True Election Commission took note of Varun Gandhi's hate speech, and served him notice, but it really didn't take any action. Perhaps if he had not voluntarily surrendered to the Philvit court with his rough supporters, and made it a reality show, he would have got away with a simple warning. Now things have complicated with the UP government framing him with NSA (the new non-bailable act), and Varun is in real trouble.
So who masterminded his grand show of surrender to the court? It must be some top man in the BJP, who foresaw in the drama the potential of raking up Hindutwa which is not selling now. The whole operation has boomeranged. No doubt the party would now cry foul over Varun's framing in a dastardly act and the abuse of power associated with it. But given its falling credibility, it would not have much sympathy from the voters.
Poor Varun Gandhi!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Election India 2009: Charges against Mulayam Singh Yadav
As the election days draw nearer, you find more and more candidates brazenly violate the moral code of conduct laid down by the Election Commission. The most recent example is Mulayam singh Yadav, the Samajbadi Party supremo. He has threatened the lady district magistrate and state election officer-in-charge with dire consequences in an open meeting. The EC has filed an FIR against the leader, and also slaps a criminal charge against him.
Now, Yadav is a senior leader, and some years ago was the defence minister at the centre. Does he really care about any law anyway? And do you think the Election commission has the clout to take any action against him? On the "Holi" day, Mulayam freely distributed hundred rupee notes to his potential voters and got away with it without even a warning by the commission.
Rest assured the EC would more or less behave the same way in this case too. This is indian democracy at the Election Commission level!
Now, Yadav is a senior leader, and some years ago was the defence minister at the centre. Does he really care about any law anyway? And do you think the Election commission has the clout to take any action against him? On the "Holi" day, Mulayam freely distributed hundred rupee notes to his potential voters and got away with it without even a warning by the commission.
Rest assured the EC would more or less behave the same way in this case too. This is indian democracy at the Election Commission level!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Election India 2009: Hate speech
Despite records of bloody communal riots, India has a discernible secular attitude. This is the reason why Varun Gandhi, a scion of the high-profile Indira Gandhi family, no less, is in trouble for his recent hate speech in his election meeting. Unlike other members of the Gandhi family, he's not a Congressman, and is fighting election from Pilibhit on a BJP ticket.
The Election Commission has gone overboard to file a criminal case against this greenhorn and is all set to award him punishment. The other political parties including the Congress and the leftists have already started clamouring for cancelling his candidature.
Varun, as expected, is citing crap in his defence (victim of political conspiracy, the voice in the CD is not his etc}. All of which show he's a very inexperienced guy, and not savvy enough. How could the BJP field him as a candidate? This is another downside of Indian democracy: as long as you have right connections, you need not be bothered about your qualification.
But the thing I would like to see how the Election Commission finally deals with the issue. Would it punish Varun Gandhi for violation of its model code of conduct?
The Election Commission has gone overboard to file a criminal case against this greenhorn and is all set to award him punishment. The other political parties including the Congress and the leftists have already started clamouring for cancelling his candidature.
Varun, as expected, is citing crap in his defence (victim of political conspiracy, the voice in the CD is not his etc}. All of which show he's a very inexperienced guy, and not savvy enough. How could the BJP field him as a candidate? This is another downside of Indian democracy: as long as you have right connections, you need not be bothered about your qualification.
But the thing I would like to see how the Election Commission finally deals with the issue. Would it punish Varun Gandhi for violation of its model code of conduct?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Election India 2009: The Leftists
Leftists who were part of the UPA government for the better part of its tenure are in an unenviable position in Election India in 2009. While they are far far way from the masses because of their anti-people policies, their top leader Prakash Karat is busy cobbling a hotchpotch Third Front.
The leftists are morally bankrupt so much so that they have hardly an electoral issue this year except that cliched, over-trumpeted reforms. People are no longer buying this reform thing. In Kerala, the party is sharply divided over ideological issue. In West Bengal, the leaders are visibly nervous, and are uttering nonsense in public meetings. Buddhadeb Bhattachaya looks like a clown on screen. The so-called Marxists have to pay back the price for their betrayal of the masses.
Interstingly, they now fall back heavily on Jyoti Basu, the once-charismatic leader who is in the throes of death so to speak. How sad and cruel that the leftists are dragging the frail and wobbling nonagenarian on to the dais, and make him appeal to the masses for their mandate in elction 2009 in India!
The leftists are morally bankrupt so much so that they have hardly an electoral issue this year except that cliched, over-trumpeted reforms. People are no longer buying this reform thing. In Kerala, the party is sharply divided over ideological issue. In West Bengal, the leaders are visibly nervous, and are uttering nonsense in public meetings. Buddhadeb Bhattachaya looks like a clown on screen. The so-called Marxists have to pay back the price for their betrayal of the masses.
Interstingly, they now fall back heavily on Jyoti Basu, the once-charismatic leader who is in the throes of death so to speak. How sad and cruel that the leftists are dragging the frail and wobbling nonagenarian on to the dais, and make him appeal to the masses for their mandate in elction 2009 in India!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Election India2009: Vote for cash
Many Indians like to tout it as the greatest democracy on earth, but it's just a quantitative statement. Qualitatively, this democracy glitters mostly on paper, and in our rulers' rhetoric. The truth is, most political parties routinely violate the norms that are at the core of a democracy.
