Tag Archives: elections

Why Have We Set the Bar So Low for Our Politicians?

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Indian Parliament

India is hailed as the world’s largest democracy. The sheer scale and logistics of our elections have been celebrated in Discovery channel documentaries. Yet 70+ years after independence we have not evolved into a mature, functioning democracy. Indeed, in many, many ways we have lost our way. Hordes of politicians- precious few leaders and statesmen.  Political dynasties sprouting all over, endemic corruption, gross incompetence. Turncoats and floor crossers; Subsidies, freebies, quotas and reservations; vote banks and appeasement and divide and rule. Always in election mode with little time for good governance.  Hollowing out our nation.  Cheered on by a largely discredited Fourth Estate.  Navigated by a mostly pliant babudom of bureaucracy ( with some honorable exceptions).

Why do we give our Netas a free pass again and again? Why do we tolerate their BS? Why do we not hold them accountable as public representatives for their conduct and performance? Look at any other walk of life. A rash bus driver will be suspended- the passengers will ensure that he is not in the driving seat any longer. A construction worker will lose his /her livelihood if not reporting in time for the grind every day. An errant school teacher will be hounded and reported by irate parents. An underperformer at a corporate will likely get the pink slip. A soldier/officer who has breached military discipline will be court-martialled.

We, as a people, are largely to blame- beyond our apathy and indifference. We have this mongrel attitude of putting ourselves down. Plus the colonial/feudal hangover. The people in authority cannot be questioned. So we willingly play into their hands. Region, community, caste or creed. Or a once in a 5 year spread of booze and mutton. We have been manipulated to such an extent that even educated people gloat when their preferred venal leader has outsmarted the tainted leader from the other side. Grandmaster, Chanakya are the accolades. We have become accomplices in a very corrupt system.

It is laughable that the only criteria we have to monitor the performance of our elected representatives is the attendance sheet at the Assembly/House or the number of questions asked or debates participated in. The average attendance in the Lok Sabha is below 80% and the other parameter does not bear scrutiny. Even raising the hand and making a few inane observations count as participation. In no other self- respecting institution or organisation will such a person be invited again to join a meeting or a quorum.

Take the mismanagement of the second Covid surge. Yes, India has a huge population and some resource issues. Nobody knew the second wave would be so virulent. The fact is that the recurrence of the pandemic was entirely predictable after the outbreak in UK & Europe last December. The Central Government was lulled into a false sense of complacency after an effective handling of the first phase. Even the Sangh Chief has admitted as much. The dropping of guard happens when the powers that be are surrounded by Yes Men. No professional and non-political Task Force to tell it as it is. The tone deaf denial mode of the Union Government was highlighted by the prolonged elections in West Bengal, the rallies all over and the hosting of the Kumbh (thankfully, called off after a week.)  Super-spreader events. Any responsible government (including State Governments) would have focused on expanding the number of hospital beds, stocking Remdesvir and other drugs, ramping up of vaccination and planning the evacuation of migrants, if required. The oxygen and ventilator crises could have been averted through stocking up and imports. Supplies from industrial oxygen producers could easily have been diverted for public health use as was done much later in the day. How have Sikh Gurudwaras achieved the miracle of running both oxygen and food langars so effectively? The NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) and critical units of the Armed Forces could have been put on alert. Again in an established Company, heads would have rolled in the Boardroom. But our expectations from our political leadership is woefully low. Even as the human tragedy unfolds every day, the politicians and their media partners delight in taking pot-shots at their opponents.

And it is not that India does not know how to deal with catastrophes. When a cyclone is imminent and the landfall declared the NDMA swings into action. Evacuation exercises, shelters, food & provisions, medical help, rescue ops – all are conducted humanely and efficiently. With the collaboration of the State Administration, NGO’s and philanthropic trusts. The way Orissa cyclones have been dealt with in recent times should be a matter of pride for us. Far better relief and response than the Americans have experienced when hurricanes have battered their regions.

