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Posted on 08 May, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
I cannot conceal my disappointment with the Election Commission. Men in constitutional offices need to be bolder. Timid men can dwarf high offices.
The Election Commission scrutinizes us all the time. They are extremely vigilant in tackling the side shows in the elections. They are concerned with what adjectives are used by whom. But when it comes to preventing booth capturing which has reappeared after a decade in elections 2014 they are out of their depth.
By condoning the Returning Officer’s stand on ‘No-Modi rally’ in Varanasi city the Election Commission has used the security card to prevent Narendra Modi’s right to campaign in his constituency. If you can’t ensure security, don’t hold the polls in the country. But if you do hold the polls please provide a level playing field. You cannot deny the candidate the right to campaign. Rahul Gandhi can have a road show in Varanasi but Narendra Modi cannot have a rally. The security card is selectively used.
THE FALSEHOOD OF THE RETURNING OFFICER
• Of all the permissions given to us by the Returning Officer, two are for the landing of the helicopter. How very fair. One helicopter has been allowed to land twice – once in the rural area and once in the city.
• I withdrew all applications at 20:10 hours yesterday since it is impossible to organize a function the next day if a “mid night” permission comes. He allowed a prayer permission after 48 hours of struggle and an oral refusal earlier.
• To meet a 150 eminent citizens at a hotel banquet hall he earlier said that Shri Modi cannot be allowed to drive into the city. Two hours after I withdrew all applications, he announced to the media that he was allowing Shri Modi to meet 150 people. How very liberal. These are all the permissions with regard to the campaigning in the city. Modi’s entire campaign in Varanasi city is restricted to a prayer at the Ganga Ghat and meeting 150 persons in a hotel. Additionally there are two helicopter landings.
• Can he produce any document that the BJP had agreed to an alternate site which is much smaller? No.
If the Election Commission chooses to believe such a Returning Officer and feels that this is not a denial of opportunity to campaign, my right to Satyragrah begins. The Election Commission now condones the guilt of the Returning Officer.
My advice to the Election Commission is – dont look helpless. Don’t merely rely on the Returning Officer and officials of the Uttar Pradesh Government. They are a nominees of the people who want to prevent Modi. There is more to a campaign than a prayer and meeting 150 people.
Posted on 07 May, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
Silent Booth Capturing
The Election Commission has a huge responsibility as an agency which conducts the polls and which acts as a regulator during the elections. Over the years the Election Commission of India has achieved high standards of credibility. It conducts the elections in an efficient manner.
In the past one decade the Election Commission has mastered the art of controlling booth capturing. In the past few years it has become extremely difficult to capture booths. However, in the 2014 elections in some States, particularly West Bengal and parts of U.P., a silent booth capturing has been witnessed. A silent booth capturing is a process where central security forces deployed for election duty are not adequately deployed. The central forces are used for non-essential purposes and polling booths continue to be manned by State police and the Home Guards. This is done at the behest of the District Administration. The staff members conducting the polls belong to the State Government. Once a coercive envoirment is created around the polling station by the ruling party the polling agents of the Opposition are scared away. It is then a free for all in favour of the ruling party.
A large part of the energies of the Election Commission are being spent in being an ombudsman in the matter of dissecting political speeches. These political speeches at times do cross the laxman rekha. In such cases the person concerned has to be censured. Regrettably most of the air time on Television and Print media reports are being spent in disecting these controversial speeches. They are at best a side show. The core of the Election is a free and fair polling which is being denied through the silent booth capturing. It would be desirable that the Election Commission concentrate its energies in checking this silent booth capturing since that is its principal Job.
The Lokpal Rules
I had repeatedly written to the Prime Minister that the Rules framed under the legislation for appointment of the members of the Lokpal were contrary to the Act. They seriously compromise the dignity of the institution inasmuch as the Judges were expected to apply for positions and write essays on themselves as to how they were most suited to be a Lokpal. The effort of the UPA government was to rig the appointment process and have pliable Lokpal appointed. However, the system today has become far stronger. It does not allow compromise with fairness. This malafide exercise did not succeed. The whole process including the framing of the Rules will now have to start afresh.
