Why Biren Singh matters to BJP in Manipur ?

New Delhi

It's advantage Chief Minister N Biren Singh in Manipur for the BJP.

The Lotus party's performance in Manipur will be vital from the perspective of
north east politics. In February-March 2023, three other northeastern states Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland are also slated to go for polls.

The BJP has put all eggs in one basket in Manipur.

Three MLAs, Y Erabot Singh, M. Rameshwar and P Sharatchandra resigned from the saffron party and there have been protest and burning of effigies by disgruntled party leaders and workers.

The saffron party leadership is still unfazed.

N Biren Singh joined BJP only in 2016 and since then there is no looking back for him.
In BJP central leadership's perception, Singh has earned the reputation of being an accessible Chief Minister.
His popularity and 'good performance' despite challenges in the last five years have given BJP a major
advantage in this year's polls, the high command thinks.
Now in the ticket distribution, the BJP decided to repose all faith in him and
thus also agreed to field the likes of SS Olish and Rajkumar Imo Singh.
Ms Olish has been fielded from Chandel while Imo Singh has been fielded from
Sagolband.

There was strong protest on Sunday after ticket distribution and even violence has been reported in Sagolband.

Imo Singh, a relative of the Chief Minister Biren Singh, joined BJP only in November 2021.

S S Olish is also known as a 'close associate' of Biren Singh and she has been fielded from

Chandel (ST) reserved constituency.

Five years back, the BJP nominee Olish had polled over 23 percent of vote share in 2017 and polled

9,842 votes to finish third in the race. Whether the saffron party has able to make further inroads in last

five years remains to be tested.

Chief Minister's outreach programmes ‘Go to Hills’ and ‘Go to Village’ have been widely accepted

and appreciated by the people in this development-starved state.

N Biren Singh also has an image of a 'protector' of Meitei interests. This gives him a big advantage in the

valleys that sends 40 MLAs.

The Prime Minister's concept of 'Double Engine' is at its display in its best form in this state.

To be in power both in Imphal and in Delhi is a great magnetic pull for votes in a state where like Nagaland

it is said when Delhi gets cold, Manipur politics sneezes.

Of course, this used to be the Congress advantage factor for decades and now that pattern is definitely

going to give a boost to the BJP campaign.

The decline in the long bandhs and blockades will also go in favour of the BJP, say party leaders. .

Modi's personal charisma will always give benefits to the BJP.

Among the projects inaugurated and launched by the Prime Minister on Jan 4 at Imphal is the

landmark Steel Bridge built over Barak River.

The project will fulfill the long awaited demands of the people and henceforth

the traffic congestion along the national highway 37 will be reduced.

This will ensure a seamless year round connectivity between Imphal and Silchar in the Cachar district of Assam.

The road link to Imphal at present is via Kohima in Nagaland and commuters and truckers

often are faced with different kinds of challenges.

When the Naga peace talks 'entered' the final and crucial stage on Oct 31, 2019, Home Minister Amit

Shah had ordered his ministry to issue a statement that 'no final word'

has been said or could be said until the states of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have been consulted.

Here came the role of BJP's 'first' Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

He had flown to Delhi and called on the Home Minister to give the 'right perspective' from the perspective.

In the BJP circle, it was quickly given out that Biren Singh enjoys good working relations with Amit Shah.

Now, the onus on this neo-saviour of Meitei interests, Biren Singh to deliver Manipur to the saffron party.

ends

Nagaland, North East : A ticking time bomb; question of the greater Naga identity is back

Greater Naga identity is back, and so is 'indigenous' son of the soil issue

There has been heightened gunfighting in the Chin region of Myanmar between its military and rebels. Nearly 20,000 Myanmar people are already in Mizoram. But the state government cannot recognise the hapless intruders as refugees since states are not authorised to do so under the lawn. 

Only the Centre can.

But the Union government faces a diplomatic quagmire. Entertaining the Myanmar intruders could upset that country's military junta. India needs its cooperation to deal with insurgent groups who take shelter and operate from the jungles of western Myanmar. 

India's security apparatus is concerned over growing incidents of violence in Myanmar between the military and resistance groups. Several ethnic Naga, Mizo, Manipuri and even Assamese rebels from northeastern India have maintained bases in Myanmar's Sagaing region for years. The modus operandi used to be simple - launch attacks on Indian forces and then return to their camps and hideouts across the border. 

Manipur witnessed one gruesome incident in November last year when Colonel Viplav Tripathi, his wife and their nine-year-old body were killed. Forces wanted to hit back. So in Nagaland's Mon district, not far from the India-Myanmar border, innocent Naga civilians were attacked on December 4. 

The fallout of 'mistaken identity' in a botched operation triggered anti-India and anti-Indian forces sentiment. Nagas and the Nagaland state government, with the Bharatiya Janata Party as an alliance partner, have demanded the "draconian" Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) be repealed.

Boycotts marked the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 in Nagaland. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, a senior leader with good contacts in national politics, hoisted the national flag in the state capital Kohima. Ministers and administrative officials did so in district headquarters. 

But in front of empty stadiums, which had nothing to do with the Covid-19 protocols. The state administration was at pains answering frantic calls from the Union Home Ministry mandarins and others why such a situation prevailed.

The Naga Students Federation, an influential students' body, which can be compared with such outfits as the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and Khasi Students Union (KSU) in Meghalaya, also called for a boycott. These student bodies in the northeast are often the stepping stones for student leaders to state-level politics. In other words, developments in Nagaland should not be brushed aside. 

The intense fighting between the Myanmar military and the 'joint forces' of the Chin National Army (CNA) militants and Chinland Defence Force (CDF) is somewhat a new security dimension. The Lai tribe among Mizos shares an ethnic affinity with Chins and hence their bond and hospitality accorded to them.

