BJP Future - 4

Bharatvarsh · 05-16-2006, 02:02 AM

QUOTEDeclare Pak a terrorist state: Rajnath

Doda, May 15 (PTI) Calling Pakistan the breeding ground of terrorists engaged in killing people, particularly the minorities, the BJP today said it should be declared a terrorist state and no talks be held with the country until it stopped "bloodbath" in Jammu and Kashmir.

"I advocate that Pakistan be declared a terrorist state as it is still providing all types of support to militants engaged in bloodbath in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly on the minority Hindus," Party President Rajnath Singh told a BJP rally here.

Singh, who met injured BJP workers at Doda hospital, said the country is providing active support and breeding ground to terrorists enagaged in killings of people paricularly minorites.

"What is the fun of holding talks with Pakistan when it is actively involved in triggering violence. How can peace talks and cross-border terrorism go togather," he said.

Similarly, no talks should be held with separatist Hurriyat as they too are supporting terrorists and have not opposed them till now, he said.

The terror infrastructure is still intact in Pakistan and holding talks with the country and the Hurriyat under the backdrop of cross-border terrorism will not be fruitful at all, he said.

The BJP chief also suggested putting Pakistan's ISI on the list of United Nations for monitoring its activisties and "underhand support" to terrorists. PTI

http://www.ptinews.com/pti/ptisite.nsf/&#0...AB?OpenDocument

05-23-2006, 08:50 PM

<img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' /> BJP for no-confidence against Chatterjee

- NDTV Correspondent

Tuesday, May 23, 2006 (New Delhi):

The BJP has demanded a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

This followed noisy scenes in the Lok Sabha over plans to censure Subash Kashyap, former secretary general of the House in a privilege issue.

He is said to have committed breach of privilege and contempt of House. BJP members objected to a motion listed in the day's agenda against Kashyap.

They also protested against the manner in which the House was being run.

Four BJP members of Lok Sabha's Privileges Committee resigned in protest against Kashyap's censure. The party is also contemplating similar withdrawal from other Committees.

"This is a black day for democracy. All our four Members in the Privileges Committee -- Kishan Singh Sangwan, Rajendrasinh Ranana, Ananth Kumar Hegde and Virendra Kumar -- have resigned. We are considering whether to withdraw our MPs from all other Parliamentary Committees as well," said V K Malhotra, BJP Deputy Leader, Lok Sabha.

Left parties meanwhile, strongly criticised the BJP for stalling parliamentary proceedings.

CPI(M) MP Basudev Acharya said that the BJP was trying to dictate terms to the Parliament and in the process eroding parliamentary authority.

05-26-2006, 06:47 AM

QUOTEâShotgunâ to be new BJP culture czar 
New Delhi, May 25: Star BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, who has been appointed head of the partyâs cultural cell, will now be deciding on the entry of people from the world of art and culture into the saffron camp.

âAny actor or any person from the field of arts and culture would have to go through Mr Sinha to join the BJP. No senior leaders of the party would be allowed to take an unilateral decision to bring in an actor or an actress of his choice without the clearance of the cultural cell,â a senior party functionary claimed. Also, the partyâs official reaction to contentious issues, whether it relates to M.F. Husainâs paintings or Aamir Khanâs films, will now be handled by the cultural cell, sources said.

BJP president Rajnath Singh, who held a meeting with Mr Sinha on Wednesday, is also expected to âactively involve Shatrughan Sinha in organisational matters,â the sources added. Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Sinha made it clear that he would look into the entry and exit of people from the arts and culture sphere into the organisation. He said he would also focus on artists who âbelieve in the saffron ideology and not join the party for fame and fortune.â

Mr Sinhaâs appointment as head of the cultural cell has ruffled many feathers in the party. A host of high-profile second generation leaders are reportedly apprehensive that they might face âunwarranted interferenceâ from him. These leaders also said that there was no need for the party to raise the status of the cultural cell by âbringing in such a high-profile leader.â

Mr Sinhaâs first statement, as head of the cultural cell, was on the controversy surrounding actor Aamir Khan over his alleged remarks on the Narmada issue and on Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. âIf the makers of Fanaa believe that they have freedom of expression, they should also not forget that people have the freedom of rejection,â Mr Sinha said.

link


It is a good idea to have such a role.

QUOTEBJP for no-confidence against Chatterjee
They should be kicked out with boots, they are abusing power given by citizens.

**acharya** · 06-10-2006, 01:24 AM

Need for introspection by BJP: Vajpayee

June 09, 2006 17:23 IST

Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has said there is a need for the Bharatiya Janata Party to introspect in the light of alleged drug abuse by Rahul Mahajan, the son of slain party leader Pramod Mahajan.

"Mistakes can be made by people and by the party. It will take time to rectify them," Vajpayee said in Gwalior on Thursday night.