The lesson of both the Lokpal and the Snoopgate Judge appointment is that the systems are more powerful than the governments. If governments try to fix institutions the iron curtain of the system prevents such exercise.
Neech Rajneeti
Neech Rajneeti, chaiwala, Khooni, Hitler, Ganchi, Gangu Teli, Bander, Napunsak, are amongst the various adjectives used by Congress Party leaders against Narender Modi. The Congress party sees nothing wrong in referring to Modi as ‘Neech Rajneeti’ and ‘Harkat’.
I wonder in which category of politics or Rajneeti will corruption in 2G spectrum, and Coal Block allocation fall? Will the ‘cash for votes’ and Adarsh be considered as ‘Shudh Rajneeti’.
Posted on 06 May, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
Election times are opportunities for raising issues of governance. However, there are many who see virtues in polarization. Regrettably, we in the BJP are accused of benefiting from polarization even if polarization is encouraged by political opponents.
The issue of infiltration of Bangladeshis into the Indian territory is one such case. A section of the Congress leadership in Assam had consciously followed the policy of encouraging infiltration since they wanted to offset the domination of the ethnic Assamese in Assam. Mass infiltration of Bangladeshis has changed the demographic character of Assam, West Bengal and some districts of Bihar. Any patriotic Indian could be seriously concerned with this Infiltration. It is pressure of economic resources. It is a pressure on land. It impacts national security. The fact that every district in Assam adjacent to the chicken’s neck have witnessed a significant demographic change on account of the infiltration is serious security concern.
It is not only the BJP’s stand that infiltration must be stopped and the infiltrators must be sent back. The Supreme Court described it as a silent invasion of India. It struck down the regulations which place the onus on the government rather than the infiltrator on issues of identification of citizenship. The root cause of social tension in several parts of North-east is infiltration. Some political parties in Assam and West Bengal have regrettably made infiltration into a secular cause because infiltrators are their vote bank.
Narender Modi’s stance against infiltrators is justified and legitimate. We must also understand the difference between an infiltrator and a refugee. A refugee is a person who on account of his religious beliefs or political views is persecuted. An infiltrator gate crashes only for economic opportunities. To place them at par would be naive. I have a lurking suspicion for critics of this view understand the distinction but compulsions of vote bank won’t make them agree to this view.
Shri Omar Abdullah on the Kashmiri students
Omar Abdullah is partly correct when he is protesting against the harassment of Kashmiri youths in NOIDA. He is wholly wrong in linking Narender Modi to the NOIDA incident. That is on account of his political motivation.
Children from North-East and Jammu & Kashmir must be encouraged to study and work in various parts of India. They must be welcomed in the rest of India. This will encourage an emotional integration. Any form of personal harassment is a terrible signal either in the North east or Jammu & Kashmir. Even occasional tales leave a terrible impact because they can be exaggerated and overstated. The cause of national integration is dearer to all of us than an occasional difference of opinion. Omar is therefore right in protesting against the NOIDA incident. He is terribly wrong in dragging Modi into it.
Posted on 05 May, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
There are some clear ‘dont’s’ for mature politics and statecraft. Arrogance is to be avoided. Humility is always a preferred option. Mrs.Vadra’s statement yesterday on Smriti Irani denying her existence by asking a question “who” displays arrogance at its worst?
I recollect an incident narrated to me by George Fernandes. In 1967 SK Patil, was the strong man in Mumbai’s politics. George Fernandes, then a young leader of Mumbai Taxi Union announced his candidature against SK Patil in the 1967 General Elections. Fernandes had a challenging task of changing Mumbai’s, (then Bombay) mindset. His initial slogan was – “Patil can be defeated”. This was written on the walls and stickers pasted outside each building apartment/jhoparpatti. When questioned about the prospects of his being defeated, Patil, with Mrs.Vadra’s style of smugness, announced –“Only God can defeat me”. George Fernandes immediately retorted – “God does not vote, only you do. Only you can defeat Patil.” The result was eventually declared and Patil was defeated. George entered Parliament for the first time. Mrs’Vadra’s query on Smriti Irani questioning her existence reminds me of the Patil-George confrontation.
