Re: BJP RIP: Sid Harth
bademiyansubhanallah
HYDERABAD, November 13, 2009
Fight against "mining mafia" will continue: Naidu
K. Venkateshwarlu
The Hindu Opposition leaders with TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu
before the start of the round table meeting on the Obulapuram Minining
issue in Hyderabad on Friday. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar
Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said he would
not be cowed down by the threats held out by Obulapuram Mining Company
owner and Karnataka Minister, Gali Janardhana Reddy and continue to
fight against "mining mafia".
Reacting to caustic remarks made by Mr. Reddy immediately after the
opposition parties meeting he had convened to discuss the issue, Mr.
Naidu said he had nothing personal against anybody. The party’s fight
was against a company that was resorting to illegal mining, violating
all laws of the land and exporting thousands of crores worth of
mineral wealth which belongs to the people, he alleged.
No responsible party could remain a silent spectator to this "looting
of public wealth by mafia and the risk it posed to democracy". "We are
fighting on behalf of people and we are not worried by such threats",
he added.
At the meeting, four political parties —Telugu Desam, CPI (M), CPI and
Lok Satta — resolved to launch a joint agitation against the illegal
mining by OMC beginning with demonstrations before the District
Collectorates on November 16. It was also decided to present
memorandam to the President, the Prime Minister, the Governor and the
Chief Minister on the need to check increasing influence of the
‘mining mafia’ on the political system. The BJP, the TRS and the PRP
did not attend.
Mr. Naidu alleged that within four years of getting the leases, the
OMC had earned a whopping Rs. 10,000 crores by excavating iron ore and
exporting it irrespective of the area for which the leases were
issued. Like the previous Government, the Chief Minister, K. Rosaiah
too was looking the other way. The three-member committee of the
Forest department was an eye wash.
The CPI State Secretary, K. Narayana said captive iron ore was gifted
to Mr. Janardhana Reddy while denying the same to the public sector,
Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. The ‘mining mafia’ could be fought only
through a political battle. The CPI (M) leader, K. V. Raghavulu, said
the OMC actions were criminal in nature from mining to transferring of
profits to benami consulting companies.
Lok Satta Party president, Jayaprakash Narayan demanded CBI inquiry,
fixing of boundaries by Survey of India, change in mining laws to
facilitate competitive bidding and making anti-corruption laws
tougher. D. V. Krishna of CPI (ML) New Democracy and Murlidhar of All
India Forward Bloc spoke.
Senior TDP MLA, Nagam Janardhan Reddy said he had all the documents to
prove the charges against the OMC promoter and challenged the latter
to join him in an open debate.
...and I am Sid Harth
bademiyansubhanallah
Hyderabad, November 13, 2009
Janardhana Reddy slams Chandrababu Naidu, defends his mining firm
PTI
The Hindu Karnataka Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy, ahead of a
meeting with Kadapa Congress MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, in Hyderabad on
Friday. Photo: Nagara Gopal
"Even a lakh Chandrababus cannot do anything to me," the Karnataka
Minister claimed.
Karnataka Minister for Tourism and owner of a company currently caught
in an illegal mining controversy in Andhra Pradesh, Gali Janardhana
Reddy, on Friday asserted there were nothing unlawful about his
company’s activities and said he was ready to place all records for
public scrutiny.
Mr. Reddy, who air-dashed here for a meeting with Kadapa Congress MP Y
S Jaganmohan Reddy, held a press conference and lashed out at TDP
president N Chandrababu Naidu for making baseless allegations against
Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC).
“Chandrababu is a closed chapter in Andhra Pradesh politics. He can
never again become the chief minister in his lifetime. If required, I
shall go round the state and campaign against him. God is with me,
even a lakh Chandrababus cannot do anything to me,” the Karnatka
Minister claimed.
The Karnataka BJP leader said he would quit politics and also stop his
business activities if Mr. Naidu proved even a single allegation
against him.” Otherwise, Mr. Naidu should quit politics.
“These people remained mum as long as Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was alive.
But now they are coming out with all false allegations,” he alleged.
Terming his relationship with YSR as that of a father and son, Mr.
Reddy said the Congress leader wanted him to set up a steel plant in
Kadapa to provide jobs to hundreds of people.
“We are sincerely doing that but people like Chandrababu are trying to
deride us.”
The state minister also took exception to equating Jaganmohan Reddy
with former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda who is facing
allegations of money laundering.
bademiyansubhanallah
November 3, 2009
The money minefields of Karnataka
Neena Vyas
The Hindu A view of the Karnataka Assembly building, the Vidhana
Soudha. File Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy
Money and muscle have become part of the Indian political landscape, —
the growing number of multicrore-patis in Parliament and State
legislatures are witness to this as are the increasing number of
politicians who have had more than a brush with the law.
The amount of money spent by political parties for fighting elections
has been going up steadily. If it was about a crore for a
parliamentary seat a decade ago, this sum is not enough today even for
contesting in an Assembly segment. And across the political spectrum
from right to left, politicians agree that the situation has simply
got out of hand in the southern States of Karnataka and Andhra
Pradesh, with Tamil Nadu following at a safe distance.
When the last Assembly elections took place in Karnataka, a senior
Bharatiya Janata Party leader said: “I have helped the party contest
many state elections in the north as well as the south, but in
Karnataka the scene was entirely different. I did not see so much cash
flow as I have seen in the last few weeks.” This impression is
confirmed by senior leaders in the rival Congress who openly admit
that in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka the amount of money needed to
fight an election is simply obscene.
The genesis of the BJP’s problems in Karnataka lies in money
minefields — in the iron-ore rich belt around Bellary adjoining Andhra
Pradesh. The story is that the Reddy brothers, G. Janardhana and G.
Karunakara, apparently generously deployed their assets in the run-up
to the last Assembly election. They have also been faultless about
contributions to the party coffers, senior leaders admitted.
It is well understood in politics that there are no free lunches. But
it seems that the recent problem arose because Chief Minister B.S.
Yeddyurappa tried to cut into the Bellary mining cake of the Reddy
brothers by deploying Rural Development Minister Shobha Karandlaje,
known to be close to him, to do this job. To add insult to injury “as
many as 18 district officials in and around Bellary” were recently
shuffled and replaced, said a senior functionary in the central BJP
office.
That was the signal for revolt. The powerful Reddy brothers were up in
arms against the Chief Minister and demanded his replacement. After
all, money talks, and they were in a position to get support. They
started working on Operation Topple Yeddyurappa.
The BJP is no exception to the general rule in national parties that
wherever the party has a Chief Minister there is also a dissident
faction that would like to see him or her toppled. The current
perception about the BJP is that its central command structure is
weak: party president Rajnath Singh’s tenure is about to come to an
end and so is the innings of Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani. The
party’s crisis in Rajasthan lingered on for weeks precisely because of
this. Now the Reddys and other disgruntled Karnataka legislators may
have thought that this is the best time to strike. Also, Ananth Kumar,
senior national general secretary, never an admirer of Mr.
Yeddyurappa, has reportedly been fanning the flames of discontent,
although officially the party has denied that he is encouraging the
Reddys.
Where the Bellary brothers may have miscalculated is that despite
their financial clout — or perhaps because of it — the Congress has
refused to play ball with them. The BJP knows that without the
Congress its government cannot easily be dislodged. The Congress’
interests at this juncture seem to coincide with that of the BJP for
any encouragement to the Reddy duo would have also encouraged
Jaganmohan Reddy, powerful son of the late Andhra Pradesh Chief
Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who shares business interests with
the two Bellary Reddys.
The BJP central command has calculated that it cannot afford to
dislodge Mr. Yeddyurappa, who has emerged a powerful leader of the
numerically strong Lingayat caste over the years. “Some years ago Mr.
Yeddyurappa threatened to walk out of the party. He can do so again.
If that happens, the BJP’s hard-won base in Karnataka will be reduced
considerably. The party cannot let that happen. Moreover, Mr.
Yeddyurappa has strong support in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,”
said a functionary. What will happen in the next few days it is hard
to foretell, but the signals are that the central leadership will
rally round Mr. Yeddyurappa and also get him to agree to roll back
recent decisions not to the liking of the two Reddys. The Chief
Minister will no doubt be advised to change his style of functioning.
And he may take the hint. He will have to learn to live and let live.
And the bottom line is that the problem is more about money and
business than politics. This is no surprise as the dividing line
between the two is getting finer with each passing day.
Comments:
This a betrayal of democracy and not just an internal party matter.
India has ceased to be a democracy - it is moneycracy. When will we
get freedom from the criminals looting our country? We need another
Mahatma Gandhi today to liberate us from our politicians.
from: Kiran
Posted on: Nov 5, 2009 at 15:03 IST
A very plain speaking article on the political happenings in
Karnataka. Obscene, disgusting and dirty are the words that come to
mind when we witness the scenes displayed in the TV channels about the
vulgar display of money power by herding MLAs like sheep by Bellary
brothers. Our politics have reached the lowest possible level and we
ordinary citizens are despaired, dispirited and distraught.
from: S.R. Ram
Posted on: Nov 6, 2009 at 16:01 IST
The writer deserves compliments for a well thought out and analysed
article.That the present day politics has become the exclusive domain
of the moneybags and the criminal elements in the society,has been
more than clearly established and beyond doubt.It has become
fashionable to hijack MLAs/MPs to five star resorts,wining and dining
them to buy their loyalty in the pressure game that is played to get
ones way.For such a ploy the prime requisite is a fat bank balance.The
BJP was one party which was deemed to be above all these
shenanigans.But alas! How the mighty have fallen!Even the most
disciplined party does not appear to be above getting fractured
although slowly but surely.Democratic values have taken an allround
beating,so much so that the whole thing leaves a very bad taste in
ones mouth.Gone are the days of probity in politics.Lies,chicanery,
sleaze and all the bad adjectives one can think of have become common
inpolitics.
from: Raj Kumar
Posted on: Nov 7, 2009 at 06:50 IST
The Indian political and governmental systems are seriously flawed.
People vote politicians to power; and pay taxes to pay salaries and
other benefits to government employees and end up being exploited by
the very same power groups.
from: Ramu
Posted on: Nov 8, 2009 at 20:12 IST
BJP claimed that it was a party with a difference. But over the years
it has become a party of indifference. It started behaving like a
replica of Congress to grab power without bothering about the means to
meet the end and its raising curve has ended without any means to rise
again in the corridors of power. It is a sorry state of affairs for a
party once led by Atal Behari Vajpayee. RSS also contributed by
interfering in BJP's affairs by claiming that it is a socio-cultural
organisation. It should allow BJP to carve its own path in the
political field.
from: S.R. MURALIDHARAN
Posted on: Nov 9, 2009 at 17:41 IST
People have lost faith in BJP as it is also just any other party
playing caste politics and luring people with money. Even if Gandhi
resurrects and leads the nation, he has to bow to all these only. It
is a sad commentary that Gandhiji taught people to disobey the rule of
the state. But his was against English. But the Free India and its
politicians use this weapon against our own country.
from: R.Krishnamurthy
Posted on: Nov 9, 2009 at 19:37 IST
bademiyansubhanallah
Saturday, November 14, 2009 1:11:30 PM (IST)
Bangalore: Reddys Have Their Way – Health Secretary Transferred
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Nov 14: The Chief Minister (CM) has shown further signs of
de-escalation of aggression, by transferring health secretary, Madan
Gopal. Dr E V Ramana Reddy will work as the new secretary of the
health and family welfare department.
It may be recalled that during the time the friction between
Yeddyurappa and Reddy Brothers was at its peak, the CM had suddenly
transferred health secretary, M R Perumal, replacing him with Madan
Gopal, who was the incumbent of this post, before Perumal took over.
Ramana Reddy is said to be the choice of the Reddy Brothers. As of
now, Madan Gopal has not been given any posting.
Some other IAS and IPS officers have also been transferred. Although
Yeddyurappa is said to be firm in his refusal to drop ministers
Basavaraj Bommai, C M Udasi and Murugesh Nirani as per the demand of
the dissidents, and has indicated that Shobha Karandlaje will be the
only sacrificial goat in the compromise formula, the dissidents are
adamant with their demand. At present, two posts, vacated by the
Shobha Karadlaje and V Somanna, who have resigned, are vacant in the
state ministry.
The Reddy faction is pressing ahead for three ministerial berths. As
such, if the CM is made to bow to their demands, he will have to drop
one of his ministerial colleagues. The CM has already said that
Shettar will join the cabinet in a couple of days.
bademiyansubhanallah
Chandrababu equals a lakh Madhu Kodas: Minister
The BJP minister has dared Naidu to prove these charges, stating that
if they were proved true, he would renounce from politics. On the
other hand, if Naidu is unable to prove them as false, Reddy has asked
him to leave politics instead.
CJ: V GOPALA KRISHNA.. Sat, Nov 14, 2009 12:36:55 IST
Karnataka News : Crisis in Karnataka exposes money based politics THE
ROW between Karnataka tourism minister Gali Janardhana Reddy and TDP
president Chandrababu Naidu has intensified with the former daring
Naidu to prove the charges he levelled against Reddy.
Reddy is the owner of the Obulapuram Mining company, which is
embroiled in an illegal mining controversy. He has slammed all such
allegations and categorically stated that his company is not involved
in any illegal activity.
The BJP minister has dared Naidu to prove these charges, stating that
if they were proved true, he would renounce from politics. On the
other hand, if Naidu is unable to prove them as false, Reddy has asked
him to leave politics instead.
Reddy had held a press meet on Friday, November 13, in Hyderabad to
counter the allegations of the TDP and others. He affirmed that he was
very clean in mining of iron ore and that the license was issued to
him at the time Chandrababu’s rule. He was ready to take all party
leaders along with journalists to the mine site for verification.
He even alleged that Chandrababu was equivalent with one lakh Madhu
Kodas and in distress the former CM was talking forged words. “He was
mum while YSR in power and now (is) doing his best to spoil his son
Jagan’s political future. Chandrababu has lost all credibility”, he
stated.
The Karnataka Tourism minister in regard to YSR's alleged role in
giving him clearance in the matter said, he had highest regard of YSR
and his family and had himself refrained from having any business ties
with YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
Meanwhile, the TDP has demanded that all information related to the
mining company be placed in the state assembly, for critical scrutiny
by all leaders. Chief Minister Rosaiah has appointed a three men
(officers) committee to find out the truth.
bademiyansubhanallah
Crisis in Karnataka exposes money based politics
The on-going political crisis in Karnataka has exposed the fact that
politics based on money and wealth of individuals is bound to rebound
and result in the failure of the system. One who invests also wants
returns and the BJP is realising this now.
CJ: SUBHASH CHANDRA.. Sat, Nov 07, 2009 15:24:24 IST
Karnataka News : Karnataka: Bangarappa at it again! THE ON-GOING
political crisis for the BJP in Karnataka with the all-rich Reddy
brothers of Bellary holding the BJP-government in the state to ransom
for meeting their business-related demands, has exposed steep fall in
democratic values in the country’s political system.
Such tactics with bold demands like the withdrawal of court-cases by
ultra-rich politicians are in no way less than the style of Naxalites
or Maoists, which however gain momentum from social unrest caused
amongst masses dominated by influential ones in society.
BJP should take a clue from the Congress, which did not bow to similar
political-blackmail of lobbying by Jagan Reddy for the Chief
Ministerial post of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Interestingly
according to media-reports, Jagan Reddy of the Congress is a business
and a close associate of Reddy brothers of the BJP.
bademiyansubhanallah
Karnataka: Bangarappa at it again!
If Karunanidhi implied that the people of Karnataka who recently voted
the BJP to power are communal, Karnataka�s own Bangarappa has implied
that public opinion in Karnataka can be moulded with money. He has
commoditised the Karnataka electorate.
CJ: S Shivakumar Sun, Jun 22, 2008 14:07:03 IST
BJP in karnataka : Karnataka: EC introduces SMS service to help voters
IF TAMILNADU has a Karunanidhi to take up the cudgels on behalf of the
secular parties, Karnataka has Bangarappa – or so it seems. He said in
Bangalore on Saturday (June 21)) that all secular parties at the
national level and state level should come together for the ensuing
Lok Sabha elections. He also hinted at the possibility of his party
joining hands with the Congress and the JD(S) in Karnataka. He was in
favour of seat adjustment amongst all the secular parties to defeat
the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He welcomed Deve
Gowda’s stand that JD(S) had an open mind on entering into an alliance
with the Congress for the Lok Sabha elections.
While welcoming the understanding that obtained between the Congress
and the JD(S) while fielding candidates for the Rajya Sabha and
Legislative Council elections, he saw nothing wrong if the Samajwadi
Party (to which he belongs , as of writing) extended support to the
UPA government in case the Left withdrew its support to the latter.
He attributed his Shikaripur loss [where he lost to the present chief
minister of Karnataka, Yeddyurappa (BSY)] to BJP’s money power. The
latter spent around Rs 50 crores in Shikaripur alone to ensure
victory. In forty years of his political career, he had never seen
money being so blatantly spent during the elections. While he
respected the people’s verdict, one needed to analyse what moulded
public opinion.
He came out with the astounding revelation that there was no ‘BJP
wave’ during the elections. The party was able to win 110 seats by
spending around Rs 500 crores, which was mainly funded by mine owners
who had now made it to the ministry. But for the money spent, the BJP
would have ended up with around 60 seats, according to him.
As for the state’s fertiliser and seeds crisis, he held the previous JD
(S)-BJP government responsible. The governor alone could not be blamed
for the problem. When BSY was the leader of the opposition in the
assembly, he demanded the resignation of the then chief minister N
Dharam Singh in the wake of farmers committing suicide. BSY should now
introspect if he had the moral right to continue as chief minister
with several farmers committing suicide for want of fertilisers and
seeds. Instead of ensuring adequate supply of fertilisers and seeds,
BSY was busy visiting the houses of farmers who committed suicide and
releasing compensation to their families. According to him, the
government failed to handle the situation because there were no
experienced persons in the cabinet.
What Bangarappa conveniently forgets is that Deve Gowda has an open
mind on entering into an alliance with only the Congress party for the
Lok Sabha elections. Gowda’s statement applies only to the Congress.
It does not apply the Bangarappa’s Samajwadi Party. If Karunanidhi
implied that the people of Karnataka who recently voted the BJP to
power were communal, Karnataka’s own Bangarappa has implied that
public opinion in Karnataka can be moulded with money power. In other
words, he has commoditised the Karnataka electorate.
Although none denies that part of the blame for the fertiliser
shortage / seed shortage should lie with the JD(S)-BJP government,
which ruled the state before the governor took over the reins, one is
at a loss to understand why leaders like Bangarappa, who are quite
experienced, did not meet the governor well in advance and prevail on
him to stock up fertilisers and seeds. Is it necessary that only the
government of the day (in this case, the governor-led government)
should be entrusted with the task?
The ‘experienced’ Bangarappa should have known that the governor
cannot be expected to be as sensitive to fertiliser / seed
requirements as a popular government. In the circumstances, was it not
the duty of the ‘experienced’ Bangarappa to take up the matter with
the governor? Had he done so, the unfortunate suicides could have been
avoided. Or did he want these unfortunate incidents to occur so it
would give him an opportunity to malign the government,
notwithstanding the fact that a few lives would have to be sacrificed
along the way?
bademiyansubhanallah
AGP likely to dump BJP ahead of 2011 Assam polls
November 14th, 2009 - 1:51 pm ICT by IANS -
By Syed Zarir Hussain
Guwahati, Nov 14 (IANS) Assam politics is expected to witness some
major realignment of forces ahead of the 2011 assembly polls with the
honeymoon between the main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) almost over.
“The time has come to take a strong call on the continuance of the tie-
up with the BJP. Successive electoral defeats have shattered the
confidence of the party workers and supporters… The thinking of the
party should change ahead of the 2011 assembly elections,” AGP vice
president Apurba Kumar Bhattacharyya told IANS.
Meanwhile, the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), a minority-based
party that has emerged as the third major opposition in Assam, has
sent feelers to the AGP.
“There is a big possibility of my party aligning with the AGP as the
two parties have similar regional aspirations. I would say the chances
are very bright,” Badruddin Ajmal, leader of the AUDF, told IANS.
The AUDF managed to win 11 assembly seats in the 2006 state elections.
The AGP has 24 legislators in the 126-member house.
The AGP was quick to react to the AUDF’s feelers, saying nothing was
impossible in politics.
“We have heard the AUDF’s comments and will discuss the issue. We are
talking to parties at an informal level and anything can happen,” AGP
president Chandra Mohan Patowary told journalists.
The AGP suffered successive electoral reverses beginning with the 2001
assembly polls. The party also lost the 2006 assembly elections, then
the local council elections, the April-May parliamentary polls this
year, and the humiliating defeat in the two by-elections earlier this
week.
The AGP and BJP fought the April-May parliamentary elections together
under a seat sharing arrangement. The regional party fared poorly - it
won just one of the 14 Lok Sabha seats, down by one compared to the
2004 general elections.
“The opposition parties must take a lesson from the past elections and
hence the need to unite to challenge the Congress party,” said Dhrupad
Borgohain, a former MP belonging to the Communist Party of India.
The AUDF has however made it clear that it would team up with the AGP
provided the BJP is out of the combination.
“Minus the BJP and the Congress, we are ready for any kind of
alliance,” Ajmal said.
Amid the political rumblings, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the
Congress party was all set for a hat-trick by winning the 2011 polls.
“The AGP is down and out and there is no way the party can bounce
back. The AUDF and the BJP are parties with communal overtones, and
the people of Assam are going to reject them,” Gogoi told IANS.
“There could be a realignment of forces, but we are not worried.”
bademiyansubhanallah
After BSY, Reddy takes on Naidu
BJP leader Janardhan Reddy. File Photo
Express News Service
First Published : 14 Nov 2009 07:30:22 AM IST
Last Updated : 14 Nov 2009 09:53:15 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Fresh from a more or less successful rebellion against
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, BJP dissident leader Gali
Janardhan Reddy, who is in the eye of a storm here in Andhra Pradesh
over alleged illegal mining by his Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), on
Friday dared TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu to prove the allegations or
quit politics for good and threatened to sue him.
Asserting his ‘‘innocence,’’ Janardhan Reddy, at a lengthy press
conference, sought to turn the tables on the former chief minister for
carrying on a ‘‘malicious campaign’’ that he had been illegally mining
iron ore in Anantapur district.
The Karnataka Tourism Minister announced that he would tour Andhra
Pradesh to ‘‘expose’’ Chandrababu Naidu.
He refuted reports that he gave more than 50 % stake in business to
Red Gold, a consultancy firm, only to get permits and carry on
‘‘illegal mining.’’ ‘‘Such reports are borne out of malafide
intentions and meant only to discredit me,’’ he said. ‘‘Red Gold is
owned by my relatives. What is wrong in giving a share to it?’’ he
wondered.
He said Chandrababu Naidu had earlier made the same allegations after
YS Rajasekhara Reddy became the chief minister.
‘‘Now he is stepping up the agitation again as Rajasekhara Reddy is no
more. Chandrababu Naidu wants to finish me in politics and business
forever since he belongs to a different community,’’ he said.
The BJP leader explained, ‘‘There is no scope for illegal mining of
iron ore as all of it is meant for export. If there are no proper
documents to establish that we have paid taxes on the ore mined, there
is no way we can ship it.
When I am earning Rs 1,000 per tonne of iron ore, paying Rs 100 as tax
is no big deal.’’ He vehemently denied encroaching upon the Bellary
Mining Company’s (BMC) land and intimidating survey teams.
‘‘Even the Survey of India, which surveyed the area, gave a clean chit
to us,’’ he said but did not explain why the Survey of India sent a
letter to the Home Ministry seeking protection from the OMC officials
in the area.
bademiyansubhanallah
Oppn to launch joint agitation
TDP chief N.Chandrababu Naidu along with national convenor of LSP
Jayaprakash Narayan, CPI State secretary K Narayana and CPM State
secretary BV Ragha
Express News Service
First Published : 14 Nov 2009 07:59:17 AM IST
Last Updated :
HYDERABAD: An all-party meeting convened by the Opposition Telugu
Desam Party (TDP) has decided to launch a joint agitation against the
`irregularities’ in Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC).
The meeting held at Jubilee Hall today was attended by TDP, Lok Satta,
CPM, CPI, CPI(ML) New Democracy and All-India Forward Bloc.
The leaders have decided to participate in a dharna before the
district collectors being organised by the CPI on November 16.
The leaders have decided to meet Chief Minister and Governor this week
and Prime Minister, President and all national leaders at Delhi after
the GHMC polls on Nov 23.
The leaders felt that there were large scale irregularities in OMC and
the Government should order a CBI probe.
Speaking on the occasion TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu wanted the
Government to reveal the names of the forces behind Red Gold company
which was getting 50 per cent profits of the OMC.
The recently constituted three-member committee too was in favour of
the OMC, Naidu alleged. CPM State secretary BV Raghavulu demanded a
probe into the Red Gold, a consultant company of the OMC. He alleged
that politically influential persons were hand in glove with the OMC
and looting the public money.
Alleging that the State Government was apathetic towrds OMC’s
irregularities, Lok Satta Party president Jayaprakash Narayan said
that an empowered committee should be constituted to look into it.
He suggested that the Mining Act should be amended and the lease of
mines should be allotted through open and competitive bidding process.
Terming the OMC affairs as a serious fraud, he demanded a CBI probe
into it.
bademiyansubhanallah
‘Babu keen on ending Reddy clout in politics’
Express News Service
First Published : 14 Nov 2009 07:53:04 AM IST
Last Updated : 14 Nov 2009 07:54:55 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Asserting that no irregularities took place in mining of
iron ore by his Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) in Anantapur district,
its promoter and BJP minister in Karnataka Gali Janardhan Reddy today
gave an interesting twist to the ongoing controversy, saying that the
campaign against him was because he was a Reddy (implying that he
belongs to Reddy community).
Replying to questions at a news concerence here today, he did not say
explicitly that it was a caste war, but he dropped several hints that
TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu was hell bent on ending the clout of
Reddys in politics and business now that YS Rajasekhara Reddy, who was
protector and benefactor, is no more.
He likened YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to a white paper in reply to
Chandrababu Naidu’s allegation that he was a Madhu Koda and instead
said Naidu was equal to one lakh Madhu Kodas.
He said though he belonged to the BJP, he was very close to
Rajasekhara Reddy and Jagan Mohan Reddy and his family had close bonds
with him.
He made it clear that the Brahmini Steels, for which YS Rajasekhara
Reddy laid the foundation stone and made his (Janardhan Reddy’s)
daughter Brahmini use the remote for unveiling the plaque, would go
into commercial production in October next year.
Asked if the TDP was intent on unpopularising him because it was
afraid that he, with his financial might, might support Jagan Mohan
Reddy in his efforts to become the chief minister, Janardhan Reddy
evaded a direct reply and instead said time and God will decide to
what heights one would grow in one’s life time. He, however, made it
clear that he would continue to have close ties with Rajasekahra
Reddy’s family and predicted on more than one occasion that
Chandrababu Naidu would not become chief minister again in his life.
