Government wants to de-escalate JNU tension

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Government wants to de-escalate JNU tension

HRD Minister under scanner for poor handling

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Jan. 10

The Modi government wants the situation at the JNU is de-escalated as soon as possible. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is very upset with the way situation has taken an ugly turn and failure of the concerned authorities to handle it. It was only after the PM's displeasure that the HRD ministry swung into action and summoned the Vice Chancellor M Jagdeesh Kumar and gave a dressing down. He was told point by point how he failed to take action and visualise the situation developing at the JNU campus and handle it.

He was told to mend fences and also issue appropriate orders relating to hike in the fee structures. It now transpires that the VC may be allowed to hike the hostel room rent charges, the other hikes are being put on the hold.

The BJP, on its part, has also told the students close to its ideology that they should not hold counter demonstrations against the protesting Left wing students. This will lead to further confrontation. The BJP leadership does not approve the way the ABVP supported elements resorted to violence in retaliation of the Left wing students violent conduct earlier. It is felt that formal complaints should have been lodged with the Police and the University administration rather taking the law into their own hands.

The tweet by veteran party leader Dr Murli Manohar Joshi yesterday demanding the removal of the JNU VC may not rattled the party. But Dr Joshi echoed the sentiments of the majority of party leaders that the current VC has failed to run the administration efficiently particularly in an institution which has been controlled by the Left since its inception. It required a very mature handling to control such elements.

The party leadership is also unhappy as the focus has shifted to JNU agitation from the CAA protests. The BJP wanted the battle to be between the nationalists and anti-nationalists on the CAA. But the JNU incidents has shifted the focus which is not to be liking of the high command.

This has also puts the HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank” in a poor light. The series of meetings of the JNU VC with the HRD ministry in recent past indicates the Minister's poor handling of a Central university directly under his nose.

Ends 

Fly on the Wall : Javadekar Kicks Teachers' Awards lobbyists out

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Javadekar Kicks Teachers' Awards lobbyists out

After Lutyen's Delhi was banished from the list of Padma Awards, the time is up for teachers to lobby for most prestigious National Awards. For the first time in Independent India, the practice of seeking names of best teachers from states for these awards has been abandoned. Human Resources Development Minister Prakash Javadekar decided to invite applications from teachers from all over India online directly. The only condition was that the teacher seeking National Award must have done something innovative or made extra-ordinary contribution to qualify for such an award. There were protests from the states as they felt that their powers have been curtailed. But Javadekar's answer was simple- states can also nominate if they so desire but the parameters will remain the same. Perhaps, Javadekar had discussed with the PM this innovative idea before over-hauling the time-tested lobby system. The PM gave the go-ahead as he himself must have been unhappy as he used to witness huge pressure as Chief Minister of Gujrat with recommendations. Javadekar constituted a high-powered committee to select 50 awardees from amongst 6000 applications. These 50 will be awarded on September 5 at Vigyan Bhawan. A senior HRD ministry official said there is a Lutyen's Zone in every state Capital and all awards were reserved for toppers living in such zones. Surely, if Modi disbanded Lutyen's Zone wallas from the list of Padma awards, Prakash Javadekar sent them for a six in the teachers category. Watch out other ministries in the years to come. Now it may the turn of the doctors.

Atal makes maiden entry in JNU

When Atal Behari Vajpayee was Prime Minister, he wanted the party to make inroads in the Left-controlled Jawaharlal Nehru University. Barring a success here and there, the Sangh Parivar failed to crack the Left bastion. However, his dream was fulfilled without any murmurs by HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar last week. Vajpayee was rehabilitated in death. Javadekar met a large number of people and convinced them that the government was willing to walk an extra-mile to make JNU a world class institution. It is willing to grant new courses including the School of Management and Engineering. The Executive Council of JNU was convinced that starting these courses would go a long way in enhancing its stature. Then came the plea that the Management Centre be named after late Atal Behari Vajpayee. Marathon discussions took place at various levels as Javadekar didn't want any controversies. He wanted matters to be resolved through negotiations rather than bull-dozing his way. The end result - Executive Council paid its fulsome tribute to Vajpayee and proposed to name it as 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship." Of course, some felt that this would "dilute the research-oriented nature of JNU". But Atal made the entry, finally.

