Pav-Pasta?

India energised during the 2014 elections, buoyed by the promises by Modi, the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP. Giving a clean administration and removing corruption was the mainstay of his poll campaign. Like all others, I too expected him to usher a new era of a matured democracy and different governance.

The intervening years between 2015 and 2019 have changed some of the perceptions. BJP now has become like any other post-independence Indian political party, never hesitating to sacrifice its supposed different and high standards for the sake of power. The slips were evident while BJP aligned with the corrupt Dravida party in Tamil Nadu, in the return of Yeddyurappa in Karnataka, in engineering a total defection of the opponents in Goa and now teaming up with another steeped-in-corruption party, the NCP.

The need to cling to power has never been more apparent than as seen in the Maharashtra episode. Not only the BJP failed to retain its 30-year-old partner Shiv Sena, but it had also allied with Ajit Pawar, who is under investigation over the Rs.70,000 crores irrigation scam. The urgency and quickness in the formation of the government was a slap on the face of Shah, equated as the Chanakya of today’s politics.

BJP is making severe mistakes, in comprising with its promised ideals for the sake of grabbing power in Indian states. The corrupt are no more inadmissible into the party if they can add numbers to the seats, as has been witnessed in West Bengal and elsewhere. They have significantly eroded the image of the party.

Unemployment rates are a high of 9.5% as job losses will erase love for any isms. Talk of identifying and closing down 3 lac illegal companies, though timely, have no meaning to hungry bellies of jobless youths.

2024 is not a cakewalk for the BJP and could face severe challenges from the new compromises between the opposition, where immiscible ideologies have settled down for peaceful coexistence. Their singular objective to defeat BJP by any means. The success of the opposition parties in providing a stable government in Maharashtra will promote such daring experiments in other states as will their collapse consolidate the growth of BJP.

Like all other Indians, I am waiting to taste Maharashtra’s new recipe of ‘Pav-pasta’ with interest!

Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix

Need Changes!

Hyatt witnessed a strange scene on the constitution day. Legislators belonging to the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine all raised their arms owning allegiance to the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi, as the alliance is named.

I quickly recalled an instance when in 1978 MG Ramachandran, the actor turned CM asked his followers to tattoo their forearms with the two leaves symbol of his party. Many added a tattoo of MGR’s face on their chest. Many frenzied cadres of Jayalalithaa led AIADMK subsequently tattooed her image on their forearms on the charismatic leader’s 68th birthday.

Forced submissions have no relevance, as a few who had MGR’s tattoo broke away and went to the opposite camp while rushing for the removal of tattoos. Those who had difficulty in the removal of tattoos forever shifted to full sleeve shirts! Legislators swearing for the new alliance also might jump the ship as evidenced from the past in Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in the recent past.

There is more drama, and the nation which includes me have become mute and dumb spectators. Not one is making way for a gracious exit, allowing the other to govern. U-turns completely different from pre-poll alliances are taking place on both fronts, which raise a serious question over the sustainability of our democratic values. Hurriedly corruption cases are cleared, raising serious doubts over the timing, which could be but a quid pro quo arrangement.

Israel has had two successive elections and yet have not been able to form a government. They are contemplating another election now. Can we afford many expensive polls? The role of hidden finances to parties must end, giving a level playing field tor all. The Electoral Bonds must cease and stop instantly. It is sad to see the legislators kept under close guard for fear of poaching by opponents, which does not augur well at all. Anti-defection laws must be revisited to make them more stringent.

The new look into the need and role of Governors, who are party nominees, is necessary, defining their more specific actions, cutting down on discretionary whims. Can the Chief Justices of High Courts double as Governors? At least they will go by the law book and not yield to midnight persuasions to change the history of the states they reign!

If a ‘Right-to-recall’ were in force, Maharashtra would have no legislators left today! Only with the participation of all can India achieve growth as a healthy democracy. Even if BJP wins this floor-test, it will not be a battle won like Ram and Ravan’s, but like the crafty killing of Vaali the monkey king, ambushed from behind the trees!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

Democracy redefined!

All are keenly following Maharashtra politics. The bizarre developments have created new lows, where the voting public have been taken for a ride, which must end.