``His chapter has ended. It is a history now. He will not become chief
minister again,’’ he stressed the point to the extent that it gave an
impression that desire of the community to which Chandrababu Naidu
belongs, to dislodge Reddys from power and position, would never
happen. ``Even one lakh Chandrababu Naidus would not be able to do
anything to me because God is on my side,’’he said.
Asked if Rosaiah sent three-member committee to investigate mining
activities of the OMC under pressure from the Telugu Desam Party,
Janardhan Reddy prevaricated and instead said Rosaiah did what was
expected of a Chief Minister.
chhotemianinshallah
Sena overestimated its strength in Maharashtra: BJP journal
Press Trust Of India
Mumbai, November 14, 2009
First Published: 11:14 IST(14/11/2009)
Last Updated: 11:16 IST(14/11/2009)
Relations between saffron allies Shiv Sena and BJP, not on the best of
terms in recent times, maybe strained further following an article
published in the state BJP house journal which said the Sena's
strength in Maharashtra was less than what its leaders projected.
Last month's Assembly elections saw BJP, with 46 MLAs, taking over
Sena's role of `Big Brother' in state Opposition politics. Sena got
two seats less than its partner, conceding the Opposition leader's
post, which it held for over a decade, to BJP.
State BJP journal `Manogat' said the party had done well in the
Assembly polls and it was the Sena which had suffered a setback. "BJP
made a compromise in the elections to keep the alliance with Sena
intact. But the poll results showed which party was stronger," the
article said.
BJP contested 119 seats as per the pre-poll pact with the Sena, which
fought 179. "It is clear that Sena's strength was less than what its
leaders proclaimed," the article said.
Senior Sena leader Subhash Desai said he was aware of the article.
"They (BJP) have expressed their views. Sena chief Bal Thackeray has
said that as there is a low tide, there will also be a high tide,"
Desai told PTI.
"Shiv Sena has seen a lot of such highs and lows. It will rise again
like a Phoenix," Desai, group leader of the party in Assembly, said.
On the MNS factor, the article said, "several BJP candidates lost by
narrow margins. The MNS was the reason for that. Otherwise, one could
have seen a stronger BJP."
The Raj Thackeray-led party won 13 Assembly seats and divided the
saffron vote in several other constituencies.
Poll results in Mumbai, Thane and Konkan have been analysed in the
journal, which said "inroads made by the MNS, a huge setback to the
Sena, and the lesson taught to Narayan Rane (of Congress) by the
people of Konkan, make up the new triangle in political developments
in this region."
chhotemianinshallah
The Reddy challenge
Varghese K. George, Hindustan Times
November 11, 2009
First Published: 22:23 IST(11/11/2009)
Last Updated: 22:27 IST(11/11/2009)
In the last fortnight, the Congress and the BJP faced roughly similar
problems in Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Karnataka. But both handled their
respective crisis in diametrically different fashions.
Supporters of the late Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy, former AP chief
minister, have been putting pressure on the Congress high command to
replace the current CM, K. Rosaiah, with YSR’s son Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The Reddy brothers in Karnataka, who control the mining industry
there, wanted the BJP to replace the CM, B.S. Yeddyurappa, with their
candidate.
The two Reddy families are linked by lineage and business interests.
But this comparison can only be to the limited extent that both Reddys
wanted to gain a larger share of power than they have now, by arm-
twisting the leadership of their respective parties. This apart, there
are no other similarities.
YSR converted part of his political power into a business empire,
managed by his son Jagan Mohan. Business did not dictate his politics,
but financed and facilitated it. Jagan was impatient to become the CM
after YSR’s death. He has the support of a majority of the Congress
MLAs and enjoys public support. Still, the Congress high command put
its foot down and persuaded him to back out. Rosaiah remains CM only
to make one point — that nobody can put pressure on the party; Jagan’s
hold over huge finances turned out to be his disadvantage. That point
had to be made.
Contrast this with how the BJP handled its Reddys. In Karnataka, the
Reddys are not the leaders of the party, Yeddyurappa is. His
ideological commitment and hard work helped the party establish itself
in the state and get its first government in a southern state. The
Reddy brothers merely converted part of their wealth into political
power — the inverse of what YSR and his family did in Andhra. Yet, the
compromise formula worked out by the BJP leaders is a surrender to the
Bellary brothers.
Assuming that all this is morally neutral, the two situations show
that the BJP compares badly with the Congress. Despite his popularity,
the Congress turned down Jagan Mohan to make a larger point. And
despite Yeddyurappa’s popularity, the BJP failed to make that point.
The moneyed have a role to play in politics. From Gandhi onwards, the
Congress tradition perfected the art of managing them. Money would
always play second fiddle, howsoever important it may be. The BJP
failed to keep the balance.
The club of the wealthy is far bigger in the Congress than in the BJP.
Of the 79 ministers in the Union council, 47 are crorepatis and 38 of
them are from the Congress. Of the 206 Congress MPs in Lok Sabha, 145
have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore. Only 50 per cent of
the BJP MPs are crorepatis — 59 of its 116 Lok Sabha members. Yet,
the BJP is unable to keep them in their place.
The BJP’s capitulation before the Bellary brothers has not merely
damaged the party, but has undermined the rules of engagement between
politics and money. The low point for the BJP in 2009 is not its
electoral defeat in May but its Karnataka comprise.
chhotemianinshallah
SANGH SNAPS AT BJP
Once more: Bhagwat says BJP a divided house
CNN-IBN
Published on Sat, Nov 14, 2009 at 14:26,
Updated on Sat, Nov 14, 2009 at 14:38 in Politics section
ALLIES AT BEST: The RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at a party function in
Pune.
New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) continues to stoke the
fire and keep the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on its toes. RSS Chief
Mohan Bhagwat has once again attacked the party's current leadership,
calling the BJP a divided house.
Speaking at a function in Pune, Bhagwat said that the BJP must not
forget its roots.
Bhagwat said, “A divided house cannot function properly...they have to
know their roots.”
Bhagwat has in the past criticised BJP leaders for their public spats.
Interestingly, the RSS continues to claim that the outfit would not
interfere in the party's functioning.
BJP needs chemotherapy, says RSS chief
BJP must replace old with young: RSS chief
No battle within the BJP: Rajnath Singh
Bhagwat had recently met the top BJP brass recently, including party
President Rajnath Singh.
Singh spent about 30 minutes with Bhagwat and discussed several issues
related to BJP and its future, sources said.
Rajnath Singh's tenure ends in December, and the RSS is reportedly
insisting that his successor should be someone from outside Delhi.
The current favourite is party in-charge of Maharashtra Nitin Gadkari.
chhotemianinshallah
BJP united says Murli Manohar Joshi
PTI Saturday, November 14, 2009 21:52 IST
Bhubaneshwar: BJP stalwart Murli Manohar Joshi today declined to
comment on the recent statements of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on his
party which he said remained very strong and united.
"BJP is definitely a very good and strong house. It remains united and
without any division between partymen and leaders," Joshi told
reporters here.
Joshi declined to comment when asked about Bhagwat's statement that
the next BJP president should be from outside Delhi and he should be
young.
Bhagwat's recent remarks that BJP required immediate remedial measures
for revival and sorting out problems in the aftermath of its debacle
in Lok Sabha elections had sparked ripples in the party rank and file.
chhotemianinshallah
RSS controlling BJP openly: Congress
Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, November 14, 2009
First Published: 21:08 IST(14/11/2009)
Last Updated: 21:09 IST(14/11/2009)
Taking a swipe at the RSS, Congress on Saturday said the Sangh which
was controlling the party from the remote earlier, is now doing it
openly.
"Earlier, the RSS was behind the scenes and running the BJP through
remote. Now it has come out of the shadows and trying to run the party
openly," party spokesman Mohan Praksh said.
He was reacting to questions on the attempt of the RSS to find younger
leaders in the BJP and the possibility of Nitin Gadkari taking over
the post soon.
Praksh said the BJP required a surgery and it has been pointed out by
their leaders.
"But now I have sympathy for the party as its treatment is being done
by a veterinary doctor (RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat). I have sympathies
for the party," he added.
bademiyansubhanallah
We never advised BJP to choose a leader from outside Delhi: RSS chief
by Indo Asian News Service on November 14, 2009
Pune, Nov 14 (IANS) The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Saturday
denied it had suggested that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) next
chief should be ‘from outside Delhi’.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat told reporters here that this was the BJP’s
own viewpoint and he had just ‘announced it before the public’.
‘Who should be the next leader of the BJP? Whether he should be from
New Delhi or not and related issues were decided by the party and they
informed us. We had no role to play in these. I merely announced it
before the public, stressing the need for a young, dynamic person who
can build and strengthen the party,’ Bhagwat said.
He was referring to a spate of media reports indicating that the RSS
had advised the BJP leadership to pick a new leader who is not from
Delhi and not from the current top party leadership.
‘We do not own the party, we only give (them) advice as and when they
(the BJP) want it,’ said Bhagwat.
‘When the BJP sought our opinion, we advised them that the person
should have the capability to rebuild the party. Not only the BJP, any
other party which seeks our advice, we shall give it to them,’ the RSS
chief added.
When asked if the RSS had ‘advised’ Leader of Opposition and senior
party leader L.K. Advani to retire in February, he said: ‘It will be
his decision. What can we say in this matter?’
bademiyansubhanallah
Have told BJP to look for young chief: Bhagwat
Express news service
Posted: Sunday , Nov 15, 2009 at 0341 hrs
New Delhi:
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has asked the BJP to set its house in order
In his strongest statement yet on the internal squabbling in the BJP,
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday asked the party to set its house
in order and warned the party leaders to not forget their moorings. “A
divided house cannot function properly,” he said, in what was meant to
be a reminder to the BJP, where infighting has worsened after its
defeat in the 2009 elections.
The RSS Sarsanghchalak also spelled out his expectations from the new
BJP chief. “I have suggested to the party leadership to look for a
young candidate who can restore its organisational set-up,” he said in
Pune.
After refraining from making public pronouncements on the BJP so far—
maintaining the standard RSS line that “they didn’t believe in
interfering it the BJP’s functioning”—Bhagwat admitted that the BJP
“was now approaching its mother organisation for advice”. “The RSS has
never claimed ownership of the BJP, just as it did not own any other
party. It is another matter that it is only the BJP that is now
seeking our advice,” Bhagwat added.
Speaking on the contentious issue of leadership in the BJP, Bhagwat
didn’t go to the extent of endorsing Nitin Gadkari’s name for the
party president’s post, although the Maharashtra BJP chief is believed
to have his blessings for the top job. Bhagwat said “there were three
to four names that were being discussed to head the party... We have
conveyed our expectations of the new leader and if they (BJP leaders)
approach us after taking a decision, we will okay it,” he said.
Considered to be frontrunner for the party president’s post, Gadkari
spent some time at the BJP headquarters last week, where he echoed
Bhagwat’s views on almost every issue while answering questions on a
range of subjects from the BJP to India’s future. A group of senior
BJP leaders in Delhi, however, view the development as detrimental to
the BJP’s health in the long run. In a recent interview, Bhagwat had
ruled out the names of four Delhi leaders for the post of BJP chief.
Bhagwat’s statements seem to have hit home, for speaking in Ghaziabad,
party chief Rajnath Singh said leaders “who forget their roots become
like kati patang”.
bademiyansubhanallah
Free for all in Karnataka BJP, government (Letter from Bangalore)
November 15th, 2009 - 10:39 am ICT by IANS -
By V.S. Karnic
Bangalore, Nov 15 (IANS) It’s free for all in Karnataka’s ruling
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the state government even though it
just about survived a dissident assault to unseat Chief Minister B.S.
Yeddyurappa.
One of the first actions of dissident leader and Tourism and
Infrastructure Minister G. Janardhana Reddy, after BJP senior leader
Sushma Swaraj announced an end to the Karnataka crisis Nov 8, was to
revive a controversial proposal for a high speed rail link (HSRL) from
Bangalore city centre to the international airport, 35 km away.
The Rs.3,700 crore (Rs.37 billion/$801 million) HSRL had been shot
down on cost considerations by a panel set up by Yeddyurappa.
The panel, ABIDe — Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure and Development
Task Force — favoured a Metro rail link to the airport at Devanahalli.
ABIDe is headed Rajya Sabha MP and businessman Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
His appointment to supervise flood relief in north Karnataka was seen
by the Reddy brothers as an affront to them. The Reddy brothers are
mining magnates from Bellary, about 400 km from here, and are trying
to expand their influence in north Karnataka. They have contributed
and raised funds from other iron ore mine owners for flood
rehabilitation.
Janardhana Reddy told reporters Nov 10: “We will issue global tenders
(for HSRL) within a week. If all goes well, within a month work will
start.”
On Nov 7, Capt. G.R. Gopinath, pioneer of low-cost aviation, was
removed as head of another panel set up by Yeddyurappa —
Infrastructure Vision Group — without assigning any reason. He had
favoured HSRL.
The Reddys continue to get officials of their choice to serve in the
districts in which they have influence and in their loyalists’
ministries.
They have already got the deputy commissioners of their liking for
Bellary as well as the neighbouring Gadag district, whose affairs are
supervised by their loyalist, Health Minister B. Sriramulu.
On Friday, they succeeded in shifting Health Secretary Madan Gopal. He
had been posted there by Yeddyurappa Oct 28, at the height of the
Reddy brothers’ campaign to remove him, after shunting out I.R.
Perumal, who was Sriramulu’s choice.
The Reddys, Yeddyurappa and the state BJP chief D.V. Sadananda Gowda
have been making wildly differing statements on whether the crisis has
ended and whether there would be a major cabinet reshuffle as part of
the compromise worked out by Sushma Swaraj.
The senior Reddy brother, Karunakara, has been comparing the situation
to a half-completed cinema. “It is interval now. We are looking for a
good director to complete it,” he has been saying while touring flood-
hit areas.
Sadananda Gowda told reporters in Bangalore Thursday that there won’t
be any major cabinet changes. “With the inclusion of Speaker Jagadish
Shettar into the cabinet, all the points of the compromise formula
will be implemented,” he asserted.
Shettar, a prominent BJP leader from the north Karnataka town of
Hubli, was projected by the Reddys as an alternative to Yeddyurappa.
He is quitting as speaker in a day or two to join the cabinet.
Having already got the chief minister’s loyalist Shobha Karandlaje to
resign from the ministry, Shettar and the Reddys are reported to be
insisting that Yeddyurappa drop at least six more ministers close to
him and accommodate their followers instead.
While Sadananda Gowda has denied more ministers would be shown the
door, Yeddyurappa has been making ambivalent statements.
On Thursday he said no minister would be dropped. Within 24 hours he
changed the stand to say central leaders would decide the issue.
Apart from dropping Karandlaje, Yeddyurappa has also been forced to
shunt out his principal secretary V.P. Baligar.
The BJP’s central leadership decided to set up a coordination
committee to take care of future intra-party squabbles, but there is
no convergence of views on its role either.
Yeddyurappa has claimed it will be an advisory body. The Reddys insist
its word would be final on all matters concerning the party’s state
unit and its government.
(V.S. Karnic can be contacted at vs.k...@ians.in)
bademiyansubhanallah
BJP woman leaders quit party
Divy Khare, TNN 15 November 2009, 07:25am IST
RANCHI: Disgruntled over the "indifferent" attitude of senior BJP
leaders and being denied tickets to contest the up-coming Assembly
elections, a number of BJP women leaders in Jharkhand have quit the
party and joined other parties. With this, the party not only lost
some of its hardcore woman cadres, it is expected to adversely hit the
party during the elections.
In fact, a group of women BJP workers who earlier campaigned for
senior party leaders are now seen raising slogans against them. BJP
watchers say their decision to quit will definitely send a wrong
message to women voters here ahead of the polls.
Those who left BJP are former member of state women commission (SWC)
and an senior party cadre Meera Jaiswal, Sharmila Soren, Madhulika
Mehta, former member of Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC)
Shanti Devi and a few others.
Mehta resigned from the party recently after her application for a
ticket to contest the forthcoming Assembly election was turned down by
senior BJP leaders. She is now contesting the Jamshedpur seat as an
Independent against BJP state president Raghuvar Das.
Jaiswal and her supporters, on the other hand, joined the Congress a
couple of days back. Union junior minister Subodh Kant Sahay welcomed
her into Congress. She will now campaign against BJP candidates in
Hatia and Ranchi. Jaiswal was expecting a BJP ticket to contest the
Hatia seat. However, the party gave the ticket to Ramji Lal Sarda
which led to Jaiswal's revolt against the party.
"The BJP leaders have changed with time. Now women cadres do not get
due respect from the party leaders as they got early. We felt
neglected. I find the Congress a better option because the party
national president, Sonia Gandhi, is herself a woman. Women workers
get opportunity to grow in the Congress, while there is no future for
women members in the BJP," Jaiswal said.
Similarly, Shanti Devi who is a former BJP Pradesh Mahila Morcha
president and had been with the party for long, quit the BJP and
joined the All Jharkhand Student Union (AJSU). Devi is now contesting
the Kanke Assembly seat on a AJSU ticket.
Soren left the BJP for the same reason and joined Jharkhand Mukti
Morcha (JMM). Besides, there are many other women members who switched
over to other political parties.
A senior BJP leader, however, denied that the party had been
indifferent towards women members.
They get equal opportunity to grow in the party. Those who left the
party are opportunists," he said.
bademiyansubhanallah
With Shobha's exit, Ramdas' eyes cabinet berth
TNN 10 November 2009, 10:37pm IST
MYSORE: Chief minister Yeddyurappa's most trusted lieutenant and rural
development minister Shobha Karandlaje on Monday relinquished her
office as Mysore district minister. While a section of the BJP is
happy with her removal, another group close to her in the district is
understandly upset.
Shobha's removal has dampened their spirits as they feel this is no
reward for a hard working and loyal party worker.
The faction belonging to cabinet secretary S A Ramdas, who virtually
stopped functioning as a protest against Shobha never confiding in
him, is in a celebratory mood. With Shobha's exit, Ramdas fancies his
chances of a cabinet berth in the event of a reshuffle. However, the
CM has expressed his dissatisfaction with Ramdas' work and style of
functioning. Party watchers say the CM is very unlikely to appease
Ramdas with a berth and may instead propose Shankerlingegowda's name.
Shobha's followers are upset with the fact that the former rural
development was made a scapegoat in the truce for the continuation of
Yeddyurappa as the CM. "What wrong did she do. She was single-handedly
managing the affairs of this district," said a local leader and
follower of Yeddyurappa adding they will now oppose Ramdas's induction
into the cabinet.
chhotemianinshallah
Gadkari appears set to become next BJP President
STAFF WRITER 16:31 HRS IST
New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) Nitin Gadkari appears set to become the next
BJP President replacing Rajnath Singh in what is being projected as a
generational change for the main opposition party.
52-year-old Gadkari's name has been zeroed-in on for the top job to
revive the organisation after it suffered its second successive jolt
in the Lok Sabha elections, party sources said today.
"Gadkari's name is final. He has been chosen by senior leader L K
Advani after consultations with his party colleagues," a senior leader
said.
Another indication of Gadkari's likely elevation came from reports
from Mumbai which spoke of a race to occupy the post of Maharashtra
BJP chief, at present being held by Gadkari who has made the party the
main opposition in the state, replacing Shiv Sena.
chhotemianinshallah
Maharashtra BJP distances itself from Sena critical article
PTI Sunday, November 15, 2009 16:21 IST
Mumbai: Maharashtra BJP today disassociated itself from an article
published in an in-house party journal making critical analysis of its
partner Shiv Sena's poor performance in the Assembly elections.
Assembly Elections 2009"This article is an analysis from the
individual columnist and not the official stand of the BJP," State
party president Nitin Gadkari told PTI.
He said his party, which won two seats more than the Sena despite
contesting in less number of segments than its ally, does not
underestimate the strength of Shiv Sena, an argument made in the
journal `Manogat'.
"We do not intend to hurt our long-standing ally in any manner. BJP
believes in the leadership of Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and we have
to go ahead on the basis of our Hindutva ideology," Gadkari said.
The article, which has appeared in the latest issue of the journal,
said Sena's electoral strength in Maharashtra is less than what its
leaders projected.
"BJP has done well while Sena has suffered a setback. The Assembly
polls results have shown that BJP is stronger and the party had
compromised to keep the alliance with Sena intact," the article noted.
BJP contested 119 seats and won 46, while Sena put up candidates in
169 seats bagging only 44. Sena had to concede leader of opposition in
Assembly post to the BJP.
bademiyansubhanallah
Congress voters return, BJP almost invisibleNovember 15th, 2009
By Arun Nehru
Political trends are setting in and, as I had forecast last week,
these are now visible and not easy to reverse unless major
realignments take place or “political” accidents occur. The most
significant changes come in Uttar Pradesh where the Congress Party’s
performance has been spectacular. The party is poised to win in excess
of 50 seats in the next Lok Sabha elections. For the Assembly, the
major contest will now be between the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and
the Congress with the Samajwadi Party (SP) a distant third. The
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has simply ceased to exist.
I think we have seen a “miracle” of sorts and clearly credit is due to
Mr Rahul Gandhi and the team he has created in the state. The
persistent Mr Raj Babbar winning in Firozabad by 85,343 votes signals
the ultimate decline of the SP and after the Assembly results are
analysed we may well see a major migration of votes from the SP to
both the Congress and the BSP.
Ms Mayawati’s BSP won nine out of 11 seats and whilst this is a
remarkable achievement she will also note that the Congress comes
second in five seats!
Trends have little time for statistics and past performance, but as
things stand, the public sentiment is in favour of the Congress for
the Lok Sabha elections and for Ms Mayawati/BSP in the Assembly with
the SP in the “shadows”. All political parties have the whole of 2010
for changes and adjustments necessary till they go for elections in
2011.
The Congress votebanks have returned to the party and soon there will
be an “exodus” of party workers which will test the selection system
initiated by Mr Gandhi. The Uttar Pradesh trend will also spark off a
Congress revival in many other parts of the country — Bihar, Madhya
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh will see its
immediate effects as the BJP continues to bleed with internal
contradictions between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and
individuals within the BJP.
The BJP will keep “shrinking” and keep blaming individuals instead of
concentrating on the core issues. The interference of the RSS will
reduce the BJP to less than 50 seats in the next Lok Sabha!
The internal revolt in Karnataka has been resolved for the moment but
there will be serious problems in all the BJP states as the party
loses support. Unless the current chief ministers in Gujarat, Himachal
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh take charge they will go in
the direction of Rajasthan, Haryana and Karnataka.
Ms Vasundhara Raje was removed as the leader of the Opposition in
Rajasthan; in Haryana “commercial considerations” prevailed and
alliances did not take place; in Karnataka “mining” interests
prevailed; and in Uttar Pradesh the party has practically vanished!
Like the Left, the RSS and those in charge of the BJP are pursuing an
outdated political ideology and continue their tirade which is
damaging their own political citadels.
The Left has lost its relevance and has shrunk from 60-plus seats in
2004 to 25 seats in 2009. And looking at the current trends, they will
be lucky to get 10-15 seats in 2014. No surprise that Ms Mamata
Banerjee will sweep West Bengal and the Congress will win Kerala in
2011. New political forces may well emerge as a political system needs
a stable ruling party and a viable Opposition and the voting public
may well create this situation. The Chief Ministers, Mr Narender Modi,
Mr Nitesh Kumar and Mr Naveen Patnaik ,may well have to carefully
consider their options and consider how they can sustain a political
assault by the Congress, who will try everything in the book to retain
their political space, and the regional parties. The current fluid
situation will not last for long and is going to result in a
realignment of political forces. So this may well be the time for the
leadership of the future to emerge both at the Centre and in the
states.
The byelection results will also help the Congress to consolidate new
governments in Maharashtra where the new Chief Minister, Mr Ashok
Chavan, has to consolidate his position within the party and in
Haryana where the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, splits the
Haryana Janhit Congress and now has 50 MLAs and is free of the
internal dissent within the Congress.
The current weakness in the Congress is Andhra Pradesh but with the
passage of time possible solutions are beginning to take shape and the
coming Hyderabad municipal elections will bring out the internal
contradictions within the ruling party and the Opposition into focus.
The Congress would be making a mistake if it succumbs to “business”
interests over political considerations.
The Congress also has a positive situation in Assam where the Chief
Minister, Mr Tarun Gogoi, continues his good work and won both the
seats, in Dhekiajuli and South Salmara, by margins of 21,000 and 6,000
respectively. In Rajasthan the Congress won Salumbar by 3,000 votes
but lost Todabhim by 8,000 votes to the BJP. And in Himachal Pradesh
the Congress lost Rohru to the BJP and this will dent the political
image of the former chief minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, who had won
from this seat on five occasions.
Every election is important. Every election has a message and for
those in governance there is little time to express joy or sorrow as
politics never takes a vacation and public opinion can never be taken
for granted.
Political accidents continue and the media brings home the reality to
the public with a clear message to those in governance. We see the
lawyer agitation in Karnataka against the high court chief justice. We
watch with disgust the senseless violence in the Maharashtra Assembly
and we witness another scuffle involving Manu Sharma and his friends
with gun-toting bodyguards. Are we going to witness another murder?
26/11. The Mumbai attack’s first anniversary is fast approaching and
we will witness once again the horror of terrorism and the sad tragedy
of all those who have suffered personal loss and the fact that there
has been no “justice” for them as the killers and planners still go
about their business in Pakistan.
* Arun Nehru is a former Union minister
chhotemianinshallah
Shekhawat advice to BJP: Adapt to change
Suman K Jha
Posted: Monday , Nov 16, 2009 at 0357 hrs
New Delhi:
Former vice-president and a founding member of the BJP, Bhairon Singh
Shekhawat, has suggested that many of the problems afflicting the
party today may be due to its inability to identify “changed
circumstances” (in the polity and the country). Issues like ideology
and leadership have to be adapted and attuned to “changing
circumstances”, he said.
Shekhawat, who along with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
and former deputy prime minister L K Advani, constituted the party’s
original triumvirate but is technically not a member of the BJP after
his stint as the vice-president, cited examples from his own political
journey to explain that changed circumstances had made him take
positions not liked by some in the party.
“In 1952, when I was first elected to the Rajasthan Assembly, I
decided to launch an agitation against the jagirdari system.
Similarly, I spoke out against sati after the Deorala incident,”
Shekhawat said, speaking to The Indian Express at his residence. Many
Bharatiya Jan Sangh leaders in Rajasthan had then threatened action
against Shekhawat for taking a position against the jagirdari system,
while many Rajput leaders in Rajasthan had spoken in favour of the
sati in the late ‘80s.
While there is a view that the RSS and BJP has not been able to
appreciate the changed conditions in the country and society,
Shekhawat himself stopped short of saying that, and of talking about
the specifics of the present crisis in the BJP. However, he advised,
they must talk and identify the changing circumstances. “Every
political party witnesses ups and down in their lives. There’s nothing
new in this,” he said.