Yesterday a leading news channel showed an opinion poll for the balance 33 U.P. seats. It gave 40% popular vote to the BJP and 4% to the Congress. This inherently makes Amethi vulnerable. Coupled with extensive campaigning done by Smriti Irani , a strong anti incumbency against Congress and the Gandhis for non-development of Amethi and the desire to puncture the arrogance of those who feel that they own Amethi, have all a potential of making Amethi challenge into a stiff one. Narendra Modi’s massive rally today does also come at the right time. People of Amethi are realizing that the country is in a mood for change and therefore for them to join in this national effort of change itself may be a natural phenomena. If Amethi goes the Smriti Irani way it will be good for Amethi and may be in the long run good news for the Congress too.
Posted on 04 May, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
Let all roads lead to Amethi. As campaigning for the last two phases for the 2014 elections reaches a climax all roads now must lead to Amethi. Narender Modi will be there tomorrow to address a massive rally at Amethi. The relationship of Amethi with its sitting MP is nominal. Despite having been a family stronghold for decades, Amethi remains one of the most backward constituencies. The infrastructure in Amethi is inadequate. It is a constituency where internal roads are not the object of envy. Many industrial units are sick. It is a constituency of people living in inadequate houses.
The tragedy of Amethi is that the voters were never presented with an alternative option. The BJP is determined to put up a fight for Amethi. Smriti Irani is a formidable candidate. Whenever her vehicle reaches any village it is greeted with loud cheers for her, the BJP and Modi. The situation is ripe for a strong anti-incumbency against the sitting MP. Tokenism is never a substitute for substantive performance in a constituency. Family ties are not the alternative to improvement in the quality of life of the electorate. With a formidable candidate in place and a Modi campaign to back it, Amethi should be ready for a surprise. Amethi can be won by the BJP. Those of our cadres, in adjacent districts where polling is over in their constituencies, should reach Amethi to help the local workers in the campaign. Additionally, we must convince the electorate that a vote for AAP will only divide the anti-incumbency. Let Amethi be an electoral battle right till the last vote is cast.
Rahul Gandhi’s No to the Third Front
Rahul Gandhi has categorically said that his party would not support the Third Front. Its earlier track record does not inspire confidence in the statement. Parkash Karat has simultaneously said that for a ‘secular’ combination to come in place they will need Congress support.
If the NDA gets a majority on its own or is within a striking distance, the Congress need not take the trouble of cooperating with the Third Front. The NDA will then be a reality. These options arise only after there is a hung house. It is unlikely that the Indian electorate this time is going to give a half-hearted mandate.
The Left hopes for an indecisive mandate. Their best case scenario is that in a situation everybody else gangs up to keep the NDA out. Will this include TMC and the Left being on the same side or the BSP and SP, the DMK and the AIADMK to come up on the same side. Those who occupy the non-Congress space in their states will find it impossible to side with the Congress in Delhi. If they did side with the Congress in Delhi they will end up conceding their non-Congress space to the BJP. Indications are that the NDA is heading for a comfortable majority. The best case scenario for the Congress is a rag tag coalition to keep Modi out. The choice now is clear. It is either a Modi led NDA or a chaotic coalition. Obviously, a chaotic coalition cannot be an option.
Posted on 03 May, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
Five years as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha has been a great learning experience for me. Being in Opposition is an experience by itself. You have to be vigilant and well informed. A lot of informants come to you with information. There are opportunities to put the government on the mat. Being in Opposition also gives you sufficient time to be well informed and well-prepared. You get opportunities to improve your articulation and plan attacks on the government. There are also opportunities where you have to rise to the occasion to display statesmanship.
