Narendra Modi vs the Dynasty: Contrasting Ideas of India

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 04 Oct 2013 02:56

^^ entirely possible. people fall for these tricks.

The deal could have been arranged by Dalal butt of NDTV.

No wonder she is angry about her exposure by Modi on dehati aural issue. By coming up with so many lies, she has no standing in the eyes of the people

disha · Post by **disha** » 04 Oct 2013 03:07

ramana wrote:Disha, Badmash calling MMS names is due to the latter complaining/informing BO of the infiltration which was a stab in the back.
The Paindabutt was being treacherous in supporting Badmash. Its not just a swipe at MMS.

I am agreeing totally. My point is this episode of paindabutt's treachery was brought out by herself! And in what a "glorious" way paindabutt twisted and dropped her own chaddi. (edited: To remove double-negatives & smooth the flow of sentence)

Regarding "swipe at MMS"., what media is portraying is that "Namo is taking swipe at boor (poor) MMS". Sample this:

As for Narendra Modi, his boorish, abusive performance at the Delhi rally speaks for itself. The people will judge.

(B.G. Verghese, a veteran journalist, is at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi. Visit: http://www.bgverghese .com)

WTH? part is the above comment is added as a last para in the following and otherwise excellent article:

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/d ... 190493.ece

Despicable charade
B. G. VERGHESE

After the humiliation heaped on him by Rahul Gandhi and the Opposition, the best course for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is to remain in office and assume power as his own man

There were elements of black comedy, singular imprudence and self-righteous humbug in the brash tamasha Rahul Gandhi staged at the Press Club last Friday. He undermined his own Prime Minister, stabbing him in the back on the eve of delicate meetings with Mr. Obama, Mr. Nawaz Sharif and Sheikh Hasina in the United States and brazenly repudiating a cabinet decision to adopt a controversial ordinance staying disqualification of criminally convicted legislators as decreed by the Supreme Court. The decision had also been endorsed by the Party’s “core group” presided over by the party chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, his own mother. Many question the merits of the ordinance but there was and is a time and a place to do so, not when the Prime Minister was representing the country abroad.

Rahul’s crude show

Compounding the folly was the coward’s stratagem of mailing Dr. Manmohan Singh post facto to express deep and abiding admiration of his leadership in difficult times, despite knowing his remarks would be exploited by political opponents. Yet he sought understanding of the strength of his own new found convictions that he never, ever expressed previously despite every opportunity to do so.

The manner in which a carefully staged ploy was sought to be passed off as happenstance was crude and totally disrespectful of the media. Congress spokesperson and ex-Minister Ajay Maken was asked to address the Press Club. On arrival he defended the Ordinance, went out to answer a call on his cell phone and then shortly returned with Rahul Gandhi in tow. The latter then took over, said he had learnt of what was being discussed and gratuitously went on to rubbish the Ordinance as “total nonsense” — a phrase he repeated before walking out smirking, leaving it to an unembarrassed Maken to echo him in denouncing what he had only a while ago defended. The first take, Maken explained, was the government line. But now he was stating the party line, which is what would prevail! The Press Club forum was thus crudely hijacked by design and sheer bad manners.

Having already written to Manmohan stating his opposition to the Ordinance, Rahul did not care to wait for an answer. When it came, this started that the matter would be considered by the cabinet on the Prime Minister’s return.

Bad law

As news of Rahul Gandhi’s firman spread, a lot of Congressmen endorsed the new line like a bunch of Zombies. Public anger at the fraudulent upholding of proven criminal conduct through an Ordinance probably turned the tide, principles be damned. Yet the Ordinance does indeed constitute bad legislation. Lalu Yadav has since been convicted in the 17-year old fodder-scam. The argument that legislators should be treated on a par with the common citizen in all matters does not wash. If MPs and MLAs for ever claim superior status and privileges as the nation’s lawmakers, one must also expect higher standards from them. Coincidentally, the Supreme Court has just upheld the Election Commission’s plea that the right of rejection of electoral candidates should be included in the ballot paper so that legislators are elected by a majority and not merely a plurality of those voting. By this test, many aspirants lacking integrity could be felled by the “Not Any of the Above” process.

There have been calls for Manmohan’s resignation in defence of his honour and the dignity of his office. This is not the only or best course open to him. Returning from New York, after what has surely been a successful and purposeful visit, the Prime Minister could as well decide to stay put but scrap the Ordinance, which has been rightly queried by the President, as an expedient that he admittedly unwisely adopted in deference to party-political pressure against his own better personal judgment. But he can only credibly remain by retaining office and assuming power as his own man without bowing to party managers or anybody else who seeks to dictate from outside.

The New York meetings put Pakistan on notice before the U.N. and Mr. Obama and Mr. Nawaz Sharif himself that Pakistan remains the epicentre of global and cross-border terror. Internationally proclaimed terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and jihadi outfits like the LeT or JuD cannot be officially funded to roam the streets spewing hate and incitement to violence – offences under Pakistani law; the trial of the 26/11 criminals must proceed expeditiously to a conclusion; and Mr. Sharif himself must walk his talk. Until then there can be no substantive talks on other issues. Meanwhile, the two Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) will fashion a mechanism to restore and maintain tranquillity along the LoC. The message was delivered quietly but firmly, without quibbling.