Asked if “changed circumstances” should also force a rethink on the
core issue of ideology, Shekhawat said that any worthwhile change can
only be brought about by a change in ideology. Asked if the BJP (and
the RSS) then must refashion their core of Hindutva, and have a more
broad-based agenda, Shekhawat, however, replied: “Hindutva is a broad
concept for those who understand it properly. Those who fail to
understand it in its entirety find it a narrow idea.”
In the past one year, Shekhawat has spoken out against the Vasundhara
Raje regime in Rajasthan, and supported BJP rebel Jaswant Singh
recently, but on Sunday he refused to comment on the various
personalities caught in the present crisis in the BJP/RSS.
chhotemianinshallah
Kalyan snaps Mulayam ties, hints at BJP return
RADHIKA RAMASESHAN AND TAPAS CHAKRABORTY
Kalyan Singh (right) with son Rajveer in Lucknow on Sunday. Picture by
Naeem Ansari
Nov. 15: Kalyan Singh today ended his ties with Mulayam Singh Yadav
and hinted at a return to the BJP, some of whose leaders believe he
can help the party rebuild its backward caste vote bank in Uttar
Pradesh.
Although often dismissed as a spent force, the 76-year-old former BJP
chief minister can still make a difference in 16 of the state’s 80 Lok
Sabha seats thanks to his Lodh-Rajput vote base. Of the 23 seats the
Samajwadi Party won in the Lok Sabha polls, Lodh-Rajput votes
delivered at least seven.
It was with an eye on this vote bank that Mulayam had tied up with the
man who was chief minister when the Babri Masjid was demolished,
before publicly distancing himself from Kalyan yesterday to try and
win back his dwindling Muslim support.
Kalyan pulled son Rajveer out of the Samajwadi Party today and launch
a tirade against Mulayam’s “political treachery”.
“The BJP is the party where I belong and my options are open,” he said
in Lucknow when asked if he would rejoin his former party.
He then stressed his Hindutva credentials: “I will re-join a
nationalist party… it (the BJP) is the only nationalist party that can
strengthen Hinduism and build a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya.”
Sections within the RSS and BJP see in this an opportunity to revive
the party in Uttar Pradesh.
Although the state BJP brass, including party chief Rajnath Singh and
Kalraj Mishra, are opposed to yet another re-induction of Kalyan — he
had quit and come back once before — a Sangh source said: “It is again
time to set aside ego clashes and look at the larger picture.”
The pro-Kalyan lobby in the RSS and BJP argues that because Mulayam
has dumped him to “appease” Muslims, his Hindutva credentials remain
intact.
“We observed that during the joint (Lok Sabha poll) campaign with
Mulayam, he never once apologised for the Babri demolition. He may
have expressed some regret but that’s not the same thing,” a source
said.
A return by Kalyan will also help address the BJP’s fears that its
long-fractured backward caste votes are now steadily gravitating
towards the Bahujan Samaj Party.
Through the 1990s, the backward castes formed the BJP’s spine in Uttar
Pradesh even as the Thakurs gave it muscle, the Banias money and the
Brahmins “intellectual credibility”, a source said.
The Banias then briefly flirted with the BSP and are now looking at
the Congress as an option; and there is every sign that the Brahmins
are “returning” to the Congress.
BJP sources said unless they could convince the Brahmins of the
party’s “winning potential”, the caste was not likely to support it in
the near future.
“The Brahmins returned to the Congress once they were sure that the
Muslims too were back with the party. We need to put together a solid
base again to attract the Brahmins. This is why Kalyan is important…
to pull some of the OBCs towards us,” a BJP leader explained.
Unlike the Congress, the BJP has nurtured an Other Backward Classes
leadership in north India in the post-Mandal era — from Narendra Modi
and Gopinath Munde in the west to Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Sushil
Modi in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
In Uttar Pradesh, however, the party’s OBC faces like Vinay Katiyar
and Om Prakash Singh were unable to fill the vacuum left by Kalyan.
In Madhya Pradesh, Uma Bharti, also a Lodh-Rajput, has sent feelers to
the BJP to take her back.
chhotemianinshallah
BJP passing through weakest period ever: Moily
STAFF WRITER 20:50 HRS IST
Kochi, Nov 15 (PTI) Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily today said the
BJP was passing through the weakest period in its history with a "very
sharp and steep decline" all over the country.
"There is a very sharp and steep decline for BJP all over the country.
The national leadership has become weak and even their state units are
really crumbling," he told reporters here.
"I think BJP is now undergoing the weakest period ever possible in its
history," he said.
Asked whether the rebellion-hit BJP Government in Karnataka would
complete its term, Moily, a former chief minister of that state,
quipped: "I don't know whether they will complete their term. There is
no government as such.
There is anarchy within the Cabinet".
"It's a shame for the south India to have such a government in
Karnataka," he said.
chhotemianinshallah
Gadkari denies contending for BJP President's post
From ANI
Nagpur, Nov. 14: Maharashtra BJP Chief Nitin Gadkari has clarified
that he is not contending for the party's top post, as being claimed
by some media reports.
"I am not among the contenders neither I am aspiring for the post of
party president. I am also coming to know about my candidature through
the media reports," Gadkari told reporters in Nagpur.
"Senior leaders of the party including LK Advani, Rajnath Singh,
Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Ananth Kumar will decide
who to make the party president, whatever they decide, it will be
acceptable to me," Gadkari added.
It has been widely reported that Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) is
backing Gadkari's name as the next BJP President.
However, Gadkari dispelled reports that RSS was advocating his name in
BJP circles.
"Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has not presented my name, neither
they do so. BJP will decide who is going to be the party President. If
they ask me to be party President, I will let them know my decision,"
Gadkari said.
chhotemianinshallah
November 16, 2009
After The Karnataka Quake: The BJP as political franchise
prafulbidwai.org, 16 November 2009
by Praful Bidwai
The Bharatiya Janata Party's national leadership could not have cut a
sorrier figure than it did with its abysmally inept handling of the
latest political crisis in Karnataka, which very nearly brought down
the only government the party heads in all of South India. Chief
Minister BS Yeddyurappa survived not because he commands a majority
among BJP MLAs, but mainly because no other party (the Congress) was
willing, or strong enough (the Deve Gowda clan), to join hands with
the 50-odd BJP legislators who wanted him removed. Had the Congress
not held back from practising the kind of jod tod ki rajneeti (of
splitting parties and buying up MLAs to stitch together governments)
that it's adept at, Mr Yeddyurappa would have become history.
The issues in Karnataka had nothing to do with policies, programmes
and (beyond a point) even personalities, leave alone ideology. At work
was crude political blackmail by powerful iron-ore mining interests
led by brothers G Janardhana and G Karunakara Reddy. Based in Bellary
district, a backward semi-arid region abutting Andhra Pradesh, the
Reddy brothers have amassed fortunes running into Rs 30,000 crores in
half-a-generation. The Reddys-known for their ultra-lavish lifestyles,
including private helicopters and luxury limousines-have been
bankrolling the BJP for years. They reportedly sank mind-boggling
amounts into its election campaign last year. It's now payback time
through political control and financial favours.
Mr Yeddyurappa is a crude, half-rustic, tactless and strong-headed
politician who has behaved as if he commanded unbridled power because
he led the party to victory. He should have known that the BJP
respects money power more than democratic mandates. He decided to
discipline the Reddys by imposing a Rs 1,000 charge on each truck
carrying iron ore. The brothers revolted. Eventually, Mr Yeddyurappa
had to concede all of the Reddys' demands, barring his resignation,
including the removal of his principal secretary, and his confidant
Shobha Karandlaje, and annulling the transfer of officials believed to
be close to the Reddys. Mr Yeddyurappa was comprehensively humiliated
and had an undignified breakdown.
The BJP's so-called central leaders played their own little games in
Karnataka. Ms Sushma Swaraj, who had contested the Bellary Lok Sabha
seat against Ms Sonia Gandhi (and lost), sided with the Reddys and
inserted herself into a three-member committee to decide on iron ore
levies. Mr Arun Jaitley, earlier in charge of the Karnataka elections,
clandestinely goaded Mr Yeddyurappa to take a tough line. Mr HN Ananth
Kumar tried to scuttle a settlement for his own Karnataka-specific
reasons. BJP ex-president Murli Manohar Joshi also jumped into the
fray, using his RSS contacts.
There was no coherent central intervention to assert the BJP's long-
term interest. Party president Rajnath Singh, a pucca Hindi belt
politician, was clueless. Mr LK Advani, too preoccupied with his own
exit-forced upon him by the RSS-was at a dead loss. Intrigue,
skulduggery and money power calculations trumped all else. Finally,
the party caved in to the Reddys' blackmail-without even trying to
assert any semblance of discipline.
The Karnataka "compromise" is unlikely to last. The mining lobby and
other entrenched interests will make another bid to dislodge the now-
mauled and considerably weakened Yedyurappa. The crisis clearly showed
the BJP in the grip of regional satraps, for whom the national
leadership is of little consequence. It's the local dynamics of power
and cynical calculations of sectional and individual interests that
matter. The party's national organisation-itself divided, rudderless
and in disarray-hardly plays a role.
The BJP is no longer the unified, centrally directed, ideologically
motivated political enterprise it once was. It now resembles a
marketing arrangement with a series of regional franchises, which make
and sell a political product with an increasingly diffuse identity.
The franchisee autonomously decides the sources of supply, product mix
and price, adding local flavours to the original recipe at will. Thus,
there is a Narendra Modi BJP in Gujarat, a Shivraj Singh Chauhan party
in Madhya Pradesh, a Raman Singh-branded entity in Chhattisgarh, and a
Nisshank enterprise in Uttarakhand. The binding cement in each
franchise is the loaves and fishes of office, not the BJP's national
identity, programmes and policies.
This is a very different party from what the BJP was designed to be
right since its avatar as the Bharatiya Jana Sangh-a national-level
enterprise with a strong supra-regional identity and a unitarian (as
opposed to federal) bias inherited from the RSS. The RSS still parades
itself as an organisation of all Hindus, based on homogenous Hindu
political citizenship cutting across regional, linguistic, ethnic, and-
this is a long shot for a Brahmin-dominated cabal-caste divides.
For two decades, the BJP drew its identity from its national
leadership, its unitarian planks and slogans (including a Uniform
Civil Code and denial of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir within the
Indian Union, guaranteed by Article 370), and its craving for
homogenising a highly plural, diverse, multi-ethnic and multireligious
society.
That identity is now fragmented. A decentralised federal structure is
not a bad thing. It's just that the BJP doesn't know how to handle it
and aggregate the strength of its state units-because it doesn't have
a strong central leadership anymore. For many years, the Vajpayee-
Advani duo catalysed a vanguard-style high command which both built up
the party and controlled it tightly. But they failed to put together a
second-generation leadership structure that would succeed them. Mr
Vajpayee is now counting his last days. And Mr Advani (82) is fading
out. The so-called Iron Man was never individually astute enough, or
respected enough, to provide leadership to the party without Mr
Vajpayee's stewardship. Ever since the BJP lost national power, he has
progressively lowered his stature and marginalised himself by behaving
like a factional leader.
Mr Advani is now being pushed out of the BJP by the RSS. The Sangh
decided way back in 2005 that he must step down from all posts. When
Mr Advani repeatedly refused to take the hint, the RSS went public.
Sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat announced that Mr Advani would quit as
the Leader of the Opposition. And now RSS functionary Ram Madhav has
set the deadline. Mr Advani would retire immediately after the BJP's
organisational elections in January.
The RSS has recently tightened its grip over the BJP. It has made and
unmade key appointments and laid down the policy red lines. It
appointed its men as organising secretaries in all BJP state units. It
has gone one step further in micro-managing the BJP by deciding its
next president would be "from outside Delhi" in whose election Mr
Advani would have no role. That excludes the four leaders in the moth-
eaten central leadership: Messrs Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and
Ananth Kumar, and Ms Swaraj. The next president, who is likely to be
Mr Nitin Gadkari, will be forced to follow the Sangh's diktat on
organisational and political matters.
However, it's not as if the RSS were more capable or politically clued
in than the BJP. If anything, it's more retrograde and unconnected
from the real world. Mr Bhagwat's weird statements in his recent Aaj
Tak interview show an illiterate mind far, far removed from the 21st
century. Mr Bhagwat says Pakistan and even Afghanistan are part of
India, they belong to us, "they will come back to us". He cannot be
accused of being well-informed on China, but he's convinced that the
Chinese will attack India. Ultimately, the RSS can never leave the
dark world of ignorance, prejudice and obscurantism in Nagpur's
Reshimbag, the all-male cabal's headquarters, with all its fantasies
about recreating India's glorious past.
The Sangh Parivar has always been intellectually bankrupt and
pitiable. Unlike the Left and Centrist parties, or the Congress, it
has never been able to attract and retain good minds and fertilise new
forward-looking ideas. For instance, an obscure man called Jagdish
Shettigar was its chief economic adviser for many years. Amartya Sen
said of Shettigar: "If he is an economist, then I am a Bharat Natyam
dancer." Some educated people like Arun Shourie and Sudheendra
Kulkarni gravitated towards the BJP because it was in power. But they
are gone, or on their way out. The only home-grown Hindutva strategist
the Parivar recently produced was Mr KN Govindacharya, the architect
of "social engineering", which for the first time genuinely expanded
the BJP's social base to include the OBCs in the late 1980s and early
1990s. But he was expelled.
In retrospect, the BJP's amazing success in moving from the periphery
(with two Lok Sabha seats in 1984) to national power seems to be
something of a freak. It never had the intellectual-ideological or the
political-strategic resources to chart out a path to power on its own.
It was buoyed up by social and political forces which it had no role
in shaping-including the Congress's decline, the Left's retreat after
the fall of the Berlin Wall, the global rise of identity politics, the
rapid rise of an insecure, illiberal, aggressively nationalistic
middle class, and the Mandal Moment. This combination of conditions no
longer exists. The BJP's hour may have passed
Posted by c-info at Monday, November 16, 2009
chhotemianinshallah
The Default Emperor?
A few years on, when the tale is told about the great hunt for a new
BJP president in 2009, it might sound like a fable. Once upon a time,
the mighty princes of the land of the BJP fought and squabbled. So bad
was the situation in the kingdom that the gods themselves had to
descend from the heavens and begin the search for a new king. They
hunted across the length and breadth of the land and finally found a
suitable man in the place where the gods have their abode. (The
dictionary meaning of fable is a short moral story or an improbable
account).
It’s now highly likely that a local man from Nagpur, the headquarters
of the RSS, will be the next BJP president. If all goes according to
the RSS plan, 52-year-old Nitin Gadkari will be the national president
of the party after the term of current incumbent Rajnath Singh comes
to an end in December this year. Since the process of organisational
elections could still take a few more months, RSS/BJP leaders have
been toying with the possibility of making an interim announcement
soon after the Jharkhand assembly election results are announced on
December 23.
In other words, the long-winded process and speculation will continue
till the year-end. But clearly the process is coming to a climax, with
various BJP and RSS emissaries turning up in Delhi over the last few
weeks to sound out national leaders about accepting/cooperating with
Gadkari.
What happens then? The Big Four would pretend to accept his leadership
but covert sabotage is possible.
Which is indeed the big question. How will a regional leader, some
years younger, and with no national exposure, exercise authority over
the BJP’s second-rung biggies? To add insult to injury, RSS chief
Mohan Bhagwat made it clear in a recent interview that the leaders
from Delhi are not in contention for the president’s post. Which is
why Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Ananth Kumar and Venkaiah Naidu are
now referred to as “D-4” or “B-4” (the Delhi Four or the Blacklisted
Four). “The issue is not that one of them has to be made president.
But it’ll surely annoy each of them that the RSS has decided
arbitrarily that they will not be considered at all,” says a senior
party leader.
There is another catch to the planned anointment of the (relatively)
young Maharashtrian Brahmin. Nitin Gadkari himself. Well-placed party
sources say Gadkari has told the leadership he would prefer to focus
on Maharashtra. He has also reportedly said it would not be
“appropriate” for a regional politician like him to suddenly land in
Delhi and exercise authority over seniors with far greater experience.
Gadkari is an amiable figure in party circles, a man who maintains
good relations with seniors and RSS leaders. He is from an RSS-ABVP
background but is not really known for ideologically rigid positions.
In Maharashtra, he’s best known for his term as the state PWD minister
(1995-99), credited with building the Pune-Mumbai expressway and
putting up several flyovers in Mumbai itself. He also runs several
successful businesses in Nagpur that manufacture pipes, steel
furniture and even silk saris. His electoral experience, however, is
limited. He has been a member of the legislative council five times
from the Nagpur region but hasn’t been in the state assembly although
he is the president of the Maharashtra BJP.
There is nothing spectacular in Gadkari’s past although his future may
be different. Piyush Geol, Mumbai-based investment banker and
Maharashtra BJP party treasurer, describes Gadkari as a simple and
accessible leader. “His house in Worli serves as a bhandar for any
visiting party leader or worker. He is so down to earth that he will
buy vegetables in Nagpur and carry them on the flight to Mumbai where
everything is more expensive.” Fellow Maharashtrian Prakash Javadekar,
now Rajya Sabha MP, says that Gadkari’s energy levels are phenomenal
and “for 10 years I almost lived in his house in Nagpur, he’s so open-
hearted”.
But does he qualify to be BJP president? Well, there is the problem
that he looks like the fall guy—except for the “B-4” all state leaders
turned down the offer. Sources reveal that two months ago Madhya
Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Chauhan was first sounded out by the
RSS. Chauhan panicked and began a counter-campaign to remain in state
politics. Then L.K. Advani suggested the name of Narendra Modi. The
Gujarat CM refused. Apparently, Modi has planned huge celebrations in
2010 to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of Gujarat and has
no incentive to shift to central politics now. Advani also suggested
the name of people like Manohar Parrikar of Goa and Nitin Gadkari. The
RSS has had differences with Parrikar so they seized on Gadkari’s name—
the local Nagpur boy who has always obliged them. As a party insider
says, “Advani possibly suggested his name as a diversionary tactic and
not as a serious contender. The Sangh, though, made him the sole
contender by declaring the others out of the race.”
Gadkari currently finds himself between a rock and a hard place. He
will move to Delhi if the RSS insists but by all accounts is not
lobbying or even enthusiastic about the job. What happens then? The
Big Four will pretend to accept his leadership but covert sabotage is
very much possible.
Meanwhile, another subplot brews. Advani is expected to quit as leader
of the Opposition and hand the reins to Sushma Swaraj. But it now
turns out that a strong section of the RSS believes Murli Manohar
Joshi should get the job and he is currently the frontrunner for the
constitutional post. Hence, Sushma Swaraj has been quoted as saying
Advani will continue as leader in the House—she would be left with
nothing should Joshi pip her to the post. Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh too
has been quietly lobbying for the post after his term as president
ends. He has nowhere to go except UP where the BJP seems to have no
future.
It’s all a sorry mess. No wonder life in Nagpur seems better to Nitin
Gadkari.http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?262784
chhotemianinshallah
BJP divided over Kalyan's possible re-induction
STAFF WRITER 18:50 HRS IST
Lucknow, Nov 16 (PTI) BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh today appeared
divided over possible re-induction of Kalyan Singh into the party
fold, a day after the former Hindutva mascot indicated his desire to
return to his parent organisation.
When contacted, the leaders said it was for the BJP High Command to
decide on the matter, adding Kalyan Singh was not an ordinary man who
could be re-admitted by anyone.
"It is not an issue to be decided at my level. I have only welcomed
his regret on his act of betraying the party," senior BJP leader and
MP Lalji Tandon told PTI.
"Singh is not a common worker who can be re-inducted by anyone," he
said.
"He (Kalyan) will have to win over the trust of the party leadership
which will decide on his re-joining," said Tandon who had telephonic
conversation with the former Chief Minister yesterday.
Sid Harth
BJP SPLIT WIDE OPEN
BJP leadership crisis: Rajnath willing to step down
CNN-IBN
Published on Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 20:15 in Politics section
PAVING THE WAY: Rajnath Singh says does not wish to come in the way of
choosing a new leadership for the party.
New Delhi: In an attempt to tide over the prevailing crisis in the
BJP, BJP President Rajnath Singh has indicated that he is willing to
step down from his post.
CNN-IBN has learnt that Rajnath Singh has made it clear to the RSS and
top BJP leadership that he does not wish to come in the way of
choosing a new leadership for the party.
With organisational elections prcoess likely to take around two-three
months, Rajnath Singh was earlier hoping to delay his stepping down.
However, with the RSS keen on installing Nitin Gadkari as the next
president, Rajnath Singh seems to have seen the the writing on the
wall.
bademiyansubhanallah
NEW DELHI, November 17, 2009
‘Kalyan, Uma Bharti will create more crisis in BJP’
Anita Joshua
The Hindu Congress national general secretary in-charge of party
affairs in Uttar Pradesh Digvijay Singh. File photo: Subir Roy
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Monday welcomed the bid
by the former Chief Ministers, Kalyan Singh and Uma Bharti, to return
to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Describing the duo as “party-breakers,” Mr. Digvijay Singh — who is in-
charge of Congress affairs in Uttar Pradesh — said their return to the
BJP would facilitate more confusion and crisis in a party that is
already facing a leadership crisis.
Speaking to journalists, Mr. Digvijay Singh was upbeat about the
Congress’ prospects in U.P., as the party had now equalled the
Samajwadi Party’s (SP) clutch of 22 Lok Sabha seats from the State.
And, efforts were on to put in place a State-specific strategy for the
Assembly elections in 2012.
Having defeated SP president Mulayam Singh’s daughter-in-law in the
family pocket borough of Ferozabad in the recent by-polls to the Lok
Sabha, the Congress is sure that the possible return of both Mr.
Kalyan Singh and Ms. Bharti to the BJP would not lead to a realignment
of backward castes.
Part of this confidence lies in the Congress perception that people
are increasingly getting disenchanted with caste-based politics and
the way it has evolved. Though reluctant to write off Mr. Mulayam
Singh and his brand of politics, Mr. Digvijay Singh said the SP’s
brand of politics was being rejected, partly because it was perceived
to be singularly aimed at promoting a chosen few.
As for the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Mr. Digvijay Singh refused to
subscribe to the assumption that it was on a comeback trail after the
Assembly by-elections, in which that party picked up nine of the 11
seats.
“The whole administration was fighting the elections on behalf of the
BSP,” he said, adding that the Congress managed to pull off a victory
in Ferozabad because the party’s senior leadership pitched their tents
there.
bademiyansubhanallah
AHMEDABAD, November 17, 2009
Cinemas in Rajkot ransacked
Special Correspondent
Workers of the newly-formed Mahagujarat Janata Party, floated by
former leaders of the Gujarat BJP, on Monday ransacked some cinema
theatres in Rajkot screening the Hindi film Tum Mile, produced by
Mahesh Bhatt.
Besides damaging posters, some workers burst firecrackers inside the
hall when the show was on. The scared viewers rushed out.
The MJP workers were protesting against the alleged links of Rahul,
son of Mr. Bhatt, with terror suspect David Headley.
bademiyansubhanallah
BJP pushes Modi for post of party chief
Aims to stop RSS leader from naming head
By Ajay Jha, Chief Correspondent
Published: 00:00 November 17, 2009
New Delhi: Uneasy with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) dictating
it who should head the party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is
making a last ditch effort to get Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi
to give his nod to become the next party chief.
RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat virtually named the outgoing BJP president
Rajnath Singh's successor by indicating his preference for Nitin
Gadkari, the incumbent Maharashtra BJP chief, putting the party in a
fix.
Bhagwat had recently created a storm in the party by openly saying
that none of the four-Delhi based leaders would be the new BJP chief.
Although the RSS chief did not name the four leaders, it virtually
ended chances of Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, M. Venkaiah Naidu and
Ananth Kumar, all considered close to veteran leader Lal Krishna
Advani.
Rajnath Singh, himself a nominee of the RSS, is set to demit office on
December 31 after completing his stipulated three-year tenure. BJP
constitution does not allow an incumbent chief to run for a second
consecutive term.
Incidentally, despite having provision of election, BJP has been
electing its president by consensus ever since it came into being in
1980.
Advani faction in particular is unhappy with the RSS trying to evolve
a consensus over Gadkari's candidature as they feel he lacks the
experience and stature to head the party at such a crucial juncture
when rebuilding the party is a must to gear it up to reclaim power at
the centre.
chhotemianinshallah
BJP split wide open on Kalyan's homecoming
Manjari Mishra, TNN 17 November 2009, 06:12am IST
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh BJP is like a helpless husband who takes back
his truant wife for family’s sake even though she eloped twice with
his
The statement by a senior leader summed up the popular mood as rumours
of a likely patch up with the former Hindutva mascot and national vice-
president Kalyan Singh did the rounds on Monday. Singh, having vented
his spleen against ‘‘untrustworthy imbecile’’ Mulayam Singh Yadav
after the bitter breakup, preferred to lie low. This, however, did not
stop him from throwing open his doors to emissaries from the old camp
seen flitting in and out of his residence on Monday. Prominent among
the visitors were the BJP state vice-president Surya Pratap Sahi and
Lucknow mayor Dinesh Sharma. Both leaders remained closeted with Singh
and made light of the visit dubbing it ‘‘personal’’. What lent the
‘‘personal’’ visit a curious touch was the fact that the duo made a
beeline to the BJP MP Lalji Tandon’s home, straight from Kalyan’s, to
hold closed-door exchanges lasting over two hours.
chhotemianinshallah
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Gadkari, Modi shortlisted for BJP chair
By Iftikhar Gilani
NEW DELHI: Leaders from India’s opposition Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) have been striving to find a new president to rejuvenate the
dissipated party, which lost polls to the Congress earlier this year.
Sources said that Maharashtra state unit president Nitin Gadkari and
Gujarat Chief Minister Narinder Modi have been shortlisted for the
office as the term of current BJP President Rajnath Singh ends in
January.
Some party leaders have even asked BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani to
convince Modi to lead the party as its chief. They have also conveyed
a message to the BJP’s patron organisation, Rashtriya Sawavemsevak
Sangh (RSS), that Modi is a leader with a “mass appeal” who could be a
big morale booster for the cadres.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has recently hinted to elevate little known
Gadkari to head the BJP.
But BJP leaders say Modi, 59, fits Bhagwat's requirements – that the
new BJP president should be in the age group of 50-60 who pursue the
Hindutva values of the RSS.
chhotemianinshallah
Rajnath tries to hasten LK exit
17 Nov 2009, 0358 hrs IST, ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: Even though his days as BJP president are numbered, Mr
Rajnath Singh has not given up on his attempts to undercut the
authority of his rivals.