Opposition itself has a powerful role in Indian democracy. There is a spread of political power in a democratic system. Governments no longer are the sole repository of all powers. Opposition, media, judiciary, bureaucracy. Civil society are co-sharers in the power. Opposition has a powerful role to safeguard public interest. Vigilance, regulation and protection of public interest are the principal objects of the Opposition.
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All political parties need to be well trained to sit in Opposition. Why is then the Congress scared of sitting in the Opposition? It is clear that the popular mandate is not with the Congress. The Congress is likely to be a two digit party. It cannot wildly dream of being a part of the ruling combination. The idea of getting out of power is making the Congressmen bitter and desperate. The Prime Minister has become cynical. He complains to people he meets that he has been unfairly targeted. The Gandhis believe that they were God’s gifts to India and were meant only to rule. They frown at the very idea of a Tea vendor defeating them at the polls and ruling India. Others believe that till 16th May they have unlimited power. The Shah Alams are failing to realize the limits of their jurisdiction.
The Congressmen will do well if they reconcile to their seats in the Opposition. A stint in the Opposition does a lot of god to you when you introspect and plan for the future. Political positions are not permanent. If the Congressmen on the eve of their departure are laying down an agenda of confrontation with the current Opposition,they are only laying down an agenda for the future. Nobody will accept the argument that what the Congressmen are doing is justice and when the same is reciprocated it is vindictiveness.
Posted on 02 May, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
There is a streak of misguided aggression which most of us had in our younger years. Even when you lost a cricket match or an argument you would come back home with a satisfaction of having given a mouthful to the other side. As one matures you realize the virtues of understatement, wit and sarcasm. These are always a preferred option to being downright discourteous.
As the polling for Election 2014 enters the last phases the Congress Party and its leaders leave the voters more and more confused. The desperation with the idea that there is likelihood of a BJP-NDA Government at the Centre headed by Narender Modi has resulted in courtesies and rationality slipping out of the Congress’s campaign. Almost certain that it cannot return to power, the UPA has made three unsuccessful efforts in recent days. Firstly they tried to appoint two new Information Commissioners; secondly they tried to fill up the quorum of the Search Committee for appointment of the Lok Pal , and thirdly they are trying desperately to get at least one Judge to agree to head the ‘Snoopgate’ commission. I doubt very much if any of these moves is likely to succeed. Even if it did, a future Government would be well within its legitimate rights to review such a malafide last-minute decision of the UPA.
If discourtesies could win votes the Congress would secure a landslide victory. Visibly losing the vote of India the Congress created an impression that the heart and idea of India are still a Congress property. The argument did not cut much ice. The eclipse of Rahul Gandhi as the defacto Prime Ministerial candidate of Congress is virtually complete. When he was not seen as being able to deliver, the mother stepped in. The focus has now shifted to the sister. Ostensibly intended to attack Narender Modi daily in somewhat impolite language, the sister has succeeded in robbing the brother from being in the limelight. Attack Modi was the strategy but ‘dilute Rahul’ is the consequence. Kahin pe nigahen, kahin pe nishana. Having pushed the brother out of the frame the sister has to realize that there is much more in politics and the country than only ‘our family’
In the last two phases, polling is due in the State of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, East UP, parts of Bihar, West Bengal and Seemandhra. In most of these areas the Congress is on the back foot. It is hardly likely to make a major impact. It may only end up winning stray seats. In most of these areas the BJP and its allies can create a significant impact. The BJP leaders and supporters should concentrate only on three issues – Vikas, leadership and stability. The polling of the first seven phases has indicated that it is either the NDA or chaos. We should effectively use the argument that it is only the NDA which can provide India a stable government since otherwise it will be instability and no Vikas.
Posted on 01 May, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
The Duty to Vote
It is mentioned in several election speeches that even one vote can make a difference. Every eligible voter has a right to vote. He also has a duty to cast a vote. I was faced with a heavy odd having been Member of the Rajya Sabha Gujarat for three times in a row. Since my vote is enrolled in the Gandhinagar Parliamentary Constituency. Do I leave my own constituency in Amritsar to cast my vote or do I skip my vote? I started my day very early with a visit to the Golden Temple and the Durgiana Mandir. I travelled to each of the nine assembly segments. By the time almost 50 percent of the votes had been cast, my wife and I flew in to Gandhinagar to cast the vote. I was back in Amritsar by the evening. It was tiresome but satisfying. Those who missed the vote failed in their primary duty as a citizen.
