Test of a good budget: Balance between mindless populism and fiscal prudence

In democracy, politicians need to be trusted. As a class in themselves, they can deliver provided they shun being quarrelsome. It is expecting too much at a time when JNU row shows neta class is also divided on what’s patriotism. But left to themselves, one likes it or not, we must appreciate one simple thing, politicians know they are capable of delivering provided they try doing so.

As one of the hyper active pro-Namo FB users among friends...I got a good question from a Mumbai-based journalist Seshadri Ramaswamy. “ND, This govt is going to tax pension and EPF. Are you in favour of these?.....And another indirect tax, as if enough is not there already, called krishi tax, to add to the common man's burden”.


My initial response::

“Good questions.....but there is a fiscal move. I don’t understand much of finance but I believe....this proposal is aimed at encouraging the salaried class to remain invested in the retirement fund and later on invest the kitty pension products .....Thus all these remain to be seen
DEVIL IS IN DETAILS AND LATER IMPLEMENTATION...

The Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, we knew from beginning, had a job cut out for him. But as the Budget 2016-17 approached, Jaitley and to a large extent his Prime Minister Narendra Modi had all reasons to feel besieged.

"I have an exam tomorrow", Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday on the eve of presentation of General Budget in Parliament. Third from Modi regime. 

From the beginning, reviving the growth momentum, containing prices of essential commodities and altering the pattern of growth to gainful employment remained at the top of the Finance Minister's agenda. But I have always maintained this is also a country of populism and freebies. The more things government gives, the more people will be eager to get things for them -- preferably free of cost and in lieu of no hard work.

The Haryana reservation row and Patels stir in Gujarat are pointers that even well to do communities and historically considered ‘upper castes’ do not shy away from quota politics. 

But this budget was expected to be tough.....I did not expect too much of goodies.

This is 2016 and Modi dispensation has hardly about two years ahead to run the economy as fierce political opportunism would chip in by 2018 itself. Therefore this Budget was expected to be little bold; perhaps it could have been more bold.

But given Jaitley’s pro-status quo image, I am impressed by the sort of a few risks the Finance Minister has taken. Whether this helps him and his party remains to be seen?

The Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar tried to spell out Modi Sarkar’s real intent in terms of running of economic affairs.

He said, “Budget is not a Political tool”.

On its part, the government is was right in their diagnosis and also prescribing a roadmap that India has to make a choice between mindless populism and fiscal prudence. It’s more than apparent, like Dr Manmohan Singh had his Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao’s backing, Jaitley also enjoys the same kind of confidence of his Prime Minister if not more.

To add to it, unlike Rao, who thrived in delaying taking decisions, Modi is known as a no-non-sense Prime Minister. In terms of avoiding populism at least for middle class – the crowd who take onto social networking - Jaitley has tried to work this to his advantage. Thus neo-middle class, Modi’s chief voters in 2014 could be unhappy.

But the PF and NPS tax proposals should be understood from a good accountancy point of view. Ministers like Piyush Goyal have tried to explain it properly that for PF there’s no taxation for 40 per cent.

The fact is: when you deposit there’s no taxation, there’s no tax for interest you earn. And move is to push an investor to re-invest 60 per cent more monthly pension or other benefits.

Never there has been a balanced budget between agriculture and non-agriculture sectors and also a balanced budget between rural and urban budget. 

PM-FM: Make better duo than Rao-Manmohan Singh?

The opposition leaders sounded demoralized and more on rhetoric as they too were stunned by the “balance”, Jaitley has tried. Off the record, opposition Congress and Left leaders tried to link this year’s budget to Bihar poll debacle Modi suffered and calling it a “reactionary budget”.

One can debate that. But the bitter truth remains, we Indians see government of the day to provide us with benefits and subsidies. A Mamata-led Railway ministry would have announced goodies for journalists and spouses. A Finance Minister with Lalu Prasad’s arithmetic sense would have sparked off a debate whether world economy is really on low morale these days. Thus the Modi regime also needs to continue to play the role of a ‘provider’.

