Fly on the Wall | A poll for the next President!!

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

A poll for the next President!!

When Union Home Minister Amit Shah said recently that UP Assembly poll results will have an impact on national politics, no eyebrows were raised. The statement was largely ignored as one of the election rhetoric. But those who know Amit Shah closely, say he is not known for mincing word and plays with a straight bat. He may be termed as “Chanakya” by his admirers but his opponents say his only strength is that he has the ears of the Prime Minister. He implements what he is told to do and is a true lieutenant of Narendra Modi for more than two decades. Therefore, when he says something in public domain, his words need to be understood from a political perspective. After all, the Prime Minister finally deputed him to take charge of the poll campaign in UP after a long lull and deliver 300/403 seats to the NDA. These seats are vital for the Presidential polls slated to take place in July this year. The realignment of political forces in the country depends on the outcome of the UP Assembly polls. An adverse outcome will bring all anti-BJP forces together on one platform. These forces may sink their differences to install a consensus candidate like Shah Pawar or someone from down South or East the next President of India. The NDA, at present, has a narrow edge in the electoral college of around 11 lakh votes. The BJP would need allies like BJD, YSR-Congress, TRS or even the DMK. A comfortable UP win for the BJP is a must to ensure stability of the BJP at the Centre. Any adverse outcome may throw up more rumblings within the BJP and many sidelined leaders are just waiting in the wings for that moment only. It is because of this very reason that Modi, BJP and RSS have pumped in their entire might behind the UP polls.

The Return of Amit Shah

Shah is now the most active face of the BJP in these five State polls. The PM has asked Shah to steer the UP polls and Modi was forced to send Shah sensing some danger. There were days sometime last year when Shah was cooling his heels and maintaining a low-profile. Shah was not very visible either and insiders felt that something is amiss. But it was between Modi and Shah and no third person got a clue. That was the time when J P Nadda, newly appointed BJP president, was on top of the world and hogging the limelight. But the situation changed and Shah was seen holding late night meetings at the BJP headquarters with all top leaders in tow. Even when Nadda was unable to make physically present at such meetings and could join only virtually, Shah was seen in command with others playing coy. Shah's regular presence at the BJP headquarters reminded people of the days when Shah was BJP president between 2014-19 and he was at his best. This round of Assembly elections in five states saw the return of old Amit Shah and he is enjoying it.

Self-goal by Gandhi siblings

Rahul Gandhi was extremely happy to find that all the 117 party candidates in Punjab were in tow when he visited the Golden Temple to pay obeisance last week. He was extremely happy when both claimants to the Punjab Chief Minister’s chair, Navjot Singh Sidhu and sitting CM Charanjit Singh Channi expressed faith in his leadership. Both wanted Rahul to declare the party's chief minister’s face and would accept his decision whoever he would nominate. Poor Rahul!! He fell into the trap and announced before the media that he would announce the CM face after consulting party workers. Perhaps, Rahul forgot the pitfalls of announcing a candidate when a sitting CM is already there representing the support of at least 30% of Dalit votes in the state. If he announces an “an unstable minded” Sidhu, Congress will lose Dalits and if Channi is announced, the Jats won’t be happy either. What a dichotomy? But Rahul Gandhi himself is to be blamed for putting himself and the party in this embarrassing situation. Insiders say Rahul Gandhi was carried away by the huge crowd around him and gave in. Now, the ball has been thrown towards Sonia Gandhi so sort out the mess. Earlier, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made the same fatal mistake of saying “Who else you find other than me” when media persons wanted to know who will Congress’ Chief Ministerial face in UP. The press conference had been planned in advance and she had been properly briefed. Yet she was swayed and later sheepishly clarified that it was unintended. But the damage had been done and the entire UP campaign got punctured.

Fly On the Wall | A battle royal between two Chankyas

Fly On the Wall
by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

A battle royal between two Chankyas

If all goes as per plans, the country may soon be on the cusp of a battle royal between BJP's Chankya Amit Shah and Opposition’s poll strategist Prashant Kishore, “PK”. Both were key strategists for Narendra Modi’s Prime Ministerial campaign in 2014 and fell out later. The Congress is on the verge of picking PK as its key poll strategist until the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. A decision is likely anytime next week. PK will not charge any fee for his services as he will be formally joining the Congress. He has told the three Gandhis that if inducted, he will oversee the party's poll strategies in all the elections leading up to 2024. He said the situation can be retrieved in Punjab and Uttarakhand is winnable if the right kind of strategy is adopted. But he would like to make a big beginning with Gujarat and Karnataka where Assembly polls will be held in November 2022. The BJP and Congress are in direct contest in these states. The BJP can be defeated in its home turf in Gujarat after 27 years of being in power. Before inducting PK, Sonia Gandhi wants the stamp of approval of all CWC members. The party men are happy that finally Rahul Gandhi is listening to somebody and may act on his advice.

