Who asked to surrender to US after 26/11 Mumbai attacks ?
In a hard-hitting attack on Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Congress must tell the nation who bowed to foreign pressure and prevented the Indian armed forces from mounting a military response after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.
Addressing people while inaugurating the Navi Mumbai airport on Wednesday, Modi , without naming Congress leader P. Chidambaram, said: “A Congress leader, who has been the Home Minister, has said, India was ready to respond after 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai, but because of pressure exerted by some country, the then Congress government prevented Indian armed forces from attacking Pakistan. Congress must clarify who was the person who took this decision and who ignored the sentiments of the people of Mumbai and rest of India. The nation has the right to know. This decision emboldened terrorists and weakened national security.”
I have seen P. Chidambaram’s interview to which Prime Minister Modi has referred. What Chidambaram said was quite clear.
One, he wanted India to attack Pakistan after the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai, our armed forces were ready to strike. Two, the then government did not take military action because of pressure from America. Three, the External Affairs ministry had conveyed that the US had dissuaded India from taking any action and India did not take any action.
This matter came to light earlier too. But it is now significant because the then Home Minister P. Chidambaram has now revealed it.
Modi mentioned it in his speech because, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had been consistently saying after the 4-day armed conflict with Pakistan that Modi “surrendered” to Donald Trump. The fact is, Modi has now turned the tables.
First, by taking military action against terror hideouts deep inside Pakistan, he conveyed the message that he did not fear, nor bowed before anybody, and today, he reminded the people of India that it was the Congress government in 2008 which had surrendered to America post-26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Akhilesh meets Azam Khan : Will the ice be broken?
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav went to Rampur for a two-hour closed-door meeting with Azam Khan, recently released from prison. Akhilesh took Rampur MP Mohibullah Nadvi with him for the meeting, but when Azam Khan sent message that he would meet no one else for this one-to-one meeting, Nadvi was left behind in Bareilly.
After the meeting, Azam Khan said, “I am not a bird that flies from one branch to another. I shall not leave the Samajwadi Party”. Akhilesh Yadav described Azam Khan as the “oldest and strongest tree” of Samajwadi Party. The SP chief said, whatever people may say, Azam Khan’s blessings shall always be with the party.
Neither Azam Khan nor Akhilesh revealed what was discussed behind closed doors. In the morning, Azam Khan had said, he has not forgotten that Akhilesh had given Mohibullah Nadvi the ticket to contest from Rampur despite his reservations.
When Azam Khan was in jail, Nadvi had commented that Azam Khan is in “a reformatory” and he hoped he would come out as “a reformed man”.
Mohibullah Nadvi is of Turkish origin, while Azam Khan is a Pathan. Among the Muslims of Rampur, Turks and Pathans remain at loggerheads. Akhilesh Yadav wanted a patch-up today, but Azam Khan refused to shake hands.
UP minister Om Prakash Rajbhar said, Akhilesh is fearing the possibility of Azam Khan and Shivpal Singh Yadav joining hands to form a new party. UP deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak described this meeting as a “political compulsion” because SP has lost much of its base in Rampur.
Akhilesh Yadav and Azam Khan have a very old relationship. Azam Khan was one of the most trusted leaders of late Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Azam Khan has this habit of speaking out bitterly in public, but with a flair of its own. His remarks are biting, but dipped in sweet syrup. His remarks are always overloaded with meanings.
The fact remains that Azam Khan, after his release from prison, is a bitter man nowadays. He still feels that nobody supported him when he was in crisis. Leaders from various parties are interpreting the outcome of this meeting differently.
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AI Video of PM and his mom : A shameful act
Bihar Congress posted a 36-second AI-generated video on X in which characters resembling Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother Heeraben were shown with the caption “Maa appears in sahab’s dreams”.
This has triggered a sharp outcry with a BJP worker filing a police complaint in Delhi. BJP and its allies Janata Dal-U and LJP condemned this act and describing it as shameful.
Congress leader Pawan Khere said, no disrespect WAS shown towards the prime minister or his mother. “What is their objection? Just because a mother is trying to educate her son to do something right, where is the disrespect? This is neither disrespectful to the mother, whom we respect dearly, nor to the son,” Khera said.
BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “Making memes of our prime minister’s late mother, that too of such a cheap standard, is shameful. BJP will make it a big issue across the country.”
When abuses were hurled at Modi’s late mother from a Congress-RJD platform in Darbhanga, the Congress leaders, at that time, said, they did not know who hurled the abuse. One could have given benefit of doubt to the Congress. But this video has appeared on an official handle of Bihar Congress. It is clear that Congress has put its seal of approval to the earlier act when Modi’s mother was abused.
Congress has used the name of Modi’s mother for political benefit, and that too officially to target the Prime Minister.
Such an act is shameful. To post an Ai-generated video of a woman who never spoke about politics and is no more alive to defend herself, is indicative of the falling level of Bihar politics. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has maintained silence on this, but his mannerism clearly shows he did not like this act by state Congress media cell.
Gen-Z must help in restoring peace in Nepal
In fast-paced developments, former Chief Justice of Nepal Sushila Karki on Friday night took oath as interim Prime Minister, the Parliament was dissolved and March 5 next year has been set as the date for fresh parliamentary elections. Clearly, six months’ time has been given to the interim government.