Mr Singh’s office on Monday put out the yarn that the BJP president
was getting ready to demit office even before his term ended ``to
enable the party to cut its losses.’’ A strong claimant for the
Opposition leader’s post himself, Mr Singh suddenly effected a volte-
face, and backed Ms Sushma Swaraj for the post. Political observers
saw in his new stance an attempt to exert pressure on Mr L K Advani to
follow suit, and resign from the post of Opposition leader
simultaneously to make way for Ms Swaraj.
Mr Singh’s gameplan, however, is unlikely to yield dividends as Mr
Advani has made it clear that he would like to resign from the post of
Opposition leader at a timing of his choice. In any case, with the
winter session of Parliament getting underway on November 19, there
was no way that Mr Advani could oblige Mr Singh by demitting office
mid-way.
Mr Singh’s tenure as BJP president comes to an end by the end of this
year. The person tipped by RSS to take over the reins of the party, Mr
Nitin Gadkari, is expected to assume his new responsibility in
January.
Mr Singh’s camp-followers, who till the other day were seeking an
amendment in the party constitution to enable him to secure a second
consecutive three-year term, have suddenly built a case for him to put
in his papers early. This was nothing more than a ploy to pile up
pressure on Mr Advani to follow suit.
Mr Singh is said to have requested the general secretary in-charge of
organisation, Mr Ram Lal and Mr Thawar Chand Gehlot, who has been made
in-charge of the party’s organisational elections, to expedite the
process so as to facilitate a leadership change earlier than the
scheduled date.
bademiyansubhanallah
Return of Kalyan and Uma to BJP fold is good news: Congress
TNN 17 November 2009, 02:45am IST
NEW DELHI: Congress on Monday said that return of former BJP leaders
Kalyan Singh and Uma Bharti to their old party would not be a bad
thing to happen.
It said that the entry of the one-time Ayodhya campaigners would
actually further sharpen the inner contradictions of the opposition
party.
"The BJP is in a bad shape, their return could only accentuate the
conflict within that party," Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh
told reporters.
Commenting on the significance of his party's impressive win in the
Firozabad parliamentary bypoll, he said that the straitjacket of
casteist politics in Uttar Pradesh was not as invincible as it used to
be.
"That is the message of the Firozabad outcome," he said.
Singh, party incharge of UP affairs, managed the campaign for the
bypoll.
He, however, admitted that the SP's political base had not yet been
entirely eroded because of the new social engineering in the state.
Singh saw the Firozabad outcome as indicative of a new trend and
termed it as a "turning point".
He said his party was busy honing a strategy for the 2012 elections in
the state. "Very soon we will put an effective strategy in place," he
said.
He claimed that the next assembly elections would be a battle mainly
between the ruling BSP and Congress with others falling behind in the
race.
bademiyansubhanallah
Shettar quits as Speaker, set to join govt with plum portfolio
Johnson TA
Posted: Tuesday , Nov 17, 2009 at 0259 hrs
Bangalore:
Senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar on Monday quit as the Speaker of
the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in anticipation of his induction as
a minister into the B S Yeddyurappa government. He is expected to get
a plum portfolio, and according to some indications, that could be
Mines and Geology, currently held by the Chief Minister himself.
Shettar, who was a central figure in the recent rebellion against
Yeddyurappa’s leadership, is to be sworn in as a minister on Tuesday
afternoon.
Another portfolio being considered for Shettar is Rural Development,
which was held by Yeddyurappa confidante Shobha Karandlaje, who had to
quit as part of a solution to the recent rebellion.
As he handed his resignation to Deputy Speaker K G Bopaiah on Monday,
Shettar was accompanied by Janardhan Reddy, one of the Reddy brothers
from Bellary who led the revolt against Yeddyurappa. He refused to
talk politics till his induction into the ministry.
The entry of Shettar is seen as the fulfillment of another of several
conditions imposed on Yeddyurappa by the rebels in order to sign a
truce.
A member of the powerful Lingayat community like Yeddyurappa himself,
Shettar was projected as the replacement chief minister candidate by
the rebels at the height of a 14-day stand-off for a change in
leadership in Karnataka.
Shettar is also expected to be a key part of the special coordination
committee to be formed shortly by the BJP, to enable balancing of
various interests in the state government. Shettar, who enjoys a
sizable following in the Hubli-Dharwad belt, is expected to have a
large number of his supporters in Bangalore for the swearing-in
ceremony at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday afternoon.
Ahead of Shettar’s induction, Yeddyurappa stated in his home district
of Shimoga that he differences in the government had been set aside
and that focus had returned to relief work in the flood-hit parts of
north Karnataka.
chhotemianinshallah
Uma Bharti says she will join NDA, but not BJP
IANS
Published on Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 18:14,
Updated on Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 18:22 in Politics section
TOGETHER WE CAN: Uma Bharti said, if we keep going alone, we will be
confined to only one or two states.
Lucknow: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rebel and Bharatiya Janshakti
Party founder Uma Bharti on Tuesday said she is willing to join the
National Democratic Alliance but not the BJP.
"I have written a letter to NDA convenor Sharad Yadav and L K Advani
in this regard. The past five years (since I left BJP) were a bitter
experience as it is very difficult carry on politics at national level
single handedly," said Uma Bharti.
"If we keep going alone, we will be confined to only one or two
states," she said.
Uma Bharti, who also met BJP rebel Kalyan Singh, welcomed his decision
to part ways with the Samajwadi Party.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav abruptly dumped Kalyan Singh
on last Saturday after his party's dismal showing in the recent
assembly by-polls in Uttar Pradesh. Kalyan Singh did not hesitate to
display his intent to secure re-entry into his parent party, and the
next day he expressed regret at associating himself with Mulayam
Singh.
"It was only the Ram Mandir issue that got Kalyan Singh the chief
minister's chair and I support him over the issue. Even Lord Ram will
forgive him for parting away from Mulayam Singh and taking the pledge
for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya," Bharti said.
After the meeting, Kalyan Singh once again said that he will make all
possible efforts for the construction of the Ram temple.
"It (Ram Mandir) will be constructed one day and I will give all
possible support to the BJP for this cause," said Kalyan Singh. Bharti
also said she will also extend all possible support to Kalyan Singh
for the "noble cause".
chhotemianinshallah
Yeddyurappa makes political rival Shettar minister
Indo Asian News Service on November 17, 2009
Bangalore, Nov 17 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa
Tuesday inducted Jagadish Shettar, who has resigned as the assembly
speaker, into his ministry as part of the deal to buy peace with
dissidents seeking his removal.
The 54-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party leader from north Karnataka was
administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj
at his official residence Raj Bhavan here.
Yeddyurappa and several cabinet ministers were present when Shettar,
who quit as speaker Monday, took the oath in Kannada in the name of
god. A few hundred supporters of Shettar, who moved to the BJP after
being active in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), turned the
swearing-in ceremony into a boisterous affair.
Shettar was propped by dissidents, led by mining magnates Tourism
Minister G. Janardhana Reddy and his elder brother Revenue Minister G.
Karunakara Reddy, as an alternative to Yeddyurappa during their
October-end campaign against the chief minister.
Shettar, a commerce and law graduate, willy-nilly became the rallying
point of the ‘oust Yeddyurappa movement’ though he was not one of the
rebels. He was, though, keen to be a minister when the BJP’s first
government took office in the state in May last year.
His return to active politics was one of the points of the peace deal
brokered by the BJP’s senior leader Sushma Swaraj with the Reddy
brothers.
Yeddyurappa has already implemented the other points of the formula –
dropping the lone woman minister Shobha Karandlage, shunting out his
principal secretary V.P. Baligar and posting officials desired by the
Reddy brothers in some districts and ministries.
Sid Harth
Exit Rajnath in 2 weeks, Gadkari to lead BJP
Bhupendra Chaubey / CNN-IBN
Published on Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 13:10,
Updated on Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 23:49 in Politics section
BJP OLD GUARD: Senior BJP leaders L K Advani (L) and Rajnath Singh set
to bow out.
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajnath Singh is set to
resign as party president within the next fortnight and will be
replaced by Maharashtra politician Nitin Gadkari, CNN-IBN has learnt.
Sources in the BJP say Singh will resign as party president before his
term ends in December. Gadkari, the BJP chief in Maharashtra, may be
announced as the new BJP president anytime after that.
Gadkari is likely to take over charge of the party as early as mid-
December, when BJP's organisational elections are due in all states.
That will wind up by February next year and once Gadkari's name is
announced, it will be officially ratified at the BJP's national
council meeting likely to be called in the third week of December.
Sources tell CNN-IBN Advani was initially reluctant to accept Gadkari
for the post, but Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders convinced
him.
CNN-IBN learns Gadkari is the personal choice of RSS chief Mohan Rao
Bhagwat--both men hail from Nagpur.
Advani, a co-founder of the BJP, had initially conveyed to RSS leaders
that Gadkari lacked the stature and the merit to lead the party at a
national level. After several rounds of discussions between the RSS
and the BJP high command, Advani fell in line.
Critics argue that Gadkari had failed to rejuvenate the Maharashtra
BJP and must take blame for the party’s defeat in the state Assembly
elections, but he has been selected to be president because he is non-
controversial and is not from Delhi.
Gadkari starting off as a simple RSS worker and used to be responsible
for rolling and laying of carpets at RSS functions in the seventies.
From such humble beginning to becoming the national president of the
BJP, the wheel has turned a full circle for him.
Sid Harth
BJP names a 14-member committee for Karnataka
STAFF WRITER 21:17 HRS IST
Bangalore, Nov 17 (PTI) The BJP high command today constituted a 14-
member coordination committee to oversee the affairs of Karnataka in
the wake of the recent revolt against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa
that rocked the party's only government in the South.
The Committee announced by party President Rajnath Singh has twelve
members and two invitees.
Party sources said State unit President Sadananda Gowda would be the
head of the Committee, as against the demand by dissidents that senior
leader Sushma Swaraj or Ananth Kumar should lead it.
The Coordination Committee is meeting here tomorrow ahead of the
legislature wing to discuss various issues including the
implementation of the compromise formula evolved by the central
leadership early this month to end the revolt against Yeddyurappa's
leadership, the sources said.
Sid Harth
Gadkari may take over as BJP chief by Dec 1st week
Shekhar Iyer, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, November 17, 2009
First Published: 09:46 IST(17/11/2009)
Last Updated: 20:19 IST(17/11/2009)
Nitin Gadkari may take over as the next BJP president as early as next
month.
With the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the parental body of the
BJP, succeeding in pushing his name for the post, the Sangh does not
wish to delay the changeover at the top.
Accepting the Sangh's fiat, BJP leaders too wouldn't mind 52-year-old
Gadkari, who is presently head of the Maharashtra unit of the BJP,
occupying the post as early as possible. In any case, they have
already accepted his name though after conveying to RSS chief Mohan
Bhagwat their misgivings on his leadership at this juncture.
A month-long schedule announced by the BJP had said the process of
electing president would begin only from December 15. Under its
statute, the new president can be elected only when polls to 50 per
cent of the state units are completed.
The idea, BJP officials say, is now not to wait for the formal
election process to get over by December or January 31, which could
delay Gadkari taking charge of the party at the headquarters.
As a senior BJP functionary put it, "why should there be delay in his
taking charge when his name has been finalised."
Gadkari's name could be endorsed by the party highest body, the
parliamentary board, and his appointment formally announced next
month.
Later, a meeting of the party's national executive and national
council could be held to complete his election as BJP chief for a
period of three years. That could happen in January or February.
Sensing the mood of the RSS and BJP leaders, Rajnath Singh has
indicated that he doesn't mind leaving his post early- though one
version is he was told by the RSS brass to prepare the ground for
Gadkari to take over as early as possible to "arrest the mood of drift
in the party." Hitherto, Singh's aides had held that his term was over
only in January.
Singh said on Tuesday that, "In a way, my term as president has come
to an end. At the right time, I will hand over the reins to the new
president to bring in a change of responsibility." But he added, "I
have not decided the date as yet." He was also now willing to treat
November 26 as the date by which his current three-year term gets
over.
Bhagwat pressed for Gadkari, the Nagpur-based businessman-leader,
ruling out names of "Delhi-centric" leaders as a quick-fix to end the
squabbling among the second generation leaders. Advani concurred with
Bhagwat after Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as well as other
BJP chief ministers said they were not willing to quit their posts to
take charge of the party in Delhi. The RSS chief made it clear right
from the beginning of the consultation process that the Sangh's
favourite was Gadkari or Goa leader leader Mohan Parrikar who had to
bow out after he remarked Advani was like "rancid pickle" and would
have to retire.
Sid Harth
Race begins to replace Gadkari in state BJP
Shubhangi Khapre / DNA Tuesday, November 17, 2009 1:19 IST
Mumbai: The decision to appoint Nitin Gadkari as president of the BJP
has set the stage for an overhaul of the party, altering equations
within its Maharashtra unit. A formal announcement naming Gadkari, 52,
as the successor to Rajnath Singh is expected next month.
The race to succeed Gadkari in Maharashtra has already begun, with his
supporters vying with those of BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde to
ensure that control of the party stays with them. The big question is
what Munde's role will be, an insider said.
An aide of Munde said, "If he is determined to continue at [the]
centre, he will have to work under Gadkari as vice-president or
general secretary. The other option would be to become general
secretary in charge of Maharashra, a post held by the late Pramod
Mahajan." The possibility of Munde taking over as state BJP chief is
being ruled out at the moment.
A source in the party said, "Attempts are being made to promote senior
leader Pandurang Phundkar as the next state president. At present he
is leader of the opposition in the state legislative council."
Phundkar is a close associate of Munde. If he becomes state president
it would be a face-saver for Munde, who does not want to lose control
of the state unit altogether.
But Eknath Khadse, leader of the opposition in the state assembly, is
also seen to be close to Munde. So, some believe GenNext state general
secretary Vinod Tawde could be asked to replace Phundkar as leader of
the opposition in the council.
Young Turks within the BJP are also lobbying for Tawde to become the
state unit chief. For his part, Tawde is non-committal, leaving a
decision on his future to the core committee.
Within the BJP, Tawde is seen to have better working relations with
Gadkari. Not surprisingly, the Munde camp may not like to elevate him
to state president now.
bademiyansubhanallah
RSS plans to clip wings of BJP’s ‘Delhi 4’
Neena Vyas
Keen to separate functions of BJP parliamentary wing and central
organisation
Arun Jaitley
NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is believed to have thought
up a plan that would bring about a separation in the functioning of
the BJP parliamentary wing and its central party organisation to
prevent one encroaching upon the rights of the other.
While the parliamentary wing will work through its own parliamentary
party executive and take decisions relevant to parliamentary strategy
and day-to-day functioning with the Leader of the Opposition in the
Lok Sabha in the chair, decisions about the functioning of the State
units and central party programmes will be taken by the team of
central party office-bearers with the party president in the chair.
M. Venkaiah Naidu
It seems that one of the problems that the RSS has diagnosed as
responsible for the party’s recent poor health is that the
parliamentary party leader, L.K. Advani specifically, had been trying
to encroach upon the decision-making powers of the party president, in
this instance Rajnath Singh. This was found to be the reason for the
couple of months taken by the former Rajasthan Chief Minister,
Vasundhara Raje, to resign from the position of Leader of the
Opposition in the Assembly. This was also found to be a factor in the
two-week Karnataka crisis — two parts of the BJP were pulling in
different directions.
With Maharashtra State party president Nitin Gadkari being the
favourite to take charge from Mr. Singh, efforts are also on to ensure
that he is not frustrated or stymied by the seemingly well-entrenched
and more powerful ‘Delhi 4’ leaders — Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, M.
Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar — who were kept out of the race for
the top job by the RSS. The plan seems to be to keep them busy with
parliamentary affairs.
Coordination panel
The first signal came on Tuesday. Mr. Jaitley and Ms. Swaraj left for
Bangalore after a parliamentary party meeting to help set up the
coordination committee for the Karnataka government that was part of
the compromise formula that was worked out among the BJP leadership,
Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and the Reddy brothers of Bellary to
buy peace. Even before the two left for Bangalore, Mr. Singh
constituted a 14-member coordination committee including the Chief
Minister and one of the Bellary brothers, G. Karunakara Reddy.
Sushma Swaraj
The committee includes State party president Sadanand Gowda; the
former Speaker, Jagadish Shettar, who was projected by the Reddys as
replacement for Mr. Yeddyurappa; a senior Minister V.S. Acharya; and
party general secretary and senior party MP from the State Ananth
Kumar. There was no word what role, if any, Ms. Swaraj would have
although at the time of the crisis it was said that she would chair
such a coordination committee.
Ananth Kumar
Separately, Mr. Singh told journalists that he would consult party
colleagues and decide when to quit his post. Those close to him are
saying that in any case he would not like to continue beyond his three-
year tenure even for a day — he was elected on November 26, 2006 and
his tenure began from December 24, 2006 when the National Council
approved it, as is required under the party constitution.
bademiyansubhanallah
Sadananda Gowda heads BJP coordination panel
Special Correspondent
The 14-member committee will hold its first meeting today
D.V. Sadananda Gowda
BANGALORE: Bharatiya Janata Party State unit president D.V. Sadananda
Gowda will head the coordination committee formed to liaise between
the party organisation and the Government. The demand of the party
rebels was to appoint party leaders Sushma Swaraj or H.N. Ananth Kumar
as the head.
The 14-member committee, which was constituted on Tuesday by party
president Rajnath Singh, has 12 regular members and two invitees. The
committee comprises Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, party general
secretary Ananth Kumar and Ministers V.S. Acharya, Jagadish Shettar,
K.S. Eshwarappa, G. Karunakara Reddy, R. Ashok, Vishveshwara Hegde
Kageri, S. Suresh Kumar, Katta Subramanya Naidu and Basavaraj Bommai.
The invitees are State unit organising general secretary Santhosh and
co-organising secretary V. Satish.
A release issued by the BJP does not say that Mr. Gowda is the
chairman of the committee, but his name has been placed at the top of
the list of members.
A senior party functionary confirmed to The Hindu that Mr. Gowda would
be its chief and he would convene meetings of the committee.
The committee will hold its first meeting here on Wednesday ahead of
the legislature party meeting.
Sources in the BJP said that the party had informed the rebels that
its central leaders could not head the coordination committee as it
had been the practice to appoint the party’s State president as
chairperson. The coordination committees in other BJP-ruled States too
had State presidents as chairpersons, they pointed out.
Though the rebels’ demand for appointing a chairperson of their choice
has not been fulfilled, the party maintained that the committee was
evenly balanced. According to a senior party functionary, it has a few
members from both the camps, besides neutral members who have not
identified themselves with any group.
However, the rebel group appears to be not satisfied with the
composition of the committee, and several rebel MLAs held lengthy
discussions at the residence of Mr. Karunakara Reddy. But they
desisted from making any public comments.
When asked if they were satisfied with Mr. Gowda heading the
coordination committee, Minister G. Janardhan Reddy said that they
would abide by the decision taken by the party’s senior leaders.
chhotemianinshallah
BJP divided with or without Rajnath
18 Nov 2009, 0557 hrs IST, ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: Mr Rajnath Singh’s four-year stint as BJP president turned
out to be messy, with the party’s image and standing taking a severe
knock during this period. Now that his tenure is coming to an end,
he’s trying to ensure that his exit roadmap is messier.
Having failed in his bid to get the party constitution amended to get
another three-year term, Mr Singh is now trying to acquire the tag of
being a great sacrificer by dropping hints that he wants to hand over
the baton to his successor as early as possible “in the interest of
the party” .
Like most of his previous moves, Mr Singh’s latest reflexes too are
being viewed with suspicion. A section of the party believes that the
BJP president’s plans to put in his papers early have actually been
prompted by the desire to ensure that leader of the Opposition in the
Lok Sabha L K Advani too does an encore and hands over the charge to
his deputy Sushma Swaraj simultaneously.
Mr Advani, in keeping with the road map drawn in consultation with the
RSS, has been asked to hang around as the Opposition leader till a new
team of office-bearers is put in place.
In his interactions with his party colleagues, he has dropped enough
hints to suggest that he’d like to step down from his post at a timing
of his choice. Meanwhile, the new BJP president, according to the
party constitution, can be elected only if polls to at least 50 per
cent of the state units are completed. As of now, this seems unlikely
before the turn of the year.
Mr Singh’s camp-followers contend that in case the exercise of
organisational elections drags on till February or March, he’s
unlikely to wait that long, and would prefer to step down before
that.
Mr Singh was handed a full three-year term as party president on
November 26, 2006, and his elevation was ratified by the BJP’s
national council held in Lucknow on December 24, 2006.
He would, his camp followers maintain, like to treat that as the
deadline, and step down even before his term runs its course.
With his gameplan of seeking an extension having been foiled, Mr Singh
has suddenly turned philosophical. “Change of responsibility is a
natural process. My term is nearing an end and a new president has to
take the responsibility,” he told newspersons here this morning.
Indicating that his successor would be chosen by consensus, Mr Singh
said change of guard in BJP always took place “unanimously”.
bademiyansubhanallah
Is Modi declining the Delhi call?
DNA Correspondent Wednesday, November 18, 2009 10:27 IST
Ahmedabad: The latest buzz in BJP circles is that LK Advani, Venkaiah
Naidu and Arun Jaitley are trying hard to get Narendra Modi to the
Centre, but it is the Gujarat CM who is reluctant to go.
Quoting reports from Delhi, BJP sources said that the three senior BJP
leaders are resisting Maharashtra state BJP chief, Nitin Gadkari's
candidature for the post of national party president. Gadkari is the
RSS's choice for the top BJP post.
In an effort to find another candidate who was as acceptable to the
RSS as Gadkari, the three senior BJP leaders have reportedly decided
on Modi as the best man for the top job in the party. Modi is
acceptable even to the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. But Modi is reported
to be unwilling to move out of Gujarat and take over from Rajnath
Singh as the BJP president. Sources claimed Modi is keener to succeed
Advani as leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.
The speculation in the state BJP is that Modi is reluctant to move to
the Centre, mainly for three reasons - he wants to be in Gujarat for
the grand Swarnim Gujarat celebrations scheduled for May 2010.
Secondly, the rift in the top and middle levels of the BJP leadership
is currently so deep that even Modi may find it difficult to control
the warring factions.
And the third reason is the fact that Modi prefers to function
independently. As BJP president, he will need to have consensus on all
issues, while as leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha he'll have
greater autonomy, said a senior source in the party.
"If he fails to restore order in the party immediately after taking
over, it may cause a setback to his political career which may prove
hard to overcome," said the source. "His forays out of Gujarat during
the Lok Sabha elections in May were not particularly appreciated."
But the rumour mills in the BJP continue to churn out new gossip. The
buzz at the BJP office since Sunday afternoon is that their big boss
is moving to Delhi "anytime now". "If not as president, then as Leader
of Opposition in the Lok Sabha," an insider said.
This speculation has been fuelled further by RSS leader Ram Madhav's
statement that Advani will step down early next year after the new BJP
president takes charge. Talk of Modi moving to Delhi became more
intense in the state BJP last week after Bhagwat sent Gadkari to Delhi
but without a formal announcement that he would be taking over as the
next party president.
"Senior leaders like former Goa CM Manohar Panicker, chief minister of
MP Shivrajsinh Chauhan, and Gopinath Munde were in the running for the
top post, but they have been overlooked for a small political fry like
Gadkari," a senior BJP source said. "BJP leaders are incensed at such
assertion from the RSS."
The growing uneasiness between the BJP's top leadership and the RSS is
getting palpable now. At a function in Pune, Bhagwat said the BJP is a
"divided house, which cannot function properly...." However, if Modi
holds ground, they may have to concede for now.
bademiyansubhanallah
AP puts Reddy on the burner with CBI probe
KV Ramana / DNA Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:12 IST
Hyderabad: After showing his strength as a major political force to
reckon with in the two key southern states--Karnataka and Andhra
Pradesh--in the last few months, mining baron and Karnataka tourism
minister Gali Janardhana Reddy is staring at a probe by the Central
Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for alleged violations in mining
activities.
The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to seek a CBI probe into the
irregularities in the mining in Anantapur district. While deciding not
to make any specific mention of Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) owned
by Reddy in its letter to the central home ministry, the state
government is seeking a probe into the mining activities in Anantapur
district, which borders Karnataka.
Political observers told DNA that, by doing so, the Andhra chief
minister K Rosaiah will be able to kill two birds with one stone--keep
YS Jaganmohan Reddy, the son of late Andhra chief minister YS
Rajashekhara Reddy, in check, as well as appease the opposition.
bademiyansubhanallah
BJP core committee in place, BSY hemmed in
D Vasudevan / DNA Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:27 IST
Bangalore: The much-hyped demand of Reddy brothers to put on leash
chief minister BS Yeddyurappa finally became a reality with the BJP
high command announcing a 14-member co-ordination committee on
Tuesday.
The next item on the agenda of the Reddy brothers is expected to
unravel at the BJP legislature party meeting slated to be held on
Wednesday.
The meeting is likely to be stormy with several Reddy faction members
planning to press for an open debate. MLAs like Renukacharya and Belur
Gopalakrishna are likely to rake up the issue of neglect of party
loyalists by the chief minister.
Meanwhile, the Reddy brothers are reportedly working behind the scenes
to ensure Sushma Swaraj's presence in the core committee as the co-
ordination committee is also known. This will help them avoid any
direct confrontation with Yeddyurappa and ensure that the chief
minister submits to their diktats.
But opinion on the constitution of the core committee itself is
divided in the BJP. Many leaders felt that enforcing control over
Yeddyurappa, who is considered to be the face of the BJP in the state,
could not only upset the party workers but also a large section of the
party's supporters.
According to the CM's close associates, the committee is also going to
have a telling effect on the bureaucracy. Only recently, officials had
come to terms with Yeddyurappa's way of functioning and his authority
was gradually being accepted by a majority of them.
This helped him initiate action on war-footing when the floods ravaged
North Karnataka.
But the turn of events in the wake of dissidence gathering strength,
has had an adverse effect. An official even refused to report for duty
after the recent transfers. This could only be the beginning. Any
erosion of the authority of the chief minister, directly or
indirectly, by the core committee would worsen administrative matters
and affect the party's fortunes in the coming civic polls, they said.
Yeddyurappa only said: "The BJP higher-ups know my contribution to the
party in the past three decades and my commitment to provide a good
governance. I only ask the people to see reason and back me fully to
help me deliver on our promises."
chhotemianinshallah
BJP suffering from leadership crisis-Cong
PTI Wednesday, November 18, 2009 16:30 IST
Ranchi: BJP has been suffering from a leadership crisis and its ranks
are in disarray, AICC General Secretary, Digvijay Singh said today.
"See the situation in the BJP. There is no uniformity of ideals in its
ranks. Struggle for leadership is on," Singh told a news conference
here.
Asserting that the Congress has taken all sections of people with it,
he accused the BJP of cheating the people in the name of religion and
communal politics.
Under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, the party had reached out to the
people and the Manmohan Singh government had plans to amend the 1894
Land Acquisition Act which would benefit the land-owners in case of
land acquisition, the former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh said.
