Why they always insult public sentiments?

Political parties brazenly adamant to keep its activities in veil away from voters by amending RTI Act.

 Arun Srivastava 

Traditional and established Political parties once again choose to ignore public sentiments. A group of parliamentarians has unanimously approved an amendment in RTI Act that proposed to keep political parties outside its ambit. This Parliamentary Committee was entrusted with the task of reviewing the amendment by the parliament despite much opposition from civil society organizations and citizens.

In a landmark decision on June 3, 2013, the Central Information Commission (CIC) pronounced that the political parties (INC, BJP, CPM, CPI, NCP and BSP) are public authorities under section 2(h) of the RTI Act. After this judgment all the political parties get together to modify the RTI Act to keep it activities under shroud and misery. At the behest of all aggrieved parties the Government brought an amendment to the RTI Act excluding political parties from its ambit.

The Congress vice president who has been advocating for pushing all the bills pending in both the houses of parliament kept a mysterious silent despite scream from common public. Congress wants to fights next general election with the help of these bills which are seen as crusader against corruption after Lokpal bill since routs in assembly elections.

Meanwhile due to mounting public pressure, the Parliament chose to refer the Bill to the Parliamentary Committee, which invited suggestions on the proposed amendment to the RTI Act.

Many nationalist organizations and individuals had strongly objected to the amendment mooted by government before 2014 election.

“The committee has not given any logical reasoning for its recommendation in its report. Excluding political parties from RTI Act is unconstitutional. It is odd to argue that transparency is good for all state organs but not for political parties, which in reality control all the vital organs of the state” said a senior founding member of an organization which is fighting hard to clean elections process in country.

 “The standing committee does not appear to have taken into account objections to the RTI amendments submitted by the civil society organizations. No arguments have been given in the report which indicates that the committee has noted our objections. It is obvious that no reasons were taken to counter our views before suggesting construing citizen’s fundamental right” said another activist who has opposed the amendment from tooth and nail. 

Strangely justifying its decision to amend the Bill the Government said the political parties are neither established nor constituted by or under the Constitution or by any other law made by Parliament.

 To counter the claim of government,  it  is a established fact that authority or body does not require to be established or constituted by or under the constitution or any other law made by the Parliament, to be called a public authority.  According to Section 2(h) of RTI Act, an organization that is ‘substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government’ can also fall under the category of public authority.

The Government also says in its defense “There are already provisions in the Representation of the People Act, 1951 as well as in the Income-tax Act, 1961 which deal with the transparency in the financial aspects of political parties and their candidates.”

However analysis show Income Tax returns for six National Political Parties and the statements filed by them with the Election Commission show that over 75% of the funds cannot be traced and are from ‘unknown’ sources. Unlike Aam Aadmi Party these party brazenly refused to put all finance related data on their websites giving ruling of law.

Declaring a political party as public authority under the RTI Act would hamper its smooth internal working. Further, the political rivals may misuse the provisions of RTI Act says the government while bringing the amendment in RTI Act. However this argument is also malicious one as the RTI Act has enough built in protection in the form of the section 8 which says “Exemption from disclosure of information.”

An Advice to team Kejriwal

Have voters ever considered about manifesto of any party before going to polling booth?

Arun Srivastava

Chief minister designate of Delhi

The above question has boggled the mind ever since I heard the condition of Congress to Aam Aadmi party (AAP). The party has agreed to lend support because of adverse atmosphere and public image.  Both parties, Congress and BJP have been nudging the AAP since the declaration of assembly result to fulfill all its promises made in manifesto within few days after taking oath at Ramlila Ground. That too, when both the parties never have bothered to finish the promises before going to elections after enjoying five years of power. There are instances for both the parties when they had gone to contest the election without completely fulfilling the promises made to electorates. A leading national news paper had published a one page report about the Raman Singh’s government before the Chattisgarh election in which it evaluated the status of promises. Surprisingly about fifty percent of promises made to voters were reported to be unfulfilled and even then Raman Singh managed to pass through hurdles erected by Congress in recently held election in state.

