Trump expose : US funded move to destabilize Modi
US President Donald Trump has stirred a hornets’ nest by questioning former Biden administration’s move to provide $21 million to India for the ostensible reason of enhancing “voter turnout”. Addressing a summit in Miami on Thursday, Trump said, “Why do we need to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian Government… This is a total breakthrough.”
At his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said, “Why are we giving $21 million to India? They got a lot more money. They are one of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us; we can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high. I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving $21 million for voter turnout? In India? What about voter turnout here?”
Let us try to interpret the message that Trump was trying to convey. He wants to tell that the money that was funnelled through United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was used to defeat Narendra Modi and his party BJP in last year’s Lok Sabha elections.
Trump’s remarks came a few days after the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by billionaire Elon Musk, stopped USAID funding to different countries to the tune of $ 486 million. DOGE released a list of funds that were channelled through USAID to different countries of the world for various purposes. Out of this, $21 million was earmarked for boosting “voter turnout” in India.
DOGE also said, $29 million was earmarked for “strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh”, where former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was unseated after a violent nationwide agitation led by students and backed by the main opposition BNP and Islamic fundamentalist party Jamaat-e-Islami. At that time, there were allegations that the US “deep state” was involved in ousting Sheikh Hasina from power.
Trump’s remarks had a political fallout in India. It is known to all that much of the USAID funds are channelized through outfits floated by another billionaire George Soros. Soros is on record of having said that that he wanted to encourage moves to unseat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The USAID money that was earmarked was to persuade Dalit and OBC voters in India to come out and take part in voting. At around the same time, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised his demand for a nationwide caste census. Rahul Gandhi went to the US where he said, “democracy has been under attack in India, and it has been very badly weakened.” At that time Rahul Gandhi had met several top officials of the Biden administration and US lawmakers.
After Trump’s remarks, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said that Trump has confirmed that $21 million was given to influence voters’ turnout in India. “We have all along been alleging that Rahul Gandhi was trying to weaken Indian democracy and what Congress has done is a matter of disgrace for the country “, he said.
Congress described Trump’s claim as “nonsensical”. In a hard-hitting post on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh demanded a white paper from Modi government about USAID support given to various government organizations and NGOs in India.
What Trump has said leaves no scope for doubt. The fact is, USAID funds came from America to India in the name of increasing voters’ turnout, but they were used to destabilize Modi government. I salute the sagacity of the voters of India who were not influenced by this campaign funded by the US. The people of India voted Modi to power for the third time.
It is an open secret that Rahul Gandhi and his party benefited and Congress tally in Lok Sabha increased. What Trump has revealed is a clear admission that the US government has been bringing about changes in governments in other countries by funnelling money. The same was sought to be done in India, but that move failed. What happened in our neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan in recent months is known to all.
Trump has put a full stop to this game. The US President does not want to spend his government’s money on destabilizing governments in other countries. This is a 360-degree turn in US policy. You can see its effects in Ukraine.
Former President Biden’s administration was providing massive support to Ukraine in its war with Russia. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was getting military and monetary support from the US in his war against Russia. The US gave $300 billion support to Ukraine, but now Trump has taken a U-turn and has opted to cut a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Why is opposition peeved over Trump praising Modi
At around 2.30 am IST, when most of the people in India were sleeping, US President Donald Trump was praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House after official level discussion. The warmth with which Trump greeted Modi, the US President pushing the chair for the Indian PM to sit on and sign, and the effusive praise for Modi was a sight to watch.
Replying to a question at the joint press conference, Trump said, “he (Modi) is a tougher negotiator than me and he is a much better negotiator. There is not even a contest.”
Welcoming Modi with a warm hug, Trump said, “We missed you a lot”. The US President also said: “He (Modi) is doing a really great job in India. Everybody talks about him. He is doing a really fantastic job. He’s a great leader”. While presenting a book “Our Journey Together” to Modi, Trump wrote: “Mr. Prime Minister, you are GREAT”.
Naturally, such words of praise coming from the President of the world’s most powerful nation for Modi, has caused a lot of heartburn to political rivals in India.