Last year, the Mizoram government, run by the Mizo National Front (MNF), a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, made elaborate arrangements for the school education of the Myanmar children who have sneaked into Mizoram with their parents and guardians in the aftermath of the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021.  

The dissidents National Unity Government (NUG) had declared a "Spring Revolution" from September 7, 2021, marking the launch of a "civil war" to oust the military junta in Myanmar. 

Recently one Chin rebel was arrested in Mizoram border smuggling arms from India. Four "injured cadres from Chin forces" earlier sneaked into Mizoram state. One of them died. Three are reportedly undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Aizawl.

Indian forces, primarily because of the ensuing elections in Manipur, another border state adjoining Myanmar, have intensified border security along the Indo-Myanmar border in Mizoram and the poll-bound state.

The anti-insurgency team of Assam Rifles seized contraband also included a thousand aluminium instant detonators, one Tata 912 truck, Rs 73,500 Indian currency and 9,35,000 Myanmar currency (Kyats). The Assam Rifles personnel also seized a huge cache of explosives, 2,500 kilograms of gelatin (dynamite) sticks, and 4,500 meters of detonating fuse at the Zawngling village in Siaha district on the border. Another twist in the tale is that the explosives reportedly originated from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh and were allegedly being 'transported' to a fixed destination in Myanmar to arm the CNA militants.

In December, Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla visited Myanmar and tried to build a needed diplomatic bridge. Before that, in October 2020, India delivered a kilo class submarine, INS Sindhuvir, to the Myanmar Navy, its first submarine.

Amid this, Indian political parties, particularly the ruling BJP and its top leadership, are busy with election campaigns in the poll-bound states, including Manipur. The BJP hopes to retain power in Manipur, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state on January 4. 

Manipur is home to a sizable Naga population. Therefore, New Delhi is treading the path cautiously. However, officials had claimed last year that the Naga peace talks are in the final stages. The leading Naga group, the NSCN (IM), influential in the hilly region of Manipur, was still giving mixed signals. 

This group wants a separate flag and constitution for Nagas. The Centre has rejected the demand.

The Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs), a coalition of seven groups operating in Nagaland, are keen on an early peace pact. Its convener N Kitov Zhimomi says all issues, including army deployment and AFSPA provisions, would end once a final peace pact is inked. This group signed a preamble agreement with the Centre in 2017.

A matter of concern is the question of 'indigenous' Nagas has returned to the debate. The NNPG working committee now says that all "Naga national workers" after signing the peace pact must "return" to their ancestral Naga inhabited areas. 

The phrase "Naga national workers" refers to Naga militants operating with bases in Nagaland state and outside, such as Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Assam and even Myanmar. Similarly, "ancestral Naga inhabited areas" refer to respective Naga tribes' home districts.

The NNPG working committee has said, "The political negotiations are over and to ensure that provisions of the agreement in respective Naga areas are meticulously and effectively implemented in letter and spirit, all Naga National workers, upon signing the political agreement, must return to their respective ancestral Naga inhabited areas to restrengthen and forge greater Naga historical and political identity". 

Suffice it is to say that the region is sitting on a ticking time bomb.

Ends 

(Deccan Herald story Link)

Deccan Herald.com/opinion076114.html

BJP does tightrope walk in Manipur list for assembly polls: Has an edge of 10 seats in hills

 Imphal/New Delhi 

The BJP has done a tightrope walk in announcing the names of 60 candidates for elections in Manipur and has retained most of the sitting MLAs to avoid dissension and desertion.

However, elections are always tough games with a lot of 'Ifs and Buts' elements and still there could be some exodus; but perhaps it would be maintained at minimum.

In the list announced, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has been fielded from his traditional Heingang constituency.

The list includes three women candidates - Nemcha Kipgen from Kangpokpi, Ms Soraisam Kebi Devi from Naoriya Pakhanglakpa constituency and S S Olish from Chandel (ST) reserved constituency.

Nemcha Kipgen has a bright prospect as she is a sitting BJP legislator (2017). In 2012 also she had won the seat on the Congress ticket. 

In 2017, NPP, BJP's post-poll ally, candidate Letpao Haokip had won the Chandel seat. 

In these two constituencies Naoriya Pakhanglakpa and Chandel (ST), the advantage is not with the saffron party, and the contests can be symbolic in more ways than one. 

But BJP nominee Olish had polled over 23 percent of vote share in 2017 and polled 9,842 votes to finish third in the race.

Whether the saffron party has able to make further inroads in last five years remains to be tested. 

Closer analysis suggests the BJP could face a tough fight in eight-ten constituencies in the valley,that sends 40 legislators to the 60-member assembly.

In the hills including Naga stronghold areas, the BJP's list suggests it is banking on the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi vis-a-vis the Naga peace talks and hence the advantage could be with NPF.

However, the saffron party may still end up doing well to pick up about 8-10 seats from among the 20 assembly segments in the hilly region.

The BJP nominees will get the advantage of support from the Kuki population in Churachandpur and the adjoining region. 

The saffron party has fielded Okram Henry Singh, nephew of Congress stalwart Ibobi Singh, from Wangkhei assembly constituency. 

Okram Henry Singh was declared as the winner in 2017, but on April 15, 2021, the High Court declared the election result as null and void. 

It also declared that Yumkham Erabot Singh would be the elected member from the Wangkhei constituency.

The BJP nominee against Okram Ibobi Singh in Thoubal assembly seat will be L Basanta Singh.

The saffron party has also decided to field a former IAS officer, Raghumani Singh  from Uripok assembly segment. He will be pitted against Y. Joykumar Singh of National People's Party.

Singh is the deputy chief minister and thus the going may be tough for the BJP candidate.

