Profile : <!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Sahib Singh Verma: Jat with a passion for poetry</b> link
Born on March 15, 1943 in village Mundka in Delhi, Sahib Singh Verma rose from the ranks of academics to politics. He was counted among the most influential Jat leaders in northern India.
His following in Delhi could not be ignored even by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and he had to be accommodated in the Union council of ministers by Prime Minister Vajpayee.
<b>An educationist by profession Verma, remained a teacher from 1974 to 1989 despite remaining active in politics. He gave up teaching following his election to the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999.
Between 1977 and 1989, he served as councillor to the Metropolitan Council in Delhi. He was elected to the Delhi legislative assembly between 1993 and 1998. In 1996 he succeeded senior BJP leader Madanlal Khurana as the Chief Minister of Delhi.</b>
Mr Verma was inducted into the Union cabinet by Prime Minister Vajpayee in 2002 and has since served as the Union Labour Minister.
Sahib Singh Verma: ProfileÂ
Sahib Singh Verma (born March 15, 1943) is a former Chief Minister of Delhi state in India and a former minister in Government of India. He is a leader of Bharatiya Janata Party and was elected to Lok Sabha from Delhi.
<b>Sahib Singh Verma is very much respected in teachers` community.</b>
Fatherâs Name: Shri Mir Singh
Motherâs Name: Smt. Bharpai Devi
Date of Birth: 15 March 1943
Place of Birth: Vill. Mundka (Delhi)
Marital Status: Married
Date of Marriage: 13 May 1954
Spouseâs Name: Smt. Sahib Kaur
No. of Sons: Two
No. of Daughters: Three
Educational Qualifications : M.A., M. Lib.Sc., Ph.D.
Profession: Educationist and Agriculturist
<b>Positions Held </b>
1977-89: Councillor, Metropolitan Council, Delhi
1993-98: Member, Delhi Legislative Assembly
1993-96: Cabinet Minister, Delhi
1996-98: Chief Minister, Delhi
1999: Elected to 13th Lok Sabha Chairman, Joint Committee on the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers` Rights Bill, 1999
1999-2000: Member, Committee on Food, Civil Supplies and Public Distribution
2000-2001: Member, Committee on Ethics
1 July 2002 onwards: Union Cabinet Minister, Labour
<b>Other Information </b>
Served as a teacher, 1974-99Â
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One thing that is not mentioned below is that he famously said on national TV that poor dont eat onions! which was promptly followed by some 10 laborers saying they usually have chapatti and onions as they could not afford subji and now they could not even afford onions!
The references being made to Verma by the reporters, especially those belonging to television, could well pass for euphemism for ignorance. They did not have an iota of an idea who Verma was. The reporter would have done well to find out that the former CM had been marginalised in Delhi BJP. He was facing the charge of putting-up rebels in Outer Delhi leading to the BJP's loss on at least 20-odd MCD seats.
According to dictionary.com, obituary means a notice of the death of a person, often with a biographical sketch, as in a newspaper. Unfortunately, in India, obituary has come to acquire one more dimension. The biographical sketch of the person, which accompanies the notice of the death of the personality seldom, has critical references.
One doesn't need to go very far in seeking to illustrate the point. The obituary references to former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, who died in a most unfortunate accident, had one and all singing paeans for him. Some would say that it is not in Indian culture to berate the dead. Off course one can be critical without being discourteous. The references being made to Sahib Singh Verma by the reporters, especially those belonging to television, could well pass for euphemism for ignorance. They did not have an iota of an idea who Sahib Singh Verma was and what was his contribution (or lack of it) to the polity of Delhi.
I found this reporter from NDTV particularly hilarious. Speaking with the attitude of know-all, this 'dressed to kill' reporter', went on to stutter, "After the exit of Madan Lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma was tallest among the Delhi BJP leaders and his loss would be felt in the coming election year when the Delhi Assembly goes to poll."
Verma indeed had a gangling personality but the reporter would have done well to find out that the former Chief Minister has been marginalised in Delhi BJP. He was facing the charge of putting-up rebels in Outer Delhi leading to the saffron party's loss on at least 20-odd municipal seats. Khurana was expelled from the party long back and his attempt at rebellion proved a complete damp squib. The former CM's party failed to stop the BJP even on Khurana's home-turf of Moti Nagar.
Coming back to Sahib Singh Verma, I was never particularly enamoured by this man's style of politics. His ability to bully his way was often interpreted as his dynamism. Even after losing the Lok Sabha polls he insisted on having a red beacon atop his vehicle. The traffic cops booked him on several occasions but Verma proved to be recalcitrant.
