Narendra Modi vs the Dynasty: Contrasting Ideas of India

Virupaksha · Post by **Virupaksha** » 23 May 2014 11:58

krishnan wrote:yeah 1L is not bad, but they wont leave the perks, also MP's have various other quotas , like in KV, railways etc

it is demand to supply ratio. MPs kids are uprooted as well, they and their office employees are uprooted. They need admissions.

There was a fire in amethi three days ago. Are you ok if your representative gave the excuse that he couldnt book a ticket on train as it was full and so came a month later? There was govt committee to divide telangana, imagine them unable to come to state because of lack of tickets.

They are the public face of the govt which has a need to be seen as responsive. Remember most of these perks were instituted before the days of internet.

Should there be a reform? most definitely. Is there a need for these perks to exist? Yes. The key is to balance the needs of a MP and the perks.

Yogi_G · Post by **Yogi_G** » 23 May 2014 12:06

pankajs wrote:

For a minute I thought it was Mayawati.

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 23 May 2014 12:11

A lesson in history: Why India 2014 isn't Hitler's Germany

http://www.hindustantimes.com/comment/a ... 21946.aspx

Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi is yet to take centre stage. But like masked, wailing choruses in Greek tragedies, liberal intellectuals have already begun invoking the ghost of Adolf Hitler, the greatest criminal in the history of mankind.

In one essay, writer Pankaj Mishra suggests that Indians have voluntarily chosen xenophobic dictatorship. The election, writes the author of Butter Chicken in Ludhiana, signals a turbulent phase for India — “arguably, the most sinister since its independence from British rule in 1947.”

While the opening paragraph almost sounds like an absurd yearning for the Raj (ironically, on the eve of the rabidly Right-wing UKIP’s expected triumph in the European and other local polls in Britain), the article’s near-Biblical sanctimoniousness (“They know not what they do”: Luke 23:34) essentially insults the intelligence of the millions who chose Modi.

In short: It tells the world that India’s democracy, its Supreme Court (which dismissed charges against Modi) and its voters need not be taken seriously.

Discarding historical facts to declare an absolute similitude between the PM-designate and the evil brain behind the gas chambers diverts attention from the most urgent problems facing the incoming government. It also turns what ought to be scholarly debate into arbitrary defamation.

Modi came to power in a democratic election in which 550 million people made their choices. Overwhelmingly, for his BJP.

Hitler did so only after several chaotic cabinets which did not have a majority in Reichstag (Parliament).

From 1932 onwards, Germany’s Chancellor began to be appointed by its President (Paul von Hindenburg), a former imperial field marshal, who made no bones about his hatred for parliamentary democracy. A series of emergency laws, enabled by the weak German constitution of the time, had made it possible to bypass a parliamentary majority at will.

The National Socialists (NSDAP) — Nazis — never got more than 30% of the vote share in free elections before Hitler was appointed chancellor.

While few skirmishes marked the recent Lok Sabha polls, the political climate in the Germany of the time was fraught with violence and hatred.

Consequently, Hitler’s electoral victory, 10 years after his botched coup attempt, did not, in any measure, meet the basic free-and-fair criteria that marked the Indian elections.

Both Hitler’s NSDAP as well as the Communists spared no efforts to destroy Germany’s first parliamentary democracy. It is for this reason that historians often describe the Weimar Republic as a ‘democracy sans democrats’.

To the Germans, the Treaty of Versailles after World War 1 was a great ignominy. Its demand for costly reparations from them only strengthened public resentment against social democrats, liberals, centrists — in short, all those who were expected to execute the conditions laid down by the Treaty.

Consequently, the 14 years of weak democracy before Hitler was sworn in were marked by widespread public hostility towards democracy, the political leadership and the judiciary. Germans of the time either sympathised with the extreme nationalism of the Nazis or yearned for a return to monarchy.

Right-wing extremists could count on mild punishment for acts of violence. For his failed coup, Hitler himself was awarded a five-year prison term but pardoned after merely eight months.

Meanwhile, the country faced its worst economic crisis that the world had seen up to then: The Great Depression, which brought unemployment and disillusionment with the future. All these developments were decried as the results of democracy.

Hitler’s national-socialist propaganda exploited precisely this public anger and drew a destructive picture of democracy as a trap to enslave Germans: By the victors of the war, by ‘Jewish Bolshevism’, by ‘Jewish capital economics’, by the ‘shameful Diktat of Versailles’ and finally, by all politicians extolling democracy.

Concern over the more rabid components of the BJP, which frequently make their presence felt, is justified. But a will to decimate India’s democracy altogether cannot be attributed to either Modi or the BJP.

In the nearly 70 years that India has been a functioning democratic republic of raucous and free public debate, the only notable exception remains Indira Gandhi’s Emergency.

While the last four years were undoubtedly marked by frustration over a stagnated economy, the Lok Sabha polls did not take place amidst a crisis even remotely similar to the Depression.