Our patriotism is reduced to shouting slogans against and pro-Afzal. When it comes to making individual sacrifices, ask staff in Parliament who is the “best Speaker” they had – the name would be Somnath Chatterjee…the reason he gave out of turn promotions to all. Those days dare gone. Hence Modi Sarkar is anti-people! Isn’t it??

(ends)

Smriti Irani’s Lok Sabha speech- And Aftermath ::: Be cautious about Today

Be cautious about Today: Tomorrow is Important; Need not Forget the Past

Smriti Irani’s Lok Sabha debate on February 24, 2016 is being debated and perhaps will be discussed much more. Politically she did score a point and took the battle into rival camps who later took up all non-convincing points to find fault with her speech.

In Rajya Sabha, opposition rather chose to play up a phoney issue by trying to accuse that Smriti Irani has made a blasphemous remarks about Goddess Durga.

                   

A known ‘secular’ newspaper came out with a most disgusting banner headline – actually belittling the noble profession of journalism itself. These are testing times for democracy more so for a pluralistic Indian society. 

The words like passions, nationalism and even freedom of speech are these days seductive terms. 

Nation building or even patriotism is often related to Disneyland – a sound without echo – or even a present without a past. But patriotism has another quite a dangerous proposition. It needs careful nurturing. The cause of evil vis-à-vis a nation can get a boost often when countrymen and women do nothing. One need not always do much but often not doing enough also contributes in the unmaking of a country.

Ironically, the Left-radicalism actually thrives in this stagnancy, the inaction. So most often even in the case of Indian communists – more so with the Marxists variety – the progress of the country must be resisted. 

They had resisted this with Rajiv Gandhi regime in 1980s and they are on the same war-path with the Modi regime. Ironically the government led by Narendra Modi today is subject for much hatred of Rajiv Gandhi’s son, Rahul and Congress party.

In the process, over the last few decades India has perhaps become one of the most complex democracies.

                                 

Indian civilization has been a pluralistic country since ages but politically was declared a ‘secular country’ after independence in 1970s. But gradually it was given the colour of ‘minority appeasement’ and vote bank politics.

To sound anti-Hindu became fashionable. Worse the Left-radical theories influenced the mindset so much that intellectuals took it upon themselves the responsibility of sounding anti-Indian culture often. Thus in large sections they were perceived as ‘alienated’ from the Indian society.

The series of twists in JNU fracas bears testimony of this. A pamphlet that has figured in public debate is blasphemous and most improper description of Goddess Durga.

Personally I could be hurt as I am a Bengali and a born Hindu. But more importantly a section of political class has declined to condemn the circulation of such papers. Rest of the drama is political and unhappy one. But what about the minorities of our country and intellectuals among them? Very few have come out to condemn such papers.

Indeed, it is this kind of episodes that forces ‘fundamentalism’ to thrive among Hindus – the majority in this country. 

Telangana police report

On another plane, controversy is being made about Rohith Vemula’s death in Hyderabad. Notwithstanding contradicting claims by students and doctors, Telangana police have another story to tell and seems to endorse Smriti’s statement.

Even earlier in these blogs, I have spoken about inherent meekness of Hindus to be ‘political’ in their fight against other religion propaganda. The ‘missionary’ zeal and even components are simply missing among Hindus to wage a religious war. 

This was the case in the 13^th century. There was a kind of paralysis and the timing coincided with extinction of Buddhism and VICTORY OF ISLAM.

In contemporary setting, overwhelming Hindus in India are now at least getting assertive about defending their rights. This need not be mistaken with communalism per se. But Hindu assertiveness is becoming order of the day. There is nothing wrong is such assertiveness. What is to worry about that the fringe elements among Hindu fundamentalism is that they may also fall into wrong hands as has been with a section of minorities.