The joint statement issued after Modi’s official meeting with Trump, named Pakistan on the issue of cross-border terrorism. “The leaders called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks, and ensure that its territory is not used to carry out cross-border terrorist attacks”, the statement said.
Peeved over this, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry described the India-US joint statement as “one-sided, misleading and against diplomatic norms”. Trump announced that the 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Tahawwur Rana would be extradited to India, describing him as and “evil” and “a very violent man”. Trump added, “there are more to follow and we have quite a few requests. We work with India on crime, and we want to make things better for India.”
On Bangladesh, when a reporter sought Trump’s views on whether the Biden government carried out a regime change in Bangladesh, Trump denied that the US “deep state” played any role. Trump said: “There was no role for our deep state. This is something that the Prime Minister has been working on for a long time, frankly I have been reading about it. I will leave Bangladesh to the Prime Minister.”
Trump’s remark about Bangladesh is quite important. In the recent past, during his election campaign, the US President had raised concerns over the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh by Islamic jihadis. Trump, at that time, had issued a warning to Islamic jihadis active in Bangladesh.
The newly appointed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard had also condemned atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s interim goernment headed by Mohammed Yunus had promised to keep the Islamic jihadis on leash, which it has not done. On the contrary, violence against Hindus has increased in Bangladesh. Now, Trump has clearly indicated that he considers Modi “capable of handling Bangladesh”.
On deportation of illegal Indian migrants by the US, Modi clearly said at the joint press conference that India had no objection if Indian nationals who have illegally entered the US are deported. Modi described illegal human trafficking as a global problem in which poor and middle class Indians shell out big money to human trafficking gangs to enter America. Modi said, such gangs must be smashed.
At the joint press conference, one question was asked about Gautam Adani, Rahul Gandhi’s pet issue. When an American journalist asked Modi whether he had discussed with Trump the issue of a US Federal Court indicting Gautam Adani, Modi replied that as a Prime Minister, for him every Indian is part of his family, but “when two heads of government meet, they do not discuss issue relating to individuals.”
The problem is, whenever Modi wins laurels outside India, some of our own people here get peeved. For Rahul Gandhi, the ghost of Gautam Adani was the only issue that he noticed during Modi’s US trip. I think Modi gave a stinging reply on the Adani issue. Why should two heads of governments discuss Adani at their meeting when there are other more pressing issues on the table?
Rahul Gandhi and his followers did not notice the warmth with which Trump welcomed Modi, praised him as a “tough and better negotiator” and wrote about Modi, “you are great” on a book. If the US President writes and says good things about our Prime Minister, should we be happy or peeved? What Trump said about Modi is an honour for India. It is a fact that both Modi and Trump have pressing domestic issues on their hands, which are more important. Both leaders have been re-elected by the people. Both leaders have promised economic progress for their people. Both aim to take their nations to the pinnacle of prosperity. There will be negotiations and bargaining during talks and such issues are not sorted out in a day’s meeting. India-US relations are stronger than before. We should trust Modi. He is capable of dealing with Trump.
Deepfake : Merchants of loot
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing an august gathering of titans from the IT industry at the AI Action Summit in Paris as co-host, highlighted the immense potential of artificial intelligence for transforming lives, but at the same time cautioned about the inherent risks involved.
Modi said AI can transform the lives of millions through improvement in health, education and agriculture. At the same time, he said, “we must address concerns related to cybersecurity, disinformation and deepfakes, and we must also ensure that technology is rooted in local ecosystems for it to be effective and useful.”
Prime Minister Modi is right. There are immense possibilities with AI, and at the same time, AI has some major negative side-effects. AI is being misused to make deepfake videos to misguide people by superimposing images and voices of celebrities. The aim of such people engaged in nefarious activities is to market spurious products and services and mint money using the face and voice of celebrities.
I am myself a victim of deepfakes. I had to obtain court orders to remove my deepfake videos from all social media platforms. In some videos, I was shown selling medicines to cure diabetes, and in some others, I was shown giving investment advice to people.
By the time these deepfake videos are removed from the social media ecosystem, the harm is done and millions of people get duped. Every now and them, new deepfake videos superimposing my images and voice emerge on social media. Even today, I got two such deepfake videos deleted.
Artificial Intelligence is also misused to make deepfake videos to malign political rivals too and mislead gullible viewers. This is not a problem in India alone. Almost every major country is a victim of deepfake videos. I hope, the Paris AI Action Summit will evolve a solution soon to tackle the scourge of AI-generated deepfake videos.
If Modi’s holy dip was for votes , why Kejriwal and Rahul didn’t go to Sangam?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela on Wednesday. He stayed for only two hours at the Maha Kumbh, performed prayers for Maa Ganga as per Vedic rites and returned to Delhi quickly, in order to avoid any inconvenience to lakhs of devotees who had gone to Prayagraj.
On his return, Modi went on X tweeting, “I feel unlimited peace and satisfaction on getting the blessings of Maa Ganga, I prayed for the welfare, prosperity, happiness and better health of my countrymen”.
Politicians from opposition parties took a dig at Modi for taking a holy dip. Congress, Samajwadi Party and Shiv Sena (Uddhav) connected Modi’s holy dip with the Delhi assembly elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, Modi could have chosen some other day, but since there was polling in Delhi, Modi wanted Delhi voters to look at his images on television.
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said, Modi is a master in event management and this was the reason why he chose Delhi polling day for taking a holy dip. UP Congress chief Ajay Rai said, Modi did not perform the holy dip fully and there was no point in taking half a dip.
I do not find anything wrong in Prime Minister Modi offering prayers to the Sun God and Maa Ganga while taking a holy dip at Sangam. If political leaders think that taking a holy dip will bring in votes in Delhi elections, then who stopped Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi from doing so? They could also have taken a holy dip. The Maha Kumbh is open to all.
One leader commented that Modi had taken a holy dip in order to “wash off his sins”. Did he want to say that millions of Indians who took a holy dip at Sangam had committed sins? Does he want to say that all the sadhus, Shankaracharyas and ascetics who have taken a holy dip were washing off their sins?
I think those who use such language do not understand the true meaning of Indian culture and Sanatan dharma, nor are they away of its true legacy. These leaders do not understand the sentiments and faith of millions of Indians. But since some leaders have this habit of taking digs at Modi, they leave no opportunity. Comments of such people should be ignored.
Modi’s message to Rahul : Picture Abhi Baaki Hai !
In a no-holds-barred attack on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and Gandhi-Nehru dynasty, a day before Delhi elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about “jacuzzi in Sheesh Mahal” and “photo-ops with poor in huts”. He was alluding to Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi respectively in his jibes.
Modi said, nowadays it has become a fashion to speak about caste census and some leaders are moving around with a copy of Constitution in their pockets, yet they are ignorant about its real spirit. Alluding to the presence of Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi in Parliament, Modi posed a question, “How many scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes have three members from the same family simultaneously serving as MPs?”
On Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks that “we are fighting the RSS, BJP and the Indian state”, Modi, without naming him, replied: “ “These people who speak the language of urban Naxals, who declare war against the Indian State, can neither understand the Constitution nor about the country’s unity.”
On Sonia Gandhi’s “poor thing” remark about President Droupadi Murmu, Modi said, “After the President’s Address, she is a woman President, daughter from a poor family, if you cannot respect her, it is up to you. But why is she being insulted? What is the reason?”
In his speech, Modi first took up the issue of poverty since Rahul and other opposition leaders had alleged during the debate that his government was working in favour of industrialists. Modi replied in detail, how his government worked to bring 25 crore people above the poverty level, ensured they got food, provided 12 crore toilets, supplied piped drinking water, built more than 4 crore houses and provided electricity connections.
Without naming Rahul Gandhi, Modi said, those who do photo-sessions with the poor inside their huts will not feel the pain of being poor. He said, those who were giving the slogan “Garibi Hatao” for decades, will surely find the President’s speech about eradication of poverty as “boring”.
Modi then took up the issue of corruption and reminded the House how former PM Rajiv Gandhi used to say that out of one rupee sent from the Centre, only 15 paise reached the poor. “There is no more sleight of hand now, and Rs 12 lakh crore has been saved by plugging loopholes” by removing crores of fake names from ration cards.
Without naming Arvind Kejriwal, Modi said, “Some people who came to power have installed jacuzzi and imported showers and built Sheesh Mahal with people’s money.” He was referring to crores of rupees spent on rebuilding and renovating the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence.
Towards the end of his speech, Modi made a meaningful remark. He said, “our third term has only begun. We will continue to work for building a Viksit Bharat”.
To understand the nuances from Modi’s speech, one can divide it into three parts.
One, he targeted Rahul Gandhi and Kejriwal. By mentioning the SC, ST MPs, he targeted Sonia and Priyanka Gandhi and exposed Rahul Gandhi’s double standards. He also explained to people about those who find the President’s address as “boring” and those who “speak the language of urban Naxals”. By mentioning jacuzzi showers inside the Sheesh Mahal, he raised questions about Kejriwal’s “neeti and neeyat” (policy and intent).
Modi’s second focus was on poverty. Citing facts and figures, he explained how his government worked for the betterment of the life of poorer sections, saved money that was being siphoned off, and provided houses, toilets, piped water, cheap medicines and cheap education. He also explained how his government saved crores of rupees by saving electricity through promotion of LED bulbs. He explained how his government plugged all loopholes and ensured that every rupee sent from the Centre reached the poor through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer).
Modi’s third focus was on the youth. He mentioned how the space, defence, semi-conductor, nuclear energy sectors have been opened up to create fresh job opportunities. How gaming and robot technology is being encouraged to create new opportunities. How Startup India has helped youths to stand on their own legs. Modi was, in effect, replying to all questions raised by Rahul Gandhi.
Modi’s final comment must have caused heartburn to Rahul Gandhi. He said, “our third term has only begun. You will have to wait.” Picture Abhi Baaki Hai.
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.
Why Omar Abdullah praised Modi ?
The effusive praise lavished on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the opening of Sonamarg Z-Morh tunnel on Monday may not sound sweet to Rahul Gandhi’s ears, given the fact that Omar Abdullah and his party National Conference are still part of Congress-led INDIA alliance.
Omar Abdullah said, “On International Yoga Day event in Srinagar last year, Modi had promised to bridge the gap between dil (heart) and Dilli (Delhi), and he has proved it. The trust of the people of Kashmir in Modi has increased because he has kept his words … You fulfilled your promise of holding assembly elections, and there were free and fair elections in Kashmir, without any interference…The people are asking me when would Jammu & Kashmir get back its statehood. My heart is saying that very soon you will fulfil your third promise on statehood.”
Responding to Omar’s remarks, Prime Minister Modi said, “Yeh Modi hai, Waada karta hai toh nibhaata hai. Har kaam ka ek samay hai, aur sahi samay par sahi kaam hone wale hain. (Modi always keeps his promises. There’s a time for everything, and right things will happen at the right time)”.
Modi said, Jammu & Kashmir is marching towards progress. A new railway division has been created for Jammu, the Sonamarg tunnel is ready, work on Zozila tunnel is progressing fast, and the world’s tallest bridge over river Chenab is ready. Schools, colleges, hospitals, theatres, hotels and stadiums are functioning in the Valley, and the air of joy has returned to the Valley. The credit goes to the people of Kashmir who rejected terrorism and supported democracy. Kashmir is the crown of India and we want the crown should shine bright.”
The entire project is 12 km long and will be completed at a cost of Rs 2700 crore. A parallel tunnel and 7.5 metre wide exit road has been built in cases of emergency. This tunnel is part of the all-weather connectivity project that links Srinagar to Leh in Ladakh. The distance between Srinagar and Leh will be reduced from 49 km to 43 km. Tourists can access Sonamarg round the year for winter sports.
What the J&K chief minister said in the presence of Prime Minister Modi was 100 per cent correct. The situation in J&K has changed fast in the last five years. After a gap of nearly 40 years, people are going to multiplexes to watch films. Hospitals, rural roads have been built. Smart classes have begun in schools. This has changed the life of the average citizen. The commoner in the Valley has regained his trust in the system. Voters took part in the recent Lok Sabha and assembly polls in large numbers. There was record voting at several polling stations.
Omar Abdullah’s government is working in tandem with the Centre and this has shown good results on the ground. Like Delhi, J&K is a Union Territory. Omar Abdullah has the same powers as Chief Minister like Arvind Kejriwal. For ten years, Kejriwal spent much of his time blaming the Centre and Prime Minister Modi. The Lt. Governor also stopped several schemes initiated by Kejriwal, but the ultimate losers were the people of Delhi.
Modi’s New Year gift to farmers
On New Year’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a special gift for farmers by extending subsidy of DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) fertilizers from January 1 till further orders. Farmers will continue to get a 50 kg DAP bag for Rs 1350 and the extra cost will be borne by the Centre. The government will give Rs 3,850 crore subsidy to companies that manufacture and supply DAP fertilizers.
This will help millions of farmers and their families. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, advance procurement of DAP will be done this year so that farmers should not face scarcity of fertilizers. In his tweet on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, the first decision of the New Year is dedicated to crores of farmers brothers and sisters.
At the first meeting of Union Cabinet, the special one-time package on Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertiliser at the rate of Rs 3,500 per metric tonne was extended from January 1, 2025 till further orders. This special package is over and above the approved NBS (nutrient based subsidy). 28 grades of Phosphorus and Potassium fertilizers are made available to farmers at subsidized rates through manufacturers and importers.
In another decision, the Cabinet approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme till 2025-26. The approval was given for an enhanced allocation with overall outlay of Rs 69,515.71 crore for the scheme period (2021-22 to 2025-26).
This will help in risk coverage of crops from non-preventable natural calamities for farmers across the country till 2025-26. For large-scale technology infusion in the implementation of the scheme, the Cabinet approved the creation of the Fund for Innovation and Technology (FIAT) with a corpus of Rs.824.77 crore.
Agriculture Minister Chouhan said, farmers would now get their crop damage claims soon, based on settlement with the help of technology. He however avoided speaking about the farmers’ agitation in Punjab. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal is on indefinite fast for the last 37 days. His health is deteriorating fast and the Supreme Court had directed Punjab government to admit Dallewal to hospital within two days. But farmer leaders insist, Dallewal will not break his indefinite fast until and unless the Centre starts talks with farmers.
Dallewal’s condition is worsening, but it seems none of the sides are worried about his life. Agitating farmers must take Dallewal to hospital immediately. They should not worry that their agitation will be weakened if Dallewal is taken to hospital. Dallewal’s life must not be used as a tool to force the government to bow to their wishes. If farmer leaders are unwilling, then Punjab government must step in and provide immediate treatment to Dallewal as per the directions of Supreme Court.
Sulking Shinde : Against People’s Will
A new government led by Devendra Fadnavis will be sworn in on December 5 with NCP leader Ajit Pawar as Deputy CM. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be present at the oath taking ceremony. On December 4, BJP legislative party is expected to elect Fadnavis as its leader in the presence of central observers, Nirmala Sitharaman and Vijay Rupani.
The role of outgoing CM Eknath Shinde in the new government is not yet clear. Shinde has cancelled all his meetings citing health reasons, while his son Shrikant Shinde has described reports about his joining as Deputy CM as ‘baseless’. Shrikant Shinde clarified, he had neither sought any portfolio at the Centre, nor was he going to become the Deputy CM.
Eknath Shinde has not yet reacted to the ongoing political developments. There are reports that he is unhappy because his demand for Home portfolio was not accepted by the BJP leadership. Instead, he was offered Urban Development portfolio.
Home Minister Amit Shah had requested Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde to come to Delhi for talks, but Shinde, citing health reasons, did not go.
