Now, Diplomacy with a 'difference' ........ India's veiled but crucial message to the US ... "public order' counts ...it applies to India and it applies to America as well

A terse message for Washington: "After all, we are all judged by what we do at home and not what we say abroad". 

 "In every democracy, there has to be the right balance between freedom of expression, sense of responsibility and public safety and order.

 Democracies in particular should display this understanding in regard to other fellow democracies," MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal told reporters here on Thursday, during regular weekly briefing. The subtle message is an important missive to the United States from New Delhi as Washington from time to time applies double standards on protest vis-a-vis public order. 

The External Affairs Ministry also said that the Human Rights Report released by the US State Department on Manipur is "deeply biased" and added that the Union government attaches "no value to it".

The report highlighted "significant" abuses in Manipur following the outbreak of ethnic conflict in May 2023, the raids by tax authorities on the BBC and cases of transnational repression like the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.  

When asked about the report, MEA spokesperson Jaiswal replied, "This report is deeply biased and reflects a poor understanding of India. We attach no value to it and urge you to do the same."

The report pointed out that at least 175 people were killed in Manipur and more than 60,000 were displaced due to the ongoing conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities. 

The violence erupted in May 2023 after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to protest against the inclusion of Meiteis in the ST category.

The report also mentioned the searches conducted by the Income Tax department at the Delhi and Mumbai offices of the UK-based broadcaster, BBC, on allegations of International Taxation and Transfer Pricing irregularities.   

The searches were conducted weeks after the British broadcaster released a documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots titled "India: The Modi Question".

The Human Rights Report also mentioned the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, saying it indicated a "pattern of extrajudicial actions by state agents".

Following the release of the report, Robert Gilchrist, senior bureau official at the US State Department, had urged India to uphold its human rights commitments.  

There have been several arrests as Columbia University in New York witnessed major protests over Israel's military offensive in Gaza. This had triggered a series of protests at other educational institutions including Yale and New York University (NYU) in recent days.  

"After all, we are all judged by what we do at home and not what we say abroad," the spokesman said. 

 

Phase 2 of Lok Sabha polls, April 26 ::::  .... 89 seats, of which BJP had won 55, Congress 18

In second phase, 98% of booths in Bengal ‘critical’, to be manned by 272 companies of central forces. Polling is to be held for Darjeeling, Raiganj and Balurghat.

All three seats were won by BJP.

 

In Rajasthan: All 13 seats going to Friday polls had gone to BJP. 

Tonk-Sawai Madhopur (gen): BJP

Ajmer (gen): BJP

Pali (gen): BJP

Jodhpur (gen): BJP

Barmer (gen): BJP

Jalore (gen): BJP

Udaipur (ST): BJP  

Banswara (ST): BJP

Chittorgarh (gen): BJP

Rajsamand (gen): BJP

Bhilwara (gen): BJP

Kota (gen): BJP

Jhalawar-Baran (gen): BJP

Key segments:

Wayanad - Kerala: Rahul Gandhi (Congress)

Thiruvananthapuram - Kerala: Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BJP) vs Shashi Tharoor (Congress)

Alappuzha - Kerala: K.C Venugopal (Congress)

Balurghat - West Bengal: Sukanta Majumdar (BJP)

Udaipur - Rajasthan: Tarachand Meena (Congress)

Bhilwara - Rajasthan: C.P. Joshi (Congress)

Jalore - Rajasthan: Vaibhav Gehlot (Congress)

Kota - Rajasthan: Om Birla (BJP) vs Prahlad Gunjal (Congress)

Jodhpur - Rajasthan: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (BJP)

Purnia - Bihar: Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav (Independent)

In Uttar Pradesh also for 8 seats going to the polls --- in 2019, BJP had won seven except Amroha by BSP. 

Amroha (gen): BSP

Meerut (gen): BJP

Baghpat (gen): BJP

Ghaziabad (gen): BJP

Bulandshahr (SC): BJP

Gautam Buddha Nagar (gen): BJP

Aligarh (gen): BJP

Mathura (gen): BJP

Damage has been done .... now BJP's seats may touch 350....and Rahul's Congress may stick around 50-60 !! Congress’ promise of addressing growing wealth and income inequality through suitable 'policy changes' is open to "interpretation and even misinterpretation"

Political observers leaning toward the BJP’s pro-Hindu ideology interpret the promise to eradicate “inequality” as “a body blow to the goals of equality.”