Hindus need to be careful about it. The same responsibility also remains with minorities as the feeling of rivalries between religious communities will be quite harmful. 

In this context Smriti Irani’s speech was an eye opener especially in the context of motivated nature of lessons and passages prescribed in school text books under Congress-led UPA.

I am quoting here from the HRD Minister’s speech:

“I wondered, where do our kids learn from? ……This is a history book for students of class IV - Teacher's Reader. 

The author of this book is Teesta Setalvad. 

This book has been commissioned by UPA's Kapil Sibal. The same UPA whose chairperson is Soniaji. Let's see what is to be taught to student of class 4. In our text and syllabus, we continue to perpetuate the colonial legacy of portraying ancient India, as synonymous with Hindu and Medieval India past with the Muslim." 

I quote from this book…"When we teach Shivaji, Akbar, Aurangzeb as responsible educators and animators, we need to ask which Shivaji do we need to take into the classroom. It is not only against Shivaji that is taught. Congress politicians allowed the killings for three days during the Sikh riots. That is also taught.Hindu-Christian riots in Kanya Kumari. How the propaganda of Hindu organisations target Christian minorities."

You are teaching this to a child in the 4th standard. This is their idea of secular education. History taught to standard 6th. Kashmir is a much demonised land today...{pause} that the State militates against the atrocities of the Indian State”

During her speech, Smriti Irani asks, “Are we shocked that our students go to universities and say "Kashmir ki azadi tak jung ladenge.."?

She also raises few other lines as prescribed books and teachers seek to teach students. 

                                                 

These lead us to a few questions. 

-Will Don Bosco, Matunga try to explain its stand on these books?

-Will champions of freedom from across India- especially a few associated with Ahmedabad especially explain whether Teesta Setalvads still deserve to be hailed as a paragon of virtue?

- Politically was there no quid-pro-quo when Teesta fought against Narendra Modi and Kapil Sibal commissioned her to pen text books for children?

-Did Rahul Gandhi err in accompanying an ill-informed Anand Sharma to the JNU campus?

This is an age of empowerment and informed debate. Politics involve human beings. The human beings – the neta class – can no longer be regarded as infallible. They make mistakes. If they commit mistakes, they must say sorry. 

Smriti Irani's Lok Sabha speech: JNU row and Rohith death - Exposing Opp. camp

(In this blog I am running the full text of Smriti Irani’s speech in Lok Sabha, Feb 24, 2016.

In 2002, I predicted a PM-material in Namo.
betting now for Smriti Irani.....after her awesome speech...where she had logic and facts -- two so called tools of communists, Congress and other shop-keepers, NGO, wallahs, and above all SICKULAR WALLAHS....

Most found no answer -- vague argument came in social networking. Opp members lost words when she named and quoted letters that she acted even on their letters. 
Helplessly they walked out of Lok Sabha.....)

                                     

(The big tribute to her speech came from PM Narendra Modi when he tweeted ‘Satyemeva Jayete’ along with the video of Smriti’s speech. Last time, he had tweeted ‘Satyemeva Jayete’ was on December 26, 2013 when a Ahmedabad court gave him clean chit in Gulbarg Society case of 2002.)

Transcript: (Feb 24, 2016, Lok Sabha) 

Listen to what I have to say. You accuse us of being intolerant, be tolerant. I am giving my answer. Or do I claim to be a victim of my circumstances and say that I am married to a micro-minority family. I am a woman, and hence you did not allow me to speak in this House. Do not play politics with me.

Those seeking response on an issue are specifically the ones who ask for personal favours, for example, to get their kids' admission in Kendriya Vidyalaya.

Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao had written a letter, saying that there is a need for justice in Hyderabad University. He said that it was under the rule of the vice chancellor, which was appointed by the UPA government where Dalit students were committing suicide. Rao had urged me to take action and launch a probe.