Despite persistent poverty and other social problems, Indians are optimistic about their future and see themselves as a nation on the move. Modi voters essentially opted for less corruption, and better infrastructure, education and prospects for the future.

Since the economic reforms of the early 1990s, millions of Indians did see an elevation from below the poverty line to the ranks of the middle class. Many of those left behind viewed the outgoing coalition government as an impediment to their dreams and were pragmatic, rather than dogmatic, in their choice of the BJP as an alternative.

Fulfilling their hopes will be the prime challenge for Narendra Modi and the BJP.

The new PM’s victory undoubtedly throws up questions.

Will he invoke Hindu nationalism at the expense of the Muslim minority?

Will Right-wing Hindus feel empowered to use violence against political opponents and other religious groups?

But an evocation of Hitler is a fallacious response to those questions.

Already in the 1920s and before he came to power, most Germans could easily discern Adolf Hitler’s rabid desire for ‘elimination’ and mass genocide. His anti-Semitic ideology, his hatred for Jews and all dissenters, his abhorrence of democracy were already well-known and espoused in his book Mein Kampf.

An equally destructive and well-publicised urge for mass destruction can hardly be attributed to Modi.

But though it is farcical to harp on an “apology” for alleged crimes that the Supreme Court has already cleared him of, it may help alleviate some of the uneasiness if Modi periodically vocalised his determination to protect all minorities.

The overwhelming majority of Indians revel in democracy and are proud of the judiciary. There is pluralism in the media and an active civil society: Assets which Germans in the Hitler-era were not blessed with.

But is India of 2014 the Germany of the 1930s? Far from it. There is no Third Reich. And there will never be another Hitler.

KrishG · Post by **KrishG** » 23 May 2014 12:47

With todays attack on our Afghan Consulate, I am having feeling that Pakis are testing the waters wrt NaMo. They want to see his response and the speed/strength on the response. Its an absolute no brainer that ISI is behind the attack.

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 23 May 2014 12:50

'According to a powerful section of the Congress party the vote was anti-Congress, anti-dynasty and pro-Modi, in that order.'

'Sonia is being accused, privately, of protecting her son at the cost of the party's interest.'

'For the first time ever, 24 Akbar Road, the Congress headquarters, is assessing the "intent" of the Gandhi Parivar, which has never happened before.'

http://www.rediff.com/news/report/exclu ... 140523.htm

After being reduced to 44 seats, don't think Congressmen can afford to remain loyal slaves to the dynasty.

member_27987 · Post by **member_27987** » 23 May 2014 12:55

The race that suffered ultimately under Hitler's Germany were the first to congratulate Modi. What does that say about Modi being a Hitler?

member_28025 · Post by **member_28025** » 23 May 2014 13:00

And why do these left-wingers make constant comparisons to Hitler. Why not to Stalin?

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 23 May 2014 13:07

Shamlee wrote:And why do these left-wingers make constant comparisons to Hitler. Why not to Stalin?

Pufff, if they really have to, let them make comparison with Churchill.

OTOH I think Hitler's socialism is the closet ideal of what the left wingers want, so basically they all adore Hitler and Nazi's so are obsessed with him and not the more virulent mass murdering genocidal maniac of Capitalism of communism variety.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 23 May 2014 13:19

EswarPrakash wrote:The race that suffered ultimately under Hitler's Germany were the first to congratulate Modi. What does that say about Modi being a Hitler?

That they know, who is the friend and who is a foe. BTW, for the so called, Indian liberals, it is those very people who deserve to be pushed in the Sea.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 23 May 2014 13:21

Slightly dated news,

Sonia Gandhi quits as Chairperson of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library

I say good riddance.

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 23 May 2014 13:22

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 23 May 2014 13:24

Please for god's sake. Congress must not junk the dynasty. They must call for PV and after her her children must control the INC.

sum · Post by **sum** » 23 May 2014 13:35

NaMo in another avatar( during emergency to avoid arrest):

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 23 May 2014 13:47

Dhananjay wrote:BRFites as a think tank I wonder if it would be a good idea to present the new govt. with a book detailing:

1.) To go for 1200 Tejas a/c instead of importing.

2.) To go for 30 Arihants + 12 Scorpenes instead of uber-expensive P 75I.

3.) Order 2000 Arjun tanks.

I want to take brilliant posts by Shiv ji on this:

http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/postin ... =24&t=6489

As a think tank BRF owes it to the nation to provide with a vision on these defence industrial needs.

Perhaps a 15-20 chapter hardbound book can be made, not many but just 20 copies and through connections like Dr. Niran and others these books can be presented to PM, DM, Scientific Advisor, Amit Shah, General Shri V.K. Singh.

I was going to copy and email these posts to available BJP addresses but then thought it would be better to produce it in a hardbound book form (not a published book) and present them to the decision makers or their contacts.

Maybe these BRFites can take lead: Sarvashri Shiv, Jagan, Singha, Karan M, Ramana, Kartik, John, Rohitvats, Vivek Ahuja etc.

Maybe the book can be made from existing posts in Tejas, Arjun and naval threads or maybe fresh chapters written, I don't know just an idea.