For the retired chief justice, bringing peace will be a tough job given the level of violence and arson that took place in Kathmandu during the last five days. Presently, the army is in control throughout the country and soldiers are guarding all important installations including the President’s House.
Kathmandu has turned into a ghost city with most of the people preferring tol live indoors. The visuals of arson and destruction are really shocking. When people indulge in arson, violence and anarchy, when Parliament and the Prime Minister’s residence are reduced to ashes, nothing seems to have left.
Neither the Constitution, nor democracy nor a semblance of law and order. Thousands came out on the streets and burnt everything. Democracy is now under the boots of the army and whatever the army decides, will be done. Leaders who were elected by the people have fled and gone underground. People whom the army will select will now run the country.
Weapons and uniforms of policemen were looted by mobs during anarchy. Thousands of prisoners fled from jails, and several of them are now moving around wearing police uniform. It is difficult to differentiate between a policeman and a criminal.
Those who launched the so-called civil agiation are denying that they had supported arson and violence. The question is: Who carried out arson and violence? Who looted the weapons? Who will ensure that the prisoners are sent back to jails?
The accountability lies with those who launched the Gen-Z agitation against corruption and unseated the Prime Minister and his government. It is now the responsibility of this group to bring back Nepal on track.
Grotesque beheading of an Indian in the US
The grotesque beheading of an Indian national by an American employee in Dallas, Texas is sickening and worrying. The ghastly act was done in the presence of the victim’s wife and son. The murderer used a machete to behead his employer, kicked his severed head and threw it in a dustbin.
The Indian employer Chandramouli Nagamallaiah, who was beheaded, was innocent. This is an inhuman act. He was ruthlessly beheaded by a man who was a historysheeter and a certified criminal.
The man who killed President Trump’s close ally Charlie Kirk was a 22-year-old youth. Tyler Robinson is a resident of Utah. Police have seized the high powered bolt action rifle to kill Kirk. Open gun culture in the US is a worrying trend. Trump had been blaming illegal immigrants for the rise in crimes, but in reality, no action has been taken on the ground, otherwise such heinous crimes would not have taken place.
Modi’s attack on corruption : Jailed ministers must resign
In a major step towards curbing corruption in politics, the government introduced three bills in Lok Sabha which provide for automatic removal of Prime Minister, Chief Minister and ministers in Centre, states and union territories, if they are sent to custody for more than 30 days on serious charges.
The bills, moved by Home Minister Amit Shah, were referred to a joint parliamentary committee for review, even as opposition members created a ruckus inside the Lok Sabha.
There was no legal framework till now for a minister or a chief minister losing his post if he or she fails to get bail from court and remains in jail for a longer duration. Neither the CM or minister can be dismissed nor can any court remove them from their post. The 130th Constitution Amendment Bill will have to be passed in both the Houses by a two-third majority.
When the bill becomes law, the accountability of people holding constitutional posts like the Prime Minister, chief ministers or ministers at the Centre and states will be fixed. It will not be left to their discretion whether to resign on moral grounds or not. This law will be applicable only to charges that provide for imprisonment up to five years or more.
In the recent past, when the then Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was arrested and sent to jail, he did not quit his post. Similarly, in Tamil Nadu, a minister Senthil Balaji continued to be in his post though he was arrested by Enforcement Directorate and sent to jail on corruption charges.
Chief Ministers of several non-BJP ruled states have opposed these bills. Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K.Stalin said, “the first move of any emerging dictator is to give himself the power to arrest and remove rivals from office”. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said, “I condemn it as a step towards something more than a super-Emergency.
Defending the move, Home Minister Amit Shah said, “we cannot be so shameless that we continue to occupy constitutional posts while facing serious charges”.
There is a background behind the introduction of these bills. In recent times, Arvind Kejriwal tried to run his government in Delhi from jail. At that time, both the Centre and the courts were in a fix, because there is no legal provision to stop a chief minister from working inside a jail.
The framers of our Constitution never envisaged such circumstances when a CM or a minister could refuse to resign on moral grounds despite being sent to jail. They never imagined that the lines of morality would be buried so deep.
It is surprising that the opposition parties are opposing this bill against corruption, but what will they tell the people in public? Will they tell the people that a chief minister of a minister should be allowed to run the government or ministry from jail and take decisions. What is the justification behind this?
This is a major reform and it was essential. It will now become mandatory for any minister to resign, if he or she stays in custody for more than 30 days.
Attack on Delhi CM : Motive unknown
A man from Gujarat went to the official residence of Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday when she was meeting common people who had come to air their grievances. The man slapped the chief minister, caught hold of her hair and threw her to the ground, before he was overpowered by security personnel.
Rekha Gupta had injuries to her head, neck, shoulder and back. On interrogation by police, it was found that the man, Rajeshbhai Sakharia, age 41, hails from Rajkot, Gujarat. Police is yet to find out the motive. The man had earlier done a recce of the chief minister’s residence and police found video clips of him outside the CM’s residence. The man had come to Delhi on Sunday.
Delhi minister Parvesh Verma says, there seems to be a deep conspiracy behind this. The man stayed in Gujarat Bhavan on Civil Lines, 800 metre away from the CM’s residence.