Voters never mind about the fulfillment of promise before going to polling booth to cast their votes. They only take note of image of candidates or cast and religion factor before going to cast their votes.Also take cognizance of efforts and intention of ruling party while deciding the party to which they want to cast their favour in election. 
If it was not so then parties which have ruled the states and center would never be able to come again in power after getting miserably failed at many fronts and getting tainted in their deals. Electorates only see the alternate of bad governance of regime which ruled the government for five or more years at states or center. They find this time AAP as an alternate to the Congress and BJP and choose to vote it in power.

But both the mainstream political parties who traditionally shared the throne of Delhi now suddenly feel uncomfortable to find a newbie which not only snatched their traditional seat of power but also threatened to probe their misdeeds and plunder. These parties have amazed to see success story of AAP and are now trying to replicate in their own style to canvass the voters in the coming general election. Perhaps they never have considered AAP as a potential threat for future. That is why during the agitation days of LOkpal when Anna was on fast, ministers of Congress and other big names of all political parties literally abused Kejriwal and party and in fact had thrown challenge to Kejriwal and party to fight and win the election. It is because of this innuendo and challenge that Kejriwal and Prashant Bhusan along with other workers and leaders parted their ways from erstwhile Anna team and form a political party to fight an election and rest is the history of past which could be presented as an example to the student of politics. AAP has shown the new path to many honest and country's lovers to come forward and take the charge of reign to change the country from hatred of cast and religion.  

preparation is being carried out in Ramlila ground of Delhi 

Seeing the surge of support of masses many political pundits now predict the bright future of AAP. Indeed with many riders of if and but. If Kejriwal and his team of Cabinet could be able to perform an iota of good governance during the initial days of forming the government, I definitely find a new dawn to replace dark and gloomy politics of nation. In the last, my unsolicited advice to team Kejriwal, go forward and present a new style of governance to opponents who still do not want to believe in potent power of Aam Aadmi.

Congress is on back foot after IB report

Intelligence bureau has presented a report about possible Loksabha seats in general elections.
 

Arun Srivastava

The grand old party of country is on back foot after an assessment made by top internal probe agency ‘Intelligence bureau’(IB). In a report presented to government, agency assessed around 90 seats where the Congress could have possibilities of win. Going by the report party is now working hard on a plan which could provide it more than 100 seats in the general election of 2014. It is not only the report of IB but many ministers and their private staffs also accept about this humiliating fact in private conversation.

Change of plan

Drubbing of recent assembly elections proved that Congress plan to fight the election on the basis of Mahatma Gandhi Rural employment Guaranty Act (Mnrega), Food Security Act and Right to Information Act had not worked well. Seeing the writing on wall, Congress has changed its strategy to fight coming elections of Loksabha through the image of crusader against corruption.

Lokpal bill passed by the parliament recently provided the opportunity and Congress took no time to catch the chance. Under the direction of party think tank Rahul Gandhi was seen arguing for Lokpal though initially he was as against this Act as his deputies from party. The positive feeds back from different sections of society, especially through India Inc after the speech delivered by Rahaul in one of prominent business association of country has given impetus to top rank of the party. In this speech Congress vice president opened a frontal attack against corruptions and had got a grand applause from audience.

It is strange to see that a party which is being accused of plundering the coffer has been using the tools of fighting corruption as an apparatus to fight the battle of election. After Lokpal Act the Congress will now push the remaining six bills pending in Loksabha and Rajya Sabha and tagged as essential bills to curb the corruption by party. Congress has got feeds back from rank and file from ground that it is the corruption and corruption alone which has been hounding and bothering the common man in the country. Not only the lower and lower middle class but upper middle class has also effected by the corruption in every walk of life.

Main opposition BJP has been trying to in cash this issue after Common wealth game and 2g spectrum expose by the media. The recent reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India have crated a huge ripples and jolts in the conscious of AAM ADMI on the street. The party under the stewardship of its prime ministerial candidate for 2014 general election Narendra Modi put forth this issue on fore front through his rhetoric and innuendo style. Credit must go to his style of speech delivery through involvement of audience that pushes Congress to rewrite its plan to fight the rhetoric of Gujarat Chief minister. The way Modi has targeted first family of Congress leaves in quandary to many of party's followers who till recently think that Modi is no where in the race against Rahul Gandhi.  