Regarding the Rahul Mahajan incident, Vajpayee had earlier said 'such mistakes happen in young age. Chances of such mistakes are possible when you fall in bad company and that is what happened to Rahul'.

Claiming that this statement was interpreted out of context, Vajpayee said he was speaking about Rahul making a 'mistake', from a human perspective.

"The law will take its own course. Those who have made mistakes will have to pay for it," he said.

Stressing the importance of discipline within the party, Vajpayee said, "Indiscipline will not be tolerated in the BJP. People have been removed from the party for it and this practice will be followed."

Without naming former party leader Uma Bharti, he ruled out chances of return by those asked to leave the party due to indiscipline

COMMENTS FROM READERS

Subject: Vajpayee, introspection and all that !!

Vajpayee should always remain grateful that he was made the PM of India, albeit through a lot of political wranglings, propaganda, arm-twisting etc.That was a freak accident,really, for this country. Pompous talk, especially in Lucknow Hindi, did carry him for a while, but his shallowness soon surfaced. Shallowness in various fields - his deep-set communalism (ref.Godhra),his greed for power(ref.favouring Chandrababu Naidu of TDP at the cost of the entire nation),and so many othr such things. Now, he is talking of "mistakes" of Rahul Mahajan.Can a one-time PM call every crime/offence as per the Indian Penal Code and other laws a simple
"mistake"? It is he who needs a solid, down to earth introspection, repentance and reformation. In case evidence turns out tomorrow showing that drugs were a part of the grey areas of Pramod Mahajan`s life, will Vajpayee call that, too, a "mistake"? This country now knows the truth about the moral high grounds taken by BJP all these years and thanks to Rahul Mahajan that the gargantuan bluff is called so convincingly.

Posted by ramgopal krishna on 09-JUN-06

06-10-2006, 02:19 AM

QUOTE(acharya @ Jun 10 2006, 01:24 AM)Need for introspection by BJP: Vajpayee

June 09, 2006 17:23 IST

Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has said there is a need for the Bharatiya Janata Party to introspect in the light of alleged drug abuse by Rahul Mahajan, the son of slain party leader Pramod Mahajan.

"Mistakes can be made by people and by the party. It will take time to rectify them," Vajpayee said in Gwalior on Thursday night.

Regarding the Rahul Mahajan incident, Vajpayee had earlier said 'such mistakes happen in young age. Chances of such mistakes are possible when you fall in bad company and that is what happened to Rahul'.

Claiming that this statement was interpreted out of context, Vajpayee said he was speaking about Rahul making a 'mistake', from a human perspective.

"The law will take its own course. Those who have made mistakes will have to pay for it," he said.

Stressing the importance of discipline within the party, Vajpayee said, "Indiscipline will not be tolerated in the BJP. People have been removed from the party for it and this practice will be followed."

Without naming former party leader Uma Bharti, he ruled out chances of return by those asked to leave the party due to indiscipline

COMMENTS FROM READERS

Subject: Vajpayee, introspection and all that !!

Vajpayee should always remain grateful that he was made the PM of India, albeit through a lot of political wranglings, propaganda, arm-twisting etc.That was a freak accident,really, for this country. Pompous talk, especially in Lucknow Hindi, did carry him for a while, but his shallowness soon surfaced. Shallowness in various fields - his deep-set communalism (ref.Godhra),his greed for power(ref.favouring Chandrababu Naidu of TDP at the cost of the entire nation),and so many othr such things. Now, he is talking of "mistakes" of Rahul Mahajan.Can a one-time PM call every crime/offence as per the Indian Penal Code and other laws a simple
"mistake"? It is he who needs a solid, down to earth introspection, repentance and reformation. In case evidence turns out tomorrow showing that drugs were a part of the grey areas of Pramod Mahajan`s life, will Vajpayee call that, too, a "mistake"? This country now knows the truth about the moral high grounds taken by BJP all these years and thanks to Rahul Mahajan that the gargantuan bluff is called so convincingly.

Posted by ramgopal krishna on 09-JUN-06
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It is very funny that a lot of COMMIES, idiots such as the above reader who brain is very very small and sh!tty new papers such as Hindu started bashing BJP and even RSS for Rahul mahajan fiasco.

I read an editorial in Hindu which called murder, sleaze, drug abouse of BJP. I was aghast at those bast*ards. What happened with Mahajan family is/was a personal tragedy and totally spoiled kid. How is it related to BJP? One idiot brother felt he was insulted by his elder brother who brought him and he decided to murder.

Then Rahul was caught with drugs. He is a spoiled brat who is into drugs. Infact, BJP did not even nominate him for any position. Where are these BAST*ARDS linking up BJP, Vajpayee, RSS, VHP to this. These BAST*ARDS are calling this as the end of BJP. I saw this in Rediff, Hindustantimes, Hindua nd every garbage sh!tty COMMIE and CONmen political paers.

