Resurrection of Congress

By Anand

As the county watches the Modi spectacle unfold with wanton glee laden with expectation for, the already proverbial ‘Achchhe Din’, tiny but promising rumblings in the congress went unnoticed..

Though Rahul has failed to capture youth imagination, the spark cannot be ignored .Actually, when things are so bad even small gestures bring smiles may be that is why it is heartening to see RG hands on and focused and attempting. Though seriously lacking as the head of a mammoth party, he has managed to bring Congress from nadir to visibility. RG’s relentless tour and late attempt to touch base with people is better than never. But he has to break mould, come out of the cocoon and desperately get contemporary advice.

Fact is, we are still talking about him and the Congress and we can see scores of people for whom election is synonymous with the ‘hand’ symbol. Even today in this day and age of information It would not be surprising to find people who still do not know that the congress has been washed away. All this proves that despite the drubbing, Congress and ‘Gandhi ‘ remain relevant. He just needs to build on this but also understandthat the dynamics have changed. It no longer is Roti, kapda and makaan.

But more surprising is that Congress is yet to home in on the real Modi plot. Mr. Modi like all his colleagues in the Sangh has exhibited the primordial hunger to regain for India all her lost glory.

By imparting importance to erstwhile mundane subjects like clean surroundings and toilets he has ask Indians to look at themselves before finding faults with govts. Modi knows that in the world capitals Indians do not command respect a la` American and Modi strongly believes, I suspect, that America is just a circumstantial super power and not the deserving one. In Modi’s mind much like the average ‘Sanghi’ only India deserves to be in the position of pivot of the world pecking order. Mr Modi has changed the discourse from Roti, Kapda, Makaan to various aspects of higher living. He has shown a new end. Could be a pipe dream, but Indians are for now smoking on it big time. They are beginning to reinvent themselves. The average person on the street is no longer shy. He is beginning to be proud of being Indian.
All this bodes well for Indians.

However general feeling is that Congress dissuaded Indians from exerting themselves.The govt. policy for past 60 years has been to welcome aggressive people to India but NEVER did they support aggressive Indian businessmen to expand beyond India.

We do not know what the congressmen thought, but they never instilled confidence to the global go getter. That is the shell Rahul needs to break out of. He needs to believe that Indians can.

He needs to talk of his vision for India. He must device a roadmap to an India much better that what Namo is promising.

C Anand Velayudhan is  Special correspondent – India for an American Television Channel ‘

blissanand@rediffmail.com

(Views expressed are his own)

Courtesy : www.wisdomblow.com

Will Nitish Kumar retain the top post in Bihar?

Shahnawaz Alam

Both Lalu and Nitish were exposed against Modi wave in general elections held last year. Nitish severed 17 years old alliance for his apprehensions against Modi’s annoitment for the top job at centre. Apparently, he had to face a big jolt having reduced to only two seats from 20 seats in 2009.

All his calculations went against him. He tactically deputed a Mahadalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi as his successor in order to consolidate almost 14% of dalit and mahadalit vote bank. He had to face another debacle soon after he paved way for Manjhi. Growing proximity between Manjhi and BJP’s central leadership caused frustration for Kumar. As soon as Kumar assumed his new role to work for organization, Manjhi had already started defying his key executive decisions. Nitish decided to topple Manjhi and scrapped some of his key decisions. On the hand other veteran socialist leader Lalu Prasad Yadav decided to extend support to JDU in order to ensure no president rule in the state after Manjhi was expelled with his supporters from JDU. Over the time Manjhi has consolidated his loyalty towards his political maste, BJP. Another rebellion, Pappu Yadav recently floated his own party after being expelled from RJD on the charges of anti party activities. Some highly placed sources establish Pappu’s proximity with BJP too. Likewise many other parties have been floated locally and almost all of them are working to stop Nitish-Lalu duo in Bihar. BJP insiders revealed that the same Maharashtra Model might also be exercised in Bihar.