The Prime Minister should reshuffle his cabinet to get rid of incompetents and pretenders, standing firmly on principle, and announce a slew of overdue systemic and structural reforms for which he has been pressing. Let he who dares seek his ouster. Rahul Gandhi has thus far failed to enunciate any semblance of grand strategy or vision on national or international issues of importance, apart from indulging in vague, shallow one-line sloganeering and showmanship. He has not spoken or intervened meaningfully in any crisis and has failed to show any leadership whatsoever unless appearing unshaven is intended to signify an “angry” middle aged messiah whose wisdom will follow, not precede, his anointment.

No witch-hunt

So let not Manmohan desert the field but sound the trumpet for good and decisive governance even as Narendra Modi prances around, skull caps and burqas in hand, as a badge of pseudo-secularism that actually betrays his inability to outlive his odious past. The Prime Minister does not seek another term but could well be the UPA’s best bet to lead the alliance in 2014 by giving face and content to what inclusive “development” should truly mean.

This apart, one of the first things the Prime Minister must do on his return is to take the V.K. Singh matter in hand and deal sternly with a man who has turned out to be a dangerous and dishonest adventurer who has disgraced a proud uniform and sought to imperil the nation. The Supreme Court is contemplating suing him for contempt and the J&K Assembly for rank breach of privilege. Earlier temporising with the man by the government only encouraged rank indiscipline. A speedy, independent judicial inquiry must be announced into the DGMO-headed Board of Officers’ findings delivered six months ago, with instructions to report in two months. That is all the time required. This is not witch-hunting but a matter of high national security.

As for Narendra Modi, his boorish, abusive performance at the Delhi rally speaks for itself. The people will judge.

(B.G. Verghese, a veteran journalist, is at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi. Visit: http://www.bgverghese .com)

Keywords: ordinance on convicted lawmakers, Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi's outburst, Manmohan Singh, India-Pakistan relations

So for the mutliple-slaps MMS got from the CongI shahzada and CongI Maa., NaMo is portrayed the one as "abusive".

This is the heights of insanity which brought in Emergency. And today I can clearly state that the India is in a state of "soft" Emergency. Just look no further than the IT-Raids on the merchants in Mumbai/Surat. And the 200 Cr. fine on Adani for pollution.

negi · Post by **negi** » 04 Oct 2013 03:30

^ Seriously look at the mofo he has already passed a judgement on the good General. He says he is dishonest. What has this nation come to ?

disha · Post by **disha** » 04 Oct 2013 03:37

^^ Agreed. Did not want to post anything in a state when my colorful italian is flowing.

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 04 Oct 2013 03:41

Rudradev wrote:I have been thinking about this Shala Bhata incursion.

There is no obvious strategic goal that the Pakis could be trying to achieve with it (unlike say Kargil, where "internationalizing" J&K was the prize).

However, if the incident blows up into a "Kargil Reprise" situation in the Paid Media... guess who benefits from that in elections 7 months from now. Rahul Gandhi has already been painted as the "No-Nonsense Anti-Corruption Hero" with respect to MMS on the Ordinance affair.

<snip>

And what do the Pakis get for their role in this? For one thing, maybe a J&K "settlement" along Washington's preferred lines has already been finalized... and will be given to Pakistan by Rahul Gandhi as the gracious victor after he has won both war and election. For another thing... the Pakis get a non-MODI-fied New Delhi, guaranteed.

Possible?

I wouldnt rule it out. Active collusion between Congress and ISI regarding terror strikes within India, a "wag the dog" Hollywood style make-believe war ityadi are all possible. There is absolutely no low to which Congress wont sink to stay onto power.

Even if this incursion wasnt jointly coordinated, the Congress high command is scheming as to how to extract maximum mileage over this. We can expect strong statements from Rahul condemning this and thanking our troops.

harbans · Post by **harbans** » 04 Oct 2013 03:47

Sushupti..what is wrong with you? Posting here so that you know maybe your a/c has been hijacked?

Sushupti ‏@Sushuptii 23m
@brfharbans @TarekFatah @natheerh @aminnathari @panafrikanist I don't want dirty Hindu linen in public but don't hindus abort female fetus?

Sushupti ‏@Sushuptii 24m
@brfharbans @TarekFatah @natheerh @aminnathari @panafrikanist while worshiping female form of devine.

Sushupti ‏@Sushuptii 31m
@TarekFatah @natheerh @aminnathari @panafrikanist This disease is so strong that North Indian Hindus have same attitude towards South 1/2

Prem Kumar · Post by **Prem Kumar** » 04 Oct 2013 03:51

Sagar G wrote:
harbans wrote:An INdian Muslims Open letter to the Prime Minister

Look at the nutcases history of uploads especially the first graphic in the "article" by this jackass titled "Modi's secretly leading Indians towards a Civil War"

LS2014 will reveal whether this jackass represents the fringe or mainstream Indian Muslim thinking.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 04 Oct 2013 04:49

harbans wrote:Swamy G

He clearly says Toilets are more Pavitra than Mandir. That is provoking. NM prioritizes Clean Toilets over Temples. Big difference.