Timing of removal surprised N N Vohra

N N Vohra who had been holding the fort in Jammu & Kashmir for more than ten years, left the Raj Bhawan on an unhappy note. Though an appointee of Dr Manmohan Singh in 2008, PM Modi decided to retain the seasoned bureaucrat. But Vohra had realised for the past some time that his days are numbered and started taking up cudgels on issues which were alien to him. During the last two months, friction between the Raj Bhavan and the Centre and Army increased. Raj Bhavan officials say that for the past ten years Vohra hardly had any differences with the Army over the killings of the “innocents”. But suddenly his heart started bleeding for them and he raised voice at meetings with the top army officials which didn't go down well with New Delhi. Vohra also opposed the any dilution of Article 35A which defines State subject laws, in the Supreme Court until an elected government was in place. This annoyed Modi so much that he decided to send Malik at a very short notice giving no time to Vohra to do any “further damage.” The Union Home Ministry informed him over the phone that his successor had been chosen and Satya Pal Malik will take charge from him. But Vohra did not wait for Satya Pal Malik to come to Srinagar. He decided to leave in the morning itself though Malik was expected from Patna in the afternoon. Vohra was conspicuous by his absence during the swearing-in of the new Governor on August 23. This surprised political observers because Vohra has been stickler of protocol. Vohra had expressed his willingness to manage the Amarnath Yatra and ensure the smooth conduct of the panchayat elections by the end of the year. But Modi was unwilling to give any leeway.

Why Satya Pal Malik to J&K ?

Most political leaders in the BJP are eyeing to become Bihar Governor these days though Lalji Tandon has been put in place for the time being. Bihar Raj Bhawan is considered Touch Of Gold; whosoever occupied it, got a huge promotion. If Ram Nath Kovind rose to become the President of India, Satya Pal Malik hogged the national limelight by moving to Srinagar Raj Bhawan. Both came from UP and originally didn't belong to the BJP either. But both became integral part of the BJP. Modi picked them for key posts though he had no personal contact with them either. While Kovind was always a low profile and humble person, Satya Pal Malik was in the forefront of political events. He had played a key role in the fall of the Morarji Desai government and making Charan Singh as PM with the help of the Congress. Though Congress pulled the plug and Charan Singh lost power within months, Satya Pal Malik dumped his mentor. He joined the Congress which nominated him to the Rajya Sabha twice, in 1980 and 1986. Later, Malik deserted Rajiv Gandhi and joined hands with V P Singh and became a minister in his government. He later joined Samajwadi Party and finally landed in BJP. Modi picked up Malik for the post as he was very close to Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who was Home Minister in the V P Singh government. It was during this period that relationship grew and both came close. Malik considers Mehbooba as his daughter. It seems Modi may do business with PDP once again in Jammu & Kashmir. Perhaps, Malik may be of some help.

WHO KILLED THE BANKS?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Next week, as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, presents the 2016-17 budget, the fear of many trillions of stressed assets hangs on him like Damocles’ sword. It is a real fear, not an imaginary one, like that of Islamists and Maoists hatching sinister plots from the JNU campus. The ghost of bad loans by banks was stalking the government for quite some time but its enormity became evident after Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan ordered an asset quality review last year of the 40-odd PSU banks for the two successive quarters ending in December 2015 and March 2016.

Govt, Oppn deadlock continues

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Govt, Oppn deadlock continues

Budget session begins today: No disruption, but no Bills either in first part

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb. 22

Even as the government and two presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are working hard to ensure a fruitful Budget session beginning tomorrow, a united Opposition is turning out to be a big headache. 

According to all indications, the Opposition is unlikely to allow any government business to be transacted other than the presentation of Rail and Union Budgets, at least in the first part ending March 16. Several crucial bills including the GST, Real Estate and Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment, may be taken up only in the second half of the session after the recess on April 25. The mood of the Parliament in the second half will, obviously, be decided as per the outcome of Assembly poll results in five states.

The Jat reservation agitation and unabated violence came at the worst time for the Modi government which is already struggling with unrest at the JNU and University of Hyderabad. The only saving grace for the BJP is that it does not have to bring before the House proclamation imposing President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh now that a new government has been installed.

But the government has to ensure the passage of the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill as an Ordinance has already been issued by the President and the Parliament has to adopt it. There are disputes on the Bill. But the government has made it a finance Bill and then it may not need the Rajya Sabha's majority approval. The IPA parties are strongly opposed to the Bill. The government is aware that two previous sessions had been a washout. Therefore, it wants to ensure a smooth sailing in the Budget session. The fact that parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu specially convened an all-party meeting this morning fully knowing that Speaker of the Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan has called a similar meeting in the evening, is a reflection of government desperation. Venkaiah Naidu said the government is ready to discuss any issue in Parliament and made an appeal that legislative business be allowed to be transacted. Sumitra Mahajan, on her part, did not want any disruption in the House and sought the cooperation of all the parties. Last week, the Prime Minister also took the unusual step by holding an all-party meeting which was followed by another meeting by chairman of the Rajya Sabha Hamid Ansari. On the Jat reservation issue, Venkaiah Naidu said he would hold discussions on the issue once the situation is normalised. "Party has formed a committee but normalcy should return first, as we can only debate and analyse about all the issues when situation is normal," Naidu said. 

Top Priority Bills 

The GST Bill

The Enemy Property (Amendment & Validation ) Bill

The Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Amendment Bill

The Anti-Hijacking Bill

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill

The Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill

The Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill

The National Waterways Bill

The Bureau of Indian Standards Bill

The Whistle Blower protection (Amendment) Bill

The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill

The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill

The Indian Institute of Management Bill