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Posted on 29 March, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
The debate on political funding
67 years after independence India still struggles for a transparent mechanism for political funding. Parliamentary democracy, elections and a multi party system are here to stay. How do you fund Indian politics ?
When I was the law minister in the NDA Government I held extensive consultations with various stake holders. After reaching a large consensus I had suggested several legislative changes. The changed regime envisaged that individuals, partnerships and companies could make political contributions by cheque. The Income Tax Act was amended to provide that all such contributions would be eligible as a legitimate expenditure in the hands of the donor. Each political party which is otherwise exempted from payment of income tax was expected to file a return with the tax authorities and with the Election Commission of India. Its return would include the name of all such persons who had contributed to it more than Rupees twenty thousand. Since companies hold share holder monies, the Companies Act was amended to fix 5% of profit as the outer limit of monies spent on political party or candidates.
All political parties except the left had supported these changes. In the last 12 years, slowly the Indian donors are increasingly getting used to these transparent cheque donations. Their percentage is on the rise. Political Parties and donors need to be convinced more on the desirability of transparent donations. Additionally parties need to go back to the system of small donations. The BJP’s recent campaign of “One Vote One Note” has been highly successful. Today individuals and corporate have started donating by cheque either directly or through electoral trusts. The tax incentive which were offered have proven to be a step in the right direction.
State funding of elections has been suggested by many as the other solution. It is a step worth consideration. But will state funding be able to ensure that non state funds are not additionally used?
The Foreign contribution regulation Act prohibits parties or candidates accepting donations from foreign sources. An Indian company registered in India and doing business in India can be regarded as a “foreign source” if at any given point of time the FDI or the FII shareholding of the company exceeds 50%. For company’s listed in the stock exchange the share holding becomes variable. It may be 48% on one day and if FII buying takes place it may become 51% within no time. These fluctuations may not be known to political parties since there is no mechanism that they have of tracing out the transient shareholding of a company. Thus at some stage a relook may be required into these legislative provisions in order to incentivise transparent political funding. With FDI and FII limits on the rise in every sector Indian Companies would be substantially disqualified from transparently funding Indian Democracy. This may reverse the improved trend of transparent funding.
Is there a ground swell?
The data of the A.C. Nielson opinion poll released by a private news channel in relation to some states makes an interesting point. In Maharashtra and Bihar the NDA is clearly in the lead. But it is the figures of West Bengal which make a point, loud and clear. While the Trinamool Congress is shown to be strong, the BJP Popular vote is projected to be 14% with the Congress down to 8%. Many predict that the BJP Vote may rise in the coming weeks. Does it indicate that the ground swell is building up?
Posted on 28 March, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
Imran Masood, the Congress candidate from Saharanpur has said that the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will be chopped into pieces in U.P.
This is not an isolated case of an unacceptable attack on Narendra Modi. Sonia Gandhi, Lalu Yadav, Digvijay Singh, Manishankar Aiyar have all led attacks on Modi, in improper language. It started with Sonia Gandhi’s words “Maut Ka Saudagar”.
The mindset behind these attacks being made in unacceptable language is that an abuse on Modi is an expression of aggressive secularism.
Abuse on Modi has now graduated to intimidation. Those who indulged in these tactics were rejected in Gujarat. The Congress has got desperate at the Centre in anticipation of defeat. Such tactics are not likely to work.
Posted on 28 March, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
Terror Attack in Kathua
Terrorists have struck again in kathua. The Modus operandi of the terrorists is the same. They come from across the border. They are dressed in Army uniform and heavily armed. They hijack a civilian vehicle, kill civilians and finally attack an Army camp. How long will this go on? There have been several attacks in this mode by terrorists coming from across the border .ultimately this fidyadeen attack will be foiled by our security forces.
As elections near, I won’t be surprised if the number of these attacks increase. This establishes that Pakistani soil continues to be used for planning and executing these attacks on India. Pakistan has to realize that if it wants to normalize relations with India, these attacks have to stop.
My heart goes out to the victims of this attack. I stand solidly with our security forces in their efforts to neutralize terror and terrorists.
Has the shine of the AAP disappeared
The latest round of opinion polls has indicated a decline in the acceptability of the Aam aadmi party. For a party emerging form an Andolan, it is a case study. Publicity, adventurism and populism alone will not sustain a party. A party must be responsible. It cannot be a Governance disaster. Policy cannot be replaced with populism. Arrogance cannot be a political virtue. Organisational building requires patience, ideology and restraint.