Meanwhile another phenomenon has come in just concluded Delhi assembly election. A phenomenon popularly known as AAP has clinched the imagination of commoners and has sent jittery in all political parties. Both the Congress and BJP have been thinking to create a plan to counter the progress of AAP especially in urban population. Many parties who follow the path of feudal and traditional politics do not find any reasons to panic in their bastion. Cast and religion are their combination which always proved to be the wining formula for them. For regional parties real India lies far away from Delhi which constitute cosmopolitan type of voters and who were governed by the desire of urban amenities. All the regional parties recognized the reach of AAP to the voters in Delhi but they never take Arvind Kejriwal and his party as a potent force who could dethrone their parties from regional and state’s corridor of power.  

Amidst this entire one thing is sure to me that the Congress has very thin possibility to come again in power for third time in center.

Washing line opens to wash stains of Congress

Arun Srivastava

Routs of recent assembly elections forced the Congress to field their top guns along with party’s vice president Rahul Gandhi to clean the blemish and tarnish image of non decisive and non performing government led by Dr Manmohan Singh. India Inc address in Ficci’s annual general meeting(AGM) by Rahul has not come unplanned but is the part of well thought and planned strategy of team of Congress vice president. Inspired by Aam Admi party’s strategy to reach out common people, not only the BJP but Congress has also folded its sleeves for programs which involve participation of common voters. Along with Rahul many more cabinet ministers, who are also part of Congress' war room will also go with team Rahul to masses in the coming months. It seems that government and party have come out with chalked strategy after the drubbing defeat in last elections to remove the stain of non performance says a source which also supports my theory. Party is in hurry to come up with a new image some thing like it had acquired in 2009 general election.

Congress has been trying hard to get support of India Inc which has shown the tilt towards Narendra Modi, prime ministerial candidate of BJP in recent months. The positive decisions of Gujarat government have given thumping support of almost all big houses of industries to Modi. Infact it is India Inc which originally had backed the name of Modi first time to country’s top post few years back. Initially Congress was reluctant to buy the theory of backing of business world to BJP’s candidate as it has cordial relations with many top names of industrial houses since independence.

Sudden roll of head of minister of Forest and Environment ministry before the address of Rahul to AGM of FICCI was a clear indication to members of India Inc. Many members have personally complained to Congress vice president in the past about the hurdle placed by ministry of Jayanthi Natrajan. Mention of decisions of Chief Ministers and that of environment ministry in Rahul’s speech were seen as the clear signal to those persons who also were seen as violin by the business houses.

Head of Jayanthi Natrajan is not the only one but many more are being predicted to roll down in the coming days by political pundits. Jayram Ramesh, Sachin Poitet, Gulam Nabi Azad and Jitendra Singh  are few names whose resignations are being planned to come forward in coming days.

Not only leaders of party but many top bureaucrats who are supposed to be near of Congress camp, are also being asked to use public platforms to help to disseminate the positive works of UPA and to erase the negative images. Participation of  Cabinet secretary Ajit Seth, Department of Industrial policy and promotion’s secretary Subhash Chandra and Petrolium and natural gas’ secretary Vivek rai in one of penal discussion of Ficci organized on the occasion of AGM is an example of this directive. In a bid to build positive image Seth had elaborated the decisions taken by government for the help of industries in last few months. In fact Rai and Chandra had accused the media and opposition parties for giving undue interest to non performance of government. Chandra had bitterly criticized to the reports of apathy of foreign investors towards Indian story. Investments have been coming to India despite the negative sentiments prevails in foreign country he told the members of panel members.

Party and its sympathetic bureaucrats have been fighting the perceptions of common man of streets. Negative perceptions built up due to so many scams and inflation have created a jolt and uproar in the top echelons of party. They have sensed the writing on the wall, but up to what extent Rahul and his team will be able to generate a positive feel in voters who are already shown its intention, have to be seen in coming days. 

Should AAP form the government?

