Saswat Panigrahi
BJP’s octogenarian leader LK Advani, in the evening of his life, has embarked on yet another yatra. In his six decades long political career, this is the sixth yatra for the quintessential yatri.
In 2006, Advani undertook Bharat Surakshya Yatra to highlight the failure of the Congress-led UPA government in combating terrorism. He went on Bharat Udaya Yatra ahead of the 2004 general elections to bring home the message that India was “rising under BJP rule”.
In 1997, Advani launched Swarna Jayanti Rath Yatra to commemorate the golden jubilee of India’s independence. He led Janadesh Yatra in 1993 in a bid to mobilise public opinion against then Narasimha Rao govt’s attempt to ban religion from public life.
In 1990, he spearheaded Ram Rath Yatra in order to pledge support for rebuilding the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
It’s been 21 years. The wheels of Indian politics rolled a long way since then. From a Hindu nationalist force, BJP has transformed itself into a modern right-wing party.
Now, BJP's original charioteer is on a ‘Jan Chetna Yatra’. This yatra is different from the earlier ones. Unlike his previous yatras, its theme song is not graphite with hindutva or cultural nationalism. Surprisingly, the saffron party’s two crucial points of political pilgrimage -- Somnath and Ayodhya -- are missing from the itinerary of the yatra.
Jai Sri Ram is no longer the chant of this yatra. Rather a rock track titled ‘Ab Bas’ (It's enough) is the anthem. Perhaps this was done with the idea to entice today’s youth.
For the starting point of the yatra, BJP had chosen Sitab Diara in Bihar, the birthplace of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan over Kasmad in Gujarat, the birthplace of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. However, the yatra was finally flagged off from Chhapra, situated at a distance of 20 kilometres from Sitab Diara as floods played spoilsport. A “secular” Nitish Kumar was roped in to kick start the yatra. This despite the fact that the Bihar Chief Minister do not see eye to eye with BJP’s star performer Narendra Modi. There are reasons.
First, the BJP, through this yatra, wants to focus only and only on anti-corruption. And it was more of a metaphor that the yatra against corruption started from the land of JP -- the ultimate icon of India’s anti-corruption movement -- on his birth anniversary October 11. Second, it was in October 1990 at Samastipur in Bihar that Advani was arrested on the orders of then chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav during his Ram Rath Yatra.
It was more symbolic that in October 2011, Chief Minister of the same state flagged up another addition of Advani’s yatra. But, by roping in Nitish Kumar to flag it off, the party has sent a clear message that it is reconciled to a larger NDA platform.
The yatra is undertaken just before the winter session of Parliament. It was launched at a time when a series of macabre scams have hit the nation and crores in black money are stashed in tax havens. Corruption is being used as a sheet anchor for governance. The Congress-led UPA government is facing credibility crisis as its image has taken a beating. The nation is running through political uncertainty.
Jan Chetna Yatra has a clear political goal. It was specially designed for elections. Trough this yatra, the party wants to tap the popular public mood against a corruption-ridden UPA ahead of Lok Sabha elections 2014.
Through this yatra, Advani wants to sensitise the common men about rising corruption in the country under the Congress-led UPA rule. He wants to rejuvenate and energise the party cadres across the country and bring them into the poll mode much ahead of the next general election.
“Good governance and clean politics”, with this catch-line, Advani’s Jan Chetana ‘rath’ is criss-crossing the nation. The BJP patriarch is calling for a change in the system. “Bhrashtachar mitayenge, naya Bharat banayenge (Let’s root out corruption and rebuild a new India), he says.
The saffron party is hopeful that through this yatra, it will reach out to the common man about the need to establish a “transparent” and “accountable” democratic system.
The BJP wants to initiate a debate on political reforms, administrative reforms, electoral reforms and judicial reforms through the show.
This is not to dispute that BJP as the principal opposition party has tried its best to put the government on tight spot. But, the party is worried that the civil society is eating into much of its anti-government space. And through this yatra the saffron party wants to regain that political space.
But the question remains, will the yatra translate into a political magnet for BJP?
Meanwhile, Advani’s yatra has gone onto a bumpy road. On Day-4, BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh reportedly tried to “bribe” journalists in order to ensure “favourable coverage” of the yatra. And on Day-6, former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa was arrested in connection with land scam.
This reminds me of the famous statement of LK Advani at BJP's Silver Jubilee celebrations in 2005 -- “BJP ka Congressikaran hoa raha hai (Congress culture is creeping up in BJP),” he had said. Even today, the “large hearted” leader is candidly admitting that “small mistakes” are embarrassing the party and asked the partymen to keep the slate clean to fight graft.