Thanks, harbans ji. I had read several quotes of his and did miss that comparison. I agree it is provocative to some. But I think it is so because it comes from him/INC, though he claimed it as his personal view.
Anyways, the point remains he stated more importance to temple, and Modi in this context placed toilets before temple.

disha · Post by **disha** » 04 Oct 2013 04:56

SwamyG, it is provocative - period.

When you say it is provocative to "some", you are differentiating and then you are saying that it is okay to provoke some. The next step is denigrating those "some" and the next-next step is "nazism". Of course it is not provocative at all to say some of die-hard EJ vaticanist or some wahabbist.

In your quest to be a rationalist - you have embraced irrationalism! You fail to see that Jairam is a classic stalinist/nazist.

*Next time step into somebody's shoes (empathy/compassion is required) before you come and say "of course it is provocative to some". Step in to the shoes of say the priests taking care of Tirupati and then I come and say - toilets are cleaner than (your) temple. And this after you just helped keep the temple clean and taking pride in keeping your God's abode clean (in your own ways).

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 04 Oct 2013 05:23

Rudradev wrote: Possible?

Rudradev ji

http://bharata-bhuti.blogspot.com/2012/ ... owing.html

Go to strategy section.

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 04 Oct 2013 05:33

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 479829.cms

Congress has directed its top guns to take on Narendra Modi, realizing that its policy to ignore the voluble leader was not working.

The party brass is learnt to have asked its senior leaders to counter the Gujarat CM on all fronts, as it seethes under the stinging barbs unleashed by Modi. There is a feeling that the failure to match Modi's acerbic attacks was hurting the party, contrary to the estimates that playing down his presence would help check his momentum. Congress has been fielding only Gujarat leaders against Modi in a bid to box him as a regional leader.

The decision to treat Modi as the first among BJP leaders means that only the top trio of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi will keep away from referring to him directly. It could intensify the Modi-Congress duel in the run-up to year-end assembly polls.

Congress is learnt to have reassessed the strategy after BJP declared Modi as its PM candidate in September. Being the saffron mascot for 2014 marks Modi as the top rival presence while his growing reach among the middle classes and the youth can pose a serious threat if not countered.

There is a feeling that Congress is dealing with a different kettle of fish in Modi who is driven by energy and ambition. His unconventional methods of attacking the top leadership in the rival camp and his insistence on venturing into "no-go" areas of political sniping make him unpredictable.

The high-voltage attack unleashed by Modi on the party brass last week may have finally ended Congress's dilemma. He had rattled the ruling camp by mocking the PM as being helpless and accusing Rahul Gandhi of insulting Singh with his "ordinance is nonsense" remark. Worse, he derisively referred to Rahul as "shehzada", or princeling.

Insiders believe Congress is ceding space to the Gujarat CM by ignoring him.

Sushupti · Post by **Sushupti** » 04 Oct 2013 05:55

harbans wrote:Sushupti..what is wrong with you? Posting here so that you know maybe your a/c has been hijacked?

Sushupti ‏@Sushuptii 23m
@brfharbans @TarekFatah @natheerh @aminnathari @panafrikanist I don't want dirty Hindu linen in public but don't hindus abort female fetus?

Sushupti ‏@Sushuptii 24m
@brfharbans @TarekFatah @natheerh @aminnathari @panafrikanist while worshiping female form of devine.

Sushupti ‏@Sushuptii 31m
@TarekFatah @natheerh @aminnathari @panafrikanist This disease is so strong that North Indian Hindus have same attitude towards South 1/2

See reply in off topic thread.

KLP Dubey · Post by **KLP Dubey** » 04 Oct 2013 06:34

harbans wrote:True, another thing that irks is INC in 60 years has done nothing to build either a toilets or temples. Give them another 50 and they will still say Toilets are more imp than Temples. ..

Not really. Needing to take a sh!t is a state of mind.

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 04 Oct 2013 07:54

Agnimitra wrote:...
Not sure what the big deal is. Shaucham is definitely related as a PRE-requisite to Devalaya. And there are many Sanskrit verses that mention them in the same sentence.
...

In our households too, if one has to touch house temple to perform pooja, even lighting a lamp or a agarbatti, mom/grandma will ask - aye to toilet jaa ke nha liya hai na? then only light lamps or take bath and come.

Even going to offer a prayer in temples outside home, at least washing off feet is essential. Shauch - cleanliness is pre-requisite and modi followed that general commonsense.

In my house, elderlies have separate clothes for visiting toilet, spare the separate chappals. They do not perform pooja anytime during day if they have not visited toilet in the morning. No visit to shauchalaya, not allowed to touch temple.