It is clearly evident that Dalit and Mahadalit voters have gradually shifted their loyalty towards Manjhi from Ramvilas Paswan. However, there no clear consensus inside BJP over leadership. It is clearly evident that Sushil Modi is not an unanimously accepted face in BJP for Bihar assembly elections. If we look into public welfare strategies and decisions, hardy there is anything significant in its bag to appeal among Bihari voters. BJP has not offered anything substantial as of now for Bihar in order to uplift it’s poor human indexes, dilapidated state of healthcare and education system.

BJP is fully dependent on its social engineering whereas people of Bihar are satisfied with development programs under Nitish rule. But, it will be interesting to see how people perceive Nitish Kumar with his new partner Lalu Prasad. In the history of Bihar Lalu is one such leader who reignited socialist movement. To a large extent Lalu succeeded in giving voice to the marginalized classes. But, his party disintegrated due to a few mistakes. One such mistake was choosing incompetent Rabri for the top job as Lalu’s successor. It’s time for him to acknowledge his mistakes publicly. However, he seems to have overshadowed his all such trivial mistakes which were represented more that life in public domain. He brought an unprecedented reforms in Indian railways under UPA-1 rule. Perhaps, he is all set to fight back again but his workers at ground level are reluctant to work with JDU workers. Lalu on several occasions conveyed his workers to be ready for the bigger sacrifices and he himself said that he is ready to gulp any poison in order to stop fascist forces in Bihar. Definitely, Bihar assembly elections will set new precedence in fragmented political landscape of India.

Shahnawaz Alam is a young emerging author

Graduated from AJK Mass Comm. Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia University

Will Laloo crumble before Congress threat?

Dr. P Pullarao

The Congress Party has  publicly  embraced  Nitish Kumar as the Chief Ministerial candidate for Bihar. The Congress has made it clear that if Laloo Prasad Yadav does not join with Nitish Kumar, then  Congress will choose  Nitish Kumar. This is a  direct threat to Laloo Prasad that he cannot bank on the Congress Party .The Congress  party has come to the conclusion that Laloo Prasad is a decreasing force and that Nitish Kumar is a  better bet. The Congress Party feels that Laloo Prasad Yadav would have no alternative but to join Nitish Kumar or his voters will abandon him. In any event, an open threat has been given to Laloo Prasad Yadav. Will Laloo succumb to the threat or find a way out ?

The choices are very un-pleasant for Laloo Prasad. At the same time, Nitish and the Congress Party are gambling that Laloo will succumb to their threats. It might happen that Laloo Prasad will patch up. But it might also happen that Laloo might feel that it is better to take  a lonely road.

The coming elections in Bihar are becoming strange. Nitish Kumar is the Chief Minister  with the  help of his worst enemy  Laloo Prasad Yadav.  Nitish Kumar and Laloo Prasasd Yadav have become open enemies. . The famed English writer George Bernard Shaw    said “Politics makes strange bedfellows”.  He meant that enemies become friends suddenly. But two tigers or even two cobras cannot live in the same forest. When a cobra and mongoose fight, everyone knows the outcome. But when two political cobras of North India like Nitesh Kumar and Laloo Prasad fight, the outcome becomes interesting and un-predictable. Nitesh and Laloo are nearing 70 years and are now fighting their last battles to the finish.  Nitish and Laloo made moves as if they were friends. But their enmity came out.

Nitish Kumar and Laloo Prasad have been enjoying power since 1977. Laloo Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and Nitish Kumar have ruled Bihar from 1980 for 30 years. After BJP scored a big victory in 2014 Parliament elections in Bihar, Laloo and Nitish Kumar felt to survive, they had to unite. Nitish resigned as Chief Minister of Bihar as he said the big loss to BJP was his fault. He appointed Jitan Ram Manjhi as Chief Minister. But Manjhi started growing politically and Nitish again replaced him in February, 2015 with Laloo’s help.

