by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Maha Buzz for Simultaneous polls

It is now clearly emerging that the BJP leadership may go in for simultaneous polls in Maharashtra in April-May 2024. If reports emanating from the ruling dispensation are any indication, the BJP may advance Assembly elections and hold it along with the Lok Sabha polls early next year. There is a strong view that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma will help the coalition government in Maharashtra tremendously in the Assembly polls as well. The party has conducted a couple of internal surveys that have indicated that a sympathy factor is at work in favour of Uddhav Thackeray among the grass-root cadre of Shiv Sena. It is largely because of this very reason that the coalition government is not holding the much-delayed BMC polls. The PM had also visited Mumbai twice in the last two months and given massive projects to the state. Yet there is no announcement in sight for the BMC polls. The outcome of the It was due to this very reason that fresh surveys were ordered to find out if simultaneous polls may help the coalition partners. The results were positive and now the matter is being looked into by the Central BJP after the state unit gave a go-ahead. Interestingly, the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has been keeping cards close to its chest though it is not averse to consider the proposal.

But the move of simultaneous polls has rattled the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners. The MVA partners comprising Sena, NCP and Congress had been struggling hard to amicably settle the seat-sharing formula for the Lok Sabha polls. There is a buzz that the Thackeray faction may contest 21 Lok Sabha seats followed by NCP with 19 and Congress 8 under this formula. However, a formal decision is still far away. The parties would like to wait for the outcome of Assembly polls being held in 2023. Meanwhile, the BJP is busy head-hunting in the state. The state BJP chief, Chandrashekhar Bawankule is on record to say, “Our doors are open for everybody. We will ensure Individuals who join us would be given their stature.”

A costly Tweet for Rohini

Heard of Rohini Acharya, a mother of two sons, settled in Singapore with her family after obtaining an MBBS degree in India. She married to a software engineer Samresh Singh and opted to become a home maker rather than practice medical profession. She shot into prominence when she gave her kidney to her father Lalu Prasad Yadav and took care of him during his difficult days. After he landed in Delhi from Singapore, the CBI knocked at his residence to grill him again. An infuriated Rohini tweeted on March 7, 2023 warning- 'Agar Papa ko kuchh hua to..mein chhodungi nahin..' (If anything happens to her father she will not spare anyone). It was an instant reaction of a daughter. But she did not realize that times have changed. An infuriated establishment suddenly included Rohini's name in the list of suspects in the land-for-job scam by the CBI.

Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav, currently Deputy Chief Minister, daughter Misa Bharti, Rajya Sabha MP and two other members of family are already accused in the land-for-jobs scam when he was Minister for Railways between 2004-09. The chargesheets have been filed. Rohini's name never figured ever. But now she will have to face music.

When Manmohan Singh showed spine too

PM Modi earned laurels when the government withdrew barricades and security outside the office and residential premises of British High commission and commissioner in Chanakyapuri. India retaliated after the Indian high commission in London was attacked and the Indian Flag was removed by a handful of protesters. But few would recall that Modi's predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh had withdrawn all security cover from the American embassy and consulates in India in 2013 when an IFS officer Devyani Khobargade was arrested and strip searched in New York.

In the past, India would have rolled over and played puppy, as it did after an Indian RAW officer defected to the US, or when senior diplomats were treated to humiliating searches. Even former President Abdul Kalam and ex-defence minister George Fernandes were subjected to such humiliation. The US government saw reason and the matter was settled amicably.

Why Kejri changed tack

AAP Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is re-calibrating his strategy after playing a solo match all these years. He has sharpened his attack on Modi and now decided to join hands with the other Opposition parties including the Congress he had shunned earlier. The AAP joined Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's dinner invite on March 27 at his residence and decided to walk together. Though his party may contest Lok Sabha polls alone. But there are enough indications that the AAP may have some tacit understanding with some of the Opposition parties in states. For example, he has thrown hints to Congress to share 2-3 Lok Sabha seats in Delhi out of seven. The Congress has yet to respond. Perhaps, Kejriwal is also feeling the heat after many of his Ministers were put behind bars and the say is not far when he is dragged in the Liquor scam. The unity song, however, may be for a short while.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Tough Road ahead for Rahul Gandhi