The Captain’s concern for Modi
The Captain has a foot and mouth problem. The Captain is a disgruntled member of the Congress party. Yet he is concerned about people in the BJP being anti Narendra Modi. Thank you, Captain sahib for your concern for Modi.
Captain Sahib, you be rest assured there is no club in the BJP against Modi. Concern yourself at your own depleting fortunes. The Congress may be reduced to a club of 75 in the next Lok Sabha. You certainly will not be a part of that Club-75
Posted on 27 March, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
At the release of the Congress Manifesto, Rahul Gandhi was optimistic that the BJP‘s “Balloon will burst”. The Congress President was equally affirmative that the opinion polls will prove wrong. I have repeatedly commented that opinion polls may not be accurate but the ones conducted by credible organizations indicate the broad direction of the public opinion. What is to be concluded from the broad direction indicated by the Opinion Polls published so far is that the Congress is nose diving southwards to a two digit figure and the BJP can hope to reach its highest tally in post-Independence history.
What are the indications available with Rahul Gandhi that he has to call the groundswell for Modi a ‘balloon that will burst’. Can he compare the size of Modi rallies with his own? Can he compare the enthusiasm of candidates wanting to fight on a BJP ticket and the reluctance of many to fight on a Congress ticket? He has still not seen the reality in the fact that the DMK, TRS, LJP, TMC, PMK and MDMK have all deserted the Congress. He believes that his allies are intact. The largest representation that the UPA got in 2004 and 2009 was from Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. This time in these two States the Congress figure may nose dive.
The Congressmen are living in denial. The Finance Minister, P.Chidambaram, has commented that the FIIs are re-investing in India because of the steps taken by the UPA government. World over the analysis is that a likely political change with the possibility of Modi led Government at New Delhi is creating a new hope in the investors. The UPA government can only be credited with inheriting an 8.5 percent GDP growth rate and on the eve of its departure they have brought down the growth rate to 4.5 percent. The problem with those who imagine themselves to be the King is that they see success in their failure and a silver-lining in each disaster.
More on the Captain
I am back in Amritsar for the campaign. Being faced with arrogant comments each day from my opponent I have started reading up on his performance and achievements. I went through the details of a charge-sheet filed by the Vigilance Bureau in relation to a 2005 project in the city of Ludhiana where all rules were flouted by the then government. The Chief Minister had directed the removal of the Chairman of the Improvement Trust so that a more pliable gentleman could be appointed. Bidding documents were prepared without the necessary approvals. Work was undertaken flouting the rules. The bids were rigged in order to favour a particular bidder. Construction was allowed despite the authorities knowing that the agreement signed with the bidder was illegal and the construction was based on an unapproved design. Official position was abused in order to show benefits to a private party.
Worst still the charge-sheet mentions that payments were made by the beneficiary to the Chief Minister and his family members and the money trail led them to a particular middleman with whom the monies were parked. The charge-sheet does not make out a reading which may flatter anyone. The Charge-sheet states that the then CM kept the vigilance report in his custody without taking any action and did not hand over the original report to the authorities after demitting his office. So much for the Congress party’s commitment to probity.
Everyone in public life must be honest. Most certainly the rulers and Maharajas should display greater probity and transparency than lesser mortals.
Posted on 26 March, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
People in Glass Houses
The Congress Party has decided to field Ashok Chavan, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, who is tainted in the Adarsh Scam, as its candidate from Nanded. The Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe the Adarsh scam had indicted Ashok Chavan. The CBI wanted a prosecution to be filed against him. The Governor refused sanction to prosecute Ashok Chavan. This was a politically motivated decision to save the declining fortunes of the Congress Party in Maharashtra. The Party had already fielded Pavan Bansal, who resigned from the Government after the Railway Board scam, from Chandigarh. The CBI investigation into the whole case raises many questions. The family and staff members of the former Railway Minister were selling Railway Board jobs and yet it is claimed the CBI was unaware of the Minister’s link. If the CBI had applied even a fraction of the standards which they used against BJP leaders of Gujarat and Rajasthan the case against Bansal was an open and shut case. The campaign in Himachal Pradesh is being led by a man under CBI investigation. The Chief Minister Vir Bhadra Singh is reported to have been questioned by the CBI in a case where there appears to be conclusive evidence against him. The Party has aligned with a convicted Lalu Prasad in Bihar. Coming back to the emphasis on probity, the candidate Congress has fielded against me in Amritsar is a charge-sheeted politician. The charge sheet against Captain Sahab is pending in Ludhiana and the prosecution is on.