Why PK fell out with Shah

Though 'PK' was part of Modi’s core team in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Modi was so impressed by PK’s skills that he was allotted a place on the top floor of the CM's residence itself. PK had also given Modi a blueprint to overhaul the bureaucracy on the US pattern where thousands of officers come and go with the new Presidents. When Modi asked PK what role he would like to play, the latter wanted to be named as BJP's Poll Strategist. If there could be a general secretary (organization), why not general secretary (poll strategy)? Modi was willing to consider but Amit Shah nixed it soon after taking over as BJP Chief. Modi dithered and PK moved out. Amit Shah and PK were face to face for the first time in Bihar and Delhi Assembly polls in 2015 and BJP was decisively defeated. But PK didn't get the desired credit. The victories in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh were discounted as BJP was a junior partner in these states. PK also tasted failure in 2017 in UP. His golden moment came seven years later when he trounced Amit Shah in West Bengal in 2021 in a big way. It was a huge setback for Shah and a beaming PK claimed “he is BJP’s overrated Poll Manager.”

Disquiet in RSS

There is disquiet in the RSS these days. A top RSS leader put it very aptly: “Aajkal prasannta ka vatavaran nahin Hai.” (Nowadays, the atmosphere is not pleasant). He did not elaborate but the disconnect between the BJP and the RSS is clearly visible. The RSS was not happy with the way the government handled CAA and three Farm Acts and the talks should have been held. The recent Cabinet reshuffle widened the gulf as wings of Nitin Gadkari were further clipped when the MSME ministry was taken away.

As if this was not enough, most of the recommendations of the RSS for new inductions were ignored. The RSS Chief, Mohan Bhagwat’s statement that the government and Society, both, have to understand and learn lessons from the Covid pandemic, was seen as an oblique criticism of the government.

But the Pegasus telephone tapping scandal that rocked governments world over, created a major disconnect. It has surfaced now that telephone numbers of many RSS functionaries including a senior one were under watch. It is learnt that a top-most officer of the Modi dispensation visited Chitrakoot where Pratinidhi Sabha was being held in the second week of July. The meet was significant as it came much before the Pegasus snooping scandal officially surfaced on July 18. He had a long chat with RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat. What transpired between them is not known. But many say that the tweet of Subramanian Swamy on July 18 morning that tapping the phones of PM Modi’s cabinet ministers, RSS leaders and others will be disclosed soon. Obviously, this person was sent to Chitrakoot on a fire-fighting mission as the government knew beforehand that such a scandal may surface. An insider said, “the gulf has widened since then.”

Fly on the wall - Emergence of a New Amit Shah & What next for Chirag ?

Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Emergence of a New Amit Shah 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is known for talking straight without mincing words. Lately, he was out of action for almost three months after being hit by Covid and related health issues. His absence was felt by many because the Prime Minister is not known for opening up. Even the BJP Chief J P Nadda prefers to keep his counsel and shun the media. There is no one in the ruling establishment who carries authority to speak on thorny issues. After former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was made incharge of Bihar poll, powerful BJP general secretary Bhupendra Yadav also decided to maintain a low-profile. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is coming out of his cocoon but confines himself to the task assigned and speaks on Defense related issues only. There is none in the hierarchy who commands authority. It was at this juncture that Amit Shah broke his silence and dwelt on many issues. But this was a different Amit Shah as he was not full of fire & fury. Rather, he maintained a completely low-profile. Yet, he put the record straight and disapproved many a things that the hardliners in the Parivar were doing; be it Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari’s letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray or linking of drug cartel probe to only Bollywood, media trial in the Sushant Singh Rajput case, Tanishq advertisement on communal harmony and what not. He was telling clearly that neither the Centre nor he per se, had any hand in all that had happened during the past three months. In a way, he was rather clarifying that neither he and nor the party should be blamed for it or if it had hurt anybody. Whether he was trying to build bridges with Shiv Sena, could be anybody’s guess. But he clearly told Bollywood that he doesn’t approve of what the Narcotics Control Bureau had done or what the Paparazzi in TV channels were doing despite their political affiliations. Certainly, it’s a new Amit Shah not the one the country knew so far. (Click here to read original article)

Putting a cart before the Horse

There is considerable surprise in the medical fraternity as to why a hype is being created over

Coronavirus vaccine. A series of meetings are being held at the highest level lately and all concerned including states have been told to draw up detailed plans how the vaccine will be distributed and who will be vaccinated first. A list of roughly two crores priority people have already been drawn up. Remember the days when the Railway Ministry converted 20000 coaches into Covid beds without much planning which are still lying idle or ICMR setting August 15 deadline for Covid vaccine! Barring China, no country is claiming any vaccine at least until April 2021. The USA & Europe have rejected India’s claim to waive off Intellectual Property Right (IPR) for vaccines at the WTO. Of course, some companies including Indian ventures are working on antibody drugs instead which can give relief for six months or so. India has not paid a penny for any upfront payment to procure vaccines to any global company. But plans are being drawn up to get vaccines distribution. Experts say “It’s like putting a cart before the horse”.