Several anti- land acquisition groups are active in Jharkhand in the
wake of successive governments signing over 70 MoUs for
industrilisation.
Singh charged the BJP with removing former Chief Minister, Babulal
Marandi in 2003 under controversial circumstances, adding everyone
knew the reason behind his replacement.
The Congress and Babulal Marandi's Jharkhand Vikas Morcha
(Prajatantric) have reached seat adjustment for the 81-seat assembly
polls from November 25. While Congress will fight for 62 seats, JVM
will fight for 19.
Marandi was the first chief minister of Jharkhand when he headed the
BJP-led NDA from November, 2000 to March 2003 before he was replaced
by another BJP leader Arjun Munda.
He broke away from the BJP in 2007 and floated JVM-P and the party had
fought alone during the Lok Sabha polls, maintaining equi-distance
from Congress and BJP.
Asked who would be the chief ministerial candidate for the alliance if
it got mandate, Singh said Congress had never robbed the right of
elected MLAs of chosing their leader.
chhotemianinshallah
Delhi calling Modi, but Guj CM not game
DNA Correspondent Wednesday, November 18, 2009 0:33 IST
Ahmedabad: The buzz in BJP circles is that Delhi is calling Gujarat
chief minister Narendra Modi but the latter does not want to leave
Ahmedabad. Senior leaders LK Advani, Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitley
reportedly want to resist the RSS move to make the party's Maharashtra
chief, Nitin Gadkari, the BJP's national president. To do that they
need to present an option the RSS will not refuse. Modi fits the bill
by being acceptable even to Mohan Bhagwat.
But, to their disappointment, Modi is refusing to take over the party
right now. He would rather inherit LK Advani's legacy as leader of
opposition, sources said.
Modi is reportedly resisting the move for three reasons. First, he
wants to be in Gujarat for the grand Swarnim Gujarat celebrations in
May 2010. Second, the rift between the party's top and middle level
leadership is such that Modi feels it is beyond him to control the
warring factions.
Last, but not the least, the saffron poster boy is used to functioning
independently. "As BJP president, he will need consensus of all
sections; but as leader of Opposition he'll have greater autonomy in
functioning. If he fails to restore order in the party immediately
after taking over, it will be a slur on his political career. His
forays outside Gujarat during the Lok Sabha elections were not
particularly appreciated," a senior source in the party said.
However, rumour mills are working overtime. The latest buzz is Modi is
moving to Delhi "anytime now, if not as president, then as leader of
Opposition," an insider says.
This speculation was fuelled by RSS leader Ram Madhav's statement that
LK Advani will step down early next year after the new president takes
over.
The buzz about Modi gained speed after Bhagwat sent Gadkari to Delhi
last week. "Senior leaders like former Goa chief minister Manohar
Panicker, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivrajsinh Chauhan and Gopinath Munde
were in the running, but they have been overlooked for a small fry
like Gadkari. BJP leaders are incensed at such assertion from RSS," a
senior political observer in the BJP said.
chhotemianinshallah
Crisis has put all of us to shame, says Sushma Swaraj
PTI Wednesday, November 18, 2009 17:10 IST
Bangalore: Admitting that the recent crisis in Karnataka following
dissident activities has put BJP "to shame", the party today appeared
to blame chief minister BS Yeddyurappa for the turmoil, saying he
needs to communicate better.
"The crisis is not only unfortunate, it has put all of us to shame",
senior party leader Sushma Swaraj told a press conference here after
meetings of the newly constituted coordination committee and the
legislature party.
"But it (the crisis) has been resolved fully. It has withered away as
a bad dream," said Swaraj, who along with party senior leaders Arun
Jaitley, M Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar, attended the meetings.
Swaraj, who was one of the leaders involved in the crisis-defusing
exercise, said all through, there was a feeling that the party has
emerged stronger after the crisis.
"We have learnt many lessons. The main lesson is...that most of the
problems....the root cause of most of the problems is lack of
dialogue. Chief minister has to be more and more communicative," she
said.
"And more and more dialogue is to be established with the party, with
the organisation and with the chief minister," Swaraj said, adding,
such a thing (the recent crisis) would never be repeated.
"The chief minister assured on this count, and then all the other
leaders assured of their support," she said.
Sid Harth
Posted: Wed, Nov 18 2009. 9:07 PM IST
No role in BJP president selection, says RSS
Reports suggested that RSS have forwarded Maharashtra unit chief Nitin
Gadkari’s name for the top post falling vacant this year end
Santosh K. Joy
New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS), the ideological
parent of the main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) on Wednesday
claimed that it had no role in the selection of a new president for
the party.
The statement issued by the All India Prachar Pramuk(media incharge)
Manmohan Vaid says: “Election of a new president is purely a affair of
BJP. We only give our view when it is asked for.”
Reports suggested that RSS have forwarded Maharashtra unit chief Nitin
Gadkari’s name for the top post falling vacant this year end. Callling
it a wrong news, the right wing organization also clarified that it
has longstanding cordial relationship with Arun Jaitley, Sushma
Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar, the four senior leaders whom
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat ruled out of the race to the post of party
president.
Meanwhile, a senior leader known close to incumbent party president
Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that Singh’s request to be relieved of
his job early and ahead of the
election to the new president has been declined by the party and RSS
leaders.
Sid Harth
BJP’s new mascot?
Nitin Gadkari has emerged as the most likely person to replace Rajnath
Singh as the next BJP president. His name started doing the rounds
soon after the RSS Sarsangchalak Mohan Bhagwat had indicated it to
Arnab Goswami in a Times Now talk show that none of the four prominent
second generation leaders — Sushma Swaraj, Venkaih Naidu, Anant Kumar
and Arun Jaitley — were likely to be succeed Rajnath.
Bhagwat had not been direct about the rejection of the four initially
but after misleading reports started appearing in a section of media,
he went upfront on the issue in another interview — this time to
Prabhu Chawla in Aaj Tak and ruled that the four were not being
considered by the BJP.
Gadkari is said to be close to the RSS and his name along with some
others such as Manohar Parikkar, the former Goa CM had been short
listed for the coveted post by responsible functionaries of the Sangh.
It now seems that he is the front-runner and Rajnath may possibly cut
short his own tenure by a couple of weeks to facilitate his election.
But till it becomes official, he will remain a front-runner.
However, Gadkari’s short listing has not amused many in the BJP who
are close to LK Advani, the leader of opposition. They are trying to
raise questions about his ability to lead the national party given
that he has only the Maharashtra experience behind him. Any of the
four Delhi-based leaders would have been a better bet, it is being
pointed out. In the process, even the RSS is being accused of meddling
in the BJP affairs and in that context there has been an oblique
criticism of even Bhagwat.
To me it appears that there is a deliberate attempt to demoralize
Gadkari and also raise questions about his candidacy. I do not know
the gentleman who has also served as a minister in the BJP-Shiv Sena
government but believe that he is as capable as anyone else in his
party to lead. The logic behind his elevation is that the RSS wants
the current crop of BJP leaders to be replaced by entire a new lot.
This decision obviously has been taken after taking all pros and cons
into account. In any case, the RSS cadres who have essentially made it
into a cadre-based party have always driven the BJP. Without the RSS,
no BJP leader, however, popular he or she may be on TV or media cannot
run the show. Even Rajnath Singh was selected by the then RSS chief
K.S.Sudershan in September 2005 after Advani’s Jinnah remarks. There
were reports at that time that Rajnath was picked up soon after
Sudershan had a meeting with Mulayam Singh Yadav. Though Rajnath had
been UP’s Chief Minister, his being picked up was only because the RSS
backed him. So far has his abilities are concerned, I am sure that the
RSS must have found Gadkari to have a greater capacity than him so as
to replace him with him.
I also have a take on those within the BJP who are reluctant to accept
the new incumbent due to “his lack of experience and that no one knows
him nationally’’. I only wish to ask them that who knew Bangaru Laxman
when he became the BJP chief. The same is true for Jana Krishnamurthy
and Venkaih Naidu. I do think that many people in Naidu’s home state
know him even now. Only people of the Jana Sangh vintage outside
Madhya Pradesh knew even Kushabhau Thakre. So in other words, Gadkari
is as well known or not known as many of his predecessors.
Talking about the Jana Sangh days, the party had 10 presidents in its
first 15 years, the most prominent being the two founders—Shyama
Prasad Mukherjee and Balraj Madhok and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.. When
Atal Behari Vajpayee became the BJS chief after Deen Dayal Upadhyaya’s
murder in 1968, he was merely known as a good orator who occasionally
made witty remarks. He was not an all India figure as such. But he
evolved as a national leader subsequently and was a popular Prime
Minister. It was essentially because of his stature, the BJP could
afford to have presidents like Bangaru Laxman, Jana Krishnamurthy and
Venkaih Naidu. As long as he was around, it did not matter who headed
the party. This includes L.K.Advani who of course is responsible for
the growth of the BJP in the late eighties and nineties but always
benefited from Vajpayee’s stature. Incidentally, when we say that
there have been no big leaders in the BJP, it is because after
Vajpayee took over in 1968, only he and Advani ran the show except for
a brief period when Murali Manohar Joshi was the president. In fact,
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya identified Joshi as organization chief in the mid
sixties itself. But he remains ignored and on sidelines.
After Vajpayee’s exit from active politics, the BJP has been seeing a
downward trend. Even Advani is only a bonsai version of his earlier
self and if any of his cronies was to become the BJP president, he
would not have been able to support him as Vajpayee’s presence had
helped the other BJP presidents. Therefore the RSS must have evaluated
all these things and come to the conclusion that the party needs a
face-lift. The best way of doing it would be to get someone from
outside Advani’s stable of supporters. It is to be seen whether
Gadkari will rise to the expectations of the RSS or be a part of
history subsequently. He has to on one hand cope with the Advani
coterie and at the same time carry the majority of the party with him.
It is a challenge like what he must have never faced.
Posted by Pankaj Vohra on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Sid Harth
Modi refused to Lead BJP
By: Bipin Kumar Singh and Sanjeev Devasia Date: 2009-11-18 Place:
Mumbai
Nitin Gadkari came into the picture only after Gujarat CM, party's
first choice to become BJP national president, expressed unwillingness
Saffron loyalist Nitin Gadkari is tipped to replace Rajnath Singh as
BJP's national president. However, according to party sources, the BJP
head in Maharashtra was not the first choice for the coveted post.
Hum Sochte Hi Reh Gaye: Observers believe Narendra Modi and Shivraj
Singh Chauhan refused the BJP national president's post because of the
turmoil within the party.
Efficient: Nitin Gadkari
Political biggies like Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Madhya
Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan were slated to replace Singh.
Leadership crisis
According to a senior BJP leader, "The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS) and top BJP leaders approached Modi and Chauhan for the post.
However, they were reluctant because of the turmoil within the BJP."
He added, "They declined the post, saying there would be leadership
crisis in their respective states if they were not the CMs."
The turmoil within the BJP was evident when senior leaders Jaswant
Singh, poll strategists Sudheendra Kulkarni, Arun Jaitley and Yashwant
Sinha blamed the party's top leadership for its debacle in the Lok
Sabha.
Modi and Chauhan know the BJP top post won't be a bed of roses at this
time.
Observers also feel that Modi did not want to expose himself on the
national scene till the time was ripe. Gadkari's proximity to the RSS
turned the coin in his favour.
A senior BJP leader
said, "It was the Sangh leadership, which brought Gadkari's name for
discussion, after two top contenders denied the post.
Gadkari was not at all reluctant to accept the post. After all, who
would want to relinquish the top position?"
While Gadkari said, "I won't comment on the issue now," RSS
spokesperson Ram Madhav said, "The Sangh has nothing to do with the
decision."
New roles?
Nitin Gadkari: President
Sushma Swaraj: Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha
The announcement is likely to be made in the first week of December
after the Jharkhand elections
Old Warhorse
Head of BJP in Maharashtra, Nitin Gadkari is remembered for his role
as Public Works Department minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP government
from 1995 to 1999.
Gadkari has always been elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council
since he first won in 1989. He is an
RSS loyalist.
bademiyansubhanallah
Bulletin India
It happens only in India!
We are not against Delhi-based BJP leaders: RSS
18 Nov
In the midst of speculations over who will succeed Rajnath Singh, the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Wednesday clarified that it was not
against four Delhi-based senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, who
the RSS chief had virtually ruled out as party president. RSS All-
India Propaganda Chief Manmohan Vaid said, “Reports that the Sangh is
against four leaders of the BJP are completely false. M Venkaiah
Naidu,Arun Jaitley,Sushma Swaraj and Ananth Kumar are all senior
leaders”.
bademiyansubhanallah
Reddy brothers in a cleft-stick
D Vasudevan / DNA Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:08 IST
Bangalore: Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa is smiling at the political
events over the past couple of days; it goes without saying that his
arch-rivals, the Reddy brothers, are sulking.
In a deft move, Yeddyurappa managed to pack the co-ordination
committee with his men, including Basavaraj Bommai, who is the prime
target of Jagadish Shettar and the Reddy brothers, Karunakara and
Janardhana.
Displeasure and disappointment were writ all over the Reddy camp, as
they desperately tried to delay the first meeting of the co-ordination
committee on Wednesday by nearly an hour. The chief minister was in
fact thinking of including PWD minister CM Udasi, another bugbear of
the rebels, but Udasi lost out as he did not openly support
Yeddyurappa, and Bommai ended making it to the panel.
By inducting a majority of his supporters into the core committee, the
chief minister has at least for the time being, ensured their safe
continuation in the ministry, until the rebels touch off another
upheaval.
Even though the bickering in the state BJP had not subsided despite
claims by senior leaders, the Reddy group found themselves on their
back-foot as the high command made it clear that it was in no mood to
go along with them any more, and also because of developments in
Andhra Pradesh.
This was evident when they were told in clear terms that the core
committee was set up according to their demand and the high command's
decision was the final on its composition. They were also told that
there was no question of dropping or re-inducting any one. Party
president DV Sadananda Gowda said as much on Wednesday.
The Reddy brothers have been unable to play out the Act II of their
rebellion as they have been pushed to the wall and there have been
setbacks galore for them. The timing of the Andhra Pradesh chief
minister K Rosaiah's action in clearing a CBI probe into Reddys'
company is more than a coincidence.
The BJP high command seems to have realised the extent of public
opinion that the Reddy brothers and their MLAs are ranged against due
to their untimely revolt.
The intervention and backing Yeddyurappa received from the RSS also
forced the high command, including Sushma Swaraj, to tell the Reddys
that enough is enough.
With the CBI probe breathing down their neck, Janardhana Reddy now has
to play the game with utmost caution. Besides, the demand for his
ouster from the ministry from the opposition is getting shriller.
With elections to the 198 wards of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike
and 25 MLC seats from the local bodies round the corner, the party
higher-ups have decided to back Yeddyurappa rather than the Reddy
brothers at this stage.
The high command has also given out a clear warning to the rebels not
to air their grievances in public, instead raise the issues in the
party forum. This is a clear indication that Yeddyurappa is in full
control.
The indications are that Yeddyurappa will have a free hand till the
budget session of the state.
chhotemianinshallah
BJP takes note of all matters in up but Kalyan
Submitted by Sarthak Gupta on Thu, 11/19/2009 - 08:20.
In a party meeting in Lucknow, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
leaders discussed everything from organisational matters to price
rise. They also discussed black-marketing of fertilizers. Everything
but the possible return of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan
Singh.
Though Singh is eager to come back, his former colleagues seem to stay
shy of talking about him in public.
The party’s central leadership hasn’t yet taken a stand on him.
Therefore, even if the state’s leaders talk or meet Singh,
collectively, he continues to be a political untouchable.
So when state president Ramapati Ram Tripathi held a meeting with
party leaders at the state headquarters on Wednesday, nobody dared
talk about him.
The participants were Kalyan’s former colleagues — Om Prakash Singh,
Lalji Tandon, Hukum Singh, Surya Pratap Sahi, Lallu Singh, Rambaksh
Verma, Nagendra Nath, Swatantra Deo Singh and Prem Lata Katiyar, among
others.
But none of them even made a passing reference to Kalyan Singh. Party
spokesman and vice-president Hridaya Narayan Dixit confirmed this to
HT. “ Indeed, he was not the subject matter of the meeting.”
Sources said Singh still has an almost equal supporters and detractors
in the party.
Leaders such as Lalji Tandon, Kalraj Mishra and Vinay Katiyar have not
just called Singh but also want him back in the party. But there are
others who don’t like the idea.
“Making a case for Kalyan Singh will displease the central leadership
if it has decided to reject his offer of returning to the party,” a
leader said.
The predicament was best explained by Kalyan’s protégée and Rajya
Sabha MP Kusum Rai: “How can I meet or talk to him without the party’s
permission?”
chhotemianinshallah
RSS on backfootover new BJP chief
Ramu Bhagwat, TNN 19 November 2009, 06:31am IST
Manmohan Vaidya
NAGPUR: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Wednesday went on the
backfoot over its role in the process for appointment of new chief for
the BJP.
"The RSS has neither suggested any name nor has it objected to anyone
for BJP presidentship," RSS spokesman Manmohan Vaidya said in a
statement. For the last couple of weeks, media are reporting that the
BJP was under pressure to appoint Maharashtra BJP president Nitin
Gadkari as the national president.
Significantly, the Sangh statement came a day after BJP ex-president
Venkaiah Naidu visited Nagpur and met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at the
RSS headquarters. Naidu had an hour-long closed-door meeting with
Bhagwat and left for Pune immediately afterwards. Over the last week,
RSS chief has been rather freely interacting with reporters in Delhi,
Pune and elsewhere saying that the baton of BJP leadership should pass
on to a young leader. At one time Bhagwat was even quoted as having
said that someone from outside Delhi would be selected, implying that
leaders like Naidu, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and Ananth Kumar were
not in contention.
Wednesday's statement by Vaidya is at pains to underline that RSS was
not against any individual. Very unusually, it mentions these leaders
by name and adds that the organisation has had long-term cordial
relations with them.
RSS usually keeps the media at an arm's length and rarely issues such
statements confirming or denying media reports. But Vaidya, squarely
blaming the media for creating a hype on the RSS role in naming the
next BJP president, repeats the oft-repeated stand: RSS does not
interfere in BJP affairs. It is for the BJP to find a new chief for
the party. The RSS gives its advice to party only when asked for.
That the statement came immediately after the Naidu has led to
speculation that the RSS move to push a provincial leader like Gadkari
as BJP chief may not have gone down well with the BJP's established
leadership.
chhotemianinshallah
Central BJP leaders gag Karnataka's warring groups, hum unity tune
(Source: IANS)
Published: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 at 17:35 IST
Bangalore: Rival factions in Karnataka's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) were Wednesday told by the party central leaders to stop airing
their differences in the media, with the state party chief warning
that indiscipline would not be tolerated in future.
At the end of daylong meetings central BJP leaders Venkaiah Naidu,
Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj held with Chief Minister B.S.
Yeddyurappa, rebel ministers, who had launched a campaign to remove
him, as well with the party legislators, all sang a unity tune and
pledged to strenthen the government -- the party's first in Karnataka
and southern India.
"We are all united and will work for strengthening the party and
improving the governance," Yeddyurappa, dissident leader Tourism
Minister G. Janardhana Reddy, state unit chief D.V. Sadananda Gowda
and senior leader Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after the meeting of
the party legislators.
While Naidu said partymen should not rush to the media to air
differences, Sadananda Gowda warned that so far such acts of
indiscipline had been tolerated for various reasons but it would no
longer be so.
"Those who go to the media with differences will from henceforth stay
with the media as all issues have been resolved," he warned.
The day began with a meeting of the 14-member coordination committee,
constituted late Tuesday by party president Rajnath Singh to appease
the dissidents who have been complaining that Yeddyurappa takes
unilateral decisions and ignores ministers and legislators.
Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj attended the meetings
of both the coordination committee and the legislators.
Sushma Swaraj told reporters that the Karnataka crisis "has put all of
us to shame."
Terming the crisis as "a bad dream", she said it has gone away. "The
crisis been resolved fully and the party has emerged stronger from
it."
Naidu denied that the coordination committee was intended to curtail
the powers of the chief minister, a view propagated by dissidents who
have been insisting that its decision would be final on all party and
government matters in Karnataka.
"It is not a government committee. It is a party committee. All states
where the BJP is in power have such committees. It is in our party
constitution," he said.
Yeddyurappa said, "The meetings went off well and all are happy."
Development is the only issue now.
Janardhan Reddy said: "We will work unitedly on the advice our central
leaders gave us today (Wednesday)."
Yeddyurappa's close associate Shobha Karandlaje, who was dropped from
the ministry on Nov 9 as part of the Nov 8 deal with the dissidents,
did not attend the legislators' meeting.
The dissidents, particularly the Reddy brothers, Janardhan and his
elder brother Revenue Minister Karunakara, had indicated that Sushma
Swaraj would play a key role in the coordination committee.
However, the committee has Sadananda Gowda as its head and has more
ministers considered close to Yeddyurappa.
Yeddyurappa's detractors in the committee include Karunakara Reddy,
Bangalore South Lok Sabha member H.N. Ananth Kumar, Energy Minister
K.S. Eshwarappa and Jagadish Shettar, who was sworn in as minister
Tuesday after resigning as the assembly speaker Monday.
Home Minister V.S. Acharya, Transport Minister R. Ashok, IT Minister
Katta Subramanya Naidu, Higher Education Minister Visvesvara Hegde
Kageri, Law Minister S. Suresh Kumar and Water Resources Minister
Basavaraj Bommai, all considered to be Yeddyurappa's supporters, are
the other members of the committee.
Sadananda Gowda is also a supporter of Yeddyurappa but he may not
continue as committee head for long as his term as state party chief
is ending in December.
Two special invitees are V. Satish and Santosh, representing Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Sid Harth
BJP’s own 26/11.
Posted by Santosh Joy on Thursday, November 19, 2009
While the country prepares to commemorate the first anniversary of the
26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party
is worried of the day for its own reasons.
The incumbent party chief Rajnath Singh has ‘threatened to pre-
maturely resign’ on Nov 26 before the election of a new president is
over. The day marks his election to the post in the year 2005.
Although, the party wants him to stay on till the organizational polls
in the states are complete he says “he does not want to stretch his
tenure”.
“We have our own 26/11 worries too. We are trying to deal with them
first,” said a senior leader while mentioning that BJP is pushing for
a special mention in Lok Sabha on the status of the investigations
into the Mumbai terror attack.
Rajnath Singh had been pursuing for a “timely” goodbye from his post
as a part of his move to impress upon the RSS bosses that he was keen
to let see the right wing organization’s plan to be implemented in the
party. His resignation before the conclusion of the party polls will
force the party to appoint a caretaker president before someone (most
probably Maharashtra unit chief Nitin Gadkari) takes over as the new
president in the end of January.
bademiyansubhanallah
Sangh accused of trying to push its choice of BJP chief
New Delhi : An assertion by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to
the effect that it is not interfering with functioning of the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has failed to convince BJP leaders.
Ajay Jha, Chief Correspondent
Published: 00:00 November 20, 2009
The BJP is perceived to be the political wing of the RSS. However,
leaders at the BJP's Ashoka Road central office are not convinced that
they are free to nominate their new national president.
Faced with growing criticism that the Nagpur-based RSS had not only
selected BJP's new president, Nitin Gadkari, but was also ready with a
list of new office bearers, has had a demoralising impact on the party
at a time when it is trying to win the assembly elections in
Jharkhand.
On Wednesday, RSS publicity chief Manmohan Vaidya said the RSS had
neither recommended any name nor opposed anybody's. It dismissed
claims that it had opposed the elevation of Sushma Swaraj, Arun
Jaitley, M. Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar as the new BJP president.
"They are all senior leaders of the BJP and the RSS has very cordial
relations with them," Vaidya said.
The organisation said it only expressed its opinion only when BJP
leaders sought its advice.
Prerogative
"It is totally the BJP's prerogative to decide who its president
should be," he said.
Incidentally, RSS critics often accuse it of indulging in doublespeak.
Furthermore, BJP leaders don't believe that RSS means what it says in
selection of the new party chief, due to take over next month when
Rajnath Singh's tenure ends.
It normal course of things, the choice was confined amongst the four
Delhi-based leaders. However, it was RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat who
advocated the cause of Gadkari, who is barely known outside his home
state Maharashtra.
"We all know that Gadkari lacks experience and stature to be heading a
national party at this stage, but who can dare propose any other name.
RSS advice is simply an order that must be implemented," said one BJP
member.
bademiyansubhanallah
Sushma Swaraj turned down BJP top job
Mohua Chatterjee, TNN 20 November 2009, 01:48am IST
NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj was offered the post of
party president much before the Sangh and the party had settled for
Nitin
Gadkari, the deputy leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said here on
Thursday. Swaraj, with Ananth Kumar at her side, said she had turned
down the offer as she preferred to remain in her parliamentary post as
deputy to Leader of Opposition L K Advani. Gadkari's name only came up
in the reckoning about a month-and-a-half back.
Swaraj's assertion that Gadkari was not Sangh's original choice for
heading the BJP is significant, coming as it does in the wake of RSS's
conspicuous effort to undercut the impression in saffron circles that
it has foisted Gadkari on a reluctant BJP.
After public assertions of its chief, Mohanrao Bhagwat, opposing the
claims of the four Delhi-based leaders -- Venkaiah Naidu, Arun
Jaitley, Ananth Kumar and Swaraj herself -- or the D-4, RSS has washed
its hands off Gadkari's imminent annointment.
The switch of gears was complete on Wednesday when RSS spokesperson
issued a statement denying that it was seeking to micro-manage BJP's
affairs, and even dismissed the estimate about Gadkari's selection as
"hype". It is seen as meant to insulate RSS from the charge of
interference in BJP's affairs, as also to appease the sense of hurt of
those who are said to have been "eliminated" from the leadership race
at Nagpur's instance.
Significantly, Swaraj did not suggest that the offer to take up the
party's reins came from the RSS.
Swaraj, who like Ananth Kumar is considered close to Advani, is tipped
to succeed the veteran to the post of LoP, whenever he quits the
parliamentary post.
She said the party had initially considered the names of Jaitley,
Naidu and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi along with that of her,
when the internal discussions on who will take over from Rajnath Singh
began about three months ago. But it was felt that Jaitley and she
should be persisted with in Parliament. Modi's name was dropped
because of the TINA factor in Gujarat whereas the fact that he had
already been party chief came in Naidu's way.
Ananth Kumar could not have been eliminated since he was not under
consideration, Swaraj emphasised, while disclosing that the
candidature of former Goa chief minister Manohar Parikkar failed to
get enough traction because of his lack of experience in managing
organisational affairs.
On the issue whether Gadkari, a Nagpur-based leader, would be able to
handle things at the national level, Swaraj said, "We are all there
help him out," in an attempt that seemed to dismiss the perception
that senior central leaders may not extend a helping hand to Gadkari.
bademiyansubhanallah
Mulayam-Kalyan honeymoon: RIP
Seema Chishti
Posted: Friday , Nov 20, 2009 at 0217 hrs
Former wrestler and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav
distancing himself from Kalyan Singh has not impressed the Urdu world.
