The original poster boy relents

The eternal charioteer of the BJP, octogenarian L.K. Advani was at it again. The original iron man of BJP shows no sign of caving in. We must try and understand why he behaves like an obstinate political nonconformist, hell bent on taking the power that be in the organization.Narendra Modi once Advani’s protégée are not on good terms, at least now. This was the last chance for Advani to show his mettle, which ultimately melted much before it could yield any surprise. Gandhinagar is one Lok sabha seat, which Advani always nurtured and remained attached to it since 1991, till famously ideological split was surfaced during Modi’s elevation as Prime Ministerial candidate. Advani had almost quit all party posts opposing this move. Party prevailed and stopped him from taking such drastic steps. Everything was going as planned by the party’s spin doctors till Advani started showing discomfiture. He put his feet down and wanted to walk away from Modi’s shadow. Probably he thought Madhya Pradesh was a good bet for him, where in Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s company he would feel at ease. What happened in last two weeks, which changed Advani’s heart? On 28th Februray, when Advani visited Gandhinagar, he had told the media that he would again contest from Gandhinagar. But in this period came 4-5 lists of candidates and Advani found his name missing. Advani thought it right to make his point and told his party that he would like to contest from Bhopal. That unnerved the party and RSS. It was time for them to realize that Advani had caught them unawares.  More than party, Modi was more concerned that Advani’s walking away will send wrong signals. Sangh impressed upon Advani and conveyed that his contesting from Bhopal is of no consequence. Modi is BJP Prime ministerial candidate and hailed by the cadre as last hope for the party. Party’s assertion that there would be no softening of stand once decision is taken; Advani had no option but to cave in. May this step of the party be seen as Advani’s last ditch effort to save his position inside the party apparatus.

Get well soon India...

If price rise is not an issue for you, vote for Congress. If corruption is not an issue, vote for Congress. What is wrong with Congress? As such I don’t find anything wrong with them. They have been ruling the country with comfortable ease. They are running this country as if they own this.But why people want change? As a concerned citizen, we have every right to raise our finger and call this is wrong, stop it. In last 10 years, we have forgotten the count of scams, we don’t talk about them anymore. Scams running into millions and millions of crores don’t excite us. This is sad for a democracy, so sad for a country. Sad that we have become thick skinned, we don’t react at all. When we vote to elect the national government in coming days, ask yourself what is your agenda? What’s in your mind? We assume it’s the well being of the country, prosperity of each and every individual, that’s paramount.  When we talk about development, we don’t become communal, untouchable. When we talk about clean administration, we are expecting bare minimum. Hey, come on, if you wish these, you don’t become communal. You are an okay guy. You are as nationalist as anyone, you are as rationalist as anyone. If women of our families want better law and order, it's our right. If she want immediate control on price rise,she is right.if we want our education system to be affordable,it's need of the hour.If Indians aspire to have better health care,it's understood. Voters do have hope that next government deliver on their poll promises.India can't remain in the state of coma. India need to get well soon, and run.   

Does India need Kejriwal brand of governance?

People of Delhi are a disappointed lot after Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Delhi CM instead of doing serious governance.In just 49 days, AAP government crumbled.AAP leadership failed to govern Delhi. An IIT graduate,RTI crusader,with real genuine motive struck the chord with Delhites but as soon as it came to power, it walked out citing illogical problems.People who voted for him felt like being cheated. Felt lite being given a raw deal. But where do one gets everything favourable if you are a minority government. governance is an art of doing things, delivering promises despite all odds.Nobody gives you readymade meal in a platter. Aap has created a political space for itself after pathetic run of UPA2 but sustaining the tempo is always challenging. Kejriwal is finding himself on the sidelines, out of focus he was never used to. What happened at the BJP HQ today seems to an attempt to show that they are capable of creating ruckus. They are "Anarchist" as Kejriwal had himself rightly claimed.Now what options he has;to prove his point even if his "aam aadmi" had to resort to hooliganism. Modi has forced Kejriwal out from the national discourse.Now what all kejri would like to get is grab Modi's attention.His recognition. His reaction on street side hooliganism has a repulsive effect on common people to be very precise. India can't afford too many Delhi like misgovernance. Certainly not!

Kejri wants it right here, right now

Kejriwal has defied the mandate. Kejriwal is defying the time. Kejriwal is defying the expectations. He is defying the very logic of status quo. He is in so much of a hurry. He has no time to look back, no time to introspect. The rise and rise of Kejriwal has been so swift that he fails to realize that after rise comes the fall. If one looks at the life and times of Kejriwal in last five years, one would realize that he is a in a tearing hurry to make his point. Kejriwal has been alleged by his colleagues’ of being a dictator, an autocrat. Insiders say that he doesn’t listen to anybody. That’s the sign of desperation, though he would summarily reject the allegation. That’s one side of the story. That’s one side of Mr Kejriwal. Kejriwal raised some vital issues, related to corruption, related to governance. He gave dreams to the common man, gave an idea of how India could be, how our country should be. He wanted “change”; he wanted it to happen soon. He raised suspicion about how our system is being run. How flawed and lopsided our policies are, which makes common man sad and corporate happy. Kejriwal says what he has done in last 49 days, nobody has done it. Forming government riding on a popular support of Delights has been a big deal. But there is a flip side to it also. What he gained, he frittered away soon. His experiment with instant delivery of justice, weigh high on his report card. Quoting newspaper reports, Kejriwal says that corruption has reduced in the society. Babus fear taking bribes now. If it’s true, India must adopt the ways Kejriwal suggested. But before we announce our verdict, let’s wait. He has failed on the front of governance. His rhetoric has not delivered the results; his hubris has failed to hold public’s imagination. His willingness to contest all Lok Sabha seats may be a desperate bid to raise his market price. If he hopes packed house performances like Delhi, he might have to disappoint.