The saffron party has good prospects of winning certain seats like Churachandpur (ST) and Singhat seats, but will face a tough fight in Chandel and Tengnoupal.

The going would not be easy even in Yaiskul assembly constituency where sitting legislator Thokchom Satyabrata Singh has been fielded again.  

The possibility of former cop Thounaojam Brinda contesting in this constituency either as Congress candidate or Independent would make things difficult for the BJP.

She has been a vocal critic of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. 

ends 

Dr V Anantha Nageswaran appointed new Chief Economic Advisor ::::::: India willing to engage with Pak on 'visits' to religious shrines

The Government has appointed Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran as the Chief Economic Advisor and today, he has assumed charge.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Nageswaran has worked as a writer, author, teacher and consultant. He has taught at several business schools and institutes of management in India and in Singapore and has published extensively.

He was the Dean of the IFMR Graduate School of Business and a distinguished Visiting Professor of Economics at Krea University. 

He has also been a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India from 2019 to 2021. 

He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and a doctoral degree from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

New Delhi

The government of India has a 'positive approach' on matters pertaining to mutual visits to religious 
shrines by people from India and Pakistan and is open to engaging with Islamabad on this. 

"Let me underline that India has a positive approach on this matter and is willing to engage the Pakistani 
side," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters at a virtual media briefing. 

He said, "As you are aware, under the 1974 Protocol between India and Pakistan, visits to religious shrines 
are being facilitated regularly. There is an interest on both sides to expand the agreed list of shrines 
and mode of travel. It naturally needs to be discussed under the Protocol".

However, he said, "You are also aware that currently restrictions are in place on movement and gatherings in 

view of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the situation normalizes, we expect that this time can be utilised to hold 

discussions under the bilateral Protocol". 

"It is our hope to facilitate early exchange of visits to all shrines of interest to pilgrims".

On the death of four Indians along the US-Canada border, MEA spokesman Bagchi said,

"Our Missions in Canada and USA have been following regularly this tragic case of death of 

four people whose bodies were recovered near the Canada-US border in Manitoba in Canada on 

January 19". 

"The Canadian authorities have confirmed that all four who perished were Indian nationals who 

belonged to one family. The next of kin of the deceased have now been informed," he said.

The Canadian authorities have also informed that based on the circumstances, the death of all 

the persons have been determined to be consistent with exposure to the 

outdoor elements. 

"Our High Commission in Ottawa and our Consulate General in Toronto are working closely with the 

Canadian authorities on all aspects of the investigation and providing consular services 

to the family of the deceased," Bagchi said. 

ends 

Bose's biggest contribution was for religious unity, something Nehru failed

Bose's biggest contribution was for religious unity, something Nehru failed

New Delhi

Jawahar Lal Nehru was a man in a hurry at times.

Such was an instance on October 16, 1952 when he hurriedly scribbled

that he was 'satisfied' that the reports of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's death is 'correct'.

He also wrote - "The facts ascertained have been made public and Parliament has been informed...".

(see snap)

The 'death' of Bose has never been convincingly explained. No one is arguing that

Bose was immortal; but the mystery around his death remains an all time enigma of

our time.

The Khosla commission record also shows that the so-called eyewitness Dr Yoshimi had

contradicted himself on the timing of Bose's death.

Having said these, one may now debate here how one of the chief protagonists of India's freedom struggle actually was outsmarted by political machinations of some of his contemporaries. 

It is unfortunate for the country that such a thing happened also because Nehru cultivated friendship and good rapport with Britons like Lord Mountbatten to Sir Stafford Cripps and offered himself at the political stage as a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi.

By 1937 different power games were on. Nehru made a disastrous refusal to induct only two members from the Muslim League in the government of Uttar Pradesh. 

Bose, as President of Congress in 1938, began a fresh attempt to negotiate with Mohammed Ali 

Jinnah for a settlement of the Hindu-Muslim question. But he soon discovered that Nehru was reluctant and had already complicated the negotiations.  

Nehru allegedly used to dismiss the existence of the League. He said there were only two parties in India: 

the British and the Congress! 

Was this not a sign of arrogance from a paragon of virtues and democracy ?

Thus Nehru wanted the Congress to not only attain independence for India, he wanted

an independent country that is under single party domination of the Congress.

The ulterior electoral motive remained foremost even after independence. Despite Mahatma Gandhi's 

suggestion, the Indian National Congress was never disbanded.

Looking "through the telescope” towards the Hindu-Muslim problem, Nehru is understood to have concluded  

“if there was nothing, what can you see?”. 

The partition of India and the rest is only history. 

In early 1938, Nehru wrote: “I have examined this so-called communal

question through the telescope, and if there is nothing, what can you see?” 

But this question which Nehru could not see was looked at rather differently by 

Rabindranath Tagore. He wrote in one of his famous essays under the title “Bharat Varsh 

ki Itihas” (Indian History): “Where there is genuine difference, it is only by expressing

and restraining that difference in its proper place that it is possible to fashion unity. Unity 

cannot be achieved by issuing legal fiats that everybody is one".

Subhas Bose had attained unity of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians 

is his Azad Hind Fauz (INA) movement. 

The INA’s march to Delhi had commenced with a ceremonial parade on 26th

September, 1943, at the Tomb of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar in Burma.

Bose had also taken shelter of a couplet that meant -  (So long as Ghazis’ are imbued with the spirit of faith, 

the sword of Hindustan/India Hindustan will reach London’s throne).

 

Ideologically too Subhas Bose seemed to have been more pragmatic and looked for an

'active' mode of struggle as against the passive resistance policy.

Well, in his lifetime, Nehru benefited by his proximity to Gandhi and at a later stage 

after his death left it for his daughter Indira, grand son Rajiv Gandhi and now upto Rahul

 'exploit' those facets of Indian history.

