NARENDRA MODI - RAHUL GANDHI - AND THE PM DEBATE - WHAT DOES THE NATION REALLY,REALLY NEED?

MODI...MODI...MODI...

PM...PM...PM...PM...

To be..or, not to be..is not Modi’s dilemma. Whether he should be..or, he should not be.. is the dilemma of all others.

I have not heard him speak of any of his “Beyond-Gujarat” ambitions. That is, if at all, he has any. Even if you ask him in his sleep, he will talk of chey karod Gujaratis, as of today. His vocabulary certainly is not 1.2 billion Indians.  His priority and fixation has been and is 6 crore Gujaratis.

So, if he does not contend - to become the PM in 2014, many congressmen will be disappointed – even if many BJP men are not disappointed. Many TV Anchors will be disappointed. Many News Paper Editors will be disappointed. He should at least contend for the Post of PM. Whether he wins or loses, the result is immaterial. In this, there seems to be near unanimity – even if congress men protest vehemently that they do not want BJP to select him for the post.

Who else can be BJP’s nominee for the Post of PM? There are two other obvious contenders for the Post. 1. Sushma Swaraj 2. Arun Jaitley. That makes the three potential contenders a trinity. There does not seem to be much groupism behind the three – although many chorus voices rise in favour of Modi.

Who amongst them has an ALL INDIA IMAGE? None. As of now. Modi is a crowd Puller in Gujarat. He has a charisma of his own. He speaks chaste Gujarati; good Hindi; tolerable English. He may have to improve his English Delivery significantly to mesmerize the elite of India. The elite of India has certain attraction towards Modi, positive or negative.

To my mind, Modi’s DEVELOPMENT AGENDA is what attracts India at large – and quite justifiably.

To the credit of Modi, one must admit that he never spoke in favour of or against this or that community and this or that religion. At least, I have not heard him speak of religion and caste in his political speeches. To that extent, his is the truly INCLUSIVE, DEVELOPMENTAL PLANK.

The HINDUTVA plank of RSS is a serious headache for BJP, even if many in BJP are not aware of it, and some may be aware but may not admit it.

If BJP comes to power, it is sheerly on the development plank of Modi and other BJP CMs. If BJP loses the game, the sole credit for that goes to the HINDUTVA AGENDA of RSS, VHP and others. Despite the absolute BAD PERFORMANCE of UPA in many areas (Especially UPA II), if BJP still does not come to Power in 2014, I think, it will be due to the HINDUTVA PLANK. Every ally of congress has said that congress’ performance and its reliability are below par. But yet, no one wants to join BJP. The Togadias and Bhagavathis can undo all the good that Congress has been doing for BJP.

If BJP came to power the one time it did, it was due to Mr.Vajapayee’s almost secular face. If BJP can’t see itself in a clean Mirror, and sees itself in a Hindutva Mirror now, it will be its fault.

But, the top three leaders of BJP still keep a clean face, devoid of Hindutva colour. Modi, despite 2002 incidents, has been able to keep a clean record from 2002 to 2013. He never spoke of castes and religions in any political speech, as far as I have heard. For any Politician in India, this is very tough. Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj also can claim to be so – but, their Political speeches are far less outside parliament and outside press conferences.

The three together can pull it off - if they steer clear of Hindutva image. All the three are competent and astute administrators. All the three reasonably have a non-hindutva, secular image – despite all the efforts of Congress against Modi.

But, the negative point about all the three of them is – none of them today is a national leader.

They must tour the whole of India, district by district, preferably together, and address public meetings in every district – and address press in each district – and meet at least a few people in a few villages and towns.

For a long, long time, India has not seen a national leader. And, the result of that today is – most states are governed by local chieftains, who have almost nothing to do with Delhi. And Delhi has not been adequately fair to them too.

Who, of the three – becomes the PM is not the real question. Will the three tour India and meet people across the length and breadth of each state matters a lot for India and for BJP, in the long run. BJP and India both need truly national leaders. Will  BJP steer clear of Hindutva, at least in Politics, is the next crucial aspect for BJP.

For India, BJP is one side of the coin. The other side of the coin is the Congress. The coalition Politics of congress has pulled the cart of Governance so far and did nothing admirable beyond that. Pulling, falling, getting up, pulling, falling, getting up – this has been going on quite for some time. Not all blame is on Congress. The allies were tough nuts – beyond comfort.

But, Congress was quick to make every man an enemy too. Whoever raised an issue, be it Ram devji, or Team Anna or anyone else, the government immediately put various government organs behind them. This was BAD POLITICS. This was also BAD GOVERNANCE. The Lok Pal Bill could have been easily passed. But, Political will was obviously lacking. Had it been passed, Congress as a party could have come out gloriously. Some corrupt persons would have suffered. But, that would have been common for all parties. Many corrupt parties would have sunk totally. Both Congress and BJP would have come out stronger and cleaner. India would have been a winner. I do not really know, but, Congress can still pull it off in the remaining months.

Corruption scandals were too many this time. There was no need to fight with CAG or Supreme Court on any of these issues. They could have been asked for sincere advice on how to tackle future cases. Persons fighting against corruption must be treated as ALLIES and not as OPPONENTS – by any government. That is how better governance happens in any country.