According to police, the man had a criminal background in Rajkot. He had five cases lodged against him. Still, the exact motive is unknown.
This attack points to a serious security lapse. The chief minister is accompanied by 20-25 security staff and Delhi Police personnel man the outer ring.
One thing is clear. The attack on Rekha Gupta was done after careful planning. It is clear that the attacker’s motive was not to stage any protest. The attack could have been fatal.
Police will surely find out the motive, but for now, the chief minister can no more meet commoners freely because of the risk to her life.
Since the time Rekha Gupta became CM, she had been constantly meeting common people. Her residence and office were open for all. Her security personnel will now prevent people from meeting their chief minister easily.
“Saugat-e-Modi”: Is it for Muslim votes?
In a major outreach to economically backward Muslims, BJP’s Minority Morcha has launched “Saugat-e-Modi” scheme, under which Eid gift packs will be given to 32 lakh Muslims through 32,000 mosques across the country. On Tuesday, these gift kits, containing besan, vermicelli, dates, dry fruits, sugar, salwar-suit fabric for men, kurta-pyjama fabric for men, were distributed in Delhi and Navi Mumbai. 100 needy persons will be identified with the help of each mosque committee for receiving the gift pack. At a time when iftar parties are being held by political parties during the month of Ramzan, BJP has opted to distribute these gift packs. Each office bearer of the Minority Morcha will identify 100 needy persons from a mosque with the help of the mosque committee and will deliver the “Saugaat-e-Modi” kit to them as a gift. Congress leader Imran Masood described this as a “lollypop for Muslims”, while other opposition leaders said this scheme has been launched with an eye on forthcoming Bihar assembly elections. All India Imam Association president Sajid Rashidi welcomed this scheme and hoped Muslims would at least get a closer look for once at BJP for their own benefit. I fail to understand what opposition leaders think when they say these gift packs are for securing Muslims votes. What do they think of Muslims? Will a Muslim come out to vote for BJP because of a packet of vermicelli, dates and dry fruits? If these leaders think so, then let all other parties distribute similar gift packs to poor Muslims on the eve of Eid. Why didn’t they think about this earlier? I think, everybody should welcome such gifts for the poor at the time of festivals. No need to politicize such moves.
Cash of the Judge: is it time for a relook at NJAC ?
The Chief Justice of Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to give an urgent hearing relating to a plea by a lawyer seeking direction to Delhi Police to file an FIR over the discovery of semi-burnt currency notes from the residence of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma. The CJI told the petitioner-advocate to confirm from the Supreme Court Registry the date of hearing on his petition. Meanwhile, the three-judge inquiry panel, after visiting the storeroom of the judge’s residence on Tuesday, has decided to check phone call details of the judge. In Prayagraj, Allahabad High Court lawyers have gone on indefinite strike to protest transfer of Justice Varma to their high court. On an average, 10 to 15,000 cases are heard daily before 88 benches of the high court. Meanwhile, several retired judges have said, given the present collegium system, there is little possibility of any concrete solution emerging from this issue soon. Retired Justice S N Dhingra on India TV show demanded that the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, that was struck down by the apex court in 2015, be revived. Legal experts say, no FIR can be filed by police unless the inhouse inquiry panel completes its work. The moot point is: there is still no clarify about who will investigate and prosecute a judge if any charge of corruption arises. Judiciary does not want to give these powers to police or CBI, and at the same time, it has no investigation agency of its own. Secondly, no matter howsoever serious the matter is, Supreme Court has no other alternative but to transfer the judge. When the NJAC Bill came before Parliament, the debate was only confined to appointment of judges, but the Act was turned down by the apex court. There was no discussion about whether the Bill should contain provisions on how to go ahead in matters of corruption in judiciary. Parliament will now have to consider this afresh and enact a law, but it would be better if the views of former Supreme Court judges are taken into consideration. Several retired judges feel that the NJAC law was a good one and the Supreme Court, instead of striking down the Act, could have stepped forward to correct any deficiencies it might have noticed in that law. Let bygones be bygones. A fresh thinking on this issue is required.
Congress in Bihar: Pressure tactics for more seats ?
The absence of Congress leaders at RJD founder Lalu Prasad Yadav’s iftar party in Patna has become the talk of the town. Lalu had hosted an iftar party on Monday in which leaders of Muslim organisations, RJD and Left parties took part, but only one out of 19 Congress MLAs was present. Ruling JD(U) leaders claimed that this is clear indication of a major rift in RJD-led Maha Gathbandhan (grand alliance). They said, Congress may break away from the alliance anytime and announce that it would go alone in the Assembly polls. Rahul Gandhi had convened a meeting of Bihar Congress leaders in Delhi and most of them were out of town. At the meeting, Congress MPs and MLAs from Bihar were present along with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, newly appointed state Congress chief Rajesh Kumar and Bihar incharge Krishna Allavaru. At the meeting, Rahul Gandhi said, Congress will fight the Bihar polls in alliance with RJD, but Congress would try to get more seats this time. It seems Rahul Gandhi wants Bihar Congress to get out of RJD’s shadow, but Congress leaders know that the party unit in Bihar is not in a position to fight elections on its own. Congress high command is now applying pressure tactics. While party leaders say, Congress will be part of alliance, it is demanding 70 seats in Bihar, which RJD may not be willing to give.
