Act on internal security first, energy would follow

In India, this past week was marked by two significant developments which could pose serious implications for short and long-term politics.

First the historic Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement has inched closer to its logical conclusion. Only do a few formalities remain before the agreement is signed which in turn would catapult India into the league of the super power nations and would also add lot of pride to India’s standing in the world. It is a major feat for the Manmohan Singh government – a coalition led by the Indian National Congress called United Progressive Alliance in power at Centre since 2004 – and in months ahead leading to the General Elections 2009 we are certain to see lot of hubbub around this issue. The UPA would want to get the best electoral gains out of this historic Indo-US Civilain Nuclear Agreement, which would pave the way for generation of nuclear power in the country among others.

But all the gains and hopes around this deal could get dashed given a second development that has left the whole nation jittery and nervous. From Kashmir to Orissa, Karnataka, Gujarat and Delhi, internal security is deteriorating everyday and the government seems increasingly feeble and incompetent in tackling it. Nothing affects people more than their immediate well being and the Congress knows it too well. When price of onions and bad roads could unseat governments, this one pertains to life and death.

Delhi serial blasts and explosions in recent past have made a mockery of government’s handling of terror. People are being mauled at will, terror groups are having a free run, violence has become a buzzword and people are feeling insecure like never before. What is worse the government has done little to contain any of these deviant acts – be it the open war cry against Indian state by Kashmiri separatists at Sri Nagar’s Lal Chowk, defiant groups killing innocent mercilessly in Kandhamal and Karnataka, terror groups planting bombs at a drop of the hat, Naxalites’ blowing up police posts at a wink and Muslim groups’ open and blatant challenge to the State. Even as I write this I learn of a gruesome act by Maoists in northeastern state of Chhattisgarh – they have triggered a landmine blast blowing up a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle hours before the President of India was to visit the region.

All we have following all such acts is nothing more than ritualistic one-liners from leaders that lack both in conviction and courage. PM Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi have issues fancy one-liners after Delhi was rattled yet again – twice in a fortnight – this past Saturday.

Elections are round the corner and all the good things that UPA government may have done will come down crumbling if situation on ground related to security of people does not improve. Time is running out for the government. One wonders a government which can’t even nudge one of its weakest Home Ministers in recent past to come out of slumber, would be able to take strong, immediate and effective measures.

If the Congress wishes to capitalize on the historic agreement with US and so many good things it has done during its stint at the Centre, it must tell its people first that it can provide a secure environment so that they are better able to relish the fruits of energy security.

Internal security far outweighs energy security and perhaps UPA would learn it the hard way.

Opposition and especially Bhartiya Janata Party, meanwhile, are having a ball of a time.

Win at Vienna, and Singur... Benign bonhomie at Hyderabad

Saturday finally saw the moment of reckoning for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when the Nuclear Suppliers Group in its Vienna meeting finally gave a waiver to India to engage in nuclear commerce, the penultimate step before the historic Indo-US Civilian Nuclear Agreement goes to the last Congress of the Bush administration for its approval. A tumultuous political drama back home that preceded this ominous NSG meet made it seem as vague as an Athenian comedy. It was a political bickering of the worst kind. But finally Manmohan Singh and the Congress party had had the last laugh.

The week also turned out to be memorable for it saw another resolution to a row, this time a corporate-political bickering. In perhaps one of the first instances of its kind, West Bengal governor intervened and brought together Trinamool Congress chief Mamta Banerjee and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya to bring to an end to the Singur impasse. Manufacturer of world’s cheapest car Tata has been caught in a crisis over the social pitch dug in by Banerjee – she claims farmers are being forcibly made to part with their land – which forced the company suspend operations and its MD Ratan Tata stating publicly that if push comes to shove he would not blink to withdraw his protests. While Mamta’s tirade seemed to be robbing the ruling CPI M of its critical working class vote bank, the corporate camaraderie left the pro-reform, pro-industry CM nervous. Buddhadeb has worked hard to shun the state of its anti-capitalist image and made a fervent pitch in last few years to attract investments. Tata was a big deal and Buddhadeb would not let it go at any costs. Mamta had other ideas.

