Gurgaon and Gurugram always coexisted

Metaphorically, nothing has changed, nothing will change but for chatterati, who find Gurugram “unacceptable”.

Gurgaon has been an aspiring city for the aspirational people.  The present generation, who are well in their 20s and late 30s, perceive Gurgaon as a future city.

Not long ago, a motley group of villages, dominated by Jat and Gujjars, used to take pride in roaming on the roads with buffalo and their cows! 

It will not be an overstatement that it took hard work of thousands of Non-Haryanvis, who brought a semblance of civilisation. How come somebody like Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar pushes a millennium city 5000 years back? Gurgaon to Gurugram!  Overnight, Gurgaon becomes Gurugram. 

How come somebody like Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar pushes a millennium city 5000 years back? Gurgaon to Gurugram!  Overnight, Gurgaon becomes Gurugram. 

Gurgaon to Gurugram!  A village, where the legendary guru Dronachaya used to teach martial arts to the pandava and the Kauravas. 

There also existed poor "Eklavya", who could not afford a royal teacher and lost his thumb finger in Guru Dakshina for surreptitiously  learning the arts of archery from Guru Drone. Eklavya must be from this very Gurugram area only.

Metaphorically, nothing has changed, nothing will change but for chatterati, who find it “unacceptable”.

Gurgaon or Gurugram is almost same but what is being questioned here is the motive behind this name change. Was there a hue and cry for the name change?

Was there any dharna or demonstration to change the name in last one year? 

Gurgaon saw phenomenal growth when Om Prakash Chautala was the chief minister. Companies like DLF made fortunes.

Big companies purchased land from gullible farmers at a throwaway price and the government sitting in Chandigarh brought Change of Land Use (CLU).  What exchanged in between was dirty black money. 

Big sharks parked their unaccounted, ill-gotten money. During Bhupinder Singh Hooda government, it was done with much perfection.

The glittering Gurgaon is the by-product of unprecedented growth of real estate in, as recent as, last fifteen years. 

Aptly modelled on Bangalore and Hyderabad IT revolution, Gurgaon gives a feel of a cosmopolitan city. More so for the people who settled there and made Gurgaon what is this today.

 Equipped with swanky malls, all well-known eateries, all IT brands present there, Gurgaon was an aspiring city for aspiring families. 

But if one sees what is behind the facade, one would realise that the more Gurgaon wanted to change, it remained the same.

Gurgaon became an advanced city for go-getters, who earned in millions, who partied in 5 star and 7 star hotels.

For people, who were the original inhabitants, things did not change much. Process of urbanisation engulfed the beauty of this area.

The quick money came and went. Those who invested money wisely, survived, those who remain invested, prospered. 

Otherwise, one will find stories of farmers, who sold their lands and spent their money on SUVs and ultimately lost everything.

Are we talking on behalf of those Jat and Gujjars or media and opposition are just bothered about the Richie rich?

We know, what happened in Haryana during Jat reservation stir. The model of development came to a screeching halt. Division between haves and have not become more pronounced.

Khattar Govt recently held investors summit in Gurgaon, in the backdrop of violent jet agitation, he could manage to fetch MOU worth Rs 6 lakh crores.

Gurgaon proved to be saving grace for the BJP government while the new kid on the block, Rohtak failed Haryana.

With the rate, urbanisation is taking place in the NCR; Khattar government must focus on making Gurgaon safe, local transport people friendly, and police more polite. Gurgaon and Gurugram have always existed and it will.

To justify the historical mandate, Khattar government should focus on real issued like the generation of jobs, bringing social cohesiveness among thirty six caste)

How much Kejriwal knows about Punjab, Punjabiyat and its farmers?

Riding on the prediction of C-voter and Huffington post surveys, (surveys are paid) Delhi chief minister , Arvind Kejriwal is dreaming the impossible; to become chief minister of Punjab.

Becoming chief minister of Punjab, for a non Punjabi politician, would be an impossible act, if achieved.

 Delhi poll experience shows that Kejriwal is a quick learner and he is improving with every season.

He leaves no opportunity to garner maximum publicity from even routine civic issues.  For traditional politicians, he is a headache.

Armed with an agile team of PR specialists and twitter armies, Kejriwal is capable of creating storm in a tea cup even now and then. That’s the reason why traditional politicians shy away from having direct confrontation with the maverick politician.

AAM Adami party is working overtime to improve upon the mistakes they committed during 2014 polls.