If Maharashtra was lost because of voters’ list, what about Delhi?
A day before BJP swept to power in Delhi after 27 years after getting an emphatic mandate in the assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was in Mumbai, where he demanded that the Election Commission must have over to his party detailed list of voters of the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Maharashtra.
Rahul Gandhi, along with NCP (Sharad) leader Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut addressed a joint press conference where he alleged that 39 lakh voters were added during the five-month period between the Lok Sabha and assembly polls in the state. Rahul Gandhi said, on the contrary, only 32 lakh voters were handed during the five years period from 2019 to 2024.
Rahul Gandhi claimed that the adult population in Maharashtra was 9.54 crore, as per government data, but the number of voters is 9.7 crore. “We want to know who are these new voters?”, Rahul Gandhi asked.
Sanjay Raut alleged that BJP has invented a new formula to win elections with the help of Election Commission. He said, the 39 lakh new voters in Maharashtra will now be added to the Bihar voter lists, since Bihar would be going to elections towards the end of this year.
“This is the floating voter, who move from one state to another, where elections are held. BJP wins elections with the help of these floating voters”, Raut said.
Supriya Sule demanded paper ballots to replace EVMs. She alleged that the EC never listens to opposition parties’ demand for repoll, nor listen to their demand for change in poll symbols. “The EC never replies to our complaints. If you want to save democracy, the EC must reply to all our queries”, she said.
The fact is, Rahul Gandhi never sticks to figures whenever he makes allegations. In the last three weeks, he had raised the allegation of malpractices in electoral lists at least thrice. Every time, he changes his figures.
On January 18, while addressing a rally in Patna, Rahul Gandhi said, the number of voters in Maharashtra rose by one crore in the last five months. On February 3, while speaking in Lok Sabha, he put this figure at 70 lakhs. On Friday, he said the figure was 39 lakhs. It is now difficult for anybody to decide which figure could be correct.
The Election Commission on Friday said, it would respond to Rahul Gandhi’s charges with full facts and figures. In a tweet on X, Election Commission said, it “would respond in writing with full factual and procedures matrix uniformly adopted across” India.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said, since Congress is going to be decimated again in Delhi elections, Rahul Gandhi is trying to prepare a ground for giving excuses for his party’s impending defeat.
Fadnavis said, “it would be better if Rahul Gandhi introspects, otherwise the Congress party is bound to sink”.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said, the defeat in Maharashtra assembly polls has acted as an electric shock for Maha Vikas Aghadi and Rahul Gandhi is unable to reconcile with reality. “He is only making excuses. It will be better if Rahul Gandhi forgets the past and prepare for fresh elections”, Shinde said.
Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane compared Rahul, Sanjay Raut and Supriya Sule with the “3 idiots”. He said, “earlier Congress and its allies used to get en bloc Muslim votes and the Hindu votes used to be divided. This time Hindus voted unitedly and MVA got a shock. If Rahul and Supriya Sule have problems with EVMs, they should first resign from Parliament and tell the people that they do not want to remain MP by becoming elected on the basis of EVMs.”
I think, Rahul Gandhi sometimes speaks whatever is given to him in writing. He does not do research on his own. I have seen the Election Commission figures. The Congress was in power in 2009. From 2009 to 2014, 75 lakh new voters were added in Maharashtra electoral lists. From 2014 to 2019 assembly elections, 63.1 lakh new voters were added. From 2019 to 2024, 71.84 lakh voters were added.
The pattern is the same. I have given here the figures. It is for the people to decide whether the charges of manipulation in electoral rolls can stand close scrutiny.
Rahul’s ‘fight against Indian State’ : Real target is Modi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has done it again. Two of his gaffes on Wednesday embarrassed the country’s oldest political party. His first gaffe: Rahul said, “Congress is not only fighting BJP, RSS, it is also fighting the Indian State”. His second gaffe: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat “has the audacity” to say that India did not get real freedom in 1947. Congress leaders were quick to defend Rahul by explaining the true definite of ‘Indian State’. By that time, the arrow had left the bow and BJP grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
BJP chief J. P. Nadda said, it is now clear that Rahul Gandhi has openly admitted that he hates India and that he openly supports anarchy, like the ‘Urban Naxals’. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said: “How can he say, his party is fighting the Indian State? Either it’s derailment of his mental coordinates or it is the George Soros toolkit. But how can any Indian say that he is against the Indian State? I think the several times re-launched leader, young at the age of 54, needs to do some serious introspection.”
BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “I pity Rahul Gandhi. He neither understands India, nor the Constitution. His tutors seem to be Maoists and Rahul is speaking the language of Maoists”.
The occasion was the inauguration of the new national headquarters of Indian National Congress. The party has now shifted from a government bungalow to a newly built building complex. Congress leaders clapped when Rahul spoke, but later several of them realized the gaffe and they started defending Rahul.
I think the sole intent of Rahul Gandhi’s remarks was to target Narendra Modi. He is unable to accept the fact that Modi has become the Prime Minister for the third time. During the last ten years, Rahul tried all the means at his disposal to defeat Modi.