BJP and Sena, both rightwing Hindutva parties fought the elections together, and their combined strength was sufficient to form the government. Issues over a purported 50:50 seat-sharing formula that covered the Chief Minister’s post became an unresolved thorny issue that ended in a breakup between the two parties, resulting in their failure to form or offer a government.

Thus, BJP and Shiv Sena committed a misdemeanour, if not a crime, by going back on their pre-poll stand on which basis, they received the votes. There is no legal remedy for the cheated voters in this regard.

Next, the Sena formed a post-poll alliance with its avowed enemies the NCP and Congress. Whatever is happening in the intervening period is a sordid and lusty drama for power by deceit and fraud on the voters.

Maharashtra events must not be viewed only from the angle of the elected representatives but must open up debates on the pre-poll alliances and the need to adhere to values and systems proposed. I hope the public interest litigation filed on the matter is taken up by the Supreme Court in its right earnestness and the issue discussed in the parliament for the avoidance of such recurrence.

Democratic values stand deeply eroded, as the relation between voters and those elected become truncated, the former helplessly watching, while the latter move from one resort to another like smuggled animals.

Jai Hind

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

The twists and turns in Maha Jalebi!

The political developments in Maharashtra is a twist not seen even in the movies and serials. The pre-poll partners BJP and Shiv Sena had a simple majority to form a government but could not form one over the thorny issue of sharing the Chief Minister’s post. The two Hindutva parties, BJP and Shiv Sena wedded for the last thirty years, separated in an angry note, Sena leaders taking an aggressive stand abusing and accusing BJP and its leaders.

President’s rule was imposed after the top three parties were unable to form the government within a defined timeframe.  Sena went berserk and sought support from their avowed opponents the National Congress Party and the Indian National Congress to form the government. Hectic parleys went on for about ten days as the three parties, Sena, NCP and Congress sent out many bytes, though not reaching out to the Governor in support of their claim for the formation of the government.

Even as Mumbai was deep asleep, the master strategists from BJP struck hard and deep, waking the Secretary to the Governor seeking a meeting early in the morning. The Governor hurriedly recommended the revocation of the President’s rule, which the President readily obliged. The Governor immediately invited Devendra Fadnavis of BJP to form the government with NCP its partner, the swearing-in done at 7.50 a.m.

Congress was suspecting Sharad Pawar of duplicity, but he revealed that it was his nephew, Ajit Pawar who acted independently and hiding his intentions from Sharad Pawar. Congress and the Sena were stunned beyond words and went into hiding.

Many issues arise from the recent Maharashtra developments. Sena was but a junior partner but concluded that they are deciders of Maharashtra’s political fate. They were proved wrong. Ever since the declaration of election results, Sena was confident that BJP could not form the government without their support. They started behaving like novices, and the chief negotiator of Sena, in particular, was pathetic, shutting the doors from BJP.

By reaching out to Congress and NCP, Sena has rattled their grass-root level members and may have committed political hara-kiri. The secular credentials of the Congress party too are in tatters after agreeing to align with the Sena, a far-right Hindutva outfit.

I would not know if it will augur well for BJP in the long run for aligning with Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP, riddled with many scams. While there was rabble-rousing in Matoshree, the Sena headquarters, at Akbar Road and NCP’s offices, there was studied silence in BJP quarters. Modi made a passing remark in Rajya Sabha, praising Sharad Pawar, who surprisingly had called on the PM. Nitin Gadkari went on the TV channels to claim that the opportunistic alliance of the Sena-NCP-Congress will not last eight months. These were mere diversionary tactics, even as the political Chanakya was making his deft moves stealthily.

There may be loud cries that disregarded morality, but where is the question of morality in politics at all? ‘Jo jeeta wohi Sikander,” He who wins is the king! I expect a deluge from the Sena and also am sure that the Nov 30 vote of confidence will be breezy for Fadnavis!

The question which again will raise is on the Governor’s actions, but that can wait. What about the sanctity of the pre-poll alliances and promises? Do they really matter?

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

Sanskrit is universal!

Severe protests have erupted over Firoze Khan, a Sanskrit scholar, selected as a Professor based on his qualification and found best suited for the post. He was trained in “Pathshala Padhyati” in the traditional way of teaching Sanskrit.

