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An open letter to Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO)

yogeshkhandke
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An open letter to Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO)

Your organisational stand with reference to Gaurakshaks makes you come across as another Bhasmasur in the animal welfare/rights movement. There are many ways in which your fatuous arguments can be exposed. I’ll make just one point.

How many so called animal welfare/ rights activists have been hurt/killed by butchers/ their accomplices in India?

I can give numerous examples of employees of self-proclaimed animal welfare/ rights organisations who have physically and financially fattened on the flesh and suffering of animals. On the other hand Gaurakshaks are routinely shot at, stoned, beaten, stabbed and killed.

Just three cases:

1. Murder of Lalit Jain
2. Attempted murder of Manoj Raicha
3. Murder of Prashanth Poojary

You are hurting animals by creating this dichotomy between animal rights/ welfare movement and Gaurakshaks.

At worst Gaurakshaks are like carnist white folks (whom the movement in India treats as gods) and their brown Sepoy who agitate against the dog meat trade in Asia (just one of the countless examples of what are called “single issue campaigns”).

Gaurakshaks’ speciesism is similar to that displayed by the types of Hindi film actor Anushka Sharma your hero, who claims to be an animal lover while opposing the ban on slaughtering cow and progeny because cow flesh is someone’s food, or Tamil film actor Trisha Krishnan who is an animal lover who doesn’t oppose jallikattu, because she couldn’t stand up to her fans, and her career was more important than the interests of bulls, i.e. their right to a life free from torture– two names pulled out of the back of my head– proverbial tip of iceberg.

You are requested not to alienate masses from the animal rights/ animal welfare movement. Doing so would expose FIAPO as being a puppet of Muslims/Christians/communists out to destroy India, the world’s biggest vegetarian country that considers compassion towards animals a constitutional fundamental duty and more importantly being a gross net negative: a Bhasmasur; when it comes to animal interests.

Please note: The above is written in response to FIAPO’s newsletter dated 8 May, 2017 titled: “The Difference between Vigilantes and Animal Rights Activists“ 

First month of Yogi administration- Week III

Siddhartha Kar
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First month of Yogi administration- Week III

On the 18th, when Yogi was named the CM designate, a plethora of reactions came across all quarters. While some peddled fear, many did not know how to receive the news. But, there was a large segment of people on ground, who believed this may be a choice that could surprise coming up.

The first couple of weeks (Week 1 and Week 2) have seen unprecedented activities. It may be quite possible that no government in the past has shown this amount of activity, especially when beset by a tattered administrative inheritance.

It is still noteworthy, that the much awaited decision to waiver farmer loans has not happened while 14 days have passed. At the same time, the first cabinet meeting is still to be held. It is expected that the first meeting will be held very soon. It does appear though, that there is a lot of stress on getting the administrative machinery disciplined. Scams from previous administrations have surfaced.

There is a continuous effort on curbing corruption in selections to government positions, and zero tolerance on crime. It also appears that Purvanchal and Bundelkhand who have been the recipient of stepson treatment for decades, are beginning to be noticed. Yogi will also start reviewing department presentations and interestingly these presentations have been scheduled for 6 in the evening to minimize impact on daily work.

Here is how week 3 unfolded:

Day 15: Bio-metric attendance is enforced today in UP Housing and Development Board office.

State Transport Corporation is preparing a proposal to use software to allot driver and conductor duties. This is to prevent the vasooli of money from drivers and conductors in lieu of duty.

The CM is handling Law and Order situation on a war footing. UP-100 service is being upgraded and IIT Kanpur Computer Science Department has been engaged for this.

162 stenographers of the Commercial Tax department have been promoted. This task has been hanging around for a very long time.

Day 16: Yogi reviewed Basic Education Department presentation. The meeting continued till half an hour past midnight. Decisions were taken to the following effects:

  1. Basic Shiksha Seva Chayan Board will be constituted.
  2. By July, books, uniforms and bags will be made available to students.
  3. Fees of private schools will be closely monitored.
  4. Syllabus will be modernized.
  5. Improvement of cleanliness and sanitation facilities in schools.
  6. 1,760 Laboratories to be set up in schools.
  7. 45,809 schools to be electrified.
  8. Gas connections to reach 50,000 schools.

PWD has introduced E-Tenders starting today. Orders are also issued to not allow contractors with criminal records to participate in any tenders.

Samsung India leadership team met CM today. Assured of a 2,500 Crore rupee investment in the state and creation of 10,000 jobs by 2020. CM instructs Industrial Development Department of quickly formulating a new Industrial Policy.

UPERC has revived the work on prepaid electricity to slums and patri dukaandaars. Efforts had begun in 2014 but, there has been no progress so far. UPERC has asked for status from electricity companies.

‘Dengue Niyantran aur Swachhta Abhiyaan’ will now be brought under the MNREGA scheme. Instructions towards this have been issued by Health Minister.

Old Age pensions have been increased from Rs. 400 to Rs. 1000.

Rs. 10,000 Crore 1320 MW Power project in Khurja, Bulandshahr had been blocked on environmental permit for many years. Center gives clearance on the same. This project is expected to begin soon.

Nominations of 358 non-governmental officials in the Cane Development and Sugar Department have been cancelled. Positions will be filled up soon.

State Road Transport Corporation starts issuing permits for AC Janrath buses between Lucknow and Patna. The service is expected to start 7th of this month.

Day 17: First Cabinet Meeting of the Government was held today on Ram Navami in Lucknow. It was a pleasant departure for an official meeting to happen on a holiday.

In line with BJP Sankalp Patra on Farmer Loan waiver, loans up to Rs. 1 lakh for 87 Lakh farmers have been waived. The total burden on the state govt is to the tune of 36000 crores. To help with the waivers, state will introduce Kisaan Rahat Bonds.