In an editorial on Kalyan Singh’s subsequent fulminations against
Mulayam Singh Yadav, Rashtriya Sahara (Nov 17) writes: “It is
difficult to say as to what extent Kalyan Singh damaged the BJP (as
claimed by him). But there is no doubt about the fact that he has
inflicted immense damage on Mulayam Singh... ”
In an editorial entitled, ‘End of Mulayam-Kalyan honeymoon’, Delhi-
based Hamara Samaj (Nov 16) writes that Mulayam Singh’s distancing
himself from Kalyan Singh has been a bit too late. “It is not child’s
play (gudiya gudde ka khel ) wherein one could bring any discredited
(budnaam) leader into his group and throw him out at will... Mulayam
Singh and his party would have to pay for his actions.”
Kolkata and Delhi-based daily, Akhbar-e-Mashriq , in its editorial
(Nov 16) comments that “Mulayam Singh Yadav had tried to use Kalyan
Singh as the fifth wheel of a vehicle. But instead of adding speed to
the vehicle the fifth wheel proved to be immobile and at least one of
the earlier four wheels (Muslims) started moving out of its place.”
Delhi-based daily Jadeed Khabar (Nov 16), makes a significant point:
“Mulayam’s friendship with Kalyan Singh, not alienated Muslim voters,
it also weakened his grip onYadav-dominated areas like Firozabad,
Bhartana and Etawah.”
bademiyansubhanallah
The RSS-BJP Lakshman rekha When asked about these four leaders, he had
said the BJP had given him such an impression. The RSS also denied
that it had a role in deciding the next BJP president. Has the RSS BJP
'Laxman Rekha' been crossed? A debate. From: ndtv Views: 0 0 ratings
Time: 03:50 More in People & Blogs
chhotemianinshallah
Succession Finalised in BJP: Reports
November 20, 2009 Visionmp.com news service
With party president Rajnath Singh completing his term by the year-
end, the outline of BJP leadership has been finalized, said reports.
According to plan agreed upon, Sushma Swaraj will replace L K Advani
as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha as and when he steps down,
while Arun Jaitley will stay on as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya
Sabha, said reports, adding that it was Advani who wanted Swaraj as
his successor, and he conveyed this to the RSS.
Reports said that in deliberations between Advani and Sangh chief
Mohan Bhagwat, it was decided that no serving chief minister would be
disturbed. Earlier, there were speculations of Gujarat CM Narendra
Modi replacing Rajnath Singh.
“The formula that emerged from the consultations was that the BJP
parliamentary party office-bearers and serving CMs must not be
disturbed,” reports said quoting unnamed BJP leader said. “While the
names of Sushma, Jaitley were thus ruled out, M Venkaiah Naidu, who
had served as party president in the past, was not considered. The
idea then was to look for a name from outside Delhi.”
Manohar Parrikar, the leader was quoted as saying, was considered a
contender at one point but his “rancid pickle” remark reportedly did
him in. He had compared Advani’s long innings in politics with pickle
that turns rancid, but later he clarified that this was not what he
said in the interview.
“While he’s considered an excellent CM, his experience in
organisational affairs has not been great,” the BJP leader said. The
choice then veered towards Maharashtra BJP chief Nitin Gadkari,
considered close to Bhagwat. The BJP leader, however, said “Gadkari’s
name was not proposed by the RSS”.
Sid Harth
RSS aims to end personality cult
Shubhangi Khapre / DNA Wednesday, November 18, 2009 0:44 IST
Mumbai: The elevation of nondescript Nagpur politician Nitin Gadkari
as the BJP's national president may have come as a surprise to many.
But those involved in his selection are clear about their goals.
Insiders said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, ideological parent of
the BJP, wants to rebuild it as a cadre-based party in which no leader
is larger than the organisation. They suggested that the RSS is
willing to wait for up to a decade before the BJP is ready to make a
pitch for power at the Centre again.
A source in the party said, "Gadkari is someone who will not cross his
laxman rekha to attain his own goals, something that has been the bane
of the BJP. He gives the RSS the confidence that it can rule the BJP."
Gadkari may not be a mass leader, but he made his mark as an able
administrator when the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance ruled Maharashtra from
1995 to 1999. As public works minister, he oversaw construction of the
Mumbai-Pune Expressway and 45 flyovers in Mumbai. The plan for the
Bandra-Worli Sea Link was also drawn up under his watch.
According to insiders, he was chosen to lead the party despite the
presence of more able GenNext leaders because the RSS wants to end the
political backbiting that was rife with individuals engaging in self-
promotion.
"Frankly, we were taken by surprise when Gadkari's name was brought in
for discussion." a senior leader of the BJP, who was himself in the
race for president, told DNA. "There is a strong message in this for
us. The epicentre of right-wing politics will remain in Nagpur,
replacing the Delhi durbar style of politics that led to personality
clashes in the party."
Sid Harth
RSS not interfering in choosing new president, says BJP
Indo-Asian News Service
Delhi, November 20, 2009
First Published: 21:26 IST(20/11/2009)
Last Updated: 21:28 IST(20/11/2009)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said that the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), its ideological fountainhead, was not
interfering in choosing the next party president.
BJP leader and former party president Venkaiah Naidu said that while
both the organisations share an "ideological bond", structurally and
functionally, they are "independent and autonomous".
"We discuss matters of mutual and national interest. But unless asked
for, the RSS never proffers any advice to the BJP. Different names are
being discussed in the BJP for the presidentship of the party. No name
was suggested or rejected by the RSS and no name has been finalised by
the party so far," Naidu said in a statement.
The BJP statement comes amidst reports that the RSS has thrown its
weight behind Maharashtra leader Nitin Gadkari for being made the next
BJP chief. Naidu, whose name was also doing the rounds for the post,
clarified that he is not in the race.
"The process of consultation is on and there will be unanimous choice
of the next president at an appropriate time. In this connection, I
would like to state that I have already conveyed to my colleagues that
I am neither in the race nor interested to become president once again
as I had been the party president once," said Naidu.
Naidu also refuted reports of the RSS seeking veteran leader LK
Advani's resignation as leader of the opposition.
He added: "The party is keen to have his (Advani's) leadership and
guidance and will go by his choice about the time and the person."
Sid Harth
Advani not to be Lok Sabha's Leader of Opposition for 5 years: Naidu
PTI 20 November 2009, 09:07pm IST
NEW DELHI: L K Advani has told party leaders that he does not want to
continue as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha for the whole of
five years, senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu said today.
In the midst of raging speculation over who would be BJP's new
president and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Naidu
came out with a public statement saying the party is keen to have
Advani's leadership and guidance and will go by his choice about the
time and the person to succeed him.
He said Advani was elected leader of the party for the 15th Lok Sabha
in spite of his reluctance. "He told us that he does not want to
continue till the tenure of the 15th Lok Sabha and would like to hand
over the responsibility to some other colleague," Naidu said.
Sushma Swaraj, Deputy Leader of the party in Lok Sabha, said yesterday
that she would prefer to succeed Advani and that was why she had
declined the offer of president ship of the party.
He also dismissed as incorrect reports that the RSS has set a deadline
to Advani to quit his post in Lok Sabha.
Naidu referred to media reports that the RSS has chosen the next
president of BJP and that it had objected to some leaders, including
him, occupying that post.
chhotemianinshallah
No decision on BJP chief yet: Naidu
21 Nov 2009, 0310 hrs IST, ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: The BJP, which has outsourced its decision-making process
to the RSS, is now desperately trying to claim that the Sangh is not
micro-managing its affairs.
A day after the BJP’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj
told the media that the party is not being driven by the Nagpur
establishment, former party president M Venkaiah Naidu echoed similar
sentiments, asserting that the decision on selecting the new
organisational leader would be taken internally.
``I can only tell you, no final decision has been taken about the next
BJP president. The discussions are on and it is BJP which will be
taking the final decision about the next president of the party,’’ Mr
Naidu told newspersons.
``The next president will be elected as part of the process of
organisational polls and the election will be unanimous,’’ the former
BJP president said.
Responding to media reports suggesting that the Maharashtra BJP chief
Nitin Gadkari’s name had been finalised to succeed Mr Rajnath Singh as
the party president, Mr Naidu claimed it was all speculation. ``These
are all speculations. My point is that once the party meets, it
discusses and then takes a decision,’’ he said.
For good measure, he added that RSS was a great source of inspiration
and that he was proud of his association with the Sangh fountainhead.
Asked about Mr Singh’s remarks that his successor could take over once
his tenure came to an end by the last week of November, Mr Naidu said
no decision has been taken on the matter. ``The incumbent can continue
till the election of the new president,’’ he said.
Mr Naidu’s remarks are being viewed as part of a desperate attempt of
the BJP leadership to claim that the party still enjoyed some amount
of autonomy.
The impression of the RSS managing the affairs of BJP gained credence
after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat asserted that the next BJP president
would be from outside Delhi, and that he’d be in the age bracket
50-55.
``Yes, the new leadership will be someone other than these four
(Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar). This
is what I have been told. That is what has been agreed on and I
believe the process has begun,’’ the RSS chief said in reply to a
specific query.
When asked whether he will get someone from outside the Capital in the
50-55 year age-group, Mr Bhagwat replied: ``They will get someone from
outside Delhi.’’
The RSS chief’s remarks were seen as a manifestation of its
interventionist designs, and as part of a larger gameplan to tighten
its grip on the BJP’s organisational apparatus. They created a furore,
with a section of the leadership registering their formal protest over
the matter.
Taken aback by the all-round outrage over its interventionist designs,
the RSS, in an unusual step, issued a statement on Wednesday denying
that it was opposed to four Delhi-based senior leaders.
It also clarified its position on the selection of the next BJP
president, saying that it was going to be the party’s own decision.
bademiyansubhanallah
Advani wants to quit as Oppn leader: Venkaiah
Express news service
Posted: Saturday , Nov 21, 2009 at 0249 hrs
New Delhi:
SENIOR BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said BJP parliamentary
party leader L K Advani has told party leaders that “he didn’t wish to
continue in the position till the tenure of the 15th Lok Sabha” and
that “he would like to hand over the responsibility to some other
colleague”. Naidu added in the same vein that “the party would go by
his (Advani’s) choice about the time (of his handing over the baton to
his successor) and the person”. He also said the “party had not
finalised the name of the party president so far”, and that the person
“would be chosen unanimously at an appropriate time”.
In his statement, Naidu — known for his proximity to Advani — said:
“Advani has been elected Leader of the Party for the 15th Lok Sabha in
spite of his reluctance. He told us that he does not want to continue
till the tenure of 15th Lok Sabha and would like to hand over the
responsibility to some other colleague. The party is keen to have his
leadership and guidance and will go by his choice about the time and
the person.”
On a new party president, Naidu said: “Different names are being
discussed in the BJP for the presidentship of the party. No name was
suggested or rejected by the RSS and no name has been finalised by the
party so far. The process of consultation is on and there will be
unanimous choice of the next president at an appropriate time.”
After RSS’s recent intervention in BJP affairs was objected to by a
group of central BJP leaders, leading the RSS to issue a rare
clarification on the matter, Naidu also dwelt on the BJP-RSS dynamics.
“The BJP and the RSS do share ideological bond. But structurally and
functionally we are independent and autonomous. The same has been
repeatedly emphasised at the highest level by the RSS as well as the
BJP. Even yesterday there was a categorical policy statement from
Nagpur. We discuss matters of mutual and national interest. But unless
asked for, the RSS never proffers any advice to the BJP,” he said in
his statement. Naidu also added that he was not in the race for the
party president’s post as he had been the party president once.
chhotemianinshallah
BJP may split if RSS takes charge (Comment)
November 21st, 2009 - 1:41 pm ICT by IANS -
By Amulya Ganguli
It’s never been a secret that the Hindu supremacist Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is the friend, philosopher and guide of the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The gurudakshina, or tuition fee, which
the BJP leaders routinely pay to the head of the umbrella Sangh
Parivar, testifies to their master-pupil relationship.
Despite the closeness of the ties, the RSS has always insisted that
the BJP is an autonomous organisation. This fiction was never easy to
maintain, but if both the outfits did not hesitate to reiterate it,
the reason was that the occasions for the RSS to intervene in the
BJP’s affairs were few and far between.
This was the state of affairs before the latter’s assumption of power
in New Delhi in the 1990s. Since then it has not been easy to argue
that the two allowed each other to follow their own counsel.
The reason why the claim could not be sustained was that the stakes
for both had become much higher than before with the BJP’s entry into
the corridors of power. For the RSS this was the pathway for the
fulfilment of its longstanding dream of ushering in a Hindu rashtra in
India.
To achieve this cherished objective, the RSS realized that it had to
keep the BJP on a tight leash lest it should be misled by the lure of
power into abandoning its pro-Hindu agenda. These fears of the RSS
came true when the BJP did shed three key points in its party
programme - the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the
introduction of a uniform civil code and the scrapping of Article 370
of the Constitution conferring a special status on Jammu and Kashmir.
The RSS was aware that Atal Behari Vajpayee was behind the move to
give the BJP a benign, non-confrontationist face. Because of his
moderate views, Vajpayee was never a favourite of the RSS. If it still
allowed him to be prime minister from 1998 to 2004, the reason was his
popularity which extended well beyond the saffron ranks. Besides, only
his presence at the head of the government could keep afloat the
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comprising several “secular”
parties.
Arguably, the RSS had greater hopes in L.K. Advani, who was known for
his hawkish views since his 1990 rath yatra. But it was Advani’s
conversion - even it was suspected to be a pretence - into a moderate
a la Vajpayee which must have persuaded the RSS to look for a
successor.
It used Advani’s praise of Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah in
2005 to replace him as the BJP president by Rajnath Singh. The
description of BJP president Rajnath Singh as a “provincial” by
Jaswant Singh after his expulsion from the party for writing a book on
Jinnah will seem apt to many.
Now, the RSS is apparently looking for another “provincial” to replace
Rajnath Singh. Its choice is a relatively unknown leader from
Maharashtra, Nitin Gadkari. It is not difficult to guess why the RSS
prefers obscure persons from the provinces to those who have had
greater experience of national politics.
The reason is that the RSS believes that the latter tend to develop a
mind of their own because of their sojourn in the cosmopolitan
atmosphere of New Delhi and interaction with various national and
international personalities. Their fluency in English is apparently
another disadvantage in the eyes of the RSS, which believes that
familiarity with a “foreign” language (and, consequently, foreign
lifestyle) creates a gulf between them and Indian, and Hindu,
realities.
This belief ruled out politicians like Arun Jaitley, the BJP’s leader
in the Rajya Sabha, and Sushma Swaraj, the party’s deputy leader in
the Lok Sabha. Both of these media-savvy leaders were regarded as
front-runners for the party president’s post. So were a former chief,
M. Venkaiah Naidu, and former central minster Ananth Kumar. But their
big-city background - they come from Hyderabad and Bangalore
respectively - also made them persona non grata to the RSS.
That Gadkari was the RSS’s choice was believed ever since the RSS
chief, Mohan Bhagwat, was quoted as saying that someone from outside
Delhi would be the next BJP president. The RSS has since claimed that
Bhagwat was misquoted. It has also reiterated that it does not
interfere in the affairs of the BJP.
But the very fact that such assertions had to be made gave the game
away. In any event, the umbilical links between the RSS and the BJP
have always been too close for such claims to seem credible. The
disingenuousness of these observations will be exposed if and when
Gadkari takes charge. But what is of greater significance is not so
much the evidence of the control exercised by the RSS as the political
fallout from this arrangement.
As long as Vajpayee was at the helm, he kept the hardliners in the
RSS, the BJP and in Parivar outfits like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad
(VHP) at bay. His visit to Lahore in 1999 and a promise to solve the
Jammu and Kashmir problem within the parameters of
‘insaniyat’ (humanity) and not the constitution alone were signs of a
line independent of the RSS which he followed.
But once the RSS takes control of the BJP via a pliant party
president, and stalwarts like Vajpayee and Advani are sidelined, the
possibility of the BJP gravitating even further to the right will
become very real.
The consequences will be fatal for the NDA. Already some of its
secular constituents like the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Trinamool
Congress have left the alliance. Now, even the Janata Dal-United may
find it difficult to stay on. Once the NDA starts falling apart, the
chances of the BJP gaining power in New Delhi will be widely
discounted, persuading even possible partners like the AIADMK to stay
away.
More importantly, there may be ruptures within the BJP itself, with
the relatively liberal-minded among its members either leaving the
party or being forced to leave like Jaswant Singh. In that event, the
RSS’s dream of converting India into a Hindu ‘rashtra’ (nation) will
be dashed because of its own folly of lording it over the BJP.
(21.11.2009-Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. He can be reached
at agan...@mail.com)
chhotemianinshallah
Really 'Vaastu' reversed the RSS fortunes?
Posted On: 20-Nov-2009 23:44:57
By: Vikas Mehta
New Delhi: The Vaastu Shastra has been proved ‘politically correct’
this time. With the slight changes in its Nagpur headquarter building
‘Mahal’, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has successfully got back
its authority over its political wing, the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP).
Although, the Vaastu Shastra believers are claiming so, the RSS
leadership is still in denial mode. Some RSS insiders claim, we, as an
organization, have never been believer of the things such as ‘Vaastu
Shastra’ and will never do so. Then what about KC Sudarshan, the then
RSS chief, who ordered the changes in ‘Mahal’?
Vaastu experts say the new RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat was
reaping the fruits which were grown by Sudarshan ji. Party stalwart LK
Advani is taking early retirement against his wishes, Rajnath Singh is
vacating the post of BJP president earlier than his tenure ends; and
the new man (Nitin Gadkari) to head the party is coming in from
unpredictable quarters.
But some time ago, from the BJP losing power at the Centre to the
fight within, there seemed no end to the problems of the Parivar. In
such a drastic situation RSS leaders were told by a young Vaastu
expert to change the direction of the building front: the present
south was inauspicious, it should be facing east.
Nagpur headquarters ‘Mahal’ had to renovate its entry which was facing
south, recommended to the east for good fortunes of parivar. When
these changes were being made, the RSS executives who were presiding
over the work confirmed that the renovation was according to the
‘Vaastu’.
RSS watcher Dilip Deodher spoke to MyNews and claimed that Parivar had
never put its faith in all this but yes, it was true that former RSS
chief Sudrashan ji had asked to do so to bring the things in order for
the organization. He claimed: neither the RSS nor its present chief
Mohan Bhagwat has any belief in Vaastu concepts.
Deodher told this correspondent that Sudarshan ji asked some RSS
functionaries to consult Vaastu experts, and they called Vaastu
Shastri Abhishek Deshpande (a practicing architect), who is the
grandson of one of the RSS greats Dattopant Thengdi, constructed a
small east-facing building entry gate within the premises. But this
whole concept had never taken up in account with present chief as the
present Headquarter of Rashim Bagh is still south facing.
Deodhar claimed that the vaastu kind of things in RSS were confined to
KC Sudarshan era, and after him this is over and out.
However, now the things seem quite in right direction and RSS chief
Mohan Bhagwat has every say in the BJP, be it the appointment of new
party president or the change of guards in Lok Sabha.
chhotemianinshallah
‘I was offered BJP chief post’
Shekhar Iyer, Hindustan Times
Delhi, November 20, 2009
First Published: 01:14 IST(20/11/2009)
Last Updated: 01:37 IST(20/11/2009)
A day after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh denied it was against four
central leaders from becoming the next BJP chief, Sushma Swaraj said
she turned down an offer from the party to take up that post.
She did so because Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani had already chosen
her to be his deputy in the Lok Sabha, setting the succession line-up
in Parliament.
Though she would not want to think about when she would succeed Advani
in his role, “I didn’t want to say I am interested in party work when
he had appointed me as his deputy.”
Seeking to clear the air, Swaraj said BJP general secretary Ananth
Kumar had met her sometime ago about the proposal to make her as the
party chief. “But, I conveyed to him that, since Advani had selected
me to be his deputy, I would prefer to work in Parliament, which is
also an important role to serve the party.”
RSS prachar pramukh Manmohan Vaidya on Wednesday issued a statement to
say the Sangh was not against the “Delhi Four” leaders — Swaraj, Arun
Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar — as made out by a section of
the media but “rather had cordial relations with them.”
Responding to questions on the RSS disclaimer, Swaraj said the Sangh
had to clarify because of “unwarranted” media reports that knives were
out for the four senior leaders, “which was absolutely baseless.”
Asserting that Vaidya was right in saying that the Sangh had not
pushed for anyone to be the next BJP chief, Swaraj said the name of
Nitin Gadkari as the successor to outgoing chief Rajnath Singh was
first mooted within the party, and then seconded by the RSS, after
other names were discussed.
She said, just as she had been appointed as the deputy leader in the
Lok Sabha, Arun Jaitley had taken over as the Leader of Opposition in
the Rajya Sabha. Venkaiah Naidu had already served as BJP president
once. As for Ananth Kumar, his name had not come up for discussion.
Narendra Modi and other BJP chief ministers were ruled out because
they were not to be disturbed from their CM posts.
Swaraj asserted that Gadkari would not face any problem in handling
BJP affairs as “senior leaders will always be available for counsel
and guidance.”
Swaraj’s remarks indicated that the party leaders, including the four
leaders, were ready and reconciled for the transition under Gadkari —
after the RSS clarified the issue concerning them.
chhotemianinshallah
RSS, Dilli 4 make up
RADHIKA RAMASESHAN
New Delhi, Nov. 19:
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the “Dilli 4” are working overtime
to dispel the impression that they are at odds with each other on the
prospective anointment of Nitin Gadkari as the next BJP chief.
While the Sangh claimed Gadkari was the BJP’s nominee, sources close
to the “cabal” of four — Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, M. Venkaiah
Naidu and Ananth Kumar — said they would “fully co-operate” with the
Maharashtra leader once he took over.
Last night, Manmohan Vaidya, the Sangh’s all-India publicity chief,
issued a statement that said: “The decision on the next president is
entirely the BJP’s own. If their opinion is sought by the BJP, RSS
leaders merely express their opinion; they do not interfere in their
(the BJP’s) matters.
“(The) RSS has neither supported nor opposed any name for the office
of the president. The interpretation in a section of the media that
the RSS is opposed to the four senior BJP leaders being party
president is entirely wrong.”
Vaidya said Naidu, Jaitley, Sushma and Kumar were associated with the
RSS for a long time.
The RSS and the BJP’s “four” have their own reasons for making up.
Under Bhagwat, the Sangh has been critiqued for overplaying its hand
as a political super boss to the “parivar”. His predecessors never
came out in the front even as they pulled strings on matters like
giving election tickets and appointing district functionaries.
It was an open secret in the BJP that Sushma, Naidu and the others did
not exactly ensure a pleasant tenure for Rajnath and at times publicly
contested his authority.
Stung by reports of how their importance could be reduced in the
Gadkari dispensation, Naidu had rushed to the Sangh headquarters in
Nagpur early this week and reportedly sought an assurance from Bhagwat
that he wouldn’t be “destabilised”. Vaidya’s statement followed their
meeting.
chhotemianinshallah
Watch Video:
LK Advani to make way for Sushma Swaraj? 01:48
Added to quicklist BJP sources have told NDTV that LK Advani may step
down early as the Leader of Opposition to make way for Sushma Swaraj.
chhotemianinshallah
After the melodrama, will the BJP's box-office run continue?
H S Balram, TNN 22 November 2009, 02:54am IST
A divided house. A beleaguered CM. A sagging image. A disenchanted
voter. And now, two tough elections in the offing -- for the Bangalore
city corporation and for 25 legislative council seats. The BJP in
Karnataka faces its sternest test ever since it came to power. Till
the rebellion by the Reddy brothers broke out, the party was on a
high. It grabbed 19 of the 28 seats in the parliamentary polls and won
most of the assembly by-elections. Will it continue its winning spree?
Or will it get a tight slap from the voter? Partymen are worried.
The BJP came to power in the state mainly on a strong sympathy factor
generated by the JD(S)' great betrayal in 2008. In fact, the voters'
sympathy started in 2004 when the Congress and JD(S) got into a
marriage of convenience to keep the BJP at bay, though it had emerged
as the single largest party. The sympathy factor turned into a wave
later when the JD(S), after enjoying power with the BJP's support,
refused to transfer it under a 20:20 formula. It worked even when the
in-power BJP engineered defections in the opposition camp to
consolidate its position. The victory-run continued in one election
after another. The people saw a strong and stable single-party
government emerging. Coming after two shaky coalitions, which had
applied the brakes on the state's progress, it was a welcome change.
Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa was growing strong.
Dissidence struck at this juncture and overnight, the BJP citadel
crumbled like a pack of cards. It took over a fortnight by the party
top brass to bring the warring factions face to face and agree to a
compromise formula. Yeddyurappa now finds his wings clipped. All his
confidants have been shown the door. Every decision he takes will be
whetted by a coordination committee. The Reddy brothers hold the
remote. Partymen are, however, putting up a brave front. The
government has, in fact, become stronger, they say. But one can sense
the pain and embarrassment behind the remark.
The first acid test for the party, after the crisis, will come in the
form of either BBMP polls or legislative council by-elections,
whichever is held first. Rather, it will act as some sort of a
referendum on the state of affairs in the BJP. Bangalore ministers
Katta Subramanya Naidu and R Ashoka admit that the party's image has
taken a beating. But in the same breath they say that Bangaloreans
don't attach too much importance to politics, as they are interested
only in development activity. The BJP will focus on that to win their
confidence, they add. Will they prove right? Bangaloreans are keeping
their cards close to the chest.
On the council by-elections too, BJP leaders hold a similar view. What
they don't realize is that the Congress and JD(S) are working overtime
to cash in on the crisis. After recent poll victories across the
country, the Congress is on a high. It hopes to win back the
confidence of the people of Karnataka. The JD(S) too is fishing in
troubled waters.
Will the BJP hold its fort? Will the Congress bounce back into
reckoning? Will the JD(S) make gains? Only the elections will tell.
PARTING SHOT
Clear the air on HSR, Mr CM
Is the high-speed rail project for Bangalore on or off? While tourism
minister Janardhana Reddy says it's very much on, Bangalore ministers
Katta and Ashoka say the cabinet hasn't yet given its approval. ABIDe,
the task force headed by Yeddyurapa, says it's opposed to the project.
Captain Gopinath, who headed the vision group and fought for the
project, has been shown the door. Who's calling the shots? What's at
stake? Mr CM, will you please clarify?
chhotemianinshallah
'The BJP forged a politico-business nexus in K'taka'
OPINION
Prakash Karat / November 22, 2009, 0:33 IST
The recent crisis in the BJP government in Karnataka was focused on
whether B S Yeddyurappa would remain as the chief minister or would
the rebels get their way, or whether the BJP central leadership would
succeed in affecting a compromise.