As Chief Minister, he lived for headlines. The whole idea of his politics was to remain in limelight and worsen his archrival Madan Lal Khurana as the most popular politician. The benchmark of popularity in the cases of both was their ability to grab headlines. Verma rode bicycle as Chief Minister for some time for what he called austerity measure. It's another matter that audit objections followed.
On demitting office as Chief Minister, he took a DTC bus to his DDA flat in Shalimar Bagh. Again the whole act was meant only for the shutterbugs. He never lived in that flat. In fact he refused to move out of his Lutyens Delhi bungalow even after losing the Lok Sabha polls. He got the bungalow allotted to an obliging party MP and stayed put.
To my understanding, history would hold Verma responsible for fritting away the initial goodwill that the BJP had built in Delhi. His stint as Chief Minister saw Delhi hop from one crisis to another. Such was the leadership's lack of confidence in his abilities that Sushma Swaraj replaced him on the eve of the 1998 Assembly polls. But by then the damage had been done as Sheila Dikshit led Congress to a resounding victory. Since then Verma reduced himself to fringe player, speaking only for Jat community even during the Delhi University teachers' union elections.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Letter to Shri Mohan Bhagwat ji, RSS  &
      Shri Rajnath Singh ji, President , BJP
Subject: Two basic issues for onward march of the Hindu Society:Â a) Establishing Hindu Advisory Councils for management oversight in Govt. controlled temples; b) Amendment of Article 30 of Constitution bringing at par benefits, rights and privileges of Hindu educational institutions with those held by minorities.
Aadarniya Shri Mohan Bhagwat ji,
Aadarniya Shri Rajnath Singh ji,
BJP sympathizers were thoroughly disappointed by BJP's lack of persuasive appeal to the majority community as evidenced by the outcome of the recent elections. This phenomenon further encouraged the counter culturists to bring in a tainted Ms. Pratibha Patil as the President of India. In view of this debacle we wish to point out two non- controversial yet basic issues for taking up by the RSS-BJP family: 1) autonomy and community governance of temples; 2) Amendment to Article 30 of the Constitution for allowing same benefits to Hindu institutions as available to such institutions of other communities. We believe that the realization of these two central goals should put the RSS/ BJP back in business. Reciting the mantra of Hindutva without any noticeable and substantial service to Hinduism has proved ineffective and futile. The resolution of the Ayodhya imbroglio is a long term issue. For all intents and purposes its urgency seems to have fizzled out. On the other hand the issues put forth by us, in view of their basic spiritual and educational component, are currently relevant while promising long term benefit towards the Hindu resurgence.
1) Temples under Govt. control:Â Sadly, the state authorities seem oblivious that under the provisions of the Indian constitution, controlling, discriminating, managing, reforming or patronizing religions is completely outside the parameters of government jurisdiction. This is a non- controversial yet fundamental issue of Hindus rights and deserves to be taken up with appropriate urgency for defending the cultural heritage of the majority community and thereby averting its cultural downfall.
2) In many states of India particularly in the South: a) the temples and the religious infrastructure are devastated by mismanagement and siphoning off their revenue for non Hindu religious purposes, sometimes to promote adversarial religions ;Â b) Govt. Control of Temples violates Laws of the Land, and the norms of trusteeship; c) the Govt. management systems operate in totalitarian manner without any transparency and community participation; and d)Â Vital Functions of temples are denied e.g. dharma shiksha, dharma prachar (preaching) , dharma prasar (propagation) and sewa for the poor like other religions e.g. Christian institutions. This has generated a deep resentment in the billion strong Hindu global community.
4) May we suggest that RSS/ BJP take the initiative for public service and persuade state governments to restore communityâs role in temple management by co-opting Hindu Advisory Councils:Â Such Councils could play a role in oversight and decision making process of the endowments department and temple Trusts . These Councils elected or nominated by the Community, state and national religious leaders could eventually shoulder these responsibilities. Such an interim step, pending denationalization and formation of autonomous boards, could also stop desecration and decimation of the religious infrastructure under Govt. control.