What next for Chirag ?

All eyes are set on the Prime Minister who will begin his mega Bihar poll campaign on October 23 as to what he will say about Chirag Paswan. Though BJP’s Bihar unit called Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) as “vote katua”, Devendra Fadnavis, incharge of Bihar, avoided any such adjectives. Even Amit Shah ducked the question saying, “We will see after the elections.” The Janata Dal (U) is pressing BJP leadership hard to throw LJP out of the NDA at the national level right away and refusing to give Rajya Sabha to LJP fell vacant after Ram Vilas Paswan’s death. It seems NDA is somewhat on a weak wicket in Bihar.

Atmanirbhar Bharat, what a pity 

The government banned 101 items for being imported in the defense sector with big fanfare claiming these will be manufactured in India as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat. When the list was finally uploaded by the Defense ministry on its website, there was amusement. Why ? It turned out that more than 40 items were never imported for years. The ministry banned the Hull-mounted Sonar even though DRDO's HUMSA and USHUS sonar suits are mega successes already. In another bizarre move, the ministry canceled tenders of more than a dozen companies who had started their manufacturing units to meet defense needs only. Now these companies have been left high & dry and shut down. This was done after a series of negotiations for the supply of ammunition since 2016.

Asthana may be CBI Chief! Fly on the Wall

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Asthana may be CBI Chief! 

The three months long Rhea Chakraborty saga may finally come to an end after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) doused the political fire in Bihar by arresting her. The graph of Rakesh Asthana, DG, NCB has jumped manifold in the eyes of political masters in Delhi. Asthana has succeeded where CBI Director R K Shukla and Enforcement Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra failed in the task even after 50 hours of grilling running for weeks together. A top ED officer who specially flew down from Delhi to Mumbai and part of the extensive grilling told his bosses: Sorry Sir! Not an iota of evidence.” Thus, the NCB stepped in. This column had said last week itself that NCB will arrest Rhea. Insiders tell us that Asthana’s prospects of becoming new CBI chief have brightened when Shukla retires early next year. Asthana had been extremely unhappy ever since he was shunted out from the CBI last year.

Click here to Read complete article here

Sonia offensive, Dissidents defensive 

The 23 dissident Congress leaders are running for a cover after raising a banner of revolt against the Gandhis. Instead of buckling under the pressure, Congress’ interim president Sonia Gandhi has gone on the offensive. If she shocked dissidents by appointing Rahul loyalists in key parliamentary panels, she humiliated a few by dropping them from UP committees. As if this was not enough, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Rajya Sabha MP and Bihar Campaign Committee chief was dropped from the powerful Bihar Election Committee. If sources are to be believed, the G-23 is a house divided with Mukul Wasnik, Manish Tewari and Shashi Tharoor singing different tunes. Tewari went public recently saying the letter’s drafting could have been better. Obviously, it’s a dig at Anand Sharma who drafted the letter. Tharoor is buying peace as BJP has no strong presence in Kerala while Mukul Wasnik has his own reasons for backtracking. Prithviraj Chavan who owed his rise to the post of Maharashtra Chief Minister to Sonia Gandhi, has gone into hiding after raising a banner of revolt.

Whispers galore over Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is back at his Krishna Menon Marg residence and recouping after suffering from Covid and fatigue. Being Prime Minister Modi’s Man Friday, Shah has been batting from the front foot. But for the past some time, he has been away from public glare.

The Fly learns that he is fully active and clearing files at a faster pace though avoiding attending office. The gossip mongers in Lutyen’s Delhi have all kinds of tails like Amit Shah being upset for not being invited to the Ram Janmabhoomi foundation stone laying ceremony, appointment of C R Patil as Gujrat BJP chief etc. etc. Insiders assert there is no truth as the equation between the PM-HM remains strong. The PM inquired about his health on a daily basis since August 2 when he was admitted to Medanta and visited him after he returned from AIIMS. These sources say, “Modi-Shah relationship is like that of Ram and Hanuman and no power on Earth can separate them.”

Selling Air India Herculean Task

India’s flagship Air India is first on the block among the 26 PSUs to be sold before March 31 next year. While there are many takers for BPCL and others, selling Air India is turning out to be a Herculean task for the Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. It transpires that the House of TATAs is somewhat disinclined. The TATAs already operate Air Asia & Vistara and CEO N Chandrasekaran is reluctant to put in this kind of money in the aviation business. However, two gulf nations have shown interest riding on the back of cordial relations with PM Modi. The government is keen to mop up at least two lakh crores from the PSU sale during 2020-21 to bridge 8% Budget deficit.