After having won four Lok Sabha seat in Punjab in 2014, AAP sensing  a great opportunity in Punjab. And there is nothing wrong in this.  

Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal traditionally ruled Punjab since the formation of state.

AAP gives people an opportunity to choose their representatives of their own choice.

But before People of Punjab do so, there is real taste of nerves for Arvind Kejriwal.

How much he knows about Punjab?

How much he knows about Sikhism?

How much he knows about Punjab agriculture?

How much he knows about intricate issues like SYL, river water issues?

Honestly, he might not be knowing a great deal about Punjab.

Arvind kejriwal has hired media managers, motivators,  speakers, former journalists,  turncoats to change the narratives in Punjab. He might succeed or he might fail.

But people would ask him, what he has done for Delhi. 

How much he has done to fulfil the promises that he made to the voters of Delhi capital.       

Jat Quota stir turns into caste violence in Haryana

Jat Quota Stir: The ground Report

Sharing power is key to solving many issues BJP is facing today

The Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies have lost Bihar. This defeat looks like a complete rout, to be precise. Bihar rout follows after Delhi debacle where BJP managers could not fathom what were the indicators that brought misfortune for the party.

BJP, which came to power one and half years ago, seems to have lost the steam midway before climbing the hill.

This ailment has become endemic in a sense, where BJP refuses to treat the disease.

Now, allegations are flying thick and fast that decision makers do not trust the people at the ground and continue to live in a self-made paradise.

After the loss, BJP is looking for scapegoats. Who are the scapegoats? Are they one, who are advocating BJP to become more inclusive?

Or they are one at the helm, who are taking important decisions without accountability.

For every party, amalgamation, Bihar results have given out lessons to learn.

Here are some takeaways from Bihar results, which will be discussed in weeks to come.

1."Pappu" pass ho Gaya. Congress is live and kicking in Bihar. Nobody is talking about Congress. Rahul Gandhi has done a decent job in Bihar, not to forget, Nitish and Lalu literally deserted him during the poll campaign. 

2.Bihar has given the ticket for extension of Yadav dynasty. Lalu remains relevant, Lalu remains powerful, remains a potent force.

3. Bihar polls have given the message that Modi has to keep mum and work. Party has to go back to people.

4. Stop beef politics.

5.Modi has to learn to work with "other people"

6. Nitish has to walk a tightrope. He has to perform a miracle to change Bihar. 

7. Lalu Yadav has to go slow/avoid asserting for at least till 2019.

8.Modi shud help out non-BJP states

9. Modi shud behave like a PM. People have been talking in Bihar that Modi conducted too many rallies.

10.BJP committed a grave mistake by not naming chief ministerial candidate in Bihar. They did not take empower local BJP leaders to take important decisions. Sharing power is key to solving many issues that is confronting BJP today.

Holy cow and unholy act of violence

  

Dadri incident has shocked the conscience of the nation. We fail to understand the sickness of the mind that drove the mob to kill Mohd Akhlaq, who had “suspiciously” eaten cow meat or he was in “possession” of beef in his fridge. Nobody is sure whether he ate beef. Or even if he ate beef, should he have been killed?

We all know that lot of Muslims eat beef or a certain section of Dalits in India eat beef. A minuscule portion of “progressive and urban” Hindus also savour cow’s meet and persuade other Hindus to eat beef.

It’s a matter of choice, matter of belief system, matter of familial tradition that determines whether one eats beef or not.

The bigger question is If somebody eats beef, does he become a fallen guy considering the fact that for countries except India, there is no taboo or belief attached to the “holiness of cow?”   

I must say Cowherd has been integral part of farming community across India and they do not even hit cow with sticks. How they can eat cow’s meat?

During Diwali cows are worshipped by Hindu families as she is considered as (laxmi) or sign of prosperity.

A leftist historian DN Jha has been quoted profusely by the intelligentsia recently on the merits and demerits of eating beef.

Jha has been quoted how Kings of yore used to eat beef, perform Yagna etc. I will certainly not get into this debate as I have very little knowledge of “history of cow eating” in India.

I have not read Vedas or upnishads therefore I restrict myself from commenting on controversial issues.

Since I belong to a farmer’s family, I know and understand how cow can improve the economic condition of the family.

At some point of time till early 1990s, we used to own 17-18 milch cows and buffalos. My family used to earn lot of money those days when price of milk was not more than Rs 10/kilo.

Every second family used to own couple of milch cows and families were economically self- reliant then.