The Captain’s Logic
I speak regularly on political issues. I have been writing on a regular basis in newspapers and on the Face Book. I give regular interviews to the media. My opposition to terrorism is well known. Terrorism and insurgency need to be fought and eliminated. I have been more aggressive against terror than most Indian politicians. My articles and speeches are all available on my website. If Captain Amarinder Singh chooses to read them he won’t have asked me ill-informed questions on my stand on honouring terrorism or terrorists. Obviously, I am opposed to it.
Notwithstanding my opposition to terrorism and insurgency, I have always believed that Operation Blue Star was an ill-conceived and an ill-planned operation. Those who planned Operation Blue Star did not realize the adverse consequences of the Operation. I have in my earlier comments referred to it as a ‘Blunder’. There were other ways of achieving the goal. Captain Amarinder Singh is a candidate of a party which planned and executed the Blue Star operation. The reluctant Captain obeyed the dictats of his Party President to contest the elections from Amritsar notwithstanding the fact that his party President represents the legacy of those culpable for Operation Blue Star. The Captain should have refused. Why is the Captain associated with a party responsible for Blue Star? What compelled him to return to that party and accept the dictates of those who have inherited the legacy of the guilt?
Has Congress disappeared from the mind space?
In the past two months I have undertaken Twitter chats, Face Book chats and a Google Hangout. There are a lot of questions on BJP, the economy, corruption, Narendra Modi and the need for a stable government. There are also questions on the Aam Aadmi Party and itsleaders. Curiously, in all these chats and the Hangout not a single question till date has been asked about the Congress Party. I wonder why. Is the Congress party disappearing from the mind space?
Posted on 25 March, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
I have taken a two day break from Amritsar to be present in Delhi. There is a lot of work to be completed in Delhi. I held various meetings with the media and publicity teams of the party. There were two major public functions.
The release of the Party’s campaign anthem
The BJP has prepared for circulation during elections a campaign anthem. This will be amongst the various musical songs available in both the audio and video format. The song has outstanding lyrics written by Prasoon Joshi. The punch line of the song is “Saugandh mujhe is mitti ki, Main Desh nahin Bikne doonga.” The music is composed by Adesh Srivastava and the song has been sung by the well known singer Sukhvinder. Occasional lines of the song are in Narendra Modi’s own voice. The song was released by me before the media at the Party Headquarters.
The anthem/song will be played at various public rallies and on campaign vehicles. The video of the song besides being played in public, will also be used in advertisements. With the kind of enthusiasm building around the BJP campaign the song at public rallies will add to the momentum of the campaign.
The Google Hangout
I participated in a Google Hangout where Rajdeep Sardesai in English and Sanjay Pugalia in Hindi anchored the various questions being asked by a large number of people. The hangout is a part of Google’s effort to cover India’s General Elections. Political leaders across Indian political parties are going to be invited by Google Hangout.
There is obviously some interest which the questioners had in my own politics. I have had a long political background as a student leader, a lawyer, Party functionary, a Minister, Leader of Opposition and now as a Lok Sabha candidate myself. They were obviously interested in what made me switch from the comforts of a membership of the Rajya Sabha to the heat and dust of Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress no longer seems to occupy the mind space of the voter. There are not too many questions which indicate any of the concern, sympathy or appreciation left for the Congress. The space that the Left occupied as a possible third force has now been occupied by the Aam Aadmi Party. It remains a subject of curiosity. However its governance track record does not seem to have impressed too many people. If at all its track record in governance has been adversely commented upon. Economy, National security and corruption appear to be issues of great concern to the people. There is a lot of curiosity about the economic policies of the BJP and how it could restore the investment cycle. Price rise, plight of farmers, prices of oil and gas continue to be issues of concern. It is encouraging to note that popular opinion is strongly against impropriety in public life, Tainted or controversial persons, scams. Declining quality of men in public life have created a sense of anger and revulsion. There is a huge public scrutiny about politicians.
Capt Amarinder Singh
What is the extent of arrogance and discourtesies that Captain Sahab can indulge in? Yesterday he told ANI, the TV news agency that “I am there to fight the BJP candidate whether it’s Jaitley, Fately or Footly.” I am glad the national media chose just to ignore this comment. Humility and courtesies are alien to the Captain.
