Narendra Modi vs the Dynasty: Contrasting Ideas of India

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 11 Mar 2013 23:31

RamaY wrote: Why would ST stay with Congress when his vision is much closer to BJP than INC? What is that hidden interest that is much more important to Sri ST than all his public statements?

This we are calling the "Congress-System". And our fight is against that hidden interests.

Maybe ST understands that EVMs + media ownership + foreign backing will all be used to favor either the Congress or compromised sections of the BJP.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 11 Mar 2013 23:36

^ OR he may be genuinely believing in INC's leadership and vision for India. Then he is a commander in opposite camp and must be criticized accordingly.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 11 Mar 2013 23:52

RajeshA wrote:
arun wrote:The Italian Government has reneged on its commitment to send back the trigger happy Italian Marines who murdered India fishermen.

It will be interesting to see what spin the Italian born Party Boss of Congress Party , namely Mrs. Sonia Gandhi will have to put on this matter. As party leader of the ruling Congress Party led UPA coalition administration of Dr. Manmohan Singh it is not going to be easy to shift the blame for this error in judgement.:

Italy Won't Send Accused Marines Back to India

There was absolutely no need to send the marines for voting. That could have been done from India itself.

Those marines should have been sitting in an Indian Jail with chains around their feet and hands, watching the cockroaches in their cells. Instead they are being feted in Italy as heroes!

I think NaMo MUST make this an election issue! How Italian in high places facilitated the escape of the Italian Murderers! He should go for the Jugular of the Congress - the Dynasty! In fact for this, there should be an inquiry whose verdict should be that SG intervened personally. SG in fact should now face the punishment that should have been meted to those Italian Murderers. And she should not be allowed to escape to Italy! Her punishment should come in India! The first thing NaMo should do when in power is to confiscate her passport(s)! No Mercy should be shown!

RamaY wrote:Where are the so-called nationalist leaders, in INC and C-system, that we are told to exist and should be big-tented from Kerala?

Aaak thoo only.

JohnTitor · Post by **JohnTitor** » 12 Mar 2013 00:11

There are some hard realities that need to be realized. Neither NaMo nor BJP will come to power at the center in 2014. DO NOT confuse this with me not wanting them to come to power. I would be VERY VERY happy if my call is proved wrong by reality next year.

But what the past few polls have proven is that those who think NaMo wil come tp power are simply living outside reality. Corruption or dynasty, UPA-3 is on its way. They will win it by hook, crook and every other dirty method. If you read comments on various papers, there is a strong want for a NaMo led govt. However, enough of these educated people won't vote for it to make a difference.

Again, as I said, I would love it if I were proved wrong next year, but with each passing day, that hope keeps shrinking.

It is quite interesting actually, if you see.. everytime there is "good piece" of news - such as the recent govt's nod for "time bound services to citizens" - people tend to forget the past actions of the govt (corruption/inflation etc) .. but when there is negetive news (such as rise in petrol prices, inflation etc).. sentiment sways against the govt. What this shows among other things is that people forget very quickly. Had there been delhi assembly elections in Jan end/Feb, congress would have lost it badly. But it looks like it will be in December, by which time everything would be forgotten and dikshit will win again. Its sad, but it looks like thats the way of things.

I would like this post to be saved so that post 2014 election day, it can be revisited and the error calculated.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 12 Mar 2013 00:23

^ What you said is 400% correct.

The only difference now is that the self-styled Bharatiyas have (1) a leader who, at least, talking and working (so far) with Bharatiya Vision (2) a repeatedly faltered coalition govt collecting mountains of anti-incumbency anger (3) more than anything, time to act (nearly 1+ year).

The only thing that can fail Bharat (NM is just the medium) is Bharatiya apathy.