Amit Shah's retreat is a “Tactical Shift”

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Amit Shah's retreat is a “Tactical Shift”

Condemning “Goli Maaro” remark aimed at Bihar polls

Nitish, Paswan had sounded alarm bells

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 14

Union Home Minister Amit Shah's disapproval of remarks by BJP's motormouths after the humiliating defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls is a not a change of heart of the party but a “tactical shift”. Even this tactical shift is temporary keeping in mind the immediate political necessity looming large in Bihar.

The Assembly elections in Bihar are due to be held within the next six months where the BJP is a junior partner to Janata Dal (U). To top it all, the Lok Jantrantrik Party (LJP) of Ram Vilas Paswan will also not align with the BJP if it kept its own hate agenda in Bihar.

Therefore, Amit Shah poured waters by condemning “Goli Maaro and India-Pakistan match” remarks by sitting Lok Sabha MPs and ministers in the Modi government.

Insiders say that the public condemnation, three days after the defeat, was made publicly by Shah after allies in Bihar raised alarm bells. The BJP leadership is aware that the party is a junior partner in Bihar and neither Janata Dal (U) nor LJP will compromise on the issue.

Though Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar entered into an alliance with the BJP on two Assembly seats in Delhi and campaigned with Amit Shah, he was extremely uncomfortable with the hard-line Hindutva campaigning by the BJP leaders. Nitish Kumar is considered “Susashan Babu” in Bihar and able to defeat Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD due to his performance and keeping the minorities on his side to some extent. He would not allow the BJP to pursue its agenda of hate or polarised campaigning in the state.

Since Assembly polls are due in Bihar in six months from now, Amit Shah knows more than anybody else that if the BJP is to align with JD (U), its Hindutva agenda won't work in the state.

Secondly, LJP president Chirag Paswan has already issued a tacit warning to the BJP leaders that no “hate speeches” will be allowed in Bihar. His father Ram Vilas Paswan shared stage with BJP leaders during the Delhi Assembly polls and was seen extremely uncomfortable with the BJP's political discourse. Instead of Ram Vilas Paswan making a remark against the BJP, he has fielded his son to issue a statement against the BJP leaders who made the hate speeches.

It is in this background that Amit Shah, being an astute politician, smoked the peace pipe. But Amit Shah's dilution of stand is temporary and once Bihar elections are over in August, the BJP will go back to its own agenda in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry where Assembly polls are due in April 2021.

Kejriwal turns Devout Hindu, gets Muslim votes

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

News cum analysis

Kejriwal turns Devout Hindu, gets Muslim votes 

Alarm bells for BJP as Opposition rejuvenated  

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 11 

The AAP's spectacular second sweep in a row in Delhi Assembly elections today has given the reverse “current” to the BJP leadership. The BJP which had made Shaheen Bagh as its main poll plank and fielded motormouths in the campaign to divide voters, will have to re-invent strategy to win Delhi. The 22 year long drought for the party in national Capital has been a huge pain in its neck and nothing worked for it since 1998. In 2015, the BJP even imported a rank outsider, former IPS Kiran Bedi, as its chief ministerial face ignoring the legitimate claim of party veteran Dr Harsh Vardhan. She suffered a humiliating defeat herself and the party sank to worst ever tally of three out of 70 seats. In 2020, the BJP leadership decided not to project any local leader for the post of Chief Minister against mighty Arvind Kejriwal and Amit Shah personally led the campaign from the front. A conscious decision was taken to grab the 'Shaheen Bagh indefinite dharna' by women folks and arouse Hindu sentiments in the city. More than 20 Union Ministers and 200 plus party MPs were pumped into the campaigning for 30 days. It was a “carpet bombing” Amit Shah is known for. He personally distributed leaflets in several colonies and hoped to turn the election. 

However, Arvind Kejriwal stuck to his development model and shunned Shaheen Bagh completely. He didn't utter a single word against Prime Minister Modi or even Amit Shah. He made all the right noises and even grabbed the Prime Minister's slogan “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”. Simultaneously, he went on chant “Vande Matram” and visited Hanuman Temple to send the message to the nationalists and Hindus that he is part of them. He addressed several Town Hall meetings on TV channels and ducked all national issues. Yet, the Muslims saw in him a new saviour as Congress was no where to be seen or heard.

The underlining message of Delhi polls is the emergence of two party system relegating Congress to a position of complete insignificance. The Congress had no strategy and Rahul Gandhi went over-board when he went to address a public meeting saying, “The youth will beat him with a stick in six months as they are not getting jobs.”