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 04 Oct 2013 08:10

Ok, Patanjali is with Modi, if not Baba Ramdev and some stupid sanghis

The five Niyamas: The second rung is the five Niyamas, which are the observances or practices of self-training, and deal with our personal, inner world :

शौच-सन्तोष-तपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः ॥३२॥

Shaucha: purity of body and mind
Santosha: contentment
Tapah: training the senses, austerities, ascesis
Svadhyaya: self-study, reflection on sacred words
Ishvara pranidhana: Going to the gods, surrender, i.e., in sthool meaning, going to temple

शौचात्स्वाङ्गजुगुप्सा परैरसंसर्गः ॥४०॥

40. Internal and external cleanliness being established, there arises disgust for one's own body, and non-intercourse with others.

सत्त्वशुद्धि-सौमनस्यैकाग्र्येन्द्रियजयात्मदर्शन-योग्यत्वानि च ॥४१॥

41. There also arises purification of the Sattva, cheerfulness of the mind, concentration, conquest of the organs, and fitness for the realisation of the Self.

Note the sequence

(Patanjali Yogasutra Chapter II)

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 04 Oct 2013 09:11

negi wrote:^ Seriously look at the mofo he has already passed a judgement on the good General. He says he is dishonest. What has this nation come to ?

the nation has to come only listen to dorks with a state of a mind!

also the problem is there are "utter nonsense" aam people who listen and pay these journalists, and slowly media has also become a state-of-mind.

we at brf, in a state of mind, will have an utter nonsense of a talk discussing about all these as well...

where are the revolutionary state of minds? if you have 10 fingers, it would remain unused to count such men/wimmen now-a-dins.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 04 Oct 2013 09:18

The sauchalaya/devalaya was a "djiaanha is secular" moment by NaMo. It does not matter how many people defend him, or how the statement is contextualized, the damage is done.

There are some differences from the above though
1. Modi is on upswing and not after a freshly lost election -- i.e. heading into a election and not with a loss behind
2. RSS has hopefully learnt from the Jinaah episode that throwing a public tantrum and humiliating its leaders for tactical error in battlefield is not a great strategy. You dont ask your king to committ harakiri for a mistake -- that stuff is for low level officers.

So hopefully, both Modi and RSS/BJP will calibrate and handle the fallout in time.

This was a pretty stupid thing to do my NaMo under the circumstances (in my opinion) -- but it has never been my case that NaMo is a flawless god anyway

-- and I dont buy the wave/shave stuff anyway. BJP will win or lose by how they manage each booth and efforts of each local leader. Wave only adds a bit to that if the lowest rung exists solidly.

disha · Post by **disha** » 04 Oct 2013 10:04

^^ Sanku'ji there is a difference between "djinn is a secular" and what NaMo says. One is giving a certificate to an enemy which caused khandit bharat while RSS espouses for akhand bharat. And if Jinn got the certificate - who else remains Musharraf? Sharif? CongIs? What did the Dy PM do? Look at the CongIs still in power? Anything done to cut at their very root?

And another is talking about his priorities. Huge difference.

At the same time yes, NaMo in his flow made a mistake and he could have been more circumspect. But then he is the only leader I see who can "speak" after a long long time (you should really see videos of NTRs speeches).

And yes you are correct, the real war is won at the booth level. Let this manthan about who said what happened. It is a live and learn policy. The fact is that people (in slums, in D or C or B towns, in villages etc) want infrastructure including sanitation infrastructure.

So yes, all the hawa for Ayodhya, so many deaths, the hindu asmita etc etc., what happened? Is there a temple? First empower the Hindu and then temple will come automatically.

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 04 Oct 2013 10:05

Honestly, I don't really see what the big deal is. Nobody cares anymore except for a few RSS/VHP geezers. Most people have moved on from all this temple business. If anything, this will rope in a few of those AAP coolie delhi types. If it wasn't this, then it would've been something else.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 04 Oct 2013 10:15

RoyG wrote:Honestly, I don't really see what the big deal is. Nobody cares anymore except for a few RSS/VHP geezers. Most people have moved on from all this temple business. If anything, this will rope in a few of those AAP coolie delhi types. If it wasn't this, then it would've been something else.

That was also precisely the case for Djinaah saga as well saar. No one cared supposedly. (try taking that line to 99% if BJP cadre) At some point of time, how far you can go out to get "others" in without losing those who are inside already is a trade-off discussion in real world.

disha wrote:^^ Sanku'ji there is a difference between "djinn is a secular" and what NaMo says. One is giving a certificate to an enemy which caused khandit bharat while RSS espouses for akhand bharat.

There is a difference, but only in the content of the goof up. Not on the essential nature of goof up. Both are statements which were correct in the context given, but who cares about the complicated contextual discussion, the sound bite is what is going to survive and last, isnt it?

This is not about the content of the statement and the context, but about how these get converted into sound bites and get played up.