Infact, if there is any sleaze, we have to remember the JESSICAL LAL case, MANU SHARMA who all have the patronage and political power of CONgress and who played with police to destroy evidence and got away ghastly murders. None of these BAS*TARDS had the guts and conscience to link it to CORRUPT CONmen.

Fortunately lot of HINDU readers seem to realize to the extent to which HINDU stooping to link unrelated events and they are DIGUSTED by it

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Deep malaise

The editorial "Malaise too deep" (June 8) has rightly pointed to the malaise that runs in the BJP with its members and their sons getting involved in sleaze, murder and scandals. But there is no cause for worry because the wards of ruling party members are upright and honest. There can be no better role models for Indian youth than Jagat Singh, Manu Sharma, and many others.

Anjali Sreekumar,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

The Rahul Mahajan episode has come in handy for the media to go to town on the BJP's discomfiture with perceptible glee. Let them not create an impression that it is the BJP leaders and their wards alone who commit mistakes and get involved in offences. Let us not forget various cases involving leaders of other parties pending in court.

Abishek Bhaskaran,
Srirangam, T.N.

* * *

I fail to understand how Rahul taking drugs is a BJP issue, and why the media are so obsessed with the case. Pramod Mahajan was a flamboyant and successful leader who had an unfortunate death.

To suggest that the present crisis is somehow related to his lifestyle is not fair to him. It is true that the BJP has been having problems lately. But the Rahul affair is a non-issue blown completely out of proportion.

S. Sudhir Kumar,
Waltham, Massachusetts

* * *

With the phenomenal increase in the number of news channels, each one is trying to increase its ratings by breaking news. When something big breaks out, the channels are forced to send their reporters to the scene.

This cannot be helped when the electronic medium is catching up with the global trends of live coverage. But trial by the media is unacceptable. The need of the hour is to lay down norms on privacy.

D.B.N. Murthy,
Bangalore

* * *

It was disturbing to see the various channels competing for one-upmanship in the sordid drama. The media assumed the role of prosecutor, jury, and judge rather than that of an observer and commentator.

Let us hope wiser counsel prevails and that they live up to their role of a watchdog and enhance their credibility in the eyes of the people.

Satish R. Murdeshwar,
Pune

* * *

What happened at Pramod Mahajan's erstwhile official residence is not only shameful but also alarming. All was well until the facts regarding the drug scandal were revealed. One must thank the framers of our Constitution who vested the ultimate power in the masses.

Humaira Ahsan,
Aligarh, U.P.

* * *

The Hindu has every right to write anything about the BJP. But the use of the term `saffron' often in a contemptible, disparaging way crosses the limits of propriety. It will do a great service to the ancient culture of India if it refrains from using the word `saffron' in the political context. Saffron is the epitome of abnegation, sacrifice and self-denial, which the great rishis of our sacred land practised for the welfare of the entire universe.

K.R. Nambiar,
Kozhikode, Kerala
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06-10-2006, 11:14 AM

Rahul Mahajan case is a social issue. English media never miss opportunity to beat any Hindu organization.
But I have some concerns, why leaders allow their secretary to be very powerful? Moitra was promoting Rahul to BJP, his objective was just to keep his job and ambition. Actually, he was successful in doing so.
It should be wake up call for BJP; they should check who are joining them.
Dynasty culture should be discouraged unless and until they have good candidate.

Sanjay Gandhi was known car thief and womanizer, his habit was no secret, but Indira was not dragged or humiliated like Mahajan family is going through.
Rahul Gandhi was involved in accident in Delhi while he was driving rashly. No case against him. Why?
I am not sure how many can vouch that their own kids will not make mistake or in bad habits.

**acharya** · 06-12-2006, 10:47 PM

Monday, June 12, 2006

HUM HINDUSTANI: A tale of two transformations â J Sri Raman

If Mahajanâs âlifestyleâ did not make him a âmoderniserâ, it did not make him a sorry exception to the rule in the âsaffronâ camp, either. What made a personality cult of Mahajan unwarranted was not his âfive-starâ peccadilloes, not a narcotic-cocktail circuit, but his politics of non-uniformed fascism aka âcultural nationalismâ

You may or may not agree that man creates God â and the Devil. Few in India today, however, can dispute the proposition that the far right can create a political saint or sinner out of the same personality. Not after the country has witnessed the case of a twice-transformed Pramod Mahajan.

On May 15, in these same columns, we talked of the first transformation. In less than a fortnight, the former leader and fund-raiser of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) died by degrees and was reborn as almost a saint fit for reverence. The canonisation began as Mahajan lay in a Mumbai hospital fighting for his life after falling to a fratricidal bullet. It was carried to a pitch of tearful piety in the two days after his end and until his funeral amid full state honours. The salute of police guns might seem glaringly ironic today in the light of what has transpired since then.

