In February 2018, I was in Tripura covering assembly elections which ultimately BJP won and the communists were dethroned!
1971 War Hero in a small hamlet Marachhara pledges support to BJP
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| Blogger with The War Hero |
(As I touched his feet saying, my dad also served with Assam Rifles... he said immediately "Tell him only son from a Fauzi background wud show such respect to a retired Subedar". He gave a smile....; perhaps I knew that 'smile' !!
And his eyes glittered with desire and optimism.
In general a refrain about BJP’s rise in Tripura – a known communist citadel – suggests that the indiscriminate politics of nepotism and corruption played by CPI-M led Left Front has led many political activists and supporters to rest faith in the BJP.
The 25 years of the Left rule saw the poor state experience a number of scams and frauds – like the Rose Valley Chit Fund scam, gross law and order problems wherein women continue to get molested and raped. There were problems like exploitation of the workers and under-payment of state government servants as also absence of developmental works and even problems with regard drinking water especially in tribal stronghold areas.
But a visit to a tiny hamlet at Marachara’s tribal-stronghold ‘Deb Barma Para’ under Surma assembly segment suggests there were even a few who always ‘questioned’ the Marxists’ party’s commitment to Indian nationhood and the Indian communist leadership’s policy towards China in 1962.
"Why the communists turn die-hard China fans? I always voted against the CPI-M. I had joined Army in 1963-64 just immediately after the 1962 Sino-India conflict. It was a national duty. The communists betrayed my trust in 1962. The Left approach to Indian politics in 1962 cannot be forgiven....we are nationalists,” says retired Subedar Chandrakant Deb Barma, a 1971 War Hero during creation of Bangladesh in 1971.
He maintains that the communists’ policy in 1962-63 suggested that India should adopt a laid back approach and turn a dithering nation. “How could we tolerate that?”
Today in circa 2018 – at the ripe age of 79 – he says, “Thanks to the Narendra Modi government; India is changing now. India will regain it’s days of glory".
As a former soldier, Deb Barma is more than cautious and thus avoids talking about contemporary politics – including the on-going election scene.
But without ambiguity, he remains firm about his opposition to communists. This by itself is no small thing as his brother, nephews and many others in the sleepy hamlet on Kailashahar-Kamalpur highway under Surma reserved SC assembly segment are die-hard Marxist supporters.
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| Anti-Left BJP campaign in 2018 |
But the former uniformed personnel who served with Army's signal corps Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) gets excited to talk about Pakistan’s defeat and the liberation of Bangladesh. He also talks proudly about India’s diplomatic offensive' vis-a-vis the 1971 War.
“The communists will not understand my nationality and my commitment to Indian nationhood," he says but hastens to add quickly, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is showing the right determination and the right kind of approach".
He says, it is not merely the nationalist chauvanism of the BJP that is making him applaud the saffron party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He lauds the Modi government’s “firm and assertive” policy on China. “A nation can earn respect only when the nation is self-respecting, strong and assertive about certain key issues....the Modi government is walking the right way”. He also says that the BJP-led dispensation has done the right thing in implementing the One Rank One Pay norm for army and retired personnel".
Answering questions, he says in today’s political context (that is 2018) it is/was imperative to note that the state of Tripura has for long survived under a communist regime which could not provide jobs to many.
“Thus it is high time, people opt for change and development,” he underlines even as his brother and nephew standing nearby does not agree to his anti-communists rhetoric.
Answering a question, Chanrakant Deb Barma says the Congress party has lost its hold in national politics. "Things have simply gone out of hand for Congress, my single vote may not help them. I will vote for the BJP,” he remarks.
Narrating the war-time story, he says, "Indian army and Air Force had a perfect planning. The units advancements and formation ....all went off very well”.
Recalling his direct role in the War, he says, “Every soldier was firm about giving the best.....Our unit had advanced till Dhaka. We all knew we were doing a great job".
As a war veteran he keeps an eye on the strategic and foreign policy developments too and says India and Japan trying for forging a maritime alliance is a good sign and also that such policies of Prime Minister Modi will help India in the long run.
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| One Marxist veteran and 'empty red chairs' |
The following piece was around February 2016.
The Centre issued a special order.
All 46 Central Universities will fly the tri-colour atop a 207-feet tall flag mast "prominently and proudly" on their campuses to signify a "strong India" and the first will be hoisted at JNU, a resolution adopted at a meeting chaired by HRD Minister Smriti Irani said.
"At a central place in every university, the national flag will be flown prominently and proudly," said the resolution passed at a meeting Irani had with the Vice Chancellors of Central universities.
There was an interesting issue !.........The Modi govt's move drew a sharp reaction from the Congress which said nationalism doesn't mean hoisting the flag and singing Vande Mataram!
In 2015: Smriti Irani in Lok Sabha exposed UPA era rot in HRD
She also took on Trinamool Congress MP Sugata Bose on ICHR and 'the Anil Kakodkar' episode.
The level of debate and charge and counter charge often nosedived to personal accusations with the HRD Minister herself dismissing demand for her 'apology' from Trinamool Congress members and said "eminence per se (of Prof Sugata Bose) is not a certificate to pass snide remarks".
A noted historian Prof Bose, who has also taught in the United States, also has penned a popular book 'His Majesty's opponent: Subhas Chandra Bose and India's Struggle against Empire'.