Legal team struggling to evolve a strategy

Rahul may lose Tughlaq Road bungalow

Tough road ahead of Congress leader & “disqualified” Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi even if he manages to get his conviction stayed. Rahul Gandhi's legal team composed of Abhishek Manu Sanghvi and others is busy chalking out the next course of action. The dilemma is whether to knock at the doors of the Supreme Court directly or appeal before the Surat's Session Judge court for remedy. In the event of the Surat Session Judge not giving relief, the legal team may appeal before the Gujarat High court and finally before the SC.

Rahul Gandhi's problems will multiply in the absence of instant relief from superior courts as he is facing more than half a dozen cases in Patna, Guwahati, Mumbai, Jharkhand, Lucknow and Delhi. These cases have been going on since 2015 and all of them are being fast-tracked signaling that the double engine governments in many states are keen to bring these cases to a close in 2023 itself.

In addition, the Urban Development & Housing Ministry may initiate the eviction proceedings against Rahul Gandhi from his 8 Tughlak Lane bungalow. There are prospects that he may be asked to vacate the bungalow within 15 days.

The Election Commission is also gearing up to hold the bye-election from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. The tenure of the current Lok Sabha is June, 2024 and the EC is bound to hold the poll if the time gap is more than a year.

The third problem is that even if he gets relief from a superior court, the restoration of his Lok Sabha seat is not automatic. The Lok Sabha secretariat may take its own time to study the ruling and decide its course.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the Wall

Harish Gupta

A March of Mysteries

The month of March turned out to be full of mysteries never witnessed before. The security & Intelligence agencies and Punjab government is in a tizzy after the self-styled 29-year old preacher from Punjab Amritpal Singh eloped despite round-the-clock surveillance. The Modi government and AAP-led Punjab government have been working in tandem after Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), Intelligence Bureau and other agencies had alerted them about Amritpal Singh's close links with the Pakistani spy agency ISI in Georgia (USA) and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and other Khalistani protagonists in Canada, UK and elsewhere. The two governments decided to crack down on “Waris Punjab De” Chief Amritpal Singh at any time before Baisakhi after he openly threatened Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying that he would meet the same fate as that of late Indira Gandhi. Yet he gave a shocker to all of them by slipping out incognito in 2023 as Baba Ramdev had done in 2013. Ramdev had also dodged hundreds of sleuths by wearing a saree. It is, however, still a mystery as to how Amritpal Singh slipped out of the glare of mighty agencies and 80,000 Punjab police force. It is clear that despite busting around 50 terror modules in the past couple of years, the separatists elements have gained strength and are trying to revive the Khalistani movement once again in Punjab. Ever since Singh came to India in September 2022, there was a spike in drone intrusions from across the border and drugs & weapons related activities grew rapidly in the state.

Amritpal Singh's Anandpur Khalsa Fauj (AKF) is accumulating weapons and reviving the spirit of late Bhindranwale and his objective to take control of the Golden Temple. His followers had captured several Gurudrawars in Punjab, Delhi & elsewhere and his disappearance shows that he is one-step ahead of the entire machinery of the State & the Centre. There is also a view that Amritpal Singh had been arrested and agencies are keeping it a closely guarded secret as part of their own strategy. Secondly, how Amritpal Singh emerged from nowhere all of a sudden, is also a mystery.

The mysterious Super Connman

As the mystery of Dr Kiran J. Patel from Gujarat, additional director (strategy and campaigns) in the Prime Minister’s Office, is unfolding, shocking details are coming out of the closet. He was not only provided with Z-plus security cover in J&K and availed hospitality of five-star hotels but got access to high-security zones for months together. So shocked was the PMO and the J&K administration after the mysterious super conman was finally arrested on March 3 that it was disclosed a fortnight later. But he exposed chinks in the armory of security & intelligence agencies. It turned out that an IAS officer introduced him as a PMO official in J&K and a group of 5-6 top notches of Gujarat had entrusted him with the task of some land contracts in the Union Territory. Kiran Patel visited J&K for the first time on October 27 and operated for almost six months. It is still baffling as to how even an official from the PMO could be given Z-plus security cover and five star hotel facility without any verification. It is clear that the super conman was representing some vested interests in the businesses and bureaucracy and crackdown may be witnessed in the days to come.