They say the Congress manifesto should not have referred to an independent report, titled “Income and Wealth Inequality in India, 1922-2023: The Rise of the Billionaire Raj” by global economists including Thomas Piketty.

India that is Bharat embraced economic liberalization in 1991, which led to a manifold increase in people’s incomes in some sectors, especially in information technology (IT), healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and stock markets.

Congress’ promise of addressing growing wealth and income inequality through suitable policy changes “is open to interpretation and even misinterpretation, certainly,” argued political commentator Ramakanto Shanyal from West Bengal.

“It is anybody’s guess that in recent times, the Congress party under Rahul Gandhi has started leaning more towards Marxian ideology,” said political observer Ashutosh Talukdar from Assam.

This duo felt discussing wealth inequality during an election campaign was unwise. The middle class would be irked, and the wealthy corporate houses would leave Congress.

UCA News Link

The heat generated by divisive, hateful speeches during campaigning in the world’s largest election being held in India has compelled the nation’s poll panel to intervene and seek “corrective action or a sort of healing touch” from leaders crossing all boundaries.  Charges and countercharges flew thick and fast between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its primary challenger, the Congress party, which swears by secularism.

At the center of the unsavory controversy were the prime minister’s remarks at an election rally in a town in northwestern Rajasthan state. He said the Congress believes “Muslims have the first right to the nation’s assets.”  

(This was based on what former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had said in 2006. 

"We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development. They must have the first claim on resources".  )

To add to this is the Congress manifesto of 2024 that says: The time has come to reset and reprioritize our roadmap for economic development in the context of the twin challenges to our economy, namely, unemployment and inflation". 

 India’s Modi raises poll heat with sectarian hyperbole

The Prime Minister alleges opposition Congress will take away the wealth of Hindus and distribute it among Muslims.   

Modi went a step further in his pitch for votes and warned Hindus that if elected, the Congress would take away their wealth and distribute it among Muslims. “Even gold ornaments of Hindu women will not be safe,” he added.

“Do you think your hard-earned money should be given to infiltrators? Would you accept this?”  Modi asked the crowd in Banswaral, a town in the desert state of Rajasthan.

In the course of his speech, the Indian prime minister made apparent references to Muslims as “infiltrators” who “have many children.”

He then went on to repeat the same allegations at an election rally in northern Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh city, which has a substantial Muslim population.

The Congress leadership reacted strongly, accusing Modi of “hate speech” and violating the model code of conduct for elections that bans canvassing “based on communal lines.” In its complaint to the poll panel, the Congress party pointed out that Modi's remarks were “far worse than any ever made by a sitting prime minister in the history of India.”

However, BJP leaders found nothing wrong with Modi’s utterances. The party's spokesperson told journalists in New Delhi that the prime minister had merely called “a spade a spade,” and his remarks resonated with people’s opinions.

The Congress party’s manifesto is “more for the people of Pakistan and less for the people of India,” alleged Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP’s chief minister of northeastern Assam state. 

“We have interpreted the Congress manifesto in the right way.” Muslim-majority Pakistan is seen as India's arch-rival. 

Another BJP leader and the chief minister of central Madhya Pradesh state, Mohan Yadav, demanded the Congress "apologize to the country.”

The Congress manifesto for the 2024 general election says: “The time has come to reset and reprioritize our roadmap for economic development in the context of the twin challenges to our economy, namely, unemployment and inflation.”

It doesn’t mention anything about wealth distribution among Muslims. However, the reference to “inequality between the rich on the one hand and the poor and middle classes on the other” is being made out by its opponents as “appeasing” the Muslim minority.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said Modi’s “deeply objectionable” statements violated sections of the law that prohibit candidates from asking people to vote on the grounds of religion, community, or religious symbols.

However, Modi continues with his aggressive stance. On April 23, he told another election rally: 

“Two or three days back, I exposed the Congress, their manifesto, and their politics of Muslim appeasement... This has unnerved them.”

As the Election Commission stated, “Star campaigners are expected to contribute to a higher quality of discourse by providing an all-India perspective, which sometimes gets distorted in the heat of the contests at the local level.”