The BJP committed the cardinal mistake of attacking the Congress. In the process, the party's votes went to the AAP furthering the prospects of Kejriwal.

Kejriwal proved himself as an astute politician and termed his victory by chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai”. The BJP cannot target him for being anti-Hindu. Last but not the least, the BJP will have to revert to development model of the PM dumping the politics of hate. It will now have to look at Bihar Assembly polls more carefully and cannot take victory for granted. The location of one Shaheen Bagh may be shifted. But Kejriwal's win has given a new fervor to the entire Opposition.

The Untold story of Abrogation of Article 370

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

A Lokmat Exclusive story

The Untold story of Abrogation of Article 370

How A Constitutional Blunder was averted on J&K !

An Alert JS saved Amit Shah of huge embarrassment

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Jan 30

It has now surfaced that a Constitutional blunder was averted on August 5 when Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in the midst of getting the abrogate of Article 370 passed in the Rajya Sabha.

In fact, Amit Shah was jubilant as the government has almost succeeded in getting the bill passed in the Upper House despite not having even a simple majority. Ministers after ministers were rushing to Amit Shah's Parliament House's chamber to congratulate him when he came to have a cup of tea.

It was around 5 in the evening when a Joint Secretary who was quietly standing in toe whispered that the J&K Re-organisation and abrogation of Article 370 would be illegal unless the prior approval of the Lok Sabha is taken.

There was a stunning silence in the room packed with ministers and couple of officers. One of  Amit Shah's favourite ministers snubbed the JS for his atrocious suggestion. He said the twin bills were cleared by experts and procedures adopted in abrogating Article 370 and there was no need for a new element.

But Amit Shah has an uncanny knack and allowed the JS to have his say. It was pointed out that since Article 370 can be abrogated only by the J&K Constituent Assembly or the J&K Assembly in the absence of the former, the Rajya Sabha cannot abrogate it. He pointed out a Resolution has to be placed in the Lok Sabha first authorising the House to be vested with the powers of J&K Assembly. Once this was done, the twin bills can be passed. 

The Joint Secretary was found to be correct in his submissions. But this created a new problem and a lot of formalities were to be done. . It was also discovered that the Lok Sabha was discussing the Surrogacy bill. Amit Shah walked up to the Speaker and impressed upon him the need to immediately seek the permission to table the resolution vesting the powers of the J&K Assembly in Parliament breaking the dicssion on the Surrogacy Bill. There were hardly any Opposition members on the benches except for the DMK's T R Baalu who opposed it. But the ruling party had it way and the Resolution was allowed.

A triumphant Amit Shah walked back to the Rajya Sabha armed with the Lokn Sabha authorisation and tabled it the RS in the melee. Rest is history.

Ends 

Amit Shah takes big risk in Delhi polls battle

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Amit Shah takes big risk in Delhi polls battle

Fields news comers, banks on Modi charisma

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Jan. 24

The PM is likely to address a series of rallies in the Delhi Assembly polls beginning February 1 after the presentation of the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha.

If sources are to be believed, the PM will address 5-6 rallies in February depending upon the mood and response of the people. A massive mobilisation is on to launch full onslaught against the Kejriwal government in the Capital and grab power after a drought of 20 years.

The top BJP leadership decided to bank on the Prime Minister's charisma and popularity in the Assembly polls rather than projecting anyone for the post of the Chief Minister. So much so that the BJP leadership abandoned its plan to field Manoj Tiwari, Gautam Gambhir, Meenakshi Lekhi, Vijay Goel and a couple of other well known sitting MPs. The leadership felt that if the election is to be fought in the name of Modi, then why make sitting MPs to contest for the Assembly.

As if this was not enough, the party picked up several fresh faces to fight the AAP and the Congress. It fielded a completely newcomer and unknown Sunil Yadav against Arvind Kejriwal to show to the seniors that they are no more needed for the local polls.

In fact, Vijay Jolly, Aarti Mehra, Ajay Malhotra, son of former Delhi Chief Metropolitan counciller Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Harish Khurana, son of Madanlal Khurana's son, Sudhanshu Mittal were told to campaign rather than contest.

While acknowledging that the party faces an uphill battle, the leadership also feels that Modi's campaign wil, tilt the balance in favour of the BJP. The “momentum is in party’s favour”, claimed a senior functionary saying saying the agitation by the Muslim women at Shaheen Bagh against the CAA has galvanized the BJP workers and its sympathizers.

The BJP leadership is also of the view that a division on the communal lines is being tested in Delhi where the party has been out of power for past 20 years. The party's campaign command and ticket distribution command has been taken by the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah into his own hands. In fact, it is Amit Shah who held a rare road show yesterday in the Capital for the Assembly poll and devoted more than four hours campaigning.