5) Pride for Hinduism and its grandeur could be created by the exposition of its Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Bhagwad Geeta - its glorious ancient culture, spirituality and values. However, such knowledge that the community would like to project and propagate is not only denied by the state control of temples, but there are deliberate and irreversible Govt. actions towards liquidating the resources of endowments meant for temples sustenance in perpetuity. The temples are also the centers of community's socio-cultural and religious life, a place of learning with Acharyas, for learning about community sewa, dharma prachar and for building character.Â
6) "Article 30 of the Constitution is divisive and flawed. Not only does it patronize jihadists but also penalizes nationalists and handicaps mass education; it must be amended: A recent petition in Allahabad High Court for "claiming minority status by an educational institution run by a Buddhist on the grounds that it belonged to Buddhists, whose population was below 50 per cent", points to a serious issue. This Article is divisive and rewards the acts of fragmenting the community, violates and contradicts the secular Constitution by enforcing religion based discrimination against the Hindu educational institutions and therefore, must be amended to make it non-discriminatory and universal.
7) The BJP should set an example by urgently co-opting Hindu Advisory Councils in the BJP ruled states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. This could easily be done through administrative mechanisms or by a minor amendment of the endowment Acts. Such measures should introduce and enlarge the much needed transparency and proper religious management of temples. After co-opting Advisory Councils in BJP ruled states, BJP could challenge all other states to follow suit. Here is an example of fast moving actions taken by a state Chief Minister:
Maharashtra sets Example of fast action: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh announced on June 22, to give Rs 15 crore to Maharashtra Waqf Board to streamline its works and strengthen its existing infrastructure. The Chief Minister also assured the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) headed by Lal Jan Pasha that his government would clear the encroachments on waqf land within the next six weeks. The chief minister also said that he was willing to amend the waqf board act in order to make eviction of illegal occupants in waqf properties easier. .... There are around 4 lakh waqf properties in the state. Why canât BJP ruled states take similar actions?
8) Summarizing the issues raised here we are convinced that this interim plan of oversight by Hindu Councils would help save the Hindu religious infrastructure from imminent demolition and ensure proper management of temple operations. The campaign to amend the Article 30 of the Constitution on the other hand will educate, agitate, activate and organize the concerned public for the realization of this goal and as a consequence in future elections substantially improve the electoral fortune of the BJP.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
With respectful pranams,
India's nationalistic party BJP has launched a website to expose the Presidential candidate PRATHIBHA PATIL has created unprecedented stir. Considering BJP's poor PR and Communication skill this is a fairly brilliant move, that has sent shock waves in the ruling coalition UPA regime, led by the Congress, by its president Sonia Maino(Gandhi).
The typically leftist report filed by Neena Vyas for the news paper "The Hindu" failed. The reporter instead of attacking the issues surrounding the credentials of the Presidential Candidate attacked the website. This was the last thing that the UPA wanted. It strengthened the BJP's hand by giving it the much needed publicity, which the BJP wanted badly for the website.
Considering "the gagging" of the media, "the Purchase power of editorial space", "corruption at high places in the media" and "the complete domination" of media space by leftists, has been a source of major stumbling block for the BJP. The misinformation fed to the world media about the BJP has been a force to reckon
with , the popularity which the BJP website has received is phenomenal.
The frontal attack on the website has created a situation, whereby the popularity of the http://www.knowpratibhapatil.com/ has soared to phenomenal levels, as seen by the thousands of hits it received in the first few hours.
The result of negative publicity, has sent shock waves in the UPA circles as seen from the TV reports, that the shell shocked Congress President Sonia Maino, who holds the extra constitutional post (that has not been resolved in the highest courts of the land) has convened a emergency meeting, with her Comrades.
In TV reports the BJP has made an announcement that it will close the website once the elections for the presidential candidate is over. I quickly browsed through the website.
Many consider this suggestion to close the WEBSITE AS ONE OF THOSE BLIND END SUGGESTIONS. WHY WOULD THE BJP WANT TO CLOSE ITS WEBSITE WHEN ITS POPULARITY IS SOARING ? THESE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ITS WELL WISHERS ARE ASKING? I QUICKLY BROWZED.THE WEBSITE DESERVES TO BE RAPIDLY UPDATED.
For example under the side banner "JOIN THE CAMPAIGN" when I clicked and wanted to post my comment it does not open, where do I go from here?
"If you feel strongly about it, and if the contents of this website have provoked you sufficiently to express your opinion, do let us know your response to the following poll:..."
Sorry BJP.
A question where do i post my views? How do i send my views to my MP? Why not provide Email ids of MPs? Why there is no feed back?
<!--emo&:blow--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='blow.gif' /><!--endemo--> BJP to keep Wakf fire burning
17 Jul, 2007, 0229 hrs IST,Abhiram Ghadyalpatil, TNN
MUMBAI: The Wakf land issue has become a potent tool for the BJP, which is now trying to drive a wedge between Muslims and the Congress. A senior BJP functionary and legislator told ET that the party would keep adding fuel to the Wakf fire during the monsoon session, which began on Monday, to send a message to the âaverage Muslim mindâ.