In both case the top leader of BJP at that point of time has given a sound bite which ended up being a self goal (primarily because RSS mishandled the situation) -- congress for the first time in many months has been given a reason to cackle with glee and it is the Sangh which is on backfoot -- and this is not to handle a congress attack/charge.

What is this if not a self goal?

disha · Post by **disha** » 04 Oct 2013 10:19

(meant some 2-3 posts above) :ROFL: - well I would not call them geezers either. They are nationalists at core and that matters - it is important.

Atleast Modi caused some confusion among the sickular ranks and if people need to think through their priorities. Here is a sample:

http://www.firstpost.com/politics/modis ... 51885.html

Four simple words, Pehle Shauchalaya, Phir Devalaya (toilets first, temples later), have distanced Narendra Modi from the extremist Hindutva elements. In a single stroke, he has distinguished himself from the Pravin Togadias, telling the more progressive sections of Hindus that he cares more for governance and sanitation over mindless ritualism. The message was meant equally for the those of other faiths, most notably the Muslims, that he should not be seen as only a Hindu Hriday Samrat. Just as Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh was right when he spoke on similar lines on the same subject in October last year, Modi was right when he spoke on the subject at a youth convention in Delhi on Mahatma Gandhi’s 144 birth anniversary. Jairam, always articulate, perhaps erred in his choice of words: Mandir se bhi jyada pavitra…(toilets more sacred than temples). But then Jairam does not have the flourish of oratory that Modi has, nor the kind of complete control over his party that the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate enjoys. The Congress had pretty much left Jairam to defend his stand himself. The BJP was wrong in protesting then, picking one phrase instead of the essence of Jairam’s argument. And the Congress is wrong today for the same reason. The suggestion that Modi’s remarks are linked to Ayodhya are facetious, or designed to arouse a Hindu backlash against Modi and the BJP. He wants to be seen as more than a Hindu leader. AP The Congress is not sure of how to deal with the cause that Modi is now championing. It is trying to play a soft Hindutva, a trap the Congress has fallen into earlier and one it never got dividends for. Modi has succeeded in an image makeover, at least partially, whether or not his critics like to believe that. An astute politician who won Gujarat elections three time knows that his prime ministerial nomination would only be worthwhile if carves out a social constituency outside hard core Hindutva, find supporters among common masses who are not particularly driven by any misguided religious beliefs, the aspirational youth, women in rural and semi urban areas who suffer the shame of not having toilets. The issue is caste, and religion neutral, even if it may not be class neutral. The kind of vitriolic retaliation that he got from his fellow Sangh traveler, Pravin Togadia, with whom he shares a hate-hate relationship, has only served his purpose of reaching out to the wider masses. Following the Sri Ram Sene’s obscurantist and obstructionist protests against Valentine’s day in parts of Karnataka, there was a joke doing the rounds that if Modi comes to power, then Raksha Bandhan would be celebrated on Saint Valentine’s Day, February 14. Modi may not comment on that, but he has impressed upon observers that he in no way to be identified with fringe groups who flaunt the colour saffron for their purposes. In a statement Togadia said, “we are stunned and shocked to hear about the unnecessary mention of temples by Narendra Modi in a statement wherein he was talking about the need for better sanitation facilities in the country. We too believe in the need for better hygiene. But the way temples were dragged in the matter was uncalled for. It is nothing short of an insult to the Hindu society.” Togadia has lost his relevance in the Sangh Parivar. Even in the VHP, he is designated as International Working President and mostly plays as a factional leader. From his Gujarat experience Modi knows that banishment of the Togadias and their hate speeches against Modi actually helped him garner greater support among the Hindu community and also neutralize the hostility of a substantive section of Muslims. The kind of shrill responses that he got from the Congress, Digvijay Singh, Jairam Ramesh, Rajiv Shukla, Jagdambika Pal and others is indicative of the fact that the party was taken off guard – the supposed Hindu Hriday Samrat was talking like a heretic and raking up a “secular” issue. Incidentally, the same event was also the occasion for Modi to respond to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh‘s unusual usage of words to describe his rise, “an onslaught”. In his onboard Air India One media briefing while returning from the US, a journalist asked the PM “Do you think that the emergence of Mr. Narendra Modi on the national scene is a threat to the secular polity of our country?” Manmohan Singh had replied: “I sincerely hope that all secular forces would combine to face the onslaught of people like Mr. Narendra Modi. And I have every reason to believe that that will happen. You wait for some time before the people realise what they are up against.” In a way Singh statement was a grudging acknowledgement that Modi’s onslaught had become a challenge, an advancement from previous position that the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate was just another chief minister. “The PM should realise that these statements of the 1980s won’t work today,” Modi said. He then chose to define his own brand of secularism. Though he does not have the intellectual refinement of LK Advani who redefined cultural nationalism and called the so called secularists as pseudo-secularists during the 90s, Modi has opted for a simpler, earthly definition, India first. “For some, secularism is just a weapon to deceive the public. But people have recognised those who deceive them,” he added. Modi has been constantly changing course of public discourse and making customized statements to suit the audience he is interacting with. The Congress and his critics are finding it difficult to catch up with that pace.