The yatra has stirred an animated debate, whether or not Advani is projecting himself as a prime ministerial candidate. What was planned as an anti-corruption movement is now seen as Advani's last throw of the dice as BJP’s prime ministerial face. Through this, Advani is apparently trying to pressurise the party to consider his case.
This is despite the party making it clear that the yatra is not meant for the prime ministerial post. But, Advani’s lurking desire to become the prime minister prompts him of not toeing the party line.
It is a fact that the yatra was announced almost unilaterally by Advani and BJP couldn’t but back it, despite reservations from sections of the party, who saw it as an exercise by the grand old politician to stake claim for prime ministerial candidature once again.
Last month, the BJP veteran called on RSS sarasanghachalak Mohan Bhagawat in Nagpur. It was during the meeting that Bhagawat is learnt to have told Advani that the Sangh would back his yatra only after he came clean on his prime ministerial ambitions. Advani assured Bhagawat that he is not in the race for the next general elections.
However, surprisingly during his yatra, the BJP veteran flip-flopped from his previous position by saying he is “not a contender for PM’s post”, but the “final decision would be that of the party” and he sees “no reason to rule it out publically”. Keeping his prime ministerial ambitions afloat further, the BJP veteran said he would decide on it depending on his "health" and "capability" to contribute at the time of next Lok Sabha polls.
By doing so, Advani kept his own party guessing about his plans. As Advani hops from one point to another, the RSS is learnt to be deeply upset.
It was LK Advani, who along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee who built the BJP from the scratch. He is undoubtedly the tallest leader in the ranks and files of the party and has mentored a whole generation of BJP leaders.
But, will the octogenarian leader pave way for a Generation Next leader to lead the party for the next general elections? Or, will the generation next sacrifice for a guru dakshina? In the days to come, 11 Ashoka Road will be busy in answering these two questions. Hope the questions won’t create yet another vicious leadership battle in the saffron party.
There is a fair chance for the BJP to win the next general elections. Hope the saffron party won’t love to lose yet another opportunity.
-- Appeared in my blog ‘Right Way’ in Zeenews.com
http://zeenews.india.com/blog/66/blog637.html
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
PC’s white dress and UPA’s detergent
Saswat Panigrahi
The 2G spectrum scam is no longer just a DMK affair now. The then telecom minister A Raja had allocated second generation spectrum licenses arbitrarily to fly-by-night applicants in 2008 at 2001 price, by throwing the rule book out of the window. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, now Home Minister, then finance minister, who was supposed to be the “ultimate authority” in spectrum pricing, simply endorsed the policy decision. It was that policy decision which paved the way for the 2G loot.
Now evidence is pouring in to corroborate the very fact. Let me piece together all those evidences and ask the readers to read between the lines.
Raja-PC meeting dated Jan 30, 2008
Just 20 days after the controversial allotment of spectrum by A Raja, an important meeting between the then telecom minister and then finance minister P Chidambaram was held on January 30, 2008.
The minutes of the meeting -- prepared and signed by the then finance secretary and now RBI governor D Subbarao – which surfaced recently, has made some startling revelations.
During the meeting, it was noted that there was a mismatch in the demand and supply of spectrum across circles.
“The finance minister said that for now we are not seeking to revisit the current regimes for entry fee or for revenue share,” the minutes said.
The meeting also discussed the changing of merger and acquisition rules in the telecom sector.
“In view of the large number of new operators, it is expected that some of the companies might have obtained licences as a speculative venture. Hence, some mergers and acquisitions are likely to take place after some time which, de facto, would amount to spectrum trading, as a large part of the company’s valuation may be on account of the spectrum held by them,” the minutes said.
Incidentally, in April 2008, Raja abruptly changed the merger and acquisition norms for facilitating the sale of equity by Swan and Unitech to foreign telecom players Telenor and Etisalat. In turn Swan and Unitech made windfall profits.
Remember, the government had earlier claimed that there were no minutes of January 30, 2008 meeting between Chidambaram and Raja!
"The meeting was not such where the situation warranted preparation of any minutes," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had said.
This is now not to dispute that the government lied on Raja-Chidambaram meeting. But there are reasons. Government’s crisis manager wanted to protect Chidambaram.
How PC overruled Subarao?
In the run up to the January 15, 2008 event, the then finance secretary D Subbarao had several consultations with Chidambaram in which he strongly disputed the idea to allocate second generation spectrum at a seven years old price. Moreover, Subarao had issued a directive to the Department of Telecom (DoT) to stay the Spectrum allotment. But, his objections were simply brushed aside by the then finance minister to favour Raja’s dubious spectrum allotment.
Subbarao’s recent deposition before the Parliament Accounts Committee (PAC) has brought light to the fact.