Good Economics is the best politics. But this seems to be lost on our timid and status-quoist Ministers. Our Hon FM brushed off the issue of fuel price as a ‘Dharamsankat’ (a very difficult decision to make) – a matter to be resolved between Centre and States. So why not do it? Fuel prices are nearly hitting Rs 100/- per litre with nearly 2/3rds going to Central and State Treasuries. Diesel & Petrol prices also fuel the inflationary trend. A reasonable reduction in taxes will help on the ground. If the hike in taxes is to cover-up revenue shortfalls during the pandemic or to create a Crises fund- be transparent about it with the public. Continuing with Covid 19, the NDA administration has not talked about measures to rejuvenate the economy once more normal times are around the corner.. No relief or rebates for the hard-hit industries, sectors or even retail commerce and trade. In India after agriculture the employment generation sectors are Construction, Trade, Transport & Storage, Education, Hotels & Restaurants’ and the retail markets. The economy has to be jump started into resurgence. In the second term of the BJP led government there has been only some noise about disinvestment and privatisation. Again, nobody is seeing the whole picture. For instance, the Japanese and the UAE are willing to invest billions$ into even home and apartment constructions if the law of the lands satisfy them and RERA ( Real Estate Regulatory Authority) is made effective and mandatory at State levels. Homes and flats will be cheaper for the average citizen. But there is a close nexus between politicians, real estate and the mafia. FINITO!!! The other reason for the lack of direction is the curious reluctance to seek expert advice from those who do not subscribe to the party’s political philosophy. For instance Gita Gopinath, Chief Economic Advisor to the International Monetary Fund can be roped in for structural and sector reforms; Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee should be the go to person for new ways to alleviate poverty.

On the political turf, we still seem to be stuck in the 70’s-90’s period when the Congress called the shots. Vote bank politics, reservations, engineering defections and horse-trading, imposing President’s rule and unleashing Central Investigative agencies on opponents; the winning formula of caste, creed, money and muscle; getting TV channels and media on board. The BJP and the regional parties have fully espoused the Congress playbook. The GOP may be in decline but their machinations endure. Verily, we may be caught up in ‘ the devil and the deep sea’ syndrome.

The only glaring difference is that the power game has become much polarised. With the deaths of Shri Arun Jaitely, Madam Sushma Swaraj and Shri Manohar Parrikar the BJP has lost the senior leaders who could reach across the aisle and have a dialogue with the other side. The ruling party has to realise that it governs the country and not just those who voted for it. The ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ slogan has to have a genuine ring about it.

Political and personal attacks have reached the nadir- across the political spectrum. Such language will not be tolerated in any other space. Our ministers & parliamentarians simply shrug it off and say that they have been misquoted or even dig in their heels. The regressive comments made about women, dress-sense or food habits do not fit in with India 2021. These motor-mouths are not even rapped on the knuckles let alone fired, suspended or disqualified.

The mishandling of part 2 of the pandemic has brought the Hon PM Modiji’s government to its lowest point since 2014. Of course, the opposition and their cheer leaders are gloating. But it is also a loud wake- up call which they can ignore only at their peril. If they don’t see the real picture, the road leads downhill. It will be a hat-trick of misses since the majority governments of Mrs Gandhi in 1972 and Mr Rajiv Gandhi in 1984. The power to achieve a Greater Good will be wasted again.

The NDA Government does have some bold decisions to its credit. Can it harness the same resolve and its majority strength in both houses to push through some vital reforms?  The expose of the rotten politician-police nexus in Mumbai underscores the imperative need for Police Reforms. Till now, all parties have ‘Copped Out’. What better than to have the Cops serve their venal interests and boost their power.  A Supreme Court Judgement of 2006 attempted to move the needle a bit. The Soli Sorabjee Commission (2015) made 7 recommendations to kick-start reform. Constituting a State Service Commission to set broad policy guidelines, ensure functional space for the police and to evaluate their performance. At least a 2 year tenure for DGP’s, SP’s, Station Heads. To separate the Investigative and Law & Order functions of the force. Set up a Police Est. Board to independently decide on the transfers, postings and promotions at least up to the DSP level with recommendatory authority above that.  Likewise a Police Complaint Authority to which the general public can have easy access to. At the Central level a National Security Commission would take up the responsibilities.

The working conditions also shout out for change. India has only 198 policemen for every lakh of population. Even the most conservative bench-mark is 275. Constables work 14-16 hour days with no over-time. Service and housing conditions are pathetic. There is little dignity in wearing the uniform at their level.  There is no career path to speak off. Operational budgets are so tight that petrol/diesel is often filled in police jeeps by some ‘business cronies’ or by heavy-handed tactics.  Even today in some States the force works at only 75% of the sanctioned strength.

A lot of lip-service has been paid to the cause of 1/3rd reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The UPA Government had tried to introduce the bill but threats of withdrawal of support from the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal made it a non-starter. In Jan 2019 women representatives from across parties in the Rajya Sabha appealed to PM Modiji to get the Bill passed with his majority force. The sooner this becomes a Law the better. Yes, some of the women candidates will be proxies for their political families. Some MP’s may turn out to be incompetent for the job at hand. But greater women representation will usher in more decorum and dignity in these Chambers and going forward more diligence and responsibility.