âWe may not get the Muslims to vote for us by exploiting this issue. But we can try to alienate the Muslims from the Congress by exposing the party, in particular the chief minister and other ministers,â a senior BJP leader said. âOne good issue may not help us win over the Muslims, but it would certainly dilute the anti-BJP feeling among the minorities.â
The party internally discussed the Wakf land controversy, among other issues, on the first day of the monsoon session. The strategy that evolved aims at killing two birds with one stone â expose the corruption involving the Congress and prime urban land, and harp on the Congress double-speak on Muslim welfare and secularism.
âThat the Congress ministers have misused their ministerial powers to get prime urban land all across Maharashtra either for themselves or their relatives or trusts controlled by them is known.
Whatâs not is that Congress politicians and their kith and kin have even grabbed land belonging to charitable agencies like the Wakf board. We will expose this corruption and also seek to educate the Muslim community,â a senior BJP legislator said.
Interestingly, the BJP is getting support from some prominent Muslim community members and political activists. A BJP leader who participated in a televised debate on the Wakf issue told ET that he had received several calls from the Muslim community members supporting their stand.
âAll of them wanted me to take up the issue in the Assembly. Some of them were even ready to give information about similar cases in which Wakf land has been appropriated,â the leader said. BJP expects some support even from the treasury benches, sources said.
âA few Congress and NCP legislators belonging to minority community are in regular talks with us on this matter. They want us to say all those things that they themselves are not able to put on record for obvious reasons,â a legislator revealed.
âWe will ask them to speak out on this issue without fear or favour if they claim themselves to be the real representatives of the Muslim community. The land allotted to the Wakf board is for charity and religious purposes. But there has clearly been a breach of this trust and Muslim legislators must raise their voice against this corruption,â BJP functionaries said.
<b>End of Shiv Sena and BJP alliance</b> <!--emo&:cool--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Broadly hinting at the imminent end of its long-standing alliance with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, <b>the BJP today asked its workers to be "mentally prepared" to fight the next assembly elections on their own.</b>
<b>"Before the saffron alliance came into existence in Maharashtra some two decades ago, the BJP was in a stronger position than the Shiv Sena in state politics," state BJP president Nitin Gadkari </b>told a meeting of party office- bearers from Mumbai, Konkan region and western Maharashtra.
Gadkari told the party workers they should be "mentally prepared" to contest the next elections in the state on their own and the BJP would contest all 288 seats in the assembly.
The relationship between the two "yuti (alliance) partners" has become sour due to the Sena's support to UPA presidential candidate Pratibha Patil.
<b>Gadkari also announced that the BJP would launch a state-wide "Quit Maharashtra" protest against the Congress-NCP government on August 9, the day when the "Quit India" movement was initiated by Indians against the country's former British rulers</b>.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>BJP suspends five MLAs after cross-voting</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->BJP chief Rajnath Singh ordered suspension of party MLAs Dhirubhai Gajera, one of the most vocal in criticising Modi ahead of the presidential election, Gordhan Jhadaphia, Balubhai Tanti, Becharbhai Bhadani and Bavkubhai Undhad, party sources said.
He, however, cited indiscipline as the reason behind the move. "They have been suspended for breach of discipline," a party source said
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What abput being pro-hindu? <!--emo&:thumbdown--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsdownsmileyanim.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='thumbsdownsmileyanim.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> BJP not anti-minority, says Sushma
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
<b>The BJP, which has fielded former Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Najma Heptullah as its vice-presidential candidate, on Sunday, called for efforts from partymen to dispel the "myth" that it was an anti-minority party.
</b>
<b>Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, however, claimed Heptullah's candidacy had nothing to do with her religion.</b> "She is the best person for the post not because she is a woman or that she belongs to a minority community, but she had an experience of 17 years of running the House as its vice-chairperson," Swaraj said at the concluding session of two-day BJP's Minority Cell executive committee meeting.
"No other person, be it Rasheed Masood or Hamid Ansari, can fit into the frame of the Vice-President," she said.
Former Union Minister and president of the BJP's Minority Cell Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, Mohammad Arif Khan, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and minority leaders from across the country were present in the meeting.
"The minorities have been misinformed by all parties that BJP is against the minority community and you have to dispel this myth," she said, adding, "for this, you will have go to them with all facts and strong argument but without arrogance."