For some time, there was great optimism in Nitish Kumar’s camp after he became Chief Minister again in February, 2105   that Laloo will forget the past and support Nitish   during elections in September, 2015.  Since 1992, Nitish and Laloo are sworn enemies. Nitish is largely responsible  for Laloo’s failing political career and going to jail and presently  out on bail and banned from contesting elections.

The false friendly picture started changing when Laloo started changing his tune. Laloo said ex-Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi must be brought back to their front. This irritated Nitish endlessly. Then Laloo said there can be no pre-determined Chief Minister candidate from their front. Then Laloo started criticizing Nitish’s government. Nitish wanted full merger of his party with Laloo’s  Party. But Laloo now started talking of only alliances and not a   merger.

Sensing that Laloo might make a big fool of him, Nitish avoided addressing joint public meeting in Patna on April 19, 2015 saying he was not well. Then again, there was a meeting of Janata Parivar in Delhi when Nitish was there. But Nitish skipped the meeting saying he had an eye operation. On May 28, 2015, the senior most leader of Laloo’s party Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said Nitish can never be Chief Minister if their party was part of the alliance. This was a clear message to Nitish if there is an alliance, he cannot become Chief Minister.  On May 30, 2015, once again Nitish avoided addressing a joint public meeting in Patna with Laloo, saying he is ill.

Laloo Prasad does not want Nitish to become chief Minister again. For Nitish Kumar, the choice is very difficult. He has to sacrifice himself and support someone else. This is a shock for Nitish , since he humiliated himself before  the entire country by going to Laloo for support , hoping  he would forget  the past.

The proposed Janata  Parivar merger  is  never going to happen. Nitesh Kumar broke ties with the BJP in 2013 on issues of self-proclaimed principles, saying  he can never accept  Narendra Modi as a leader of his alliance.  But such principles are very costly in Indian politics. So Nitish is in big  trouble.

1. The long rivalry between Nitish Kumar and Laloo Prasad Yadav cannot be wished away. Such enemies come together when they hate a common enemy more.  But neither Laloo nor Nitish hates Narendra Modi more than they hate each other. They pretended to become   allies but they know that they are each others’ worst enemy. Modi is only a political enemy and not personal enemies as they are to each other.
2. The main issue is that neither does Laloo Prasad wants to see Nitish Kumar become Chief Minister of Bihar again nor does Nitish wants to see Laloo or his family members become powerful again.  If Nitish Kumar is ready to agree that someone other than him will become Chief Minister, then Laloo might agree for a joint fight . But Nitish Kumar does not want to   sacrifice his ambitions to become Chief Minister again. Laloo wants anyone other than NitishKumar .  Herein lies the problem.
3. Nitish Kumar still has a good 15 years of political life . He will be there longer than Laloo Prasad, who is in fragile health. Laloo’s children also do not seem to be shrewd enough to survive in Bihar politics without their father.

Latest status:

Laloo Prasad has succeeded in his ambition to totally humiliate Nitish Kumar. Nitish Kumar humiliated himself and requested Laloo for support to stay on as Chief Minister. This was after a period of over 22 years of open hostility.  Nitish cannot survive as Chief Minister if Laloo withdraws his support. Laloo might feel it is better to lose another election but ensure that Nitish Kumar is defeated and finished politically. The logic is that if Nitish becomes Chief Minister again, then Laloo loses permanently. So the better choice would be that Nitish lose. How does it matter to Laloo if BJP wins?

Whatever Laloo might say publicly about BJP and Modi, he will prefer that Modi wins and Nitish Kumar loses. Laloo has no personal enmity with Modi. But he has personal enmity with Nitish Kumar. A BJP victory in Bihar is no worry for Laloo as Minority voters will become stronger supporters. But if Nitish wins, Minority voters will drift to Nitish and Laloo will have nothing. Laloo would prefer BJP win rather than Nitish .