In 1970 the Wanchoo Committee report raised alarms as to how black money had permeated our politics. The Vohra Committee Report of 1993 was titled ‘ The Criminalisation Of Indian Politics.’ It is said to have even spelt out the politico-bureaucrat links with the D Company. It is not surprising that only 11 pages of the report were tabled in Aug 1995 in the Lok Sabha. The more than 100 page report was buried. Clearly, there is Honour Amongst Thieves. Politicians across the gamut know how to take care of each other, especially the Big Fish.

The Aam Aadmi Party was born out of an Anti-Corruption crusade. But in the Delhi Assembly elections of 2020, nearly half of their candidates had criminal cases against them. 116 BJP MP’s (39%) in the Lok Sabha have criminal charges on their records and with Congress sharing space with 29 tainted MP’s. In the recently conducted polls in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal 71%,60% and 49% of the winning coalitions boast of criminal charges and quite a few of a serious nature. ( As per media sources and electoral news reports gleaned on the internet). So whether it is the disciplined cadres of the BJP or the holier than thou Comrades, criminality is a common theme. It is the winnability factor which has sullied our electoral process. Adding Money and Muscle to the earlier caste and creed to intimidate, buy, and steal elections.

The response from the Hon Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been disappointing. A declaration is all that is needed, courtesy the political parties. They have to detail the criminal history of their candidates on their official web-site and justify why they have given them a seat. That’s It.!!!

The lust to get power and retain it takes all our political outfits over the red line-into gross criminality. We are told that we have some really tall leaders, even cult figures gracing our political landscape. With millions of die-hard followers. Why do these dominant personalities not use their charisma to enlist competent, sensible people as their candidates and ensure that the right people are voted in?  Why lug on the same old dirty bag of dirty tricks??

Black money is the other insidious influence on our democracy. The undisclosed wealth in India has been officially estimated at 15% of the GDP. That we are a cash economy helps. A rational mixture of reduced income and consumption tax will spread the tax net considerably. Per other researchers our parallel economy is closer to 25% of the GDP. Indian money parked in Swiss and other off-shore banks is said to be in the range of $1.5 to $ 2 trillion. Now our super-rich are actively looking at buying Residency and Citizenship in St Lucia, St Kitts, Antigua, Malta and Cyprus. Of course, the UK remains the haven for our fugitive financial criminals and the extradition of Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya will be an achievement, if and when it happens.

Although tricky to monitor, poll funding should constantly be under the scanner. It represents another bane of our electoral process and tells why the quality of the representatives is so low. In France, business is barred from political donations to avoid the mess of special interests or in Indian lingo, ‘crony capitalism’.  Individual contributions are limited to 7500 euros per year and if exceeding 1520 euros have to be made by cheque. Regular payments by the registered party members make up around 35% of their funds. In the Presidential elections the State reimburses 20% of the campaign expenses of all parties. This % age goes up with %age of votes and seats won. If India has to shake off the murky sources of election monies, the ECI+ SC+ lawmakers will have to roll out a viable model. The ECI observation that the average election spending per candidate is around Rs 40 lacs cannot be taken seriously.

The last of this wish-list pertains to re-structuring of our creaking judicial system. Inefficient and overwhelmed. Out of the 4 crore cases pending, the District and Subordinate Courts are submerged by 75% of them. Litigation by the Government Departments is high accounting for almost 50% of the cases and many Dept. vs Dept. Our country has only 21000 judges where there should at least be 40,000. The Indian Judicial Service does not attract the best talent and the competence of the judges in the lower courts is not up to the mark. At the HC and SC levels there is a ? on the transparency of the process of appointment of the Judges. The bottom-line is that neither the Centre nor the State is interested in increasing the spending on this vital pillar in our democracy. Budgetary allocation varies from a pathetic 0.17% to 0.40% of the budgets. Faith in our judiciary is at its lowest. We acutely need more Fast Track Courts and Tribunals, Lok Adalats and Gram Nyayalayas. It has also not sunk in that this dubious track-record adversely impacts the flow of foreign direct investment in India.