Your wish would be considered and NaMo is quite steadfast on indigenous technology and production. In past he had talked about Military Industrial complex as powerhouses for generating employment and economy. So these ideas would be on the agenda but aure you realise that it would take longer term to establish. Time is to set the ball rolling.

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 23 May 2014 13:48

http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/s ... 140523.htm

no wonder bjp won so good this time, all the exp over the years in organizing rallies and election campaign helped him

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 23 May 2014 13:51

Pratyush wrote:Slightly dated news,

Sonia Gandhi quits as Chairperson of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library

I say good riddance.

Arre baba that is what was First PM's Residence. It is called Teen Murthi Bhawan. Time is to reclaim the property. She had to leave anyway.

anmol · Post by **anmol** » 23 May 2014 13:57

sooraj · Post by **sooraj** » 23 May 2014 14:18

Just in: Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikant and Lata Mangeshkar have been invited to Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

member_20317 · Post by **member_20317** » 23 May 2014 14:23

krishnan wrote:
'According to a powerful section of the Congress party the vote was anti-Congress, anti-dynasty and pro-Modi, in that order.'

'Sonia is being accused, privately, of protecting her son at the cost of the party's interest.'

'For the first time ever, 24 Akbar Road, the Congress headquarters, is assessing the "intent" of the Gandhi Parivar, which has never happened before.'
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/exclu ... 140523.htm

After being reduced to 44 seats, don't think Congressmen can afford to remain loyal slaves to the dynasty.

And that is why the Congress has lost and lost it now. The "powerful section of the Congress party" must be the "chamcha section of the Congress party"

The vote first and foremost was for a vision that was delivered by Modi.

Second it was against the Dynasty. Because these bunch of knaves and idiots and there close in chamchas have sold out on every issue of importance/urgency for Indians.

Third only was it against Congress. Congress - The word/identification as vilified by the BJP supporters (and the vilification accepted by the voters) in the campaign was only a convenient Iconoclasm of accumulated karmas. In a party of chamchas you have to blast the whole party.

The 19.3% vote share that the Congress still has is only and only because of local and localized leadership. Empower this leadership and start working from now on. People will readily vote for Congress again provided they stop following the dynasty and then start holding out some promise and then start delivering on their promises. Dear Congressi, you are in a ditch and if you have any amount of paurush left you can only climb out. First you have to get some life, second you have to ditch the dynasty & thirdly your benchmark has to be NaMo. You are going to get considered only if you can do all the 3 points in chronological order. Any other way won't help your sorry existence.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 23 May 2014 15:51

RamaY wrote: Who is maintaining records of Kashmiri Hindu families?
Per internal sources (the deepest kind) each Kashmiri pundit family sent at least one son to Indian Special Forces
They all will return to Kashmir with families.

Someone has been pulling your leg with respect to the bold part!

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 23 May 2014 16:01

Shamlee wrote:And why do these left-wingers make constant comparisons to Hitler. Why not to Stalin?

That is an eminent twittable quote...will do the needful.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 23 May 2014 16:04

a joint financial task force is being formed to go after financial criminals and money exporters
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nare ... 63200.html

It could be the first big step from PM-designate Narendra Modi to bring back black money stashed abroad.
Sources in central agencies tell Indiatoday.in that a framework for a new task force to deal with black money has been prepared.

"Under the directions of senior officials of Department of Revenue, this task force has been created. It will be headed by the Financial Intelligence Unit," said an official, requesting anonymity.

Central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, the Income Tax Department and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence are the members of the task force.

The task force will deal with black money derived from corruption, money laundering, hawala, terrorist financing or through off-shoring of wealth via tax havens.

It will deal with all types of black money deposited in tax havens including Swiss banks.

However, at present, the framework of this task force is ready, but there will be no official word from any central agencies or department till Modi takes over prime minister.

"As soon as Modi assumes his new post, the framework of this task force would be shown to him for final approval. He will decide when to make it official," the source said.

In his Lok Sabha election speeches, Modi said black money will be brought back if the NDA came to power and it would be used for the welfare of the poor and to reward honest income-tax payers.

He promised to create a new task force to take 5-10 per cent of seized black money and distribute it to law-abiding citizens on fixed incomes.

The tax department is delighted and waiting to get this implemented at the earliest.

"If Modi is successful in launching few voluntary schemes among high networth individuals and rich Indians who have stashed black money abroad and make them (who fear central government and agencies) share the details, then nothing like it. At least, the department will get its 30 per cent tax from each individual," a senior IT official said.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nare ... 63200.html

Yogi_G · Post by **Yogi_G** » 23 May 2014 16:06

rohitvats wrote:
Shamlee wrote:And why do these left-wingers make constant comparisons to Hitler. Why not to Stalin?
That is an eminent twittable quote...will do the needful.

Just like how Atheists never bring up avowedly atheist states like Soviet Union or NK when discussing religious states being root of all evil.

member_28025 · Post by **member_28025** » 23 May 2014 16:21

Yogi_G wrote:
Just like how Atheists never bring up avowedly atheist states like Soviet Union or NK when discussing religious states being root of all evil.