Varanasi as an Opportunity
Narendra Modi contesting from Varanasi appears to have provided an opportunity to Arvind Kejriwal to jump into the fray. His strategy is simple. If there is an opportunity for publicity you must avail of it. He piggybacks on Narendra Modi’s popularity so that being Modi’s opponent helps him garner some publicity.
Posted on 24 March, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
Indian security agencies have yesterday arrested a top Indian Mujahideen terrorist who was a Pakistani national and busted a Rajasthan based module which had planned to attack senior leaders during the elections. I compliment our security agencies who were involved in this process. India’s internal security has been of key concern to all, particularly for us in the BJP. India cannot afford to lower its guard. The threat comes from groups across the border which are supported by both State and non-State actors. It also comes from various indigenous modules. The threat further comes from various Maoist groups who believe in overthrowing India’s Parliament democracy by the use of violence. It is being suspected that various terrorist attacks in the recent years were engineered by these groups. As security agencies work overtime to track the activities of these groups, it is surprising that the political establishment of the Home Ministry recently announced that they had no information about any threat to political leaders, particularly of the BJP during the election campaign. Attempts would be made by insurgents to disturb India’s general elections. Our security establishments cannot afford to fail even once and must always be ahead of these insurgent groups in tracking and busting their activities like this one.
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“BJP will resolve issues in Jammu & Kashmir through “Insaniyat”.”
During the past few days, I have read statements of various political groups in the Kashmir valley suggesting that the NDA government in the past was more honest in addressing the issues of Jammu & Kashmir rather than the UPA government. Most of these groups are ideologically opposed to the BJP. Why then should they be more optimistic about the BJP’s sincerity on the issues of Jammu & Kashmir?
Jammu & Kashmir has been integral to the BJP ideology. As a nationalist organization, we believe that there can be no territorial compromise. Our views are also well-known. On the external dimensions of the issue, the BJP will never allow India’s territory to be bargained or compromised. On the internal dimensions, our approach will be guided by Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee’s pronouncement that all issues will be resolved within the dimension of “Insanyiat”. My various visits to the State have convinced me that the sense of discrimination amongst the people of Jammu, Leh and Ladakh has to be addressed. Within the valley, our approach has to be guided by twin considerations of no concession to the separatists and the sense of concern and compassion of the average Kashmiri. Their quality of life has to be improved and the areas where they feel harassed will have to be addressed. In a fight against separatism, the people of Kashmir valley should be our important allies. Issues of their alienation will have to be addressed without compromising on the basic tenets of our ideology.
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“BJP must get its act together for the last lap.”
As the election campaign enters the final stage with the announcement of most of our candidates, the BJP and the NDA are clearly front-runners. We not only have to preserve the lead, but also improve upon it. The front-runners advantage always gets strengthened in the last lap. The party, its workers and sympathizers must all remember that the things are going our way. We cannot afford to commit any mistakes. Since the BJP and Shri Narendra Modi occupy the centre stage, our mistake will be disproportionately highlighted. What happened in Karnataka yesterday was highly avoidable. It’s a tribute to the internal democracy within the BJP that most of our leaders and sympathizers spoke in one voice and the mistake was immediately corrected.
Posted on 23 March, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
In the election season, many political persons desirous of being candidates succeed in getting a party nomination. Many more get left out. A political party is built upon the support of millions of political workers who have sacrificed their time and energy without ever aspiring to hold elected office. What does a politician do when after a successful political career the party is unable to accommodate him once? That is when his discipline and political loyalty are to be tested.
Membership of political party is a privilege. It is also an act of self oppression where personal views and ambitions are subjected to the collective wisdom of the party. At times, the party may flood leaders with privileges and positions. On other occasions, the leader may have to take “no” as an answer to his desires. How does a politician or a leader react to such “no”? He must accept the decision with a smile. This becomes a test of his loyalty and discipline. Restraint and silence are always a preferred option. Over-reaction may prove be a transient storm in a tea cup. Silence is always dignified and more gracious.
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Yesterday, my election office in Amritsar was formally inaugurated. The election office is located at what is popularly known as the “Khanna Samarak”. The Khanna Samarak is a three-storeyed building located in the heart of the city adjacent to the famous Durgiana Temple. It is named after Shaheed Harbans Lal Khanna, a BJP leader, who was killed by the terrorists. In 2007, when I was the Prabhari of Punjab, I had mooted the idea of raising the building at the Samarak. We collected some resources for the purpose. The political workers in Amritsar put up a great effort to raise the building. Little did I know at that stage that one day this building will become my own election office.