BJP national vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the perception in the West that all Muslims are terrorists should be contested. "It is wrong to equate all Muslims with Al Qaeda. Such things will only help elements like the Al Qaeda," he said.
Naqvi said history had proven that countries and people, which have used terrorism, are now at the receiving end. "Now these terrorists are a threat to these people. This is what happened to the US and Pakistan," he said.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> Rajnath admits to RSS running BJP
31 Jul 2007, 0029 hrs IST,Mohua Chatterjee,TNN
NEW DELHI: In a surprise admission that has embarrassed his patrons in the RSS, BJP chief Rajnath Singh said that the Sangh was influencing crucial appointments in the party.
In an interview to a weekly, Singh said that RSS had played a role in the ouster of Narendra Modi from the central parliamentary board as well as the removal of Arun Jaitley as chief spokesperson as part of the reshuffle he effected earlier this year.
Responding to a question about his controversial move against Modi and Jaitley, the BJP chief made light of the issue and said that he had taken the concurrence of the Sangh leadership. âThe media made too much of it. These were routine changes. Okay the RSS was consulted. In Modiâs case, it was 70% RSS and 30% my decision. In Jaitleyâs case, the responsibility was 50:50,â Singh said.
The statement undercuts the denials by both BJP and RSS about the latterâs involvement in the partyâs decision making. While organically linked, BJP has preferred to keep up the pretence of autonomy vis-a-vis Sangh, while Sangh itself professes disinterest in the affairs of the party.
The Sangh leadership was, naturally, not amused by the statement which can be a weapon in criticsâ hands. Approached by TOI, RSS leader Ram Madhav said, âHe has to clarify what he means by 70% and 30%. Decisions are taken by the party. You can consult anyone including the RSS, thatâs a normal practice, but on what basis do you say that the decisions were taken by the Sangh... of course there is a possibility that he (Singh) may have been misquoted.â
The controversial statement comes in the aftermath of the perception about RSS getting increasingly involved in the routine affairs of BJP under the current leadership. Singh took over the partyâs reins from L K Advani who was asked to step down by Sangh leadership because of his controversial remarks on Jinnah.
Advani had made his displeasure known by complaining about Sanghâs bid to micro-manage party affairs. While his protest did not evoke much support, the perception about Sanghâs interference has led to heartburn.
While no one has gone public, it is only because of the reverence for senior Sangh leaders. Murmurs agai-nst RSS functionaries who have been imposing their choi-ces have been on the rise.
Their role has been called into question also with regard to the recent UP polls. Party circles lament that while they have got the flak, Sangh functionaries who interfered at every stage have gone unscathed.
<b>RSS tells BJP top brass: OK, we won't micro-manage you</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->At a time when the Left has locked horns with the UPA government over the nuclear deal, the RSS has taken a strategic decision of "phased withdrawal" from the day-to-day affairs of the BJP leaving decision-making primarily with the triumvirate of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani and party president Rajnath Singh, in that order.
<b>Also, keeping the Gujarat Assembly elections later this year in mind and the growing dissension within the party, the RSS has directed mobilization of its cadres in support of Narendra Modi. </b>
These decisions were communicated to Advani at a meeting this month with RSS general secretary Mohan Bhagwat, joint general secretary Madan Das Devi and Suresh Soni, Joint General Secretary and the liaison man between the Sangh Parivar and the BJP.
According to the RSS leadership, the Sangh wants to opt out of "micro-management" of the BJP as has been the case since the appointment of Rajnath Singh as party president.
In fact, the RSS has signalled to the BJP leadership that it will not have any objections if "Sangathan (organization) mantris" who have seeped into BJP's day-to-day affairs right from the district level are gradually replaced.
The top BJP leadership confirms the crucial steps except that Advani wants the Sangh to go public with this shift.
<b>For, it was the RSS that forced Advani to take a backseat after his Jinnah remarks</b>.
When contacted, Bhagwat declined to comment but a senior RSS functionary said: "Once the Sangh has taken the decision to withdraw from politics, do not drag us back by asking us for a reaction to these directives."
Since then, the RSS more or less assumed responsibility for the functioning of the BJP. <b>There are today more than 150 full-time RSS pracharaks working in the BJP</b>.