Read more at: http://www.firstpost.com/politics/modis ... ef_article

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 04 Oct 2013 10:19

It will be Modi vs. Modi in parliamentary polls: Manian

Interesting.

kmkraoind · Post by **kmkraoind** » 04 Oct 2013 10:23

IT’S PRANAB DA, NOT RAHUL, WHO SAVED THE SITUATION - LK Advani's blog

When shortly thereafter TV channels began relaying that he had summoned Shinde and Sibal, and still later, Kamalnath, it became evident that things had started moving.

It seems these Ministers were told that the President had reservations about signing the Ordinance. This must have alarmed the Ministers. The President returning the Ordinance to the Government unsigned would have been a major setback for Government.

It is then perhaps that Soniaji may have thought of doing some damage control using Rahul for the purpose. It is obvious however, that no one advised him how precisely he was to carry out this task. The objective would have been fully served if Rahul had simply said that the decision taken by the Government needs to be reviewed. What he said instead has made The Indian Express (October 3, 2013) write a caustic editorial captioned “Losing Face”. The sub heading runs: “He may have won, but Rahul Gandhi has rubbed off more of the U.P.A.’s authority.”

TAILPIECE

The concluding paragraph of THE INDIAN EXPRESS editorial mentioned in the above blog reads as follows:

Manmohan Singh has ruled out the possibility of leaving office, but there is no missing the sense of resignation about the rest of his term. Rahul Gandhi has not followed up his ambush with a fuller explanation of his position on these bills. His views on matters of governance are unknown, but his capacity to disrupt the government’s decisions has been proven. Now, his silence will only seem louder and more suspenseful. Whether or not this move pays off politically for the Congress in the upcoming election, for its remaining term, its government has effectively lost face.

Atri · Post by **Atri** » 04 Oct 2013 10:23

RoyG wrote:Honestly, I don't really see what the big deal is. Nobody cares anymore except for a few RSS/VHP geezers. Most people have moved on from all this temple business. If anything, this will rope in a few of those AAP coolie delhi types. If it wasn't this, then it would've been something else.

Roy ji, the rss 'geezers' are the ones who made all rallies of namo so far a huge success and who operate on booth levels.

Even modi acknowledges this. Battle is won on booth level and fielding right candidates. The job of choosing candidates is now with rajnath.

Sanghi 'geezers' are not that stupid to make this a hot issue now. This will not have effect on modi's campaign, but ppl will remember this.

Things which worked in GJ (the campaign model, language etc) needs to be calibrated accordingly elsewhere. He has a huge uphill battle to fight. He needs to preserve every erg of energy so that if and when he reaches up there, he has to immediately start fighting.

disha · Post by **disha** » 04 Oct 2013 10:28

Sanku wrote:...In both case the top leader of BJP at that point of time has given a sound bite which ended up being a self goal (primarily because RSS mishandled the situation) -- congress for the first time in many months has been given a reason to cackle with glee and it is the Sangh which is on backfoot -- and this is not to handle a congress attack/charge.

What is this if not a self goal?

Many more will come! Are you going to throw a tantrum and sit it out at home waiting for Ram or Krishna to save you?

Sir, battles and wars are won in mind, battlefield is just a projection of that! At least that is my thinking. Jo daar gaya woh maar gaya (as enunciated by Gabbar Singh)

Having said that, this is a faux pass at best - not a major one but happens. Elections are not even announced and we have RM asking people to send SMS to put Modi as PM today!

This is going to be a long war and be prepared for several self goals. This my younger sister used to say to me - You do not get laddus everyday. This was the day when the rest of the talk was given a short shrift and only few words got the max.

And LKA did not lose because of that djinn is sickular comment. He lost because he could not connect - could not fire up the imagination as much as like it or not Namo is doing.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 04 Oct 2013 10:38

disha wrote:
Sanku wrote: What is this if not a self goal?
Many more will come! Are you going to throw a tantrum and sit it out at home waiting for Ram or Krishna to save you?

Sir ji, I am not the person you need to worry about the impact of self goal. I was mightly pissed with how RSS handled the Dijnaah saga as well.

But NaMo should not make any more of these. He is under tremendous scrutiny, and public is very fickle.

Elections are not even announced and we have RM asking people to send SMS to put Modi as PM today!

RM also says NaMo is like some SoKo dictator under whom SoKo turned EJ. So lets not get RaMe, in a sensible discussion saar. Thanking you kindly.

And LKA did not lose because of that djinn is sickular comment. He lost because he could not connect - could not fire up the imagination as much as like it or not Namo is doing.

It started with the fall out of the comment and him being put on shelf for 2 years (?) to cool off by RSS. After they brought him back from his vanwas, the game had moved on.

Rudradev · Post by **Rudradev** » 04 Oct 2013 10:40

Sanku ji,

Yes indeed. Saying that there is a more urgent need to build toilets than temples, is as much a self goal as giving a certificate of "secular" good character to the man who partitioned India.