Thankfully wisdom prevailed but not before Mamta had wrested a political cost – her followers think she would reap huge dividends of this posturing in elections though many dispute such fanciful ideas. The case also points to the buoyant mood of the government vis a vis reforms and industrialization, a realization that in the changed socio-political milieu safeguarding the interests of farmers was as critical as protecting industry’s wellbeing. Till some time ago this would have been termed a predicament of the government but no longer. One must note that a large chunk of the vocal, urban middle class India today relates more with the new mood of industrialization. And political parties know it too well.

From cacophonic unease in West Bengal to not so benevolent bonhomie in New Delhi between Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress, observers were quick to note the writing on the wall.

The Press Club of India, Delhi had organised an interactive session for Amar Singh on a sultry Friday (Sept 5) afternoon and it turned out to be just the right occasion for the SP leader to make his points on the current political scene. Not only he made amends to his senior Mulayam Singh Yadav’s “dilemma” statement over N Deal, he made a host of other politically significant points aimed at strengthening his party’s claims in the run up to the Elections. To begin with, Singh seemed very upset with Congress managers assigned the task of negotiating the UP deal. Singh was especially annoyed with Digvijay Singh who he said was “after all working for his party by strongly bargaining with us.” But he took a dig at the former MP CM when Singh said, “Digvijay Singh tells us to follow Lalu Yadav a role model of coalition politics. If we were to do that we won’t be able to give away more than 8 seats to the Congress and remember unlike Laluji we have not had the luxury of being in the Cabinet for past four years.” The import of this and many other uttering of Singh was clear: SP is not going to concede too much and too soon and Congress will have to remain contend with whatever they do. This may come as a bit of a disappointment for Rahul Gandhi and his likes who have been dreaming of putting the party on a revival course. However it’s easier said than done given the complex political scenario of this Hindi heartland.

Cameras pawned from tiny, grassless lawns of Press Club to the private jet and a swanky Rolls Royce which Amar Singh and his companions Jaya Prada and Jaya Bachchan rode to reach Southern silver screen heartthrob and new political star Chiranjeevi. It is being rumoured that SP is keen on expanding its footprint and a bid to allure Praja Rajyam could well be as per the script though officials of both parties hastened to dispel any political meaning to this “courtesy meeting.” SP could especially be interested in finding a strong alliance partner like Chiranjeevi in AP as its bete noire and UP CM Mayawati of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has already tied up with another Andhra outfit Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by flamboyant Chandrababu Naidu.
As it is turning out, who forms a government will depend on who has forged the best alliance, won hearts and have willing sprinters for a relay run. Amar Singh knows it pretty well and has begun his campaign. From Raisina Hills to Singur and South of Vindhyas, Singh with his flamboyance is out to win hearts for the next big event in April-May 2009.

Rahul Gandhi Should Visit Orissa Now

Rahul Gandhi's four-day visit to thirteen districts of Orissa in March might have ruffled feathers within the party and the ruling BJD-BJP, but was seen as a sincere effort in trying to meet the people and understand their problems. The visit was reminiscent of his father's famous visit to Orissa particularly to Kalhandi in the eighties after India Today reported sale of a child by the parents due to crushing poverty.

Rahul Gandhi visited remote villages in Koraput and Ganjam districts where he was told not to go because of security reasons. Rahul Gandhi commented on the state's poverty. Orissa is rich, not you, he said. Aides who were travelling with him told this writer that the meeting with the tribal people had gone down well. He also said mining in the hills of Orissa would damage the environment. This 'Discover India' tour was supposed to set the tone for his discovery of India tour. That was then.

Orissa is now burning. After the murder of a VHP leader in Kandhamal district on Janmasthami day, Bajrang Dal and VHP thugs have burnt more than a dozen churches, killed more than 17 people and attacking Christians in eastern Orissa-all this in the presence of the. Despite shoot-on-sight orders the violence continues in Orissa. It is a distinct characterstic of the Indian state where despite a large presence of security personnel in such situations have their way be it in Gujarat or Orissa. Though the Maoists have admitted to the killing, VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders have squarely blamed the Christians behind the murder. Christian groups have sought the deployment of the Indian Army. Like as usual, the state and the Centre will take time to stop the violence and bring in some swift and effective action. It is time Rahul Gandhi visited Orissa before it snowballs further.

If he can shed his political skin and talk as an Indian rallying for the cause of a Kalavati or a Sasikala in the parliament during the trust vote proceedings, why can't he now visit Kandhamal. It is now that the state needs him, when it is burning.