Firstly, he tried to go solo, undertook padyatra, and then assembled all anti-Modi parties on a single platform. He launched video wars, but could not succeed. Rahul also instigated farmers, supported the ‘tukde-tukde’ gang, levelled corruption charges in Rafale deal, but he could not stop Modi from winning.
In the second round, Rahul took help on foreign soil from those running anti-India campaign, and tried to corner Dalit votes by raising his voice in support of Ambedkar, reservation and Constitution. Yet, Modi won again.
The reason why Rahul could not succeed is: he is unable to understand Modi thoroughly. Rahul is on his one-track spree, and he refuses to watch the direction in which Modi is moving. Rahul Gandhi is now convinced that Modi wins elections because he has the Election Commission and judiciary under his control and that Modi strikes fear among politicians by misusing ED. Rahul believes that the media is under Modi’s control. But he is badly mistaken. No single person or party can control all these institutions, forget occupying them and winning elections.
If Modi won elections, it was because of his zeal and toil. Modi toils round the clock in politics. He has the capability to toil for his party. Modi’s government has worked superbly in the last ten years. I need not recount them here. Modi himself narrates them in most of his speeches.
On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi and his associates are so deeply entrenched in their opposition to Modi that they are unwilling to listen to anything else. To quote a proverb, they are hunting for a black cat inside a dark room. The fact is: the black cat is not there inside the room.
Kissa Kursi Ka : Note For Vote
On Christmas, Aam Aadmi Party shared an AI-generated video on social media showing its convenor Arvind Kejriwal dressed as Santa Claus ‘distributing’ welfare gifts. The caption read: “Delhi’s own Santa delivering gifts year-round”. The video showed a a government school in delhi and the AAP chief gifting a box to a woman with Rs 2,100 written on it. But Kejriwal had to face a bizarre twist. Delhi government’s Department of Women and Child Development and Health Department issued public notices in nespapers cautioning people against the “registration drives” current underway by AAP for two schemes – Mahila Samman promising Rs 2,100 monthly allowances for women, and Sanjeevani scheme promising free health care for senior citizens aged above 60 years. The government notices said, these schemes were “non-existent” and urged residents not to share personal data. The notices clearly said no such schemes have been notified by Delhi government.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had announced both these schemes and promised to implement them if the party returns to power in 2025 Assembly polls. BJP leaders described this as “economic offence and fraud” and demanded a probe into how personal and financial data from voters are being collected. Arvind Kejriwal, clearly on the backfoot, said there was nothing wrong if people come forward to register their names if they trust AAP to deliver on its poll promises.
Chief Minister Atishi herself have been moving around with Kejriwal in Delhi and getting the forms filled up, and on the other hand, her own government was issuing public notices cautioning people that the schemes were non-existent. Atishi alleged that this was part of “BJP’s conspiracy” and threatened to take action against Delhi government officers who issued these ads.
Congress, the third force in Delhi, waded into this debate and alleged that there was no difference between BJP and Kejriwal, as both the parties “were cheating the people of Delhi”. Congress issued a White Paper on AAP government’s promises and failures. Congress leader Ajay Maken described Arvind Kejriwal as “a big liar who has no ideology and who can do anything to grab power”.
The public notices issued by Delhi government are quite interesting. Delhi government’s bureaucracy works under the Lt. Governor. Since Kejriwal announced both schemes bypassing all, the L-G threw a googly, by inserting ads in newspapers describing the schemes as “non-existent”. On the other hand, Kejriwal is confident that both these schemes would ensuring a repeat win for his party, just like the Laadli Behan Yojana that swept the BJP-ShivSena-NCP government back in power in Maharashtra, and Modi’s Ayushman Yojana that gave benefits to BJP.
Kejriwal had played this card earlier in Gujarat assembly elections. He had promised Rs 2,000 monthly allowance to women, and organized camps for women voters to fill up forms. In the elections, AAP got 14 per cent votes. Similarly, in Delhi, Kejriwal had started “registration” of women and senior voters two days ago. AAP claimed that by Wednesday evening, 22 lakh women registered their names under Mahila Samman Yojana, while two lakh senior citizens registered their names under Sanjeevani Yojana.
Naturally, this caused tension in Delhi BJP camp, and it was evident on Wednesday, when Delhi BJP leader Parvesh Verma started distributing Rs 1,100 cash to each woman voter in his residence. Verma is going to contest against Kejriwal in New Delhi constituency. So, he adopted the ‘Kejriwal formula’ to defeat the AAP chief. At the government bungalow in 20, Windsor Place, there was a big crowd of women who were being given Rs 1,100 in envelopes. They had gone to Verma’s home carrying their voter identity cards.
India TV reporter met several women who came out carrying folders in which Rs 1100 cash was inserted in envelopes. The folders carried photographs of BJP leaders. Chief Minister Atishi demanded that ED or CBI should raid Verma’s residence and arrest him, as she suspected there were crores of rupees worth cash lying in his home. Parvesh Verma clarified that his father former CM Sahib Singh Verma had set up an NGO which helped poor and destitute women and this cash was being distributed for this purpose. He said, this was not black money and every rupee was accountable.