Aren't most of the left-wingers also atheists? I think I am an exception - atheist and centrist. I have no problems with religious people (I have been living with one for more than 30 years) so long as they don't try to shove their religion down my throat or make statement like atheists are immoral and don't have ethics. What is it that GW Bush said about atheists not being patriots or something to that effect?

Mihaylo · Post by **Mihaylo** » 23 May 2014 17:09

Shamlee wrote:And why do these left-wingers make constant comparisons to Hitler. Why not to Stalin?

..well we should be glad that they are not claiming that Hitler was a Hindu, considering the swastika and all.

-M

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 23 May 2014 17:14

abhischekcc · Post by **abhischekcc** » 23 May 2014 17:17

Yogi_G wrote:
pankajs wrote:
For a minute I thought it was Mayawati.

You mean Pakistan's very own Dehati Aurat?

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 23 May 2014 17:18

Shamlee wrote:Aren't most of the left-wingers also atheists?

If Kerala commies can be taken as an example of leftists, then they *claim* to be atheists. But this is mainly for commies born into Hindu families only. Off-course you would still find commies working as priests in temples etc.

member_28025 · Post by **member_28025** » 23 May 2014 17:20

Mihaylo, You have just provided an idea to any left-winger who might be lurking here. Please delete your post before it is too late.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 23 May 2014 17:39

rohitvats wrote:
RamaY wrote: Who is maintaining records of Kashmiri Hindu families?
Per internal sources (the deepest kind) each Kashmiri pundit family sent at least one son to Indian Special Forces
They all will return to Kashmir with families.
Someone has been pulling your leg with respect to the bold part!

saar highlighted the potent stuff for Jamwalji

Sanju · Post by **Sanju** » 23 May 2014 18:12

nagesh wrote:
Anantha wrote:Nageshks
There is lot of BS floating around on Modi's plans; his cabinet, his SAARC plans, hiring technocrats and now this. Modi's close advisors have confirmed that all these are trial baloons floated by vested interests.
Even if Teesta sharing is true, feel rest assured, Modiji will do things that will ultimately benefit India. You can bet they already have plans for 2019 and which fruits should be shown to people at that time. Be rest assured in the next few years the opposition will have broken backs and will be fighting with Congis for Muslim votes.
Be calm and Trust Modiji, I have followed him for 10 years now. We have climbed the huge wall last week and we will succeed.
Let me reveal a small secret.A week before MMS was to go to Bangladesh to sign the exchange of conclaves ,leaving India with a net loss of 10000 acres,as well as sharing of Teesta waters ,I got an opportunity to speak at a FINS meet in Indore.I brought this to the notice of audience and requested them to write to their MPs .Ms Minakshi Lekhi ji ,who was present there,asked me for the data and carried it to a big BJP leader who prevailed upon Mamta. Subsequently Mamta di at the 11th hour refused to accompany MMS and Assam CM to Bangladesh....My role as a squirrel in saving our Teesta water.

Thanks Nagesh! Your effort is very much appreciated!

Anantha · Post by **Anantha** » 23 May 2014 18:35

Nageshks great.
Every effort helps as we saw in the current elections

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 23 May 2014 18:54

nagesh wrote:
Anantha wrote:Nageshks
There is lot of BS floating around on Modi's plans; his cabinet, his SAARC plans, hiring technocrats and now this. Modi's close advisors have confirmed that all these are trial baloons floated by vested interests.
Even if Teesta sharing is true, feel rest assured, Modiji will do things that will ultimately benefit India. You can bet they already have plans for 2019 and which fruits should be shown to people at that time. Be rest assured in the next few years the opposition will have broken backs and will be fighting with Congis for Muslim votes.
Be calm and Trust Modiji, I have followed him for 10 years now. We have climbed the huge wall last week and we will succeed.
Let me reveal a small secret.A week before MMS was to go to Bangladesh to sign the exchange of conclaves ,leaving India with a net loss of 10000 acres,as well as sharing of Teesta waters ,I got an opportunity to speak at a FINS meet in Indore.I brought this to the notice of audience and requested them to write to their MPs .Ms Minakshi Lekhi ji ,who was present there,asked me for the data and carried it to a big BJP leader who prevailed upon Mamta. Subsequently Mamta di at the 11th hour refused to accompany MMS and Assam CM to Bangladesh....My role as a squirrel in saving our Teesta water.

Can we start a thread on treacherous crimes of the UPA. I fail to comprehend why MMS and the termite queen were willing to give away Indian territory, resources and sovereignty to all sundry. Recall that case of the power plants in Sri Lanka
What was wrong with them

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 23 May 2014 19:26

krishnan wrote:
'According to a powerful section of the Congress party the vote was anti-Congress, anti-dynasty and pro-Modi, in that order.'

'Sonia is being accused, privately, of protecting her son at the cost of the party's interest.'