Yogi has said that the burden will be borne by the government by preventing tax theft and eliminating any wasteful government expenditure. General citizenry will not be burdened. Following other decisions have been taken in the Cabinet meeting:

  1. Every Thana will have an Anti-Romeo Squad.
  2. Wheat farmers will be given an additional Rs. 10 per quintal towards dhulai and ladai.
  3. For better prices for Potato farmers, 3 member Group of Ministers will be constituted.
  4. For controlling Illegal Mining, 3 member Group of Ministers will be constituted.
  5. Sports complex to be constructed in Ghazipur.
  6. Illegal Slaughterhouses crackdown to continue.

UPSSSC Chairman has resigned. Govt had just put selection to 11,000 positions on hold.

State Transport Corporation starts Lakhimpur – Kanpur AC Janrath Buses.

Day 18: States engineers (Rajya Vidyut Abhiyanta Sangh) have prepared a blueprint to achieve 24 hours electricity target. Power Minister will meet the engineers to discuss the proposal in details.

Yogi inaugurates 56 ventilators in King George Medical University. He hinted strictness towards doctors engaging in private practice while in Government hospitals. Actions may follow soon.

Yogi has said education syllabus must be modernized. English will be included in primary schools itself. From class 10th, a foreign language will be included to help prepare students for foreign education.

TET pass BTC holders have gheraoed and demonstrated around Vidhan Bhavan against the government’s putting on hold of 16,460 teaching positions in primary schools. TET pass Urdu Moallims have also joined in the demonstration against the state government.

Day 19: CM has stressed on the quick completion of the following projects:

  • Trans Ganga City, Unnao
  • Saraswati Hitech City, Allahabad
  • Theme Park, Agra
  • Mega Food Park, Bahedi
  • Agra Lucknow Expressway

Govt is considering bringing an ordinance to control rising private school fees. Instructions have been given to introduce biometric attendance in schools for teachers.

FIRs will be filed against teachers of State and State assisted schools who are engaged in private tuitions. Instructions have also been given to complete school syllabus in 200 days.

As a part of crackdown on cheating, government has revoked exams in 15 centers and debarred 34 schools.

Health department has arranged for a new tests to identify Encephalitis. Facilities for this have been arranged in 19 most affected districts. State wide control room has been set up. Strict instructions have been issued to the department to take utmost care. General public has been asked to lodge complaints on a published number in case of negligence.

Affordable Housing Policy is being closely reviewed. 111 private developers have been registered under this scheme. Developers are enjoying benefits but, progress has been poor. Instructions have been given for work to begin immediately and developers have been warned otherwise.

Strict orders have been issued to not allow criminals to transfer to jail hospitals unless health condition is serious. Jail doctors and officials have been warned of strict actions otherwise. It is expected that severe steps will follow to curb facilities enjoyed by criminals in support from jail officials.

Biometric attendance has started in Cane Development Department. E-Tendering has also begun in the department in all contracts.

In efforts to encourage solar power, UPERC has approved Rs. 100 monthly concession on electricity bills to individual households which have installed solar water heaters of more than 100 litres capacity. For commercial consumers who have installed rooftop solar plants, minimum charges will be waived.

Day 20: Yogi reviews presentation by Cane Development and Sugar Industry department.

  • CM instructs for investigations into a 1180 crore rupees scam in the sale of 21 sugar mills during Mayavati government.
  • CM asks for revival of cooperative sugar mills that have been closed down.
  • Department to select 116 villages every year and develop them through sugar mills as adarsh villages. 580 villages will be developed across the next 5 years.
  • Biometric attendance to be started in the department.

Yogi also reviews presentation by Energy Department:

  • Government instructs district officials to compensate farmers within 7 days in case of fire mishaps due to damaged electrical wire accidents.
  • CM instructs to ensure supply of electricity to villages between evening 6 PM and morning 6 AM in view of the ongoing board examinations.
  • Strict laws will be brought to curb power theft. Separate thaana and special courts will be set up to deal with power theft menace.
  • ‘Power for All Agreement’ will be signed on the 14th April.

The long ongoing thread of fees fixation for private medical and dental colleges has finally concluded. Private colleges used to charge fees between Rs. 30 L to 2 Crores. These have been revised as follows:

  • MD Non-Clinical fees: Between Rs. 8.85 L and 11.14 L
  • MD, MS Clinical fees: Between Rs. 15.94 L and 20.7 L
  • MDS fees: Between Rs. 4.91 L and 8.05 L

Yogi has approved the International Airport project at Jewar, Greater Noida. He has already instructed officials to commence work on the same. This project was proposed by UP CM Rajnath Singh in 2001. This project has seen very little progress over last 16 years.

State Transport Corporation is mulling the plan of connecting 50,000 villages through 8,000 buses. The government has prohibited strikes in all services under STC for the next 6 months..

During the SP regime, many government schemes were named with the word ‘Samajwadi’. Yogi has asked for all such schemes to be presented before the cabinet. Their names will be reviewed and renamed to ‘Mukyamantri’.

Dealing with Encephalitis, state has sought help from center. Vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis will begin this May. Ambulance service to be strengthened.

Day 21: Govt begins investigations into the sale of 21 sugar mills by Mayavati Govt. Akhilesh govt had investigated it and found nothing wrong.

In view of the Law and Order situation, the government has issued instructions to authorized sellers to submit reports of the stocking of acid. Sellers will have to submit the report to SDM. Officials have been directed to submit reports on this to Home Department on 7th of every month.

Government is considering pardoning surcharge of defaulters amounting 19,000 crores across all consumers under Amnesty Scheme. The same proposal has been sent to UPERC for approval.

While reviewing Dairy Development Department’s presentation, Yogi has asked the VRS scheme for the department to be put on hold immediately. He has also instructed to begin investigations into Kamdhenu scheme of SP govt.