Survey is being carried out in Delhi and surprisingly AAP is getting lot of responses

 Arun Srivastava

kejriwal announcing for survey to know voter's view

Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Admi Party should form the government in Delhi or not? A debate has been going on since sunday in the City and every participant has got his version of answer. Opinions are divided on the formation of government. I belong to that school of thought who does not believe in taking any type of support from either Congress or BJP. The logic is simple. Both the major national parties are at the receiving end of AAP and they have been not taking the presence of AAP lightly since the declaration of assembly results. These parties are using every gimmick to create a bad impression of governance ability of AAP’s leaders. Going back to court of people for full mandate would be the better option.

Besides, there is another school which wishes for AAP to form the government. This school wants from AAP to prove their worthiness for the society to retain the seat of power in the coming days. Going by past record and dubious credibility of Congress party this school does not see any threat from the party in near future as the general elections is looming large. They have been arguing since BJP refused to form the government that few good steps by AAP will have more lasting effects on common man who has come out openly on streets of Delhi.

We have to ponder why this sudden change of heart of the Congress and BJP towards the AAP? It seems that both the parties have come together to force the AAP for hara-kiri. Both the parties want from AAP to commit sear mistakes so that from next time only traditional players of politics remain in the field. Both these parties could fight and manipulate the arithmetic of cast and religion but would not be able to fight the surge of commoners who have bee lined behind AAP.

Traditional or feudal politics believes in cast and religion. In modern India all the parties which come in the picture after or before independence have made their base in some limited segment of the society. The Congress is in power because of its support among lower strata in Hindus. It also used to get support of Muslims because of secular image of Jawahar lal Nehru. Till few year back BJP was seen as a urban middle class party however pundits believes that it has now made roads in other segment of Hindu society and to some extent in Muslim society also. Similarly regional parties have their influences in their strongholds in specific castes or group of castes. Muslims as block voters always attracts to these parties which in turn forces them to make boastful statements to lure Muslims towards their party.

  

Contrary to these parties AAP has emerged with the large base in youths and middle class of all segment of society. By announcing the fight against corruption, water and electricity AAP has dented the base of all parties. Just because of this broad base of AAP crafted from traditional voter base of all national and regional parties, leaders of all parties are aiming at slinging newbie of Delhi.

Keeping in mind to all facts of ground politics it will not be wise for AAP to go for government. Moreover Kejriwal himself has given many times the example of sudden end of Chowdhri Charan Singh and Chandrashekhar’s minority government in the past. When instances are there to support the logic of not to take any support from BJP and Congress, then why this change stance?       

Arrogant satraps

Arun Srivastava

Despite drubbing in Delhi assembly elections regional chatraps of Indian Politics seem to have learned no lesson from results. Just see the arrogant attitude of Samajwadi party (SP) during the debates of Lokpal bill in both the houses of the Parliament. SP vehemently opposed the bill first in Rajya Sabha and then in Loksabha. Cornered and relented by the out side parliament’s pressure of fast started by social activist Anna Hazare at his native place in Maharashtra and phenomenal successful results of Aam Admi Paty (AAP) in Delhi virtually forced in jittery to each and every political parties. Parties especially the Congress and BJP reeled under the huge pressure of commoners who find AAP and Anna movement as a useful tool to bring political parties on corrective path.  

Kudos to floor managers of ruling UPA who bring SP supremo in line with other parties in houses which ultimately gave passage to bill to convert in act after getting accent of president Pranab Mukherjee. Though SP fall in line to both the major parties but its leader Mulayam Singh Yadav (MSY) leaved no stone unturned in Loksabha to muddle the prospect of bill. A staunch follower of feudal pattern of politics MSY used stick and carrot to pursue and to lure leaders and Members of parliament in Loksabha yesterday. In his flip flop speech in house MSY had drawn an imaginary sketch in which an inspector rank officer was questioning Prime Minister. His main arguments were based on this very hypothetical situation. He asked fellow MPs, how a petty inspector rank officer could ask us for an explanation to a probe a complaint lodged by a common man in the coming Lokpal office? His anger was seen large on his face when he said a small officer could visit at my house also.

How dare a police inspector rank officers could come with questioner at the gate of a member of parliament who comes in Loksabha after getting lacs of votes from his constituency? asked furious looking MSY to the speaker Meera Kumar. He pleaded Lal Krishna Adwani, leader of opposition Sushma Swaraj and Congress President Sonia Gandhi to stop the bill and call an all party meeting again to discuss the bill in a last minute effort to halt the pace of concurrence house.