As we noted then, the essence of the canonisation by the BJP and the media consisted in Mahajanâs exaltation as a âmoderniserâ of the party and, by extension, some of the parivar (the far-right âfamilyâ). It was almost suggested that the party took the first significant step towards âmodernisationâ with the suave, second-rung leader starting to sport a cell phone when the instrument was still new to India. He was supposed to have taken the process to a point of no return by forging â and flaunting â corporate connections.

What needed to be noted, really, was the utterly nonsensical character of this assessment. We made the point before, but it eminently bears repetition: a man of Mahajanâs political accomplishments â including his roles in the Ayodhya campaign that communalised post-partition Indian politics as never before and in the forging of the fascist Shiv Sena-BJP axis in his home-state of Maharashtra, to name just a couple of instances â could not be called a moderniser of the party in the sense of a moderator or a bulwark against the âbackwardâ forces in the âfamilyâ.

A similar point needs to be made about the second transformation, even if the de-canonisation may delight many on this scribeâs side of the political divide.

Mahajanâs demise led speedily to a divide in the BJP itself. The party did not seem prepared for what followed, though quite a few in its fold or close to it now see it all as an inevitable sequel. Pramodâs son Rahul is now in prison, facing criminal charges for consumption of narcotics and worse, after a mysterious party in Mahajanâs New Delhi residence ended in another unnatural death. Bibek Moitra, said to have handled the finances of the slain BJP fund-raiser, became a victim of either a âconspiracyâ or a âcocktail of drugsâ, depending on the version one believes.

Whether a âconspiracyâ or a forbidden âcocktailâ â its impact on the BJP was immediate. And in the subsequent days it has only increased. Rahul was a special, surprise invitee at the first post-Pramod BJP national executive session, but all talk of the ârising sonâ becoming a youth leader and even a vice-president of the party died with Moitra. Sushma Swaraj, one of the high-profile BJP luminaries to visit Mahajan in the Mumbai hospital, spoke for others too when she asserted that the party had no âlena denaâ with (or little interest in) the Rahul-Bibek affair or its ramifications. Party chief Rajnath Singh pretended to have a hearing problem, when the media asked him about it, and joined in the ensuing hilarity.

More was to follow. As the story began to unfold in some sordid detail, the party began to distance itself from not only the subject of police investigation but also the person it was about to deify. More and more voices from inside the BJP were heard regretfully recalling the Mahajan âlifestyleâ that had led to it all. The media talked of the âhigh lifeâ that was supposedly in striking contrast with the holiness or âHindutvaâ of the party. A parivar hack, who is known for proximity to Lal Krishna Advani and wrote once of his eyes âmoisteningâ as Advani stepped down as BJP president, was entirely dry-eyed in a television programme as he denounced Mahajanâs âunethicalâ management of the party funds.

The process might have continued and the party could have disowned Pramod completely, had not former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee intervened â possibly seeing a factional angle in the entire affair. At Vajpayeeâs insistence, a couple of lesser BJP leaders visited Rahul in detention. However, this marked no reinstallation of Pramod in the party pantheon.

The de-canonisation is as deceptive as the defeated attempt at canonisation was. If Mahajanâs âlifestyleâ did not make him a âmoderniserâ, it did not make him a sorry exception to the rule in the âsaffronâ camp, either. What made a personality cult of Mahajan unwarranted was not his âfive-starâ peccadilloes, not a narcotic-cocktail circuit, but his politics of non-uniformed fascism aka âcultural nationalismâ.

Denunciation of Pramodâs or Rahulâs foibles deals no heavy or long-term blow to the far right. It is hardly a secret that leaders in other parties are not free from them, either. The BJP apologists are bemoaning the fact that the episode exposes its claim of being a âparty with a differenceâ. The far right, actually, stands to gain from promotion of a public outlook that perceives no difference among segments of the political spectrum. The middle-class denunciation of a consolidated political class as âcorruptâ, accompanied by a denial of the relevance of all ideology, has only helped Mahajanâs kind of politics.

For the truth about the Rahul-Bibek affair, we may have to wait longer than for the result of the World Cup football tournament. The truth about Mahajanâs two transformations, however, needs immediate recognition by forces that take seriously their fight against the far right.

The writer is a journalist based in Chennai, India. A peace activist, he has contributed the main essay to âThe Media Bomb,â a study of Indian media responses to Indiaâs nuclear-weapon tests of 1998. He is also the author of a sheaf of poems under the title âAt Gunpointâ

06-12-2006, 11:45 PM

<img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' />QUOTEÂ Vajpayee, Advani court arrest on price hikes 
Source: PTI.Â
New Delhi, June 12: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Leader of Opposition L K Advani today courted arrest while protesting the rise in prices as the BJP described the Congress move to slash sales tax on fuel in states under its control as a "joke". 