As soon as I got the news of Rohith Vemula's suicide, I called KCR [chief minister of Telangana], only to plead that the law and order situation should be under control. I was told, "Sir is busy right now." I never issued a public statement against the chief minister thinking that he will call back, but he never called back. But I have a call record. I even spoke to his daughter.

I issued several letters in reply to Rao's letters. An idea has been created that the HRD minister responds only to government ministers. I have always tried to resolve issues irrespective of the complainant's caste, creed or religion.

I am not going to apologise for doing my duty. If you want to leave, you may do so. You never wanted to listen to my response, you never had the intention to do so.

You don't have the courage to listen to what I have to say. You just want to do your politics. Listen to what I have to say, if you have the courage to do so.

You don't have the courage to listen to what I have to say. You just want to do your politics. Listen to what I have to say, if you have the courage to do so.

Asaduddin Owaisi and I are political opponents. He had once written a letter to me, I responded to it accordingly. Am I being condemned only because my department had issued a letter? I was just doing my duty.

Oomen Chandy, Shashi Tharoor also sent letters to me, and we responded immediately. Today, I am being accused of discrimination? Even I can do the same.

Political parties are busy trying to use the death of a child [Rohith Vemula] as a political weapon. The committee which suspended Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula was not constituted by our government, but by the UPA regime.

I looked at the case as the death of a child and not as a death of a Dalit.

My name is Smriti Irani. I challenge you to identify my caste.

I am enraged by the manner in which a child's death (Rohith Vemula) is being used as a political weapon.

I am taking it personally Sir. I'll tell you how the entire incident has been used as a political tool.

According to a report submitted to the Telangana high court, the police had reached Rohith's hospital at 7:20 pm when they found the body. The police said that when they reached the hostel, they found the room open and the dead body was on the table. A hand written suicide note was found. The suicide note that was left behind does not blame anyone.

This is not my submission. This is what the police said. No one allowed a doctor near this child, to revive this child. Instead, his body was used as a political tool. No police was allowed till 6:30 am the following morning. Who tried to help this child?

The ones who passed judgement are not the ones appointed by the BLP-led NDA but by the Congress party.

Rahul Gandhi made the most of the opportunity and visited the hostel twice, something which he had never done before. 

Have you ever seen him visiting the same place twice? Did he do the same when 600 students died in the Telangana movement? Rohith blamed no one, yet Rahul tried to use this child as a political tool. The child in his suicide note said that no one is responsible for my death, yet you seek to use this child for your own political ends. That is the tragedy. 

The people who espouse the cause of free speech and attack this government, who say we are anti-minority, anti-Dalit, anti-tribal and time and again, they've been requested to not make it 'us against them'. I am not certifying your patriotism, but do not demean mine. I am not certifying your idea of India, but do not demean mine. To them I say this. Madam speaker, this is the permission slip from JNU. 

On JNU row

The slip clearly says that Umar Khalid, one student, wanted to book the venue from 5 pm to 7.30 pm for the night. The form asks what is the purpose of booking the venue. He says poetry reading. The form asks whether any special arrangement is required. He says electricity for mike. Very well, the university gives him the permission. What transpired later has been question marked by many people. They said - Arrey yeh jhoota hai, woh jhoota [He lied, they lied]. Tariq Anwar said: Let the university carry out its investigation, and then let the police come. This paper is the report of the security department of the university.

This paper is the report of the security department of the university, dated February 11, 2016. In this, 35 security personnel and 3 female guards gave their statement with their signatures. They said that at 16.45 pm, the personnel reached the venue. 38 people have given their response. They are part of the security of the university, and not the police. They say - "The crowd started to swell. Umar and Anirban stood there. 'Afzal Guru, Maqbool Bhat zindabad', 'Kashmir ki azadi tak jung rahegi', 'Bharat ki barbaadi tak jung rahegi', 'jis Kashmir ko khoon se seencha, woh Kashmir humara hai', 'hum kya maange azadi, bandook se lenge azadi', 'go India, go back', 'Indian Army murdabad'. 