Lot of families gave up on rearing cows and lost a big opportunity to maintain their source of income. Over dependence on agriculture proved to be a bane for Indian farmers. Or perhaps it was the beginning of the downfall of Indian agriculture.  Sadly, we are not talking about how cows can improve financial condition of the rural folk; we are rather involved in making cow a “cultural symbol.”

India would rather urge the government to protect and save indeginous varities of our Indian cows, whose milk are beneficial for different ailments.

Those who have jumped into the discussion of “whether to eat beef or not” must desist from it.

I don’t blame Hindu or Muslim religious fanatics, who find it opportune to fully exploit the situation for furthering their political goals. India is a multi-cultural country where people of different caste and creed with different food habits reside peacefully. We must respect all.

MODI AND NITISH SET THE TONE FOR EXCITING BIHAR POLLS

Nitish and Modi shaking hands, these are one of the rare occasions.

New Delhi: When Prime Minister Modi announced 125 lakh crore mega package for Bihar, he ruffled many feathers, attracting immediate criticism from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Kumar said that PM’s “mannerism” did not behove his stature.

Nitish alleged that PM was announcing package as if he were bidding for Bihar. Somebody who claimed to be the servant of the people before elections, how can he be the master.”

Nitish Kumar’s annoyances can be well understood, who could neither reject the package completely nor welcome it.

The stakes are very high for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his political arch-rival Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar ahead of high voltage Bihar elections.

We have already seen the preview of Bihar’s thrilling political melodrama in recent months, which is all set to get murkier by each passing day.

Bihar elections have been interesting and politically significant and capable of setting the narrative of Indian politics.

Forces with and against Modi have positioned themselves to protect their political turfs.

The big question is why electorate of Bihar will give another chance to Nitish, who came to power riding  on anti-Laloo wave. Those, who witnessed heady days of jungle raj in Bihar in early and late 90,s would shudder at the very thought of getting it again.

Since Nitish Kumar is the face of so-called anti-Modi amalgamation, why on earth would people believe that if Laloo becomes powerful, he will not disturb and derail Nitish’s cart?

Electorate sympathises with Nitish for the work he did during his first term, but he second term and the third term as chief ministership embroiled with internal squabbling, one-upmanship.

In Bihar and outside, Nitish has been able to project himself as a Modi’s potent opposition, whether he would be able to translate this into electoral gains for the combine would be interesting to note.

While, on the other hand, BJP has not yet declared its chief ministerial candidate and in likelihood, PM Modi will remain their chief campaigner.

BJP has another Modi in Sushil Modi though he is a no match to Nitish Kumar. Sushil Modi and Nitish have been friends and well aware of each other’s weaknesses.  Sushil Modi has stood his ground quite well in last two years and led his party quite strongly. Though there have been murmurs in BJP’s Bihar unit against Sushil Modi but BJP would reject it saying that this happens in poll-bound states.

Have we forgotten Haryana, where there were four-five strong contenders for the post of chief minister? Manohar Lal Khattar was appointed as chief minister by PM Modi out of nowhere. Khattar and BJP were nowhere in the reckoning in Haryana.

Interestingly, each time Modi goes to Bihar, he raises a lot of heat and dust. His recent remarks about Bihar’s DNA kicked up the huge storm, giving Nitish Kumar enough ammunition to fire the salvo at Modi.

It would appear odd, but this is a fact that BJP has been part of the Nitish-led coalition government which ruled Bihar for close to 8 years. 

Modi chooses to pick up topics of under-development, lack of education and highlight how he always wanted to help Bihar to get rid off “Bimaru” tag. This hurt Nitish the most, who modelled himself as the messiah of development.

Modi’s knack for touching the raw nerve rubbed Nitish the wrong way to the extent that he was forced to raise signature campaign against Modi as how and why he could call Bihar a “Bimaru” state.

Nitish Kumar, who was once projected as messiah of development, could have never digested Modi’s “uncalled for”  remarks, which according to Nitish Kumar damaged Bihar’s image, hurt Bihari prestige (Asmita)

Nitish Kumar has been telling Biharis to believe what he says. During his recent visit to Delhi Nitish forged up a friendship with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who is known Modi baiter.

Political enmity between both the leaders date back to year 2014, when Modi was announced as BJP’s Prime ministerial candidate, while Nitish Kumar at one point of time, nursed the ambition of becoming  NDA’s Prime ministerial candidate.

Nitish Kumar has assiduously crafted the image of “Vikas purush” (a man of development) over the years while Narendra Modi was struggling to get out of Gujarat mess, created after 2002 communal riots. 