This lethargic machinery caters to the under-trials- a whopping 70% of the approx. 4.75 lakh prison population in India. The Prison Report in 2019 has said that 65% of them have already spent more than a year as inmates for petty and minor crimes. The poor and the illiterate can’t afford bail. Why a sweeping decision cannot be taken by the Law Ministry with the guidance of the Hon. Supreme Court to release those who have completed 85% or more of their maximum expected term of imprisonment. Let’s take a leaf from the recent Supreme Court order to release 568 prisoners held in Kerala jails on parole and another 350 on bail. The objective-immediate release of the prisoners to avoid overcrowding of jails in the wake of the unprecedented spread of the pandemic.

Indian democracy and its institutions require urgent overhaul. Request the Hon PM Modi’s Government to use their majority to push through these reforms. There will be a lot of resistance from within and without. No matter. They have another 3 years to go and what better and enduring legacy to leave behind or take forward.

The Art of the Spin

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Some years back I saw two top level state politicians from different political parties bonding together at a resort. They were hand-slapping and laughing loudly. The same morning they had been featured on the front page of a national newspaper calling each other derisive names. The esteemed correspondent had analysed that the parties could part ways soon.

Politicians are past-masters of Spin and it’s more extreme form- Propaganda. But their most effective spin has been that they are all bitter rivals on the grounds of ideology and policy. Nothing could be farther than the truth. With a few exceptions like the feud between Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi which had sunk to personal levels, behind the scenes the political fraternity is just that- a fraternity. When one is in power he ensures that the other is not unnecessarily harassed , leave alone prosecuted. All the name calling is for public consumption-during elections, on media and on the floors of Houses and Assemblies. Politicos switch parties whenever it suits them and political alignments are formed or dropped as the landscape changes.

Please think why lip-service is paid to some of the most significant legislations our country requires. But is never passed. Think 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha and the State legislatures. Think the police reform bill basically freeing the law enforcement agencies from the clutches and control of the political masters. Think about the Election Finance Bill making the source of political funding transparent to the public. The Criminality Law barring candidates with criminal records from contesting elections. Lots of talk but no action. No politician of any consequence wants these ground-breaking changes. They will destroy his well entrenched interests and derail their dynastic agendas.

The media has become a willing accomplice in these manipulating games. Some have become propaganda mouthpieces. Think of Fox News in the US. In India the so-called high brow, intellectual channels are as guilty as the shrill competition they laugh at. The common man today does not have a single TV channel or newspaper she/he can turn to for unbiased, factual news content.

The avalanche on the social media platforms is also disturbing. Political parties and big business have their spin professionals and there is a lot of fake stuff floating around. The consequences can be scary and momentous. Think back to the 2016 US election or the Brexit referendum. Russian hackers with downloads of Immigrant hordes and impending marginalisation of the white population could easily have swung the results.

Spin is not the domain of only the political stream and need not have national or global repercussions. But even at this level there are interesting case-studies. Remember the ‘whitewash’ job done by Rajkumar Hirani in ‘Sanju’. A bio-pic of Sanjay Dutt?. A large hearted and at times misguided victim of circumstance and the media. His close ties to the mafia and the wanton ways of this privileged person are all glossed over. Hirani and Sanju Baba will soon team up for the third instalment of the lovable Munnabhai series.

Take the case of the legendary Dhoni. Embroiled in several controversies between 2013-15. He was VP at India Cements, captain of Chennai Super Kings and captain of India. His boss, Srinivasan was the owner of the first two and the Chairman of the BCCI. A cushy position for MSD. All bases covered. The Tamil-Nadu police officer who exposed the match-fixing racket has disappeared into the shadows. Smaller fish like Sreesanth have been sent to the cooler. Dhoni has manfully stood up for his boss’s son-in-law Meiyappan before the investigators, reportedly calling him’ just a special fan of CSK.’ Public memory is short. But this sordid episode is just not cricket. The Chennai team and RR are back after a two year ban. THALA IS BACK.

Then there is the small matter of Rhiti Sports, an agency run by his friend Arun Pandey. Co-owned then by Dhoni. Representing Jadeja, Raina and Ojha amongst others. Any conflict of interest, friends?

The same Pandey produced the hit movie “Dhoni”. The uplifting story of MSD from humble beginnings in Ranchi to railway conductor to captain of the World Cup winning team. The legend who finishes of the final with a six. Etched in our memories forever. But no mention of the match-fixing saga, the 2 year ban, the conflict of interest et al.

His accomplishments are undeniable. Captain Cool. Winner of two World Cups for India. One of the greatest cricketers ever. An inspiration to millions and millions. But with a spin-doctor in the background.