There were a few people present there with their faces hidden with cloth.

This is not a video, not a police, not an Arnab Goswami, this is the report of the security personnel who do not have connection with the government.

Madam, an office order is issued by JNU. The letter is addressed to the complete staff and faculty at the university. This committee, which again has nothing to do with the government, ... A Communist party leader had said here that Smriti Irani had tried her best to get her own vice chancellor, but someone else was deputed. The person who we tried for was a Padma winner, decorated by the Congress government, not ours. This is the right of the President to appoint a VC.

This is the same VC, who we did not appoint, issued this. "Misrepresentation of a proposed cultural event, although the objective was to hold a political meeting. Forcefully holding the event when the permission to hold was withdrawn. Creating a law and order situation in the campus and the prima facie inquiry committee finds the following individuals to be involved. The individuals who have been named by the faculty of JNU - Syed Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, Ashutosh Kumar, Rama Naga, Anant Prakash Narayan, Kanhaiya Kumar, Aishwarya Adhikary, Shweta Raj. Considering the seriousness of the offence, and in order to enable a fair inquiry into the incident, the inquiry committee has recommended that the above mentioned students be academically suspended from JNU with immediate effect, during the pendency of the inquiry. However, they are allowed to stay in their respective hostels during the period of inquiry."

This is not an order issued by the Home Ministry. The university faculty had issued this judgment based on facts.

To accuse is known to be a sign of a successful democracy. I am presenting this evidence to counter people who have accused us. This has been attested by registrar of the university. The registrar was not appointed by us, but by the previous government. This pamphlet is dated February 22, 2013.

Malikarjun Khadge was passionately saying today - "Hang everybody, including professors, if they speak against the nation." If he was here today, I would have shown him this. Two professors came out with a Kashmir solidarity rally during his government. "To show solidarity for the struggle freedom in Kashmir, and refuse to be a part of the collective conscience of this country."

Another evidence we have from the university. "Abolish death penalty. Burn effigy of home ministry, not minister. Speak up against the judicial murder and hanging of Yakub Memon."

Who was there in Mumbai on  March 12? It's my mother's birthday, hence I remember that day till now. Bombs went off. Indians died. The terrorists did not ask the religion or caste of the people who died.

This poster says: "Supreme Court judge, Hindu Fascist State of India, the state was scared of Yakub Memon. Our media is a communal corporate media. We are a murderous republic and our cannibal collective conscience was satiated by hanging Yakub Memon's. We must rise against this judicial murder."

A call to rise against Supreme Court, which they approach for bail now. That is the strength of my democracy. A call to rise against the president of India, to whom you go and implore and say - "Nyay kijiye [please deliver justice]." The people who call him a hangman go knocking on his doors and he opens his doors and welcomes them. That is the strength of my democracy.

Another MP here said that I am from Communist Party and Kanhaiya is my party member. Brother, I agree.

Madam, this is a poster, which has the name of a child, unfortunately. I look at this child who has been mobilised as a weapon against the State. This is a child who does not have an idea that India is one, but a child who must have been infected with this thought. By those who want to bear arms to overthrow the state. It bears the name of Kanhaiya Kumar, Shaila Rasheed, Rama Naga - they are all members of the student union. Apart from saying - "Condemning the hanging of Afzal Guru", they claim it as a "nervous attempt by the Congress government." And this, Madam Speaker, is a notice given out on February 10, 2016. On the 9th night this transpires in the campus, and on the 10th this pamphlet is stuck all across with signatures.

It says - "The public meeting was also disrupted for Mahishasur Martyrdom Day."

What is Mahishasur Martyrdom Day, madam speaker? Our government has been accused. I miss today Sugata Bose and Saugata Roy in the House - champions of free speech, because I want to know if they will discuss this particular topic which I am about to enunciate in the House, on the streets of Kolkata. I dare them this.