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Why this greed for the CM's post? This selfishness is BJP's biggest fault. I thnik this is where the commies score over BJP. Whatever their sedition and anti-nationalism, the commies are commited to their "principle" or goals. Commies want to destroy every single institution in india but they are not greedy that they have to do it themselves. Like they dont need Jyothi Basu to do it, Gujral or Gowda or Moron singh is enough. They delegate this task to congress or anybody who seem qualified on in best position. But BJP leaders HAVE to come to power. this is probably the 4 or 5th time they have this 6-months-each-of-us-CM deal and it has not worked for them till date. But they still persist because of greed. In all probability, congress and JD(S) will form next govt in oct and BJP will lose its influence on the state govt. (We need a smilie that says "STUPID BJP" like this <!--emo&tupid--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pakee.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pakee.gif' /><!--endemo-->)
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Peeved Kumaraswamy hints at early exit
PT Bopanna | Bangalore
In a tit-for-tat reaction, the BJP in Karnataka on Thursday said the party was ready to accept the Chief Minister's post 'any time'.Â
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had hinted at an 'early exit', apparently 'irritated' by Deputy Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa's repeated statements on the transfer of power on October 3, under the power sharing formula between the Janata Dal (Secular) and the BJP.
"We expect the power transfer to happen on October 3. But if it happens early, we are ready to accept it," State BJP president DV Sadananda Gowda said in Bangalore.
In another significant development, former Prime Minister and president of the Janata Dal (S) HD Deve Gowda, who is in Trichi in Tamil Nadu on a pilgrimage along with his Minister son HD Revanna, reportedly held discussions with former Chief Minister and Congress leader N Dharam Singh, who also happened to be in Trichi.
With less than two months remaining for transfer of power to the BJP, there has been confusion on the political future of the BJP-Janata Dal (S) coalition.
Â
<b>While Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has been steadfast that he would hand over power to the BJP, his father Deve Gowda has been sending confusing signals on the transfer of power which has apparently led to panic in the BJP circles. </b>
<b>Yediyurappa, who seems to be in a hurry to occupy the Chief Minister's post, has not helped matters by making frequent statements on his going to be the next Chief Minister. </b>
This has irked Kumaraswamy who is reported to have told BJP Ministers who called on him that he was prepared to hand over power before the deadline because he was "deeply hurt by Yediyurappa making the issue of transfer of power a matter of public debate."
Kumaraswamy, who met his party MLAs on Wednesday, hinted that he would announce his early exit at a meeting of the BJP-JD(S) legislature party sometime next month.
Responding to Kumaraswamy's displeasure over his statements, Yediyurappa on Thursday clarified that he would maintain a silence in future on the issue of transfer of power.
<!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> I do not want govt to fall: Advani
17 Aug 2007, 1624 hrs IST,PTI
NEW DELHI: Obviously enjoying the strains in relations between the UPA and its Left allies, BJP leader L K Advani on Friday said he would not be happy if the government falls as he would like it to continue and "make blunders, commit more mistakes and fill up their pot of sins".
Advani, who demanded a law or an amendment to the Constitution to enable Parliament ratify all major international agreements, said in Lok Sabha though media was full of reports that the Left would soon sign "divorce papers" with the UPA, "I would not be happy if the government falls."
The Leader of the Opposition said he would like the Congress-led coalition to continue and<b> "make blunders, commit more mistakes and fill up their pot of sins". </b>
While the Opposition was united in opposing the nuclear deal and wanted it to be re-negotiated, "the ruling alliance has not been unanimous on it.... the government's attitude has alienated you (UPA) from your colleagues", he said.
Advani's comments came during an impromptu debate after Speaker Somnath Chatterjee rejected his motion to seek a debate on the nuclear issue under a rule which entails voting.
Government dismissed apprehensions over the Hyde Act with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee saying he was "quoting verbatim" from the observations of US President George Bush himself who has made it clear that certain provisions in the law were advisory in nature.
Advani said the government "must bring a law, or if necessary amend the Constitution, to make it obligatory for all international agreements which impinge on our security and integrity to be ratified by both Houses of Parliament".
He alleged that the Prime Minister was "misleading" the House if he said that the Hyde Act would not affect the nuclear deal.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Advani's comments came during an impromptu debate after Speaker Somnath Chatterjee rejected his motion to seek a debate on the nuclear issue under a rule which entails voting. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Commies are true to their color. Traitors!!!!!!
For the first time in post-independence India, Hindu nationalists were in a position to rule the country between 1998 and 2004. The impact of this unique phase has not been assessed yet. The BJP had been voted to power to make a change after decades of Congress rule and two years of the Third Front. The Vajpayee government did make a change a few weeks after taking over by deciding on nuclear tests. Previous Congress governments had contemplated this move, but no prime minister after Indira Gandhi had gone ahead with it. This strategic shift may remain the only irreversible innovation of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Certainly the Vajpayee government introduced new measures but most of them have been undone by the UPA after 2004. Education is a case in point. M M Joshi, as HRD minister, tried hard to saffronise the textbooks and appointed Hindutva-minded ideologues in key committees. But all this is history today.