Congress has some able Ministers and leaders. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, despite all corruption scandals, all around him, is still regarded as a non-corrupt, non-corruptible, and far-sighted Prime Minister.

Congress however, banks on Rahul Gandhi, the reluctant heir apparent of the Indira Gandhi clan. Rahul doesn’t have the charisma of his father Rajiv Gandhi, nor his oratorical capabilities – at least as on date. But, he could be a good leader. He doesn’t have any negative Image – which itself is a great Positive. One remembers how he took on Shiv Sena, right on its turf, when Shiv Sena was indulging in some anti-non Maharastrian activities. That bold move was the hall mark of a Good leader. His inexperience can be made up adequately - if he selects capable, young advisers - to assist him.

He has some young leaders as friends – and they are all capable. But then, all of them, including Rahul Gandhi lack National Image. They, as a group, must tour the whole of India, meet people, talk to people, understand them and their problems and project a unified image of India. 

Unfortunately Congress has been seeking small, small, casteist and religious vote banks for the last several years and this has seen its vote bank shrink considerably. Modi’s inclusive Politics is far more secular in many ways and far more unifying for the country.

But, Rahul, Shashi Taroor, Scindia, and such young leaders must bring Congress out of this morass. For this, they must energetically tour and don the mantle of national leadership. They must emerge as national leaders.

It should not be UPA vs NDA vs Third Front – in 2014 or at least in the next elections to that..

I personally would like to see just Congress vs BJP in a clean fight, with regional parties becoming un-preferred by the average citizen of India. India needs such unified, national parties, which rise above caste and religious politics.

If this happens, whoever comes – India will be a winner.

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CELEBRITIES - CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS - NEED REVIEW

CELEBRITIES’

CRIMES AND  PUNISHMENTS 

NEED REVIEW

The news that Sanjay Dutt stands punished with 5 years imprisonment for the offense of keeping fire arms is received with mixed response by various sections of public.

There are a few offenses pending trial/punishment against Salman Khan and a few other actors.

There are also a few Politicians against whom various offenses are pending. 

Now, Sanjay Dutt’s punishment is approved by the Supreme Court itself. But, there are news and views that he might be or must be pardoned by the Political establishment under various loopholes in the law. 

Sanjay Dutt is liked by many – and that cannot be faulted. I too am one of his Fans.I also do not want to see him go to Jail. I want to see him act in many good movies in future. But, there must be a punishment for keeping dangerous firearms procured illegally.

It is the same thing with Salman Khan. If Salman and others are later punished by the courts but pardoned by the Political establishment, the whole drama of offence, trial, punishment, appeal etc becomes absolutely farcical. The Political establishment should not resort to such gross violation of the system of Justice.

If the Political establishment right away pardons the person and releases him without any punishment, it is a definite and open invitation by every influential and affluent Celebrity to indulge in any crime and seek pardon through Political establishment. Such precedents are dangerous.

This is certainly not the way the crime and punishment system must work.

At the same time, for killing two black bucks in a jungle, sentencing a Celebrity to 6 years imprisonment also appears to be incorrect. 

But then, Celebrities also run over pavement dwellers and Pedestrians and kill them in their drunken moods & drunken driving! These are currently treated as mere TRAFFIC OFFENSES. This too is not correct. The Celebrity offenders in such cases don’t even pay justified compensations ordered by the Courts. This is horrible, by any standards.

The Indian system of justice must look more efficient, Just and fast. Equality of all in the eyes of the Law must be truly reflected in it.

I therefore suggest the following methodology.

Replace the scheme of imprisonment for 5, 6 or 10 years by a VERY SIGNIFICANT FINE as punishment. 

For instance, for keeping firearms procured illegally, EVEN IF INNOCENTLY, the person need not be sent to JAIL  for 5 years, but must be made to pay ONE previous years’ TOTAL TAXED INCOME as fine to the Government. There should not be any scope for pardon in such cases by the Political establishment

The fine must be paid within 3 months, failing which, his properties must be confiscated  and auctioned.

Ditto for killing the Black bucks in a forest.

For running over and killing PAVEMENT SLEEPERS, with his car, the Celebrity must be made to pay a fine of one year’s total income in respect of each such pavement dweller killed by him . He cannot just go up the pavement, run over the pavement sleepers/standees there, killing them or wounding them and get away with it. The worst of drunken driving should not lead the celebrity’s car onto a pavement and kill the people there.

Now, why is such a change in Law needed? Mr. X may be earning a few hundreds of  crores of taxable income every year. He must be a much more responsible citizen than all others. He must respect laws more and be a more law-abiding citizen. This applies to all Celebrities – and more so, to Politicians.

If he kills a few Pedestrians, the lives of the Pedestrians or pavement sleepers must look as important in the eyes of the law as that of the celebrity. 

If a Celebrity keeps illegal firearms or drugs illegally, he can become the cause of grave crimes. He must pay for the crime.

Ditto for killing and eating Black Bucks in a forest area.