Posted on October 4, 2014. A statement by the SC, ST and minority students of JNU. And what do they condemn? May my God forgive me for reading this.

"Durga Puja is the most controversial racial festival, where a fair-skinned beautiful goddess Durga is depicted brutally killing a dark-skinned native called Mahishasur. Mahishasur, a brave self-respecting leader, tricked into marriage by Aryans. They hired a sex worker called Durga, who enticed Mahishasur into marriage and killed him after nine nights of honeymooning during sleep."

Freedom of speech, ladies and gentleman. 

Who wants to have this discussion on the streets of Kolkata? I want to know. 

Will Rahul Gandhi will stand for this freedom. I want to know. For these are the students. What is this depraved mentality? I have no answers for it. [Irani throws away the pamphlet]

Then, I thought, when many leaders say - "They are kids. They are saying it. Pardon them." It is possible. But how does this depravity gets seeded into the minds of our children?

Unfortunately, the rows of the Congress party here are empty, madam speaker. I have said it time and again, 'shiksha ko ranbhoomi mat banao' (Don't make education a battleground). No one listened to this request of mine in both Houses. Today I am compelled to say this, madam speaker, are these just slogans?

I seek to quote a Roman philosopher, who said - "A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gates freely. His lie whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of the government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor, he speaks in the accent familiar to his victims. He wears their face and arguments that appeals to the baseless that lies deep in the hearts of men. He rots the soul of the nation. He works secretly as an unknown. In a night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear."

If I had quoted Chanakya here today then people said it was saffronisation.

This is the reason I seek to quote a Roman philosopher.

I wondered, where do our kids learn from? I am presenting an example in this House today, which just came to my desk. This is a history book for students of class 4 - Teacher's Reader. What are our teachers taught? 

The author of this book is Teesta Setalvad. This book has been commissioned by UPA's Kapil Sibal. The same UPA whose chairperson is Soniaji. Let's see what is to be taught to student of class 4.

"In our text and syllabus, we continue to perpetuate the colonial legacy of portraying ancient India, as synonymous with Hindu and Medieval India past with the Muslim." I quote from this book, Madam Speaker. Arvind Sawantji is from Maharashtra. This book was given to Don Bosco, Matunga. The school of my colleague Piyush Goyal.

"When we teach Shivaji, Akbar, Aurangzeb as responsible educators and animators, we need to ask which Shivaji do we need to take into the classroom."

It is not only against Shivaji that is taught. Congress politicians allowed the killings for three days during the Sikh riots. That is also taught.

"Hindu-Christian riots in Kanya Kumari. How the propaganda of Hindu organisations target Christian minorities."

You are teaching this to a child in the 4th standard. This is their idea of secular education. History taught to standard 6th. I quote, madam speaker.

"Kashmir is a much demonised land today...{pause} that the State militates against. The atrocities of the Indian State."

Are we shocked that our students go to universities and say "Kashmir ki azadi tak jung ladenge.."?

Scenario 4 on Page 5 - order issued to Delhi schools after the death of Indira Gandhi.

"Check what an English teacher is teaching." One of the words given to the children to draft a sentence was the word arrive. Of the several children who raised their hands, the one that the teacher chose to read out is - 'When a Sikh arrived in Delhi, he was killed by a Hindu.'

Scenario 2 - The title is fascinating - 'Breeding Prejudiced Minds'. This commissioned by the UPA, led by the Congress party, given to children in the 6th standard.  They are taught.

Scenario 3 - Teaching of history in school boards all over Maharashtra. Has a single prescribed textbook on Shivaji. Teachers from the school in Bombay have expressed great difficulty in controlling emotions. One of them has said - "The schools that have active enrolment of Muslim students are rushed through the chapter on Afzal Khan and Shivaji's confrontation. It is a politically and socially loaded connotation. I can't meet eye to eye with Muslim students, so I start my chapter with an apology. There are many Afzals in my class." Says this teacher teaching in class 6th.