The latest chapter in what is at least this dubious- association tale is the case of the Amrapali Builders. The SC has come down like a ton of bricks on the real-estate operators who have duped thousands of middle-class buyers . Dhoni has been their public face and endorser for years. Now his lawyers claim that the cricketer has been duped of his Rs 40 crore fees. Another victim, right?

Is it any surprise that a docu-drama called “Roar of the Lion” is now streaming on HotStar. MSD setting the record straight. The cricketer-hero will soon be riding out into the sunset. But before that the country anticipates the Dhoni magic again-conjuring up the third ODI World Cup win for India.

The IPL event shows the Hype Machine in all its glory. This unusual mix of cricket, Bollywood, Big-Business and the Politicos is seductive. But the novelty may be wearing-off. The crass commercialisation may be its undoing. It has become more of a social event than a serious tournament. In which other top sports event will you hear the commentator screaming a ‘Yes Bank Six’? Even the ultimate cricket stroke is sponsored. Show-time it is. Great sport it is not. The passion, the edge is missing.

Make-believe and Bollywood are two sides of the same coin. Take the case of Salman Khan, the other bad-boy of the film-world. Maybe, Hirani can do another effective ‘white-wash job’ The super-star has been accused of killing an endangered species of deer whilst on a shoot in Rajasthan 20 years ago. Then there is the reckless driving and manslaughter case where a poor pavement dweller was run over and some others injured. In India, the rich and powerful can literally get away with anything. Then, the Spin kicked in. ‘Being Human’ a philanthropic organisation was born and promoted with gusto. Remember the T shirts with the logo.The large-hearted BHAI was taking shape.

Salman has become something of a social phenomenon, in the same way Rajnikanth is. But his is a carefully cultivated image off-scream. On-screen the swag, the attitude, the over-the –top action and the one-liners are the formula for success.

‘King Khan’ has however been having a disappointing run over the last few years. His last film Zero disappeared without a trace. But his PR machine is in top-gear. He is all over the social media. Everyday , there is some latest news about SRK. A honorary degree from some University, the doting father, some nostalgic pics from his early days, the enthusiastic owner of KKR, his grand visit to China. Hat’s off – the celebrity is happening while his career is in a slump. His friends in the media and his mega-star status ensure that there is little talk about his poor choice of movies and even taking his audience for granted. Now, he has hit the pause button and is on the look-out for the right role. His legion of fans are praying for a blockbuster. Here’s hoping that something of the quality of Swades or Chak De is in the offing.

But herein lies another example of the power and mystique of Spin. Many people will assume that SRK is the King of the Box Office. That has always been the title he is crowned with. Reality-check says different. In the last decade Aamir and Salman lead the honor list with 3 movies apiece in the top 10 Indian Movies list. A Shah-Rukh film does not make the cut.

The Corporate World has also bought into this game of Buzz and Hype. ‘The Best Company to Work with’, ‘the Best in the Industry’ are all trophies ardently solicited and even bought. There are media channels, newspapers and industry bodies willing to oblige. There are professional facilitators willing to show the way. All for a price. There are sponsored appearances on television and paid articles and interviews in the print-media to raise the profile of the CEO or the Company.

As for the tycoons, they own or have a stake in the media-houses and other hubs of influence. Need anything more be said.

In this spinning, at times manipulative world with its over-dose of planted news, it is difficult to sift through the real information. But for our own sake, let us hit the pause button at times, question what is being presented and try to make our own sense of things.

The Biryani-Vodka Brigade

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Biryani-Vodka Brigade

You all know whom I am talking about. That cabal of people who try to dominate and drive the narrative through the media-space, politics, academics and even the arts and literature. Who became very influential during Mrs Gandhi’s time and continued to enjoy special privileges in decades of Congress and UPA rule. Why, these self proclaimed intellectuals even evolved into “fixers” for the Congress. Check-out some of the tapes on You-Tube.

Under the garb of cultural exchanges, these very same people cross-over to Lahore or Karachi at the drop of a hat, be it a Lit Fest or a mehfil or simply for a biryani spread. The Pakistani establishment has played them skilfully and now it plays out “as a people to people contact”. The Pak hostilities since Independence do not seem to bother these regular Indian guests. That this neighbour has provoked four wars does not seem to matter.  Constant shelling and tensions at our borders does not make any difference. That Pakistan is a global exporter of terrorism with our country as a prime-target is shrugged away by this coterie. That we have lost a large number of security forces and innocent civilians in these heinous terror attacks is not acknowledged. These are the people who have seriously undermined our national security and sovereignty for decades. They have insidiously contributed to making India a soft, lumbering State.