Let us see.

suryag · Post by **suryag** » 12 Mar 2013 02:01

Wow amazing gobar on on face of GoI, they deserve this

fanne · Post by **fanne** » 12 Mar 2013 03:06

Guys,
Lets not get despodent. I personally believe Politicsparty.com writes BS (or something that we want to hear), but in my opinion the summary of what it says (even though the details are questionable) about KA election today is not that off. BJP had 18 seats, if managed well they could have gone to 20-21 seats, but even after all this, they will manage 10 seats. It is a loss of 10, if they manage to get Yeddy and Bellary Bros, they can still manage 15-16 seats in 2014. Not a bleak sitiuation. This only means that real fight is still in UP, where they have to do well.
rgds,
fanne

Sushupti · Post by **Sushupti** » 12 Mar 2013 04:38

British muslim leader backs Modi after Wharton snub

Lord Adam Patel, who is from Bharuch in Gujarat and a Labour member of the House of Lords, has described the US business school's denial to Modi's speech as a blow to intellectual freedom on the campus.

"The issue here is not Modi's free speech… the free speech issue here has to do with the students who in their wisdom chose to listen to Modi but were denied so because of a motley group of activist faculty members," Patel, a successful businessman who lives in the northern town of Blackburn, said in an open letter. "By opposing Modi's visit to Wharton, people are only strengthening the hands of the enemies of justice..."

A copy of the letter, sources said, is being sent to Wharton and also to Modi, whom he had met in January. Though not totally absolving Modi of the 2002 riots, Patel suggested that the way to ensure justice is to engage with Modi "who tasted victory not once but thrice at the hustings." Patel's line echoes that of the British government's.

"Like every politician, Modi can't be seen only in black and white. There are shades of grey, which if one does not accept in totality must debate and critique with reasoning...," he said. "As a Gujarati myself, I consider it to be a gross insult that the CM of my state, however, wronged one might feel he is, cannot express his views at a global forum because a few in the audience dislike him."

Patel used to be a vocal Modi critic, but began moderating his views some years ago, earning him the wrath of Modi's opponents, including members of an organisation that he helped found - Council of Indian Muslims. It has sought an explanation for his meeting with Modi.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-new ... 24826.aspx

krisna · Post by **krisna** » 12 Mar 2013 04:45

SwamyG wrote:BJP ought to be different, am a little disappointed that Vitthal Radadiy is joining BJP. Party hopping is no big deal. Look at the exodus of BJP netas in KA.

Vitthalbhai Radadiya is a bjp man. He is one of the 48 legislators who defected to Shankersinh Vaghela. The infamous kahjuraho coup that toppled first bjp gov't led by Keshubhai Patel in 1995-6 period. There were some internecine wars going on in Gujarat bjp till 2001 when NaMo burst onto scene. Since NaMo became CM, he has more less brought back the entire khajuris back into parent party. Some like Vaghela will never come back as their role will be diminished and will never be forgiven. Vaghela knows this despite humiliation in congress party. He is the only one to challenge seriously NaMo but sonia neger gave him afree hand. She does not trust him.

Vitthalbhai coming into parent party along with many others by NaMo on NaMo terms is no mean feat.

NaMo has singe handedly brought stability and made bjp into a potent cohesive party nerve seen anytime.

Kudos to NaMo.

member_20317 · Post by **member_20317** » 12 Mar 2013 10:21

Koi hai, sab thanda, koi nahi, bach gaye.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes ... -candidate

ToI let this piece out comparing Modi to Gunga gudda. :LoL:

And here is the distilled idea of the essence of the difference:

It's indicative of a Manmohan Singh who, surely, the country has missed â€” capable of making a sharp point with a witty Urdu couplet rather than droning on about growth, education, health, skills development, global economic hazards and the like.

suryag · Post by **suryag** » 12 Mar 2013 11:03

darn it kasab should have said he wanted to voye in paki elections may be he would have had a chance

JohnTitor · Post by **JohnTitor** » 12 Mar 2013 13:20

suryag wrote:darn it kasab should have said he wanted to voye in paki elections may be he would have had a chance

+1

unfortunately there are no elections in the land of peace and tranquility.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 12 Mar 2013 17:33

He should have been kept out of BJP, that is after he left.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 12 Mar 2013 18:06

^^^+1 agreed. But the BJP it seems is imperfect only. What to do? So we voice our protest/displeasure and move on, I guess.