One such glaring example is the vote for cash policy of some parties.
Electronic media has recently shown footage of Mulayam Singh Yadav of The Samajbadi Party, a senior politician of the country, distributing hundred-rupee notes to people who gathered at his residence on the occasion of the Holi.
In another incident, Amitava Nandy, a Left candidate for Lok Sabha election this year from Bengal, gives away cheques to workers from the dias of a workers' meeting.
The concerned parties have of course lodged complaints against these two leaders to the Election Commission, but there are little chances the latter would take any action against them.
Political leaders are kind of immune as far as any electoral law is concerned. This is again another downside of Indian democracy.
Vote for cash is not entirely a new thing. It was here in surreptitious way so long. Only this year it happens in the open.
One such glaring example is the vote for cash policy of some parties.
Electronic media has recently shown footage of Mulayam Singh Yadav of The Samajbadi Party, a senior politician of the country, distributing hundred-rupee notes to people who gathered at his residence on the occasion of the Holi.
In another incident, Amitava Nandy, a Left candidate for Lok Sabha election this year from Bengal, gives away cheques to workers from the dias of a workers' meeting.
The concerned parties have of course lodged complaints against these two leaders to the Election Commission, but there are little chances the latter would take any action against them.
Political leaders are kind of immune as far as any electoral law is concerned. This is again another downside of Indian democracy.
Vote for cash is not entirely a new thing. It was here in surreptitious way so long. Only this year it happens in the open.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Election India 2009
India is going to polls - Lok Sabha polls, to be more specific.
But do you feel any wind blowing?
Has this election any issue at all? Note that the Indira Congress, India's No 1 party, is this time trying to ride over a crappy film's "Joi Ho" slogan to victory. Another premier party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has only to show "Advani as PM" ad everywhere.
Is there any compelling choice for voters in respect of parties or leaders? Not really.
Does any body really care who will be the PM except the contenders?
From all indications, Lok Sabha election 2009 is going to be the drabbest election. But make no mistake about it: it's going to be a nasty election too, with all sorts name-calling, gimmick, and violence. Indian democracy will be made to dance in world's biggest reality show.
But do you feel any wind blowing?
Has this election any issue at all? Note that the Indira Congress, India's No 1 party, is this time trying to ride over a crappy film's "Joi Ho" slogan to victory. Another premier party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has only to show "Advani as PM" ad everywhere.
Is there any compelling choice for voters in respect of parties or leaders? Not really.
Does any body really care who will be the PM except the contenders?
From all indications, Lok Sabha election 2009 is going to be the drabbest election. But make no mistake about it: it's going to be a nasty election too, with all sorts name-calling, gimmick, and violence. Indian democracy will be made to dance in world's biggest reality show.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Colm Toibin interview
Colm Toíbín, the brilliant multi-award winning author of five novels and more than 10 works of non-fiction, is interviwed at TheManchesterReview.co.uk
Q:What do you enjoy most about your life as a writer?
A:The money. I never knew there would be money. It is such a surprise. And I like not having to leave the house in the morning. Yes, the money.
Q:Is there nothing else you enjoy about your life as a writer?
A:It is not for enjoyment. It has nothing to do with enjoyment. I like selling foreign rights, but that feeling would last no longer than 20 minutes.
Q:What do you enjoy most about your life as a writer?
A:The money. I never knew there would be money. It is such a surprise. And I like not having to leave the house in the morning. Yes, the money.
Q:Is there nothing else you enjoy about your life as a writer?
A:It is not for enjoyment. It has nothing to do with enjoyment. I like selling foreign rights, but that feeling would last no longer than 20 minutes.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Vinod Mehta on Slumdog Millionaire celebration
So, what’s changed with Slumdog Millionaire? As far as exploitation of poverty goes, Danny Boyle is up there with Katherine Mayo’s Mother India, which Gandhiji dismissed as a "drain inspector’s report". Why is the English-speaking elite going gaga, heaping extravagant praise? Beginning with the President to the PM to the leader of the Opposition to the Shiv Sena boss, it seems everyone wants a piece of the Slumdog pie. Could this unexpected triumph on Sonia Gandhi’s watch boost the Congress election prospects?
These are weighty questions best set aside. What disturbs me about the Oscar achievement is the collateral fragrance it spreads around our mushrooming slums. We are told Dharavi is a slum of vibrancy, enterprise, the triumph of the human spirit and a model of inter-communal living. Another collateral boon: superpower India has at last come to terms with its penury. It is comfortable with its poverty. If you will pardon my French, that’s bullshit!
more..
These are weighty questions best set aside. What disturbs me about the Oscar achievement is the collateral fragrance it spreads around our mushrooming slums. We are told Dharavi is a slum of vibrancy, enterprise, the triumph of the human spirit and a model of inter-communal living. Another collateral boon: superpower India has at last come to terms with its penury. It is comfortable with its poverty. If you will pardon my French, that’s bullshit!
more..
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