While addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in Delhi, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said, "In the last 20 years, 6,184 Indian fishermen have been detained by Sri Lanka and in the same period 1,175 Indian fishing vessels have been seized, detained or apprehended.
This is really the background of the issue that we are discussing". The articulate Foreign Minister and a trusted aide of PM Narendra Modi in the foreign policy realm says, "In the last five years, in Parliament and in consultative committee we have repeatedly discussed this ....Katchatheevu issue has been repeatedly raised by all parties".
He also stated that Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M K Stalin has written to me numerous times and "my record shows to the current CM I have replied 21 times on this issue".
"So this is not an issue which as suddenly surfaced...This is a live issue ....It has been the subject of correspondence between the Union government and the state government".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that new details on the Katchatheevu island issue "have unmasked DMK’s double standards totally". His remarks came a day after he attacked the Congress over its decision to hand over the strategic island to Sri Lanka in the 1970s.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, "Rhetoric aside, DMK has done NOTHING to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s interests. New details emerging on #Katchatheevu have UNMASKED the DMK’s double standards totally."
In all that ED is doing; and in all that PM Modi says --- one biggest drawback is Leaders like Himanta or Praful Patel "receiving leniency" after they join BJP or NDA
Several northeastern leaders have been spared. It is a matter of fact that Leaders who faced corruption charges saw 'leniency' from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after they join BJP or got/get themselves affiliated with the ruling National Democratic Alliance.
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| Blogger tracks it all... !! |
Obviously, things may be too late. Things may not be well substantiated. But it is also true that the alleged instances of double standards vis-a-vis soft-peddling or preferential treatment undermine the credibility of ED, PMO and other democratic and governance institutions.
According to 'South China Morning Post', "....accusations of stifling press freedoms and targeting critics through corruption allegations have generated significant concern." The article claims, criticism extends to the perceived unequal treatment of politicians facing corruption charges, with some individuals seemingly receiving leniency after affiliating with the ruling party.
Of course, the general reading so far is the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking hat-trick will get a cakewalk. In terms of persistence war, things still stand as a disaster for the BJP or the neta class in general. Deception becomes an important factor. Hence, Modi's 400 plus target came more as a well thought of electoral strategy than any realistic prediction.
"The target of 370 for the BJP and 400 for the NDA by PM Modi in Parliament was well thought of statement. It could successfully intimidate the opposition especially a disorganised Congress at the national level. In some states, the regional satraps like Mamata Banerjee was still battle ready. And the 'target' worked a powerful rhetoric and political tonic motivating the party workers." says Varanasi-based Tushar Bhadra.
The biggest issue is of complacency -- this malady had harmed the BJP of the Vajpayee era most in 2004.
Still Modi has many advantages. The Prime Minister's 'implementation' of free-food programmes and substantial subsidies targeting farmers, women and the impoverished has garnered him widespread populist support.
On other fronts, – the successful hosting of the Group of 20 Summit and India’s lunar rover landing in August 2023 – have elevated Modi’s standing on the global stage. PM and his foreign minister S Jaishankar have handled Russia-Ukraine conflict well so that Modi is today seen as a global peace broker. Both Russia and Ukraine want him to play a much bigger role by the fall of autumn this year.
But can the poll outcome in the ultimate throw up a last-minute surprise and upset Modi's personal ambitions to create history ?
No Indian Prime Minister after its first, that is Jawaharlal Nehru, has got re-elected for three consecutive term. But, yet, the milestone is still far off and 'not achieved' till the last ball is delivered.
The ruling party is determined to increase seats and vote share in West Bengal where Sandeshkhali has certainly put the Trinamool Congress on defensive. The BJP has won a few key Biju Janata Dal leaders such as B Mahatab and has given them tickets.
Mahatab has won the prestigious Cuttack seat multiple times and could do it yet again rather comfortably.
The Team Modi is sweating it out to make deeper penetration into hitherto 'unconquered' southern states including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and even Kerala. It has to hold on to its ground in two-Congress ruled states Telangana and Karnataka and in fact many things will depend on BJP's ability to taste 'concrete' success in the south.
Of course, the opposition alliance is still struggling to get its act together is a big advantage for the BJP.
March 31st rally in Delhi need not translate into votes due to various reasons including the opposition's inability to create a common theme to take on the mighty electoral juggernaut of the BJP.
Thus analysts often say all the activities around election is typically BJP and Modi centric. Moreover, the opposition in general and especially the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi have failed to pass the right election-related messages for the people.
The narratives are still well controlled by Modi. In Assam, sitting MP Gaurav Gogoi said Rahul Gandhi during Bharat Jodo Yatra raised "bread and butter issues" and joblessness - but will these rhetoric translate into votes?
It is a well known fact that the ground reality has seen a sea change. And despite being the son, grandson and great-grandson of former Indian prime ministers, Rahul Gandhi has already suffered two bruising landslide defeats to Modi in 2014 and 2019. And yet no accountability was fixed on him.
To a large extent, Rahul Gandhi is seen as a liability. Mamata Banerjee is typically cautious about Rahul and his other state-level colleagues such as Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
Both the Congress party and 53-year-old Rahul himself has "studiously" avoided projecting himself as an 'alternative prime minister' to Modi. The common reading is any fight between Modi and a 'dynast Rahul' would only give an advantage to former 'tea vendor' and self-made Modi. The PM's combo of Hindutva, a poor tea vendor's son and as a catalyst of development give him huge advantage.
Moreover, Modi's welfare works vis-a-vis girl child education and saving them and construction of roads and toilets give BJP a clear head-start.
The Modi detractors say Modi and his party have weaponised investigative agencies and tax authorities to cull political opponents and reduce the chances of a fair election.
Did Rahul Gandhi almost sounded resigned to his fate and imminent defeat when he screamed at Ram Lila ground on March 31 (2024), Sunday: “If the BJP wins this match-fixing election and changes the constitution, it will light the country on fire.
This is not an ordinary election. This election is to save the country, protect our constitution.“
But does Rahul Gandhi have any substantial explanation to argue that why it bad to struggle so hard since 2013-14 -- that his since Modi swept to power a decade ago.
Sharing the stage with Gandhi during the rally at the popular Ramlila Maidan gathering site in New Delhi were opposition leaders including regional party heads who have overcome their differences regarding which party would contest which seats. Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of Kejriwal, told the rally: “This fascism will not work in India. We will fight and we will win.”
PM Modi countered that. He said in an election ally at Meerut that his fight against corruption had rattled the opposition. “Big corrupt people are behind bars and even the supreme court is not giving them bail,” Modi said in the rally.
Congress – besides struggling with detentions and raids by India’s financial crime-fighting agency – says it is battling “tax terrorism” amid large tax demands by the government and the freezing of some of its bank accounts, which it says are attempts to financially cripple the party.
But people of India under norms, the Congress party cannot get any special treatment vis-a-vis tax disputes especially after Delhi High Court too did not help them.
ends
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