The poll panel on April 25 sought explanations from both the BJP and Congress and asked leaders like Modi and Gandhi to utilize their privilege for “propagating the program of the political parties.” It also said that “their speeches in the campaign space necessarily need to be judged at a higher threshold of compliance.”

ends 

Kerala goes to polls on April 26 ..... Did you know CPI-M is 'original Hindu party' in the state :::: Weak communists open the door to Hindu nationalism in India

 Weak communists open the door to Hindu nationalism  

Leftists are the most worried lot. The BJP, which is known for 'pushing' to make India a nation of Hindu hegemony, came to power in Tripura by ousting its communist government in 2018. The BJP also gained immense political support in West Bengal -- where Left is now zero MP and zero-MLA strong party.

In Kerala, another communist stronghold province too, the BJP is working hard to get a deeper penetration and win seats.  

But perhaps the worst for the communists have come in the form of Congress as a party and Rahul Gandhi as a leader.  

The grand old party is turning so much Left over the years now that we get to hear from the likes of Narendra Modi that 'urban Naxals' have hijacked the Congress. 

The Left is being squeezed out of Indian polity !! 

The contest against Rahul Gandhi by CPI thus may not be all symbolic. The Communists are worried today. Therefore, we saw Kerala Chief Minister Pinyari Vijayan making some angry statements against Rahul Gandhi and more particularly his decision to contest in Wayanad for the second time. Probably when Rahul through his Man Friday, K C Venugopal, requested for Left cooperation, the communists might have thought that would be one-time special case. 

But after Rahul decided to try his luck again from Wayanad in 2024 -- several communist leaders including the Chief Minister Vijayan and even senior leader Brinda Karat depreciated the Congress decision. 

The real grudge of the communists could be they did not gain anything from the Congress outside Kerala and West Bengal. This is chiefly because the Congress gets benefits from its alliance partners and associates like Samajwadi Party. but its votes never get transferred. 

The communists desperation vis-a-vis the Congress -- that has now hijacked the leftists agenda - is thus understandable. 

 

  

There has been another area of concern. The downward slippery journey of Indian communists, electorally and in exerting influence on the sociopolitical mindset, has been phenomenal in the last decade.

In the regions where they are losing their grip, the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gaining. The religious minorities -- Muslims and Christians - who should be happy about atheism losing ground are now more worried about an even 'worse' form of political ideology -- the radical Hinduism is gaining power.

The BJP’s growing support base naturally means dwindling popularity for Kerala’s two traditional political alliances — one led by the Congress party and the other led by leftist parties.

The leftist parties’ ouster from power in Kerala, the only state where they now run the government, will perhaps wipe out communism from Indian politics.

As Kerala gets ready for voting on April 25, all eyes will be on some parliamentary segments and key BJP leaders.

It is a fact the BJP’s political meetings, rallies and roadshows by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leader attracted 'more people' than ever before for BJP extravaganzas. 

That should worry both Christians and Muslims in the state who have traditionally opposed the BJP’s pro-Hindutva politics. 

None other than Kerala Chief Minister Pinyari Vijayan understands the gravity of the challenges. 

Therefore, Vijayan has in the recent years tinted the 'red flag' of the communists with the hues of saffron, the color associated with Hindus and the BJP. In other words, he has taken care not to offend Hindus with his so-called reformist and progressive communist ideas.  

One example is the state government dropping the idea of pressing for the entry of women of reproductive age into a popular temple against its tradition. Vijayan’s government pushed for the entry of all women to the temple following a Supreme Court order favoring it two years ago. Massive rallies, supported by the BJP, followed, forcing Vijayan to leave the issue silently.

Vijayan is also trying to gain the support of Hindus and Christians, notwithstanding their ideological indifference to the politics of religion. The reported growth in influence of radical Islamic forces in Kerala and the government action to check it should gain some support from Hindus and Christians.

The Leftists may describe this appeasing of religion as pragmatism. But pragmatism, as they say, is often a good political substitute for sheer naked opportunism.

Election Commission takes note of 'violations' by PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, seeks response::::: Fate of Rahul Gandhi, Hema Malini, Shashi Tharoor, Arun Govil to be decided ::::: Phase 2: 89 seats go to polls on April 26

Election Commission takes note of 'violations' by PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, seeks response

The Election Commission has taken cognisance of alleged model code of conduct violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

The poll panel sought responses from both the Congress and BJP by April 29.