 

The most famous temple in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu is at Srirangam, where Vishnu as Ranganatha is lying down on a bed of Adisesha. It has come under relentless attacks during the Muslim rule. There is a special place for Surathani the daughter of Malik Kaufer, the General of Sultanate forces. She is worshipped as Tulukka Nachiyar, Tulukka meaning Moghul, and Nachiyar- princess, who helped the return of God’s idol, which was taken away by her father. The event was in the fourteenth century.

 

Hindu kings ruling Tamil Nadu have helped build Mosques for the visiting Arab spice traders in Keezakarai on its southern coast. Cross-fertilization of culture and religion happens all over the world, which are witnessed with the Indian diaspora spread all over. The Churches in Kerala have adopted several Hindu practices, right from installing a flag mast, to breaking coconuts on auspicious occasions. Tying Mangal Sutra during Christian weddings is frequent. 

 

It is not uncommon for a few taking liking to a language or a few customs. Sai Baba is a classic example, believed to be a Muslim, his Samadhi is in Shirdi, visited by devotees from all religions. The political manifestations dividing or distancing people based on religion is sad and must end.

 

We have had Muslim presidents, governors and many scholars. We do not discriminate Muslim film personalities and sportspersons. It is therefore surprising as to why a few should object to a Muslim professor teaching Sanskrit. The link of the old language with West Asia is worthy of study, to improve our understanding and tolerance.

 

The plurality of our nation should not be withered away. I congratulate the BHU authorities in standing firm and not yielding to the displaced passions.

 

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

Nitya-Ananda (The daily bliss)!

The name of Nityananda has surfaced after quite a while. Nityananda is another one of the numerous scamster Godman, who has brought disrepute to the Hindu religion. He shot into prominence by invading the Madura Adheenam, a three millennia-old mutt and crowning himself as the sole successor of the sect. In 2018, the Madurai bench of Madras HC removed him and restrained him from entering Madurai as well.

Again, he was in public glare, when one of his assistants broke the story of his sexual escapades with an actress. After that, several complaints emerged, of abductions, child abuse, land grab and sexual exploitations. Nothing deterred the saffron-clad Swami, as the number of foreign and local disciples increased continuously. His sprawling Ashram near Bengaluru is in thousands of acres.

In the meanwhile, Swami was reported to have escaped with a forged passport to Venezuela. He was keeping in touch with his disciples only through social media.

How does conmen continue to milk people, and how people continue to be gullible? It foxes me! Nityananda is by no means the first and follows a long list of fraudsters spanning our country. The list of controversial Godmen and women could be very long and does not limit to the following:  Asaram Bapu, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Ram Pal, Chandra Swami, Premananda, Dhirendra Brahmachari, Swami Bhimanand, Sadachari, Amrita Chaitanya, Radhe Ma. Two weeks ago another Godman was raided in Tamil Nadu, Kalki, and unaccounted cash worth Rs.500 crores and many quintals of precious metals confiscated.

What is wrong with us? Are we eternally suffering from infinite wretchedness? Has our faith in God blinded us all that anyone donning saffron robes is considered to be a gateway to heaven? Try locating a sadhu, alone and not with disciples. These disciples mingle with visitors, firstly singing paeans about the miraculous cure they attained, which is bogus and meant to gain the confidence of the credulous, digging out details to clandestinely pass on to the guru. Rest is a cakewalk as the ‘all-knowing’ Swami now predicts the ailments and the cure as well, merely enriching himself in the process.

The authorities are hand-in-glove as the crumbs are large and tasty. It’s the fear of God on which a large part of all present religions thrive, helps these swamis to flourish, despite periodical raids and arrests. The government must step in and regulate the Ashrams, which are like unreachable kingdoms, out of bounds to authorities.

For a few days we will all be discussing the conman, who is now on a mountain of ill-gotten wealth, on the Cayo de Agua beaches!

Hari Om!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

Mamata Vs Owaisi

Uncharacteristic of her, the Chief Minister of West Bengal may have revealed her nervousness while referring to a section of the minorities being extremists and taking money from the BJP. She also accused AIMIM, a party from Hyderabad similarly. There could have been no other party other than the Asaduddin Owaisi of the All-India-Majlis-e-Itehadul-Muslimeen. It was a shock and surprise as she has always handled any minorities softly and often taking a partisan stand in favour of them.