With a bold Union Budget in the offing coupled with a series of welfare scheme launched, Modi-Shah team will be able to tilt the balance in BJP's favour.

Nadda's auspicious day sooner than expected !

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Nadda's auspicious day sooner than expected ! 

Amit Shah keen to quit party post before Delhi polls

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Jan. 13

The Capital is agog with reports that the working president J P Nadda may take over the reins as full president of the party very soon. Insiders say that a special session of the National Council of the BJP may be held either within the next ten days or immediately after the Delhi Assembly polls. But BJP president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah has impressed upon the party leaders that he would like to give up the party post to focus fully on the government affairs.

Now that the inauspicious period of “Khad Mas” (One month period) is over on the Makar Sankranti tomorrow, the process may be expedited. Though the process of completing states' organisational polls is not over yet, it is felt that the wait should not be prolonged.

The prolonged uncertainty in the party's leadership is giving birth to all kinds of speculations in the media and the party. Now that Nadda has worked closely with Amit Shah for nearly seven months, its time, he should be inducted as soon as possible. If inducted within the next ten days, Nadda will face an uphill task dislodged Arvind Kejriwal's government in Delhi. The hopes of the BJP rest on the revival of the Congress party which alone can weaken the AAP.

Though the time is short, Nadda has the capability to woo the old guards in his own affable style and sort out factionalism in the national capital within the party leaders. Seconly, he is an alliance man and would not have allowed All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) to part ways in Jharkhand. J P Nadda was designated working president of the BJP in June last year and Amit Shah continued into the post for one reason or the other for such a long time dispensing with the principle of One-Man One-Post.

A final decision will be known in the next couple of days.

Ends 

Amit Shah burning midnight oil Confrontation between Centre-states building on CAA

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Amit Shah burning midnight oil

Confrontation between Centre-states building on CAA

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Jan. 4

Worried over continued protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in parts of the country, the BJP leadership is working on multiple fronts to isolate these protesters.

If the party leadership has decided to launch a countrywide blitz to derail these protests, the Modi government has launched a diplomatic offensive globally to counter the propaganda in this regard.

What has worried the government more is that protesters have changed their strategy and going the way shown by protesters in Assam. These protesters are now completely peaceful, siting on dharna, offering flowers to the policement surrounding them. The protesters from the minority community are even carrying National Flag in their hands and chanting Jana Gana Mana. Barring the initial week of violent protests, the protests in Delhi and elsewhere are peaceful. Nearly eleven states ruled by the non-NDA parties are witnessing massive protests and even states of North East are part of it.

Though BJP chief Amit Shah has been making strong statements in support of the CAA, the ministry of Home Affairs has not issued rules pertaining to the amended act. Perhaps, the government is waiting for the supreme court to open after the winter break and make some initial obervations when the hearing begins.

The Ministry doesn't want to precipitate the issue and busy finding a solution to the tricky situation arising in Assam where the BJP has promised to protect the Assamese culture and identity.

The BJP leadership's brainstorming two days ago was part of this exercise. It discussed the consequences of the resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly against the implementation of the CAA. Though the Home Ministry termed it unconstitutional and beyond the powers of the state, the trend is worrying. Pressure is mounting on the Assam government to pass such a resolution and tell the Centre that CAA in its present form can't be accepted.

Meanwhile, the MHA has told the states informally that if they do not implement CAA and NPR beginning April, the officers may be liable to be prosecuted. If the state gpovernments don't cooperate, it will tantamount to breakdown of the constitutional machinery and may lead to dismissal of the government itself. The MHA has also made it clear that states have no role in it and they need not be consulted either.

The states of Kerala, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Maharashtra have declared that they would not implement CAA.

Ends 

Suspense over Change of Guards in BJP continues

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Suspense over Change of Guards in BJP continues

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Jan. 2

Intense speculation is on in the BJP over the exact date of take over of J P Nadda as the full time president of the BJP.

While a section believe that the much-awaited change of guards may take place after the Makar Sankranti in January, others say that the process of completing states' organisational polls is not over yet. The process of organisational polls in states is likely to be completed sometime in January and J P Nadda may be handed over the reins anytime thereafter.

J P Nadda was designated working president of the BJP in June last year. It was stated then that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will demit the party post keeping in mind the “one man one post” principle doggedly followed by the BJP. But Amit Shah continued into the post in order to familiarise Nadda with the organisational structure.

In the meantime, it was felt by the party that let Amit Shah continue in the post and directly monitor the Assembly polls in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand. Somehow, the results were a serious set back to his winning streak and now he is keen to quit before the Delhi Assembly polls due in the first week of February.