Mystery behind Mahua's deleted tweet

The fire-brand TMC Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra was forced to delete her within seven hours of posting it, has given rise to speculation that Mamata Banerjee is in no mood to cross swords with the Modi government. The feisty TMC MP Mahua Moitra took on Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accusing him of giving permission only to BJP ministers to speak while Opposition members were not allowed to have their say. “Democracy IS under attack. And the Speaker leads from the front. And I am willing to go to jail for this tweet,” she tweeted. But the strongly-worded tweet disappeared seven hours later. It transpires that Mamata Banerjee directed her to take it down. Interestingly, TMC has also been staying away from the joint Opposition meetings in Parliament giving credence to theories about a tacit understanding with the BJP.

Manish Sisodia turning an approver?

Manish Sisodia, a former AAP Minister and a close aide of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is reported to be under huge pressure to turn an approver in the “Liquor-gate”. Ever since CBI arrested Sisodia on February 26 and later by the Enforcement Directorate, he has failed to get any relief from courts. Since he was a key member of the Group of Ministers (GoM) which cleared the new Liquor policy, the agencies have thrown a bait to him. It transpires that the draft note of new liquor policy was given to Sisodia by Kejriwal. This note was prepared by Kejriwal's another key aide who is also behind bars. Sisodia is told that if he would name Kejriwal in the case, he would be made an approver. It has been proved beyond doubt that the new policy resulted in massive losses to the Delhi government and finally had to be scrapped. Since no cash has been recovered either from the premises of Kejriwal or Sisodia, the agencies are finding it difficult to prepare a cast-iron case against the accused.

2024 Lok Sabha polls: BJP's Secret Plan to Defeat top Opposition leaders

Even as the Opposition parties are struggling to evolve a common strategy to take on the mighty BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the ruling party's strategy is already in the works to ensure the defeat of prominent Opposition leaders.

It has been decided to give charge of around 20 Lok Sabha constituencies to select Union Ministers to defeat prominent Opposition leaders. Though the BJP had identified 165-odd Lok Sabha seats which it had lost in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. But special attention is being paid to wrest these 20 Lok Sabha seats to defeat prominent leaders who are considered invincible.

For example, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been given the charge of Baramati Lok Sabha seat which is considered a family bastion of Sharad Pawar. Currently, the seat is held by his daughter Supriya Sule. It has been decided that Nirmala Sitharaman will be camping at Baramati periodically for 2-3 days. Similarly, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar will camp at Rae Bareli to ensure the defeat of Sonia Gandhi. Ever since Rahul Gandhi was defeated from Amethi by Woman & Child Welfare Minister Smriti Irani in 2019, the BJP has been eyeing the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat. There are reports that Sonia Gandhi may not contest the Rae Bareli seat and hand it over to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh has been given the charge of Chhindwara seat in Madhya Pradesh which has been with Kamal Nath for nine terms. Even External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been visiting Tamil Nadu & Kerala and there is speculation that his political task is cut out. It may be mentioned that the Congress under Rajiv Gandhi had played a similar game in 1984 when it fielded strong candidates against senior Opposition leaders and defeated Atal Behari Vajpyee and other top leaders.

 

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

The BJP’s silent Moment

The BJP is known for its new found aggression under its new dispensation since 2014 and taking the bull by the horns. It is paying rich dividends too as the BJP is winning one election after the other barring a handful of states. Prime Minister Modi's graph has also been rising globally. The party's spokespersons and ministers shout down all and sundry. But developments in Punjab have exposed chinks in its armory. The BJP has gone in a silent mode and its ministers are running for a cover. Ever since self-styled head of “Waris Punjab De” Amrit Pal Singh threatened the Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying he would meet the same fate as that of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, there is a silence of the grave. Amrit Pal Singh rose to fame last month after some of his supporters attacked a police station in Ajnala and secured release of an accused Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan putting a barrel of the gun on the head of the police station. The worst happened when the Punjab Police quashed the FIR itself against Toofan. Some of the hardliners in the BJP pleaded with the top leadership to take immediate action against Amrit Pal Singh for his anti-national statements and act faster before it's too late in the day.