Bose remains a romantic hero and was kept away from many official recognition.

No one has debated adequately why INA was never incorporated as part of the Indian

army after independence. 

The 125 years of Bose's birth anniversary has concluded with the unveiling of a hologram of

Netaji at 'India Gate' in Delhi.

It is a date with the valiant chapter of Indian history for the historic 'India Gate'.

A man can be generous and benevolent but it's true the attendance in his funeral ultimately 

depends on the weather. This has been precisely the spirit of how history is often guided.

Nehru has been dealt with kid gloves and glorified for reasons known and unknown. Time to unravel

more from the unwritten chapters of history. 

 

ends 

Microsoft CEO Nadella, Alphabet's Pichai, Cyrus Poonawalla get Padma Bhushan :: Buddhadeb rejects 

Diversity&vibrancy of our democracy is appreciated worldwide. It's this spirit of unity&of being one nation that's celebrated every yr as #RepublicDay. This year’s celebrations may be muted due to pandemic but spirit is as strong as ever:

President Ram Nath KOvind addresses nation on eve of Republic Day, Jan 25, 2022

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, SII MD Cyrus Poonawalla to be conferred with #PadmaBhushan

Olympians #NeerajChopra  Pramod Bhagat & Vandana Kataria, and singer Sonu Nigam get #padma Shri

Third highest civilian award #PadmaBhushan to Ghulam Nabi Azad, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and Victor Banerjee. #PadmaVibhushan to Late Kalyan Banerjee

"Humbled and honoured to know that I have been named as a recipient of the Padma Shri award and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. I thank you all for your good wishes and blessings and will continue to work hard to do my best for the nation".  

- Neeraj Chopra 

Buddhadeb rejects Padma award

Former Party Polit Buro member &  WB CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had this to say on the Padma Bhushan award announcement. “I don't know anything about Padman Bhusan award,none has said anything about it. If I have been given Padma Bhushan I refuse to accept it.” 

- Sitaram Yechury 

Rifleman Rakesh Sharma of 5 Assam Rifles awarded the Shaurya Chakra for killing two insurgents in an operation in Assam in July 2021.

Sepoy Maruprolu Jaswanth Kumar Reddy awarded the Shaurya Chakra (posthumously) for killing a terrorist in a face to face gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir. He also saved the life of his team Commander during the operation.

For his contribution in Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Meghdoot and Operation Sadbhavna, Leh airbase Chief Operations Officer Group Captain Ajay Rathi awarded the Vayu Sena Medal.

"Babu Ji (former CM Kalyan Singh) never did the politics of caste. He worked for all sections of the society. Babu Ji had a great contribution to taking the BJP to such heights in UP. I thank the Govt of India for this decision." - Kalyan Singh's son & BJP MP, Rajveer Singh 

J&K Police ASI Babu Ram to be conferred with Ashok Chakra posthumously for "displaying valour and exemplary raw courage" during an anti-terror operation in Srinagar in which he killed three terrorists in August 2020

MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR OF ASSAM AND NAGALAND, PROF JAGDISH MUKHI ON THE OCCASION OF REPUBLIC DAY.

 

My dear Brothers and Sisters of Nagaland,

 

On the occasion of 73rd Republic Day, I extend my warm greetings to you all. This solemn day prompts us to recall with pride our nation builders and the architects of our Constitution who framed a unique Constitution birthing our identity as a sovereign democratic republic. Our nation has emerged stronger and more dynamic amidst the turbulence and challenges both internal and external, guided by the core principles of this remarkable document that ensures liberty, equality and justice to all its citizens.

Today, we pay homage to the countless heroes and martyrs whose sacrifices and sufferings led to the creation of this great Republic Nation. We express our gratitude to the members of the Armed Forces and Security Forces whose constant vigil and sacrifices keep our country secure and peaceful. We fondly remember those whose toils have made this Union great and glorious.

Nagaland as the sixteenth State of the Indian Union has made its indelible mark in the march towards growth and development of the country. Despite constraints and challenges, our State has achieved significant milestones making it an equal partner in the process of nation building. However, in order to realize optimum output we need to explore and tap in the potential of our resources both natural and human, enhancing productivity in all sectors. Surely, our people will reap the benefits and propel the State in the road to progress and prosperity of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has made quantum improvement in our capabilities to meet the challenges of COVID including its likely future waves with resolve and determination. We have made remarkable improvement in our health services and delivery systems. We have made significant accretions in hospital beds, medical oxygen, ventilators, essential medicines, and also improved our logistic capabilities. The concern that our children might be more vulnerable in the Third Wave which we all feared, vaccines for children under 18 is in progress now.

Our State is better prepared today to meet the COVID-19 challenges. With the technical and financial assistance from the Government of India, our State Government has made significant capacity building in the health sector to combat COVID pandemic.

In our journey of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, while we take pride in the glories of the past, we would do well to introspect on the core values enshrined in our Constitution. I am confident that if we all come together in unity defying all seeming barriers separating us, our State will be on the path to progress and development.   Let us reiterate our commitment to peace to ensure a progressive and robust Nagaland.

Jai Hind.

Journey of the 'Republic' and Secular bus

New Delhi

It is over seven decades since India declared itself a Republic and promulgated its constitution. 

The nation observes the anniversary on Jan 26 as the Republic Day every year with a grand military parade in Delhi and such ceremonial functions in state capitals and district headquarters.

Over the last few years generally there is a debate in the corridors of power and in pro-Left liberal media, especially the English medium,  that the regime under Narendra Modi is indifferent to people's issues and agony as the Prime Minister wants to establish a dictatorial rule. 

In some cases, the rise of 'Hindu nationalism' since 2014 has left Indian Muslims and Christians worried if not nervous.