Both the parties had raised allegations against Rahul Gandhi and PM Modi respectively for allegrdly fomenting  hatred through their election campaign speeches.

The Election Commission shared the alleged model code violations by PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi with BJP president J P Nadda and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. 

"Political parties will have to take primary and increasing responsibility for the conduct of their candidates, star campaigners in particular. Campaign speeches by those holding high positions are of more serious consequences," the poll panel said.  

The BJP filed a complaint with the election commission, alleging that Rahul Gandhi persistently brings out the  division between the North and South of India based on language and region.

BJP leader Tarun Chug said last week 

that the Congress has hatched a “disgusting conspiracy” to create a divide between North and South on the basis of language and region. 

“We told EC that he is a serial and habitual offender of spreading lies, hatching conspiracy and creating confusion. While the country is progressing, Rahul Gandhi is talking about dividing the country on the lines of language and region,” he said and referred to Rahul's comments in Southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu that: 

 “The Congress wants to listen to the people of the country and love and respect their beliefs, language, religion, culture. But, the BJP wants to impose something from the top". 

BJP leaders say 'top' is in reference to North of India. 

Lok Sabha polls Phase 2: 89 seats go to polls on April 26 -- 

Polling in 13 states. Outer Manipur will also have the voting in remaining areas those did not go for polling on April 19  

Key leaders whose fate will be decided are Shashi Tharoor and Rahul Gandhi - both Congress in Kerala and also Hema Malini and Arun Govil - both BJP - in Uttar Pradesh.  

All 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerela will go to polls on Friday, concluding voting in the state. This will also be the second and final phase of voting for Manipur, Rajasthan, Tripura, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. 

Notably, Phase 3 to 7 of voting will be held on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, respectively.  Counting of votes June 4, 2024. 

In BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh,  Rajnandgaon will be a seat to watch wherer former chief minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel is trying his luck.

BJP stalwart and former three-time chief minister and current Assembly Speaker Raman Singh represented the seat earlier. Baghel's previous attempts at parliamentary elections were from Durg in 2004 and Raipur in 2009, both resulting in defeats.  

In Wayanad, Kerala, all eyes will be on the voting that will decide the fate of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed that Rahul will also try to contest another constituency. Speculation is rife about Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh. 

In Wayanad, Ms Annie Raja, wife of D Raja, is contesting on the ticket of Communist Party of India (CPI) and BJP has fielded its state President K Surendran. 

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor faces competition from Union Minister of State and BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar for the prestigious Thiruvananthapuram seat.

In Uttar Pradesh, actor-turned-politician Hema Malini is aiming for her third win from Mathura as a BJP candidate, while in Meerut, the BJP has nominated Ramayan actor Arun Govil as its candidate.

In Bihar's Purnia constituency, former Member of Parliament Rajesh Ranjan (also known as Pappu Yadav), who recently merged his party with Congress, aims to represent the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Ignoring Congress' advice Yadav is contesting the elections as independent candidate.

The UT of Jammu and Kashmir, which has five seats, will hold polls for each seat gradually in the first five phases, while Ladakh's lone seat will hold polls in the fifth phase on May 20.

1) Assam: Five out of 14 LS constituencies

2) Bihar: Five out of 40 seats

3) Chhattisgarh: Three out of 11 constituencies

4) Karnataka: 14 out of 28 seats

5) Kerala: 20 out of 20 seats

6) Madhya Pradesh: Seven out of 29 seats

7) Maharashtra: Eight out of 48 seats

8) Manipur: One out of two constituencies (Outer Manipur seat will go to polls twice, with some areas in the first and some in the second.)