In recent years, it has almost become a trend in Maharashtra politics, for any one of the top leaders in the ruling combination, sulking when a new government is formed. In North India, there is a popular saying about “the uncle (phoopha) who always sulks at the wedding”.
Five years ago, when BJP-Shiv Sena alliance won, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray started sulking. He called off his alliance with BJP and joined hands with Congress and Sharad Pawar to become the CM. He ditched Fadnavis’ ‘baaraat’ to head another ‘baaraat’ (bridegroom procession).
This time, too, Eknath Shinde has become the sulking “phoopha”. He is unwilling to leave the bridegroom procession bus, only because he was not made the bridegroom.
But, this time Devendra Fadnavis’ ‘kavach’ (armour) is invincible. Shinde may indulge in tantrums, but ultimately he will have to accept. The people’s mandate for BJP is quite clear and he has to bow before the people’s will. The sooner he realizes this, the better.
Adani and Modi: Coincidence or Conspiracy?
The indictment of billionaire Gautam Adani by US prosecutors in a New York court has become a hot political issue in India. Taking a cue, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded Adani’s arrest and interrogation. US Department of Justice charged Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani and few others for giving $265 million bribery to secure solar power supply contracts in India.
Separately, US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Gautam and Sagar Adani and fomer Azure director Cyril Cabanes with Freign Corruption Prevention Act (FCPA) violations. SEC accused them of raising money from US investors through bonds by giving “false and misleading statements” that they were not involved in bribery.
These development took place in the US on Wednesday night, and by early Thursday dawn, Rahul Gandhi, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Rout, SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav, National Conference leader Dr Farooq Abdullah and others began launching attacks on Narendra Modi. Rahul Gandhi said, he was ready to give it in writing that Gautam Adani would not be arrested by Indian government because he alleged that Adani was “source of funding” for BJP.
In its statement, Adani Group dismissed bribery allegations as “baseless”. The Adani Group said, “As stated by the Department of Justice itself, charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty. All possible legal recourse will be sought…..The Adani Group has always upheld and is steadfastly committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance, transparency and regulatory compliace across all jurisdictions of its operations.”
There are two aspects, political and financial, to this Adani issue. For the last ten years, Rahul Gandhi has been using Gautam Adani as his tool to attack Narendra Modi. For him, Adani was the issue, and Modi continues to be the target (Adani Bahaana, Modi Nishaana). Rahul could not make his allegations stick. Even today, the FBI’s bribery charges do not mention any state government where BJP is in power.
According to FBI, Rs 2029 crore were promised as bribes to officials, following which Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh signed power sharing agreements with central public sector undertaking, SECI, between July 2021 and February 2022. Tamil Nadu is ruled by DMK, Odisha was then ruled by Biju Janata Dal, Chhattisgarh was ruled by Bhupesh Baghel’s Congress government and Andhra Pradesh was ruled by YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy. There was no “Modi connection” in any of these deals. Modi’s image is not going to be dented because of this indictment. But Indian stock exchanges were hit badly on Thursday.
This is part of a pattern. The indictment was done at a time when Adani Group was going to raise $600 million in the US bond market. The group had to withdraw itself from the US bond market, and Adani group shares were hit badly at the stock exchanges. Earlier, when the Hindenburg report came, Adani group was going to come with Rs 20,000 crore FPO. At that time too, Adani group shares were badly hit at the stock exchanges.
Are both these developments a coincidence (‘sanyog’)? When the Hindenburg report came, Parliament session was going to begin and the entire session was stalled due to continuous pandemonium.
This time too, the indictment came three days before Parliament session was to begin. On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi said, the opposition would launch attacks on the government inside the House. In other words, Parliament proceedings will be stalled. Is it also a coincidence (sanyog)? or, an experiment (prayog)?
Quota Within Quota : The Secret Weapon !