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 12 Mar 2013 18:11

Despondency based on the assumption that most people cannot distinguish between civic bodies and central government.
Good assumption and a safe bet - but need not be true!

merlin · Post by **merlin** » 12 Mar 2013 18:25

Neela wrote:Despondency based on the assumption that most people cannot distinguish between civic bodies and central government.
Good assumption and a safe bet - but need not be true!

No, it is based on the fact that people just don't learn.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 12 Mar 2013 18:31

BJP plans nationwide yatra to project Narendra Modi

Yay, I thought at first. But wait,a Mumbai rally redux may yet well happen. Am convinced GoI will pull out all stops including using our snooping agencies to grab hold of the testimonials of key figs in the BJP and squeeze till some spanner in the works emerges miraculously only....

However, BJP leaders have decided that they will not announce name of the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party-led National Democratic Alliance

There's proof the bhajpa can play cute and coy when occasion demands, eh?

Chalo, moi has time on moi hands, might as well excerpt some more juicy titbits only...

Bowing before the immense popularity and control over party cadre enjoyed by Narendra Modi, central leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to start a nationwide yatra with Gujarat chief minister leading the campaign to consolidate the voters.

However, notice that a section of the same central leadership will be blowing against NM's popularity only...

Although BJP leaders have decided that they will not announce name of the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) before the general election, the yatra is expected to project Modi at the national level leaving no doubt in the minds of the voters that the Gujarat chief minister will lead the party if BJP comes to power in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to send Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to different states to help mobiles voters and project him at the national level. The public address at the Shree Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in February was just the first step in that direction,” said a senior leader of BJP who is in the know of the development. The BJP leader said that party leaders have yet not decided from which state to start the campaign.

Excellente. Lezhope Patna is a pit-stop en route.

BJP leaders have, so far, not finalised the seat from which Modi would finally contest the election because apart from Lucknow, there are other Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh which the BJP leaders are considering to field Modi. BJP leaders believe that with 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Modi’s popularity would help BJP win considerable number of seats. BJP has only 10 seats from the state at present.

The other option being considered by central leaders is Rajasthan where BJP has only 4 Lok Sabha seats out of 25. BJP leaders believe that if Modi is made to contest from the state, the party will perform considerably better. BJP leadership is convinced that Modi’s popularity in Gujarat will help the party perform well in the state even if Modi is asked contest outside the state. Gujarat has 26 seats and BJP already has 15 seats in its pocket.

Well, KA is another possibility, perhaps?

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 12 Mar 2013 18:35

Meanwhile, in a TOTALLY unexpected turn of events...

Cong rejects BJP demand to discuss Vadra issue in Parliament

Whoa! What a shocker only,. Who could have thought onlee... yawn.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 12 Mar 2013 19:01

Hari Seldon wrote:BJP plans nationwide yatra to project Narendra Modi

Excerpts ...

Although BJP leaders have decided that they will not announce name of the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) before the general election, the yatra is expected to project Modi at the national level leaving no doubt in the minds of the voters that the Gujarat chief minister will lead the party if BJP comes to power in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. ...

While the central leadership of BJP is not unanimous in the decision, but most of the senior leaders, including Rajnath Singh, BJP President and Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, M Venkaiah Naidu, former BJP President have all given a go ahead for the plan hoping to encash the popularity of Modi to help BJP regain power in Lok Sabha election. Both Singh and Jaitley believe that Modi is the most popular leader of the party.

It looks like a classic bait and switch strategy - encash Modi's popularity, but refuse to make any commitment. Which will leave ample scope for senior respected leaders to indulge in backroom skulduggery post polls. This is the best possible strategy for the anti-Modi camp.

vijayk · Post by **vijayk** » 12 Mar 2013 19:03

Hari Seldon wrote:Meanwhile, in a TOTALLY unexpected turn of events...

Cong rejects BJP demand to discuss Vadra issue in Parliament

Whoa! What a shocker only,. Who could have thought onlee... yawn.

http://www.firstpost.com/politics/cong- ... 57608.html

Gandhi was present in the Lok Sabha when the BJP members trooped into the Well carrying a placard which said ‘Finance Minister, adopt the formula of son-in-law; earn sitting at home and reduce losses’.