9) Rajasthan: 13 out of 25 seats

10) Tripura: One out of two seats

11) Uttar Pradesh: Eight out of 80 seats

12) West Bengal: Three out of 42 seats

13) Jammu and Kashmir: One out of five seats

House Boat: Kerala Tourism 

Key segments:

Wayanad - Kerala: Rahul Gandhi (Congress)

Thiruvananthapuram - Kerala: Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BJP) vs Shashi Tharoor (Congress)

Alappuzha - Kerala: K.C Venugopal (Congress)

Balurghat - West Bengal: Sukanta Majumdar (BJP)

Udaipur - Rajasthan: Tarachand Meena (Congress)

Bhilwara - Rajasthan: C.P. Joshi (Congress)

Jalore - Rajasthan: Vaibhav Gehlot (Congress)

Kota - Rajasthan: Om Birla (BJP) vs Prahlad Gunjal (Congress)

Jodhpur - Rajasthan: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (BJP)

Purnia - Bihar: Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav (Independent)

Mathura - Uttar Pradesh: Hema Malini (BJP)

Meerut - Uttar Pradesh: Arun Govil (BJP)

Tumkur - Karnataka: V. Somanna (BJP)

Mandya - Karnataka: H.D. Kumaraswamy (JDS)

Bangalore - Karnataka: Mansoor Ali Khan (Congress)

Bangalore South - Karnataka: Tejasvi Surya (BJP) 

Rajnandgaon - Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Bhagel (Congress)

Amravati - Maharashtra: Navneet Kaur Rana (BJP)

Parties currently holding the Lok Sabha seat: State-wise list

1) Assam:

Darrang-Udalguri (gen): The constituency was earlier known as Mangaldoi (held by BJP) but was renamed following the delimitation exercise last year.

Diphu (ST): BJP

Karimganj (gen): BJP

Silchar (SC): BJP

Nagaon (gen): Congress

2) Bihar:

Kishanganj (gen): Congress

Katihar (gen): JD(U)

Purnia (gen): JD(U)

Bhagalpur (gen): JD(U)

Banka (gen): JD(U)

3) Chhattisgarh:

Rajnandgaon (gen): BJP

Mahasamund (gen): BJP

Kanker (ST): BJP

4) Karnataka:

Udupi Chikmagalur (gen): BJP

Hassan (gen): JD(S)

Dakshina Kannada (gen): BJP

Chitradurga (SC): BJP

Tumkur (gen): BJP

Mandya (gen): Independent

Mysore (gen): BJP

Chamrajanagar (SC): BJP

Bangalore Rural (gen): Congress

Bangalore North (gen): BJP

Bangalore Central (gen): BJP

Bangalore South (gen): BJP

Chikkaballapur (gen): BJP

Kolar (SC): BJP

5) Kerala:

Malappuram (gen): Indian Union Muslim League

Ponnani (gen): Indian Union Muslim League

Kottayam (gen): Kerela Congress

Kollam (gen): Revolutionary Socialist Party

All other 16 seats were won by the Congress party, including senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor from Wayanad and Thiruvananthapuram, respectively.

6) Madhya Pradesh:

Tikamgarh (SC): BJP

Damoh (gen): BJP

Khajuraho (gen): BJP

Satna (gen): BJP

Rewa (gen): BJP

Hoshangabad (gen): BJP

Betul (ST): BJP

7) Maharashtra:

Buldhana (gen): Shiv Sena

Akola (gen): BJP

Amravati (SC): Independent

Wardha (gen): BJP

Yavatmal - Washim (gen): Shiv Sena

Hingoli (gen): Shiv Sena

Nanded (gen): BJP

Parbhani (gen): Shiv Sena

8) Manipur:

Outer Manipur (ST): Naga People's Front

9) Rajasthan:

Tonk-Sawai Madhopur (gen): BJP

Ajmer (gen): BJP

Pali (gen): BJP

Jodhpur (gen): BJP

Barmer (gen): BJP

Jalore (gen): BJP

Udaipur (ST): BJP

Banswara (ST): BJP

Chittorgarh (gen): BJP

Rajsamand (gen): BJP

Bhilwara (gen): BJP

Kota (gen): BJP

Jhalawar-Baran (gen): BJP

10) Tripura:

Tripura East (ST): BJP

11) Uttar Pradesh:

Amroha (gen): BSP

Meerut (gen): BJP

Baghpat (gen): BJP

Ghaziabad (gen): BJP

Bulandshahr (SC): BJP

Gautam Buddha Nagar (gen): BJP

Aligarh (gen): BJP

Mathura (gen): BJP

12) West Bengal:

Darjeeling (gen): BJP

Raiganj (gen): BJP

Balurghat (gen): BJP

13) Jammu and Kashmir:

Jammu (gen): BJP

Emergency redefined Indira era ..... Advani's Rath Yatra, Babri demolition and Godhra riots 'redefined' stages of Hindutva ::: Much easier to appear all-powerful when that’s rivals see you

Three different stages should define the journey of Sangh Parivar-led Hindutva politics in India. Let us not presume the days of Jan Sangh though they were equally important and were also crucial in terms of laying the foundation of the goals and keeping the ideological moorings. 

