US recognises Gujarat miracle

Saswat Panigrahi

The visit by an American delegation, comprising of US Congressmen and business leaders, to Gujarat brought home an important message.

The 15-member US delegation, during its meeting with Chief Minister Narendra Modi, acknowledged the faster and more inclusive development model of Gujarat. The US delegation praised Modi’s efforts towards making a difference in people’s lives and were clearly impressed with the Gujarati work culture nurtured under Modi’s leadership. More specifically, it was Modi’s principle of ‘minimum government, maximum governance’ that impressed them.

The delegation invited Modi to their country and requested him to show them what he has achieved in Gujarat. “People of the US are keen to work with Gujarat and they are impressed by the way the State had facilitated investment,” senior US Congressman Aaron Schock, who was part of the 15-member-deligation said.

Read the full article in www.niticentral.com

No tears for Sanjay Dutt

Saswat Panigrahi

The Supreme Court, while pronouncing its verdict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case held that actor Sanjay Dutt has to return to jail to complete a five year sentence.

Sanjay, son of famous actor-politician Sunil Dutt and actress Nargis, was arrested under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) following the serial blasts and has already spent one and half year behind the bar. The Apex Court reduced the six year jail term awarded to the 52-year-old Dutt by a TADA court, to five years. Sanjay will now spend three and half more years in jail.

Following the Supreme Court verdict, many tears were shed over Sanjay. Press Council of India chairman Justice Markandey Katju, known for his many foot-in-mouth comments, appealed the Maharashtra Governor to pardon the actor. The Congress-led Centre indicated that it will take an “appropriate decision” if the actor makes a plea. “The Governor will use his discretionary power when there is an appeal to him,” Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said. Prime time television went on to portray Sanjay Dutt as a novice and all but brushed aside the sorrows and sufferings of the actual victims of the 1993 serial blasts. Some have even argued that Sanjay’s going to jail will adversely affect a lot of Bollywood business. But do any of these arguments justify a pardon for Sanjay Dutt?

Read the full article in www.niticentral.com

Rahul Gandhi is not an option

Saswat Panigrahi

Rahul Gandhi continues to fight shy of donning the crown which fawning courtiers around him believe belongs to the Congress vice president.

In an interaction with select party MPs and journalists, the 42-year-old Nehru-Gandhi family scion said asking him whether he wants to be Prime Minister is a ‘wrong question’.

Given the fact that the chances of Congress coming to power after the next general election look bleak, Rahul Gandhi knows well that he can’t occupy the country’s top seat.

But his statement is an attempt to grab the limelight amid the rising nationwide popularity of BJP’s star performer and Gujarat’s Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress Chintan Shivir at Jaipur in January was an attempt to build a political foundation for the 42-year-old leader. He was formally annointed as vice president, the official number-two of the party.

Read the full article in www.niticentral.com

Our futile war against terror

Saswat Panigrahi

It has been a week since the twin blasts rocked the crowded Dilsukhnagar area of Hyderabad snuffing out the lives of 16 people and injured 120 others. But a breakthrough still eludes the police and investigative agencies.

But the modus operandi clearly suggests that it is an act of Indian Muhajideen, an offshoot of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

Investigations so far suggest that the blasts bear a striking resemblance to the earlier terror strikes like those in Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Assam, all of which the IM has claimed responsibility for.

Indian Mujahiddin is headquartered in Pakistan. Iqbal Bhatkal and his brother Riyaz run operations from Karachi. So there really is no doubt that Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is responsible for the Hyderabad bombings. But Pakistani terrorists work in tandem with local terror elements and these local terror elements have political patronage besides.

Read the full article in www.niticentral.com