taking control, Congress led UPA government changed the Home Minister (not as a punishment). To speak of priority!

The echoes of this fresh riot were then seen in Mumbai when muslim community led meeting turned violent and subsequently in states like Karnataka where people from Assam just started going back to their state after reported threats from the muslim community. This reminds of Kashmir of late Eighties when kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee from their own lands.

On the other hand we have North East (again ruled through out by Congress) which is showing trends of friction. These seven sisters are simply tired of the complete apathy shown by, in their own words, India (spoken as a different nation). The entire North East, maybe barring Arunachal Pradesh, is a hot boiler of complex issues. This is another example of Congress’ complete lack of Pan India vision.

If this is not enough, we have the menace of Naxalites which has become more pronounced in the last seven-eight years. It has moved from one state to another looming large over our internal peace. Has our Congress Government put in place a single robust policy to combat this threat… answer is NO.

While politically today India has parties galore but the point to be considered is that MOST of these regional parties are breakdowns from Congress and as a result just added to the chaos.

And if this is not enough, we have something called Communal Violence bill (again a Congress creation) waiting to be presented n the parliament and if passed, will break India beyond any repair.

With caste and religion based politics has been the ethos of Congress, the nation has paid the price. Today we are indeed sitting on a time bomb with the prayer that it gets diffused. Even if a non Congress Government comes in at 2014, it will take a long time to undo the errors done by the Congress.

Welcome HOME sub-inspector Shinde!

So in the immediate aftermath of a major communal violence witnessed in recent times in Assam, UPA suddenly decides to go for a major cabinet reshuffle. Only that UPA did not care to find any HOME for more than 1.50 lakhs HOME less victims.

Not that otherwise our situation presents a very rosy picture elsewhere! With ever threatening menace of Naxalite attacks, the menace of terrorism continuing unabated, unrest in Telangana, demands for Gorkhaland, unrest in entire N. East...the list can continue. So, in such a, ‘not too friendly’ situation and times, the decision to suddenly usher in a ‘novice’ as our Home Minister, defies common logic.

Then what can be the reason? Is it that suddenly Mrs Sonia Gandhi and HER team of government, including our Prime Minister, realized that the incumbent of the position was inefficient?

No, it is not because had it been so, he would NOT have been made our Finance Minister. A Ministry which, during Mr. Chidambaram's old tenure, made many controversial decisions. Decisions amounting to scams worth Lakhs of Crores of taxpayer’s money!

But the decision has been taken!

I only have few questions here pertaining to the appointment of new Home Minister

Q) Why now? Which silver lining was seen in the clouds by UPA to elevate a man from shadows to forefront?

Q) How long will the new Home Minister take to understand, forget solving, our internal issues, our set of problems?

Q) As a starter, will the Home Minister take head on the problem of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants?

In a boiler like situation, a man without any prior experience (in Home Ministry) has been made Home Minister overnight!

Is it really such an unimportant post that decisions can be taken so fast?

Doesn’t the decision have the ability to upset many systems?

How does the Government expect this man to resolve issues which his predecessor could not?

How will the country feel confident when hours before becoming our new Home Minister, he could not solve what was perhaps the biggest crisis he ever faced – the complete black out of the country thus earning a dubious world record in the process!

If complete failure, to provide a solution, was not enough, his response to this mammoth crisis was equally discomforting and spoke of his attitude. I quote “We got electricity in a matter of hours... people should appreciate how work is done at the grid,". This is NOT a response we expect from our future Home Minister. We don’t want our HM to say, after god forbids another terror attack, that we are controlling terror and people should appreciate.

Mr. Shinde was a sub-inspector in Police (I hope an honest one) before Mr. Sharad Pawar drew him to politics. It is again intriguing as to what special qualities INSPECTOR Shinde had as to draw attention from a man like Pawar.

But, since he was in police force, I hope that he would understand the needs of our forces better than his predecessors. He should be able to support our forces and give them confidence in situations like Batla House encounter.

The man who lost the Vice president elections but now, upon appointed the HM, started talking about him being a dalit! Was it required? When the country is already besotted by so many problems, casteism amongst them, a Home Minister should not have harped so much on dalit factor. But we should not forget that Congress politicians play politics over national interests.

Mr. Shinde, stop ranting about being a dalit…the day you joined a job and then politics and now upon becoming a Home Minister, you are not entitled to call your self a dalit (in terms of hardships and government benefits).

Moreover, if you are suggesting that Cong cares for dalits, then should I assume that same Congress does NOT care for upper castes as P.Chidambaram was upper caste? Then I should be worried

Today’s India needs a strong man as our Home Minister who can lead the counter offensive from the front, who can define and register the INTENT but I am not sure if a man who has been named in Adarsh scam has the credentials to give a shape to our expectations. I harped on credentials, since experience, in his case, is anyways missing!

The timing though is ominous since there were talks of Rahul joining the cabinet but suddenly out of nowhere we have Shinde becoming a Home Minister. Is it something to do with Rahul’s willingness or unwillingness, unpreparedness, unready ness to join the  

Government. Only God and Sonia Knows.

Well congrats Mr. Shinde on your new job. You have proved again that blessings of 10 Janpath is more important than blessings of entire nation. With these words, I welcome you HOME and hope that you actually consider this country as your Home when you start as its HOME minister.