The BJP had earlier given notices in both Houses for suspension of Question Hour to discuss the alleged anomalies in land deal by Vadra in Rajasthan.

He is the greatest business man ever to born in India after Jagan Reddy.

http://www.firstpost.com/politics/bjp-a ... 57592.html
BJP alleges govt connivance in Vadra’s land deals, demands CBI probe

The BJP today alleged there was government connivance in the reported anomalies in land deals by Congress President Sonia Gandhi‘s son-in-law Robert Vadra in Rajasthan and demanded a court-monitored CBI inquiry into the matter.

“These land deals show a new PPP model. It is P-4 which stands for Public Policy for Private Profit… This is not just a private dealing of a private individual. This is much beyond,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters.

This is CON party's answer to Modi's P2G2 (Pro People Good Governance). P4 (Public Policy for Private Profit) which is created by YSR and improved by vadraji

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 12 Mar 2013 20:01

No, it is "Aswathama iti gaja" strategy to keep Nitish at least till the elections. With Laloo in bad shape Bihar has cool 40 seats up for grabs. Modi is no fool that he will campaign throughout India for one year for someone else to grab the chair. They will wait to see what happens post election. If Modi swings the vote heavily and get enough seats and they ask nitish to buzz off he will be PM. If they are short and can't do without Nitish then it will have to be someone else. Better someone than no PM. Meanwhile trumpet Modi and give the impression that he is in charge. May be this is the strategy. Modi should be fielded in UP. I think BJP needs to do well there.

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 12 Mar 2013 20:04

PS: if BJP itself gets to 187 as it did in 99 which is very hard (they had 50+ in UP) then Nitish can buzz off.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 12 Mar 2013 20:06

Must read folks --- This Prof. Aseem Shukla's erudition, articulation, clarity.... awesome. From NYT:

A Conversation With: Prof. Aseem R. Shukla, University of Pennsylvania

Read it all. Littered with bumper sticker lines and talking points hajaar in countering the Loonia Loomba and Turdjoy grouse type of parasites you may encounter occasionally.

Neela · Post by **Neela** » 12 Mar 2013 21:01

And so , those who have opposed Modi at Wharton recently, are now having their facades ripped apart.
Not so long ago; Ania Loomba takes up the Palestinian cause, sees some opposition to it, mounted a moral horse, and preaches about not dismissing opinions. Her exact words were:

“As teachers, our role is to model respectful and rigorous intellectual exchange,” she wrote, “especially on highly politicized issues that evoke such impassioned responses.”

Fast forward to last week; Ania Loomba dismounts the horse and says

What we are opposed to is the Forum, which is an element in a larger institution of which we are a part, granting him a position of honor to increase his personal legitimacy, and thus further a political agenda which we find reprehensible.”

Original article in a Penn daily - Penn professors shouldn’t silence discourse on highly politicized issues ( Did you see what he did with the title there...eh? eh?very very cheeky!)

<OT> Oh and BTW, Ania Loomba does look like horse! </OT>

He he...the Lord god almighty does work in mysterious ways - he closed one door for NM, but then he also started a internecine war inside and now has all gatekeepers of all other doors on the edge.