The main apprehension among religious minority leaders has been that the BJP could change the constitution of India to discard its secular character and even do away with the parliamentary system. 

The implied Presidential form of government is nothing new for the saffron party and one cannot find fault only with Modi or his compatriots such as Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath.

R-Day 2022

In the 1990s, Modi's mentor L.K. Advani, a former deputy prime minister, had strongly floated the idea of a presidential form of government. 

Even a commission was set up to review the country's constitution.

Of course, many critics say, the new Modi-led dispensation has been functioning more in a presidential form where Modi is the ultimate and only boss. Late Arun Jaitley, however, used to defend this saying, "In our government the last word is with the Prime Minister ''. Albeit, he wanted to castigate the Congress in the process as the previous Manmohan Singh government was virtually remote controlled by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. 

But during seven-eight years there has been a raging debate over allegations that the centre was making subtle attempts to subvert constitutional bodies such as the poll panel and Supreme Court. 

major display in 'Nagaland Page' : R-Day spl 

Lately there is a move to control the 'transfer/deputation' of the senior civil servants. 

The government on Aug 5, 2019, abrogated Article 370 of the constitution that gave guaranteed 'autonomy' to Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir state.

In November 2019, the Supreme Court gave an order allowing the Ram temple construction in Ayodhya, a move that could not please Muslims.

Leaders of all major political parties including BJP and Congress now include temple visits and public prayers as routine political strategies. The evaluation of secularism is being done on a different perspective. 

There have been a series of violent incidents against Muslims and Christians. One question everyone is asking - how long will India's secular constitution remain intact.

The Christian leaders say freedom of religion and expression to all Indian citizens are now in question.

Funding to many organisations have been checked. Mother Teresa-founded Mission of Charity also is facing scrutiny.

The RSS leaders openly accuse Christians of conversion menace.  

So does it mean Indians are unhappy ? Does it also not imply that PM Modi's popularity graph should be affected?

But we have contrasting situations and true to the character of any democracy, this is a paradox.

Despite criticism of the BJP in English media and by political detractors, the Modi government returned to power in 2019 with an enhanced mandate.

In 2021 January, an independent media survey said nearly 72 percent of Indians are happy with the government of Modi.

In 2022, 'Morning Consult Political Intelligence', a US-based data intelligence company, reported that the Prime Minister's approval rating is the highest among world leaders.

His positive score was 71 percent - miles ahead of global leaders such as President Joe Biden and others.

Even the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2020 January and farmers' stir in 2021 did not make any difference.

Now, it is for Uttar Pradesh to make a difference. Here too the issues being discussed are Hindutva and castes. 

In the name of alternative there is Akhilesh Yadav, whose stint as Chief Minister between 2012 and 2017, is hardly remembered for any governance achievement.

Bose's biggest contribution was for religious unity, something Nehru failed

New Delhi

Jawahar Lal Nehru was a man in a hurry at times.

Such was an instance on October 16, 1952 when he hurriedly scribbled

that he was 'satisfied' that the reports of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's death is 'correct'.

He also wrote - "The facts ascertained have been made public and Parliament has been informed...".

(see snap)

The 'death' of Bose has never been convincingly explained. No one is arguing that

Bose was immortal; but the mystery around his death remains an all time enigma of

our time.

The Khosla commission record also shows that the so-called eyewitness Dr Yoshimi had

contradicted himself on the timing of Bose's death.

Having said these, one may now debate here how one of the chief protagonists of India's freedom struggle actually was outsmarted by political machinations of some of his contemporaries. 

It is unfortunate for the country that such a thing happened also because Nehru cultivated friendship and good rapport with Britons like Lord Mountbatten to Sir Stafford Cripps and offered himself at the political stage as a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi.

By 1937 different power games were on. Nehru made a disastrous refusal to induct only two members from the Muslim League in the government of Uttar Pradesh. 

Bose, as President of Congress in 1938, began a fresh attempt to negotiate with Mohammed Ali 

Jinnah for a settlement of the Hindu-Muslim question. But he soon discovered that Nehru was reluctant and had already complicated the negotiations.  

Nehru allegedly used to dismiss the existence of the League. He said there were only two parties in India: 

the British and the Congress! 

Was this not a sign of arrogance from a paragon of virtues and democracy ?

Thus Nehru wanted the Congress to not only attain independence for India, he wanted

an independent country that is under single party domination of the Congress.

The ulterior electoral motive remained foremost even after independence. Despite Mahatma Gandhi's 

suggestion, the Indian National Congress was never disbanded.

Looking "through the telescope” towards the Hindu-Muslim problem, Nehru is understood to have concluded  

“if there was nothing, what can you see?”. 

The partition of India and the rest is only history. 

In early 1938, Nehru wrote: “I have examined this so-called communal

question through the telescope, and if there is nothing, what can you see?” 

But this question which Nehru could not see was looked at rather differently by 

Rabindranath Tagore. He wrote in one of his famous essays under the title “Bharat Varsh 

ki Itihas” (Indian History): “Where there is genuine difference, it is only by expressing

and restraining that difference in its proper place that it is possible to fashion unity. Unity 

cannot be achieved by issuing legal fiats that everybody is one".

Subhas Bose had attained unity of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians 

is his Azad Hind Fauz (INA) movement. 

The INA’s march to Delhi had commenced with a ceremonial parade on 26th

September, 1943, at the Tomb of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar in Burma.

Bose had also taken shelter of a couplet that meant -  (So long as Ghazis’ are imbued with the spirit of faith, 

the sword of Hindustan/India Hindustan will reach London’s throne).

 

Ideologically too Subhas Bose seemed to have been more pragmatic and looked for an

'active' mode of struggle as against the passive resistance policy.