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing his best to explain to voters of Jharkhand and Maharashtra the exact meaning of his slogan, “Ek Hain, Toh Safe Hain”. On Thursday, at his rallies in Sambhaji Nagar, Raigadh and Mumbai, Modi read out the names of different backward and scheduled castes, and alleged that Congress wants to pit castes like Maani against Ghamandi, Luhar against Sutar, Sonar against Kumbhar, etc. “We must remain united, then only we can remain safe”, Modi said.
Caste reservation has emerged as a big issue in Maharashtra. It has emotional overtones. Already, Maratha and Dhankar communities have been agitating for reservation. But the question is: Why did Modi today read out the names of castes?
One must understand the background. Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes have their fixed reservation quota in government jobs. Some leaders have been complaining that some particular castes are cornering most of the reservation benefits, while other castes lag behind. The issue came up before the Supreme Court recently, and the apex court in August ruled by a 6:1 majority judgement that sub-classification within the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes was permissible.
The Supreme Court ruled that there was need for identifying creamy lawyer in SC/STs. By giving this verdict, the Supreme Court has changed the 20-year-old SC-ST reservation system. It said, those castes who need reservation more must be given benefits within the quota.
The SC ruling had come before the Haryana assembly elections. BJP had promised deprived castes that it would implement the apex court order. In the Haryana assembly on Wednesday, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said, his cabinet has decided to notify sub-classification of scheduled castes for reservation in government jobs, which shall come into effect immediately.
Under the new sub-classification, 10 pc quota for “deprived” scheduled castes and remaining 10 pc quota for other scheduled castes will be implemented. Fifteen castes have been kept in the “other scheduled castes” and 66 castes have been kept in “deprived scheduled castes” lists. Haryana will become the first state which will implement “quota within quota” for scheduled castes.
If one goes through Modi’s remarks about caste reservation at his rallies in Maharashtra, one can easily understand what he wants to convey and what he wants to do. There are several scheduled castes in Maharashtra, which get less benefits from reservation. If “quota within quota” system is implemented in Maharashtra, it will benefit a large number of scheduled castes and tribes, who have been hitherto deprived of the benefits of reservation. No need to explain, who is going to benefit during the Maharashtra assembly election.
Maharashtra, Jharkhand : Modi, Yogi Slogans Game Changers ?
Opposition parties in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections are foxed by two slogans given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath. They are unable to work out a proper response. It was Yogi who coined the slogan “Bantoge Toh Katogey” (Divided, You Will Be Finished). A few weeks later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Jharkhand and Maharashtra rallies, coined the slogan “Ek Hain, Toh Safe Hain” (United, We Are Safe).
Both these slogans have become main issues in the assembly elections in both these states. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP founder Sharad Pawar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and other top Congress leaders are busy trying to chalk out a proper response. While some leaders are abusing Yogi in public, others are cursing the UP CM.
Let me cite some examples: Congress President Kharge said in his Nagpur and Jharkhand rallies “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).”
BJP leaders promptly demanded apology from Kharge for making such remarks. Kalki Dham Peeth chief Acharya Pramod Krishnam, who spent most part of his life in Congress, said, “leaders who oppose saffron robes, are anti-Hindus, they cannot be patriots and the people will teach Congress a lesson this time.”
In Maharashtra, BJP published front-page ad displaying PM Modi’s “Ek Hain Toh Safe Hain” slogan, but Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut objected to the ad. He said, the ad shows people of all sections wearing headgears, but the caricature of a Muslim wearing ‘jaalidar topi’ was missing. Raut alleged, BJP has only a single cap, and that’s the RSS black cap.
Some Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders, however, hold a different view. They feel that since BJP is trying mobilize Hindu votes, it will definitely have a backlash and may result in polarization of Muslim voters, which will surely help the anti-Modi bloc. Already Muslim leaders are active.
On Monday in Jaipur, qazis, moulvis and other Muslim leaders, including a Congress MP, gathered at a convention to demand the withdrawal of Waqf Amendment Bill, which is presently before a Joint Parliamentary Committee. The convention was named Tahaffuz-e-Auqaf, meaning ‘protection of Waqf properties’. The convention gave a ‘Chalo Delhi’ call on November 24 to all Muslim organisations.