“Revenge is a dish best served cold “says many proverbs. Imagine the pleasure of Laloo if he can make Nitish look like a fool before the entire country and see that he is defeated. Laloo has Nitishat his mercy. It might even happen that Laloo might withdraw support to Nitish before the elections using some excuse.

Bihar predictions;

It will be most difficult for Nitish and Laloo to come together. It was Nitish who ruined Laloo’s career. To expect Laloo to support Nitish becoming Chief  Minister is impossible. Laloo Prasad might tie-up with Nitish Kumar, provided there will be a different Chief Ministerial candidate. That is an advantage for the BJP.

Conclusion: Laloo would like his party to emerge as a big political party and see that Nitish is not Chief Minister.  Nitish would like to see himself as Chief Minister or even the BJP take the job, but not Laloo . The Congress has no presence in Bihar. But at all costs, it would like to stop the BJP from winning Bihar. There are many months left and anything can happen.  But the odds look increasingly that Nitish might not emerge the victor in this election.

It is obvious that Laloo Prasad had cleverly planned a trap of giving initial support to Nitish  and then decided to defeat him.  Nitish like all clever people thought he was the only clever man. He tried to fool Laloo with smiles and secularism. But Laloo wants to finish him with smiles and sweet words. Usually when you lay a trap for others, you fall into it and Nitish fell into the deadly embrace of a political python. Once a python embraces you, there is no hope. But four months is still a long time and anything can happen.

The Congress   will insist that Laloo support Nitish Kumar. There are only two options before Laloo. One is that he agrees with the Congress and supports Nitish Kumar. The second is that Laloo calls the Congress’s bluff and throw the Bihar elections into total chaos. Both are equally possible.

Dr P Pulla Rao is a Socio-political and Economic analyst

New Land Bill in Farmer Interest

Brig R S Chhikara

Opposition parties especially the Congress, Janta Dal United and communists have raised a lot of hue and cry on the so called demerits of the Land Acquisition Bill calling it anti farmer and pro corporate. Their war cry against the bill centers primarily on the perceived removal of the consent clause. This when Congress ruled state  governments have  themselves declared that provision as a major road block in the way of infrastructure, industrial, agricultural and social development. This also, when the Modi government has already agreed to several amendments to the original text and declared its willingness to discuss and if necessary, amend its provisions further.

Seen in this context it appears that opposition to the bill is being pursued simply for the sake of opposition to anything proposed by the new political dispensation.  It is a case of the opposition ganging up to thwart or at least delay any and all reforms which may help the government towards actualization of the promised Achchhe Din. The fight is basically for their own political survival.  There is little informed discussion on the needs and priorities of rural India itself. ‘ Anti farmer ‘ is a mere cliché bandied about by the opposition which is determined not to discuss the issues on merit.

All studies and surveys in the past have clearly brought out that rural economy is inherently a deficient economy because income of the farmer or for that matter of the landless labourer or artisan in villages, from agriculture and agriculture related activities, is insufficient for their food, health, education and social needs. The author had himself carried out such a survey some time ago.

The reasons for ever increasing rural ( agricultural ) poverty are basically two; First- Land holdings have dwindled due to increase in population and nuclearization of  families. A household holding say, five acres of cultivable land at the time of independence has today, three generations down the line, come to hold a postage stamp sized plot of one – two bighas ( about one part in 15 of the earlier holding ). This limited land holding does not ensure full employment for even one person. It does not even provide enough fodder for more than one milch animal for incremental household income. Enhanced productivity with better seeds and fertilizers has not compensated proportionately. Second- Inflation has resulted in further devaluation of the family income. Vagaries of climate further vitiate the plight of those who depend on agriculture as the sole avenue of income.