FIR against Mr. Modi
Every time senior politicians cast their vote, a large number of media persons assemble outside the polling station. They want their comments on their own vote and also on the trend of the elections. The politicians freely interact with the media. They make short comments and then leave. This is precisely what Mr. Narendra Modi did. He was not expected to be rude enough and give the media no comments.
The Election Commission of India has directed that an FIR under section 126(1)(a) and section 126(1)(b) be registered against Mr. Modi and the media organizations which have telecast his bite through the media. The substance of the allegations in the Election Commission’s order is that within the ‘polling area’, a ‘public meeting’ has been held. Polling was in progress in various parts of the country. Since the comment has been telecast during the polling hours and the Lotus symbol displayed, both Mr. Narendra Modi and the media are liable. From the Election Commission’s order, it is not clear as to what the definition of ‘polling area’ is. Is it the polling station? In any event the comment was made outside the polling station. The Election Commission’s order makes it appear that the entire country could be a polling area since the media comment could be seen in every part of the country.
When Constitutional institutions react in haste and even anger, they miss out the larger vision. Criminal law provisions are to be strictly construed. Their meaning can’t be stretched out. A public meeting is a public meeting, the media bite is not a public meeting. If media is to be prosecuted for displaying comments of politicians on a voting day such a provision will fall foul of constitutional guarantee of free speech since it is not covered by the prescribed restrictions under Article 19 (2). If the whole country is a polling area, since scattered and phased elections are on in several parts of India, the political rallies and their reportage by the media when polling is going on in some other parts of the country, would attract penal consequences. Prof. Amartya Sen spoke to the media after his vote yesterday. He gave his reasons why he does not favour Modi. The Prime Minister spoke to the media after casting his vote in Assam. So did most other political leaders. I am not pleading for their prosecution. I am only illustrating that an interpretation being given by the Election Commission may fall foul.
Article 324 of the Constitution is a reservoir of residuary jurisdiction. It can’t impact areas occupied by law. It cannot dilute the import and content of the right to free speech.
The ‘Snoopgate’ Commission
Media reports have indicated that the lame duck UPA Government is finally planning to name a judge for the ‘Snoopgate’ Commission. The Commission of Inquiry is already on in Gujarat. Both the lady in question and her family have already sent their statements to the National Women’s Commission. So far all judges approached by the UPA have refused to lend themselves in this political and malafide exercise. 438 Parliament constituencies have already seen polling. In a fortnight, the results will be out and a new government will be in. I will be very curious to know the name of the Judge who has agreed to ‘lend’ himself to the UPA. I will be surprised if there is one. I hope, for the cause of judicial dignity, no one agrees to be a part of this desperate exercise.
Posted on 30 April, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
Today is Polling Day in Amritsar. Having spent past six weeks in Amritsar campaign in this heat, it will be time for me now to move to other states where elections are still being held. An integral and enjoyable part of the stay in Amritsar is obviously the food in this city. I have always regarded Amritsar as the Food Capital of India.
The Kulchas and chanas of Amritsar have now created a national impact. Every top caterer in most parts of India has the Amritsari dhaba counter as an integral part of his menu. The Kulchas in Amritsar served with chanas with an option of having onion Chutney is now available in almost every eatery in the city. The kulcha Chana is a preferred menu for breakfast, lunch or even dinner.