I begged and I pleaded, don't make it about us and them. Our children are not vote banks. But nobody heard me.

NCERT had warned not to distribute these books. No one heeded to their warning. Wasn't the NCERT of our government? The committee that studied these books and incidents, I am compelled to say that one of the committee members is a Muslim Vice Chancellor appointed to his post by the Congress government.

An income tax officer, who served under the Congress government, now a Supreme Court lawyer. I did it because I will not be accused of politicising something, which should be a matter of concern for every Indian citizen and Parliamentarian. What do those committee members said after they read these books.

"This committee fails to understand that to what and whose purpose is this trust serving?" By quoting from authors from Pakistan writing pertaining to education of Indian students to an impressionable mind of a standard 6 student. This committee was enraged when the name suggested intention and action - Allah zarmeen Pakistan, Hindutva hell in Hindustan.

Madam speaker, I have not shied away from answering any question in this Parliament.

My plea is this. Across universities, when vice-chancellors said that we want to raise our flags proudly. They were condemned. Mr Gandhi went to Uttar Pradesh and said -"All these VCs belong to the RSS." I am sure he doesn't know that even today that among the chancellors of central universities, there are 20 VCs who were appointed by the Congress. 16 VCs were again appointed by the Congress. I challenge  any of these Congress-appointed VCs to come and say with evidence  that I have saffronised them, I will quit politics.

In this same House perhaps. Sonia ji is not here, so can't tell her. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said - "India is not a piece of land. It is a nation that is alive Rashtrapurush."

He had said - "Yeh vandan ki dharti hai, abhinandan ki dharti hai / Yeh arpan ki bhoomi hai, darpan ki bhoomi hai / Ki nadi nadi humaare liye Ganga hai, iska kankar kankar humaare liye Shankar hai / Hum jiyenge to iss Bharat ke liye, marenge to iss Bharat ke liye / Aur marne ke baad bhi, Gangajal mein behti huee humaare asthiyon ko koi sunega, to ek hi awaz aayegi - Bharat Mata Ki Jai."

The question that rises is that the same Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had said this had supported Indira Gandhi. Considered her a reflection of Durga. When for the pride of the nation, Indiraji had said - "Go and protect humanity."

Today it seems that politics makes strange bedfellows. Sugata Bose delivered a speech, that was academically very good. I applaud to such speeches. Soniaji and Rahulji were compelled. We all should compliment each other.  Shook his hands. I only wished that Dr Bose was to gift them a book called The Dead Reckoning by Sharmila Bose, Dr Bose's sister. A renowned historian. In the book, she writes that the Bangladesh liberation war was a fallacy. 

That the Pakistani army did nothing to Bangladeshis that Indira Gandhi went to support. 

The question that rises now - [Satta to Indira Gandhi ne bhi khoyi thi lekin unke bete ne Bharat ki barbadi ke naaro ka samarthan nahi kiya tha]. Even Indira Gandhi lost power, was out of power, but his son never supported slogans of India's destruction.

Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram – a Belief every ‘Bharatiya’ counts : It’s A Revolution

Politics is a great leveler.

Is Moditva a Revolution? By this blog, in the eyes of sickular Indian intellectuals and pro-terror mastermind Afzal brigade, I have turned a 200 per cent Narendra Modi fan! The facts could be otherwise even as there’s nothing to be ashamed about taking a stance against terror-friendly club fashionable neo-intellectual club of India.

I like these poetic lines:

''सांप! तुम सभ्य तो हुए नहीं

नगर में बसना भी तुम्हें नहीं आया।

एक बात पुछूँ-(उत्तर दोगे?)

तब कैसे सीखा डसना-विष कहाँ पाया।''  -अज्ञेय

(the poet wonders how a SNAKE far off from human habitation mastered so much

of killer poison in itself)

Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayan ‘Agyeya’ (7 March 1911 to 4 April 1987) was popular by his pen name ‘Agyeya’ – meaning beyond comprehension.