Kejriwal, by evening, issued an appeal to voters not to hesitate in taking cash, but refrain from giving votes to BJP. The AAP chief, who was caught in his own net on the Mahila Samman and Sanjeevani schemes issue because of Delhi govt ads, now got an escape route after it was found that Parvesh Verma was distributing cash to women voters. Both tried to offer inducements to women voters, either in cash or getting names registered. Parvesh Verma’s style was more blatant. Kejriwal is an old player in this game. He did not distribute money, but promised to give if elected. Verma straightaway gave envelopes filled with cash. Most of the politicians secretly distribute cash and other goodies during elections, but in Hindi, there is a proverb: “Chor Wohi Hota Hai, Jo Pakda Jaye” (The thief is the one who gets caught). Parvesh Verma was caught and his defence seems to be weak.
Parliament’s fight should not have gone to Police
The scuffle between Congress and BJP MPs outside the Makar Dwar gate of Parliament on Thursday was unprecedented and unfortunate. Two BJP MPs, Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput were hospitalized with head injuries and trauma. Both parties filed complaints against each other in Parliament Street police station and the Speaker declared a ban on staging protests outside the gates of Parliament.
Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die on Friday as uproar continued with both sides blaming each other. BJP MPs filed a police complaint against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alleging that he shoved Mukesh Rajput, who was standing next to him, and Rajput fell on Sarangi.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused Rahul Gandhi of “behaving like a goon by pushing and shoving our MPs”. He said, security personnel had asked Rahul to enter Parliament from another gate, but he insisted on entering through the gate where BJP MPs were staging protest. “Their arrogance is on full display and today, I am upset and my mind is filled with pain”, Chouhan said.
Rahul Gandhi, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sitting next to him, told a press conference that the “drama was pre-planned and it was a plan to cause distraction from the real issues about Adani and B.R.Ambedkar.” He denied that he pushed or shoved anybody. Congress alleged that Mallikarjun Kharge was pushed to the ground by BJP MPs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to both injured BJP MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput on phone, while several Union Ministers visited the two in RML Hospital.
What happened outside the Parliament gate was unfortunate and shocking. Some facts stand out clearly. Rahul Gandhi insisted on entering from the gate where BJP MPs were protesting. Two MPs fell when he pushed some of the MPs. Both MPs are in hospital, with one of them having stitches in his forehead.
The first question is: Was it necessary for Rahul Gandhi to enter from that particular gate? Security personnel say, they suggested an alternative route for him, but Rahul chose his path through the BJP MPs. Rahul alleges that he was pushed and shoved, while Congress is saying that Kharge was also pushed to the ground. The question arises: Why is there no video on what Rahul did or what happened to him and Kharge outside the gate?
Media personnel say, media cameras are not permitted to go up to the gate. Then the question arises: Were the MPs injured only because of the scuffle? Rahul is alleging that Modi is trying to shield Adani and this was part of a plot to scuttle the debate on Gautam Adani. Kharge is alleging that this was a conspiracy to avoid a debate on Babasaheb Ambedkar. They are free to make their arguments, but the fact is that two MPs were injured in the melee, and blood oozing from the forehead of one MP is visible in videos. How did this happen? Who did this? Congress has no reply to these questions.
It would have been better if Rahul Gandhi had visited the hospital and met the injured MP Pratap Sarangi, who had a cut on his forehead. He could have tendered apology to him in hospital. This would have raised his prestige. Nobody would have got a chance to raise a dispute, but in today’s politics, ego reigns supreme. Nobody is willing to admit mistakes. Both sides insisted on filing FIRs. Both sides want to show their own videos.
An issue that could have been solved by tendering apology will now be examined by police. This is not a good precedent for our parliamentary democracy.
“Right if we win, Wrong if we lose!”
Maha Vikas Aghadi parties are not ready to accept the recent electoral mandate in Maharashtra. MVA leaders are now planning anti-EVM protests to demand replacing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with ballots. NCP founder Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray met all defeated candidates on Wednesday and instructed them to file election petitions for matching EVM results with those of VVPATs. Plans are afoot to set up legal teams in the state and in Delhi.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has already demanded that all EVMs should be replaced with ballots, with BJP leaders accusing that the Congress is now desperate and should rather replace Rahul Gandhi as its leader. Congress leaders argue that in June this year, MVA had won 30 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, but five months later, MVA won only 48 out of 288 assembly seats. How can this be possible, they ask.
Probably Congress leaders forgot that in June, 2019, BJP had won all 7 Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, but eight months later, BJP could win only eight out of a total 70 assembly seats in Delhi. If we go backwards, in 2014, BJP had won all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi by a huge margin, but a few months later, when assembly elections were held, Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party registered a historic landslide win (67 out of 70 seats).
How voters can change their minds after such a short time gap can be illustrated from this year’s Lok Sabha results. BJP’s tally was 240 in this year’s Lok Sabha election. At that time, for the Congress, EVM was a boon. Nobody questioned about EVM battery, nor demanded matching with VVPAT results. Had BJP crossed the 300-mark, Congress would then have blamed its defeat on EVMs. Rahul Gandhi would, by now, have started his ‘Bring Ballots’ Padyatra.
Questions began to be raised after BJP’s victory in this year’s Haryana assembly election. Questions were raised about EVM batteries that were displaying 99 per cent charging. The Election Commission responded with a 1,500-page long reply. When questions were raised about VVPATs, EC replied that nearly 4 crore votes were matched with VVPAT results, and not a single result was found incorrect.