In response, an informal advisory was issued by the BJP to all the leaders not to comment on the issue. Consequently, no BJP spokesman uttered a word. Even the Home Minister maintained a studied silence. As if this was not enough, Amit Shah gave an early audience to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and sanctioned additional forces to handle the law and order situation. While the Congress leaders demanded imposition of President's rule in Punjab due to collapse of the state machinery, the BJP opted to keep quiet. The BJP-led state  governments are registering FIRs against everybody who makes any statement against their leaders and put them behind bars. But when it comes to Amrit Pal Singh, its lips are sealed. It is groping in the dark as to how to proceed against the 29-year old preacher who has emerged as a new icon in Punjab. Singh claims to be a follower of Bhindranwale, moves around with armed men and his supporters are capturing all Gurudwaras in Delhi and in other states worrying the Intelligence and security agencies. It's a silent moment for the BJP for a change.

Kejriwal in silence zone too

The AAP Convener and Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal has also gone in silent mode in respect of developments in Punjab. He has not uttered a word ever since the Ajnala incident took place and the AAP government in Punjab quashed the FIR against an accused. But those closely watching developments in Punjab say that AAP's links with these elements were first noticed in January 2017 when Arvind Kejriwal stayed in the house of Khalistan Liberation Front activist Gurwinder Singh ahead of Punjab polls. Gurwinder is the former chief of KLF. He is accused of inciting Sikh-Hindu riots during the years when terrorism was at its peak in Punjab. He was even jailed in cases relating to murder etc. Though Gurwinder was acquitted in all such cases, the controversy cost dearly to AAP in 2017. But it is said that these elements campaigned to ensure AAP's win in the 2022 Assembly polls. It is largely because of this very reason that Kejriwal has opted to remain in the silent zone.

BJP's Vasundhara moment

The BJP leadership may have resolved the thorny issue of handling Karnataka's B S Yediyurappa by inducting him in the Central Parliamentary Board and in state's campaign committee. The tallest 80 year-old leader made the BJP high command to reverse a decision to send him to “Vanprasth Ashram” (Retirement home like LK Advani & others). But the leadership has to settle the leadership issue in Rajasthan where 70 year-old former Chief Minister Vasundhararaje Scindia is refusing to fall in line. The BJP leadership wants to buy peace with her on its own terms. But a Rajput by birth married into a Jat family and daughter-in-law from a Gujjar community is turning out to be a tough nut. The BJP's general secretary incharge of Rajasthan, Arun Singh had a tight rope walking. If he attended BJP's protest rally in Jaipur against alleged paper leak stir in Jaipur organised by state unit Chief Satish Poonia, he traveled all the way to Salasar in Rajasthan’s Churu district to attend Vasundhara's 70^th birthday bash where majority of MLAs and Mps were present the same day on March 4. The slogans like “Abki baar, Vasundhara sarkar,” welcomed Arun Singh. The high command wants Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as party's face in Rajasthan Assembly polls. But Vasundhara is not giving up and ready to go down (or up) fighting. The high command is in the silence zone again.

Tail piece: The long awaited and perhaps, the last Cabinet reshuffle has also gone into a silence zone. It may now take place after the Assembly polls in Karnataka in May this year.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

The BJP’s silent Moment

The BJP is known for its new found aggression under its new dispensation since 2014 and taking the bull by the horns. It is paying rich dividends too as the BJP is winning one election after the other barring a handful of states. Prime Minister Modi's graph has also been rising globally. The party's spokespersons and ministers shout down all and sundry. But developments in Punjab have exposed chinks in its armory. The BJP has gone in a silent mode and its ministers are running for a cover. Ever since self-styled head of “Waris Punjab De” Amrit Pal Singh threatened the Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying he would meet the same fate as that of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, there is a silence of the grave. Amrit Pal Singh rose to fame last month after some of his supporters attacked a police station in Ajnala and secured release of an accused Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan putting a barrel of the gun on the head of the police station. The worst happened when the Punjab Police quashed the FIR itself against Toofan. Some of the hardliners in the BJP pleaded with the top leadership to take immediate action against Amrit Pal Singh for his anti-national statements and act faster before it's too late in the day.