PC’s letter to PM dated Januray 15, 2008
Just five days after the dubious allotment of 2G spectrum, finance minister P Chidambaram wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 15, 2008, suggesting that the January 10, 2008 events should be treated as a “closed chapter”. The letter was unveiled in the draft report on 2G scam prepared by PAC. The letter further points to Chidambaram’s complicity in the 2G spectrum scam. And the story does not end there.
Fin Min note to PMO dated Mar 25, 2011
A Finance Ministry note, dated March 25, 2011, sent to Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) further faulted Chidambaram.
The 11-page note, prepared by the Department of Economic Affairs, under the Ministry of Finance (MoF) -- signed by PGS Rao, deputy director, Infrastructure and Investment division and marked as “seen by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee” -- is a strong indictment of Chidambaram in 2G spectrum scam.
According to the note, the January 2008 spectrum allotment could have been cancelled and Telecom Ministry could have gone for an auction had the then finance minister P Chidambaram insisted on it.
The note obtained by RTI, a copy of which has been submitted to the Supreme Court suggested that Chidambaram and the jailed former telecom minister A Raja had jointly determined the price fixation of the 2G spectrum. The finance ministry under Chidambaram "implicitly agreed to imposition of same entry fee as that prevailing in 2001 for licences allotted up to December 31, 2008", it said.
It is an open secret that the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister P Chidamabaram are political detractors within the Congress rank. The politically volatile note has brought to the fore the rift between the two heavyweights in the UPA cabinet.
The “mysterious note” has ignited yet another political fire on 2G.
Cong says all is well
After a series of hectic political activities in the Congress camp, a ceasefire between the two “warring ministers” has apparently been reached. This, after UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi asked Pranab Mukherjee to “bail out” Chidambaram and douse the 2G fire.
It went as per the 10, Janpath script. Mukherjee and Chidamabaram appeared before the rolling television cameras in North block. They were flanked by Telecom Minister Kipal Sibal and Law Minister Salman Kurshid.
In a carefully-worded statement Mukherjee described the 2G note as “an inter-ministerial background paper” and said “it did not reflect his views”. Reacting to his statement, Chidambaram simply responded, “I am happy with the statement made by my senior colleague. I accept the statement...the matter is closed.”
The event virtually looked like this: “Canned by their political masters Chidambaram and Mukherjee made an unwilling duet to the tune of all is well”.
But, the Congress event managers perhaps have forgotten that it was not an intra-party event to end up with a photo finish neither have the “spin doctors” of the Congress party failed to understand that it was not an ego battle to be settled between two ministers.
Crisis far from over
To cut a long story short, Chidamabram as the finance minister facilitated the 2G loot. He has been exposed out in the open.
“The matter is closed” -- this is the tainted minister’s take on 2G issue. Nothing could be a more awful joke...
But, an ‘honest Prime Minister’ has chosen to stand by Chidamabarm when the opposition knives are out against him. “The opposition is restless to force early polls,” the PM says.
The last but not the least, CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) has confirmed that it has been converted to an ancillary syndication of the Congress party by arguing in the Supreme Court, “Chidambaram is being targeted politically.”
All eyes are now on the apex court as it lists its next hearing of the case on October 10. On the D-Day the Supreme Court is expected to take a final call on Chidambaram’s role in 2G scam.
The UPA government is lurching from one crisis to another. Now, an already crippled government is losing its grip over governance. The moot question is, will the government last its full term. Only time will tell.
-- Published in Zeenews.com
http://zeenews.india.com/news/exclusive/pc-s-white-dress-and-upa-s-detergent_735445.html
The 2G spectrum scam is no longer just a DMK affair now. The then telecom minister A Raja had allocated second generation spectrum licenses arbitrarily to fly-by-night applicants in 2008 at 2001 price, by throwing the rule book out of the window. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, now Home Minister, then finance minister, who was supposed to be the “ultimate authority” in spectrum pricing, simply endorsed the policy decision. It was that policy decision which paved the way for the 2G loot.
Now evidence is pouring in to corroborate the very fact. Let me piece together all those evidences and ask the readers to read between the lines.
Raja-PC meeting dated Jan 30, 2008
Just 20 days after the controversial allotment of spectrum by A Raja, an important meeting between the then telecom minister and then finance minister P Chidambaram was held on January 30, 2008.
The minutes of the meeting -- prepared and signed by the then finance secretary and now RBI governor D Subbarao – which surfaced recently, has made some startling revelations.
During the meeting, it was noted that there was a mismatch in the demand and supply of spectrum across circles.
“The finance minister said that for now we are not seeking to revisit the current regimes for entry fee or for revenue share,” the minutes said.
The meeting also discussed the changing of merger and acquisition rules in the telecom sector.
“In view of the large number of new operators, it is expected that some of the companies might have obtained licences as a speculative venture. Hence, some mergers and acquisitions are likely to take place after some time which, de facto, would amount to spectrum trading, as a large part of the company’s valuation may be on account of the spectrum held by them,” the minutes said.