"A strange phenomenon has emerged with states being asked to share the burden. We have no objection if states cut taxes on their own. But it would be a joke if the Centre uses its pressure on states to slash their taxes," the former Prime Minister said at the NDA protest rally before he courted arrest.

Vajpayee also insisted on a reduction in Central excise and customs duties to bring down prices of petrol and diesel.

"Instead, we would force the Centre to reduce its customs and excise duties to bring down fuel costs," he said.

Vajpayee, who is also the NDA chairman, accused the ruling Congress-led UPA of inability to control prices.

"The government is unable to decide how it should check price increases. The Congress government is in a state of confusion. The 'aam admi (common man)' is in trouble because of rising prices and the Congress government has lost direction," he remarked.

The former Prime Minister, who sat against a large canvas price chart, also spoke about the rise in prices of edibles and fuel since the Congress-led UPA took power in 2004.

In their speeches, both Advani and BJP chief Rajnath Singh too flayed the Congress for sales tax cuts in party-ruled states.

06-13-2006, 12:46 AM

BJP should project second layer. ABV and Advani should take retirement.

06-13-2006, 10:59 AM

QUOTEBJPâs Yayati syndrome 
- Sandhya Jain
Pioneer.com
Â Â Â Â Â Â Some time after the arrest of the Kanchi Acharyas, the BJP Think Tank hosted a talk where an ideologue defended the greatest civilizational insult Hindu India has suffered since the assassination of Guru Tegh Bahadur by a rabid Islamist ruler. The speaker diminished the seers and insinuated that chief minister Jayalalithaa would prove the charges against them in court. This caused grave disquiet among the audience and many bemoaned the low calibre of the BJP leadership that abysmally failed the Hindu community.

Â Â Â Â Â Â I remember telling those who sought my views on the appalling state of the party that, having shed the Hindu cause under coalition compulsions, the aged leadership was reluctant to resume the Hindu burden. Like king Yayati, however, it was so intoxicated with office that it would not see the exit signs Fate was beaming so insistently. Like the king, it swallowed the youth of its children (Generation Next), for public good, of course. In the Mahabharata story, wisdom finally dawned and the old king sought to return his sonâs youth. But that great renunciate refused to take back his gift, so father and son renounced the world together, after placing the grandson on the throne. Sadly, the BJPâs Geriatric Club thirsts for the youth of its grandchildren also (Generation Next to Next).

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Nothing illustrates this more vividly than the attitude towards the double tragedy that has hit the Mahajan family. The murderous assault on Pramod Mahajan was little more than a photo-op for some leaders, and a perfect excuse to cancel a flop yatra. BJP leaders maligning the late leader are oblivious of the possible political ramifications of the murder. If reports that assassin-brother Pravin had joined the Congress party a month before the crime are true, the case acquires a new dimension.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Strangely, BJP has left the probe entirely to the police, who have taken Pravinâs anger that his brother did not make him richer, at face value. We know nothing about the persons Pravin was in touch with in the days and hours prior to and after the incident. After all, he took an unusually long time to reach Pramodâs place, and later, the police station. Pravinâs telephone records are being kept secret.

A month later, Pramodâs secretary Bibek Moitra dies mysteriously and his only son, Rahul, barely survives. The conspiracy angle is obvious, but after the impromptu concern of president Rajnath Singh, a powerful force reins in party sympathizers. Sushma Swaraj (who dismissed the Ram Janmabhoomi as an encashed cheque) twice emerges from L.K. Advaniâs residence to declaim that BJP has no truck with the tragedy. This approach suits a rival political entity admirably. Interestingly, amidst this baffling tragedy, NCP leader Sharad Pawar breaks ranks with Congress to field nationalist tycoon Rahul Bajaj for the Rajya Sabha. BJP supremos, who once preferred Sanjay Gandhi acolyte Lalit Suri and Congresswoman Najma Heptullah to Mr. Bajaj, have to concur.

There is more to the Rahul Mahajan episode than meets the eye. On June 1, Sahil Zaroo takes Rahul Malhotra and Karan Ahuja to the house; with hindsight, it seems he needs witnesses to something likely to unfold there. They arrive at 11.30 pm and after a private talk with Moitra (recently changed to Rahul), Sahil claims receiving Rs. 15,000/- to buy cocaine. Sahil and Karan buy five grams of cocaine from Vasant Vihar, and Karan decides to go home. Sahil returns alone; he and Moitra snort the stuff, but the latter says it is not genuine and demands a replacement. We do not know what Rahul Malhotra does all this time.