Breakfast in Amritsar is still the stuffed Parantha or the Poori Chhole. The city has a tradition where households still prefer to outsource the poori chhole from the famous Halwais rather than cook it at home. Most parts in the old city have their own special Halwais. But the most famous one in the city is now ‘Kanahiya’ at Lawrence Road. The chanas are mixed with potatoes for the curry preparation. This breakfast is highly recommended but should be taken rarely because of its high caloric value. The Amritsari Lassi is available at most of these Halwai shops. But ‘Ahuja’ and ‘Gyan’ have acquired a special reputation. Either of them will provide an excellent treatment for insomnia. ‘Kesar’ still continues to dominate the vegetarian preparations. It enjoys a reputation for being the most famous dhaba in the city. ‘Bharawan’ with its chain of dhabas, under the name of ‘Bharawan’ or ‘Brothers’, is the also recommended for vegetarian food for the tourists and the locals.
For the non-vegetarians it is ‘Surjit’ all the way. His Tandoori chicken, Amritsari fish and mutton champs (cooked like Old English cutlets) are highly delicious. The ‘Makhan’ fish has been a gourmet’s delight. What I have not tried so far but has been recommended to me is ‘Beera’ known also for its high quality chicken.
The morning tea at the ‘Giani’ Tea Stall initiates the entire gossip which circulates in the entire city. This was my alternative to the Lodhi Garden Tea.
I foresee a situation where some of these outstanding places will acquire a brand value across the country.
Posted on 29 April, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
The campaign for the 30th April phase of polling ended yesterday. I finished my Amritsar campaign. Between the declaration of candidature and the finishing line, it was a seven week campaign. A long campaign is challenging to sustain. Besides a team of dedicated supporters and a well oiled election machinery, a candidate requires some ingenuity of mind to keep the voters’ interest in the campaign. To repeat the same theme over a period of seven weeks could bore the voter’s interest, pushing him to lose the concentration.
Modern day techniques of campaign have proved to be a great asset. My daily morning blog was an integral part of my campaign. It connected me even to a couple of lakh people in Amritsar itself. These were amongst those who followed me on the Facebook or received the repost. I addressed between ten to fifteen programmes everyday. Visit to houses of important citizens, where there was a significant gathering of few hundred people brought direct rapport with me and a section of the citizenry. The Akali Dal organization in the villages is extremely strong and committed.
I was faced with the campaign by the Congress which has run out of ideas. The Captain decided to deal with me the way he has dealt with Akali Dal through his career – be rude, discourteous and fabricate allegations – something will stick. Unfortunately for him he was dealing with a different kind of campaign. My campaign was issue centric both at the national level and region of Amritsar. I was able to get back at him, politely but firmly. A lumpen campaign strategy of the Captain was hardly likely to succeed against me.
How to manufacture a Campaign?
As the campaign enters the last two phases the Congress party’s campaign was a text book lesson of how not to organize the campaign. The speech writers of the Congress leaders thought that pedestrian points such as the Centre giving grants to the States, RTI, Food Bill, Land Bill were the key campaign issues. They had completely ignored the popular view. The whole country had realized in December itself, when the results of the four State assemblies were declared, that the Congress is on its way out. The anti incumbency against the Congress was there to succeed.
Even though Narendra Modi had captured the popular imagination, the Congress thought that if Chidambaram, Sibal, Tiwari, Jairam, Anand Sharma and Beni Prasad were exceptionally rude and discourteous, they would demolish what they thought was the Modi myth. They ended up demolishing themselves. Most of them either did not contest or are likely to come third in their own constituencies.
The Jairams and the Sibals have been God’s special gift to the Congress. They then decided to manufacture a new campaign. They clapped like a child thinking that the ‘Toffee Campaign’ was working even though it was based on falsehood. Rahul had decided to do a Kejriwal. Having misused the CBI for the last ten years Sibal was back now to abusing the CBI for not prosecuting Modi in a case of no evidence in the Ishrat Jehan case. A new bright face in the media, Surjewala, discovered a motley crowd posing for a photograph with Modi and spotted one rogue in it. His smugness showed that he believed that the Congress had won the election on this ground. When nothing succeeded, the ‘snoopgate’ was given a rebirth hoping that it would succeed. But when things go wrong, they could go horribly wrong. Thus it didn’t succeed. These are the pitfalls of contesting elections without an issue and then manufacturing a campaign based on non issues. The Congress ended up buying its own propaganda.