Sorry, how many hangings can we afford?

Punjab has seen it all. The violent 1980s and 1990s, which saw killing of thousands of innocent people, policemen and the terrorists. It all depends today, which side you are?
Either you are for hanging of terrorists like Davinder Pal Bhullar and Rajoana or you are against it.
That's  how Punjab politics is being played these days.
After supreme court cleared the way for Bhullar's hanging, the ruling Akali Dal has accelerated its effort to cajole the prime minister and the home minister to put a brake on the hanging of 1993 Delhi bomb blast accused, Bhullar.
But what options PM or the HM has? Prosecution of Bhullar can be delayed but not for eternity. Law will take its logical course and come to a conclusion. whatever it takes. After the hanging of Afzal Guru, it is being talked about that Indian government has been selective in executing minorities.
An engineering graduate, Bhullar came in touch with
the extremists and destiny also played a major role in his case. Son a teacher, Bhullar found himself embroiled in the ongoing hot politics.
He might have masterminded and executed several bomb blasts resulting  in the killings of innocent citizens and his misdeeds can't be pardoned.
A big moral and ethical question is, can we afford series of hangings, that are  likely to take place in months and years to come.
However, Supreme court is very clear about it that killers who showed no mercy in killing people should not seek mercy. A big reality check for all of us, indeed. 

Terror "Guru" hanged

Has congress arrived?

The memory of 2001 parliament attack was etched in the minds of all Indians. Eventually, the symbol of terror attack has been hanged. Afzal Guru has got a silent burial. 

It was  an attack on the Parliament, symbol of sovereignty of the country. we should not slept over this issue for so long.12 years later, justice has been done. 

Afzal guru was given death sentence in 2004 but his sentences was stayed after a mercy petition was filed before the president. 

A strong message has been conveyed that:

1:India is no more a soft state.

2.Congress has scored a brownie point over BJP, which was adopting a very hard stances on terrorism.

3.Arrival of Narendra Modi on the national scene has been diluted to some extent.

4.Poll bugle has been sounded and Guru's hanging will have impact on Indian politics.  

5.And last but not the least, has congress  arrived.

Lets have a quick recap of what people think after Guru's hanging.  

beena sarwar ‏@beenasarwar

RT @HazeKayKashmir: if Afzal Guru deserved death then why wasnt the Special Task Force prosecuted?

Rajdeep Sardesai ‏@sardesairajdeep

Good to see netas observing restraint so far. Hope we in media follow suit #afzalguru

Dr Pravin Togadia ‏@DrPravinTogadia

Afzal Guru Hanged. Now to appease miniroties, Govts will go after Hindus to 'compensate' . Already started with the HM remark&FIRs on Hindus

Kiran Bedi ‏@thekiranbedi

Afzal Guru hanged. Law finally turned FULL circle!

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Hamid Mir ‏@HamidMirGEO

Just read last few lines of Arundhati Roy on Afzal Guru-I think he was innocent but hanged in India http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?232979 …

Raza Rumi ‏@Razarumi

RT @MrSamratX: This hanging of Afzal Guru will send Kashmir back to the brink. It is unfortunate, unwise, and ill timed."

NDTV ‏@ndtv

Digvijaya SIngh on #AfzalGuru hanging: Govt of India has acted responsibly, don’t politicise the issue

What next, Development or Hindutva?

Modi favours development

The hardcore hindutva is likely to make a comeback if mood of sant samaj is anything to go by. Ram mandir, uniform civil code and article 370 which catapulted NDA to the power in 1990s, are all set to return to the Indian body politik. The could be many ifs and buts within the NDA but BJP is left with no alternatives.

Many in the BJP would not buy this logic that development plank should be done away with, which is, in fact, paying rich dividends irrespective of party lines, ideologies or the state.

The  third time Gujarat chief chief minister, Narendra Modi, who came to power in the early 2000s riding on a popular Hindu wave almost negated the Hindu agenda preached by Sangh Parivar and most prominently by the VHP.

The religious amalgamation of alkali dal and BJP is tried and tested over the years but they came back to power on the promise of development overdose.

Who could be better example than Nitish kumar or vikas purush, as he is popularly named by his friends and foes.

There could be umpteen example, where development became rule of the game. One can slightly tweak with them but one can't change the formula.

Then where BJP stands? On the question of ideology, leadership and likely path it's going to take in months to come.

Off course, there would be immense pressure from the sangh  on the BJP to adapt tried and tested formula of Ram mandir. Easier said than done, it's fraught with the risks of being alienated. NDA has to weave a cohesive coalition and widen it's network. And Role of BJP would be watched keenly by the forces opposed to Them. How their Mahakumbh moments is going to be?