Day 22 – 23: A list of policemen to be prepared with any sort of relations with criminals. Such policemen may be transferred and action may be taken against. It is suspected that there may be more than 1000 such policemen. In Agra, a list of 80 such officials has been prepared.

UPERC has ordered availability of cheaper electricity to prepaid consumers. Such electricity will be 1.25% cheaper. The cost of prepaid meters and cable can be paid in 12 equal installments.

Under the Amnesty scheme, surcharges of defaulters till 31st March have been pardoned. The total burden of this decision will amount to about 15,000 crores. Of this, about 10,000 crores is attributed to household consumers.

Investigations into Gayatri Prajapati case transferred from Alambag CO to Hazratganj CO. It was alleged investigating authorities had been favouring Prajaprati. Investigations into Peace Party President Ayyub in the case of rape and murder of a Nursing student is also being transferred.

Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat met Yogi today. They had discussions on asset division between the two states. There have been too many open issues with respect to this since Uttarakhand’s creation in 2000. It has been decided that Chief Secretaries of both states will meet over the next 3 months and prepare the formula for resolution of all issues.

Government requests more funds from Center for Purvanchal and Bundelkhand.

Here is how week 4 looked.

(These have been compiled from various news paper reports)

First month of Yogi administration- Week II

Siddhartha Kar
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First month of Yogi administration- Week II

After an extremely eventful first week the government has show indications of tackling challenges on a war footing. Yogi has taken up the challenge of getting the Law and Order situation under control personally. There is a massive crackdown on curbing irregularities and corrupt practices on the selection procedures to various government positions wherein the government has put on hold selections to several tens of thousands of positions.

Departments have been activated and asked to prepare presentations to implement BJP’s sankalp patra and Yogi will personally oversee them. The purchase of Wheat produce from farmers is expected to begin soon and it is to be seen how the govt fares when it comes to farmers.

In the meantime, waiver of farmer loans is still not done and despite the fact that a lot has happened since oath taking, opposition is trying to attack the govt on this front.

Here is how the second week looks:

Day 8: Government to prepare a master plan for recharge of groundwater. The plan is to be completed by September and a committee is to be formed to oversee its implementation.

State Road Transport Corporation has selected 284 villages to connect with Sankalp Bus Seva. Villages near Lucknow will be connected through City Bus service.

Help Desks are to be set up KGMU, PGI Lucknow and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospitals for free and easy treatment to poor women.

Government to link Haj subsidy with Aadhaar.

UP Govt has given consent for the renaming of the Farah Town Railway station to Deendayal Dhaam.

Day 9: Dy. CM Maurya issues orders to begin actions against land mafia throughout the state immediately.

Rs 700 crores Panjiri distribution scam is raising eyebrows. Recently a payment of Rs 312 crores has been released without approval from the administration in the same case by the Child Welfare Department. Yogi is reportedly furious.

In a bid to control undesirable presence in the Secretariat, 164 passes are revoked. Passes that were issued to non-government officials are being reviewed.

Yogi issues instructions for dangerous criminals in jails to be kept under close watch. All facilities to criminals in jails to be stopped forthwith. He has stressed on the security of women prisoners and reformation of juvenile criminals. 45% Prison guard positions are vacant. Process to fill them up to begin soon.

Strict steps are being taken to curb cheating in Madhyamik examinations. A control room has been set up in Lucknow and a WhatsApp number has been published.

PWD issues orders to begin work on 6 lane highways major places of pilgrimage including Lucknow to Varanasi, Jhansi to Gorakhpur. Several other places to be connected through 4 lane highways and 2 lane roads.

CM Camp Office to be setup in Gorakhnath Temple to assist people coming for help. Temple authorities had requested for the same.

Day 12: As a part of the crackdown on corruption in selection procedures to various positions during the SP government, Yogi has put selection to 11,000 positions on hold. Written tests to these positions were done and for some interview dates were published. Also interviews to 372 APO and 3286 Allopathic chikitsadhikari positions have also been put on hold. Selection to 16,000 Basic Education Board Teaching positions have also been stopped. So also, selection to 12,000 positions of U.P. Secondary Education Service Selection Board.

These are decisions with massive implications intended to investigate and cleanup the irregularities and corruption in govt selection processes.

Preparations to transfer dangerous, influential criminals are underway. Dreaded criminal Mukhtar Ansari has been transferred to the Banda jail. Yogi has already issued instructions to put an end to crimes perpetrated by imprisoned criminals from inside jails.

Administration requests 50 NSG commandos for CM’s security.

Investigations have already been ordered into the release of 312 crores of payment in the Panjiri distribution scam.

Day 13: Wheat purchase from farmers starts today. 5000 purchase centers have been set up across the state and 80 lakh tonnes of wheat will be purchased by the government. Money will be transferred to bank accounts of farmers directly to eliminate middlemen. CM has issued instructions of providing basic facilities to farmers including shade, and drinking water. He has already warned of severe consequences if middlemen are found.

Agriculture Minister Suryapratap Shahi has said farmer loans waiver decision is expected to be announced soon. In respite to perpetually neglected Budelkhand, he has announced an assistance of Rs 46 crores. He has also instructed for 2,000 ponds to be dug across Bundelkhand for summers.

Preparing for summers, government has issued orders for maintenance of transformers across the state and upgrade of transformers where power demand is high. In areas where the condition of wires is poor, they will be replaced. Towards this, 125 crores have been released and the work is to be completed by 30th April.

Several dangerous criminals have been transferred to new jails including Mukhtar Ansari, Atiq Ahmed, and others. It is probably that the transfers are being done to undo the networking prisoners have already built to orchestrate crimes outside jails. Jail administration is making significant improvements towards handling of incarcerated criminals.

Biometric Attendance starts in Commercial Tax Department today.

Strikes have been prohibited in Universities and Degree colleges for the next 3 months till June. It is believed to be in keeping with the broader changes being done in education.