Only such families as have sent sons and daughters into urban or rurban whit/ blue collar employment have managed to make both ends meet. This is the reason why  rural poor have migrated to urban slums in states where such avenues are available nearby – like in Uttrakhand, Western UP, Haryana and Rajasthan. This is also the reason for mass migration from Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Eastern UP and Maharashtra to industrial and commercial centres like Mumbai and Delhi. The only ones managing to survive with a modicum of dignity in villages are the share croppers who cultivate land on behalf of several marginal land owners.

Enhancement of support prices for agricultural produce have severe limitations due to inflation and increased cost of living especially for industrial and commercial workers in rurban/urban centres of employment. Government subsidy on food products has its own ill effects on fiscal budgeting. Unchecked and haphazard exodus to cities leads to creation of urban slums and unbearable burden on urban infrastructure. The migrants are compelled to live in inhuman conditions with high cost of living making savings impossible. Where meager land holdings fail to employ the work force the only reasonable way out is to provide employment avenues in industrial and commercial activity.

Efforts to enhance rural employment through make in India schemes will succeed only when viability for industrial units is ensured. The answer really lies in taking industrial and commercial activity to the rural heartland- ‘ Make in Rural India’. This may be achieved by transferring production of low technology items like processing grains and pulses back to villages and by setting up dispersed production centres for garments and leather goods etc under the Manchester Model.

The other way is to establish industrial centres in the rural heart land where skill training and industrial jobs can be made available to local labour within reasonable distance from their homes. Rural education hardly produces employable work force. Land will also  be required for setting up facilities for skill training, transportation infrastructure, medical facilities, sanitation  and drinking water besides irrigation channels for agriculture and healthy water bodies for animal husbandry. How will these facilities come to be unless land is available.

These imperatives are well understood by the kisan and he is happy to part with his land at enhanced prices as that gives him the option to a better and safer existence. What is coming in the way of the proposed bill is not the Kisan nor the concent clause but political propaganda against it. Most of our politicians have no real connect with either the farmer or the landless rural labour. They certainly do not have any genuine interest in the long term well being of rural India. Their only interest lies in misguiding and exploiting the rural folk for their political ends.

Rural India will decide wisely as wisdom is one commodity they possess in ample measure. The new bill needs to be passed in the interest of the rural folk as much as in overall national interest.

The author has deep and abiding interest in rural poverty alleviation through constant interaction with the village folk.

Will Laloo crumble before Congress threat?

Dr. P Pullarao

The Congress Party has  publicly  embraced  Nitish Kumar as the Chief Ministerial candidate for Bihar. The Congress has made it clear that if Laloo Prasad Yadav does not join with Nitish Kumar, then  Congress will choose  Nitish Kumar. This is a  direct threat to Laloo Prasad that he cannot bank on the Congress Party .The Congress  party has come to the conclusion that Laloo Prasad is a decreasing force and that Nitish Kumar is a  better bet. The Congress Party feels that Laloo Prasad Yadav would have no alternative but to join Nitish Kumar or his voters will abandon him. In any event, an open threat has been given to Laloo Prasad Yadav. Will Laloo succumb to the threat or find a way out ?

The choices are very un-pleasant for Laloo Prasad. At the same time, Nitish and the Congress Party are gambling that Laloo will succumb to their threats. It might happen that Laloo Prasad will patch up. But it might also happen that Laloo might feel that it is better to take  a lonely road.

The coming elections in Bihar are becoming strange. Nitish Kumar is the Chief Minister  with the  help of his worst enemy  Laloo Prasad Yadav.  Nitish Kumar and Laloo Prasasd Yadav have become open enemies. . The famed English writer George Bernard Shaw    said “Politics makes strange bedfellows”.  He meant that enemies become friends suddenly. But two tigers or even two cobras cannot live in the same forest. When a cobra and mongoose fight, everyone knows the outcome. But when two political cobras of North India like Nitesh Kumar and Laloo Prasad fight, the outcome becomes interesting and un-predictable. Nitesh and Laloo are nearing 70 years and are now fighting their last battles to the finish.  Nitish and Laloo made moves as if they were friends. But their enmity came out.