During his March visit, close aides had given him a white paper on the problems confronting the state and religious violence was one. The paper clearly stated the causes and reasons for the religious violence in the state. So, it is not as if Rahul Gandhi does not know the communal antecedents in the state. In that case, should he not be in Orissa than touring Allahabad?

Orissa can never be rich till the time the social fabric of the state attains a certain level of civility. Whichever establishment is in power needs to understand this and work towards primarily diagnosing the problems like naxalism, poverty, tribal issues, health, employment and environmental degradation and solving them. The state needs a balm. Rahul Gandhi can bring in that balming effect, calm tempers, assuage emotions and appeal to all rabid thugs who are on a killing spree.

Orissa needs him now.

Class Action

To say that the launch of Telugu actor Chiranjeevi's political party, Praja Rajyam, had all the trappings of the 150 odd films he has done in his career will be a gross understatement. On two aspects, that he knows best, his launch had outdone his films- in scale and drama. It had the epic scale of Cecil De B Mille's Ben Hur. Chiranjeevi sent a clear message to his political adversaries yesterday that he has the ability to pull and draw hundreds and thousands of people from across the length and the coast of the state, something only south Indian actors are endowed with. But among all of them who have taken a plunge into politics, Chiranjeevi's magnetism for drawing huge crowds has been the best so far.

The venue was symbolic in all political sense and sensibilities. It was on this Avilala Tank ground that the 1992 AICC plenary was held. Against the backdrop of a deafening roar, Chiranjeevi asked a physically challenged youth to unveil the party's white and green flag with a blazing sun in the centre.

His speech, running into two hours, was almost like watching one of his films except that it was a monologue. He said he wanted to fight political corruption at the top as it was the fountainhead of graft. Importantly, he said his party will be committed to socialism and empowerment of the poor and downtrodden. My party belongs to women, backward classes, farmers, workers and youth, he said. While touching upon almost all pressing problems confronting the state, he said he would do a scientific assessment of all them before arriving at solutions. His rally posters had Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Jyotiba Phule clearly indicating on which side of the social spectrum he stands.

Going by initial commentaries, he plans to unsettle the Congress and TDP bases in coastal Andhra, where he has powerful grip. The Left parties, Telangana Rasthriya Samithi and BJP have erupted already sprung up to say they are open to future alliances provided Chiru's agenda is in sync with theirs. Going by the spectacle of the launch and the cinematic spell he holds over Andhra Pradesh, it is not upto the BJP to decide but it will be upto PR to decide who to embrace and hold hands with.

He has even advocated sensitive handling of the Telengana issue and Naxalism in the state, something that his political adversaries have so far found it challenging.

His rise to stardom, like his dear friend Rajinikanth, is something that is stuff of movies and legends. Where else can you find the son of a constable rising to a superstar but in our movies? And now he has used the very same stardom and the support of his fans to launch his party. My parents looked after me for 22 years, but you have carried me for 30 years on your shoulders. Therefore, I wanted to play a bigger role in ushering a change in your lives, he said in almost a melodramatic fashion.

Critics have been swift in rubbishing his poverty stricken past and his spartan claims after the launch of the party. They must have quivered, shuddered at the thought of the sea of humanity who came in waves to see their matinee idol.

The Congress responded by saying PR will not have any effect on the party in the state rather it will affect the spoils of TDP. He had already met senior BJP leader LK Advani. The state unit has already asked the actor turned politician to come clear on Telengana issue as though he has been running the state's political affairs for donkey's years.

It would be appropriate to see how he performs than to speculate which way will Chiranjeevi swing. What is to be seen is whether the sea of humanity can be translated into votes.

During an election rally the DMK supremo, Karunanidhi had once said if only his supporters who gathered to listen to his speeches came to vote. That would apply for Chiranjeevi as well. Till then he can enjoy his new role.

Shibu Soren soaring?

India's northern state of Jharkhand is becoming a case study of sorts in political possibilities. Firstly, an independent MLA with support of mainstream parties like Congress and RJD, was made the Chief Minister. This was a rare case but isn't politics an art where such rareities are made possible. Two, a strong regional leader, who till few days back was slated to take as a Union Minister, is set to return as CM. Interestingly, much like in Karnataka, independents including the outgoing CM will be the lifeline of the new leadership. Or will it not?