The winning of 18 Lok Sabha seats by the BJP, most of them in the North Bengal, would not have been possible without weaning away a sizeable chunk of the Muslim vote bank. The fear in their minds about a possible NCR and their exclusion has not been in any way diluted by either the state government’s initiatives or Mamata’s assurances, despite new ration cards issued to those who did not possess one. These are trivialities when it comes to establishing proof of being in the country before the cutoff date for the sake of inclusion in the NRC.

Owaisi is undoubtedly is the rising star and a spokesman for the Muslim minorities, not only in Hyderabad but all over India. Unlike Mamata, Owaisi has no burden over shoulders either to please and retain the Hindu voters or deftly balance between the two communities, keeping them both in good humour. Mamata’s past, leaning too much towards the minorities cost her profoundly, and she is hurriedly trying to make some amends. The CM’s statement in Cooch Behar could be evidence of her anguish.

There are whispers that Owaisi is a BJP mole and is out to disturb the focused minorities who are against the saffron party, which I dismiss with disdain. Owaisi is a barrister educated in London, articulate and above all, intelligent. He is fiercely patriotic of India as he is faithful with his religion. He has been quietly preparing a blueprint for the battle of West Bengal for the past few years. I know a few dedicated office bearers of the party, many former TMC supporters, who are frustrated with mostly empty promises from the government.

The BJP will continue their onslaught trying to better their performance in West Bengal. But Owaisi’s challenge to her monopolistic sway over the minorities now looms large. Unless the poll strategist, Prashant Kishore, comes up with some new and brilliant ideas, the forthcoming Panchayat and the soon to follow Assembly elections will leave TMC weaker, if not out of power.

By naming Owaisi’s party a Hyderabadi party, Mamata has tried to diminish him and his party, which I think is wrong. I, in her position, would have taken the threat more seriously and try to address them, rather than being dismissive.

Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix

Do not prolong the agony!

The nation heaves a sigh of relief over the five-member bench in the Supreme Court disposing of the Ayodhya matter, allowing the building of the Ram temple in the disputed site. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has now decided to move a review petition against the verdict. It will not accept any alternative land outside the disputed 2.77-acre plot, where the Babri Masjid stood.

Unlike the unanimous verdict of the SC Bench, the opposition by the Muslims appears divided. During a crucial meeting to decide the future course of action the dominant Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Wakf Board, the main body, and Iqbal Ansari, the son of the original plaintiff Hashim Ansari, were notably absent.  The protracted litigation had become a thorn between the Hindus and the Muslims.

The court reprimanded the destruction of the masjid, and the placement of the idols, which it observed was an act of desecration! Provisions allow filing a revision petition within 30 days of the judgement, which the Muslims wish to exercise as a matter of right. They may even go for a curative petition if their attempt at a revision fails.

Muslim rulers, by their avowed stand against idolatry, did demolish many idols and statues, wherever they went not limiting only to ancient India. Such destructions were seen in the case of Bahamian Buddhas by Taliban and many priceless archaeological treasures by ISIS in Iraq. Many mosques were built over razed temples, which is an indisputable fact, whether or not Babri figures in that list.

By agreeing to knock at the doors of the Supreme Court, both groups placed their faith on the Indian Judiciary, which is the most trustworthy of all government institutions today. Ayodhya hearings were fast-tracked and a record 40 days of uninterrupted hearing s were held, before pronouncing their judgement on the matter.

It will be most mature and prudent for all Muslims and Hindus to end the stalemate and to move on from this point, rather than falling prey to rabble-rousers like Owaisi of other militant elements, who did not hesitate to claim that the SC is not infallible. Any further challenges to the court, though permissible by law, will be viewed as an uncompromising attitude by the Muslims at this stage. The abuse of law was visible when such petitions were repeatedly filed to save the terrorist Afzal Guru, relating to his attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001.

On the contrary, the Muslims gracefully could accept the alternative land and build a mosque reflecting the splendour and the plurality of our great nation. We should not let a Masjid or Temple scuttle the growth of the country in any manner and must move on forward! In my humble opinion, the Muslims will earn a lot of goodwill by yielding to the court judgement, which opportunity must not be allowed to slip away.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

A bittersweet lesson!

Finally, it is Shiv Sena which could be forming the government, as its leaders are on their way to Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor within the set deadline of 7.30 p.m. today. The day has been one of the busiest with parleys between the most unlikely of political parties; foes turned likely partners, Sena on the one side and the NCP and Congress on the other.