Nitish Kumar and Laloo Prasad have been enjoying power since 1977. Laloo Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and Nitish Kumar have ruled Bihar from 1980 for 30 years. After BJP scored a big victory in 2014 Parliament elections in Bihar, Laloo and Nitish Kumar felt to survive, they had to unite. Nitish resigned as Chief Minister of Bihar as he said the big loss to BJP was his fault. He appointed Jitan Ram Manjhi as Chief Minister. But Manjhi started growing politically and Nitish again replaced him in February, 2015 with Laloo’s help.

For some time, there was great optimism in Nitish Kumar’s camp after he became Chief Minister again in February, 2105   that Laloo will forget the past and support Nitish   during elections in September, 2015.  Since 1992, Nitish and Laloo are sworn enemies. Nitish is largely responsible  for Laloo’s failing political career and going to jail and presently  out on bail and banned from contesting elections.

The false friendly picture started changing when Laloo started changing his tune. Laloo said ex-Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi must be brought back to their front. This irritated Nitish endlessly. Then Laloo said there can be no pre-determined Chief Minister candidate from their front. Then Laloo started criticizing Nitish’s government. Nitish wanted full merger of his party with Laloo’s  Party. But Laloo now started talking of only alliances and not a   merger.

Sensing that Laloo might make a big fool of him, Nitish avoided addressing joint public meeting in Patna on April 19, 2015 saying he was not well. Then again, there was a meeting of Janata Parivar in Delhi when Nitish was there. But Nitish skipped the meeting saying he had an eye operation. On May 28, 2015, the senior most leader of Laloo’s party Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said Nitish can never be Chief Minister if their party was part of the alliance. This was a clear message to Nitish if there is an alliance, he cannot become Chief Minister.  On May 30, 2015, once again Nitish avoided addressing a joint public meeting in Patna with Laloo, saying he is ill.

Laloo Prasad does not want Nitish to become chief Minister again. For Nitish Kumar, the choice is very difficult. He has to sacrifice himself and support someone else. This is a shock for Nitish , since he humiliated himself before  the entire country by going to Laloo for support , hoping  he would forget  the past.

The proposed Janata  Parivar merger  is  never going to happen. Nitesh Kumar broke ties with the BJP in 2013 on issues of self-proclaimed principles, saying  he can never accept  Narendra Modi as a leader of his alliance.  But such principles are very costly in Indian politics. So Nitish is in big  trouble.

1. The long rivalry between Nitish Kumar and Laloo Prasad Yadav cannot be wished away. Such enemies come together when they hate a common enemy more.  But neither Laloo nor Nitish hates Narendra Modi more than they hate each other. They pretended to become   allies but they know that they are each others’ worst enemy. Modi is only a political enemy and not personal enemies as they are to each other.
2. The main issue is that neither does Laloo Prasad wants to see Nitish Kumar become Chief Minister of Bihar again nor does Nitish wants to see Laloo or his family members become powerful again.  If Nitish Kumar is ready to agree that someone other than him will become Chief Minister, then Laloo might agree for a joint fight . But Nitish Kumar does not want to   sacrifice his ambitions to become Chief Minister again. Laloo wants anyone other than NitishKumar .  Herein lies the problem.
3. Nitish Kumar still has a good 15 years of political life . He will be there longer than Laloo Prasad, who is in fragile health. Laloo’s children also do not seem to be shrewd enough to survive in Bihar politics without their father.

Latest status:

Laloo Prasad has succeeded in his ambition to totally humiliate Nitish Kumar. Nitish Kumar humiliated himself and requested Laloo for support to stay on as Chief Minister. This was after a period of over 22 years of open hostility.  Nitish cannot survive as Chief Minister if Laloo withdraws his support. Laloo might feel it is better to lose another election but ensure that Nitish Kumar is defeated and finished politically. The logic is that if Nitish becomes Chief Minister again, then Laloo loses permanently. So the better choice would be that Nitish lose. How does it matter to Laloo if BJP wins?