Police say Moitra sent his driver Anil with Sahil and Rahul Malhotra to change the material, but now Rahul also opts out. Sahil is physically well at this point; he gets Trishay Khanna to accompany him to the Mahajan residence around 2 am. As Sahil, Anil and Trishay enter the room, they find Moitra frothing at the mouth and Rahulâs body cold. Sahil calls the servants while the driver telephones former aide Harish Sharma for guidance.

If Sahil went to change the dubious powder, what did Moitra and Rahul consume that caused such deterioration in their condition, and how? Did Sahil return merely to check their condition? What did Sahil imbibe that caused delayed illness, not serious enough to prevent him from flying to Srinagar? Sahil and Trishay had the presence of mind to remove Sahilâs car from the scene and get him an injection at Spring Meadows clinic; this suggests he got a specific antidote.

Sahilâs lawyer claims his client met Moitra to get an air ticket to Srinagar released from the VIP quota. This is easy to verify, but it does not explain why Sahil went to the residence twice with âwitnessesâ. Police say Abdullah gave cocaine to Sahil, but Moitra died of heroin overdose, and servants say Sahil switched a packet of white powder in Moitraâs pocket. A television channel reveals that on the night of the crime Sahil made eighteen calls to Abdullah, one to a film producer, and numerous calls to the daughter of a Mumbai police officer. For someone intending to spend the night doing cocaine, it sounds strange.

Something is rotten. Rahul Malhotra, Trishay Khanna and Karan Ahuja consider their moves, find a reputed narcotics lawyer, speak to a news channel, and then surrender to the police. Although it may have been too late to find alcohol in their blood, it is surprising they were not medically examined for consumption of drugs. If the police makes them approvers, the entire case will appear fraudulent and contrived. It is pertinent that after making a huge splash about Rahul using a five hundred rupee note to chase the cocaine (now heroin), the police have not told us if they recovered the remains of any such note; they have changed the quantity of drugs involved.

Â Â Â Â Â Â The determination to prove that Rahul consumed and distributed drugs smacks of political vendetta. Defamatory stories are being planted against Moitra and Rahul. However, some observers point out that if Rahul really was a drug addict, he would have displayed the classic âwithdrawalâ symptoms in custody. Yet Rahul has not asked jail authorities for a âfixâ; such self-control is not possible for a âregularâ on the drug circuit.
EOM

ramana · 06-13-2006, 07:18 PM

All along I had this uneasy feeling about the way the case was being pursued against Rahul Mahajan. Granted he had used drugs but people with greater offences were not hounded as he is being hounded. I think that it is being pursued to ensure that he doesnt make a political stance later in life. Some thing black in lentils.

06-13-2006, 08:55 PM

Ramana: It's black lentils only: Rahul Mahajan â mirror to our faces

**acharya** · 06-13-2006, 09:55 PM

QUOTE(Viren @ Jun 13 2006, 03:25 AM)Ramana: It's black lentils only: Rahul Mahajan â mirror to our faces
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This makes me wonder if the media is participating in a conspiracy to promote the children of only one family to rule this country through two of the principal ânationalâ parties. If yes, this would be the least of their sins with regard to their disgraceful reportage of the attack against the Mahajan family. Does the BJP leadership, first generation, the generation next, and the third generation understand that they are the real targets of this conspiracy? Form their conduct so far, I very much doubt it.

06-14-2006, 10:05 AM

Rahul Mahajan â mirror to our faces

The above article by Radha Rajan in Plainspeak of vigilonline, should be made mandatory reading for ALL generations of BJP !

**acharya** · (This post was last modified: 06-15-2006, 04:01 AM by acharya.)

http://www.freeindiamedia.com/politics/12_june_06.html

The future face of the BJP?

By Pankaj Vohra
June 4, 2006

The drug overdose incident involving Pramod Mahajanâs son, Rahul, and close aide, Vivek Moitra, has delivered a body blow to the BJP. Its sagging image has taken a further beating even though the saffron outfit on Saturday made a conscious effort to distance itself from the cocaine and champagne scandal that threatens to expose many skeletons in the cupboards of senior leaders. Though a cover-up operation has reportedly started, the incident is bound to be used by opponents of the ruling coterie both inside and outside the party to unmask the real and future face of the BJP.

Sushma Swarajâs meek defence of her party was unconvincing since, earlier in the week, BJP President Rajnath Singh, who has been showing undue interest in grooming the young Mahajan, had described him on television as âa good boyâ. He appeared keen to give Rahul a responsible position in the organisation, perhaps also because of his close proximity to the late Pramod Mahajan. Mahajan junior had also told reporters that he would abide by the party chiefâs decision regarding his future career.