The second chattrap from Bihar Sharad Yadav although supported the bill but leave no chance of innuendo. Electoral political compulsion makes second Yadav chattrap of Janta Dal United to bend his spine in favour of outside pressure but criticized the ruling and main opposition for putting their conscious back while passing the bill.

Actually practitioners of feudal politics have been considering their bastion safe from the wave being generated by upsurge of emotion of youths and middle class people of this country. Relaying of combinations of some caste and religious group they think that people of these segment will remain untouched by the wave of reforms which has embraced urban centers. In this age of communication and powerful Indian media, this type of situation is not possible.

Nevertheless in their imaginary world and flattering analysis done by their devotee small leaders, these chattraps find their party’s position safe. With this belief and perceptions SP has already announced the name of candidates for all the seats of Uttar Pradesh. While doing so party has chosen winnable candidates. Many muscle men and Muslims leaders were given tickets to garner maximum seats in coming general election so that in case of possibility of formation of third party government maximum benefit could be fetched. 

<a href="http://www.blogadda.com" title="Visit blogadda.com to discover Indian blogs" > <img src="http://www.blogadda.com/images/blogadda.png" width="80" height="15" border="0" alt="Visit blogadda.com to discover Indian blogs"/></a>

Ballyhoo for 'Yuvraj'Rahul

Questions are being raised about the timing of announcement if it comes at all

by Arun Srivastava

Rahul Gandhi in Parliament

Clamours are at height in the Congress party to anoint its vice president Rahul Gandhi for prime ministerial post in the coming general election of 2014. Since the drubbing in the semi finale of 2014 election creeping voices are getting louder from humble party men be it MPs or MLAs or an ordinary worker who fight with the opponents in the actual field, But is it worthwhile to voice for Rahul especially at this time?

When every voter and even a child on streets have loud and clear perception about this unsaid fact then why this futile ballyhoo for official coronation exercise of announcement by party president Sonia Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi will be Congress party’s prime ministerial candidate if it comes in power again in May 2014. Party had already invested him with regal power in the last ‘Chintan Sivir’ held in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Critics say that nothing is going to change in party’s fortune overnight merely by announcing Rahul as prime ministerial candidate.

Office bearers are saying that party never gives importance to an individual over the party. They site this dogma when give logic for not naming Rahul while opposition BJP has done it in September itself. Perhaps party doesn’t need any other name till the fist family is there to control reign. Yesterday media secretary of party had unhesitantly accepted it from podium while responding to a question.  She vented views of young MPs of party in her answer. ‘The entire Congress party, not just the youth, is looking forward to the session (there is a one day session of party on 17^th January next year). If there is an announcement made on the lines of prime ministerial candidate, we all will be very happy. We wish Rahul Gandhi is projected as our leader’ said Priya Dutt, also a MP from Mumbai.

But the question is?  Will this move help Congress and Rahul Gandhi to grab the impossible win from opposition which ostensibly has got (if we go by the present trends) upper hand in the battle of democracy at least for the time being? Answers from pollsters and pundits are no. They are not convinced by the possible move of Congress party if it comes at all in the forthcoming session going to be held at Talkatora Indore Stadium. Many of them believe that leadership is always associated with charisma, oratory and the ability to motivate an organization. Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal have proved these qualities in the just concluded elections. The masses which had come to rallies of Modi and Kejriwal prove that both are charismatic and have got the skill of motivating the crowd and organization. On the contrary noting has transpired as such so far that shows that Rahul has also got these abilities.

One more thing is also going against the Rahul. Modi and Kejriwal are leading sentiments that challenge the Government. Sentiments of commoners whose budgets were largely shattered by the price rise of essential commodities and corruption in the routine life has got vent through their votes. In our country, movements that challenge the political establishment have always hit among the masses. There are many examples in the annals. For instance Indira Gandhi, Jayaprakash, VP Singh, NT Rama Rao, Kanshi Ram and Mayawati challenged the established leadership at respective time and got hit among common man. How leadership tackles these issues will be interesting to see