If this is really the quality of thinking in the Sushma-Advani scab (too small to even call it a respectable "rump") within the BJP... no wonder they lost the 2004 and 2009 elections in such utterly humiliating measure.

disha · Post by **disha** » 04 Oct 2013 10:42

Atri wrote:This will not have effect on modi's campaign, but ppl will remember this. ...

And what will happen if ppl will not?

Do ppl remember - "Mera Khoon ka ek ek katran phir bhi kahenga - jai hind, jai hind?" ?

Honestly I too want a Sauchalay first - it is now an aspirational item. Take a look at this: http://www.pinterest.com/gkwdesign/best-bathrooms-ever/. Have not been to my "devalay" for a while ....

So yes, would love have any one of those sauchalays first. In fact I will bet, 99% of BRFites when asked - if you do not go for devalaya for 1-year and you will get one of the above sauchalay - there will be a huge queue!

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 04 Oct 2013 10:47

Rudradev wrote:Sanku ji,

Yes indeed. Saying that there is a more urgent need to build toilets than temples, is as much a self goal as giving a certificate of "secular" good character to the man who partitioned India.

If this is really the quality of thinking in the Sushma-Advani scab (too small to even call it a respectable "rump") within the BJP... no wonder they lost the 2004 and 2009 elections in such utterly humiliating measure.

RD ji;

you need to get beyond personal admiration for Modi and see the bigger picture.

This is not about NaMo or LKA or this person or that. BRF will be doing itself a huge injustice if it takes that view. Trying to build NaMo up by positioning above LKA or SS is not a strategy which will win NaMo India. It will only win him BJP front position (actually it will not even do that, but thats a different debate)

You want to see NaMo win or not? (I see you dont particularly care for BJP winning or losing, and I have always disagreed with that view, but at the very least clearly you do want to see NaMo win)

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 04 Oct 2013 10:48

What’s in a NaMo?

Never in India’s history has a PM candidate been branded, packaged and promoted as Narendra Modi is being done

Delightful Excerpt:

New Delhi: First, there were the Modi masks. That was back in 2007, when Modi’s national ambitions, if any, were still well hidden.

Six years on, the ambitions are out in the open, and the nascent emphasis on merchandising has grown into a full-fledged industry, supported by a well-oiled publicity machine.

And so, you have the Modi kurtas; downloadable Modi ringtones (including one of a crowd going Mo-di, Mo-di, Mo-di…); a Modi Android game; Modi-branded mobile phones; and NaMo (short for Narendra Modi) tea stalls in Bihar, a state where his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to make serious gains in the 2014 election.

Also on the cards is a NaMo biopic starring Paresh Rawal, who incidentally played the title role in Sardar, Ketan Mehta’s movie on the political life of the late Vallabhbhai Patel. Modi this month announced plans to build a State of Unity in memory of Patel, India’s first home minister, who, like Modi, hailed from Gujarat.

Wow. who knew, eh?

The tale of the Modi kurta—mandarin collar shirts with an Indian twist—is well known. Made by Ahmedabad-based Jade Blue, the “Modi kurta” brand was registered by the company last year, after it received the chief minister’s approval to do so.

“The demand is much higher than our production. We currently sell about 2,000 kurtas every month, and we plan to scale up production soon,” said Bipin Chauhan, who co-owns the Rs.150 crore retail chain with his brother. Chauhan aims to take the “Modi kurta” brand international in the next few months by selling it in his outlets in the United Arab Emirates and the UK, he said in a telephone interview.

In Bihar, the BJP is using NaMo tea stalls to campaign, highlighting the man’s rise from a worker in a tea stall to the chief minister of one of India’s richest and most developed states. {Not if you ask the RBI, however.}

Smart NaMo phones are available on SnapDeal.com at prices between Rs.18,000 and Rs.24,000, with the site stating that NaMo stands both for Narendra Modi as well as Next-generation Android Mobile Odyssey. Mint couldn’t immediately identify the company selling these phones.

The Google Play store also has a game called Modi Run, a Super Mario kind of game that has seen several hundred thousand downloads so far and has been developed by a California-based company, Dexati Llc, which doesn’t reveal much information about itself on its website.

“He has already reached the status of an icon, that is why people use different means like Modi kurta, ringtones to express themselves,” said senior BJP leader Balbir Punj. “If there is a voluntary display of affection for the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, then it will definitely translate into votes.”

But the best proof that the strat is potent, and indeed, may actually be working?

The Congress party was dismissive.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 04 Oct 2013 11:13

Sushupti wrote: Looks like you didn't notice the "Puppyjhuppy", which just happened, between Sushama and Sardesai at the cost of .... . This has been the trait of Nehruvian lobby in BJP under "Atal" Ji.

Dude this divide and rule is not working. Let the high command know.

member_22539 · Post by **member_22539** » 04 Oct 2013 11:45

^Sanku smelling an opportunity to hit back, man this thing is gonna drag on forever.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 04 Oct 2013 11:58

best way to neutralize a sanku attack is to nod vehemently in agreement and carry on with whatever you are doing....

meanwhile more on the loo-jihard..