'For the first time ever, 24 Akbar Road, the Congress headquarters, is assessing the "intent" of the Gandhi Parivar, which has never happened before.'
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/exclu ... 140523.htm

After being reduced to 44 seats, don't think Congressmen can afford to remain loyal slaves to the dynasty.

The senior leader has seen it all and done it all in what is called Congress culture. He and other Congress leaders shared with Rediff.com insights into Modi's victory that, obviously, even BJP leaders may not be able to replicate. The experience counts in the matter of political diagnosis.

Sonia Gandhi's ascension to power in the Congress in 1998 came amidst the issue of her foreign origin, the re-acceptance of dynastic politics by the party, sharpening of the Congress stand on secular issues that were sometimes taken to extremes, as it happened in the way the Sachar committee report on Muslims was handled, politically.

Sonia's politics veer around government policy to favour the poor and minorities to such an extent that Rahul Gandhi seriously started believing that the Direct Cash Transfer scheme was a game-changer that would get the Congress around 250 seats, reveals the Congress leader.

Justifiably, Rahul Gandhi is seen as the main culprit who has dispatched the Congress party to the graveyard. To rise again, Rahul will have to learn the ways of the Congress, the leader feels.

In view of the completely desi appeal of Modi's campaign some people now seriously question if there is a Western influence inside Rahul's office that recommends actions without knowing Indian realities.

Rahul would like to build up the party from scratch, but how can he clear the Congress liabilities when his own balance sheet shows a nil balance?

A fight has broken out between the two forces. Rahul and his team want to blame the old daddies and the UPA government's corruption for the party's shameful performance, while 24, Akbar Road's biggies want to point out that Rahul's politics lacks an 'Indian' touch and Modi has gained precisely because he understood the majority -- the Hindus.

The Congress defeat speaks clearly and loudly that the dynasty that won votes in 2004 and 2009 failed because of its arrogance. Their 'We are born to rule' attitude has been rejected in the era of Twitter and 24 hours news television channels that dissect and blast every little act by political leaders.

It is not surprising that Congress leaders now understand the deep effect and disastrous dynamics of the Gandhi family's decision to anoint Rahul Gandhi as its general going into electoral war. While the Italy-born party president Sonia Gandhi kept a low profile for the last 10 years, she went overboard to protect and launch her son in the party that obviously deserved better.

Certainly, among Priyanka, Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, Sonia's image is not tainted, even now, among Congressmen. But now she is being accused, privately, of protecting her son at the cost of the party's interest.

Many Congressmen forcefully argue that they have the wherewithal to fight the BJP any day, any time, but Modi resorted to 'Bhartiyata' and captured the imagination of the voters, besides doing many other things.

Precisely for this, Congressmen find huge problems with Rahul's 'Western-type' behaviour.

Modi's temple visits, his idiom, his oratory and his use of local phrases ensured that "he was not a stranger to the people." Even most voters who didn't understand Modi's language felt "he is one of us." Even after the election, Modi is monopolising "Indian-ness" in political events as he did during the campaign.

His Ganga aarti in Varanasi on May 17, the way he bowed down at the steps of Parliament on May 20 were actions that cannot be dubbed acts of fanatical Hindutva. It is Bhartiyata for Indian voters, says the Congress leader pained to see his party's downfall.

Congress and secular pundits kept debating BJP leader Amit Shah's Hindutva agenda, but Modi has arrived in New Delhi with the politics of Bhartiyata.

According to the exclusive insights that Rediff.com has, Rahul Gandhi is not likely to get away with his dismal performance of 44 Lok Sabha seats. It seems the grand old party will ensure that he changes his way and "takes the party" along with him.

After the Budget session of the new Lok Sabha, he is likely to be told: Improve or be banished.

For the first time ever, 24 Akbar Road, the party's headquarters, is assessing the neeyat (intent) of the Gandhi Parivar, which has never happened before. No journalist on the Congress beat has ever heard such words in the party against the Gandhis. That such expressions are emerging out of the Congress's internal churning, is a huge thing.

Congressmen understand what Modi's arrival brings to New Delhi. The party is alerting Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi that even if they think they are born to rule and can continue with their snooty ways, then they will confront a reality check sooner than later.

Congressmen have no doubt that Rahul Gandhi's arrogance and ignorance have brought the Congress down to 44 seats. His office, under the influence of America-trained Indians, produced a political campaign that reflects anything but 'Bhartiyata.'

Sonia Gandhi is still respected among defeated partymen, but she is not in a strong enough position to encash her goodwill to keep pushing her son within the party that finds itself in an existential battle.

All these years the Nehru-Gandhis delivered votes and the party in turn provided unflinching loyalty. It was a mutually beneficial deal.

But Rahul Gandhi's repeated failure is likely to change the Congress course.

Inside the party, a tsunami of anger has erupted. It does not reach the media because the Congress has been so completely demolished that its leaders have enough time to plan their rebellion.