Whatever Laloo might say publicly about BJP and Modi, he will prefer that Modi wins and Nitish Kumar loses. Laloo has no personal enmity with Modi. But he has personal enmity with Nitish Kumar. A BJP victory in Bihar is no worry for Laloo as Minority voters will become stronger supporters. But if Nitish wins, Minority voters will drift to Nitish and Laloo will have nothing. Laloo would prefer BJP win rather than Nitish .

“Revenge is a dish best served cold “says many proverbs. Imagine the pleasure of Laloo if he can make Nitish look like a fool before the entire country and see that he is defeated. Laloo has Nitishat his mercy. It might even happen that Laloo might withdraw support to Nitish before the elections using some excuse.

Bihar predictions;

It will be most difficult for Nitish and Laloo to come together. It was Nitish who ruined Laloo’s career. To expect Laloo to support Nitish becoming Chief  Minister is impossible. Laloo Prasad might tie-up with Nitish Kumar, provided there will be a different Chief Ministerial candidate. That is an advantage for the BJP.

Conclusion: Laloo would like his party to emerge as a big political party and see that Nitish is not Chief Minister.  Nitish would like to see himself as Chief Minister or even the BJP take the job, but not Laloo . The Congress has no presence in Bihar. But at all costs, it would like to stop the BJP from winning Bihar. There are many months left and anything can happen.  But the odds look increasingly that Nitish might not emerge the victor in this election.

It is obvious that Laloo Prasad had cleverly planned a trap of giving initial support to Nitish  and then decided to defeat him.  Nitish like all clever people thought he was the only clever man. He tried to fool Laloo with smiles and secularism. But Laloo wants to finish him with smiles and sweet words. Usually when you lay a trap for others, you fall into it and Nitish fell into the deadly embrace of a political python. Once a python embraces you, there is no hope. But four months is still a long time and anything can happen.

The Congress   will insist that Laloo support Nitish Kumar. There are only two options before Laloo. One is that he agrees with the Congress and supports Nitish Kumar. The second is that Laloo calls the Congress’s bluff and throw the Bihar elections into total chaos. Both are equally possible.

Dr P Pulla Rao is a Socio-political and Economic analyst

Resurrection of Congress

Bitter truth

By Anand

As the county watches the Modi spectacle unfold with wanton glee laden with expectation for, the already proverbial ‘Achchhe Din’, tiny but promising rumblings in the congress went unnoticed..

Though Rahul has failed to capture youth imagination, the spark cannot be ignored .Actually, when things are so bad even small gestures bring smiles may be that is why it is heartening to see RG hands on and focused and attempting. Though seriously lacking as the head of a mammoth party, he has managed to bring Congress from nadir to visibility. RG’s relentless tour and late attempt to touch base with people is better than never. But he has to break mould, come out of the cocoon and desperately get contemporary advice.

Fact is, we are still talking about him and the Congress and we can see scores of people for whom election is synonymous with the ‘hand’ symbol. Even today in this day and age of information It would not be surprising to find people who still do not know that the congress has been washed away. All this proves that despite the drubbing, Congress and ‘Gandhi ‘ remain relevant. He just needs to build on this but also understandthat the dynamics have changed. It no longer is Roti, kapda and makaan.

But more surprising is that Congress is yet to home in on the real Modi plot. Mr. Modi like all his colleagues in the Sangh has exhibited the primordial hunger to regain for India all her lost glory.