In the era of 1980 -- we take into account the era of the Vajpayee-Advani duo. The events those really brought in the tectonic shifts were -- first L K Advani's Rath Yatra that transformed BJP into an outfit at the national level especially Hindi heartland.

The success of the Rath Yatra politics was immense. The BJP crossed 100 MPs mark in 1991 election and also captured power in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. 

The second important and mega event was demolition of Babri Majid on Dec 6, 1992. 

That showed the aggressive stance of the party and the Parivar. And they did not mind losing out powers in Uttar Pradesh. The sense of hurt was more painful after the Narasimha Rao government went overboard and dismissed all three other state governments - Himachal, MP and Rajasthan. 

The champions of federalism looked the other way and they rejoiced the fall of saffron power - little realising that the tiger will hurt you the most -- when it is hurt. 

At the level of long term impact, the post-Godhra mayhem of 2002 in Gujarat was the third significant development. 

This brought in the talent called Narendra Damodardas Modi and showed the dent the Hindutva politics can make in India. 

The 'moderate' Atal Bihari Vajpayee spoke out -- "Yeh aag kisne lagai ...". 

Did he blame Pakistan or Muslims for the Feb 27, 2002 railway station carnage?   

Today, in 2024 -- Bharat is amid one of the most challenging, exciting and tough elections of our time. 

The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of more than 400 seats in the 543-strong Lok Sabha.

This mandate if materialises on June 4 (2024) will be historic and ensure a  super-majority for Team Mofi and that could allow the Sangh Parivar to push the agenda further.

The RSS leadership and especially Mohan Bhagwat are extremely delighted that Modi is gradually turning India into a Bharat of their dreams -- whether official declaration of a Hindu Rashtra is essential or not need not be debated at all.

Modi has shown that he can get the works done staying within the existing system.

Notably, the Ambedkar-drafted Constitution never had Secularism in its preamble is a vital saga of Indian history. And when weighed in the context of the ideas of three powerful stalwarts Veer Savarkar, Hedgewar and Golwalkar -- this issue will be debated more intensely in the days to come. 

Ironically Socialism has already under focus after Rahul Gandhi and his Congress party have pushed the communist agenda in the garb of poll manifesto.  Interesting times ahead !! 

Shashi Tharoor was elected to the Lok Sabha for the second term from Thiruvananthapuram in 2014 and was one of the 44 Congress MPs to have 'survived' the Modi-wave directed BJP onslaught in the general election.

In a blog written for the Huffington Post, titled "How Narendra Modi May Have Evolved into 'Modi 2.0", Mr Tharoor argued that "it would be churlish not to acknowledge Modi 2.0's inclusive outreach and to welcome his more conciliatory statements and actions." 

"I am neither angry nor offended. (I am) deeply disappointed that an intelligent man like Tharoor should come to such judgements. It demonstrates immaturity that according to Tharoor, we should stop being churlish," Mani Shankar Aiyar told NDTV. 

The Congress, put on the defensive by the unexpected praise for Mr Modi from one of its senior leaders, dismissed Mr Tharoor's comments as his "personal" views. "As a party, it is too early to comment on the functioning of the government," Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza had said.

2014: Tharoor and TMC MP Moon Moon Sen 

This brings us to the debate around 'cult personality' of Narendra Modi and how much difference he has actually brought in the Hindutva politics and India's own prestige.  Today, Indians feel proud of being Indians notwithstanding all round negativism from his detractors and BJP-bashing army. 

BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta credited Modi for implementing a “transformation” over the past 10 years. 

“He has brought about significant assertion of self-confidence in India, a celebration of Indianness if you will,” said Dasgupta. “Also in the past, there was always a squeamishness attached to the idea of asserting yourself to be Hindu. That squeamishness has now been replaced by pride.” (The Guardian) 

ends 

The RED scare !! Are you still not scared ??? Nothing can be more dangerous than Communism !! But here it is; NGO-club ran Congress is out in the town to prove you wrong

 "..... when most Communist system came crashing down.... Yet Prakash Karat has nonetheless wielded outsize influence ...That's because the Congress-party led coalition has a razor-thin majority in Parliament, which has forced it to lean on Karat for support, turning him into a kingmaker and a potential spoiler". -- 'Newsweek', Dec 3, 2007  on the UPA era when the Left parties had their golden era of 60 plus MPs and did the back-seat driving. 