But the real significance of this crisis lies elsewhere. The events in
Karnataka showed up the brazen nexus between politics and a big
business that the BJP had forged in that state. This was taken to a
new dimension after the BJP incorporated the Bellary mining syndicate
run by the Reddy brothers into the government. After riding on the
shoulders of this most rapacious business combine and making them part
of the government, the BJP is now faced with this lobby's ambitions
extended to dictating policies in the government and blackmailing the
party.
The BJP has only itself to blame for its predicament. After the last
assembly elections in 2008, the BJP emerged as the single largest
party but short of a majority. The BJP's election success was partly
due to the intervention of the Bellary mine owners who ensured victory
for the BJP candidates in four districts. It were the Reddy brothers
who ensured the support of five independents for the government. They
were handsomely rewarded.
Three from the Bellary syndicate became ministers — two of the Reddy
brothers and one close associate. The revenue, tourism and health
portfolios were given to them. The BJP did not stop at that. In order
to consolidate its precarious majority in the assembly with the funds
provided by the Reddy brothers, it undertook an operation to organise
defections of Congress and JD(S) MLAs who submitted their resignations
from the assembly. This ensured that the BJP had a clear majority in
the assembly.
The rise of the mining business of the Reddy brothers is a saga of
crony capitalism and the close nexus established with politicians and
pliant bureaucrats. By bending laws, getting new regulations and
enactments to favour them and by blatant violation of forest and
environmental rules, the Reddy brothers became a major beneficiary of
the Rs 4,000-crore annual profits being reaped through the export of
iron ore, taking advantage of the boom in the international iron ore
prices due to the huge demand for it in China (the price of a tonne of
iron ore shot up from Rs 200 to Rs 2,000).
This plunder, connived with the state, saw the government getting a
royalty of only Rs 27 per tonne when the price it was being sold at
was Rs 2,000. In 2005-06 alone, 35 mine owners got Rs 3,600 crore in
profit. It is this ill-gotten wealth and assets which the Reddy
brothers deployed effectively for the BJP. The Reddy brothers have not
been shy of flaunting their wealth and influence. One of them is
reported to have said during a heated exchange in the assembly last
year: "People say we are worth Rs 100 crore. I want to correct it…. we
are worth Rs 1,000 crore."
The BJP in Karnataka is now in danger of being devoured by the
rapacious business combine who they nurtured and inducted into the
government. Already, within the one-and-a-half-year span of the BJP
government, the Reddy brothers have extracted big concessions and got
criminal cases against them withdrawn. They are now utilising the
division within the BJP leadership in the state to extract a bigger
price. One of the terms for the compromise was that posting of
officials in Bellary district would be done in consultation with the
mine barons.
The symptoms of the rot are manifested in all sectors of public life.
In the corporate media, making money during elections by providing
packages to candidates and parties for news coverage is widespread.
Increasingly, in legislatures and the parliament, representatives are
being elected from big businesses, liaison men and contractors.
Business tycoons sit in parliamentary committees that decide on
policies. There are ministers in the Union Cabinet and state cabinets
who are actual businessmen by profession. All democratic forces and
concerned citizens should act to halt this process.
(Excerpts from CPI M Secretary Prakash Karat’s editorial in party
organ People’s Democracy, dated November 15, 2009)
chhotemianinshallah
High command to take decision on Rajnath's successor: Murli Manohar
Joshi
PTI Saturday, November 21, 2009 21:23 IST
Lucknow: With the RSS reportedly pitching for Nitin Gadkari, senior
BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi today said any decision on party
president Rajnath Singh's successor would be taken by the high
command.
The new BJP chief would be appointed at an appropriate time, he told
reporters here.
"Any decision regarding the next BJP president will be taken by the
party high command and he will be appointed at a right time," Joshi
said.
"The new incumbent has to be appointed by December-end and the process
will be completed soon," he said.
To a question if Rajnath Singh would be re-appointed, Joshi said
according to the BJP constitution, a person cannot become the party
chief for two consecutive terms.
Asked whether he was also in the race for the post of the party
president, Joshi shot back: "I am not a horse to race for anything."
Reports say the name of Gadkari, at present Maharashtra BJP chief, has
been zeroed-in on for the top job.
The talk of 52-year-old Gadkari heading the BJP gained momentum after
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat made it clear that no one among the leaders in
Delhi would be entrusted with the task.
Gadkari, said to be close to the RSS, hails from Nagpur that houses
the Sangh headquarters.
bademiyansubhanallah
BJP dips into Bhagwat purana
D Vasudevan / DNA Sunday, November 22, 2009 8:34 IST
Bangalore: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received a shot in
the arm on Saturday, as the arrival of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS) sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat in the city injected a sense of
unity and direction in the feuding party.
The beleaguered chief minister, BS Yeddyurappa, rushed to the RSS
patron and was closeted with him for nearly 45 minutes.
Yeddyurappa is believed to have briefedBhagwat, who is believed to be
tightening the Sangh hold in the party, about the developments in the
state BJP after the Reddy brothers sparked off a rebellion and the
consequent patch-up.
Extending his full support to Yeddyurappa, Bhagwat is said to have
asked him to tone up the administration in the state and ensure that
the rural masses get the best of the services.
Bhagwat was very keen to know about the relief works being carried out
in the flood-ravaged North Karnataka. "I have grown in the RSS. I met
Bhagwat to seek his blessings," Yeddyurappa later said.
The chief minister's ally and rebels' bugbear, Shobha Karandlaje, also
called on Bhagwat. She apprised him of the developments leading to her
ouster from the ministry.
Shobha later told dna.sunday that Bhagwat had suggested that she take
up social service as an RSS activist and oversee flood relief works to
start with.
She said she was happy to be back in the RSS fold once again as an
active social worker and said she had no regrets about the past.
Party national general secretary HN Ananth Kumar also met Bhagwat and
discussed party affairs with him.
Bhagwat, who is on a three-day visit to the city, is staying atthe
residence of a close associate off JC Road.
The RSS boss also held several baithaks during the day, to review the
working of the various Sangh organs in the state.
According to Sangh sources, Bhagwat is in the city for the first time
after he took over at the helm of the organisation. He also met a
group of pontiffs/seers who are part of the Sangh activities.
Sid Harth
The great RSS U-turn
Pankaj Vohra, Hindustan Times
November 22, 2009
First Published: 21:08 IST(22/11/2009)
Last Updated: 21:10 IST(22/11/2009)
The overtures of two former chief ministers — Uma Bharti and Kalyan
Singh — to the BJP appear to be prompted by their desire to return to
the saffron party, in view of the fast-changing political
developments. Though Bharti has clarified that she would prefer
becoming a part of the NDA since she had some differences with her
erstwhile party, Kalyan Singh has no such qualms. In fact, both are
weighing their chances by sending feelers to various leaders and,
perhaps, feel that they may get accommodated in the new-look BJP.
Both Bharti and Singh are Lodhs and both were popular leaders. Among
second-generation leaders in the BJP, Bharti was the only mass leader
before Narendra Modi came on the scene. Her disillusionment with the
party was on account of the coterie around L.K. Advani, which she felt
was always conspiring against her.
Bharti’s feeler to the top leadership was sent when it became more or
less clear that her tormentors were going to be replaced. But she has
reservations now, since the RSS, under pressure from the D-4 leaders —
Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitley, Ananth Kumar and Sushma Swaraj — seems
to have changed its stance towards them.
In the case of Kalyan Singh, his love affair with Samajwadi Party
supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav is over. He now feels that the party used
and then dumped him. The timing of his dumping coincides with that of
Rajnath Singh’s exit as party chief. The push factor behind Kalyan
leaving the BJP was its president, Rajnath. Now with Rajnath out, the
field is open for him to make his importance felt again in the saffron
brigade. But vested interests may ensure that both Kalyan and Uma
remain out.
But what could be most distressing for the RSS is that it has
reconciled to the possible continuation of the D-4 leaders in their
positions of importance under pressure. In other words, Mohan Bhagwat
— the RSS Sarsanghchalak who had publicly belittled the four prominent
leaders — has taken a U-turn. He has allowed a junior functionary of
the Sangh, Manmohan Vaidya, to issue a clarification on his stand,
thereby, again spelling hope for these leaders.
In doing so, the RSS has not only diluted its earlier stand but the
Sarsanghchalak has ended up with egg on his face. More important, the
four leaders close to Advani have realised that the chief was
vulnerable to pressure and so can be pressurised in the future too.
The entire episode is somewhat similar to what had happened in 2005
when the then RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan, in an off-the-cuff remark to
Shekhar Gupta in his TV show, had stated that both Atal Bihari
Vajpayee and Advani should retire from active politics. The Advani
coterie had swung into action and the RSS, through Mohan Bhagwat — who
was at that time the Sarkaryavah (general secretary) and the second-in-
command — had diluted Sudarshan’s wish.
The tradition continues even now and the office of Sarsanghchalak
stands compromised. In the latest instance since the clarification has
come from Vaidya, who is many notches below Bhagwat, the RSS chief’s
desire to appear as the Sangh’s new (Lauh Purush) stands rusted and
beyond repair. It is as if a section officer of a ministry was to
issue a clarification on a policy statement made by the Prime
Minister. It would have been far better if Bhagwat himself had eaten
his own words rather than make Vaidya do it.
The fallout of the episode could have serious repercussions for Nitin
Gadkari who is being portrayed as the RSS’s choice for the BJP
president’s position. If he were to fail, the RSS will have to face
the consequences.
The chances of Gadkari succeeding will now depend on the extent of
cooperation that he gets from the D-4 leaders, whom the RSS wanted out
but now says they were never out. Politicians are not gullible and the
present RSS chief is certainly in for a very rough time unless he
speaks upfront on the subject. This round has gone to Advani. Between
us.
Sid Harth
BJP proposes, RSS disposes
Pankaj Vohra, Hindustan Times
November 08, 2009
First Published: 21:08 IST(8/11/2009)
Last Updated: 21:09 IST(8/11/2009)
RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat’s reiteration that none of the four
Delhi-based second-generation leaders of the BJP was in consideration
for the position of the saffron party’s presidentship provides clear
indication that L.K. Advani’s coterie is fast losing its grip.
Although Bhagwat had hinted at this even in his last interview to a TV
channel, sections of the media had tried to turn the news around by
stating that one of the four may be the party president after Rajnath
Singh, whose term ends next month.
In fact, misinterpretation of most of the developments within the BJP
has been deliberately done over the last few months to give more time
to Advani, whose tenure as leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha may
also come to an end shortly. But it appears now that the RSS has
conveyed to Advani that he should announce his retirement plan with a
specific date. This concession has been granted keeping in view
Advani’s long service to the party.
If sources in the RSS are to be believed, Advani, who turned 82
yesterday, had wanted that he be allowed to continue as the leader of
opposition till the end of the winter session. While conceding his
demand, the RSS had also told him that he should announce his date of
retirement before the session began. In addition, he should not name
any successor as this would have to be decided by the BJP
parliamentary party.
It is no secret that Advani wants Sushma Swaraj, his deputy in the Lok
Sabha, to succeed him. By doing so, he wants to ensure that his main
rival Murli Manohar Joshi, the senior-most BJP leader after him, does
not replace him. However, the choice of the new leader of opposition
obviously will have to be made in consultation with the RSS. It will
be surprising if Swaraj gets the job as she isn’t even being
considered for BJP presidentship.
In other words, it is unlikely that any of the four — M. Venkaiah
Naidu, Arun Jaitley, Ananth Kumar and Sushma Swaraj — will enjoy their
present importance after the party’s apparatus is overhauled during
the next two months. Had any of them been in contention for any
important position, Bhagwat would not have been so categorical in
dismissing their claim for the presidentship. Thus, if none of them is
being found to be suitable to hold the BJP’s president’s post, it is
very doubtful that they would be part of the new scheme of things.
There is no doubt that all four have their qualities and are capable
in many respects. But the RSS, for some reason, seems to take a dim
view of their virtues, at least for now.
Bhagwat’s latest interview has also broadly outlined the non-
negotiable agenda for the party as well as rest of the sangh parivar.
He has said there could be no compromise on commitment to Indian
nationalism and unity, the demand for Article 370 being abolished, the
uniform civil code and the construction of the Ram temple. That
clearly means the RSS wants the BJP to return to its basic ideology.
Bhagwat is also keen that a younger leader who works closely with the
Sangh to further its ideology heads the party. But he has not
advocated at any place that the leaders of the opposition in both the
Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha should be from the younger lot. It
implies that the RSS is prepared to settle for experience and may not
insist on an age bar for the new incumbents.
Many political analysts critical of the RSS for stating that it would
not interfere in BJP affairs while playing a pro-active role in party
affairs have to understand one basic thing: most BJP cadres are drawn
from the RSS. Therefore, when the RSS chief has a wish-list, all the
cadres are expected to honour it. This is how politics in the Sangh
works.
Sid Harth
BJP: We are not against minorities
STAFF WRITER 20:50 HRS IST
New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) The BJP today debunked claims that it is
against minorities, with senior leader L K Advani terming them
"motivated propaganda".
Citing examples to debunk this "motivated propaganda," BJP leader L K
Advani said "it is an important enough occasion for me to respond to
the consistent propaganda that my party, the BJP, is anti-minorities
and anti-Christian."
"Let me go back into history and cite a few examples to debunk this
motivated propaganda," he said while addressing the golden jubilee
celebration of the Archdiocese of Delhi here.
Recalling the early days he said, "the BJP's predecessor was the
Bharatiya Jana Sangh which was formed by Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee in
1951. Dr Mookerjee was an eminent freedom fighter who also served as
India's first Industries Minister in Pandit Nehru's Cabinet.
Sid Harth
Mum’s the word: Joshi leaves it all to top leaders
Express News Service
Posted: Sunday , Nov 22, 2009 at 0638 hrs
Lucknow:
Murli Manohar Joshi addresses a press conference in Lucknow on
Saturday.
Even though issues like poor electoral performance in bypolls,
probable return of Kalyan Singh and search for a new national
president continue to plague the BJP, senior leader Murli Manohar
Joshi prefers to remain mum on it.
Joshi, who was in Lucknow on Sunday for a personal function, addressed
the media but preferred to remain silent on the crucial topics.
On the issue of former BJP leader Kalyan Singh’s parting ways with
Samajwadi Party and expressing his desire to work “for a national
party like BJP”, Joshi said: “The decision on Kalyan Singh will be
taken by the party leaders. In politics, people keep meeting with each
other and anyone can meet Kalyan Singh. But it is the party which will
take the decision.”
Joshi, who was elected from Varanasi in the last Lok Sabha elections,
skirted replies on all the questions asked on the controversies
plaguing the party.
On the party’s much publicised search for a new national president, he
did not give any direct reply. Asked about the incumbent president
Rajnath Singh not being given extension to Rajnath Singh, Joshi said:
“The party’s regulations say that after three-year term, the national
president has to change. And then, the party will be taking a decision
keeping everyone’s interest and welfare in mind. We will soon see a
new president.”
The veteran BJP leader also refused to comment on RSS chief Mohan
Bhagwat’s recent remarks about the party and some party leaders. “He
is the RSS head and I will not comment on anything he says. I may keep
my opinion in front of my fellow partymen but I will not talk about it
openly,” said Joshi.
The former HRD minister, however, spoke at length about the sugarcane
price issue and “war-like preparations” by neighbouring countries.
“Whenever the UPA government decides the price of the sugarcane, it
should keep the welfare of the farmers, the consumers and even the
sugar mill owners in mind. The increasing prices are affecting the
consumers in a big way,” he said, a day after the Centre decided to
delete a controversial clause in the ordinance.
Joshi also asked the Centre to be on alert as “Pakistan and China are
preparing for war-like situations”.
Sid Harth
BJP’s can of worms opens as fight starts over state chief post
Virendra Nath Bhatt
Posted: Sunday , Nov 22, 2009 at 0639 hrs
Lucknow:
Sanskrit Festivals Ex-servicemen discriminatedEx-servicemen
discriminatedDisc Replacement Content Unfazed by the series of
electoral drubbings after the Lok Sabha elections, the process of the
organisational poll culminating in election of state president has
unleashed intense factional fight within the state BJP.
The internal elections are slated to be completed by the end of the
year. Even as half-a-dozen names have emerged so far, a section within
the state BJP is coaxing the Central leadership to nominate the state
president instead of choosing the state president through the process
of ballot.
The choice of this lobby is none other than Vinod Pandey, MLC and
national president of the Kisan Morcha. He is also known to be a
protégé of Rajnath Singh.
The rank and file of the party are in no mood to accept another
‘nonentity’ after Ramapati Ram Tripathi, who owes his existence as
president of the state BJP to Rajnath Singh.
“There is no wisdom in bringing in a person from the same dispensation
which represents the present set up put in place by the incumbent
national president,” said Rajnath Singh Surya, former Rajya Sabha MP
of the BJP.
“Whether the state president is elected or nominated by the Central
leadership, change of guard in UP will take place only after election
of the national president,” added Surya.
According to BJP sources, Singh is keen to install Vinod Pandey as the
state president before he steps down on or before December 31.
“Singh wants to install a pliable person with the objective of
creating a favourable network in the state organisation before he
steps down so that he could pull the strings in his home state till
the next Assembly elections in 2012,” said a former minister.
“Central leadership can nominate the state president but under the
present circumstances it is difficult as no single individual in the
party can decide on this issue for an important state like UP,” said
Lalji Tandon, BJP parliamentarian from Lucknow.
“Singh has done this in three other states. If the outgoing national
president can change state presidents in Uttarakhand, Haryana and
Rajasthan, he can do the same in UP, which is his home state,” said a
former state president of the BJP.
“Under the present circumstances, it will be an uphill task for Singh
to install his protégé in his home state,” added the leader.
“It will not be surprising if the state president is nominated. But if
this happens, it will not go down well with the rank and file of the
BJP,” said a senior BJP leader.
The top contenders for the post of state president includes H N Dixit,
vice-president; Jai Prakash Chaturvedi, MLC; Satyadeo Pachauri, former
MLA; Swatanta Dev Singh, MLC and former minister Rajesh Agarwal and
former minister Surya Pratap Shahi.
Lucknow Mayor Dinesh Sharma has also staked claim for the top job. The
odds are said to be heavy against him over the recent drubbing of the
party in the recent bypoll to Lucknow (West) Assembly seat, which was
wrested by the Congress.
bademiyansubhanallah
Sushma says all is fine but tugs at BSY’s tight leash
Johnson TA
Posted: Thursday , Nov 19, 2009 at 0222 hrs
Bangalore:
While the Karnataka BJP put up a united front at a legislators’
meeting on Wednesday supervised by senior leaders from Delhi, the
tension within the party was just simmering below the surface.
There were murmurs over the 14-member coordination committee set up to
balance interests of different groups within the state government
being packed with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s men and RSS
loyalists. Later in the evening, the Chief Minister set more tongues
wagging by staying away from a press conference addressed by Sushma
Swaraj, where the senior leader hinted that he was to blame for the
recent crisis in the state unit.
Addressing the media after the legislative unit meeting and the first
meeting of the coordination committee, Swaraj said the recent
rebellion against Yeddyurappa had shamed the party. Considered close
to the Bellary brothers who spearheaded the rebellion, the senior BJP
leader also apportioned the blame for it on the Chief Minister.
“The root cause of most of the problems is lack of dialogue. The Chief
Minister has to be more and more communicative. More and more dialogue
has to be established with the party, with the organisation,” Swaraj
said, adding that the crisis was not only unfortunate but had also
“put all of us to shame”.
Apart from Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and H N Ananth Kumar
had come from Delhi for the meetings on Wednesday. The rebel Reddy
group held separate talks with Swaraj for 40 minutes before
participating in the coordination committee meeting.
Immediately after the legislative party meeting, the rebel group of
MLAs held a separate meeting at the residence of Karunakar Reddy.
There is some concern among the Reddys over the constitution of the
coordination committee, which includes just former speaker Jagadish
Shettar and Revenue Minister G Karunakar Reddy from the camp. Sources
said the Reddy group is specifically unhappy over the inclusion of
Basavaraj Bommai, a new entrant to the party who is considered close
to Yeddyurappa. It is expected to function under the joint leadership
of state party president D V Sadananda Gowda and Yeddyurappa.
Infrastructure Minister G Janardhan Reddy, however, insisted that he
and his associates were happy. “Today is a happy day, so let it be a
happy day,” he said when asked whether he had any reservations over
the committee.
Yeddyurappa’s absence from the press conference was seen as an attempt
to mollify the Reddys. While Swaraj took a swipe at the Chief
Minister’s role in the crisis, she added that it “has withered away
like a bad dream” and matters had been fully resolved.
bademiyansubhanallah
Reddys’ mines flout rules, so freeze work: SC panel
Sreenivas Janyala
Posted: Saturday , Nov 21, 2009 at 1040 hrs
Hyderabad:
The panel slammed the Andhra Pradesh government for 'trying to cover
up illegal mining'.
After successfully downsizing Karnataka Chief Minister B S
Yeddyurappa, the Reddy brothers of Bellary now have run into a
problem.
The Central Empowered Committee (Environment and Forests) of the
Supreme Court has recommended that all mining activity in Obulapuram
in Andhra Pradesh be suspended till an independent body fixes the
boundaries of the mining area again.
The panel slammed the Andhra Pradesh government for “trying to cover
up illegal mining done by M/s Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) in the
unalloted forest areas outside the approved mining leases.”
The Committee in its report submitted on Friday concluded that by
reshaping borders and boundaries, illegal mining had been done by OMC.
Owned by mining baron and Karnataka Toursim Minister Gali Janardhana
Reddy, OMC may not be allowed to resume mining going by the
recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee.
Coming down heavily on the Andhra Pradesh Government for giving a
clean chit to the OMC, the Committee has stated that there are
substantial differences and serious discrepancies in the mining lease
boundaries determined and fixed now by the Andhra Pradesh Forest
Department vis-à-vis the boundaries of the approved mining leases.
Rubbishing the state government’s report of April 28, 2009 which
dismissed allegations of illegal mining by OMC, the Committee
observed: “The objectivity, fairness and impartiality which is
expected from a State Government is shockingly lacking here and does
not inspire confidence.”
The report adds: “The CEC, after examining the matter, is of the
considered view that the demarcation of the boundaries of the five
mining leases and the conclusion reached by the State of Andhra
Pradesh that M/s OMC is not involved in any illegal mining in the
forest area outside its mining lease area suffers from serious defects
and inconsistencies and is not at all in conformity with the approved
mining leases.”
The Reddys were given leases of three mines, measuring 25.98, 39.50
and 68.5 hectares at Obulapuram and H. Siddapuram villages in
Anantapur district in 2002, 2006 and 2007.
The report said: “The location of the mining lease of M/s OMC (25.98
ha) now fixed by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department is wrong and
unacceptable. Their effort appears to have been to cover up the
illegal mining done by M/s OMC in the unalloted forest areas outside
the approved mining leases. This is simply not acceptable and vitiates
the entire process of fixation of mining lease boundaries by the State
of Andhra Pradesh.”
The Committee has also recommended that after borders are fixed, only
those mining companies that carried out mining within the approved
mining leases may be permitted to resume mining operations.
Comments (27) |
Reddy Brothers and Politics
By: SVS Subrahmaniam | 22-Nov-2009
A Reddy family of Bellary the Gali Brothers are making a national
sensational event of a fraud with diabolically opposite philosophies
of two state governments Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in the
Obulapuram Mining Company issue. The authorized Supreme Court`s
Central Empowered Committee also has also recommended for suspending/
halting the mining activities till the clouds of doubts are cleared.
OK, Gali brothers may not be wrong, but with such hue and cry in the
two states and the political parties, involving two state governments
%u2019 authority in this matter, why Andhra Pradesh government is
acting in a defensive way which is appearing to the support of these
brothers. Suspend for a while till the appointed CBI enquiry is
completed and if it clears the clouds they can be permitted to
continue. What is the problem in this unless it is politic?
Mining leases, a Golden opportunity
By: Ramanathan A V | 21-Nov-2009
The devastation the bellary,Sandur, Tornagallu has suffered because of
legal and illegal mining can be seen than heard. It was in this
fortress, the Reddy brothers made money after Gorpade, a mine owner
himself and a politician-Minsiter etc made money, though he was modest
and respectable. Now the impeachment by the Committee that the Reddy's
Company had been adding boundries of their lease properties and
conducting illegal mining and amassing wealth without authority,m or
paying the lease amount, show that the Corruption of high order is not
only visible, but apparent. BJP, a party with a character, should oust
these powerlords who have percolated to politicians rob to cheat the
exchequer should be divested of their Minsitership and thrown away. Dr
Samuel Johnson said that 'politics is the last refugee of a
scoundral', but in the case of these bellary miners it appear to be
the 'first refuge'???
PEOPLE LIKE THIS SHOULD BE HANG REGARDLESS WHICH PARTY THEY BELONG
By: n.r.i | 21-Nov-2009
THE " GHADHARS " LIKE THIS SHOULD BE HANG REGARDLESS WHICH PARTY THEY
BELONG - CONGRESS - B.J.P - N.C.P OR ANY . THE LOOTERS SHOULD NEVER BE
SPARED BUT WILL THIS PATHETIC GOVERMENT DO IT ? NO . WHY ? THEY WANT
TO INSTALL THE PRINCE AS NEXT P.M. OF INDIA AT ANY COST TO RUIN THE
COUNTRY BY THE LOOTERS . INDIA NEEDS ARMY RULE FOR AT LEAST FOR ONE
YEAR TO WEED OUT TERRORIST , ITS SUPPORTERS LIKE MAHESH BHATT - SCAM
MASTERS - FRAUDSTERS - RAPIST - MIXING POISON WITH FOOD - DRUG DEALERS
AND SO ON . INDIA WILL NEVER CHANGE WITH DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM . LETS HOPE
MEDIA SUPPORTS SUCH VIEWS .
Mining by Government.
By: P. Arunachalam | 21-Nov-2009
The Government should take over the mining activities. Otherwise, the
Reddy brothers will take over the control of both Karnataka & AP
Govts. Union Govt. should act swiftly.
Mining by the Government
By: Varun | 21-Nov-2009
I agree. How can guys like these be tolerated by political parties
only because they have so much money. Shame on the BJP for succumbing
to their demands. AP Congress leaders know how to practice corruption
better than anyone else.Idiots.
What about 2G Spectrm Scandal
By: Kumar | 21-Nov-2009
2001 rates applied in the year 2007 WHY First cum First serve basis
What was the hurry No of applicants restricted WHY Submission/cut off
date advanced WHY Swan Telecom sold 45 per cent stake to the UAE-based
Etisalat for Rs 4,100 crore ($900 million). This was Rs 2,450 crore
more than what its promoters paid to acquire the licences in February
2008. Mr Raja Telecom Min is misleading Parliament on the issuance of
new telecom licences at throw away prices costin the exchequer a
whopping Rs 1,00,000 crore loss . Would any sensible minister justify
this DMK wanted TELECOM and TRANSPORT Ministry in 2009 WHY
Every one is Corrupt
By: Shiva Kumar | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 13:26:44 PM
Its a known factor that Reddy's are playing dual role, In Karnataka
they are Sushma;s blue eyed boys in Andhra they are YSR's adopted
son's... Then whats all this happening its just power play we public
are being hit all round the stadium.