Day 14: Yogi has asked for leather industry establishments to be shifted in phased manner from Kanpur and Kannauj to prevent pollution to Ganga.

Yogi instructs for probe into Gomti Riverfront project. He directs it to be linked with the Namami Gange central project. While 95% of the budgeted expenditure has been spent less than 60% of the work has completed. 

3.31 crore Ration Cards issued by SP Govt carrying Akhilesh Yadav’s photos are revoked. Of these 2 crores had already been distributed. Affected consumers can use draft parchis till new cards are issued. New cards will be smart card based and linked with Aadhaar.

Top bureaucrats will begin giving presentations on schemes and programmes to realise BJP’s Sankalp Patra starting tomorrow. These presentations are scheduled between 3rd and 20th at 6 in the evening so that regular office timings are not affected.

Here is how week 3 of the government looked.

(These have been compiled from various news paper reports)

First month of Yogi administration- Week I

Siddhartha Kar
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First month of Yogi administration- Week I

In the run up to the UP elections, BJP had, as it had done in all other states, refrained from putting a local face to the campaigns officially. It is a commonly known fact that apart from Modi, it has nearly been impossible to find a person at the helm across all states who could exhibit a somewhat comparable level of political knack, popularity, sincerity, vision, diplomacy, courage and capacity for hard work. 

On the other end, the fact was, half way into the tenure of the central government, UP would be a blessing for the party where it could put forth before the country what BJP’s vision for India was. And, there was no better test bed than Uttar Pradesh, the state which, if it were a country by itself. would be one of the top 10 most populated countries in the world!

The ask of the leader in UP was immense, many would say practically impossible, especially given the tattered state UP has been reduced to. Many keen observers of Indian politics, had this politically incorrect feeling that despite the unrelenting propaganda of decades, there could only be one person to lead this charge – Yogi Adityanath.

Despite a relentless propaganda to present him as a religious fundamentalist over the years, his acceptance as a reasonable and mass leader across UP, made him the ideal choice.

On the 18th of March, Venkaiah Naidu announced Yogi’s name as the CM designate- for some it sounded the death knell; while it was pleasant for many. Many others didn’t really know what to expect but, were content to keep an open mind.

What follows are the chronicles of Yogi’s first thirty days in government. It gives an objective insight into Yogi’s work and intent, much beyond what dominates mainstream media.

Day 1: Yogi and team take oath. He asks Ministers (a) to refrain from unnecessary comments; (b) to submit details of their properties within 15 days.

He also says that the government will work 18 hours a day.

Day 2:  Yogi meets bureaucrats. In the meeting

(a) He stresses on zero-tolerance on Corruption and Law and Order.

(b) He emphasises on respectful treatment of all citizens.

Yogi orders immediate removal of all non-government advisors, chairmen, deputy chairmen, and members in corporations, committees and departments.

Instructions are issued to remove all Dalals from police stations immediately. Police is asked not to show any discrimination in lodging complaints.

Today Yogi Govt issues a 9-point agenda for electricity. Following developments have happened:

(a) New rosters for electricity supply are notified to all 5 electricity boards.

(b) Managing Directors are directed to observe the rosters with immediate effect.

(c) MDs and Directors of Electricity distribution companies would personally be responsible for ensuring swift resolution of complaints.

(d) The above companies are also asked to prepare plans for expenditure of remaining funds from DDUGJY within a week.

Health department begins preparing proposal on building of 11,000 Swasthya Upkendra, and lowering response times of 108 ambulance to 15 minutes.

Day 3: Yogi is personally taking interest on the Law and Order front. Police have been instructed to immediately start policies for which no manpower and budget is needed. IG has instructed SPs to personally review law and order situation on a weekly basis. Anti-Romeo Squads, Women Safety, Land Mafia, Illegal Slaughterhouses and Animal smuggling are priorities.

UP Electricity Regulatory Commission issues orders for immediate implementation of ‘Trust Billing’ in cities for transparency and consumer empowerment.

Government grants 25 acres of land for Ramayan Museum in Ayodhya. Departments have been activated for administration preparedness for navratri. They have been asked to provide amenities and security and at the same time not allow new traditions to be started during festivities.

Day 4: Ministerial portfolio distribution is done.

All extensions given to retired officials by SP government are to be reviewed.

Govt offices will be required to implement bio-metric attendance.

Instructions have been issued across government to not keep files pending beyond 7 days. Files dealing with amounts in excess of 5 crores must go through CM.

44 policemen in Noida and 3 in Meerut are suspended to curb Dalali in police stations.

Complete ban on illegal slaughterhouses has been issued. Every district has been directed to create a committee under DM. DM is required to submit a daily report. Cow smuggling is also to be prohibited with immediate effect. 2 Dozen slaughterhouses have already been shut.

Pan, Guthka and Polythene were banned from government offices.

Day 5: All officials have been asked to submit details of properties by 3rd April 2017.

Department of Energy to introduce E-Tenders immediately.

PWD was instructed not to give any tenders to contractors with criminal records and to prepare list of contractors belonging to political parties.

Health Department has been asked to create Common Treatment Protocol to treat 10 common diseases across cities, towns and villages. This is to help quality treatment reach the last mile.

Sugar mills instructed to release payments to farmers within 14 days.

Due to corruption in government selection procedures, interviews to 1652 Asst Professor and more than 60,000 teaching positions have been suspended.

Yogi issued instructions for all departments to send proposals for the 2017-2018 budget by 30th April.

Day 6: Under the scheme of distribution of cheap and generic drugs, only 150 establishments are operational. Instructions issued to increase this to 3000.

Energy Department to sign ‘Power for All’ agreement with Center by the 15th of April. Instructions have been given to facilitate cashless billing.

State gives approval for addition of 10 more cities to center’s Smart City initiative.