Modi belonged to the school of the Sangh family, while Nitish belonged to once-famed Lohia school of thought, who had waged the war against imposition of emergency in 1975 under the tallest socialist leader Jai Prakash Narayan or JP.

Modi and Nitish would be discussed and debated in months to come. Their statements and speeches will be analysed with a pinch of salt. This is the beauty of the democracy.

Sorry, Bihar is running late

Bihar was in the firm grip of bandh on account of arrest of an MLA the day I was supposed to catch my train from Bhagalpur to Delhi. I reached Bhagalpur junction two hours in advance from my village and inquired about the arrival of Garib Rath.

I gate crashed into inquiry room, there appeared a young lady in her 20s, ensconced in her computer. What time Garib rath is scheduled, I asked?

She looked up (smilingly) and asked are you new to Bhagalpur?  It is always five-six hours late, she quipped. If Garib rath is 5-6 hours late, it’s not late, she told. She was right.

When Laloo ji was railways minister, Gareeb rath used to run on time, but now nobody cares. Present railways minister Suresh Prabhu is intelligent but there is no control over timing.

As we all know Bihar politicians have special liking for railways ministry yet state of railway functioning is pathetic in Bihar. Garib Rath, which was supposed to take me Delhi the next day was 10 hours late. I lost hope.

Add to more salt to my woes was the bandh call given by JD(U) leader  Anant Singh’s supporter, who had been arrested a day before by the Bihar police in a dramatic fashion.

Entire railway track stretching from Bhagalpur to Patna was blocked at various places affecting normal running of train beyond the control of Danapur division.  

By the time I covered 200 kms from Bhagalpur to Patna, I had changed five trains. This was the stretch where I saw no TTE, no police, no paramilitary forces on the train.

“Indian trains runs in the name of god in Bihar, very rightly observed harassed passengers. ( Bihar mein train bhagawan ke bharose chalti hai.)

When you travel in a local train and you don’t get involved in political discourse, its not possible. Arrest of JD(U)’s Mokama MLA was the focus of discussion.

Why he was arrested and what will Nitish gain from it? What Laloo will gain from the arrest and how it will impact Kurmi, Yadav and Dalit votes in Bihar, our discourse was centred on these issues.

“Nitish is doing everything to please his former foe and now political ally, Laloo Yadav. Nitish is  doing everything to retain his power.” (Nitish ji kursi par bane rahne ke liye kuch bhi kar sakte hain)

Nitish kumar was nicknamed as messiah of development (vikas purush) during first term. What he did for Bihar was hailed by all and sundry.

Law and order was back on the track in Bihar. Roads were repaired and rebuilt, schools were upgraded in Bihar.

And overall image of Bihar, which had become synonym of lawlessness (jungle raj), had improved. Nitish government somehow managed to electrify thousands of villages, which was a pipedream in Bihar. Now there is hardly any sight of lantern in Bihar. Even small villages have metered power connections. Many villagers admitted that people were persuaded to give up kundi connection (illegal connection) and go for metered connections. During visit to a Paharpur village near Munger, power situation was good. Villagers had no problem in paying bills as regular power supply had made their lives cosy and less uncomfortable.

This all happened in Nitish Kumar’s first term, when he was with the BJP.

Will people of Bihar, who had experienced 15 years of chaos in Bihar, will ever vote for Nitish-Laloo combine is a difficult question to answer. Laloo is a changed man now, but why should people vote for him, whose rule was synonymous with lawlessness.

Nitish was given thumping majority in the hope that he will transform Bihar, bring development, investment and industries, generate employment but nothing of this sort happened in Bihar.

Nitish Kumar gave up his job once there was lot of opposition within his party and made Jitan Ram Manjhi the chief minister. Nitish kumar thought that he will be a pawn (mohra) of the chief minister and he will run the government on his orders but Manjhi proved to be politically sharp and unreliable.

Power equation in Patna changed but not the Patna city. Patna is still a dirty city. Flyover near railway station is still incomplete even after 10 years. There is no sign of its completion as poll is due in Bihar later this year.

Then what has changed in Bihar in last 10 years of Nitish rule? Bihar is still busy playing with caste equations. People have become more mature, more adaptable and less reactionary.  

Meanwhile, train to Delhi is as full as it was 20 years back. Confirmed tickets are never available in Bihar trains as migration from Bihar continues at a very fast pace in the absence of industry and employment. For me, flying out was one option, I explored.

PS: Living in Bihar still remains a great struggle.