However, no decision has been taken whether Amit Shah will hang his boots as party president before the Delhi Assembly polls or prior to the polls itself. He has already constituted a team of three ministers- Prakash Javadekar, Hardeep Singh Puri and Nityanand Rai- to oversee Delhi polls. The notification is likely to be issued anytime now for the Delhi polls. But no one is giving any numbers to the BJP in Delhi. Shah may be keen to demit the office but Nadda doesn't want to begin his inninings in office with a poor note. Therefore, it is likely that he may take over some time in mid-February when the Parliament will go into a recess after the Budget presentation and results of Delhi polls will be out.

Ends 

Why Amit Shah pushed for CAA in Winter session?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Why Amit Shah pushed for CAA in Winter session?

An Inside story of how BJP, Modi Govt. worked overtime

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Jan. 1

The mystery is unfolding as to why Union Home Minister Amit Shah pushed for the passage of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at the fag end of the Winter session of Parliament.

The entire 2019 had been highly successful and a historic year for the party and the government. After winning LS polls with a massive mandate, the government passed the long pending Triple Talaq Bill in Parliament on July 31 during the Monsoon session. Immediately came the historic moment when Amit Shah succeeded in abrogating Article 370 on August 5 and kept the Valley peaceful throughout. The world also accepted the reality. As if this was not enough, the Ram Temple unanimous verdict from the Supreme Court also came on November 9 which solved the century old dispute.

But it seems Amit Shah became ambitious and wanted long pending CAA bill be passed in 2019 itself.

The underlining political gain of the move was to win the Assembly polls in West Bengal due in 2021. Of the 11 crores estimated population and around 7 crores voters, the Home ministry's estimate of illegal immigrants was one crores in West Bengal. Of these 1 crore illegal immigrants, the BJP's assessment is that nearly 25-30 lakhs belong to non-Muslim religions. The passage of the CAA will make them eligible voters while the 70 lakh illegal Muslims would be denied these benefits.

It was a politically very ambitious target and the BJP leadership was elated with the move when Amit Shah proposed it. The CAA, if implemented, would impoact at least 95 Assembly seats in state.

The abandoned NRC exercise in Assam had revealed that there were 18 lakhs illegal residents in Assam alone. Therefore, the number of such immigrants in WB would be more than one crores. It is in this background that the party and the government wanted the CAA's passage as the Opposition was disintegrated and non-NDA parties were falling in line to support the BJP.

For Amit Shah, winning West Bengal is a dream bigger than Tripura. He is nowadays, even taking lessons in Bengali to address the people of Bengal during the campaign for the 2021 Assembly elections in their own language. The attempt is to counter the narrative that the BJP is a Hindi heartland party.

But the massive street protests has dampened the spirit and everything is now on hold. This was never envisaged.

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Census Commission contradicts Home Minister on Biometric

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Census Commission contradicts Home Minister on Biometric 

Says Biometric particulars Required for NPR

Census Commission is under Amit Shah  

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec. 25

Union Home Minister Amit Shah categorically asserted yesterday in a TV interview that no supportive documents will be sought from the usual residents while National Population Register (NPR) exercise. He also clarified that no biometric data will be collected during NPR exercise except the Aadhaar number, if any.

But if one goes to the website of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India (RGCCI), one can find the NPR page link updated as late as December 19, 2019. Interestingly, the RGCCI functions directly under the Union Home Minister of India.

The RGCCI page on NPR clearly says “the objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country. The database would contain Demographic as well as Biometric particulars.”

The NPR page link also says, “It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR. A usual resident is defined for the purposes of NPR as a person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more.

The RGCCI notification is very unambiguous also says that the The National Population Register (NPR) is a Register of usual residents of the country and prepared under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.

The NPR notice says that under the Demographic Particulars, following demographic details of every individual are required for every usual resident. These are as under; Name of person, Relationship to head of household, Father’s name, Mother’s name, Spouse’s name (if married), Sex, Date of Birth, Marital status, Place of birth, Nationality (as declared), Present address of usual residence, Duration of stay at present address, Permanent residential address, Occupation/Activity and Educational qualification

No doubt, the first NPR was conducted under the UPA dispensation when P Chidambaram was the Union Home Minister. But the same NPR data base was updated during 2015 by conducting door to door survey.

The RGCCI says that the digitisation of the updated information has been completed and the Gazette notification for conducting 2020 Census and NPR has already been issued.

It is, therefore, baffling as to why the website of the department conducting Census and NPR exercises contradict the Home Minister. 

See page link

http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-Common/IntroductionToNpr.html

Govt. puts NRC on hold, at least for now

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Govt. puts NRC on hold, at least for now

Says NPR not linked to NRC

Amit Shah also breaks his silence

New Delhi, December 24

The Modi government seems to put the exercise of creating a National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC), popularly known as NRC, on the back-burner. In the aftermath of wide-spread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 the government had already gone on the backfoot on creating a NRC. It clearly said that the National Population Register (NPR) had nothing to do with the NRC.