In the economic domain, the real change had started before, with the Narasimha Rao government. The NDA simply made the evolution deeper and quicker, as evident from the "strategic sales" regarding a few PSUs which amounted to their privatisation. No significant reform of the labour laws took place, for instance. In the realm of diplomacy, the Vajpayee government accelerated the rapprochement with the US and Israel, but they were already on the Congress agenda, as the opening of an Indian embassy in Tel Aviv and an Israeli one in New Delhi showed in 1991.
Six years in office, in fact, might have changed BJP as much as BJP has changed Indian politics. The party was supposed to be allergic to caste politics because it divided India (and the Hindus), but Vajpayee toyed with the reservation issue the same way as his predecessors did - granting quotas to the Jats of Rajasthan who overnight became OBCs and a BJP votebank. The BJP was also supposed to be clean, but party president Bangaru Laxman himself - not to speak of the rest - was caught receiving bribe.
The real gift BJP gave to India was political stability through the setting up of a coalition pattern. Between 1989 and 1999, India had had five general elections and six PMs. Obviously, the old Congress system had gone, and nothing had replaced it. The BJP displayed remarkable flexibility by admitting that it would not be in a position to govern India alone and that it would have to dilute its ideology to make alliances. The creation of the NDA in 1998 will perhaps turn out to be a real milestone in Indian politics.
The BJP then made three major concessions by putting on the back burner Ayodhya, Article 370 and a Uniform Civil Code. As a result, the NDA was in a position to prepare a common election manifesto in 1999 and the Vajpayee government lasted five years, something a non-Congress government had never achieved so far.
The Congress, though reluctantly, has emulated this strategy by shaping the United Progressive Alliance in 2004. Certainly it was not easy for Congress to admit that its decline was irreversible - at least in the short run - but BJP had set a pattern the party had to imitate if it wanted to compete successfully. The BJP, therefore, has helped Indian democracy to cope with the growing fragmentation of the party system - because of regional, communal and caste identities - which might have perpetuated instability at the Centre had not India entered the era of coalitions. Today, India looks like a more modern democracy because of a growing bipolarisation of politics which offers a rather clear choice to voters.
Each time Hindu nationalist leaders have been in office at the Centre, the sangh parivar has, however, been under strain. In 1977-79, 'dual membership' had been a key reason for the abortion of the Janata experiment. During 1999-2004, similar issues resurfaced. On one hand, the BJP was made of swayamsevaks who were supposed to pay allegiance to the RSS and its agenda; on the other, they were partners in the NDA framework who did not share their Hindutva-based ideology.
The RSS acknowledged what came to be known as the compulsions of coalition politics - so long as the organisation found reasons to rejoice in some of the decisions of Vajpayee's government like the nuclear tests and the education policy. Things changed when some of the reforms contradicted the programme of RSS and of some of its other offshoots. Economic liberalisation, for instance, was harshly criticised by staunch advocates of swadeshi.
More importantly, the VHP never understood that no progress could be made regarding its plan to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya though its friends were in office. Gradually, the idea took shape that BJP had used the organisation to mobilise voters, but once in office, it was not willing to pay its debt. The relations between BJP and RSS - as well as VHP - turned really sour after the 2004 defeat that the latter attributed to the dilution of the party's ideology.
Such tensions need not be overemphasised though. The sangh parivar survived similar drama in the late 1970s-early 1980s. It proved then that it was truly resilient and it is showing the same kind of quality today. However, the tenure of the Vajpayee government reconfirmed the deeply ambivalent nature of this movement: it cannot win power alone, but it refuses to share power either.
I totally agree with the thrust of the article that you posted especially the last sentence. The differences in the sangh parivar are being give extra large emphasis by the media through the vested interests. To a large extent some of the forum members here do the same with a different intension <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
What ever the differences between RSS, VHP and BJP they all work together at the time it is needed. Reading too much into their diffrences is not that useful for analysis of BJP's future.
I guess we need to do a realistic state by state snap-count to see if there is a chance for BJP's coalition in the next gen election if Left pulls down this government.
Does their stand on Nuclear deal alleniates their important Urban vote? Are they not looking like Left in this situation? What is gain/loss for BJP due to this behavior?
If the election is thrust upon the nation who is going to gain?
