Pawar's stony silence
NCP president Sharad Pawar declined to speak at the 26 Opposition parties' conclave in Bengaluru on July 18. He maintained a studied silence despite being specifically requested by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. He requested Pawar at the beginning of the meeting itself to speak. When Pawar showed his reluctance, Kharge moved on and came back to Pawar again. But Pawar was in no mood to speak. After his most trusted colleagues and nephew Ajit Pawar split the party to join hands with the BJP, Pawar has not been in his element. He has maintained a silence for the past sometime and looking for an opportunity to turn the tables on those who deserted him at the fag end of his political career. Even in the Rajya Sabha, he has been maintaining complete silence. Though the majority of Mps in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are with him, the strength on the ground in Maharashtra is yet to be tested. Pawar has an uncanny knack of sensing what's in store for the future in politics and has tremendous patience. He has always emerged as a winner. But for the time being he is on the receiving end as his one foot is in “INDIA” (A conglomerate of 26 parties) while the majority of MLAs are with the ruling NDA.
Waiting for Auspicious Day
The new Parliament building was ready and cleared after mock drills were conducted by experts. Every Member of Parliament was excited to start the new inning in the State-of-the-Art 'Temple of Democracy' during the Monsoon session. Then came the word that the shifting would be done during the midst of the Monsoon session. Why ? Are there any hiccups ? Any problem? It was stated by Hanuman Beniwal, a Member of the Lok Sabha from Rajasthan who is neither with the NDA and nor with the Opposition, that there is water-logging, seepage and leakage in the new building after heavy rains hit the National Capital. The official sources deny this insinuation. But insiders have another tail saying there is nothing of the sort. The Modi dispensation is looking for an auspicious date for the inauguration ceremony as conflicting views are being expressed by astrologers. The 'pandits' are differing and therefore, the session is held in the old Parliament building for now. A formal announcement regarding the new date is expected any time.
Why RSS is uneasy !
The RSS is extremely baffled as to why the Prime Minister did not deem it fit to speak on violence in Manipur as it washed out decades of its work there. The Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, a wing of the RSS founded 68 years ago, is dedicated to uplift eight crores tribal in the NE. Its other major task is to ensure that clashes among the communities must not be turned into Hindu-Christians conflicts. The RSS leadership was extremely happy that PM Modi helped tremendously during all these years not only in Manipur but other NE states by creating infrastructure and going there almost every month. The people of Manipur take the PM in high esteem and adore him. When the violence erupted in Manipur in May and started getting out of hand, it was conveyed to the government that intervention was needed at the highest level. After a month and a half the RSS issued an appeal for peace in Manipur on June 19 expecting the PM to take a hint and break his silence. The PM first spoke on Manipur violence on July 20, opening day of the Parliament session for just 36 seconds to waiting TV channels. He spoke at BJP's Parliamentary Party meeting on July 25. Many in the RSS are surprised as to why the PM is not speaking inside the Parliament as it will have an electrifying effect. The RSS is extremely worried that it will take decades to heal the wounds and bring communities together again.
The shaky top
With the Supreme Court turning heat on some of the actions of the Modi dispensation, the Centre is cautious enough not to take any decision which may create any bad blood. The Centre's instance has made two senior serving top bureaucrats uneasy; Cabinet Secretary Rajive Gauba and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla who have served for nearly four years in office. This is two years more than their stipulated tenure after retirement. Both are fine officers and the government decided to continue with them even after two years tenure. No extension order has been issued in case Bhalla who is retiring on July 30, 2023. Gauba's tenure is ending in August. The name of Vandita Sharma, currently Chief Secretary, Karnataka is being mentioned as the next Cabinet Secretary. The re-thinking is emerging after a strong remarks from the bench of the Chief Justice of India on continuance of Sanjay Mishra as Enforcement Director. The government is in no mood to earn such a rap again. Sanjay Mishra is set to go as ED chief for almost five years in office where he conducted 2000 raids across the country and attached assets worth Rs 65000 crores. But the SC was in no mood to listen to his achievements saying the rules of service do not provide for such an interpretation. A fixed tenure means that an officer can continue for a minimum period of two years after retirement. It does not mean that the officers can hold the seat of power for an indefinite period. Gauba, however, may be sent as Principal Adviser in the PMO, a post earlier held by P K Sinha. Interestingly, the Centre is fighting to the fit to ensure Sanjay Mishra's stay at ED only.
