My Opinion

Pakistan has used the SAARC forum to highlight its discord with India. It is not surprising that Pakistan blocked out Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s speech since this is in their habit to do so. Why Rajnath Singh skipped lunch is also not the issue here rather the bigger question is about Pakistan’s double standards on terrorism. Rajnath Singh made India’s stand very clear on this while Pakistan was left with no answers.

Pakistan feels that it can send terrorists to India, equip them with weapons and create havoc in Kashmir without the world knowing it. However the whole world is aware of the country’s true colours where terrorism is concerned. The US has decided to hold up military funds to Pakistan. The Pentagon has outlined that the country was not taking sufficient action against terror. Even on the issue of Kashmir, Pakistan received a blow from the United Nations which categorically stated that Kashmir is a problem between India and Pakistan and there would be no third party intervention.

It is indeed a bit shocking to note that India’s most wanted terrorist Hafiz Saeed is allowed to hold protests at the same site where the SAARC Summit is being held and is also allowed to spew venom against India. Perhaps what is more baffling is that on the one hand Pakistan has extended a warm welcome to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, on the other hand Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif terms Kashmir ‘not India’s internal matter’. One can hope that tomorrow Rajnath Singh is able to remove such wrong notions harboured by the Pak PM.

Nitin Patel is being made the Chief Minister of Gujarat primarily to placate the Patidar community which is already at loggerheads with the BJP . Had a non Patel been appointed, the party’s problems would have increased manifold. It was possible only during Narendra Modi’s time in Gujarat when neither the Chief Minister nor the Party Chief belonged to the Patel community and yet the community stood by Modi. Influential leaders like Keshubhai Patel failed to bring down Modi’s support base but with Anandiben Patel, the narratives changed completely. Even though they may not be too happy by making Nitin Patel the CM of Gujarat, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have no other alternative left for them.

It is quite apparent that her age is being cited as an excuse. Anandi Ben Patel’s exit was decided during the Patidar agitation which she failed to handle deftly. Her tenure as the CM was proving to be costly for the BJP. However a decision is yet to be taken on who would replace her. The recent assault on the Dalits in Una which snowballed into a major controversy, left the BJP with no other option but to remove her. Interms of efficiency, Vijay Rupani could make his mark as the CM but Nitin Patel who belongs to the Patidar community could emerge as the front runner since the powerful Patidar community which is upset with the BJP has always had a major role to play in the politics of Gujarat.

There is no doubt that the GST Bill will be passed but the Government must exercise caution while implementing it. Countries like Malaysia faced shortcomings while rolling out GST. Several countries faced inflation upon implementation. These are some of the lessons that the government can learn. The authorities should be work out means to tide over road blocks that are bound to crop up when the Goods & Services Tax is finally implemented.

The common man usually approaches the police for help. But when emergency numbers don’t work, the police don’t reach the spot on time and are caught sleeping on duty, it is but natural that people are going to be enraged. However the entire force in UP cannot be accused of dereliction of duty…in reality the police in UP is not only understaffed but also have no fixed hours of work. On an average, they have to work for 18-20 hours at a stretch and often have to spend days at the police station. It is the responsibility of the State Government to increase manpower, improve their work conditions and also ensure that they are not overworked.

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen leader Salahuddin’s interview is a lesson for those who have expressed their sympathies for Burhan Wani. Salahuddin has in no uncertain terms stated that Burhan Wani was a militant who would attack security forces with weapons he received from Pakistan. The interview should serve as a warning for those who have been instigating the people of Kashmir by declaring him a martyr and thereby fanning militancy in the area. This is difficult to comprehend since these sympathisers are not from Pakistan but belong to our own country. Such people should pause and think before making a hero out of Burhan Wani.

It is clear that in Mandsaur some people indulged in violence in the name of protecting cows. The police acting under pressure arrested the two women and sent them to jail without even a proper probe. The video clearly shows that there was a deliberate attempt to instigate trouble and vitiate the atmosphere and create communal tensions. The two women were first apprehended, then beaten up and this was followed by slogans of ‘jai shri ram’. Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s government must ensure that such people are dealt with an iron hand. Wearing saffron and raising slogans is not a licence to perpetrate violence. Action must also be taken against those policemen who not only allowed this to happen but also remained as mere spectators to all this trouble.

One cannot expect a Chief Minister to behave in such a manner or even use such language. Arvind Kejriwal has changed ever since he has become a Chief Minister. Earlier he would call a press conference every day and would answer questions asked by reporters and would even use it to his best advantage. After having become the Chief Minister, he does not give the opportunity to reporters to question him. And today he went a step further…he set up his own camera, conducted his own question answer session in front of it and then uploaded the video on social media. Why is Kejriwal scared of facing reporters? Why is he scared of the Press throwing such questions at him for which he may not have an answer?

Nawaz Sharif keeps making references of raising the Kashmir issue at the international level but chooses to remain silent on the situation prevalent in Pak occupied Kashmir. The whole world witnessed the manner in which the army staged elections there and ensured his party’s victory. Nawaz Sharif should explain why those living in POK are ill treated and why does the Army have to use force against them.

Sandeep Dikshit has quite rightly pointed out that is he is proud and rebellious by nature. Where the question of Ajay Maken concerned, it is known to all that he and Sheila Dikshit have always locked horns with each other. It was Ajay Maken who had objected to Sheila Dikshit being granted a third term by Sonia Gandhi and in the last assembly elections, it was her own party leaders who worked against her. However it is difficult to explain why Sandeep Dikshit has decided to mount an attack at a time when Sheila Dikshit has been declared the Chief Ministerial candidate for UP.