Sushupti · Post by **Sushupti** » 12 Mar 2013 21:08

How Narendra Modi becomes political victim within BJP, NDA

Mumbai, March 12: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's rally which was scheduled to be held in Mumbai on Sunday, March 17 has been cancelled. If the sources are to be believed then it seems that the Gujarat CM has become a victim of politics within BJP and NDA. According to a daily, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party JD(U) requested BJP president Rajnath Singh to cancel their meeting in Mumbai. The report claimed that the former did not want Modi to hog all attention at the same time when he will hold his Adhikar rally in Delhi on Sunday. Meanwhile, another daily claimed that Modi's rally has been cancelled following the political rivalry between Nitin Gadkari and Gopinath Munde. According to sources, Maharashtra BJP president Sudhir Mungantiwar, who is known to be a close associate of Nitin Gadkari, urged Rajnath Singh to cancel their programme in Mumbai. On the contrary, Mumbai BJP chief Rajpurohit, who is known to be close to Munde, reportedly had aimed to consolidate his position in the party in the state with a successful Modi rally. Despite all reports on political rivalry, BJP has been maintaining their claim that Modi's rally has been cancelled due to the drought in Maharashtra. Modi along with Rajnath Singh were to be felicitated in Mumbai on March 17 by the Gujarat voters in Mumbai. The rally was to be organised to felicitate Modi for his third consecutive victory in Gujarat. OneIndia News

http://news.oneindia.in/2013/03/12/how- ... 69626.html

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 12 Mar 2013 21:09

That is why the left has no support "left" except for some brainwashed zombies. But they still try to be relevant. Since their economic model is in shambles after the collapse of Communism many have shifted to greener pastures including fighting "Hindu fascists".

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 12 Mar 2013 21:10

Hari Seldon wrote:BJP plans nationwide yatra to project Narendra Modi

Yay, I thought at first. But wait,a Mumbai rally redux may yet well happen. Am convinced GoI will pull out all stops including using our snooping agencies to grab hold of the testimonials of key figs in the BJP and squeeze till some spanner in the works emerges miraculously only....

I thought based on umpteen whines in this thread this is not possible!

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 12 Mar 2013 21:17

Throws some light on recent intra-BJP tamasha, LKA comments and so on...

http://politicsparty.com/shownews.php?newsid=143

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 12 Mar 2013 21:52

Sushupti wrote:
How Narendra Modi becomes political victim within BJP, NDA

Mumbai, March 12: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's rally which was scheduled to be held in Mumbai on Sunday, March 17 has been cancelled. If the sources are to be believed then it seems that the Gujarat CM has become a victim of politics within BJP and NDA. According to a daily, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party JD(U) requested BJP president Rajnath Singh to cancel their meeting in Mumbai. The report claimed that the former did not want Modi to hog all attention at the same time when he will hold his Adhikar rally in Delhi on Sunday. Meanwhile, another daily claimed that Modi's rally has been cancelled following the political rivalry between Nitin Gadkari and Gopinath Munde. According to sources, Maharashtra BJP president Sudhir Mungantiwar, who is known to be a close associate of Nitin Gadkari, urged Rajnath Singh to cancel their programme in Mumbai. On the contrary, Mumbai BJP chief Rajpurohit, who is known to be close to Munde, reportedly had aimed to consolidate his position in the party in the state with a successful Modi rally. Despite all reports on political rivalry, BJP has been maintaining their claim that Modi's rally has been cancelled due to the drought in Maharashtra. Modi along with Rajnath Singh were to be felicitated in Mumbai on March 17 by the Gujarat voters in Mumbai. The rally was to be organised to felicitate Modi for his third consecutive victory in Gujarat. OneIndia News

http://news.oneindia.in/2013/03/12/how- ... 69626.html

The wonderful thing about all the reports of BJP/NDA infighting is that for every single event, there are at least three simultaneous reasons with warring factions changed. Sometimes different outlets have different stories, and sometimes, even a single outlet will offer multiple reasons.

Even in this one, three reasons have been given.

Sushupti · Post by **Sushupti** » 12 Mar 2013 22:34

^^^ Looks like you are infatuated with virus

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 12 Mar 2013 22:42

Sushupti wrote:^^^ Looks like you are infatuated with virus

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 12 Mar 2013 22:47

Meanwhile, another daily claimed that Modi's rally has been cancelled following the political rivalry between Nitin Gadkari and Gopinath Munde

Per my sources, this is the true reason. But still the actual reasons are more uglier than just the rivalry between those two folks.

Sanku wrote: The wonderful thing about all the reports of BJP/NDA infighting is that for every single event, there are at least three simultaneous reasons with warring factions changed. Sometimes different outlets have different stories, and sometimes, even a single outlet will offer multiple reasons.

Even in this one, three reasons have been given.