The story of Congress-Marxists axis is perhaps not beyond comprehension. 

                              

In political realm, the Marxists-Congress axis is essentially not new but it is again coming on the focus. The provocation is of course an assertive Hindutva-nationalistic policy led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Action scenes are somehow everywhere – Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Hyderabad and of course upcoming elections in West Bengal. The height of political opportunism can be exemplified in the fact that in Kerala – at least on the face value – the Marxists and the Congress will sweat it over for power.

President Pranab Mukherjee in his customary address to Joint sitting of Parliament ended his speech saying in the words of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, “Nationalism is inspired by the highest ideals of human race, Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram”

These three are essential foundations of Hinduism of even for that matter basis of Oriential civilization! Satyam means the truth – not what you think about it, but what it is; not your idea about it, but the REALITY. To know this truth you have to be utterly absent. Here absence means devoid of all prejudices and all worldly borrowed knowledge. It calmours for purity of the sky.

Shivam certainly is much more than a Hindu God. It stresses on virtue – all that is good, all that is valuable, all that is the most precious. Shivam means the Truth in action. Sundaram underlines that the greatest beauty is to see the totality, the intensity of the mystic world. It’s more than the Beauty of flowers and stars or the beauty of beauties of sunsets and sunrises.

Prez Pranab knew Indira-Communists axis

In effect, Modi government ensured that in one small phrase it makes a powerful appeal to all concerned on the present day politics.

In the meantime, any ordinary observer of Indian politics knows pretty well that the communists are masters in acknowledging the need to make tactical adjustments. 

This includes – what is often described as pragmatism – in effect RETREAT when the going is tough!

This pragmatism involves murderous-violence for workers (between Congress and Left parties) at grassroots level in states like Tripura, West Bengal and Kerala and alliance between Sitarams-Rahuls or Deve Gowdas and Surjeets at the national level.

This is a simile to division of labour!

In socio-economic realm, the communists-Congress axis was once described as the ability of the Leftists to act as ‘moral supervisor’ of capitalist enterprise. 

That’s a big fun indeed. Congress sees communists as moral supervisor of dynastic enterprise. But bigger fun is the ‘shop-keeper’ methodology of those who thrive with the status-quo…..Congress corruption and double standards, appeasement of minorities by Left and quota politics while the socio-economic conditions of Muslims and Dalits and tribals continue to traverse from bad to worse ! 

The conditions of Muslims in Left-ruled West Bengal and Justice Sachar Commission report are ready references. 

That’s a real drama!! In our times in circa 2016 one can doubt the long term visions of such a tie up. Actually this is only an alliance guided by sheer opportunism. But even if such a coalition might not be convincing nor can win popularity contests and while the Congress enjoyed power and monopoly for the dynasty – the communists burnished their reputation as conscience keepers.

Now along with this conscience keeping business comes below the belt comment from a BJP legislator about a tool of family planning. Sadly, the comment talks about nosedive decline in political rhetoric in India but the anguish of intellectuals over the same only raises eyebrows. Have not we heard about man-man relation in other camps?So does the ‘nirodh’ comment reflect any story about free love --- just a step forward from free-speech? Go to cover any communists meetings, jhatas in rural India --- one should not be surprised by “pair-meetings” all around the meeting places. 

Well, ideally the champions of free-speech probably guided by THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO – the 1848 political pamphlet by German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels should not mind any reference to ‘free love’.

The second section of the Manifesto, according to Wikipedia, goes on to defend communism from various objections, including claims that it advocates "free love" or disincentivises people from working. The section ends by outlining a set of short-term demands—among them a progressive income tax; abolition of inheritances; free public education etc.—the implementation of which would be a precursor to a stateless and classless society.

One of the first Russian Marxists to devote close attention to the post-revolutionary status of marriage was Alexandra Kollontai, a prominent member of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party who organized female workers before her exile in 1908.