It was obvious that the BJP was considering launching Rahul into politics, possibly as its answer to the Congressâs Rahul Gandhi. Attempts through friendly media channels was made to portray Rahul Mahajan as a man with tremendous composure, who kept his grief to himself and instead consoled everyone else, including his uncle and senior BJP leader, Gopinath Munde, during his fatherâs funeral. Most senior leaders, including those who may have taken the decision to distance the party from Fridayâs incident, had marvelled at his inner strength.

Stories originating from Mumbai led everyone believe that Rahul Mahajan would replace his father and that there was unanimity amongst all to give him the Rajya Sabha seat held by Pramod. Vivek Moitra played an important role in this projection, though Mahajanâs other aide, Harish Sharma, appeared inclined towards making Mahajanâs widow his political heir.

One only wonders how such stories could do the rounds of the media, since the Congress-NCP would hardly allow someone the opportunity to grab a Rajya Sabha seat that could easily be wrested from the party. The Congress and NCP are in power and naturally would want their own nominee to replace Mahajan, notwithstanding the generosity with which NCP chief Sharad Pawar reportedly said that he would want Mahajanâs kin to be in Parliament. It is clear now that in the June by-election, the seat will go to a Congress nominee.

Therefore, what is surprising is that since his Dr Jekyll-Mr Hyde personality got revealed, the BJP is actively trying to disown its plans for Rahul Mahajan. Had this incident not been in the public domain, he could have survived politically and may even have been given a position of authority by the party. After all, Pramod Mahajan was a key figure whoâd helped transform the BJP from a party of petty traders and middle-classes to one that enjoyed corporate patronage and made India shine for some of the rich and famous.

A reality check on Mahajanâs political accomplishments may not be as flattering as was made out to be when he was battling for his life in Hinduja hospital. Incidentally, the Mumbai police has still not disclosed Pravin Mahajanâs real motive behind shooting his brother. Perhaps this, too, may have caused embarrassment to the BJP, which, like in the present instance, may have been compelled to dissociate itself from even Pramod, who was held in very high regard by some of the top leaders. With his death, several controversies in which he was involved seem to have been pushed into the dustbin of history.

The BJP has been a party that always took pride in its distinct identity. It was inspired by the RSS, which laid great stress on character building and the development of its supporters into pure practitioners of Hinduism. Some of them remained bachelors, leading to unproved allegations over their sexual preferences. But the RSS swayamsewaks acquitted themselves during natural calamities and during threats to the nation. In the early Sixties, during Jawaharlal Nehruâs tenure, a RSS contingent also participated in the Republic Day parade.

But the drug overdose scandal has now severely dented the image of the saffron brigade. A son who claimed he wanted to immerse his fatherâs ashes in the Brahmaputra decided to consume liquor and drugs along with his aides and friends before the holy ritual could be completed. Investigations will also throw more light on Moitraâs activities. This may also reveal details about the Mahajans, whose confidence he enjoyed, and, by logical corollary, also about the BJPâs murkier side. There have been suggestions that Moitra was privy to a lot of financial dealings of both Mahajan and his party. But it is for the police to ascertain whether he was murdered or died after consuming a poison.

There is also a theory doing the rounds that some very important people were present at the party that night and the surrender of the three youths was organised in order to shield them. There are indications of foul play from the manner in which the scene of the incident was disturbed and from the fact that instead of driving the victims to Safdarjung, AIIMS or RML, they were taken to Apollo, 16 kilometres away. Surely, the police will be able to verify the authenticity of this theory but in the absence of transparent investigations, more such theories may do the rounds. The incident has ruined Rahul Mahajan's political ambitions and put the BJP in the ICU. Maybe another chintan baithak is called for. Between us.

http://www.hindustantimes.com

06-15-2006, 12:35 PM

This article is one of a piece from HT which never misses an opportunity to take down BJP a peg or two.

It is incredible and beyond one's belief that the BJP was pushing this son of Promod Mahajan into the forefront leadership while being fully aware of his 'peccadillos'--specially the one of his being a 'drug addict'. !

06-16-2006, 03:38 AM

QUOTEBJP to contest all Zilla Parishad seats in AP 
Pioneer.com
Omer Farooq | Hyderabad
In a move to increase its strength and widen its base, the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to contest all the Zilla Parishad seats in Andhra Pradesh which is going to polls later this month.

The State party executive met to chalk out its strategy on Thursday and also decided to contest as many Mandal Parishad seats as possible to mark its presence.

The leaders were of the view that even if the party was not able to win many seats in the Zilla and Mandal Parishads, it can significantly increase its share of votes and emerge as a major force to reckon with by the next Assembly elections.

Accordingly, the party decided that all the senior leaders, including State BJP president N Indrasena Reddy will campaign throughout the State from June 18 when the filing of nomination papers comes to an end.