For their part, vocal Trinamool members like Kalyan Banerjee too did not lack behind when he said, Prof Sugata Bose - "is a very eminent man. … He is not coming from TV" --- certainly an obvious reference to Ms Irani's television career and mega serial 'Saas Bhi Kabhibahu thi'.
ICHR row:
Irani's combative response came during a debate on Demands for Grants for the HRD Ministry, in which she singled out Sugata Bose (TMC), drawing sharp reaction from his party members who demanded an apology.
Taking on Bose and Sushmita Dev (Cong) for their claims that the Modi Govt has appointed people with 'saffron' ideology to the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), Smriti Irani said scholars like Purabi Roy, associated with CPI, and Sacchidananda Sahai, a close associate of Congress leader Santosh Mohan Dev, too were appointed to the body.
Irani said the ministry intervened in Delhi University's decision to introduce a four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) as the 40-odd courses were not sanctioned by the President.
"The programme would have produced 77,000 students (each year) with degrees without any worth. Had they been on the streets, were we ready to meet that situation? ... If I have protected their future, why are they hurt," she asked, taking a dig at leaders of some opposition leaders.
On the charge of saffronisation of education, she said her government was committed to spreading education "within the limits prescribed by the Constitution".
"The Prime Minister had given this assurance. I am repeating it on the floor of the House," she said.
Referring to Shashi Tharoor's (Congress) claims that funds have remained unspent in the ministry, she said while in 2013-14, the utilisation was 92.9 per cent, it had increased to 97.69 per cent in 2014-15.
Responding to charges that government was interfering with MoUs being signed by institutions like IITs, she wondered why the UPA government was silent when the Delhi IIT had signed an agreement to open a campus in Mauritius using "taxpayers' money."
She only went by the law passed by Parliament, the Minister said.
Trinamool Congress members vehemently protested Irani's jibes at Bose and demanded that she express regret for pointing her finger at him during her reply which, Saugata Roy (TMC) said, was "just not acceptable".
Irani rejected the demand and said "aspersions were made, doubts cast and snide remarks" made against her and "there is no question of apology". Terming her reply as "combative and aggressive",
Smriti has said: "Purabi Roy is a veteran scholar of international relations, is a renowned historian of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian Freedom Struggle of Indian Russian Relations, has done an outstanding work.
".....Through you, Sir, very respectively I say that Purabi Roy was also associated with CPI. Her husband Kalyan Roy was a dynamic CPI Member of the Rajya...If we did partiality will such an eminent historian also figure in ICHR?
April 30, 2019
BJP insists on apology from Rahul for his 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' jibe
The high and drama !! what's in an APOLOGY???
Advocate Ruchi Kohli representing Meenakshi Lekhi, narrates how and when Rahul Gandhi makes the statement. Lawyer: Your Lordship, the statements made by Mr. Gandhi… CJI Gogoi: Which Gandhi? Lawyer: Mr. Rahul Gandhi CJI Gogoi: Every Gandhi in this country is not Rahul Gandhi
Ruchi Kohli: The second counter affidavit filed by Gandhi is similar to that of the first affidavit. Rebuts Rahul Gandhi’s argument that he had made the statements without reading the order of the Supreme Court. He made those statements in the evening too.
He made the statement again in a political rally, Kohli adds as she rebuts Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the statement was made in the heat of the moment.
Why the second affidavit?, The Bench asks Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Gandhi
Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Lekhi – Rahul Gandhi has deliberately put words in the mouth of the Supreme Court for political gains.
Mukul Rohatgi continues- Two affidavits have been filed, second is identical to the first. There is only one word – regret in both the affidavits. This is the grossest form of contempt.
What is the meaning of regret?, asks CJI Ranjan Gogoi. Mukul Rohatgi- There should be an unconditional apology. It is as clear as daylight…This is contempt.
Mukul Rohatgi- He says multiple statements were made by other leaders also, then why contempt against me? This is his justification. Regret and all is lip service.
He said it in one meeting, carried it on in another meeting. He goes on and on.
Somewhere he denies the statement, somewhere he says he had not analysed the order. This affidavit should be rejected. CJI- What is reject his affidavit? Mukul
Rohatgi- I meant to reject his excuses.
Let us be very clear, once you start, don’t say that you want to file a reply, CJI tells
Abhishek M Singhvi appearing for Rahul Gandhi.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi – I don’t think there’s any deficiency in the affidavits, but if there is I should be allowed to rectify
Singhvi – Affidavit is not contradictory as claimed by Counsel for Lekhi. I will argue (now) and if required file an affidavit on Monday.
Singhvi- I have made three errors. I accept. I wrongly attributed the statements to My Lord. I apologised.
Court – Where is that statement (on apology)? Singhvi- Regret is same as apology.
Singhvi- Never intended to suggest that the SC endorsed, adopted or supported the political slogan ‘Chowkidar chor hai’. Supreme Court allows Rahul Gandhi to file another affidavit.
Supreme Court clarifies that this order cannot be understood to be an acceptance or acknowledgement of the affidavits that have been filed already.
Supreme Court allows new affidavit to be filed on Monday. Singhvi says Rahul Gandhi will apologize for attributing “Chowkidar Chor Hain” remark to the Supreme Court.
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