The table has been turned. But the Congress has not only embraced the Left ideology --- a club of scamsters and 'sarva-hara netas' with jholas and Kolhapuri chappals ---the Congress is now a case of 'taken over' by the Maoists ideology !!  

Indian democracy is really under threat  ... the 'fresh threats' are not from the BJP...it's from Urban Naxals. They have hijacked the Congress party,,,,, Be careful Bharat...that is India !!  

The I.N.D.I alliance --- naming of this also smacked of a communist type brains working and that suspect in 2003 ... is today proved right. Rahul Gandhi's Overseas uncle -- who is 2019 almost justified 1984 anti-Sikh riots now say ... Inheritance Tax is a good idea. This comes amid Congress party's hyped push for its Manifesto where it has allegedly indicated 'wealth re-distribution' though the words are not used exactly. It's the hidden agenda .... it could be China connections and it could derail India's development journey -- something Beijing is not comfortable all these years!! 

Rahul Gandhi is essentially pushing the 'murder' of private enterprise in India.

Capitalism is Chinese enemy, and so it Rahul's enemy too. The so-called threat is not about Democracy... it's the ghisa pita sazish --- anti-development.

"Let us not develop India.... Why should we have a good airport when my half educated son is still jobless," comes a refrain from a pro-Marxist former school teacher in Tripura. The state is BJP-ruled today ... and for years it was Marxists' rule. In 2003 when I landed at Agartala .... the airport looked like a bus stand ! The jhola industry was shining.

'Thin arrowroot' maida-made  biscuits were the best snacks and at Agartala Airport --one was told, :"This is Agartala why you are asking for coffee" !!

That's communism; and today that is the Congress agenda !!  Have you heard of anarchism and revolution .... please adjust these two terminologies --- with communism and today's 'brilliant Manifesto' of Congress ..... well one can have Chaos. You have a bad set of people to run government and worse set of people to be governed !! 

Thus flashback to Bengal of 1980s and a few years before that -- IT giant IBM was hounded out !! Industrialists will be gheroed and attacked, 

The 'dadas' of para/colonies will be more powerful than police. There would be load shedding and flies and mosquitoes and Kolkata's intellectuals will sing the song ....

"Dine macchi, raate mosha 
ei niye achhie Kolkata' 

(There are flies around during day time and there will be mosquitoes at night. And that's my Kolkata city...I adore) 

The best definition of communism -- according to a former teacher of mine in north east -- was -- it's a combination of pseudo talks, inferiority complex and persecution !!

Ting tong !!  

 Hate 'Modi' ... that's okay .... but Congress Manifesto based on communism will blind you -- to the level --- you may hate a bright future for your kid !!

Certainly in next six rounds ...of voting ... Bharat and its people and more so the Hindus should vote with extra enthusiasm. 

Muslims have always benefited by those who play these games. The Partition of 1947 and then the politics of 'minority appeasement'.  

What does upper caste Hindu have ?? His hard work and talent.... The good old days would have made you a school teacher or some 'clerks (kerani) in municipal office -- where union leader will be the main boss and playing Carom Board would be wise thing to do in office hours !! Jugadus will survive yet again !! 

The eco system should be destroyed. 

Do not take the clock back !!  

In an interview with news agency ANI, Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda said: 

"In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has $100 million worth of wealth and when he dies, he can only transfer probably 45% to his children and 55% goes to the government. That’s an interesting law. 

"It says you in your generation, made wealth and you are leaving now, you must leave your wealth for the public, not all of it, half of it, which to me sounds fair,” Pitroda said.

“In India, you don’t have that. If somebody is worth 10 billion and he dies, his children get 10 billion and the public gets nothing," he added.

The BJP went hammer-and-tongs after Congress in the wake of Pitroda's remarks. It warned people of "property snatchers", with party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla saying that the "Congress want to grab one's hard-earned tax-paid resources".

ends 

2014-24, the decade of Reclaiming 'historic Hindu civilisational' greatness... Journey to a Viksit Bharat ::::::::: Modi and Amit Shah flay Congress after Sam Pitroda refers to taxation act of the US

New tryst with destiny  -- the Bharat story !!