I posted an article by Praful Goradia arguing that BJP is unprepared for a poll. And going by the antics of folks in Gujarat who want to pull Modi down shows they are unprepared.
The street opinion is that the Left with UNPA will come to the fore if a snap poll is conducted.
Some Pundits think that the Left is preparing for the public opinion so that such a front can come to power. That way they can get money inside and outside.
There is still the sore from the Presidential elections with Shiv Sena voting on parochial basis. So the BJP and NDA is not united. But a good general will fight with the weapons they have and not wait for more.
I disagree with the article by Goradia that BJP should support the deal because they are not ready for a poll. They should support or not support based on the deal's merits.
The defeat in 2004 must have taught them lessons about what ent wrong and they should always be prepared for a poll.
My take is there wont be a poll yet. The INC will setup a panel to stall the Left from taking a stance and meanwhile grab or destabilize Gujarat etc to ensure that NDA is down on the ropes to prevent comeback.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->My take is there wont be a poll yet. The INC will setup a panel to stall the Left from taking a stance and meanwhile grab or destabilize Gujarat etc to ensure that NDA is down on the ropes to prevent comeback.
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Destabilizing Gujarat will back fire, as Congress Godhara adventure did. Even in recent poll, majority of people consider Sikh riots as bolt and Gujarat was on bottom. Gujarat riots had polarized society. Even Lalu misadventure backfired; he even lost his stronghold Bihar.
Indian polls are unpredictable, local issue and local candidateâs matters, average Indian don't care about whole picture.
As I always suspect, VHP is Congress hidden hand, Togadia latest spit on Modi is another example.
Have you wonder, when NDA was in power, everyday VHP guys were announcing shilanayas day and agitation, now since 2004, not once they had made any announcement with same vigor, what happened?
Why they are not blackmailing UPA? Why they are giving them sound sleep?
My Take is if BJP makes substantial gain in UP and Hindi heartland in general then NDA will form the government. Otherwise, the nation will be up to the histrionics of Jayalalitha and Mayawati
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Why are they not blackmailing UPA?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
One can blackmail only those who care. The UPA on the other hand will put them in jail. In fact while they are busy undermining each other, the UPA is set to pass the Communal HArmony Bill later this month which will give them powers to take care of non-Left opponents.
Well, BJP's dream is closer to reality now... a BJP CM in the south.. <!--emo&:drool--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/drool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='drool.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->'No tie-up with Cong'
Yogesh Vajpeyi | New Delhi
Deve Gowda says transfer of power will be smooth
Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (S) supremo HD Deve Gowda on Wednesday categorically denied media speculations that his party was hobnobbing with the Congress to topple the coalition Government in Karnataka before handing over the Chief Ministership to the BJP.Â
"There is no question of the Janata Dal (S) having any tie-up with the Congress, which did everything in its power to damage and destroy my party. No Congress leader either from New Delhi or Bangalore has met me in this regard," he told The Pioneer.
Gowda was in New Delhi to attend the joint-session of Parliament addressed by Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe on Wednesday. He called on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at AIIMS to inquire about his health before leaving for Bangalore.
The former Prime Minister rubbished speculations about the JD(S) joining hands with the Congress instead of transferring the Chief Minister's post to the BJP on October 3 as per the coalition agreement. "All media reports about the Karnataka Congress leaders having met me for a rapprochement are baseless. I have neither met any Congress leader nor had any communication with the party," the JD(S) leader, who once led the United Front Government of non-Congress non-BJP national parties, said in an exclusive interview.
The former Prime Minister said he had received only one call each from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi seeking support for UPA candidate Pratibha Patil during the presidential election
Ruling out even the remote possibility of JD(S) having anything to do with the Congress, Gowda emphatically said: "It's impossible and you can put that in bold print."
Asked about the fate of the JD(S)-BJP coalition he reminded that his son and Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had repeatedly said that he was ready to handover the post on October 3. "The coalition will run till the BJP does not deviate from the Karnataka Development Front (KDF) agenda," he added.
Gowda, who was one of the patriarch's of the United Front of regional parties that came to power in New Delhi in 1996, said he had not met any leader of the newly formed United National Progressive Alliance.
"My preoccupation is to consolidate my party. Other things are secondary," he said.
Asked about the prospects of a mid-term poll in the backdrop of the differences between the Congress and the Left parties over the nuclear deal, Deve Gowda said: "I don't want to comment on the merits of the deal. But if the Government has been paralysed it would be better for the country if all parties agree to seek the people's mandate.Â
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