Ministry of Culture orders pay scale revisions for Grade D employees. This has been pending for the last 6 years.

Vishal Chauhan appointed MD of Power Corporation. He is also MD of Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam and Power Transmission Corporation.

(These have been compiled from various news paper reports)

Day 7: PWD instructed to remove all potholes across the state by 15th June 2017.

Rural Development Ministry will construct 150 roads under the PMGSY by June.

On wheat purchase from farmers, 100% of the produce is supposed to be purchased from farmers. The target this year has been set to 80 Lakh Tonnes.

Kashiram Shahari Awaas Yojana was introduced by BSP. Under this scheme, 12,490 houses were to be given free of cost to poor. Budget was allocated but, once SP came to power, the scheme was practically shelved. Yogi has instructed for the project to be resumed immediately and completed at the earliest.

DGP Javed Ahmed has issued orders for police not to harass couples as a part of Anti Romeo squads. COs will be held responsible in case of such incidents. Police have also been instructed to do 90 minutes of foot patrol statewide.

Government has been giving notices to private medical and dental colleges for details on income. In the absence of this information, the government will fix the fees for such colleges. The last notice to these colleges have been sent.

Starting next month, all Higher Education institutes will be required to fill self-evaluations online.

Here is how week 2 of the government looked.

(These have been compiled from various news paper reports)

Mahaghatbandhan – What does it mean to common people?

Atma Desai
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Mahaghatbandhan – What does it mean to common people?

With resounding BJP victory election after election, all the opposition parties & political pundits are cozying up on the idea of grand opposition front or Mahaghatbandhan. Currently an exercise to bring all the opposition parties under one roof is running in the pursuit of presidential elections. Media is covering this as next big & only logical step for survival of Non BJP parties. I would like to bring it you why this may not be real game changer in 2019 elections.

First lets consider the major participants of Mahaghatbandhan, Pan India presence, I can only think Congress except Karnataka no other state is independently governed by Congress & at some states its in distinct 3rd/4th position. Hindi heartland has number of parties considering alliance, such as SP, BSP, JMM, JDU, RJD etc. Only in Bihar they have government otherwise BJP is flavor of the recent election. Down South, Telagu speaking AP, Telanagana are ruling parties are part of NDA or supporting on conditional subject. BJP/RSS is working hard on getting its foot in Tamilnadu & Kerala. Without Amma & with ongoing infighting in AIDMK, DMK would definitely try to get lost ground. NCP is basically congress faction. It is naturally tilted towards congress but Modi calling Pawar political guru & honouring him with Padma Vibhushana adds a twist!

Communists & TMC – If these two parties come together, lets say this would be classic example of desperate times as BJP yet to demonstrate solid electoral victory in Bengal. NC – they were partners in UPA and may continue with grand alliance. On the fence – AAP and Arvind Kejriwala might have learnt lesson after multiple electoral defeats & might jump in this ship for electoral gain. BJP going strong with grass root strengthening its cadre BJD may tempted to join the grand alliance. As far as north-east is considered, most of the regional parties are with BJP in the name of North East Democratic Alliance. This forum consists Naga People’s Front, Sikkim Front, People’s Party of Arunachal, Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front.

All these parties have their own agenda & have/were succeeded in their own. But how do they present them under singular identity? Agenda, ideology, common points to work upon?

Agenda: Opposition to BJP, PM Narendra Modi & binding by so-called secularism cannot be only one liner agenda to counter the narrative of development, Hindutva, anti corruption, nationalism, politics of appeasement. Congress has its fault line in terms of corruption then they have the burden Lalu, Maran & JMM. Would the Jatavs who were voting for Mayavati still vote for her when they see Akhilesh in the same stage? Or the Yadavs would still vote for SP? Communists & TMC are known for their Goondagiri. Now their joint target is RSS & BJP in Bengal & Kerala. What is grand alliance answer to army of nationalists against National conference divisive politics? Can their secularism still get them votes? This was noticed in UP elections instead of getting undivided votes of Muslims & other minorities they rather activated the common consensus among Hindu votes. And Muslim women did support PM Narendra Modi.

Who will lead? When we have seen enough failures for Raga would Priyanka finally step in or Madam Sonia will lead from front? Other parties have their own leaders who are nurturing the ambitions to become PM erstwhile Mulayam, Sharad Pawar, Nitish Kumar, Mamta Banajree & Arvind Kejariwal. My bet is this grand alliance cannot afford to disclose the name for PM candidate. They will sing in chorus, leader will be elected post elections. One thing sure, their elections banner will be no less than 10 heads, does that reminds you Ravana? I am joking.

Manifesto: Instead of saying what their manifesto should contain, I am writing what they do not want to repeat from earlier fiasco. Congress may raise their hand & vow not to repeat the absolute mega scams like Coalgate, 2G, 3G, common wealth, etc. They will not consider MMS as PM. Their will not be multiple power centers. TMC will not be part of chit funds. Mamta Didi isn’t anti Hindu rather true secular, nationalistic & anti corruption crusader. JDU will not act liquor ban at national level, NC will respect nationalistic views of Indians & its pro-military in Kashmir, Communists will add positively to defeat the Naxalisam propaganda, AAP will not do the daily drama, Kejriwal will stop using unparliamentary words for PM Modi, and mother of all if still India rejects Mahaghatbandhan at 2019 they will not blame EVM.

What voter may think of grand alliance? Some are traditional Congress, DMK, SP, BSP voters, they would still vote them. Still I would closely follow Amethi & Raibareli elections. For most of us this  may remind “Alibaba & Chalis Chor”! My only request to readers is cast your vote with a thought.

7 ways travelling helps you in uplifting your mood for writing

untravel
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7 ways travelling helps you in uplifting your mood for writing

A writer is the reader’s portal to another world. A world where their imagination takes the reigns, and one which is fueled by the words and stories that a writer weaves with his mind. Simply put, books and stories can be escapes for some or pure entertainment for others. So it is up to us, as writers, to make sure that our words do indeed take them on a ride that will long withstand the passage of time in their memories.