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 04 Oct 2013 12:47

Rudradev wrote:Sanku ji,

Yes indeed. Saying that there is a more urgent need to build toilets than temples, is as much a self goal as giving a certificate of "secular" good character to the man who partitioned India.

Jinnah was secular in the same way that Nehru/Mulayam/Farooq Abdullah are `secular'. The only difference was that Jinnah got his opportunity to practise `secularism' fully, but Nehru was constrained by the Hindu majority (hard to butcher/expel 80% of the people). But in mindset and contempt for Hindus, both Jinnah and Nehru were the same `secular' men. Anyone who doubts me can just read `Discovery of India' to know what Nehru thought of Hinduism and Hindus.

If this is really the quality of thinking in the Sushma-Advani scab (too small to even call it a respectable "rump") within the BJP... no wonder they lost the 2004 and 2009 elections in such utterly humiliating measure.

Rudradev-ji,
This is not an Advani-Modi contest. Advani, whatever his initial bitterness, has more or less given up his ambition and accepted Modi as the PM candidate. There is only one point I am making. Given just how much Hindus are being targeted by the successive `secular' governments, there was simply no need for Modi to make that statement. Can someone exactly point out the advantages of the statement, as opposed to offending a large section of Hindus, particularly when it is that group of Hindus have been voting him into power?

kmkraoind · Post by **kmkraoind** » 04 Oct 2013 12:52

Can a hot headed, immature Rahul be India's PM? - Rediff

Never expected such harsh criticism from MSM, especially from Rediff. I think, the ordinance outburst of RaGa is a watershed moment of his life. Now paid-Media, allies may ditch and hiss Rahul for his temperamental and untrustworthy behavior.

Dilbu · Post by **Dilbu** » 04 Oct 2013 12:57

I am happy to see NaMo has his priorities right. India definitely needs more toilets than temples.

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 04 Oct 2013 12:59

Supratik wrote: WB has fundamental problems as the population has been brainwashed for 5 decades on socialist cool-aid. Anyway, what I meant was that NM can stretch the vote share of BJP to 9-10% in T and 5% in SA at best. Clearly that is not going to help. So alliances are necessary. However, if there is a NM wave BJP can bargain for more seats with alliance partners. Also if you study the growth of BJP in North and West it was through alliances in many places and later the alliance partner disintegrated leaving the BJP the main anti-INC party. You are seeing only the failures.

In the north and the west, the BJP was already established as a powerhouse, before they went into those alliances. Once you have a committed cadre on the ground and a section of the people in the state that will support you through thick and thin, you can go and build alliances, even non-ideological ones. But, IMO, it is very bad policy to get into alliance with stronger partners, particularly when you are just establishing yourself as a force in the region (this, by the way, is why the BJP has never been able to grow in Haryana as well, despite a 10% committed vote - they just cannot campaign against their own allies, and expand their bases). The former can result in taking the ally's votes (JD(U) is going to find that out in this election - just wait and watch, they are going to follow Karnataka JD(U)), the latter will result in the migration of the BJP's own vote to the ally. You need to make alliances with non-ideological partners from a position of strength, and not from a position of weakness, and certainly not when you are just establishing yourself as a force in the region. TDP and TMC are not ideological allies. Consequently, it resulted in the migration of the BJP vote to them (Why would anyone want to vote you or join your party, when you are going to support your non-ideological allies? Might as well join your ally, since it is more profitable).

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 04 Oct 2013 13:02

Dilbu wrote:I am happy to see NaMo has his priorities right. India definitely needs more toilets than temples.

This may very well be true, but diplomacy often requires not saying many things. In any case, temples are not being built by the state, so why is it a temples vs toilets issue? The two are being built by different people and will be built as and when needed.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 04 Oct 2013 13:21

nageshks wrote:
Rudradev wrote:Sanku ji,

Yes indeed. Saying that there is a more urgent need to build toilets than temples, is as much a self goal as giving a certificate of "secular" good character to the man who partitioned India.
Jinnah was secular in the same way that Nehru/Mulayam/Farooq Abdullah are `secular'.

Which is completely true.

But how does that negate what I said?

Dilbu · Post by **Dilbu** » 04 Oct 2013 13:23

nageshks wrote:
Dilbu wrote:I am happy to see NaMo has his priorities right. India definitely needs more toilets than temples.
This may very well be true, but diplomacy often requires not saying many things. In any case, temples are not being built by the state, so why is it a temples vs toilets issue? The two are being built by different people and will be built as and when needed.

I think it was a smart move by NaMo. Many people may not agree with this but temple and ayodhya are issues which are past its use by date as tools for gathering vote. Core hindutva people do not have the strength of a 'vote bank' to win the mandate for NaMo so he is not losing much here. He is riding the wave of good governance which appeals to the middle class and youth much more than Ayodhya and temple. Projecting his pro development image over hindutva is also diplomacy.