By imparting importance to erstwhile mundane subjects like clean surroundings and toilets he has ask Indians to look at themselves before finding faults with govts. Modi knows that in the world capitals Indians do not command respect a la` American and Modi strongly believes, I suspect, that America is just a circumstantial super power and not the deserving one. In Modi’s mind much like the average ‘Sanghi’ only India deserves to be in the position of pivot of the world pecking order. Mr Modi has changed the discourse from Roti, Kapda, Makaan to various aspects of higher living. He has shown a new end. Could be a pipe dream, but Indians are for now smoking on it big time. They are beginning to reinvent themselves. The average person on the street is no longer shy. He is beginning to be proud of being Indian.
All this bodes well for Indians.

However general feeling is that Congress dissuaded Indians from exerting themselves.The govt. policy for past 60 years has been to welcome aggressive people to India but NEVER did they support aggressive Indian businessmen to expand beyond India.

We do not know what the congressmen thought, but they never instilled confidence to the global go getter. That is the shell Rahul needs to break out of. He needs to believe that Indians can.

He needs to talk of his vision for India. He must device a roadmap to an India much better that what Namo is promising.

C Anand Velayudhan is  Special correspondent – India for an American Television Channel ‘

blissanand@rediffmail.com

(Views expressed are his own)

ONE YEAR OF MODI ADMINISTRATION

Dr. Charles Dias

The 2014 elections to Lok Sabha was a landmark one in the history of the Republic of India.  It saw the emergence of a dynamic leader in Sri Narender Modi.  Whatever the critics may tell about him, India experienced a leadership with firm voice.  No doubt, his actions are highly controversial.  He tried to do many things which are more  corporate-friendly  than provided welfare to the people.

The nuclear deal with US, the visits to many countries of Europe, Australia etc. were sweet revenges for Sri Narendar Modi, as they were apparently unfriendly earlier.  He pulled huge crowds wherever he visited, even though it is accused that in many places it was ‘manipulated crowd’.  Beating of Sri Rajdeep Sardeshai, senior journalist  at US was an unpleasant incident which revealed the real nature of the so called ‘crowd’.  Sri Modi’s effort to widen the scope of exports and commercial attempts were welcomed by people of India.  Modi was lucky that the price of crude oil in international market came down to 47 US dollars  from 134 US dollars during early 2014.

Smt. Sumitra Mahajan , Speaker , has to be congratulated for effectively running Lok Sabha  when compared to 15th Lok Sabha. The main promises of Modi or NDA  Govt. – promise of bringing down prices of essential commodities and bring back the black money deposited in Swiss banks.  The NDA had even promised that the black money so brought will be  distributed Rs.1500000/-  each to every  Indian.  What really happened ?

Prices cannot be brought down as promised by Modi or NDA; Petroleum prices were not reduced according to the reduction of crude oil; black money could not be brought back ; the prices of essential medicines were de-controlled which reasoned for heavy increase of price for essential medicines.  It created an impression that the Prime Minister of India India is more committed to protect the interests of corporates than common men of the country. India saw the worst form of attack on minorities in many parts of the country.

RSS , the real promoter of Modi Govt. rather than NDA Govt. has revealed its areas of interest.  The comments of RSS /VHP/Bajrang Dal leaders  about the minorities, especially Muslims and Christians have shown the real intentions of Hindu fundamentalists.  The Shiv Sena leader even commented that Muslims should be denied voting rights !  Mother Teresa was abused by VHP President as though her main intention was conversion of people to Christianity ! Even after attacks of several Christian churches, not even a single person was arrested !  Where is our police ?

It is pertinent to note that  Modi has no regard for Parliament.  His foreign tours while Parliament was in session;  controversial ordinances;  denial of the post of LOP  to Congress, moves to pass bills without proper  procedures, signing defense deals without taking Defense Minister into confidence etc. show this attitude.  The two Anglo-Indian Members  to Lok Sabha as per Article 331 were not nominated even after an year !   What is the attitude of people to Modi Govt ? -  look at Delhi elections !

Dr. Charles Dias Ex. M.P.
Courtesy: www.wisdomblow.com