But then, imprisoning the Celebrity for 6 years or even for life serves no purpose at all, in my view. 

It hurts the lives of many people whose income comes from his success.

In some cases, whole Industry / companies may suffer.

A small compensation ordered to be paid to the survivors also makes no real sense to the persons killed. Even that compensation is not being paid by the Celebrities.

Any punishment must therefore serve to open the eyes of the celebrities to the point that they are accountable for their crimes.

One year’s total taxed income per person killed, I feel, is a JUST and ADEQUATE FINE to be paid by a celebrity to the Government. About Rs.10 -20 lakhs from this can be paid to the kith and kin of each killed person (each) and the rest should become the revenue of the Government. If paid to Central Government, its budget deficit may perhaps be bridged with this revenue fully.

Likewise, for going to a forest area and killing 2 Black Bucks against the law, ONE YEAR INCOME must be the just and adequate fine. Instead, keeping each actor in Jail for 6 years or more, is a meaningless punishment. Let him act and earn but let him pay promptly and through is nose. He should feel the pinch of the crime and punishment.

ONE YEAR’S TOTAL INCOME is, in my opinion, an undiluted, just, quick and proper punishment. It may be a few hundreds of crores or a few lakhs. If the celebrity has run over 10 persons, let him pay 10 previous years’ total Income to Government as fine. 

For God’s sake, don’t look from the Celebrity’s own angle or from your own liking for him and his skills. 

His crime deserves a Just, adequate and fast punishment. It must apply to all celebrities. Readers may voice their support for such a measure. Let us tell Parliament to amend the Law in such manner, before granting any pardon on the Celebrities’ punishments.

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TODAYS NEWS & ANALYSIS : 26 KG HEROIN HAUL - NEAR CHANDIGARH - PUNISH PEDDLERS & SUPPLERS - NOT VICTIMS

26 KG HEROIN HAUL 

NEAR CHANDIGARH

PUNISH PEDDLERS & SUPPLERS

NOT VICTIMS

Some time ago, it was none other than Rahul Gandhi who expressed serious concern over Drug addiction in Punjab. It was then pooh poohed by the Punjab Government.

Unfortunately, the you-you-my-my politics of India is taking a heavy toll on Indian Youth ultimately. Drug menace is not at all seriously taken by the politicians and the Police force in India.

26 KG of heroin was caught with a drug peddler near Chandigarh.

The drug Peddler is being questioned, which is of course, the right thing to do. But, 2 Boxers of national fame are also to be questioned. Mr. Ram Singh, a National level Boxer is being questioned already. His friend and Olympic Medallist Vijender Singh is also likely to be questioned, if Ram Singh’s version is believed.

But, I do seriously believe, that  the Police are unlikely to go to the root of the problem, despite catching this huge haul of heroin.

If 26 KG are caught now, several such 26 KGs would have been peddled earlier too, in Punjab and Haryana and possibly Delhi too.

Ram Singh and Vijender Singh may have consumed it a few times, most probably unknowingly. That is the tip of the ice berg. How many young people were tricked into consuming heroin in the past, in the garb of  health food? Certainly crores of our most promising youngsters were duped into this by the Drug peddlers and their suppliers.

Will the Police and the Government arrest the 2 medal winners for India – who were only the unfortunate victims of a Health tonic story by the drug peddler? And, since crores of other youth are also drug addicts, will it also arrest ALL THE YOUTH of Punjab and Haryana, who might also have consumed the Heroin and other drugs peddled by some of the drug lords?

If Police doesn’t arrest the all other Crores of drug addicts who are taking drugs regularly for years now in Punjab and Haryana, and they possibly can’t live without them now, what is the point of arresting two promising youth who consumed them 3 to 4 times in recent past (and are not even addicts)?

Don’t we want to know the names of all the suffering youth who are under the influence of these drugs right now and don’t we want to bring them out of this menace with compassion and with clear focus on saving the Indian Youth from Drug Peddlers.

Many times, our present law is a very blind, almost foolish law, and it  leaves out the perpetrators but catches victims; punishes them and destroys their life. In this case especially, if the victims only are to be punished, this includes Ram Singh and Possibly Vijender, and, more importantly, Crores of  victims who are there waiting like sitting ducks and wailing for their supply of drugs.

They now can’t live without these drugs – and it would be very easy to catch them too.

But, is that what India should be doing?

I feel Ram Singh and Vijender and other potential victims of these drug peddlers must be asked to inform ALL THAT THEY KNOW and assist in investigation openly, freely and without any fear of punishment. Likewise, every drug addict must be asked to inform about the drug racket.

The Drug Racket can be busted only if the victims are kept on the side of the law and assisting the law and not as culprits themselves.

In all possibility, the Drug racket somewhere, may include powerful politicians or cross-border organizations who want to weaken India by weakening  India’s youth. It could be a deeper plot to make India punish its best stars.

It is high time that the drug menace is taken extremely seriously – but by keeping the unfortunate victims on the side of the law.

Then only, the menace can be tackled effectively and rooted out. Not otherwise. This is practical, common sense, humane and long term approach to this national problem.

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