This is because, there are wheels inside wheels regarding the tug-of-wars going on in Sangh parivar (not just BJP). Media is hungry of putting BJP in bad light. The representatives of different wheels in "wheels inside wheels" are giving their spin to the events.

This is where my comment of "Amatya Rakshash" emerged. The internal fissures of BJP/Sangh are in a bad state (but not yet at a breaking state) and the media shows it as some breaking state. But if we think and assume that there is nothing then we are in "Amatya Rakshash state".

TWIW regarding the following (very briefly):

(1) The RSS/Sangh Brahmin elite (not the foot soldiers) are virulently anti-Modi. (don't go into reasons). These guys also hate Advani because according to them Advani is done and all his favorites are semi-congress.
(2) The so called Advani gang - (Sushma, Jaitley, Ananath and other non-winnable but top leaders) - These are anti-Modi in a competetive way. They have their ambitions. Those who can negotiate a better situation are coming out one by one. Jaitley is out. Per latest rumors even Ananth is out.
(3) The Thakur/Brahmin elites (including chota leaders) from specifically UP and Bihar are anti-Modi. However, there is a tactical retreat because of the writing on the wall ( read arun Shourie's comment of Modi is already PM candidate) as there is groundswell of support. Their thought process is to use Nitish types as opposition to Modi post poll for a negotiated consensus candidate.

Why anti-Modi? (huge topic on its own). One of serveral reasons could be caste and some regional style parorchial stuff from the leaders of hinterland.

fanne · Post by **fanne** » 12 Mar 2013 22:50

No one knows what is going on in BJP. It will be foolish and disastrous to believe what media says (on an average day the lie, when something connected with BJP they will surely lie). The only way to comment is by really hearing the BJP leader (on any channel or youtube). Rest source of info is bakwas.
rgds,
fanne
Ps- Mumbai Rally cancelation does not give you good vibes, something is very wrong. What is something to watch out for.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 12 Mar 2013 22:52

I know for a fact that UC's in most of east UP and Bihar are strongly pro-Modi. So at least some of my information is at odds with the above.

RSS top leadership stance am not sure about, but at least visibly, there appears to be tacit support from RSS top leadership now too.

anmol · Post by **anmol** » 13 Mar 2013 00:01

Sanku wrote:I know for a fact that UC's in most of east UP and Bihar are strongly pro-Modi. So at least some of my information is at odds with the above.

RSS top leadership stance am not sure about, but at least visibly, there appears to be tacit support from RSS top leadership now too.

My source is of lingayat "caste", he is kind of person who is close to Govindacharya, was close to ABV, is close to Advani...

He does not hides the fact that he and people like him in BJP/RSS hate modi. According to him, the reason is that Modi "does not work with others".

He is RSS-man... and was part of group that conspired against Gadkari. <<< This confuses me.

vijayk · Post by **vijayk** » 13 Mar 2013 02:10

Neela wrote:And so , those who have opposed Modi at Wharton recently, are now having their facades ripped apart.
Not so long ago; Ania Loomba takes up the Palestinian cause, sees some opposition to it, mounted a moral horse, and preaches about not dismissing opinions. Her exact words were:
“As teachers, our role is to model respectful and rigorous intellectual exchange,” she wrote, “especially on highly politicized issues that evoke such impassioned responses.”
Fast forward to last week; Ania Loomba dismounts the horse and says
What we are opposed to is the Forum, which is an element in a larger institution of which we are a part, granting him a position of honor to increase his personal legitimacy, and thus further a political agenda which we find reprehensible.”
Original article in a Penn daily - Penn professors shouldn’t silence discourse on highly politicized issues ( Did you see what he did with the title there...eh? eh?very very cheeky!)

<OT> Oh and BTW, Ania Loomba does look like horse! </OT>

He he...the Lord god almighty does work in mysterious ways - he closed one door for NM, but then he also started a internecine war inside and now has all gatekeepers of all other doors on the edge.

http://www.thedp.com/article/2013/03/pr ... the-debate
Prameet Kumar | ‘Shutting down the debate’
Guest Column | Penn professors shouldn’t silence discourse on highly politicized issues

In an interview with The New York Times, Loomba elaborated: “What we are opposed to is the Forum, which is an element in a larger institution of which we are a part, granting him a position of honor to increase his personal legitimacy, and thus further a political agenda which we find reprehensible.”