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The Congress candidate from Amritsar, Captain Sahib, has still not come to the constituency. Regrettably, he is resorting to his old USP i.e. lower the level of debate through “personalized and discourteous language”. I have to resist the temptation of reciprocating in the same manner. However, a polite response is necessary.
Despite my ancestral roots in Punjab, Captain Sahib called me an “outsider” and a “pseudo” Punjabi. Will be kind enough to tell me which state in India does Mrs.Sonia Gandhi belongs to?
Captain Sahib further wants to know if after winning from Amritsar, will I shift to Amrtisar? Surely, I will have both an office and residential base in Amritsar, but will he ever be available to the people of Amritsar at all. Past experience shows that he has been inaccessible not only to the people but also to his own party leaders including his ministers. His availability is only for a few hours since otherwise his palace is always inaccessible to the common man.
Posted on 22 March, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
Yesterday, I started the day by attending large rally organised by the Akali Dal in Attari Assembly segment of the Amritsar Parliamentary Constituency. Shri Parkash Singh Badal and senior Akali Ministers, Bikram Singh Majithia and Gulzar Singh Ranike were also present alongwith State B.J.P. President, Shri Kamal Sharma. The capacity of the Akali Dal to hold on to their support base is tremendous. The rally was organized at a two km. distance from the Indo-Pak border.
Life in the border villages is extremely challenging. The barbed wire fencing is inside the Indian border. Large tracks of land owned by the farmers become inaccessible. The farmers want to be compensated for crop loss. The N.D.A. government had fixed compensation for the same which was discontinued by the UPA. This seems to be a very reasonable expectation. The Punjab Government is providing some compensation. The border farmers are awaiting clearance for some bridges to get access to their lands. Their big expectation is that opening and expansion of Indi-Pak border trade will give boost to their economy.
A series of meetings in different constituencies with booth level party workers today ended with interaction with a large number of business and industry leaders of the city. Amritsar is looking for effective voice at the Centre. Their expectation from me is to provide that voice and lend my shoulder so that the glory of Amritsar could be strengthened.
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My friend, P.Chidambram, the Finance Minister, has opted out of the election. He is entitled to make his decision. Some of the better debates in Parliament and outside (including digs at each other) were between the two of us. I will certainly miss him.
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The Congress Party has finally announced its candidate from Amritsar Parliamentary seat against me. They have named a reluctant Capt. Amrinder Singh as their candidate. My best wishes to him. I will contest this election in a dignified manner with the best traditions of our healthy democracy. I will promise the people of Amritsar that I shall provide a better voice for them. May the best man win.
Posted on 21 March, 2014, No Comments Comments admin
P. Chidambaram, the Union Finance Minister, has decided not to contest the Lok Sabha election. His is a pragmatic decision since a politically isolated Congress is hardly likely to win any seat from Tamil Nadu.
Traditionally, the politics of Tamil Nadu has been polarized between the AIADMK and the DMK-led fronts. The Congress could superficially have increased the support to any of the two fronts by joining them. Today, both have distanced themselves from the Congress. The AIADMK at the Centre has been very skeptical of the UPA. The DMK feels it has been betrayed by the UPA. These two parties have kept their options open till after the elections.
Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh had added significantly to the UPA numbers both in 2004 and 2009. These two states had tilted the balance in favour of the UPA. This time the biggest setback to the UPA will come from these two states.
The BJP in Tamil Nadu had marginal strength. It has succeeded in expanding its support base this time. The Modi factor in particular is adding to the BJP strength. Its vote share across the state is predicted to be in double digits. The BJP has forged an alliance with the DMDK, PMK, MDMK and two other smaller regional groups.
This combination is capable of transforming the bilateral fight into three-cornered fight. Not only is the vote share of the NDA alliance going to be very significant, the fact that it is a ‘Modi-led alliance’ is adding to its strength. The possibility of this alliance picking up seats is real. A three cornered fight in Tamil Nadu has so far been an untested battle.
In 1996, the NDA had only three parties. In less than two years Atalji transformed it into a 24-party alliance. Is the NDA moving in that direction? After Tamil Nadu, I expect some positive outcome of the alliance talks in both Seemandhra and Telangana. If that were to happen the only states where BJP would be without any alliance are Kerala, Odisha and West Bengal. With the support of GJMM in North Bengal, the possibility of winning some seats in the state appears positive. The party’s strength in Odisha and Kerala has shown a vote share increment. The NDA today represents the real federal character of India.