In response, an informal advisory was issued by the BJP to all the leaders not to comment on the issue. Consequently, no BJP spokesman uttered a word. Even the Home Minister maintained a studied silence. As if this was not enough, Amit Shah gave an early audience to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and sanctioned additional forces to handle the law and order situation. While the Congress leaders demanded imposition of President's rule in Punjab due to collapse of the state machinery, the BJP opted to keep quiet. The BJP-led state  governments are registering FIRs against everybody who makes any statement against their leaders and put them behind bars. But when it comes to Amrit Pal Singh, its lips are sealed. It is groping in the dark as to how to proceed against the 29-year old preacher who has emerged as a new icon in Punjab. Singh claims to be a follower of Bhindranwale, moves around with armed men and his supporters are capturing all Gurudwaras in Delhi and in other states worrying the Intelligence and security agencies. It's a silent moment for the BJP for a change.

Kejriwal in silence zone too

The AAP Convener and Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal has also gone in silent mode in respect of developments in Punjab. He has not uttered a word ever since the Ajnala incident took place and the AAP government in Punjab quashed the FIR against an accused. But those closely watching developments in Punjab say that AAP's links with these elements were first noticed in January 2017 when Arvind Kejriwal stayed in the house of Khalistan Liberation Front activist Gurwinder Singh ahead of Punjab polls. Gurwinder is the former chief of KLF. He is accused of inciting Sikh-Hindu riots during the years when terrorism was at its peak in Punjab. He was even jailed in cases relating to murder etc. Though Gurwinder was acquitted in all such cases, the controversy cost dearly to AAP in 2017. But it is said that these elements campaigned to ensure AAP's win in the 2022 Assembly polls. It is largely because of this very reason that Kejriwal has opted to remain in the silent zone.

BJP's Vasundhara moment

The BJP leadership may have resolved the thorny issue of handling Karnataka's B S Yediyurappa by inducting him in the Central Parliamentary Board and in state's campaign committee. The tallest 80 year-old leader made the BJP high command to reverse a decision to send him to “Vanprasth Ashram” (Retirement home like LK Advani & others). But the leadership has to settle the leadership issue in Rajasthan where 70 year-old former Chief Minister Vasundhararaje Scindia is refusing to fall in line. The BJP leadership wants to buy peace with her on its own terms. But a Rajput by birth married into a Jat family and daughter-in-law from a Gujjar community is turning out to be a tough nut. The BJP's general secretary incharge of Rajasthan, Arun Singh had a tight rope walking. If he attended BJP's protest rally in Jaipur against alleged paper leak stir in Jaipur organised by state unit Chief Satish Poonia, he traveled all the way to Salasar in Rajasthan’s Churu district to attend Vasundhara's 70^th birthday bash where majority of MLAs and Mps were present the same day on March 4. The slogans like “Abki baar, Vasundhara sarkar,” welcomed Arun Singh. The high command wants Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as party's face in Rajasthan Assembly polls. But Vasundhara is not giving up and ready to go down (or up) fighting. The high command is in the silence zone again.

Tail piece: The long awaited and perhaps, the last Cabinet reshuffle has also gone into a silence zone. It may now take place after the Assembly polls in Karnataka in May this year.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Modi's proposal for Terror Center getting traction

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposal to set up a permanent secretariat to coordinate bids to fight terror funding is gaining traction. Following the November 2022 international conference on “No Money For Terror” (NMFT) where the 77 major countries including USA, UK, Australia and Japan and 16 international organizations like Interpol agreed to set up a permanent Secretariat. China, Pakistan and a few other countries were not invited to this conference. The participating nation agreed to collaborate with countries across the world for suppressing the funding sources that allow terrorists and extremists to carry out their violent acts. A discussion paper was also circulated later and final touches are being given during the G20 deliberations. A formal announcement may emerge sooner than expected. Sources in the security establishment said the proposal was still at an initial stage as nitty-gritty are being worked out.

Since the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization, has not been able to deliver its objectives, there is a need to set up another Center to enlarge its scope due to new challenges. The G7 countries had set up the FATF in 1989 and its headquarter is based in Paris. But India wants a new body with its scope and functioning to be enlarged with greater participation. The FATF’s work is setting global standards to prevent terrorist financing, detailing measures that all countries should implement. Interestingly, the G7 countries were in conformity with India's proposal to set up such a Center at the Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing. A session was co-chaired by T. Raja Kumar, President, FATF. India has said that the NMFT will not be an investigation agency but will function in collaboration and cooperation with the countries.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Modi's twin action plan in Punjab

NIA may act against Amritpal Singh who threatened Amit Shah

The Modi government is giving final touches to its action plan in Punjab after a public threat issued by Amritpal Singh, head of “Waris Punjab De” an aggressive outfit, to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He said that he would meet the same fate as that of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

Reports emanating from those handling national security indicate that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) may register a case against the 29-year-old preacher under the stringent UAPA law. The anti-terror agency needs no permission from any state government before acting in terror-related cases. Some of the supporters of Amritpal Singh brandished swords and guns stormed a police station in Ajnala last week and took away the main accused Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan. The Punjab police later quashed the FIR itself.

Amritpal Singh, who claims to be a follower of Bhindranwale, moves around with armed men and his supporters call him 'Bhindranwale 2.0'. But this time, he seems to have crossed the line by threatening the Union Home Minister by name. The Centre doesn't want to act in a hurry and wait for the right time to strike.

The Union Home Ministry will press its own anti-terror agency (NIA) if the state government doesn't act within a reasonable time frame.

Before acting against Amritpal Singh, the BJP leadership also wants to launch a fresh political drive in Punjab as part of this strategy. The top BJP leadership including PM Modi, Amit Shah and party chief J P Nadda among others will launch a massive public awareness drive called “Nasha Mukti Yatra” in Punjab. The BJP leadership is focusing on the failure of the AAP government in Punjab to fight drug menace and hobnobbing with anti-national elements. If Kejriwal is on the back foot in Delhi due to liquor scam, Mann is facing Amritpal Singh Waterloo.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Beware! Modi tracking money trail

As the number of those Indians who are giving up their Indian citizenship touching an all-time high in 2022, the Modi government has asked concerned ministries to look deeper into the issue. If 1.20 lakh Indians gave up citizenship to settle abroad in 2011, the number almost doubled to 2.25 lakhs in 2022. What is worrying the government is that rich Indians are buying citizenship and settling abroad rather than investing in their own country. It is not just high-skilled individuals and students giving up their Indian citizenship but a large number of rich Indians are  “buying” nationalities elsewhere. If reports emanating from the Finance Ministry are any indication, a list of 100-odd individuals has been prepared who opted to settle in Dubai and Mauritius among other tax haven countries along with their suspected ill-gotten wealth. Since these two countries are extremely friendly to PM Modi, the government will soon initiate a process to seek their presence back in India without many legal hurdles. These 100-odd persons may be brought back to face prosecution in 2023-24. This will send a strong signal before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to the electorate that the Modi government has not abandoned its action against black money. The Indian government is aware that deporting Indians from the USA or other western democracies is not an easy task. Therefore, the focus is on extremely friendly countries to deport such wanted persons. Modi wants to show-case his big achievement on this score. A record 17 lakh Indians have opted to settle down abroad giving up Indian citizenship since 2011.