I’m struck by the hypocrisy Loomba displays in rejecting outright any political debate about Modi’s tenure while having just recently championed an open discourse over the Palestinian BDS campaign against Israel, another political agenda that many other members of the Penn community find reprehensible. It’s insincere of her to support discussion on a controversial issue she approves of and then to stifle a talk by a controversial leader she disapproves of.

Last year, I interviewed Loomba for a DP story about the BDS conference. My article ended:

“Loomba said she was dismayed by [Penn President Amy] Gutmann’s dismissal of the movement. ‘Amy Gutmann made it sound like it’s some loony, fringe thing,’ Loomba said, adding that the BDS movement is ‘widely supported’ all over the world.

“‘Every political issue has to be debated,’ Loomba said. ‘If you just out of hand dismiss it, that’s also shutting down the debate.’”

It’s hard to believe those words came from the same professor who is now trying to shut down a speech from a significant political figure. It’s hard to believe that Loomba is trying to portray Modi as “some loony, fringe” politician. Whatever criticisms he has received, he is still very much “widely supported” — he is the democratically elected leader of a state of 60 million people and could very well become India’s next prime minister.

I should emphasize that I have no strong political leanings on either the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or on Modi’s ministership. My concern lies with the intellectual atmosphere of Penn and Wharton.

I am glad people in general are standing up and logically destroying the looney creepy crooks.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 13 Mar 2013 02:34

Muppalla wrote:(3) The Thakur/Brahmin elites (including chota leaders) from specifically UP and Bihar are anti-Modi. However, there is a tactical retreat because of the writing on the wall ( read arun Shourie's comment of Modi is already PM candidate) as there is groundswell of support. Their thought process is to use Nitish types as opposition to Modi post poll for a negotiated consensus candidate.

Why anti-Modi? (huge topic on its own). One of serveral reasons could be caste and some regional style parorchial stuff from the leaders of hinterland.

These "elites" should convert and go to Pakistan, because if they are against a solid Hindu like Modi, India is probably not the country for them!

Sushupti · Post by **Sushupti** » 13 Mar 2013 02:47

RajeshA wrote:
Muppalla wrote:(3) The Thakur/Brahmin elites (including chota leaders) from specifically UP and Bihar are anti-Modi. However, there is a tactical retreat because of the writing on the wall ( read arun Shourie's comment of Modi is already PM candidate) as there is groundswell of support. Their thought process is to use Nitish types as opposition to Modi post poll for a negotiated consensus candidate.

Why anti-Modi? (huge topic on its own). One of serveral reasons could be caste and some regional style parorchial stuff from the leaders of hinterland.
These "elites" should convert and go to Pakistan, because if they are against a solid Hindu like Modi, India is probably not the country for them!

They joined BJP in droves after first BJP govt in UP, in the hope that BJP will protect their "Malai eating" status, which they had during Con dynasty rule.

I suggest extending Master-Proxie model (win-win, win-lose etc) of Atri ji to the BJP central leadership post 47 and see the outcome. .

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 13 Mar 2013 02:50

Why BJP broke its deal with the Congress (Rediff)

Hmmm... so there was a BJP-Cong deal and yes, it did involve what we derisively call the D-4 and now that D-4's hold on the BJP is wavering, the deal is tottering too, seems like. Yay!

Internal changes going on within the Bharatiya Janata Party were reflected in Parliament on Tuesday when the Opposition party broke its unstated compromise with the Congress that neither party would target the children of senior leaders.

Much to the unhappiness of the once all-powerful section of BJP leaders, the main opposition party targeted Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra and wanted to raise the issue of irregularities involved in Vadra buying a huge amount of land in Rajasthan.

The BJP had given notices in both Houses of Parliament for suspension of the Question Hour to discuss the alleged anomalies in Vadra's land deal in Rajasthan.