Today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah came out of the shell on the issue and declared that NPR cannot be the basis of the NRC. He said that NRC is completely separate exercise while NPR is only for population count in the country so that the government formulate its policy for the welfare of the people. He gave a series of examples as to how NPR would be in the interest of the people.

Amit Shah was at pains to explain in an interview to a TV channel today that the first NPR was conducted under the UPA regime in 2010 and the NDA government is conducting the second NPR.

He also explained that NPR data is a separate exercise while for NRC will be completely different and NPR data cannot be made base of NRC.

Even Information & Broadcasting Minister Parkash Javadekar had a tough time today to explain why NPR is being conducted. He was briefing the media persons post Cabinet meeting and replied to spate of questions on the NPR.

Javadekar also took shelter under the fact that the first NPR was conducted under the UPA government in 2010 and his government was not doing anything new.

There is no denial the fact that the first NPR exercise was created in the couuntry when P Chidambaram was Union Home Minister in 2010-11. Along with the Census operations, the UPA government also undertook NPR exercise across the country. Since the Aadhaar, a new brainchild of the UPA government, had emerged on the scene, the NPR exercise did not get any prominence and took a back seat. Javadekar did not tell is that the Modi government, through a special notification on June 25, 2015 updated the NPR prepared during the UPA era. The updated NPR has not been loaded on the website of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India (RGCCI) till now.

Reason being that the Modi government re-ordered up-dation of the NPR data across the country through a special gazette notification in July 2015. Thus, technically, this will be the third NPR in the country.

It may also be mentioned here that the RGCCI has also been entrusted with the task of preparing the NRC data and identify non-Indian citizens.

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Modi to head Ram Temple Trust !

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

A Lokmat Exclusive Report

Modi to head Ram Temple Trust !

Mega Trust to be formed in January

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 18

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may head the Ayodhya Temple Trust being set up in January for the construction of the “sky-touching Ram Temple.” The Trust will be set up immediately after the “Kharmas” (inauspicious month) which ends on January 13, according to the Hindu calendar.

If reports emanating from North Block are to be believed, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is busy finalising the composition of the historic Ram Temple Trust. He has been insisting that Prime Minister Modi alone should head the trust.

Amit Shah is busy holding parleys with the other stake-holders and studying various Temple trusts existing in the country. The Sri Somnath Temple in Gujrat, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Trust Board, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine (Jammu) and Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (Puri) are governed by trusts. But they all are under respective state governments barring the Somnath Temple Trust where four trustees are appointed by the State and four by the Centre. Interestingly, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are members of Somnath Temple Trust as representatives of the state government. The trust is headed by Keshubhai Patel which has 8 trustees. But the number of trustees in the remaining temples are large. 

The Supreme Court had directed the Centre in November to create a “trust within a period of three months from the date of the judgment with a Board of Trustees or any other appropriate body”. The SC also empowered the Central government to frame scheme for the functioning of the Ram Temple Trust and construction of a temple.

A view has emerged in the government that Ram Temple Trust should be a Central government body with Narendra Modi as Life Trustee. The Centre should not delegate its powers to any other body or State of UP. After all, it was under Modi's leadership that the dream of “sky-touching Ram Temple” will be realised by 2024.

Home Minister Amit Shah, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, nominees of the RSS and VHP,  K Parasaran (who fought Ram Temple case in SC) and others may be inducted. A representative of the Nirmohi Akhara is to be inducted as per the direction of the SC.

It is not clear whether L K Advani or Dr M M Joshi will be included in the Trust. No one is sure whether nominee of the Shiv Sena will now be inducted in the trust after parting of ways with the BJP.

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New Govt. in Maharashtra Next Week only ?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

New Govt. in Maharashtra Next Week only ?  

Koshiyari to Visit Delhi on Nov. 23-24

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 21

Even as the efforts of the Sena-NCP-Congress are in full swing to form the government in Mumbai within the next two days, the Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari will be out of the State. He is traveling to Delhi to attend the two days conference of the Governors & Lt. Governors.

The President, Ram Nath Kovind has called a conference of Governors and Lt. Governors on November 23 and 24 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This will be the 50th such Conference to be held in Rashtrapati Bhavan and the third Conference to be presided over by President Kovind.

It is learnt that Koshiyari will be returning to Mumbai only on Monday i.e. November 25.

The Vice President; Prime Minister; Union Ministers of Home Affairs; Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare; Law and Justice; Human Resource Development; Tribal Affairs; and Jal Shakti; the Vice Chairman and the CEO of NITI Aayog and other senior officials from various Ministries will also participate.

During his stay, Koshiyari is likely to meet the Central leaders too.

Thus, the process of government formation in Maharashtra will begin only next week.

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