Well, in his lifetime, Nehru benefited by his proximity to Gandhi and at a later stage 

after his death left it for his daughter Indira, grand son Rajiv Gandhi and now upto Rahul

 'exploit' those facets of Indian history.

Bose remains a romantic hero and was kept away from many official recognition.

No one has debated adequately why INA was never incorporated as part of the Indian

army after independence. 

The 125 years of Bose's birth anniversary has concluded with the unveiling of a hologram of

Netaji at 'India Gate' in Delhi.

It is a date with the valiant chapter of Indian history for the historic 'India Gate'.

A man can be generous and benevolent but it's true the attendance in his funeral ultimately 

depends on the weather. This has been precisely the spirit of how history is often guided.

Nehru has been dealt with kid gloves and glorified for reasons known and unknown. Time to unravel

more from the unwritten chapters of history. 

 

ends 

Defection and casteist games return to the fore in 'largest state' of world's largest democracy

(UCA News)

The return of caste politics in India's politically crucial and most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, shows Indian democracy still has miles to go to mature.

In the election season in India — fascinatingly described as the world's largest democracy — the old political menaces of defection and casteist games are back to the fore.

As many as 10 provincial legislators, members of the Legislative Assembly, including three ministers, have deserted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ship in Uttar Pradesh. The northern state sends 80 lawmakers to parliament and thus ultimately decides who will rule India. 

On the defectors' list are a few eminent casteist players like Swami Prasad Maurya, who belongs to a politically powerful Other Backward Caste (OBC) group.

The Mauryas along with such segmented groups as the Kushwahas, Sakhya, Koeris, Kachhi and Sainis make up about 9 percent of the OBC population in Uttar Pradesh.

Another prominent leader who defected from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP party to the "socialist" Samajwadi Party is a Saini. 

About 20 percent of the OBCs in Uttar Pradesh are Yadavs and are known for being loyal to the Samajwadi Party that was floated in 1990 by former defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. 

Mulayam is also a former chief minister of the state and now his son Akhilesh Yadav heads his party.

The Samajwadi Party, which hopes to make a dent among the Yadavs, other OBCs and Muslims, has taken the fight to the BJP camp in elections in Uttar Pradesh beginning next month.

AFP/UCAN snap

"The so-called 'jumping of ships' by some of these casteist leaders is politically significant. Call it sheer opportunism, but these leaders can sense trouble and the public mood and generally switch over to the ruling side either in Uttar Pradesh or even in the neighboring state of Bihar," analyst Vidyarthi Kumar told UCA News.

"The desertion has hit the BJP on its soft corner. Non-Yadav OBCs make up a sizable voting bloc in Uttar Pradesh as five years ago an overwhelming 60 percent of non-Yadav OBCs voted for the BJP and gave it a record success of 300-plus seats." 

Does he have a caste too ?

The game has just begun. On Jan. 19, Akhilesh Yadav lost his own sister-in-law, Aparna Yadav, who joined the pro-Hindutva party. Aparna comes from chief minister Yogi's Bisht caste but married to Yadav family. 

"It was a symbolic and crucial success for the BJP certainly. Do not forget caste is a Hindu and Indian reality even afflicting non-Hindus. PM Modi is an OBC himself from Gujarat," says Tushar Bhadra in Varanasi.

Moreover, he says, over the years the BJP has ensured better representation of OBCs and Scheduled Castes (Dalits) in official/constitutional positions, something in which the pro-upper caste BJP lagged for years.

In other words, caste remains a major factor in India's polity and the tom-toming (drum beating) of inclusive growth by the prime minister and other BJP leaders over the last seven years is perhaps just lip service and something only on paper.

"In the name of Hindutva politics, the BJP has claimed it has done away with caste politics. This is an absolute fallacy. Instead it encouraged caste politics by giving importance to some individuals of various caste groups without bothering about talent and performance,” says businessman Naushad Khan.

"I hail from western Uttar Pradesh. The BJP's caste management has been superb since 2014. It ensured all upper-caste Brahmins and others stick to it. Thus, though upper caste numbers or dominance have been reduced to an extent, the BJP has emerged as the most socially representative party, taking care of smaller caste groups like barbers, but has kept Muslims at bay."

However, certain people counter some of these claims. Not long ago Western scholars Christophe Jaffrelot and Gilles Verniers said in their thesis that with the rise of the BJP, the last decade has seen the “return of the upper castes” and the “erosion” of OBC representation.

Nevertheless, caste management during election season is nothing new in India. During the early decades of India's political history, the Congress party dominated the scene in Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere, having won the trust of upper caste Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Thakurs along with minorities and Dalits.

In the 1990s, the Congress base was shaken when OBC and Dalit leadership emerged in the form of the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) claiming to be the party of the Scheduled Castes and Dalits.

But by 2014, the clever use of “Hindu unity” pushed by Narendra Modi and his trusted lieutenant Amit Shah diluted the caste narrative.

This had changed the game yet again and there was division amongst Dalits and OBCs. The non-Yadav OBCs and a section of Dalits backed the BJP.

These factors largely helped the BJP win the 2017 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and yet again repeat the same magic at the 2019 parliamentary polls.

But this time around, cashing in on the anti-incumbency mood and winning over key caste groups, the Samajwadi Party is posing stiff competition to the BJP.

There is another caste group called the Jats — essentially a farming community — and they are influential in pockets of western Uttar Pradesh and some clusters and smaller towns adjoining capital Delhi.

"When farmers' agitation was at its peak in 2021, no one presumed fragmented caste games would return to Uttar Pradesh yet again. But politicians have brought it," says Bhadra. "Even as people know the farmers have suffered and there was joblessness and inflation, in the election season everyone is talking about castes."

Apurva Mehta, a political scientist in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, analyses things more objectively and in detail.