Vadra's brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi was present in the Lok Sabha when BJP members stormed into the well of the House carrying placards saying, "Finance Minister, adopt the formula of son-in-law; earn sitting at home and reduce losses".

About effing time. No? Meanwhile, again Doggy raja presents us with an opportunity to thank his tactical brilliance only...

Interestingly, while articles and stories on Vadra have been doing the rounds and a great deal of information on his business dealings has been in the public domain, the BJP had, so far, refrained from making an issue of it, possibly because the Congress had never hit out against Atal Behari Vajpayee's son-in-law Ranjan Bhattacharya or against the two Advani children, even though Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had once spoken and said the Congress also has a lot of information and can use it if it wants.

But the fact is that the Congress has never wanted to make a public issue of the activities of these children and in return the BJP had also been circumspect.

Heh. I pray the UPA (dis)plays its 'hand' and uses (up) its cards. Better for everybody. Backroom wheeling-dealing the kind epitomized by the dilli-BJP is (hopefully) permanently damaged with the new Rajnath-Modi duo gaining ascendancy. Only.

But sources in the BJP say that the regime change in the party appears to have created a different situation. The virtual sidelining of L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj appears to be behind the change.

The ascendancy of Rajnath Singh and Narendra Modi is being seen in the current moves with a much more aggressive BJP now in the mood to take on 10, Janpath (Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's residence). There are very few takers for the Congress claim that Vadra is a private individual and that the party has nothing to say on the subject and would not be willing to discuss it in Parliament.

Speculation was rife in Parliament on why now? Why has the BJP decided to attack Vadra even though the first article on his real estate dealings and his business interests appeared two years back in a financial daily?

The BJP leadership at that time had refrained from taking up the issue. With English news channel Headlines Today once again showing the Vadra deals and prominently mentioning the acquisitions made by him in Rajasthan, the BJP decided to stall Parliament on the issue and not allow it to run for the day.

The BJP's aggression and decision to target the Gandhi family is being seen by Congress leaders as a Rajnath-Modi agenda and the perception is that it will continue to surface in one form or the other in the run up to next year's general elections.

Oh, read it all, ye of little faith.

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 13 Mar 2013 02:56

fanne wrote:Mumbai Rally cancelation does not give you good vibes, something is very wrong. What is something to watch out for.

fanne - this is shit hitting the fan stuff. Very depressive for a BJP supporter. RSS all over it though news media is writing NG Vs GM etc. Just read back Swapan Da's articles of internal sabotage right after Modi's victory. He is on dot and his information is valid.

Sanku wrote:I know for a fact that UC's in most of east UP and Bihar are strongly pro-Modi. So at least some of my information is at odds with the above.

RSS top leadership stance am not sure about, but at least visibly, there appears to be tacit support from RSS top leadership now too.

See the leaders of these two states and take the statements over a period of 1 yr, 2 yrs and now last six months. See how Rajnath Singh, Yashwant Sinha and Shatru Sinha types changes their versions. Similarly see the anti-Modi statements from Bihar Dy CM Sushil Modi. The support that is coming from GV is tactical support and not the way it is coming from Guj, Raj, MP Maha(?) etc. But again the problem for every leader is that at grassroots there is groundswell so they cannot speak against Modi. When you talk to someone the answers are very diplomatic and it will be extremely-diplomatic if they know that you are Modi supporter.

anmol wrote: According to him, the reason is that Modi "does not work with others".
He is RSS-man... and was part of group that conspired against Gadkari. <<< This confuses me.

"Does not work with others" is a great diplomatic answer. The confusion is the reason that I wrote above "wheels-in-wheels".

Elite-Brahmin lobby (not the GV brahmins alone but also the RSS top leaders starting from Mohan Bhagawat) does not want to see Modi at all. GV politicians(few that has significant say in affairs) just want to use Modi to win and then do take the mantle rather than allowing him to be the leader. In this model Advani as respectable alternative keeps coming on. In addition, "I am Advani's pet and I have his blessing hence I more elgible than Modi" (Sushma) also makes entry.