In fact, not many senior Congress leaders are shocked by the result; many of them felt the party would get around 70 seats or below. Many Congressmen could see the failure of the government, Cabinet ministers and Rahul Gandhi in every which way. It is unlikely that Sonia Gandhi was unaware of the pending disaster either.

Congress leaders dubbed Modi as a leader who polarises the country, but his victory shows that a lot of Modi's symbolism, which was dubbed as 'communal Hindutva', has been accepted by millions of voters as 'Bhartiyata'. Even if this is deception of the highest order, it has worked for the BJP.

When Mani Shankar Aiyar insulted Modi at the January session of the All India Congress Committee and said at the most he could open a tea stall at the venue, just a few hours later Rahul Gandhi cheered Aiyar for his role in creating the Panchayati Raj Act. No politician can get more arrogant than this.

When in Snoopgate the girl the Modi government allegedly spied on was reluctant to make it an issue and when her father came out declaring total support for Modi, Rahul Gandhi did not have a clue that the issue was not politically viable anymore.

When Modi touches the dharti (ground) of Parliament he does not look strange. Even a Congress leader feels, "He doesn't look ajooba (strange)." But Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka do -- that is the brutal assessment that has dawned on Congressmen, a bit late in the day.

Many Congressmen, furious with Rahul Gandhi and his ways of things, add that since they won the 2009 mandate there is no enthusiasm in the country. The way a euphoria has accompanied Modi's triumph, no such hysteria enveloped Manmohan Singh then, they say. A more serious setback was the way many ministers lost their credibility.

From P Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal to Jairam Ramesh, these leaders turned into hate figures. On social media they were hooted, while within the country they didn't get heartfelt respect even for the first few months. The image percolated down that some ministers were looting the country. This impression could never be countered, and things got worse after Modi embarked on his whirlwind campaign.

It is untrue that the Congress did not spend money on its election campaign. Any party that has been in power for 10 years would have money. Modi obviously spent a massive amount of money, but that alone cannot make one a prime minister, Congressmen now argue.

So, what next?

Will the dynasty remain at the centre of the Congress?

If the Congress thinks that "Bhartiyata ki jeet hui hain", then it is obvious that the party will take the reins in its hands to see how things go with the Gandhis and how much is their flexibility to accommodate the Congress need to understand a majority of Indians.

Also, without an acknowledgement of Indian-ness that has been more the Congress trademark than any other party's, the Congress knows there is no scope of revival.

sooraj · Post by **sooraj** » 23 May 2014 19:33

Pakistan, China and Japan to receive high priority under Narendra Modi's foreign policy
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 489428.cms

[]Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi's foreign policy will be "Vajpayee-plus", defined by "out-of the-box thinking" and "completely different from what his critics expect". Also, South Asian neighbours and Asian giants China and Japan will be Modi's first foreign policy priorities.

People belonging to a small team working closely with Modi's core team on major foreign policy and security policy matters told ET that Modi's invitation to all Saarc leaders, including Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif, was "just the beginning of a redefined and radically rethought" foreign policy.

Modi's invite to South Asian leaders took everyone by surprise, forcing even his political rivals to praise him and creating a positive atmosphere in South Asia even before he takes over formally. One person familiar with these discussions in Modi's team said, "Atal Bihari Vajpayee had come the closest of any PMs to achieving a breakthrough with Pakistan. Modi's effort is not just to be like Vajpayee but Vajpayee-plus."

"He is passionate about going down in history as the man who transformed India and its relationship with its neighbours, especially Pakistan," the person added. This person also said Modi was aware his invite to Saarc leaders was liable to be misinterpreted. "But he was resolute.

By choosing Saarc countries, he made sure that it was a balanced conglomerate and that he was not singling out any country," this person said. Another person familiar with these discussions said the PM-elect will make it a point not to subjugate "national interest to local political opposition".

"For Modi, the message is important. With the Saarc invites, he has sent a message not only to the world but also his critics within the country that he will do business on his own terms. RSS may have a problem with the invite to Pakistan. Ally Vaiko can object to invitation to Rajapaksa. Jayalalithaa can call it unfortunate.

But Modi is clear that he will not look at issues in a traditional way," he said. This person also said that the seriousness with which Modi wants a positive and radically new message on foreign policy is reflected in his responses to other party leaders' statements that send out "negative signals". He cited the instance of BJP leader Nitin Gadkari commenting during a TV channel debate that a BJP government "is not Manmohan Singh's government which will take things lying down."

This person said Modi "was unhappy at this comment". "A message has gone to party leaders that no war-mongering statements should be made". "Don't cross the line between nationalism and intolerance", that's the PM-elect message to his party, this person said. Another person familiar with Team Modi's foreign policy brainstorming said the PMelect is "conscious that many of his campaign statements were considered hardline".

