Published: Thursday, Jun 2, 2011, 1:27 IST
By Harish Gupta | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/analysis_the-sonia-gandhi-manmohan-singh-chemistry-pehle-aap-pehle-aap_1550138
The group of ministers (GoM) on media to handle 24X7 trial on TV channels, internet, and print of the government has an interesting tail that reveals the chemistry between PM Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Both were extremely upset the way government was getting round-the-clock bashing on 2G, black money, corruption, etc. The blame was laid at the doorstep of information and broadcasting minster Ambika Soni.
Pushed to the wall, Soni got an opportunity last month to travel with the PM and Sonia and bitterly complained that no senior minister was available whenever needed by the press to rebut the charges levelled by the opposition. She doled out a couple of incidents, causing Sonia Gandhi to raise her eyebrows. But neither of them said anything to her. Perhaps each was waiting for the other to respond and the journey ended leaving Sonia baffled.
It was only the following day that the PM called Soni and told her that she should have brought the matter to his notice earlier. A GoM was formed and “UPA War Room” was created, which meets everyday. So Soni is not blamed individually for any media mess; it is a collective affair. But thus far the GoM (media) is only explaining and defending the government rather than being pro-active, be it on Anna Hazare or Swami Ramdev.
Hectic June looming:With as major decisions due to be taken, high-flying ministers are being grounded as the PM tells them to stay put in the capital as far as possible. The PM and Sonia are to decide on the long-pending cabinet reshuffle but it isn’t proving easy, especially with the PM keen for a major surgery to send out the signal that he will not tolerate tainted and inefficient persons in his cabinet. Complicating the situation is the DMK’s demand for a berth in place of A Raja while a couple of new Congress faces, such as Janardhan Dwivedi, are set to be brought in.
Meanwhile, the TMC wants Rs25000 crore for West Bengal (which is in the pipeline now) and there is talk about efforts being made to get Ajit Singh of the RLD to join the government and merge his party with the Congress. An advertisement with a photo of his late father Charan Singh by the government created a flutter. The government also has to take major decisions in respect of the Land Acquisition Act, Food Security bill, Lokpal bill, and to adequately respond to the clamour to bring back money stashed in tax-heavens. Finally, the leader of the opposition, Sushma Swaraj, is being sounded out about the appointment of new Central Vigilance Commissioner in place of PJ Thomas.
BJP face in UP: It is now almost certain that Rajnath Singh will be the BJP’s face in UP though leaders like Kalraj Mishra, Vinay Katiyar, Varun Gandhi, and others will form the core group. The BJP has decided to test the waters with its core Hindutva agenda. The decision is based on internal surveys carried out by certain professional pollsters at the behest of party chief Nitin Gadkari.
Lobbyists running for a cover: Ministers are shunning them and corporate houses are worried. With government agencies still active in tracking phone calls and emails, the mighty politicians are using landline numbers and personal meetings. Not even an SMS is welcome and no jokes on mobiles as such things have already put Amar Singh and many others in the doghouse. At least three Union ministers have quietly put up de-bugging equipment in their offices and homes that will signal that the person sitting opposite is carrying a tapping device.
Crop hits bumpers: The bumper crop this season has the government worried as food stocks are at a record 595 lakh tonnes with a storage capacity of the FCI is around 500 lakh tonnes. The private trader is not buying wheat while government doesn’t have capacity to store and the weather is playing truant. The market price is less than the minimum support price (MSP) given to the farmers. There is an export ban on foodgrains. The government doesn’t know what to do with National Advisory Council wanting 70% population covered under BPL category. Pranab Mukherjee is stretching his head as the subsidy bill closes in on the Rs80,000 crore mark.
By Harish Gupta | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/analysis_the-sonia-gandhi-manmohan-singh-chemistry-pehle-aap-pehle-aap_1550138
The group of ministers (GoM) on media to handle 24X7 trial on TV channels, internet, and print of the government has an interesting tail that reveals the chemistry between PM Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Both were extremely upset the way government was getting round-the-clock bashing on 2G, black money, corruption, etc. The blame was laid at the doorstep of information and broadcasting minster Ambika Soni.
Pushed to the wall, Soni got an opportunity last month to travel with the PM and Sonia and bitterly complained that no senior minister was available whenever needed by the press to rebut the charges levelled by the opposition. She doled out a couple of incidents, causing Sonia Gandhi to raise her eyebrows. But neither of them said anything to her. Perhaps each was waiting for the other to respond and the journey ended leaving Sonia baffled.
It was only the following day that the PM called Soni and told her that she should have brought the matter to his notice earlier. A GoM was formed and “UPA War Room” was created, which meets everyday. So Soni is not blamed individually for any media mess; it is a collective affair. But thus far the GoM (media) is only explaining and defending the government rather than being pro-active, be it on Anna Hazare or Swami Ramdev.
Hectic June looming:With as major decisions due to be taken, high-flying ministers are being grounded as the PM tells them to stay put in the capital as far as possible. The PM and Sonia are to decide on the long-pending cabinet reshuffle but it isn’t proving easy, especially with the PM keen for a major surgery to send out the signal that he will not tolerate tainted and inefficient persons in his cabinet. Complicating the situation is the DMK’s demand for a berth in place of A Raja while a couple of new Congress faces, such as Janardhan Dwivedi, are set to be brought in.
Meanwhile, the TMC wants Rs25000 crore for West Bengal (which is in the pipeline now) and there is talk about efforts being made to get Ajit Singh of the RLD to join the government and merge his party with the Congress. An advertisement with a photo of his late father Charan Singh by the government created a flutter. The government also has to take major decisions in respect of the Land Acquisition Act, Food Security bill, Lokpal bill, and to adequately respond to the clamour to bring back money stashed in tax-heavens. Finally, the leader of the opposition, Sushma Swaraj, is being sounded out about the appointment of new Central Vigilance Commissioner in place of PJ Thomas.
BJP face in UP: It is now almost certain that Rajnath Singh will be the BJP’s face in UP though leaders like Kalraj Mishra, Vinay Katiyar, Varun Gandhi, and others will form the core group. The BJP has decided to test the waters with its core Hindutva agenda. The decision is based on internal surveys carried out by certain professional pollsters at the behest of party chief Nitin Gadkari.
Lobbyists running for a cover: Ministers are shunning them and corporate houses are worried. With government agencies still active in tracking phone calls and emails, the mighty politicians are using landline numbers and personal meetings. Not even an SMS is welcome and no jokes on mobiles as such things have already put Amar Singh and many others in the doghouse. At least three Union ministers have quietly put up de-bugging equipment in their offices and homes that will signal that the person sitting opposite is carrying a tapping device.
Crop hits bumpers: The bumper crop this season has the government worried as food stocks are at a record 595 lakh tonnes with a storage capacity of the FCI is around 500 lakh tonnes. The private trader is not buying wheat while government doesn’t have capacity to store and the weather is playing truant. The market price is less than the minimum support price (MSP) given to the farmers. There is an export ban on foodgrains. The government doesn’t know what to do with National Advisory Council wanting 70% population covered under BPL category. Pranab Mukherjee is stretching his head as the subsidy bill closes in on the Rs80,000 crore mark.