"Indian democracy has survived and it is an achievement, but it has typically moved around caste factors. Other factors like ‘which leader will help my relatives and communities’ and so on remain dominant. Therefore, even among Muslims, the voters often cannot make up their minds and the votes are split. This helps the BJP. These issues are prevalent even in northeastern states such as Manipur," he says.

"In insurgency-hit Manipur, people have serious issues with the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act. But when it comes to voting, the AFSPA is not deciding which party is in its favor or against it. 

In smaller states like Manipur and Goa, where there are a large number of Christian voters, people will decide on factors like freebies and which leaders can help me and my family."

Democracy and elections to people are essentially self-centered, he says.

Bhadra endorses these views in principle and says there is a vicious cycle about these caste factors and selfishness in Indian politics.

Wooing voters in Punjab: Namo style

In Christian states like Nagaland, people did not mind voting for BJP candidates in 2018 and elections are expensive affairs in the northeast," he says. 

"No one goes to the voting center with issues in mind like what will be the economic policy of the country. They raise mundane issues like drains in the colony, jobs for my son and free medical facilities for himself and his family," Vidyarthi Kumar says.

"Democracy is thus yet to mature in more ways than one." 

The caste games persist. The BJP on Jan. 19 also struck deals with two smaller caste-based parties — the Nishad Party and Apna Dal — and both will get to field 15-20 candidates as part of seat adjustments.

Kumar says: "The caste factor decided things in Uttar Pradesh in 2017 also. After it was decided that Yogi Adityanath [a Thakur caste leader] would be made chief minister, the BJP struck a balance by making two deputy chief ministers — one Maurya [OBC] and another Dilip Sharma [a Brahmin]."

West Bengal-based educationist Ramakant Shanyal says caste games are more open in Uttar Pradesh "but we have similar problems in so-called advanced states such as Gujarat and Karnataka as well."

However, in West Bengal, perhaps due to leftist influence, these factors are latent or not spoken about much politically. But in the social context when it comes to marriage and such issues, even in Bengal, caste factors come into play even among the educated.

Dalit Christians across the nation time and again have protested that they do not get the right representation and respect even in Vatican-run churches.

In July 2021, Dalit Christians staged a protest in front of the District Collector’s Office in Salem in Tamil Nadu ahead of the consecration of the new bishop, Arulselvam Rayappan.

The protest organized by the Dalit Christian Liberation Movement condemned the "untouchability" practiced by the Catholic hierarchy in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

ends

(UCAN Link)

Caste Games !

Freedom, women and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay ::: "Something is not true simply because many people have said it" "

Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay (Chatterjee)

Time really runs fast. In circa 2011, I wrote a couple of pieces on Sarat Chandra. Now its 2022 and I am back again with almost similar themes about Sarat Chandra's protagonists and the plots he handled.

His female characters had always left me in utter bewilderment! This could happen to any Sarat Chandra fan.

The Maestro

But I would try to deal in this piece with some deeper elements in his writings. Sarat Chandra truly depicts Indian women as an exploited class. In practically, all his works, the women protagonists are more often left in tears – often secluded and isolated.

My wife Swati Deb, a more genuine student of Bengali literature and Sarat Chandra’s works than me, readily agrees and argues eloquently that in most cases, the characters like Saudamani (Swami), Parvati (Debdas), Rajlakshmi (Shrikant) either died or withdrew themselves from any affair/relation.

Strikingly, she opines Sarat Chandra hardly showed widow marriages unlike other contemporary Bengali writers of his time. At one point, my wife, said, “Caste divisions remain a dominant feature is Sarat Chandra’s writings. He hardly showed smaller and neglected caste characters getting justice from zamindars and Brahmins”.

So does it mean, Saratchandra lacked the revolutionary fire unlike say Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay of ‘Ananda Math’ fame?

Let me not speculate any debate on this.

But it goes without stating that his 'Shesh Prashna' (The Last Question) remains a master piece. There were few striking differences between the chief protagonist Kamal and other female protagonists not only in this novel but also in other works of the maestro.

For instance Madhabi in Bordidi (The Elder Sister, 1913) is a suffering child widow. Similar is the case of Biraj in 'Biraj Bou', 1914. 

Probably Sarat Chandra had no strength to dissociate himself from the bondage of tradition – the feudal structure and crystal clear male domination of the then Bengal.  

But Kamal in 'Shesh Prashna' - does not believe in 'destiny'. Another character in the story, Ashu babu goes onto say that even "past memories don't block" Kamal's path.

'Shesh Prashna' was published much later in 1931.

Sample this. Character Nilima says Kamal - has "no guardian to control her" and no community to frown on her. Look at the powerful building up of the plot and narratives, Sarat Chandra suggests that Freedom as such does not come as an unit by itself.

Freedom is pre-conditioned and well guarded by issues such as gender, culture, family background and caste. Nilima calls Kamal 'utterly free'.

Ashu babu again says - "Life means something different to her, it has nothing in common with our view".

At a much later stage, Ashu babu realises - freedom is in fact linked to knowledge and not mere imitation.

Sarat Chandra's powerful narration takes the reader and the characters including Kamal in front of Taj Mahal. 

  

Her question is somewhat an out of box query. For Kamal, Taj is not a monument of love. It is rather a monument of artistic self indulgence of the polygamous king, Shah Jahan.

Here comes a most poignant pointer from Sumitra (in Pather Dabi) who possibly anticipates what's in Kamal's mind. A question that actually should all women or the entire humankind. It's not merely about Taj or the story.

It's universal. Sumitra waxes eloquently: "Something does not become true simply because many people have been saying it". 