A spate of developments following the Trust Vote in Parliament over nuclear agreement with USA has led to a situation where Shibu Soren of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), a man credited with the creation of this state, is all set to hold the mantle as Chief Minister.

It's been a dream that Soren, fondly called Guruji, has nurtured and it augurs well for the people of the state who find in him a liberator.

The tricky composition of the 81-member Assembly, however, makes the task of mustering the requisite number a little difficult for Guruji. But with the incumbent CM Madhu Koda finally resigning paving the way for Guruji, it could only be minor hiccups that would be bothering him.

Monday is a crucial day and it is hoped Guruji would emerge victorious.

UPA must act NOW on Jammu - Kashmir

The Valley continues to simmer and Jammu burns with rage. And what we have as a solution to the Amarnath Shrine land impasse is a stoic silence from a laggard government whose only intent and wish, it seems, is to let this volatile phase peter off somehow. But sadly for the UPA government at the Centre, this is turning out to be a predicament difficult to bury or bypass. Ahead of crucial elections in the state and elsewhere in the country, this could turn out to be a bad omen for the government if not dealt with alacrity and compassion.

This also displays in no uncertain terms that Indian government, irrespective of which party is in power, continues to lack will when it comes to resolving tricky issues.

India’s northernmost state of Jammu & Kashmir comprising three regions – plain Jammu, hilly Kashmir, and Ladakh – has been in the throes of revolt for over a month now over allocation of a tract of land by the Governor to the Amarnath Shrine Board, in charge of Hindu’s holy shrine of Amarnath which is thronged by lakhs every year.

The Muslim dominated Valley has been protesting this terming the allocation as encroachment on their “own” land. Hindus in the Jammu region, who have felt discriminated against for decades, seem to be saying enough is enough. They feel given the socio-political and cultural compulsions successive governments have adopted partisan stance against them which has led to such “high-handed” attitude of the people of the valley.

Being religious, the issue has struck an emotional chord with people of all strata and this has led to continued rebellion including blockade of the Valley – Jammu is the vital nerve that connects economically significant Kashmir valley to the rest of the country and vice versa. Among others, the whole country savours the juicy apple and oranges from the Valley. Other than affecting traders, this blockade has also led to squeeze on essential supplies to the Valley and people are turning volatile.

On Tuesday alone 16 innocent lives were lost in Police firing in Kashmir Valley and 85 were injured. One example of how the government has let this tricky issue blow beyond its sleeves is the fact that after 13 years curfew had to be imposed in all the 10 districts of the valley. In Jammu too the situation remains tense and people are just not letting the steam subside.
The second-all party meeting to discuss the issue on Tuesday had bore no fruits either and a hapless government continues to duck and dawdle. Being religious, the issue also has national appeal and with media beaming images of a restless and volatile people, their brethren Valley and Jammu, people are sitting back and taking note.

It’s a rather simple issue turned vexed by sheer lack of imagination. Time government acted and resolved it.

The beautiful state and its people, not to forget their rich cultural and religious heritage, deserve a better attention than hemming and hawing.

Will Singh remain a King?

Today morning when I opened my email, I got a mail from one of my journalist friend from Chandigarh with a huge picture as attachment and “Singh is King” as the subject line. As I opened the picture I was shocked at the first glance but could not stop myself from laughing loudly at last. The picture was actually the poster from the recently released film “Singh is King” and in place of original actor’s and actress’s face it was none other than our PM Manmohan Singh raising his right hand high and holding Sonia Gandhi with his left hand.

True Singh really turned out to be a King and also shunned the notion that he was a political novice. However, his real test would be during the next elections when lot of these issue that we have seen playing in July would come back haunting to him: most notably the note-for-vote scam.

As we get set to witness the next general election, it is also time for us to closely watch the political maneuverings. It would be interesting to watch how the many regional parties shape up in the run up to the elections. It is pertinent to note that in the final analysis, all these parties would have to gravitate towards either UPA or NDA. It would be too premature to talk of UNPA as its constituents are known for their consistent inconsistency.

It would be too premature also, for instance, to think that Mayawati would remain aligned to UNPA and so on, not to ask of smaller parties like TRS (which is already hobnobbing with BJP), TDP, AGP and INLD.

Only time will tell.

By Monish Mazumdar