It augurs well for the democracy to be governed by legislators and not by the Governor, acting as the proxy of the President of India. In that context, it is a win for the electoral representatives who have stitched up an unlikely alliance.

Congress has quickly exploited the burning fire to keep BJP away, who the Sena claims have backstabbed them by failing to execute a pre-poll promise. Partnering with a whimsical Sena could have been absurd or unthinkable a few days ago, but Sonia Ji could not resist the chance to take on BJP, regardless of the pitfalls ahead.

BJP perhaps missed the bus, thinking that Sena would never disown the Hindutva ideology that is the binding principle between them and Sena. They were mistaken and probably did not know about a promise Uddhav made to Bal Thackrey that the CM will be from Sena, though I do not know if he did so while his father was alive or after his demise to his soul! Sharad Pawar played the elder statesman and brokered a truce between a wavering Congress and an impatient Sena leadership.

The naysayers (including me), would bet that the opportunistic and principally opposed alliance may not see another winter, but you never know the game of politics. It is apparent now that all colours all isms and all flags are the same. The chink in the armour of the BJP is visible, and its vulnerability is exposed.

An exciting face seen in the crowd of VVIPs is Prashant Kishor, who is possibly helping to form a predictable pattern of unifying any and everyone opposed to BJP and Modi into one block. The model will be more explicit during the lineup of opposition leaders at the oath-taking ceremony of Sena CM in a short few days.

Who will have the last laugh in the Maha magic? Sonia? Modi-Shah? Mamata? My guess is as good as yours! The voters, who victoriously showed their inked index finger as if they were the one to decide the future of Maharashtra and this nation can suck their thumbs for now

The takeaway from today? In politics, no one is untouchable!

Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix

The Maha Pav!

Finally, the BJP has responded to the Governor admitting that they do not have the numbers to form the government. Frantic efforts are on between their ally-turned-foe, Shiv Sena and the NCP, Congress combine.  Sharad Pawar of NCP has been a tall statesman in Maharashtra politics and have responded to the likely arrangement with Sena with caution, as Sena is insisting on the Chief Minister’s post. The flimsy reason Uddhav Thackeray gives is the promise he had given to his late father, Balasaheb Thackeray.

The clamour for the Chief Ministership had become a contentious issue between BJP and Shiv Sena, both refusing to budge from their firm stand of yielding the post in terms of a purported 50:50 formula. Fadnavis of the BJP refuted any promise to share the CM’s post, Uddhav calling the former BJP CM as a liar.

Congress party and in particular its chief, Sonia Gandhi, were muted to the Sena call, a few hurriedly dismissive of Sena’s overtures as pressure building tactics against their long-term ally, BJP. Both BJP and Sena are Hindutva parties and their spiritual commanders at Nagpur, the RSS, have a substantial hold over the leaders. This time though, even after leaders of both the parties met the RSS leadership, it could offer a little solution, except advising to stay united.

Under the present circumstances, rather than accepting the Governor’s invitation and failing miserably on the floor of the Assembly during the trust vote, BJP has wisely backtracked. It has called the Sena bluff and also thrown the gauntlet over the principled stand of the Congress and the NCP not to tread with the Hindutva forces. Even if Congress and the NCP offer direct or outside support to Shiv Sena, they cannot ignore its ramifications on a national level. To me, an unlikely alliance between the principally opposed parties will be a short honeymoon, followed by an expensive divorce. My contemporary take is Congress will not extend its support to Sena!

On a Pan India scenario, the electoral battles between Modi-Shah led BJP and others are redrawn continuously. Nitish is continuing to be a fence sitter, with his JDU vice president Prashant Kishor strategising every election campaign, from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu. The lineup, though can change in the future, could include TMC, DMK, Rajinikanth’s whichever, MNM, the entire Left, Congress, NCP, TRS, PMK, NCP, PDP, RJD, JDU, IUML and that may not be all.

BJP must stop inducting criminals and gangsters into their fold and must try to adhere to the promised good governance, even in the face of a few battles reverses, which is a part of winning the war strategy.The lacklustre Indian political scenario stands suddenly invigorated and could be for thrill and unexpected climaxes. However, there may be no foreseeable threat to Modi, as the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya could be inaugurated just before the next Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

It is interesting to note that there has been no horse-trading yet, at least open auctions!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix