by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Amit Shah-Mann chemistry raises eyebrows

Bhagwant Singh Mann has come a long way within 13 months of taking over the reins of Punjab as Chief Minister. Though he called PM Modi an illiterate person who doesn't read the files and signs them and the one who wants to see his own photographs everywhere. This is a “psychological disorder”, he said at a public rally on March 24, 2023. But a lot of water has gone down in the Sutlej river since then. It is said that Mann was extremely upset with the PM as he did not help the border state of Punjab. After being elected as CM on 16^th March 2022, he called on the PM on March 25, 2022 seeking Rs.1 lakh crore financial package and cooperation. This was Mann’s first meeting with Modi after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab as nothing happened for a full one year and hence this outbursts. Interestingly, Mann was successful in establishing a wonderful chemistry with the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah when he sought his help in preventing supply of drugs and arms from Pakistan. He also assured the Home Minister that the Punjab government has put its entire might in arresting hardliner preacher Amritpal Singh and sought full support of central agencies in this operation. Insiders say that he put forth a plan of action for Amritpal's arrest or making him surrender. He  wanted the BJP leadership in Punjab to not resort to mud-slinging as it will damage the cause and create the same situation 40 years ago. Without blinking, Amit Shah provided all the help and directed the party cadre to be careful on the Amritpal issue. Finally, joint efforts made by the Centre and the state paid rich dividends which resulted in the arrest/surrender of Amritpal Singh and his supporters without firing a single bullet. The Mann government also agreed to Amit Shah's suggestion that all these radicalized elements be kept in Dibrugarh central jail in Assam. The bone-homie between Mann and Shah is keenly watched by political observers.

A classic handling by Delhi Police  

 

Satya Pal Malik, a personal pick of PM Narendra Modi as Governor of Bihar who was later shifted to J&K, Goa to Meghalaya, learnt the power of IPC section 144 rather the hard way. After falling out, he has been launching blistering attacks on PM Modi personally and his government's handling of sensitive issues. He is staying in a South Delhi house and trying to find his feet in the Opposition space to play some role in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. On April 22, he invited Khap Panchayat leaders to his residence. As he could not accommodate them in his drawing room, he decided to hold the meeting with them in the nearby park and arranged for lunch too. Those watching Malik's activities after he fell out with Modi, alerted the RK Puram police station and all hell broke. The local police were scared to act without permission from the top and within minutes ordered to take action. But the gathering was peaceful and there was no slogan shouting against the government in the park. A wiser person monitoring the situation told the Police to impose IPC's section 144 in the minuscule area inside and outside the park only in order to maintain peace in the residential area. An SDM declared the gathering unlawful and told them to leave the venue immediately. They were told that since no prior permission was taken, the meeting is illegal. When Malik went to protest along with his supporters against the Police action at the RK Puram station, he was told about the section 144 under which action was taken. Malik is learning the hard way to live with the new reality glaring at him.  

Modi's delicate handling of the Dalai Lama

Prime Minister Modi devised a unique strategy to handle the sensitive issue relating to the Dalai Lama when a two-day Global Buddhist Summit was held in the Capital recently. Obviously, Modi had to maintain a delicate balance between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leadership. Strange it may sound but Modi has been walking trying hard to handle the Dalai Lama issue since 2014. For example, he met the Spiritual leader on August 20, 2014 several months after assuming office. But did not acknowledge it as photos of the meeting were not put on Twitter. However, his failed attempt to woo China in maintaining peace and tranquility in Eastern Ladakh led Modi to publicly extend greetings to the Dalai Lama over the phone on his birthdays for the last two years. Yet, the Dalai Lama was not invited to the Global Buddhist Summit on the first day of inauguration by Modi. Instead, a scheduled discussion was held by Buddhist monks on “HH The Dalai Lama, his Contribution Towards Global Peace & Continuity” etc during the afternoon session. Interestingly, the Dalai Lama was invited on the second day of the conference to address the gathering. The foreign policy experts playing a role in such affairs say that Modi didn't want to be photographed with the HH Dalai Lama at a time when crucial talks with China are going on and the Chinese Foreign Minister is expected to be in India for the G20 Summit. The Chinese government considers the Dalai Lama a separatist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Dynasties rule the roast in Karnataka polls, BJP mum

The cat is finally out of the back with the process of selection of candidates by various political parties complete and campaigning is now in full swing. The stark reality in Karnataka emerged that all parties have placated dynasties. Though the BJP has been in the fore-front of targeting the Congress for being the party of dynasties. But it had to succumb before the dynasties in allotment of tickets.

A close look at the BJP's final list of candidates contains Karnataka chief minister, Basavaraj Bommai who is the son of late Chief Minister S R Bommai. To top the ladder is the ousted CM B S Yediyurappa who forced the BJP high command to give Assembly ticket to his younger son B Y Vijayendra, from Shikaripura in Shivamogga district. His elder brother is already a member of the Lok Sabha.

BJP's Lok Sabha MP and Youth wing chief Tejashwi Surya's uncle Ravi Subramanya given the ticket while mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy’s brothers – Somashekhar Reddy and Karunakar Reddy – given Bellary City and Harapanahalli seats respectively. Ramesh Jarkiholi and Balachandra Jarkiholi brothers were given tickets while the family of late Umesh Katti's son Nikhil Katti and his uncle Ramesh Katti won the battle.

BJP MP Karadi Sanganna’s daughter-in-law, Manjula Amaresh, has been given the ticket after he threatened to quit the party. Similarly, Manjula Aravind, wife of sitting BJP MLA Aravind Limbavali was also given ticket. Karnataka BJP Minister Shashikala Jolle succeeded in getting a ticket for her husband Anna Saheb Jolle who is an MP. Chincholi candidate Avinash Jadhav is the son of Gulbarga MP Umesh Jadhav. Chandrakant Patil, is the son of BG Patil who was an MLC.

Similarly, Karnataka transport minister B Sriramulu (Ballari) and his nephew TH Suresh Babu (Kampli) have been given tickets. Tourism minister Anand Singh has been replaced by his son Siddharth Singh as the Vijayanagar candidate. The Congress and Janata Dal (S) have never hesitated in giving tickets to family members of powerful state leaders.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Crisis in NCP far from over, No threat to Maha Govt.

 

 

NCP leader & Lok Sabha MP Suptiya Sule's statement that she expected two political explosions – one in Delhi and another in Maharashtra – in the coming days indicates that the political crisis in the MVA is far from over.

Obviously, she was referring to the expected explosion in Delhi which may arise after the Supreme Court verdict in early May. According to legal luminaries, the SC will decide on two crucial legal points; if the rebellion within the Shiv Sena led by Shinde amounts to defection under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and whether the Speaker of a House can disqualify members, despite the members sending him a notice of his removal. In the event of the SC disqualifying 16 MLAs the alliance government may have to face another explosion as the then rebel leader Eknath Shinde was also part of this group who were served with a disqualification notice by the deputy speaker.

 

However, the BJP high command here doesn't see an explosion taking place in Maharashtra. It is confident that even if 16 MLAs are disqualified, there is no threat to the government as the alliance will still have a majority on its own. At present, 162 MLAs are with the government including 5 MLAs of smaller parties and 12 Independents besides BJP (105) & Shinde Sena (40). If the 16 MLAs are disqualified, the strength of the Assembly will come down to 262 instead of 288. The government will be left with the support of 146 MLAs though it will require the magic figure of 132 MLAs only.

The BJP leadership is not averse to the idea of garnering the support of more MLAs from other parties. But what will be the contours of the new government in the event of Shinde being disqualified, continues to be in the realms of possibilities.

 

 

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

 

Modi on Indira Gandhi's footsteps

Prime Minister Modi seems to be following the path of late PM Indira Gandhi when it comes to dealing with the Opposition parties who are ganging up against him. Though most of these national or regional parties are bitterly opposed to the Congress, they are trying hard to forge a workable unity before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Indira Gandhi also got rid of the majority of senior leaders who were part of the “Syndicate” comprising K Kamraj, Atulya Ghosh, N Sanjiva Reddy, SK Patil & others. The irony was that this syndicate made her the PM in 1966 and they fell out later as "goongi gudiya" (Indira Gandhi's nick-name in political circles) had started talking. In order to nail the 'Syndicate' and other Opposition parties like Bhartiya Jana Sangh, Swatantra Party and others, Indira Gandhi announced a slew of populist steps for the poor and advanced Lok Sabha polls by one year. Her slogan, “Mein Garibi Hatana Chahti hoon, Aur ye Log Mujhe Hatana Chahate hein” (I want to remove poverty and they want to remove me) worked like wonders and she won 352 out of 521 seats in the Lok Sabha . PM Modi has also drawn a leaf out of late Indira Gandhi's book. He has declared a war against all Opposition parties saying, “I want to remove corruption from the country and these Opposition parties are ganging up to remove me.” Insiders in the BJP say that Modi is pushing the Opposition parties to join hands as he wants to fight 2024 Lok Sabha polls on the “corruption” plank. He has also prodded the CBI, ED and other agencies that there should be no let up in the war against corruption. It may be interesting to mention here that Modi never named Indira Gandhi in his election rallies or otherwise. But he bitterly attacks Nehru, Rajiv and others.

 

A Saga of Police Encounters

 

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has hogged the limelight as the number of killings in 'Police encounters' has set a new record. Ever since he came to power in March, 2017, more than 10,900 police encounters took place, 23,300 alleged criminals arrested, 5,046 injured and 185 killed. And Yogi is not blinking. Rather, he roared in the Assembly recently saying, “We will make the mafia bite the dust.” But the way Atiq Ahmed and his brother were shot dead in full view of TV crews outside the hospital premises, is a sure recipe for tough times ahead. The BJP high command is keeping a close watch while the North Block (Home Ministry) is keeping its fingers crossed as these killings may force courts to step in.

Legal experts say the glorification of extrajudicial killings by politicians emboldens an ecosystem of lawlessness. But Yogi is neither the first Chief Minister to choose this path to eliminate the mafias. India’s history since the 1990s has remained replete with instances of fake encounters. The National Human Rights Commission registered 2560 cases of fake encounters between 1993-2009. The numbers fell to 1782 between 2000 and 2017. Of them, 1,224 were fake. In the 1990s, the Mumbai Police used encounter killings to eliminate the underworld network and soon this practice spread to other states including Punjab. The 'Super cop' K P S Gill, succeeded in putting an end to the militancy in Punjab in the 90s. He was decorated with the Padma award too. It's a different matter that many of the Police officers languished in jails for these extra-judicial killings. Incidentally, Mumbai's top cop JF Ribeiro was specially sent to Punjab where he launched “Bullet for Bullet '' policy. Later, Gill turned the tables with the success of his “Operation Black Thunder.” Be it Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Assam and West Bengal; all have also witnessed a high number of encounters, says NHRC report.

Salman Khurshid's surprise entry

 

Ever since Salman Khurshid, former External Affairs Minister, lost his last Lok Sabha polls, he was virtually in political wilderness. He had started focusing on his law practice. But one fine morning he was found sitting on the high table of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and a handful of other leaders. It was the first formal meeting between the Congress and Nitish Kumar to bring about unity among all Opposition parties. But why Khurshid was called at the crucial meeting suddenly out of the blue. It transpires that Kharge had invited Khurshid to join the meeting. It is learnt that Khurshid and Nitish Kumar have cordial relations for sometime and Kharge may utilize his services in respect of Bihar. It would be interesting to mention that Nitish Kumar also told the leaders that after meeting with Sonia Gandhi in 2017, he kept waiting for almost a month whether the Congress is ready to work with him at the national level. In the absence of any response, he was virtually fleft with no option but to swim with the BJP.

 

 

 

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

The Faceless Turmoil

Gone are the days when posting in the Income-tax department was considered most lucrative by those selected in central services exams. It was so lucrative that even IITians and IIM toppers used to opt for the Indian Revenue Services (IRS) and posting in the Income-tax department. There are numerous cases when those selected in the IAS or IPS, used to go in for the IRS. But not anymore as times have changed. A number of officers have quit as IT is “no more lucrative”. They have decided to go back to the private sector for greener pastures. Ever since PM Modi set up the National e-Assessment Center (NEC) in October 2019, the IT department has lost its sheen and glory. The NEC has completely eliminated the physical interface between an assessing officer and an assessee. Gone are the days when assessees used to line up outside the rooms of IT officers and grease their palms. A silent revolution has created a turmoil as officers are returning to the private sector. These officers think that they have become merely data entry operators as there is no physical interaction with anyone.

Under the faceless system, the taxpayer would not know which officer is assessing his or her case and which city. The anonymity and absence of human interface has completely eliminated any kind of harassment or corruption. There is no territorial jurisdiction under the NES. For example, the IT return of an assee belonging to Delhi will be sent through a computerized system to Mumbai. Even in Mumbai, the assessing officer cannot issue notice directly to the assee. It will go to another officer who will vet the case and issue notice. The assessments also have to be completed in a systematic and time-bound manner.

With regard to conducting raids even the DG (Investigation) cannot take action suo-moto. A separate procedure has been evolved where the fresh vetting is done. Modi is planning to bring faceless assessments in other such lucrative departments as well. More than 30% of the faceless assessments have been done this year and the Finance ministry wants to achieve 50% assessments this year.

Congress facing Cash crunch

The Congress leadership may be basking in the glory of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra. But now that the euphoria has died down, reality is biting the party hard in Karnataka where Assembly polls are underway. The movement of money bags to party candidates in the state has become almost impossible as more than 300 strong forces of Income-tax officials and other agencies have been stationed in Karnataka to keep a close watch 24X7. This strong force is aided by police and intelligence agencies tracking moments of funds never witnessed before. The random system of tracking mobile phones has increased many folds and the movement of cash by road, train or air has become so risky that the party has abandoned its plan to provide resources. Each candidate has been conveyed that they should arrange funds locally in their constituencies and the party would provide money to them later when the dust is settled. Though the current ceiling of expenditure by candidates in Assembly polls has been fixed by the EC at Rs 40 lakhs, actual expenditure runs into crores. But candidates are in a tizzy as the party is not known for honouring its financial commitments in the past. The AICC has not cleared dues of advertising and publicity agencies hired in Punjab and J&K. An agency which was contracted for the Jammu and Kashmir leg of the Bharat-Jodo Yatra, is learnt to have sent a legal notice to Congress president.

Yashwant Sinha gets Rs 4.25 Lakh notice

Yashwant Sinha, a former Finance & Foreign Minister in the Vajpayee government in 2004, has been slapped with a notice to pay Rs 4.25 lakhs. The notice has been sent to him by the Modi government almost 20 years after he ceased to be the minister. The notice has been slapped by the Directorate of Estates under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs for overstaying in a government bungalow (6 Kushak Road) after he ceased to be a Cabinet Minister in 2004. Yashwant Sinha is shell shocked that the government chose to send him notice for the recovery of this huge amount almost 20 years after he quit. Yashwant Sinha has not been keeping well and living in a house in NOIDA. He plans to contest the recovery notice. The notice gives a clue to the working of ministries where old files are being dusted and no one is spared.

Another no-go zone for ministers

After intelligence agencies tipped off the government that some of the kith & kin of a few ministers and top bureaucrats are actively associated with NGOs, corrective steps are being taken. It transpires that PM Modi signaled to his ministerial colleagues that their kith & kin should refrain from holding positions in such NGOs particularly those receiving funds from abroad. If they want to work for the down-trodden and special causes, they can do it by associating with several schemes launched by the government. The way the Ministry of Home Affairs has cracked down on hundreds of NGOs for violations of FCRA rules & procedures in the recent past, sends a strong signal to political leaders and bureaucrats.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

2024 Lok Sabha polls

AAP-Congress resolving thorny seat sharing arrangements

The Aam Aadmi Party has signaled it is not averse to seat adjustment with the Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In a major deviation from its earlier stand of having no truck with the Congress, the AAP leadership is inclined to do business in the larger interest of Opposition unity. If sources in both the parties are to be believed, the AAP may sacrifice three out of seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi provided the Congress comes to terms with political reality in Punjab and other states. The thorny issue is Punjab where the Congress had won eight Lok Sabha seats in 2019 while the AAP could win one with the remaining four going to the BJP-SAD. The shocker came in 2022 Assembly polls when AAP decimated the Congress and SAD (Badal). The AAP wants to contest a majority of Lok Sabha seats in Punjab now and this may take more time to resolve.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is leaving nothing to chance to bring all like-minded parties together for the 2024 polls. He is on record to say, “The AAP has its own thinking and we have our own. We are trying to make a minimum program and agree on it, so that we can defeat the BJP first.” Kharge is directly in touch with AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal while Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is working out modalities to work out an alliance with parties.

The outcome of Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll is being watched keenly. But the AAP is clear that it will contest a limited number of LS seats in states where it has a support base. The AAP had contested 434 Lok Sabha seats in 2014. However, in 2019, it contested a limited number of seats.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Kharge ropes in G-23 group leaders

keen to close ranks before Assembly, Lok Sabha polls

The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has decided to put the dissensions within the party to an end and wants all leaders to close ranks. As part of this strategy efforts are being made to utilize many of the G-23 group leaders in party's activities and roped in internal meetings. While Kharge has already been keeping Shashi Tharoor in good humour and made him part of the steering committee, the services of others are also being put to use.

who were pressing for organisational reforms and a full-time party chief basically because they had a problem with Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, are apparently no longer viewed as dissidents. Three prominent leaders of the G-23 grouping; Manish Tewari, Prithviraj Chavan and Anand Sharma, were part of Kharge's team of three dozen leaders to address a series of 'save democracy' campaigns.

It transpires that Kharge had consulted the three Gandhis; Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi & Priyanka Gandhi, before evolving this strategy. For Kharge, he wants to send a message to Karnataka voters that he brought unity within the party. He has also been making strident efforts to ensure unity in Karnataka Congress and ensure the victory of the party at the hustings. Kharge himself belongs to Karnataka and these polls are crucial for the Congress party.

Kharge had identified 35 cities as part of the campaign- Democracy Disqualified – and chose 35 leaders to address press conferences there. If Manish Tewari was fielded in Thiruvananthapuram, Prithviraj Chavan was deputed in Bhopal and Anand Sharma in Bengaluru. 

There is a strong possibility that Manish Tewari may be used as party spokesperson. Though his name was always on the party’s list of spokespersons, the communication department stopped fielding him for the party's official press briefings. Earlier, Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Haryana) and Mukul Wasnik (Maharashtra) were given key party posts indicating that the high command doesn't want dissensions to grow.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Congress' Dalit Card for 2024

The Congress' super high command is toying with the idea of playing the Dalit Card during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The super high command comprising three Gandhis (Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi) sees Mallikarjun Kharge as a potential Prime Ministerial face. It was perhaps part of this strategy that Kharge was first brought by the Gandhis as Congress president last year and also allowed him to stay put as Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha. Kharge has come from a humble family and an affable person. The Congress strategists say that the Dalits were the party's backbone until the 90s. Gradually, the BSP led by late Kanshi Ram and regional parties swallowed its Dalit vote bank in polls after polls. Since 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be a Waterloo for the Congress as it is facing existential crisis, Kharge may turn out to be its Savior. The Gandhis are facing many cases in courts and with the BJP targeting the family, it is felt that Kharge will be its best bet. In the current scenario, the Congress cannot expect to emerge as the single largest party in 2024 as was the case 20 years ago in 2004. If the Gandhis play the Dalit card, the Opposition parties may find it difficult to oppose Kharge. He may even emerge as a unifying force given the current political situation.

Unease in BJP over B L Santosh

Heard of B L Santosh, BJP's most-powerful general secretary (organisation or Sangthan Mantri) ? Perhaps not. The Sangthan Mantri is expected to silently work for the organisation and devise strategies to strengthen the party across the country. He is the second most-powerful person after the party president. The Sangthan Mantri is the key link between the RSS and the BJP and plays a key role in all decisions regarding organizational affairs. Traditionally, a full-time RSS 'pracharak' is appointed to the post and works on deputation till his repatriation. Santosh was brought to Delhi in July 2019 from Karnataka to replace Ram Lal who was at the helm of affairs for a record 13 years which is perhaps the longest one in BJP's history. Santosh was among four of the Joint General Secretaries (Organisation) under Ramlal. Other three Joint General Secretaries were V Satish, Saudan Singh and Shiv Prakash.

Ramlal's tenure was marked by smooth coordination between the RSS and the BJP. He shunned publicity and his low-key style was in sharp contrast to the functioning of his two predecessors; Sanjay Joshi and KN Govindacharya. Joshi was removed prematurely in 2005 after his rivals within the party cited an objectionable CD while Govindacharya was axed following his reported comments that mocked the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Whispers in the corridors of power in the BJP suggest that there is tremendous unease with the style of working of B L Santosh. The top leadership in the BJP is reported to be uncomfortable. Since Santosh hails from Karnataka and is understood to be promoting those against B S Yediyurappa, the faction-ridden party is facing an uphill task to retain the state.

Liquor scam: No evidence against Kejri

The CBI is reported to have decided to make Amit Arora, a director of Buddy Retail Pvt. Ltd., as approver in the Delhi Liquor scam. Earlier, the agencies were planning to make Manish Sisodia, a trusted lieutenant of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, as approver. But after a close scrutiny of documents on record and intense grilling of the accused, it was decided that  Amit Arora will be a safer bet. Since there is no documentary evidence against Arvind Kejriwal in the Liquor scam and can't be convicted. Therefore, no useful purpose will be served by enlisting Sisodia as an approver. Rather, Sisodia will be made an accused and projected as poster boy of the scam. Sisodia’s most trusted private secretary had handed over a document wherein Sisodia gave go-ahead to the new liquor policy. Therefore, it would be better to pin down his number 2. It is due to this development that Amit Arora will be made an approver and Sisodia’s private secretary as prosecution witness. Interestingly, when Amit Arora sought extension of his 15 days parole recently, the prosecution did not oppose it in the court. The CBI is  contemplating filing a supplementary chargesheet separately in the case. Arora has been on parole for more than two months while all other accused are languishing in jail without any relief.

Modi's Pep Talk to Media

The other day, PM Modi suggested that media houses should stop doing the "balancing act” and should take advantage of the India moment and prodded them to go global. Though he did not elaborate what he meant by “balancing act”. Sources say that he was indirectly prodding the leading media house to choose one path only by joining the India moment rather than keeping the Opposition in good humour as well. He wanted them to grab enormous opportunities by expanding their network globally. The PM is keen that Indian media houses should go global. Insiders say that the PM is peeved by frequent criticism by western media outlets against his government and keen to pay them back in the same coin.