There are many ways a creative writer can reach the pinnacle of their abilities. Sure, you could go for writing classes, practice the art, and maybe even look toward established writers for aid. Or you could travel. There is no written word out there which will be an able substitute for the first-hand experience of a trip. I’m sure you could research your heart out on a place and yet come short of several things you would sorely need to write creatively. Well, here are seven of those!

Inspiration. The most important aspect in the process of writing. Of course, by reading about them you would know all about the tigers of North India, the temples of Cambodia, the incredible beaches of Greece and Tanzania, or the lush jungles of Borneo. But how could you possibly know how the hair on your neck stand on end at a tiger’s roar; the knee-buckling history behind the majestic Wats; how the wind cradles you as your toes dig their way into the warm sands of the beach; or the chills and thrills of a jungle experience? How would you know the raw emotion at glimpsing the magical northern lights, painted on the night skies of Iceland? The kind of emotion that could make you write wonders. An artist takes birth when he is unshackled. And there is nothing more freeing than travelling.

Perception. No matter what has been written about a place, go check it out for yourself. What may be bland or unenjoyable for some, could be fascinating to you. Always trust your own perspective as that frees you up to make your own deductions of the place. It helps you craft stories that are unique and yours alone. But this can mean something else as well. It could help you see someone else’s point of view too, which will make your writing unbiased and endearing to the neutral.

Explore. If there is to be growth, there has to be variation. There has to be change. No writer has ever become better by sticking to what they know best or what they think come easier to them. Trying out new things and exploring the world of options available to you may unravel something you never thought you had. There is nothing better than travelling that makes you step out of your comfort zone, so to speak. Discovering parts of the world, step by wonderful step, all while discovering parts of yourself too!

Experience. There is an astounding difference between writing about a place you have read or heard about and writing about one you have been to. The former gives you a glimpse while the latter catches the soul of the place. Every little experience makes you grow as a writer; as a person. And don’t worry about making the bad choices we usually tend to make on trips.When it comes to writing stories, there are no bad experiences. Everything that happens to you, the good and the not-so-good, are eventual chapters of your bestseller! The crazier the better! Okay, maybe not too crazy.

Don’t be a tourist. Seek the deepest, uncharted corners of the place you are travelling to and unravel its mysteries. Look beyond the iconic representatives and the common tourist traps. Go in search of those that are just waiting to be found and written about. The neglected and forgotten jewels; the streets, the smell, the taste, the sights of those that are rarely experienced. The greater joy is not in figuring out what is unique to an area but why it is so. Be hungry to know more, to delve farther than any tourist would and use everything you learn to enhance your own writing.

Mingle. Every great story needs characters that catch your eye. Who stay with you even after the story has ended. And each character demands depth. The little quirks, nuances to his past experiences, motives and his reasons to be. Every little scar, or the odd limp between steps, adds to the plot. To how captivating it can be. So blend in with the locals, talk to the odd waiter or guide, and get to know real stories. That is the beauty of the world. There is no limit to how much it can surprise you with a story you would have deemed improbable.

Open your heart. All said and done, no matter how hard you seek inspiration, you’d be hard pressed to attain it if you don’t let yourself go. Free your mind and go where the flow takes you. Sure, plan all you want to make it an efficient trip, but make sure you don’t restrict yourself. Just follow your heart. Take detours if that’s what you feel like doing and find joy in the simple things. Like dipping your toes in a lake or stopping to pet the animals. Try out new things and have fun! Find what will electrify your senses into feeling things you rarely feel; writing in ways you’d never known you could.

Life goes by real fast and if you’re not careful, you may end watching it pass you by. With so many places yet to be seen and so many stories yet to be penned down, what are you waiting for? There’s a whole world out there and the best part about it is that the world will never run out of things to teach you!

इंटुकले पिंटुकले केरजीवाल को मेरा EVM मुद्दे पर पत्र

Puranee Bastee
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इंटुकले पिंटुकले केरजीवाल को मेरा EVM मुद्दे पर पत्र

प्यारे केरजीवाल जी,

मुझे लगा था दिल्ली MCD चुनाव के बाद आपकी अकल ठिकाने आ गई होगी लेकिन आज जब आपके दल के नेता ने दिल्ली विधानसभा में EVM हैक करने का खेल दिखाया तो समझ में आ गया कि आपको अकल दांत भले आ जाये लेकिन आपको अकल कभी नहीं आएगी।

चलो मान लेते हैं EVM हैक हो सकता है। जब मोहनी मंत्र फूँककर आदमी को भरमाया जा सकता है तो मशीन को भरमाना कोई बड़ी बात नहीं है। कुछ महीने पहले एक्सिस बैंक को कुछ मनचलो ने हैक कर लिया था। दुनियाँ की कई बेहतरीन और आधुनकी प्रणाली की तकनीक वाली कंपनियाँ पिछले कुछ साल में हैक हो चुकी हैं। इसलिए EVM हैक करना कोई बड़ी बात नहीं है।

ऊपर बताए गए बैंक और हैक हुई कंपनियों में जो एक चीज सामान्य है, वह है उनका इंटरनेट से जुड़ा होना। इसलिए उन्हें एक जगह से बैठे – बैठे तीन – चार चतुर बुद्धि लोगों द्वारा हैक किया जा सकता है लेकिन आपको बताता चलूँ कि EVM ना तो इंटरनेट से जुड़ा होता है ना ही किसी सर्वर से तो उसे एक जगह बैठकर हैक करना असंभव है।