One interesting point to note is that, when the first complaints were raised about EVMs, Election Commission organized a Hackathon challenging anybody to come forward and hack an EVM. None came forward.
The issue was raised several times in the Supreme Court and every time, the apex court dismissed every petition. Anybody having any concrete proof or genuine grounds, can file petitions. Those who went to courts without any solid proof and put forth arguments based on surmises, had to return empty-handed.
To argue that EVMs worked correctly in Jharkhand and were fudged in Maharashtra is not a good thing for democracy. Seeding baseless doubts in the minds of people about the electoral process can create a situation as is being witnessed in neighbouring Pakistan.
Yogi to Kharge : Why silence on killer Razakars?
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, at his Akola, Maharashtra, rally, launched a direct attack on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. He mentioned about how Razakars owing allegiance to the then Nizam of Hyderabad had burnt his ancestral village, Warwatti, in 1946, killing his mother and sister.
Yogi said, “Kharge Ji is unnecessarily getting angry with me. I respect his age. He should express his anger with the Nizam of Hyderabad, whose Razakars burnt his village, mercilessly killed Hindus and took the lives of his mother, sister, and family members. He should bring this truth before the nation and the world. Only then people will know the meaning of my slogan, ‘Bantogey Toh Katogey’. He is refraining from placing this truth before the nation due to vote bank compulsions. He is deceiving the nation. I am only a Yogi. I have learnt only one thing. Do whatever is good for your country. For me, there can be nothing greater than my country and Sanatan Dharma.”
Yogi was only quoting from history. Kharge, while addressing a Congress workers’ convention at Delhi’s Talkatora stadium on August 17 last year, had said, “It is my misfortune that I could not see my mom, my brother, sister and uncle, because our home was burnt during the riots that led to Hyderabad liberation. Only my father and I were alive. It was in 1946, as riots went on from 1946 till 1948. My father and I fled the village and we later settled in Gulbarga.”
Yogi was responding to Kharge’s criticism that he made at his Maharashtra and Jharkhand rallies. Kharge had said, “A true yogi cannot use language like ‘Bantogey Toh Katogey’. Such language is used by terrorists. Yogi is the head of a mutt, wears saffron robes, but believes in ‘Munh me ram, Bagal Mein Chhuri’ (a wolf in lamb’s clothing).”
One must understand why Yogi raised the Hyderabad Razakar’s atrocities while replying to Kharge’s charge. The Congress President has often disclosed how he and his father fled their village during the 1946 riots and their family members died at the hands of Razakars. But Kharge never mentioned the Razakars or Nizam in his speeches.
It was Yogi who grabbed this point and put a poser to Kharge. Yogi alleged that Kharge was avoiding mention of Nizam and Razakars because his Congress party was concerned about keeping its Muslim votes intact. One BJP leader remarked, how can you call it secularism, when Kharge lost his family to jihadi Razakars and yet he speaks about Hindus as terrorists.
Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot hit back saying, “BJP leaders are intimidating the public. They brought the “Ek Rahengey, Safe Rahengey” slogan later, to control the damage, but their original slogan was ‘Bantogey Toh Katogey’. This is a dangerous slogan. Is this not at attempt to intimidate people? This is a clear indication of the way they want to do politics in the name of religion during elections.”
Hindu sadhus have openly lent support to Yogi. Jagadguru Rambhadracharya said, “despite many sects, Hindus must remain united. Only then nobody can harm us. United we remain strong. Saffron is the colour of Bhagwan. It was this saffron flag which Shivaji used to unite Maharashtra. Bhagwadharis should remain in politics, not those who are suited-booted.” It was Mallikarjun Kharge who had questioned Yogi’s saffron robes.
Maharashtra Elections: First Families At War
There was a flurry of nominations by close kin of top political leaders of Maharashtra, as filing of nominations for assembly polls closed on Tuesday. Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi and BJP-led Mahayuti were still locked in consultations to iron out differences over the remaining seats.
On Monday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, former CM Prithviraj Chavan, former CM Ashok Chavan’s daughter Srijaya Chavan, MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s son Amit Thackeray, Nawab Malik’s daughter Sana Malik, Late Baba Siddiqui’s son Zeeshan Siddiqui, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi and several others filed nominations. NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar himself accompanied his grandson Yugendra Pawar in Baramati, who is contesting against his grand uncle Ajit Pawar. There were reports of local rebellion in several parties.
As of now, Congress expects to field more than 105 candidates, though it has announced names of 102 candidates, while Shiv Sena (UBT) has announced 84 and NCP(Sharad Pawar) 82 candidates. 18 seats are still left undecided in MVA.
The most spectacular contest will be in Baramati, where Ajit ‘Dada’ Pawar will be facing Sharad Pawar’s grandson Yugendra Pawar. Ajit Pawar has been consistently winning this seat since 1991, and he has been an MLA for 33 years. Ajit Pawar admitted that he made a mistake by fielding his wife Sunetra to contest against Supriya Sule during the Lok Sabha elections, but this time people will ‘punish’ Sharad Pawar for committing the same mistake.