"His message now is that in government he will be an innovative statesman...conscious of national interest but pragmatic". On China and Japan, this person said "Modi's thinking is that Indo-China and Indo-Japan good relations are key to increasing India's global authority". "The PM-elect also has a soft corner for China and Japan," this person said, "because they engaged with him when most important countries were refusing to do so".[/b]

sooraj · Post by **sooraj** » 23 May 2014 19:40

Modi’s foreign policy agenda
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/201 ... 39eYNKKDIU

[]On the one hand, the world is intrigued by India’s new leader, Narendra Modi, who inflicted such a devastating defeat on the grand old party of Indian politics and has replaced the well-known and widely respected Manmohan Singh.

On the other hand, the world is anxious about the foreign policy implications of someone who has held no national post and will lead the government of a billion-strong, nuclear-armed country with the world’s fourth-biggest economy in purchasing power parity ($5.4 trillion to Japan’s $4.7 trillion).

The world should stop worrying. The elements of foreign policy continuity under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress-led governments of AtalBihari Vajpayee (1999-2004) and Manmohan Singh (2004-2014) are far more numerous and substantial than the readjustments on the margins.

Vajpayee turned around the relationship with the U.S. with sustained engagement after the 1998 nuclear-tests setback. His diplomatic overtures to Pakistan and China successfully insulated foreign policy from domestic political pressures and delinked the two border disputes from deepening engagement on a broad range of other fronts.

Singh’s impulse and instincts were the same, but his far weaker position in the domestic structure left him no space to push foreign policy initiatives. He outsourced Sri Lanka and Bangladesh policies to difficult coalition allies in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Even his signature civil nuclear cooperation deal with the U.S. is unconsummated after domestic opponents successfully hobbled it with a draconian nuclear liability law.

Vajpayee had injected a healthy dose of realism into India’s penchant for woolly thinking on international issues, bringing greater coherence and focus. Similarly, instead of the vague and nebulous “strategic autonomy” that has no operational meaning, Modi is likely to provide clear strategic direction and efficient policy execution. He is unlikely to abandon nuclear restraint or the pursuit of South Asian regional engagement and economic integration. He will need to reassure Pakistan and will have domestic political space to do a deal — the Nixon goes to China model — if he finds a partner for peace. A welcome early portent is the invitation to all South Asian leaders to attend his inauguration.

Modi had his U.S. visa revoked because of alleged complicity in Gujarat’s 2002 anti-Muslim riots and, gratuitously and insultingly, a prospective visa denied even without an application. This from the Bush administration,which endorsed torture as official policy and was responsible for an illegal war of aggression that caused the death and displacement of millions of Iraqis. Modi was the elected head of government of a well-run state, was never charged with any crime, independent judicial probes exonerated him, and Gujarat has functioned within the national bandwidth in Hindu-Muslim relations since 2002.

Washington has begun a diplomatic minuet of reaching out to the previously untouchable Modi. President Barack Obama welcomed the democratic process as a vibrant demonstration of shared values of diversity and freedom and looks forward to working with Modi to make the coming years “transformative” for bilateral relations.

A “Modicum” of self-respect might suggest that, with apologies to Groucho Marx, he would not want to visit a country that had ostracized him. But a prime minister is no longer a private person and must elevate collective interests above personal pique. India’s relationship with the U.S. is too important for the prime minister to refuse to visit.

Still, maybe Modi could make it a point to let the U.S. wait and sweat a while for its spectacular act of self-harm: yet another example of the validity of Churchill’s claim that we can always trust Washington to do the right thing, after they have tried everything else first.

Many irritants have crept into the bilateral relationship, including the unresolved row over the arrest and strip-search of India’s deputy consul-general in New York by a publicity seeking and overzealous prosecutor while the State Department was off-duty. Washington is likely to find Modi’s Delhi more self-confident and assertive than the docile, hand-wringing Singh. But India should rescind its self-damaging nuclear liability law and sign deals with Australia, Canada, the U.S. and Russia.

Modi’s first bilateral overseas tour will probably be to China or Japan. Both have aggressively courted him over the past decade while the West treated him as a pariah. When the U.S. closed its shores in 2005, Modi went east to Japan in 2007 and opened new investment channels between Gujarat and ⤢Japan.During a high-profile four-day visit to Japan in July 2012, he was treated above his protocol station.

When Shinzo Abe led his party to a landslide victory in Japan’s 2012 general election, he broke from protocol in taking a congratulatory call from Modi as a state leader. The mutual respect between the two strongly nationalist prime ministers could pay handsome dividends for both countries now.

As state premier, Modi promoted business and trade cooperation between China and Gujarat, and led a high-profile delegation to China on a five-day visit in November 2011. He was received in the Great Hall of People in Beijing, an honor normally reserved for heads of state/government. His known commitment to infrastructure development, courting investment and creating special economic zones might lead to more intensified interaction with China, overcoming the traditional reserve of Indians for consolidating and deepening ties with China in strategic sectors.

Only a strong leader can challenge U.S. economic and political dominance. The BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) provides a ready forum to do so with other like-minded countries, including China. But a nationalist leader might also pursue a policy of enmeshing India in a web of allies in the neighborhood as a strategy for forging strategic links around China, and will look askance at China’s anti-Indian links with other South Asian countries, especially Pakistan.