यदि किसी प्रदेश का चुनाव जीतना है तो वहाँ की ५०% से अधिक मशीनों को हैक करना होगा। चूँकि EVM मशीन को एक जगह बैठकर हैक नहीं कर सकते हैं इसलिए सभी मशीनों में गड़बड़ी वाली चीप डालनी पड़ेगी और फिर उसे चुनाव के बाद निकलना पड़ेगा, ताकि आप जैसे लोगों के उंगली उठाने पर कोई जाँच हो तो सब सही मिले। अब इस कार्य को करने के लिए काफी लोग लगेंगे और उन काफी लोगों में से कोई ना कोई तो प्रशांत भूषण या फिर योगेंद्र यादव निकल ही आता। जो धांधले बाजी का ढोल सबके सामने फोड़ देता और आप से अच्छा इस बात को कौन जानता है।

आप जैसे चतुर लिंगम बुद्धि के नेता और ऐसी चतुर लिंगम बुद्धि के चाटुकारों से घिरे रहनेवालों को इतनी आसान सी बात क्यों समझ में नहीं आती है।

यदि इतने पर भी आप नहीं मानते हैं तो बस इतना कहना चाहता हूँ –
हटा सावन की घटा…
खा खुजा..
बत्ती बुझाके, सो जा..
इंटुकले पिंटुकले, कुल्ला उलटा करके पश्चिम की तरफ वटले, कटले..
मंटी पे खडेली आंटी, बजा रहेली है घंटी, बारबार..
संभल जा सुधर जा.. नही तो कोपचेमे लेके तेरेको देता हू दो चार..

धन्यवाद,

PS: केजरीवाल जी इसे पढ़ने के बाद मेरा ईमानदारी का प्रमाणपत्र ख़ारिज मत करना।

How conventional wisdom has sunk its followers: Indian National Congress the latest example

questforillusion
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How conventional wisdom has sunk its followers: Indian National Congress the latest example

“When you reinvent the wheel, you can get rid of the original design flaws.” When I wrote this line as my FB status, few days back some of my friends requested me to elaborate. So here it comes:

We have all heard about the story of Nokia and Kodak and how they were the best and were shot out of market without committing any mistake as they made the best products. Well crap I say! They lost because they were arrogant enough to think that what they are selling is the best and there can’t be better. This is when you rely upon the conventional data collected through conventional methods. Same is happening with a political party which came to the scenario as party with a difference and an alternative to conventional politics. It ended up in the timeless trap of conventionalism.

Conventionalism will entice you, trap you and finally enslave you into believing that you are the best and deserve nothing but success. Same happened to Hillary and Congress in 2014. May happen to BJP but they have I believe some wisdom at the top which I hope will prevent them from falling into this trap which has betrayed the might of Ravan to Rajas of India, from ever shining empire of Britain, to the business barons who are currently on the run.

Conventional wisdom does not allow you to think out of the box. It can give you momentary fame and your 10 minutes of stardom but in general will keep you thirsty and wanting for more. Whereas timeless wisdom of consciousness will want you to gamble, take risk and most importantly reinvent yourself. It will help you to transit from a stage of success to another. Success is not a destination but a journey they say but this journey will take you to abyss if you keep going in the same direction without altering your path once you succeed. There has to be an everlasting urge of discovering new horizons and new dimensions.

You always need to redefine and reinvent, learn and unlearn and relearn. Conventional wisdom will lead you to false comfort zones, it will entice you into believing the false narratives, and it is designed to keep you as a slave of an organization or a society. It wants you to abide by rules so that the dominant forces stay that way and do not let you emerge; unless you keep asking yourself the question, what is my higher purpose? How do I create a new way?

A Manjhi few years back would have thought how do I move a mountain? A tea seller few decades back would have thought how do I take on the might of a Dynasty who had every third road named after them? A man thrown out of a train in last century would have thought how do I take on the might of British Empire? A dethroned King few centuries back who ate bread made of grass would have thought how do I take on the might of Mughal-Ae Azam? A GyanGunSagar few thousand years back would have thought how do I jump the ocean? Not possible unless you reinvent yourselves. Those who know Ramayan, will apprehend that a ‘KAND’ becomes ‘Sundarkand’, only after this transition happens.

So when you reinvent the wheel, you can not only get rid of the initial design flaws, you can evolve, you can enrich, you can contribute, you can grow, you can ultimately attain further consciousness.

What India needs to do while living with an utterly medieval neighbour

jnuboy
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What India needs to do while living with an utterly medieval neighbour

No modern society approve the type of barbarism meted to Prem Sagar, by Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT). No military does that. These are rare, inhuman and utterly medieval. It is not something against a country or military but it is against the human civilizational values. So, we need to reaffirm our resolve to stop it.

Eighteen years ago on 15 May 1999, Captain Saurabh Kalia was taken captive along with his five men. They were subjected to intense torture for the twenty-two days, executed and on 9th of May their mutilated bodies handed over to the Indian Army. In February 2000, BAT killed seven Indian Soldiers and beheaded one Bhausaheb Talekar in Nowshera in Rajouri district. India today reports that the head of the soldier was brandished as a trophy in Pakistan. The militant, who claimed that he was the part of the raid, said they had played football with the soldier’s head. In 2012, two Jawans of Kumaon regiment had been beheaded. In 2013, they beheaded Lance Naik Hemraj and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh. On 28th of October 2016 militants crossed the LoC in Macchil sector, killed and mutilated the body Sepoy Mandeep Singh. In November, same year, suspected Pakistani troops killed three soldiers Prabhu Singh, K Kushwah and Shashank K Singh, and savagely mutilated the body of Prabhu Singh.

If such barbarisms are being done by non-state actors it can be understood but if these are being done by the regular army of a state it is really a worrisome issue not only for the country which is being targeted but for whole of the humanity.