Professor
By: G.N.Rao | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 13:05:47 PM
At last the charges of favouritism levelled against the then
Y.S.Rajasekahara Reddy Governement of Andhra Pradesh by the Opposition
parties--especially TDP-- have been substantiated to be true by the
CEC formed by the Supreme Court. The indictment of the AP Govt. by
this Committee should normally bring shame on it. Heads should roll.
But in reality does it happen ? I doubt. This developement came at a
critical time when the Party is desperately trying to get hold of the
coveted Greater Hyderabad Municicpal Corporation in the polls to be
held on Nov 23.But given the fact that the ordianry citizen of the
state has been witnessing so much misrule ans so many corruption
scandals involving both bureacrats and the politiciansduring the past
six years, he has become insensitive and immune. Nothing surprises
him. Often we hear the retort from the voter:" Who is not corrupt?!".
Alas !! Prof G.N.Rao Hyderabad
Reddys
By: Vijendra | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 12:42:55 PM
It is public secret that these Reddys including Late YSR has looted
and even now looting the two states. As long as YSR is alive, he had
openly supported for these looting, and all Reddys were unquestioned.
Atleast now, as per Supreme court penal observation, and AP's stand
for CBI probe, our Karnataka Government should immediately scrap these
tainted three ministers and dis-arm the powers, so that the loot
should come to the Government without delay. But can BSY can stand up
to the demand of the time and take bold step to stop looting.
NO HE WILL NOT
By: R Sundar | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 13:28:49 PM
No Yeddy will not. Reddys are his brothers.
KNOW FACTS
By: R Sundar | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 13:05:11 PM
Before talking about YSR, look at your own dirty face in the mirror.
These law breakers are ministers in Yeddy Government.
Give them what they deserve
By: Francis Gonsalves | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 12:31:48 PM
These Raddy brothers need to be given a resounding kick in their pants
ILLEGAL MINING ACTIVITIES
By: SHIRASATISH | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 12:08:37 PM
Everyone seems to have believed that Mr Yediyurappa and the Government
of Karnataka is responsible for illegal activities of Mine Companies.
Although Reddy brothers are in BJP and Karnataka Government, they were
fully supported and covered by the Late YSR Reddy the then Chief
Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He himself had declared in the Supreme
Court that no illegal activities are taking place with regard to
mining activities. Ones Mr YSR Reddy met a fatal death, every thing
seems to be taking a different shape for Reddy's. The present Chief
Minister of Karnataka wanted to take political control over Reddy's.
He was not supported fully n this regard. The Law is now taking its
course. When something cannot be achieved politically, the legal
system is there in our country to look into this. This is our fortune
DOES THEY HAVE ANY SHAME LEFT
By: R Sundar | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 13:13:11 PM
Having law breakers as Ministers. Does Yeddy and the BJP have any
moral shame left ?
Why
By: R Sundar | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 13:05:59 PM
Can you explain why the BJP takes the support of such people ? The
fact is that they thrived on them.
flouting rules
By: yohan | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 12:02:28 PM
how these bigwigs get away with such flouting of rules? why a Supreme
Court has to intervene to take legal action? why cant each govt ensure
that each manufacturing facilities operate within the permissible
limits? why there is no mechanism if there is any flouting? why these
bigwigs are able to crush any opposition by common man and how they
are able to murder those who oppose them and yet no govt is able to
take disciplinary action? the govt should seize all unaccounted and
illegal transaction wealth from the Reddys and distribute it amongst
the poor. Also the crores given by Reddys to the MLAs should be
brought to justice. How MLAs can be bought in this manner. Those MLAs
and MPs who accept bribes to bring down or instal a govt should be put
in jail. Supreme Court and Election Commission should jointly make
required modifications in the laws to crush these criminal MLAs and
MPs and Ministers.
seeking performance report from Cabinet or other Ministers by Prime
minister
By: J V Dhanesha | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 11:53:45 AM
It is welcome step. But is prime minister in position to ask any
minister to resign on self written or unaudited performance report. I
think NO. Because to remain as Prime Minister of India he does not
have such powers in reality.Similarly to collapse any opposion
Government in any state of India such corrupt steps taken by so called
his party he has to blesh by him only. It is not Mahatma Gandhi who
wanted to use politics for betterment of People visibly and in reality
too.He had power of truth. But here power of Money Men and so many
other things.......
Vidicted
By: Narendra | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 11:35:48 AM
Mr N Chandra Babu Naidu has been vindicted
REDDY BROTHERS - BRING DOWN IN KARNATAKA
By: P.C.LUTHRA | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 11:29:51 AM
THE MINES: ARE THEY PUBLIC PROPERTY OR PRIVATE PROPERTY? EVERY WHERE
LOOTS. LOSS TO GOVT. WHO IS GOING TO COMPENSATE THE PUBLIC PROPERTY?
CHECK AND STOP SUCH SCANDALS? WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
LAW MAKERS ARE LAW BREAKERS
By: Sankar | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 11:22:37 AM
Law makers are themselves law breakers. These Reddy Brothers are all
Ministers in the Karnataka Government and are doing such shameless
acts. One wonders as to how much they will be looting the Karnataka
coffers misusing their position and this shameless Yeduriappa is
calling them his brothers. Really shameful.
Crocodile Tears
By: George P. Joseph | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 11:19:49 AM
When the BJP has been reluctant to induct again as CM, Mr.B S
Yeddyurappa wept. Now it is clear the reason for such shedding since
he & his Bros. may not run the Mines which may be a loss of bulk money
but not for the yokels of his State.
good precedent shoul be used to stop illegal mining in konkan
By: amar | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 11:18:57 AM
there is huge illegal, ecohazards, mining going on in konkan, this
judicial precedent will definitely help poor farmers from being looted
by mining cos & corrupt govt.
Soania and her corrupt congress Minister
By: Haari Ram Ratanji | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 11:07:47 AM
This zre very Reddy Brothers who vwere set up by the Sonia's Congress
to bring down the BJP Goavt in Karnatak.Every minute of the day the
Sonia is exposed for sponsering corruption in the Country from the
President down wards.The Sugar Procurement was also sponsered by her
Govt with helop of Sharad Pawar,Moily and other corrupt Congressmen.
KNOW FACTS
By: R Sundar | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 11:20:32 AM
To put in simple words, you are a rank idiot. Reddy Brothers were
brought and prospered under the BJP. It was Sushma who shared a
bonhomie with these Reddys in 1997 when she contested against Sonia
and these Reddys money and muscle power played a major rule, but still
Susham ate a humble pie and she was defeated. Now the very reason BJP
came to power in Karnataka this time was using the Reddys and once in
power, the Reddys helped them in wooing opposition MLAS to resign
their seat and contest once again. They spent a huge fortune in
enabling BJP to get a majority and this was called as Operation Lotus.
Eventhough Yeddy did everything possible to please them, probably the
ambitions of Reddys went higher and they pulled the rug under his
feet. And afterall these shameless deals by the BJP with the Reddys
and Yeddys quest for power at any cost, here you are blaming Sonia and
Congress. I repeat, you are a rank idiot.
Know Facts completely
By: Revanth | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 12:16:33 PM
If haari ram is idiot,then what are you.Dont forget these are the same
mines which were alloted by the confidant of sonia gandhi
Mr.Y.S.Rajashekar Reddy.And dont forget that even Jagan Mohan Reddy is
allegedly involved it it.Dont talk half truth.
You also know facts
By: R Sundar | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 13:04:17 PM
You are also an idiot. Now how does Yeduriappa and BJP's sins wash way
with YSR and his Son offering support to Reddys ?
I know facts that what i wanted you to know.
By: Revanth | Saturday , 21 Nov '09 20:24:41
hooooooooo...is it.U blind folded your eyes and talking all
rubish .Cant u see in which state these mines were alloted.Who has
alloted it,and who is the patner in those mines and who was the person
who gave clean chit to them.Atleast yedurappa fought against them,he
won or lost is a differnt issue,atleast he raised his voice against
them.What did YSR do supported them in all these illegal anti national
activities. No one is supporting BJP here.My point was inorder to
cover up congress sins dont bring some tenuous connections and proove
your point.If am an Idiot then what are you?ask your self. the kind of
language you are using talks volumes about you.
chhotemianinshallah
BABRI DEMOLITION REPORT
Liberhan slams media over report leak
CNN-IBN
Published on Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 15:30,
Updated on Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 15:48 in India section
ANGRY JUSTICE: Retd Justice MS Liberhan had investigated the Babri
demolition case.
New Delhi: Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan has lashed out at the media
and the Opposition parties over the alleged leak of his report into
the December 6, 1992, demolition of Babri Masjid.
Justice Liberhan claimed that he was not the one who leaked the
report.
"Go and ask the media where did they get the report from. Go and ask
them. What do you mean by this, you are challenging my character? Get
Lost. I am not that characterless that I will leak the report before
it is tabled in Parliament. Go and ask Opposition what they are
saying. Go and ask media. Go and do what you want to," replied an
angry Liberhan when he was asked who leaked the report.
The Liberhan Commission report on the Babri Masjid demolition case has
reportedly indicted former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and
Leader of Opposition LK Advani in the case.
The Commission has also indicted Vinay Katiyar, Uma Bharti, Murli
Manohar Joshi along with Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders Ashok Singhal
and Giriraj Kishore.
CNN-IBN had first reported how the Commission's report put the
responsibility for the demolition on the BJP top brass.
The report incidentally has virtually scrapped the BJP's claim that
the Babri Masjid demolition was a spontaneous outburst.
The Commission says the demolition was meticulously planned.
The Commission had also given a clean chit to the PB Narasimha Rao
government and blamed the then Uttar Pradesh government led by Kalyan
Singh for not seeking Central intervention.
The one-man Commission was set up 10 days after the demolition as
communal riots rocked several parts of the country. After 17 years and
48 extensions, it submitted its report on June 30 this year.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram told the Lok Sabha that he intends
to table the Action Taken Report on the Commissions findings in the
Winter Session of Parliament.
chhotemianinshallah
COMMISSION INDICTS BJP: NEWSPAPER
Liberhan report 'leaked', Advani furious
CNN-IBN
Published on Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 12:31,
Updated on Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 16:51 in Politics section
FIRM COMMITMENT: LK Advani says building a huge Ram Temple in Ayodhya
is the aim of his life.
New Delhi: Leader of Opposition LK Advani, who has reportedly been
indicted by the Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan Commission of Inquiry
report in the Babri Masjid demolition case, on Monday slammed the
Union Government over the report.
The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, who had given a notice
to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar demanding a debate on the Liberhan
Commission, said he was surprised that the report has been
"selectively leaked" to the media.
"I was shocked to see this report. This report is talking about my
seniors Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This report was given to the government
in June, it is November now. The Home Minister didn't table this
report in the last session. Government should table the report in the
House," said Advani while waving a copy of the Indian Express
newspaper in the Lok Sabha.
Advani went on to add that he was proud of his association with the
Ayodhya movement.
"I am proud of my association with the Ayodhya movement. I was grieved
over the demolition of that structure but the establishment of a huge
Ram Temple on that spot in keeping with people's aspiration is my aim
in life and until it happens, I will keep pursuing it," said Advani.
The BJP MPs kept on shouting 'shame, shame' and pesh karo, pesh karo
(table the report) as the issue was being discussed despite the
government's assurance that the report along with the Action Taken
Report would be tabled in the current session which concludes on
December 21.
BJP President Rajnath Singh said that the manner in which the report
was leaked has "saddened" the people.
"Top leaders like Vajpayee, Advani and Joshi being blamed together
surely indicates a well-planned conspiracy," he said in Lok Sabha.
"The Congress is the biggest communal party of the country. In spite
of the nation entering its 62nd year of freedom... the party has
pursued its political interest by creating social discrimination.
Whenever there is an election, the Congress always brings up an
issue," Singh said.
Deputy Leader of Oppostion in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj called the
leakage of the report shameful. "The report has been leaked by the
officals of the Home Minsitry. The Government calls it unfortunate but
we say it's shameful," she said.
Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha witnessed noisy scenes soon
after they assembled for the day with BJP members later storming the
well demanding immediate tabling of the voluminous report along with
the ATR.
Following slogan shouting and protests by BJP MPs in the Lok Sabha
Speaker Meira Kumar first adjourned the House till 1200 hrs IST and
when the ruckus continued it was adjourned till 1400 hrs IST.
Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, Communist Party of India-
Marxist leader Basudeb Acharia, Bahujan Samaj Party MP Dara Singh
Chouhan and Biju Janata Dal MP Arjun Charan Sethi supported Avani's
demand and criticised the Government for the ''selective leakage''.
Meanwhile, BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley blamed the Liberhan
Commission for leaking the report
"There are only two copies of this report, there is no third copy. So
If the Home Minister is right that he has not leaked it, then the
Commission has leaked it. This is a very serious matter and the
Parliament has to take it up as to how such a leakage has to take
place," said Jaitley.
Also, speaking in the Rajya Sabha on the Liberhan Commission report
leak, CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury demanded serious inquiry in
the issue.
"What appeared in the media is not selective leaks, it's a
comprehensive summary which can only come from an authentic source,"
said Yechury.
Member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Kamal
Farooqui, said it was a failure on the part of some Muslims that they
couldn't protect the Babri masjid.
"Some Muslim leaders had failed to prevent despite the fact that it
was a 500 year-old mosque, some leaders have misused there positions,"
said Farooqui.
"Advani and Joshi have already been held responsible by the CBI.
Chargesheet has been filed against them. We have maintained that
Atalji was also a part of it because there were indications that the
Karsewa wouldn't be peaceful as people were carrying weapons with them
and that they would do as they were told to do. So we understood that
there was something fishy but the nature of the plot surfaced later,"
said legal adviser of AIMPLB, Zafaryab Jilani.
But many questions still remain unanswered:
Why has the then prime minister PV Narasimha Rao's role been
downplayed?
Why did it take 17 years for preparation of this report?
Why is the report silent on Rajiv Gandhi, widely held responsible for
opening locks at disputed site in Ayodhya?
Is LK Advani held guilty of conspiracy of demolishing the Babri
Mosque?
Is the Government trying to break Opposition unity seen on sugarcane
farmers’ issue?
chhotemianinshallah
BABRI DEMOLITION REPORT
Liberhan report in this session: Chidambaram
IANS
Published on Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 11:06,
Updated on Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 14:05 in Politics section
SPEAKING OUT: Chidambaram said it was unfortunate that a newspaper had
published the contents of the report.
New Delhi: The Liberhan Commission of inquiry report will be tabled in
Parliament in the current winter session, union Home Minister P
Chidambaram said on Monday, while refusing to comment on the contents
that appeared in a media report.
The Commission that probed the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition submitted
its report on June 30, and "we are required to table it along with the
action taken report within six months", Chidambaram said in the Lok
Sabha.
"We shall table it during the (current) winter session" of Parliament.
"It is unfortunate that a newspaper has published what purports to be
the contents of the report," the Home Minister said.
"There's only one copy in safe custody and I can assure the House that
none from the Ministry of Home Affairs has spoken to anyone."
A report in the Indian Express on Monday said the Commission has
indicted former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as well as senior
Bharatiya Janata Party leaders L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi for
their role in the demolition.
"I have said what I can say, I must be a foolish man to leak it and
embarrass myself. The report is a voluminous report, the ATR takes
time especially when you are working with one officer in secrecy. I
still don't know of a way when 17 volumes of the report gets
translated into Hindi without anyone getting to know the details of
the report"
— Home Minister, P Chidambaram to CNN-IBN
chhotemianinshallah
Atal link in leaked report amazes Liberhan counsel
IANS
Published on Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 13:14,
Updated on Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 16:46 in Politics » Political News
section
IN TROUBLE: : BJP leader and ex-PM Vajpayee has been reportedly linked
to the 1992 Babri mosque razing.
New Delhi: A senior official of the Liberhan Commission of Inquiry
said he was "astonished" at a media report linking Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) leader and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to
the 1992 Babri mosque razing.
Counsel for the commission that was set up soon after the mosque was
demolished in 1992, Anupam Gupta told a news channel that Vajpayee was
the only BJP leader who was not connected to the mosque razing and
what came to be known as the Ayodhya movement.
"Of all the top ranking leaders of the Sangh Parivar who were summoned
and examined, Vajpayee was not one of them," he said.
"A conscious decision was taken (that) since there is nothing to
connect Vajpayee with the demolition proper or with the entire Ayodhya
movement, whose culmination the demolition was, the Commission should
not call Vajpayee," he said.
In such circumstances, Gupta said, he was "astonished" that Vajpayee
had been named in the leaked portions of the report published in The
Indian Express as one of those "indicted" for the mosque razing.
Gupta said this "central fact must be placed before the nation today
now that a national newspaper has disclosed certain parts of the
report".
chhotemianinshallah
Liberhan Report leak: Rajya Sabha adjourned twice
The uproar in Parliament took place on Monday, after a newspaper
reported that the Liberhan Commission had indicted senior BJP leaders
including LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and the lower rung leaders of
the party.
CJ: Vijay Singh Mon, Nov 23, 2009 14:40:37 IST
THE UPPER HOUSE of the Parliament was adjourned twice on Monday
(November 23), as opposition BJP demanded the tabling of Liberhan
Commission report that investigated the demolition of Babri Masjid in
1992. The House was adjourned till 2 pm, second time after opposition
refused to listen to the assurances of the Home Minister P
Chidambaram.
BJP members demanded that the Liberhan Report, which has been leaked
in certain sections of media be tabled at once in the Parliament.
Chidambaram had earlier told the Parliament that only one official had
access to the Liberhan report and he was writing the action taken
report by the government.
The uproar in Parliament took place on Monday, after a newspaper
reported that the Liberhan Commission had indicted senior BJP leaders
including LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and the lower rung leaders of
the party.
BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said that this report as being
published in the media was simply a politically motivated document
that was meant to indict the party.
chhotemianinshallah
Babri panel wants action against Advani, others
November 23rd, 2009 SindhToday
Lucknow, Nov 23 (IANS) The Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) Monday
sought action against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani
and others who it said were to blame for the razing of the Babri
mosque.
But the BMAC appeared to be soft to former prime minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee, who too has been reportedly indicted in the Liberhan
Commission of Inquiry into the Babri 1992 demolition according to
leaked media reports.
“In view of the Liberhan report, it would be pertinent to reopen the
criminal charges against Advani and seven others that were dropped by
a special CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) court a few years
ago”, BMAC convenor Zafaryab Jilani told mediapersons.
Even as the case was still on, the court had dropped charges of
‘criminal conspiracy’ against eight of the 39 prominent accused,
mostly connected to the BJP and allied bodies including Rashtriya
Swaymsewak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal.
“Now that the Liberhan Commission had clearly indicted Advani and all
others, it would be appropriate for the CBI court to also use the
evidence available with the Commission,” he stressed.
Interestingly, Jilani remained on the defensive when a scribe sought
his comment on the Liberhan Commission’s allegation about the
“dubious” role of certain Muslim organisations including BMAC.
“Since I have not seen the report, I would not like to make any
comment on that. But if there is something genuine, I would not
hesitate to accept our fault,” he said.
“However, as far as we are concerned, we have been making our
appearances before the Commission from day one and I fail to
understand what the Commission meant by hinting about our
unsatisfactory role.
“As for Vajpayee, personally, I was always convinced that he had as
much role in the act as others. In fact, just a day before the
demolition, Vajpayee stated at a rally in Lucknow that since the
Supreme Court had granted the permission to go up to the disputed
site, he would go there to level the ground,” Jilani said.
He hastened to add: “But considering Vajpayee’s age and his
infirmities and illness, which may not allow him to present himself
before a court, I would like to discuss with my BMAC colleagues as
well as with leaders of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board
(AIMPLB) whether it would be appropriate to demand institution of a
criminal case against him.”
On the other hand, Jilani was firm about his demand for action against
Advani and other BJP leaders for their alleged role in the mosque
demolition.
“Advani was the one who was responsible for taking the issue to a high
pitch through his ‘rath yatra’; he provoked people through his
speeches that vitiated the atmosphere, then he was himself present in
front of the mosque from where he supervised the demolition.
Therefore, under no circumstances, should he be allowed any escape
route,” he said.
[LM1]
chhotemianinshallah
Indian MPs halt parliament over mosque razing inquiry
(AFP) – 3 hours ago
NEW DELHI — Hindu nationalist lawmakers in India caused uproar in
parliament on Monday after accusations they had orchestrated the
razing of a mosque that led to bloody religious riots 17 years ago.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members repeatedly shouted down the
speaker over newspaper claims that an official inquiry into the Babri
Mosque's demolition "indicted" the party's leaders.
The Indian Express newspaper also claimed the probe, which will be
published shortly, concluded that the 1992 attack on the Muslim shrine
by hordes of Hindu zealots was "meticulously planned."
Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that the report should not be judged
until it was published finally later in the current parliamentary
session.
"There is only one copy of the Liberhan Commission report with the
home ministry and it is in safe custody and no one has spoken to any
journalist about it," he said, as opposition protests forced the house
to adjourn.
The Express said the probe "indicted" Atal Behari Vajpayee --- a
former BJP prime minister who is widely respected as a moderate Hindu
nationalist -- and L.K. Advani, the current hardline leader who was
then deputy premier.
Advani travelled across India in 1990 to draw support for his campaign
to install a temple on the site of the Babri mosque in the Hindu
pilgrimage town of Ayodhya in northern Uttar Pradesh state.
On Monday Advani accused India's ruling Congress party of deliberately
leaking the inquiry's conclusions and protested his innocence.
"I take strong objection as to how the government has suddenly leaked
the report," he told parliament, describing the mosque's destruction
as "the saddest moment of my life."
Congress party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi accused BJP leaders of
clapping with joy as they watched Hindu rioters tear down the mosque
"and then shedding crocodile tears about sadness."
Devout Hindus believe the mosque was built on the ruins of a temple
marking the birthplace of the Hindu warrior Lord Ram.
The mosque's demolition triggered some of the worst Hindu-Muslim
violence since the partition of the Indian sub-continent in 1947, with
more than 2,000 people, mostly Muslims, left dead.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
The mosque's demolition triggered some of the worst Hindu-Muslim
violence
chhotemianinshallah
Parliament disrupted over Ayodhya report
Published on Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 15:34 |
Updated at Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 16:09 | Source : Reuters
India's parliament was in uproar on Monday over a leaked government
report blaming Hindu nationalist opposition leaders for their role in
the destruction of an ancient mosque that sparked widespread riots.
Angry lawmakers twice forced the adjournment of parliament and
opposition leaders shouted "shame, shame" in the house, blaming the
government for leaking the report.
Mobs of Hindu militants tore down a 16-century mosque in the north
Indian town of Ayodhya in 1992, claiming it stood on the birthplace of
their god-king Rama. It led to clashes between Hindus and Muslims that
left hundreds dead across the country.
The Indian Express newspaper on Monday published what is said were
excerpts of the commission's report, which said leaders of the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had played a part in planning the
destruction of the mosque.
Among those mentioned in the report were former Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee and current leader of opposition, Lal Krishna Advani.
The government would not confirm the report, but if true, the
conclusions would be another blow to the main opposition BJP, which
has been plagued by squabbling after defeats in federal and state
elections.
It would also takes pressure off the ruling Congress government, which
has so far faced a concerted opposition in a parliament session that
began last week and was supposed to debate issues such as rising food
prices and policy moves on deregulating commodity prices.
The adjournments have further delayed government plans to debate
reforms like increasing foreign investment in the insurance and
pension sectors.
The Ayodhya mosque incident was blamed for further driving a wedge
between the two communities and for the increasing radicalization of
Muslims, who make up around 13 percent of the population.
The report was submitted to the government in July. The government has
said it would table the report in parliament in the current session.
"I refrain to comment...on the contents," Home Minister Palaniappan
Chidambaram told parliament over shouts from opposition lawmakers. He
said the newspaper report was "unfortunate".
Both Advani and Vajpayee have said the demolition was a spontaneous
act and have denied they orchestrated the mobs.
"If what is written is correct, the conclusions are false and
ridiculous. There was no conspiracy, no planning. I myself have told
the commission it was the saddest day of my life," Advani told
parliament, holding up a copy of the newspaper.
chhotemianinshallah
Mosque razing inquiry to accuse Indian politicians: report
ForeignReligion in the news 2009-11-23 16:02
NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (AFP) - An inquiry into the demolition of a mosque
that led to bloody Hindu-Muslim riots in India will accuse senior
Hindu nationalist politicians of orchestrating the destruction, a
report said Monday.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party stalled business in parliament
over claims in the Indian Express newspaper that an official probe
into the razing of the 16th-century Babri Mosque in 1992 "indicted"
the party's leaders.
The newspaper also claimed that the unpublished inquiry concluded that
the attack on the mosque by hordes of Hindu zealots was "meticulously
planned."
Home Minister P. Chidambaram attempted to calm tempers by saying that
the inquiry's findings should not be judged until they are finally
published later in the current parliamentary session.
"There is only one copy of the Liberhan Commission report with the
home ministry and it is in safe custody and no one has spoken to any
journalist about it," he said, as opposition protests forced the house
to adjourn.
The Express claimed the probe "indicted" Atal Behari Vajpayee --- a
former BJP prime minister who is widely respected as a moderate Hindu
nationalist -- and L.K. Advani, the party's current hardline leader.
Advani travelled across India in 1990 to draw support for his campaign
to install a temple on the site of the Babri mosque in the Hindu
pilgrimage town of Ayodhya in northern Uttar Pradesh state.
Devout Hindus believe the mosque was built on the ruins of a temple
marking the birthplace of the Hindu warrior god Ram.
The mosque's demolition triggered some of the worst sectarian violence
since the partition of the Indian sub-continent in 1947, with more
than 2,000 people, mostly Muslims, left dead.
MySinchew 2009.11.23
chhotemianinshallah
Katiyar says day of Babri demolition 'happiest'
STAFF WRITER 15:56 HRS IST
New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) BJP leader Vinay Katiyar, an accused in the
Babri Masjid demolition case, today said the day the structure was
brought down by Karsevaks was the "happiest day" of his life.
"If you ask me four times, I will repeat four times that it was the
happiest day of my life," he said.
When it was pointed out that senior BJP leader L K Advani had said
December 6, 1992 was the saddest day of his life, Katiyar said "that
is his individual opinion".
He also maintained that there was "no planning" involved in the
demolition.
BJP MP Yogi Adityanath said, "We are proud of demolition of Babri
structure. It was not a Masjid but a disputed structure at Ayodhya."
"There will be a Ram temple in Ayodhya and we will built it," he said
outside Parliament.