Modi might also consider investing more diplomatic capital in groupings like BRICS. The BRICS have been far more sympathetic to Russia than to Europe and the U.S. on the Ukraine crisis. Will Modi take an interest in the planned BRICS development bank?

What will be his personal chemistry with the other leaders in BRICS and, for that matter, the Group of 20?

India’s antiquated bureaucratic setup is out of tune with contemporary reality and needs. Modi should appoint a capable and powerful foreign minister who can initiate and oversee a drastic overhaul of the recruitment, training and promotion practices of a greatly enlarged foreign service.

And merge India’s foreign policy and trade bureaucracies to help turn India’s legendary miles of red tape into a red-carpet welcome.
[/b]

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 23 May 2014 19:48

A word of caution but Shinzo Abe is a pukka catholic. He is viewed as a catholic revivalist in Japan by the Pope. Some of his aggrandizement by the west is due to his religion and open market policies

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 23 May 2014 19:54

Jarita wrote:A word of caution but Shinzo Abe is a pukka catholic. He is viewed as a catholic revivalist in Japan by the Pope. Some of his aggrandizement by the west is due to his religion and open market policies

Can you please provide some links to support this. I searched all over google and all I see is that he is a shinto. I see no proof for him being a christian.

johneeG · Post by **johneeG** » 23 May 2014 20:02

Congress and secular pundits kept debating BJP leader Amit Shah's Hindutva agenda, but Modi has arrived in New Delhi with the politics of Bhartiyata.

The whole point is that: Bhaarathiyatha == Hindhuism.
The kongis(or their fourfathers) and their eco-system tried to redefine Bhaarathiyatha as Secularism(or first-phase of unHindhuization).

Hindhuthva is just a reaction to that attempt.

----
There was article about what can Republicans learn from Modi:
I just read a few lines of that article and started shaking my head. Modi simply identified what unites most of Bhaarathiyas: Hindhuism and used soft-Hindhuism to send message.

The major difference has been that unlike his predecessors he has couched his Hindhuthva in development and governance terminology. For example, he talks about cleaning Ganga, stopping cow slaughter, removing art 370, sending back illegal Bdheshi immigrants, saving women from rapes, ...etc. But all these are Hindhuthva issues if one understands the situation properly. However, Modi has projected them as Governance and Development issues. Those who are pro-Hindhuthva know these issues to be Hindhuthva issues. Even those who are anti-Hindhuthva(or anti-Hindhuism) know these are Hindhuthva issues. The fence sitters are the only ones who don't know and they are the ones who are targeted by this. By couching the Hindhuthva issues in terms of development and governance, Modi has removed the fig leaf behind which the so-called secular cabal hide and appeal. This terminology also gives respectability to pro-Hindhuthva side and makes it easier for people to wear it on sleeve and thereby increasing its popularity.

Another point is that Modi comes from a so-called backward caste. Rightly or wrongly, BJP was perceived as a upper-caste party. Projection of Modi, has removed that stigma of being a party of just a particular section and instead BJP has become a party of Hindhus and therefore BJP has gained tremendously by a Hindhu consolidation across the board. The Hindhu consolidation happened due to the brazen appeasement tactics of the other parties. For Republicans, this is equivalent to projecting a non-white.

----
Similarly, there was another article about Modi's advertizing tactics. It argued that Modi gained because he kept his message simple and focused: development unlike his opponents who had many messages. I don't think this is a proper analysis. Though the overarching theme was development, Modi focused on different aspects in different areas to target different audience. The message was customized to suit his audience. When he went to riot prone area, his message was different. The theme was still development, but the focus was different.

And most importantly, soft-Hindhuthva was used by Modi because he already had hard-Hindhuthva credentials among masses. Rightly or wrongly, he is perceived as a Hindhuthva strongman. Modi used it to his advantage unlike say Advani who tried to distance himself from Hindhuthva in 2009 which backfired for him(Modi must have seen it and imbibed the lessons).

It seems most of these tactics are already practiced in American electoral process. Soft-X-ism is used by one and all to appeal to their audience.

Once in government, Modi continues with Hindhuthva issues but will use development and governance terminology to justify them. Basically, he is asserting that Bhaarathiyatha means Hindhuism or Hindhuthva as opposed to the belief of kongis.

The big takeaway seems to be Hindhuthva + development is a winning formula.

In short, Modi has glamorized Hindhuthva with development.

In 90s, Hindhuthva was like the Goddess Kaali: fierce and fear-inducing.
Modi has presented Hindhuthva as Goddess Lakshmi: beautiful, benevolent and boon-giving.

----
There is another angle to the rise of Modi:
Social Media and Internet Hindhu.
The left and kongis have gained tremendously by being in power. They have been able to patronize a 'intellectuals' and suppress others thus controlling the narrative and discourse. The rise of social media and middle-class literate Hindhus with access to internet and yet rooted to Hindhuism has shattered this hold of kongis and left. Their narrative has been demolished by this new force. Modi sarkaar is the logical evolution of that change.