For international relation, the action requires that you understand your adversary, to figure out how and what they are thinking and anticipate their reaction. Here ideas about identity, the logics of ideology and established structures of friendship and enmity play a very important role in shaping the behaviors of the actors. With this understanding, the question that what makes Pakistan army to resort to these barbaric acts, changes to, what is wrong with the Pakistani society which permits or condones such barbaric acts of its army? I am bringing Pakistani society under the question because, it is not only that Pakistani army or Pakistan based militants acting against India use beheading as a war practice. Baluch leader Mehran Marri, representative of Baluchistan in UNHRC and EU, said that Pakistan has been committing such heinous act in Baluchistan for the last 70 years.

It seems that the barbaric and brutal nature of Pakistan army or the Pakistan based militants is directly related with the very idea of Pakistan which is negatively medieval. Pakistan is not an ancient nation. It doesn’t have a history justifying its existence. It is the product of medieval line of thought that different religious communities living together must engage in the struggle for supremacy. One of the reasons behind the demand of Pakistan by the Muslim League’s leaders was the desire of having a nation in which they can enjoy the social status which their forefathers enjoyed in medieval time and which they lost when India became a British subject.

If we see the history of Pakistan, soon after its creation it fell in the hands of military dictators and religious leaders who never allowed modernization of a large section of its society and affinity of middle ages seems to be passed to each generation and reflects in action of state as well as non-state actors. It is a multicultural state with a constant danger of falling apart and only thing which unites it is the hatred against India.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee said, “We can change our friends but not the neighbours, we have to live with them”. Of course, it is obvious but we can certainly change the way in which we are living. It is not the case that India does not have options and Pakistan being a nuclear state cannot be brought on the knees. Pakistan may be a medieval society in its aspirations but not the needs. It is dependent on the rest of world for many things including military technologies and weapons. It needs to be taking care of its international image. It needs to have trade and cultural relations. There are separatist tendencies and a weaker Pakistan cannot preserve its unity. Military action cannot be the fitting reply as it will act counter-productively by uniting the “Pakistani Awam” behind the military. But, if we diplomatically isolate Islamabad it will surely bring Pakistan to its knees without any bloodshed.

What opponents of RSS need to understand

jnuboy
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What opponents of RSS need to understand

Shamsul Islam, made some serious allegations on RSS in his 29th March’s blog titled, “RSS must discard its anti-democratic-secular India agenda”. He not only misinterpreted the facts but made factual incorrections also. While teaching Indianness to the RSS, he himself seems to have forgotten it. Out of many false claims he made, here I will like to discuss about RSS’s absence from national movement and insult of national flag.

At no point of time the Indian national movement was a monopoly of any single ideology or group. It drew participants from many sectors and of diverse view-points. These participants had different conceptions of India in their mind and at some of the issues they were diametrically opposite to each other.  The only thing which bounded them was desire of independence. Even the Congress which – under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru and with the help of communist historians – tried its best to appropriate the national movement was actually like an umbrella organization under which men and women adhering to diverse and sometimes conflicting ideologies lived in coexistence—from the Socialists and the Communists in the Left to radical nationalists, and on to the conservative Right.[i] Here soon after the independence the conflicts emerged not only regarding the leadership but also about the India which they wanted to be.[ii]

For those who believe that nation building and fighting for the national independence is only about political movement, I want to point out that the nation is not a political entity only.[iii] The problem with the communists and Nehruvian historians is that they seem to have forgotten even Mahatma Gandhi. For Mahatma, nationalism was not so much aimed at the creation of nation-state; he rarely talked about an Indian nation. For him nationalism was patriotism not in defense of nation but a moral order derived from ancestral loyalty and communal integrity. His mission was to recreate the sense of an Indian civilization, regenerating its people and creating the condition for an autonomous moral growth.[iv] Now if we test the participation of organizations on theses parameters no one will have even an iota of doubt that when it comes to recreate the sense of Indian civilization or moral order derived from ancestors, RSS contributed more than any other organization.

As far as the role of Communists is concerned we must not forget that these puppets of Comintern kept no stone unturned in support of British government during the Second World War. Following Harry Pollitt’s letter to Comintern they not only opposed Quit India Movement but took money from the British Government to help them in mobilizing public support for the war. The hatred towards communist in the common people was so high that there happened attacks on the communist leaders in and after math of Quit India Movement[v].

Coming to the second allegation about Indian Flag. Here, I want to point that comments expressing disapprobation or criticism of the Constitution or of the Indian National Flag or of any measures of the Government with a view to obtain an amendment of the Constitution of India or an alteration of the Indian National Flag by lawful means does not constitute an offence.[vi] We all know that there were many diverse views regarding the design of flag, and what we finally adopted was not the first choice of every person and organisation. Shamsul Islam misunderstood the difference between design of flag and flag itself.

People who are surprised with the success of RSS family – it is not only the BJP, but other affiliated organisations as well – makes the mistake of taking India as a political entity only. They forget not only what Rabindranath Tagore said that history of India cannot be learnt with the records of kings and wars[vii] but also Aurbindo, who wrote “the master idea that has governed the life, culture, social ideals of the Indian people has been the seeking of man for his true spiritual self and the use of life — subject to a necessary evolution first of his lower physical, vital and mental nature — as a frame and means for that discovery and for man’s ascent from the ignorant natural into the spiritual existence.”[viii]

[i] https://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article867.html

[ii] Guha Ramchangdra 2007, India After Gandhi, chapter 6 Ideas of India.

[iii] Smith Anthony D. 1971, Theories of Nationalism, Duckworth, p- 22

[iv] Tonnesson Stein and Hans Antlov 1996, Asian Forms of the Nation, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies,p-28

[v] https://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article867.html

[vi] http://home.bih.nic.in/Acts_Rule/Prevention_Insults_National_Honour_Act1971.pdf

[vii] Rabindranath Tagore 1917, Nationalism

[viii] Aurobindo Ghosh, The renaissance in India, p.397

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