A funny SEBI probe

The SEBI has launched a probe following the US-based Hindenberg Research's self-confessed short-seller report in Adani companies shares. The probe, as per reports, is aimed at finding out who all are behind the massive sell-off in Adani shares eroding their wealth and ranking of the entire group. Gautam Adani was worth 20 lakh crores on January 24 this year and  Hindenburg Research's allegations erased over Rs 13 lakh crore in combined market capitalization (m-cap). But the question is why the SEBI did not step in when the Adani Enterprises shares were zooming up 4000% from 2021 to 2022 within 18 months. Why should SEBI probe reasons behind the fall in February 2023 and woke up only after the Hindenburg Research surfaced? After all, the Modi government brought a highly professional woman entrepreneur from the private sector, a first in SEBI's history in 17 years, to reform the regulator. Madhabi Puri Buch took charge as chairman on 1 March 2022 and is known for her  no-nonsense approach. It was expected of SEBI to launch a probe when shares prices of group companies rose alarmingly high and no one raised a finger. No mutual fund manager, no regulator, no watchdog or no professional worth a salt raised a question when prices were rising since 2020. Even the LIC was on a buying spree in group companies. Experts say that such major jerks have to be faced by those companies who go global to raise funds from abroad to expand their businesses. They maintain that the turmoil in Adani shares' massive fall can not bring Lehman Brothers' moment in India.

Priyanka from Rae Bareli !

Decks seem to have been cleared for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to enter into an electoral fray from Rae Bareli in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Sonia Gandhi signaled during the AICC session at Raipur that she may not be part of electoral politics expressing her satisfaction of the outcome of Bharat Jodo Yatra. Insiders in the Congress say that she may not electoral fray in 2024 polls. But she may have the option to enter the Rajya Sabha if she wants to retain her 10 Janpath bungalow. She has to be a Member of Parliament if she wants to retain this bungalow. Sonia's statement at Raipur was well crafted and did not indicate in any way that she will bid adieu to politics.

Tejashwi's Mission impossible

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has the burning ambition to become the Prime Ministerial candidate of all Opposition parties. This was perhaps the only reason he decided to part company with the BJP and tie the knot with RJD and Congress again. But he has been repeatedly denying that he has any desire to be the joint candidate for the PM's post of the Opposition parties in 2024 to dislodge authoritarian forces. In order to woo the Congress he has been on record that there can be unity worth a salt without the principal Opposition party coming on board. Insiders in Nitish Kumar's cotrie say that he has deputed Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav to talk to all Opposition parties and persuade them to evolve a consensus around his name for the PM's post.  Yadav has been traveling state Capitals in his mission Impossible as no one is willing to trust Nitish Kumar after his 360 degree turn, not once but twice. Tejashwi met Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi, K Chandrashekhar Ramarao in Hyderabad and others. But none have committed support to Nitish's Mission. The Congress has clearly said that any unity hasto be led by Congress. For Nitish, grapes are sour. 

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

MHA tightens rules for foreign donation, record FCRA licenses canceled

The Union Home Ministry in consultation with other stakeholders is further tightening the flow of funds from abroad. It has found linkages of many NGOs and institutions operating in India with the donor institutions in foreign countries. It discovered that money flowed like water to some of the Indian NGOs and hence the crackdown. It is in this backdrop that nearly 7,000 licenses of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) were canceled until December 2022. The massive crackdown indicates that to block free flow of foreign funds into India to create disaffection.

Data released by the MHA suggested that Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra figure among the states where the highest number of FCRA were canceled until December 2022. Of the 7000-odd licenses were canceled by the Union Home Ministry during the last five years, 755 FCRA licenses were canceled in Tamil Nadu while Maharashtra was a shade behind with 734 NGOs and institutions. UP was no less with 635 cancellations and Andhra Pradesh (622), West Bengal (611), Odisha (417) and Bihar (441) also faced the wrath of the Home Ministry.

As per MHA sources, there were 22,762 FCRA-registered organisations till December-end 2021 and they were supposed to renew their licenses under the new dispensation. As per records, NGOs like Oxfam India and the Oxfam India Trust, Jamia Millia Islamia, the Indian Medical Association, the Leprosy Mission, the Tuberculosis Association Of India, the Indira Gandhi National Centre For Arts and the India Islamic Cultural Centre did not apply for FCRA licenses and the same were canceled. The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust are also included in the list. The MHA has released a list of 117 United Nations bodies and other international organisations whose contribution to Indian entities will not be covered under the stringent FCRA.