 

There are scholars such as Amitava Das, who says, the spirit of these questions as raised in Shesh Prashna have actually evolved over the years. 'Pather Dabi' again has another oneliner - 

 "Woman must overcome the fascination of a futile married life".

Similarly, Kamal does not quite disapprove of divorce or separation from the husband. This was in Bengal of pre-1947 era. Kamal also sees love or man-woman relationship as free and natural as light and air.

What way these were not revolutionary thinking on the part of the story teller?

Kamal again sees marriage as a morgue, and not a bedchamber! 

Sarat Chandra 'fan' : Swati 

In ‘Baikunther Will’, Sarat Chandra portrays a jewel-hearted-step mother, whom the middle class world and the then Bengal society had always seen with a jaundiced view.

Thus far, while portraying the character of the step mother, he highlights a new sense of humanism among the female protagonists. The portrayal simply challenges the established beliefs that a step-mother can be no do good.

Similarly in other characters also, Sarat Chandra was able to spin out intriguing situations often depicting conflicts between conservatism and social change; idealism and pragmatism and superstitions and rebellion.

But in doing so he ensured in a steadfast manner that no protagonist of his would flout the established moral basis of then Bengali Hindu society.

Typically, this characteristic is unlike other writers including Bankim Chandra Chatterjee though critics largely agree that in his initial years Saratchandra was definitely influenced by Bankim among others.

But having said these, one ought to state that however, Saratchandra’s women would be known for courage, tolerance and devotion to the social values. But hardly the women characters could attain happiness for them.

Some of his memorable women characters were - Rama in 'Polli Samaj' where widow cannot be united with Ramesh. "Two great soul  thus end up crippled and frustrated" - tells the story teller.

In his quartet Srikanta published in 1917, 1918, 1927 and 1933, he typically exemplifies in sketching the characters dealing with conflicts between their individual and social perception of profanity and piousness.

So the next question is why did he do so? As someone brought up in poverty, did commercial compulsions dominated overwhelmingly?

ends 

Modi tops in world ranking with 71 percent ratings

New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has achieved it again. 

'Morning Consult Political Intelligence', a US-based data intelligence company, has reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approval rating is the highest among world leaders.

 
According to the list of 11 world leaders surveyed by Morning Consult, the Indian Prime Minister has the highest approval rating of 71 percent.

In the list also appears the names of global leaders such as President Joe Biden and Andres Manuel Lopez 

Obrador, the President of Mexico,

A distant second in approval ratings was the President of Mexico. He has an approval rating of 66 percent. 

Third in that list was Mario Draghi, the Prime Minister of Italy, with an approval rating of 60 percent.

Biden had a modest approval rating of only 43 percent comparatively.

According to the graph, Mr Modi’s approval rating was at its lowest in June 2020 at 63 percent.

“The latest approval rating is based on data collected from January 13 to 19, 2022. Approval ratings are 

based on a seven-day moving average or adult residents in each country, with sample sizes varying” 

by the demographic,” Morning Consult Political Intelligence says.

This is not the first time PM Modi was voted the most popular leader at the global stage. 

In May 2020 also he had topped the list with a staggeringly high 84 percent popularity. 

However, in May 2021, the approval rating dipped somewhat but in September 2021, PM Modi was again ranked 

the most approved global leader.

According to Morning Consult, they conduct more than 11,000 daily interviews globally about leadership 

approval. They also daily interview 4,000 registered voters in the US for the approval rating of 

the US president. 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is at the bottom with 26 per cent, the survey revealed.

Other leaders in the list are Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil President), Fumio Kishida (Japan Prime Minister), 

Emmanuel Macron (France President); Moon Jae-in (South Korean President), Scott Morrison (Australian Prime 

Minister); Pedro Sanchez (Spain PM); Olaf Scholz (German Chancellor) and Justin Trudeau (Canada PM).

ends 

Seven people linked to 'human smuggling' detained by US officials

New Delhi 

(Post-mortem of four people who died is likely to be carried out on Jan 24.
The Consulate General as well as the High Commission in Ottawa are in touch with
Canadian provincial and federal authorities for ascertaining details of this tragedy).

The US authorities have detained seven people without 'proper documentation'

for allegedly being involved in human smuggling activity from Canada to the US, sources said

here. 

 Among them one is a US citizen and one person was 'still hospitalized' due to cold-related injuries.

One more person had been hospitalized earlier.

The Indian government has sought consular access to the detained persons.

Sources said, "Consulate General of India in Toronto immediately sent a consular team to Manitoba, which is 

now liaising with local authorities to render any consular help regarding the four dead people". 

The Consulate General as well as the High Commission in Ottawa are also in touch with 

Canadian provincial and federal authorities for ascertaining details of this tragedy.

"On the US side, the Consulate General of India in Chicago has urgently sent a consular team to Minneapolis, 

which is now coordinating and rendering consular assistance. They have sought consular access to the detained 

persons," the source said. 

Bodies of four people, believed to be an Indian family including a baby and a teen, were found in Canada 

near the US border. The ill-fated people were frozen to death.

Officials in the US and Canada believe the deaths are linked to a larger human smuggling operation. 

Sources said on January 19, US authorities in Minnesota State, near the US – Canada border, 

came across a group of people who were apparently without proper documentation. 

Based on information obtained from them, Canadian authorities launched a search and found four bodies in 

Manitoba province on the Canadian side of the border. 

"The people without proper documentation on the US side, as well as the dead people on the Canadian side, 

appear to be Indian nationals," the source said.

However, further efforts are underway to identify them and confirm their nationalities. 

Post-mortem of the victims is likely to be carried out on January 24, sources said.

The Consulate and the Embassy in Washington D.C. are also in touch with the US 

Department of Justice, and the US Customs and Border Police.

Indian Missions and Posts will continue to extend all assistance, the sources added.

ends 

ends