"...there is precious little Pakistan can do about assassinations on its territory, which the Indian leadership was happy to boast about once the allegations had been publicised." - an article in Pakistani newspaper 'The Dawn'. 

$$$

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 10 years in power left an indelible mark on the country. Its an optimistic story of India rising to become the world’s fastest-growing economy, courted by powerful western leaders and multinational corporations.

There is improved Digital-based economy and efficient governance. The technological advancements have been used to benefit the poor and common masses.

Also to some, Bharat no longer symbolizes under-developed rural India. It means a nation firm on ts roots and liberated from the politics of elites and dynasts.

There is also an escape from “chains of colonisers” and Bharat is on the path to reclaiming its historic Hindu civilisational greatness.

Modi’s status – what many refer to as a “cult of personality” – has continued to rise exponentially while space for criticism of him, be it in the media, academic research or even fictional TV shows, has continued to be in sharp decline. Notably, he has not done a single press conference in 10 years. 

Opposition to Modi is painted as opposition to the country ??? 

Such is the power of “brand Modi” that the BJP sits firmly in the shadow of its strongman leader. Modi’s face and name are attached to almost every government welfare scheme, and are visible on every government poster and even on people’s food rations and Covid vaccination certificates. 

The prime minister primarily refers to himself in the third person in speeches and will often address the people as “Modi ka parivar” [Modi’s family]. The party’s election manifesto was simply named “Modi’s guarantee”.

Modi is very full of himself. (The Guadian) 

Modi and Amit Shah flay Congress after Sam Pitroda refers to taxation act of the US

The appeasement politics of the Congress stands exposed today with Sam Pitroda's statement on wealth redistribution. He reaffirmed the party's intention to seize the property of the majority and distribute it among the minority. It yet again brings to the fore that the empowerment of India's poor, Dalits, youth, tribes, and backward classes was never on Congress's agenda. - Amit Shah 

PM rips into Congress over Sam Pitroda remark: ‘Loot the living and the dead’

Amid the ongoing row over Congress leader Sam Pitroda's seeming advocacy for an inheritance tax, PM Narendra Modi charged that the opposition party does not want people to pass on their hard-earned wealth to their children.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacks Congress over Sam Pitroda's inheritance tax remark. 

PM accuses Congress of intending to impose higher taxes.

He alleges Congress will prevent wealth inheritance to children

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a blistering attack on Congress after the party’s Sam Pitroda appeared to advocate for a US-style inheritance tax amid the ongoing debate over wealth redistribution. The comments have further fuelled an already-raging controversy over Rahul Gandhi’s promise to conduct a wealth survey if the Congress won the Lok Sabha election.

Speaking at a public meeting in Chhattisgarh's Surguja, PM Modi alleged that the Congress wants to fill its own coffers by imposing ever higher taxes and not allowing people to pass on their hard-earned wealth to their children.

"The advisor [Sam Pitroda] of the 'prince' and the 'royal family' had said some time ago that more taxes should be imposed on the middle class," said PM Modi. 

"Congress says that it will impose an inheritance tax, and it will also impose tax on the inheritance received from parents. Your children will not get the wealth that you accumulate through your hard work, rather the claws of the Congress will snatch it away from you."

The Prime Minister said Pitroda's remarks had exposed the dangerous intentions of the Congress. 

Making a play on LIC's erstwhile slogan, Modi jibed, "Congress has one mantra -- to loot people zindagi ke sath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi (in life and even after death)."

Without taking any names, PM Modi targeted the Gandhi family and said, "Those people who considered the entire Congress party as their ancestral property and handed it over to their children, now do not want Indians to pass on their property to their children."

The Prime Minister and the BJP had criticised the Congress manifesto, saying it smacks of appeasement and that if it came to power, it would redistribute people’s wealth and also give reservations to Muslims from the quota for SC, ST, and OBC communities.

"Who said 55% will be taken away? Who said something like this should be done in India? Why is BJP and media in panic?" Pitroda said.

Meanwhile, the Congress distanced itself from the controversy, and said Pitroda's views do not always reflect the position of the party.

Ends