Yugendra Pawar is contesting elections for the first time in his life. After filing nomination, Yugendra described his grandpa Sharad Pawar as his ‘guru’ and ‘markdarshak’. Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule said, the fight in Baramati is between ideologies and not between members of a family.
But the real fact is: the fight is in the family and it could be a tough and close contest. It was Ajit Pawar who trained the NCP cadre in Baramati for 33 years, and this time, he has the support of BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. That is why Ajit Pawar looks confident, but he also understands that his uncle Sharad Pawar has been doing politics in Baramati since 59 years and he has proved his mettle during the Lok Sabha elections.
The Baramati result will prove to be a gamechanger for Ajit Pawar’s political career, and as far as Sharad Pawar is concerned, the result from Baramati will decide to which camp the real NCP belongs.
The second most interesting battle will be in Kopri Pachpakhri seat of Thane, where Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will be facing Kedar Dighe, the nephew of his political guru Anand Dighe. Kedar Dighe has been fielded by Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, who accompanied Eknath Shinde on his roadshow on Monday, said, “mere blood relation does not make anybody a successor. A successor emerges only by dint of his work and thoughts and Eknath Shinde is the real successor of Anand Dighe”.
Eknath Shinde has been consistently winning this seat since 2009 and in the last election, he got more than 65 per cent votes. Thane is considered the citadel of Eknath Shinde, and his party candidate Naresh Mhaske had won this year’s Lok Sabha elections.
The third interesting battle is in Mahim, Mumbai, where Raj Thackeray’s son Amit will be testing the electoral waters for the first time. He is facing Mahesh Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT). Uddhav’s son Aaditya Thackeray is contesting from Worli, where MNS has fielded a candidate in a tit-for-tat action.
Overall, people will be witnessing interesting intra-dynasty battles this time. It was Ajit Pawar who was fielded by his uncle Sharad Pawar from Baramati 33 years ago, and now the tide has turned. Sharad Pawar has fielded his grandson to defeat his nephew Ajit this time. Sharad Pawar wants to tell the people of Maharashtra, who is the real ‘Dada’ of Pawar dynasty.
Similarly, Anand Dighe had anointed Eknath Shinde as his successor in Shiv Sena, but now Anand Dighe’s nephew will be challenging Eknath Shinde. Raj Thackeray used to consider himself the real successor of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, but now he has fielded his son to defeat his cousin Udhav Thackeray’s candidate. So, one would be watching a battle between brothers in Mahim.
Baba Siddiqui’s son Zeeshan is going to get the sympathy vote after the murder of his father, and he is going to claim his father’s legacy. For Sana Malik, his father Nawab Malik’s cases can pose problems. On the other hand, Anil Deshmukh is seeking votes for his son by telling voters about the cases filed against him. In Maharashtra politics, sons, daughters, nephews, nieces, grand sons and grand daughters are all in the fray. It is a situation where nobody will be raising the issue of dynastic politics this time.
Maharashtra: Seat-sharing is a facade, the real fight is for the CM’s chair
The BJP-led ruling Mahayuti alliance on Thursday ironed out its differences over seat sharing in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. BJP has agreed to leave some more seats for NCP (Ajit), and all the three allies have made a joint pledge to prevent party rebels from contesting.
BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Chandrashekhar Bawankule, NCP(Ajit) leaders Praful Patel and Ajit Pawar, and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had a marathon meeting at Amit Shah’s residence, where the Home Minister asked all three allies to ensure that rebels do not enter the election fray.
Shah said, it will be the responsibility of party leaders to convince their rebels not to contest. Most of the differences between the three allies are over seats in the Greater Mumbai region.
Ajit Pawar’s problem is that he has several heavyweight leaders in his party who want ticket for their kin, and if his party fails to get those seats, they may contest as rebels. It will be difficult for Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar to stem rebellion in their parties, but they have a good advantage as far as the election symbols are concerned. Both Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit’s NCP have the original party symbols with them.
Maha Vikas Aghadi is yet to iron out its seat sharing problem. Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aditya Thackeray told India TV’s daylong conclave ‘Chunav Manch’ that the decision about the chief ministerial face will be taken only after the seat sharing arrangement is finalized. At the same time, he reminded that the people of Maharashtra still remember Uddhav Thackeray’s rule.
Priyanka Chaturvedi, SS(UBT) spokesperson said at the conclave that Uddhav Thackeray leads in popularity ranks compared to other leaders, but NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has consistently said that the question of CM’s face be kept on hold till the elections are over.
Already, BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has decided to bombard the state with election rallies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing election rallies in Maharashtra from November 5 till 14, for eight days. He will be seeking votes not only for BJP, but also for alliance partners.
On the other hand, the Maha Vikas Aghadi is yet to come out of the woods as far as seat sharing is concerned. Seat sharing is not the sole issue. The main issue is who will become the Chief Minister if Aghadi comes to power.
For now, Uddhav Thackeray is the first claimant for the CM’s chair in Aghadi and there are others waiting in the wings. In Mahayuti, there are three claimants for the chief minister’s post. Eknath Shinde continues to be the CM, but if BJP wins more seats than Shiv Sena (Shinde), then Devendra Fadnavis will surely say that he is going to make a comeback. Ajit Dada Pawar is also dreaming to become the CM.