The State BJP spokesman K Lakshman said that the BJP will expose the failure of the ruling Congress party and the opportunist alliance of the TDP and the CPI(M).

The BJP which has committed itself to separate Telangana State will pay special attention to the Telangana region and target the TRS, which is likely to continue its alliance with the Congress party in the polls. State BJP president N Indrasena Reddy, targeting the CPI(M) and TDP alliance said that the people will reject this opportunism and the BJP will emerge as an alternative to the Congress party in the State

06-21-2006, 10:18 PM

Modi's mantra: Gujarat first
QUOTEBut on some counts you have to give Modi credit. One, based on anecdotal evidence it would seem corruption has come down significantly in the state. The way an industrialist tells it, he paid a minister in the Gujarat government and Modi came to know of it. He asked if bribes had been paid. The industrialist first demurred and then, greed getting the better of him, admitted (possibly in the hope he would get his money back) that he'd paid Rs 10 lakh. Modi telephoned the minister, informed him that the industrialist was sitting with him and asked when the Rs 10 lakh was being deposited with the party. This was the clearest message to investors -- if there was to be any corruption, Modi had to know about it.


QUOTESecond, Modi is unequivocally, totally, passionately devoted to Gujarat. During the recent Narmada Dam controversy, Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz who was appalled at the way rehabilitation was handled by Madhya Pradesh, tried to stall Gujarat from raising the height of the dam so that he could secure some kind of deal for the oustees.

Modi came to Delhi for secret talks with Soz where Soz virtually begged him to postpone the decision. "I will issue a public statement saying you are India's greatest statesman," Soz told Modi, possibly expecting that an endorsement from a Kashmiri Muslim would help Modi wash away some of the Godhra black.

The only statement I want, Modi told Soz, is from the people of Gujarat. He then returned to Ahmedabad, made public the fact that Delhi wanted him to cut a deal that he refused and challenged the Gujarat Congress to tell the state where it stood -- with the UPA at the Centre or with Gujarat? MPs and political leaders from the state cutting across party lines rushed to Delhi to tell the prime minister not to punish Gujarat for it had committed no fault. It was Modi's initiative all the way.


QUOTEModi's position is: Gujarat first, everything else later. He is the only mass leader the BJP has. Paradoxically, this owes to the tension between the branches of the Hindutva family. Logically, this will propel Modi to the presidentship of the BJP. What will happen then is anyone's guess.

ramana · 06-22-2006, 01:10 AM

Viren, The writer is a DIE. She praises Modi grudgingly and also gives vicious reasons for his popularity. She is thus tarring and feathering most of the Gujaratis. She also sling some gratituous mud at Israel while at it. I wouldnt care for her anal ysis

06-23-2006, 08:08 AM

QUOTESangh Parivar to doctor BJP
Press Trust of India
Indian Express
June 22, 2006Â

New Delhi, June 22: In an apparent attempt to stem the saffron party's declin and draw up a strategy to revive its fortunes, top RSS and BJP leaders on Thursday held a day-long close brainstorming session at former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's residence.

The high-level closed door meeting attended by RSS general secretary Mohan Bhagwat and the three joint general secretaries Madan Das Devi, Suresh Soni and Bhayyaji Joshi and senior BJP leaders including Vajpayee, L K Advani, Rajnath Singh and Sanjay Joshi, comes amidst intra-party differences in many states and ahead of the crucial Assembly polls in some states early next year.

Besides insisting on a return to ideology, RSS functionaries are understood to have expressed their concern over the exit of several 'hardcore' leaders such as Uma Bharati and Babulal Marandi from the party, which they said had a âdemoralising effect on the cadres apart from denting the party's imageâ, party sources said.

The need for a coordinated strategy in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh which goes to polls early next year is also understood to have figured at the meeting.

The meeting comes four months after the two-day brainstorming session at the Choki Dhani resort in Rajasthan, attended among others by RSS chief K S Sudarshan, BJP president Rajnath Singh and Chief Ministers of party-ruled states.

With the pro-RSS Rajnath Singh taking over as BJP Chief in January, the Sangh founthead has been having a greater say in the party affairs in contrast to the sharp differences witnessed during the tenure of his predecessor Advani.

Recently, the party constitution was amended to give more powers to the organisation secretaries, a euphemism for RSS whole timers, from district level upwards.

Leaders of all Parivar outfits had met in Delhi for a brainstorming session when the NDA was in power. The then Deputy Prime Minister Advani had advised the VHP to shed its image as a trident-distributing organisation.

At the party's Goa 'Chintan Baithak' in 2004 immediately after losing power, Devi had advised BJP leaders to return to the ideological path while Vajpayee had stressed on the need to keep the NDA intact. RSS leaders had demanded Advani's resignation over the Jinnah controversy at the Sangh's 'Chintan Baithak' in Surat last year.

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