Incidentally, in April 2008, Raja abruptly changed the merger and acquisition norms for facilitating the sale of equity by Swan and Unitech to foreign telecom players Telenor and Etisalat. In turn Swan and Unitech made windfall profits.
Remember, the government had earlier claimed that there were no minutes of January 30, 2008 meeting between Chidambaram and Raja!
"The meeting was not such where the situation warranted preparation of any minutes," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had said.
This is now not to dispute that the government lied on Raja-Chidambaram meeting. But there are reasons. Government’s crisis manager wanted to protect Chidambaram.
How PC overruled Subarao?
In the run up to the January 15, 2008 event, the then finance secretary D Subbarao had several consultations with Chidambaram in which he strongly disputed the idea to allocate second generation spectrum at a seven years old price. Moreover, Subarao had issued a directive to the Department of Telecom (DoT) to stay the Spectrum allotment. But, his objections were simply brushed aside by the then finance minister to favour Raja’s dubious spectrum allotment.
Subbarao’s recent deposition before the Parliament Accounts Committee (PAC) has brought light to the fact.
PC’s letter to PM dated Januray 15, 2008
Just five days after the dubious allotment of 2G spectrum, finance minister P Chidambaram wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 15, 2008, suggesting that the January 10, 2008 events should be treated as a “closed chapter”. The letter was unveiled in the draft report on 2G scam prepared by PAC. The letter further points to Chidambaram’s complicity in the 2G spectrum scam. And the story does not end there.
Fin Min note to PMO dated Mar 25, 2011
A Finance Ministry note, dated March 25, 2011, sent to Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) further faulted Chidambaram.
The 11-page note, prepared by the Department of Economic Affairs, under the Ministry of Finance (MoF) -- signed by PGS Rao, deputy director, Infrastructure and Investment division and marked as “seen by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee” -- is a strong indictment of Chidambaram in 2G spectrum scam.
According to the note, the January 2008 spectrum allotment could have been cancelled and Telecom Ministry could have gone for an auction had the then finance minister P Chidambaram insisted on it.
The note obtained by RTI, a copy of which has been submitted to the Supreme Court suggested that Chidambaram and the jailed former telecom minister A Raja had jointly determined the price fixation of the 2G spectrum. The finance ministry under Chidambaram "implicitly agreed to imposition of same entry fee as that prevailing in 2001 for licences allotted up to December 31, 2008", it said.
It is an open secret that the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister P Chidamabaram are political detractors within the Congress rank. The politically volatile note has brought to the fore the rift between the two heavyweights in the UPA cabinet.
The “mysterious note” has ignited yet another political fire on 2G.
Cong says all is well
After a series of hectic political activities in the Congress camp, a ceasefire between the two “warring ministers” has apparently been reached. This, after UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi asked Pranab Mukherjee to “bail out” Chidambaram and douse the 2G fire.
It went as per the 10, Janpath script. Mukherjee and Chidamabaram appeared before the rolling television cameras in North block. They were flanked by Telecom Minister Kipal Sibal and Law Minister Salman Kurshid.
In a carefully-worded statement Mukherjee described the 2G note as “an inter-ministerial background paper” and said “it did not reflect his views”. Reacting to his statement, Chidambaram simply responded, “I am happy with the statement made by my senior colleague. I accept the statement...the matter is closed.”
The event virtually looked like this: “Canned by their political masters Chidambaram and Mukherjee made an unwilling duet to the tune of all is well”.
But, the Congress event managers perhaps have forgotten that it was not an intra-party event to end up with a photo finish neither have the “spin doctors” of the Congress party failed to understand that it was not an ego battle to be settled between two ministers.
Crisis far from over
To cut a long story short, Chidamabram as the finance minister facilitated the 2G loot. He has been exposed out in the open.
“The matter is closed” -- this is the tainted minister’s take on 2G issue. Nothing could be a more awful joke...
But, an ‘honest Prime Minister’ has chosen to stand by Chidamabarm when the opposition knives are out against him. “The opposition is restless to force early polls,” the PM says.
The last but not the least, CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) has confirmed that it has been converted to an ancillary syndication of the Congress party by arguing in the Supreme Court, “Chidambaram is being targeted politically.”
All eyes are now on the apex court as it lists its next hearing of the case on October 10. On the D-Day the Supreme Court is expected to take a final call on Chidambaram’s role in 2G scam.
The UPA government is lurching from one crisis to another. Now, an already crippled government is losing its grip over governance. The moot question is, will the government last its full term. Only time will tell.
-- Published in Zeenews.com
http://zeenews.india.com/news/exclusive/pc-s-white-dress-and-upa-s-detergent_735445.html
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