Which other self-respecting nation would have remained silent after 26/11. The world knows that it was handled and directed by the ISI from Karachi.

Once the denials from Pakistan as a terror-hub had moved past its shelf-life, the new spin emerged. The country is itself a major victim of terrorist attacks. Sure, this monster has wreaked havoc on Pakistanis but it is a monster they have created. Principally, the Taliban has been responsible. The other non-state actors like the Jaish and the Hizbul and the Lashkar have been nurtured by the Pakistan military and Intelligence services as anti-India forces- to keep our country bleeding and confused. It would be foolhardy to mess with India in a conventional war, so let’s unleash proxy actors to keep the pot simmering on the borders and especially in Kashmir.

The civilian government has never truly ruled Pakistan. The Army and the ISI call the shots. Imran Khan is a puppet. But the biryani brigade would like to project him as a powerful voice for peace. If nothing else just to diminish Modi. During his campaign, this ex-cricketer shared the stage with many extremists and fundamentalists and talked their talk. And he turned to the army to fulfil his dream.

This group of so-called intellectuals, with disproportionate power and influence has gravely undermined our nation. Because of their presence within and proximity to the government, they have shaped our weak policies and strategies over the years. As Indians, we have paid a heavy price for it.

Where does the Vodka part come in? The leftist angle, my friends. Comrades and Advisors to the Congress governments for years. Enjoying power much beyond their representation. You will see portraits of Mao, Stalin, Lenin, Castro and more recently of Chavez in their offices and at certain college campuses. Dictators who have butchered millions in their time. But these folks present a superior, patronising, human rights activist façade whilst one of their beloved leaders has famously uttered- “Power flows from the barrel of a gun”. Their hypocrisy is sickening.

Yes, it is right and just to call out the Rohingya massacre in Myanmar and cow-lynching incidents in our country. But are there no words about the goon-army which helped them retain power in West Bengal for 30 years? The mercenaries who en-bloc shifted their loyalties elsewhere. Total silence about the million Muslims incarcerated in Xinjiang province of China. No discussion about Putin’s crackdown on all media and public criticism of his government in Russia. The bill has yet to become law but it is a done deal. Nothing to say about Chinese arms being smuggled to prop up the Naxal movement in some States in India. These talking-heads only talk about selective issues which serve their cause.

For the last 4 years, the space for the Biryani-Vodka brigade has shrunk and they have become strident to get attention, even dropping all pretensions about their agenda.

Take the case of the movie, “Uri – The Surgical Strike”. First, they questioned whether it actually happened. Casting aspersions on our Armed Forces! Do we really need external enemies? Then, some critics panned it for jingoism. How else would they want an officer to charge his commandoes for a life or death mission? Probably with a “Let’s go and play the game, boys.”

This true-life story was lambasted as a propaganda film for the current BJP government. The heroism of the Indian Armed Forces be damned. Do we need to politicise everything?

The answer is simple. If the mission to take out Osama Bin laden happened during the Obama years, so be it. Obama and his key team will obviously be shown and mentioned in every film and book based on the mission.

And, where was Osama found? At Abbottabad, near the capital Islamabad and near a military campus. So much for Pakistan and their fight against terror.

As Aditya Dhar, the director of Uri, succinctly put it, “The surgical strike happened under the current dispensation. They took the hard decision.”

Despite these biased reviews, the film is continuing in its ninth-week breaking all records. In box-office /ROI terms it has become the biggest hit ever. As for the critics-well they have rotten eggs and a lot else on their faces.

The same agenda was in plain sight after the Pulawama outrage. A former Chief Minister of J&K certified that Pakistan had nothing to do with it. That the Jaish claimed it and the global intelligence chatter supported it did not matter. The Security Council’s singling out the Jaish and Pakistan did not count.

The swift retribution by the IAF in destroying the Balakot terror camp took our friends by surprise. The story had to be shifted. Providentially for them, one of our brave pilots, Wing Cdr Abhinanadan was shot down, captured and released by the Pakis within 60 hours. His release was turned into a made for TV spectacle by our neighbour and Imran Khan was saluted by these pandits for his “noble gesture”.

The huge international pressure and unexpected snub from China was cleverly relegated to the background. These news channels and newspapers also did not mention the enemy F16 being shot down by our MIG21 pilot. It did not suit their script.

These elements represent our own deep State. They have their own nefarious and selfish designs. But their goal is clear- to regain their lost status of unfettered power and privilege.

‘Tis the political season, after all! The anti-Modi brigade have him plainly in their sights.

By all means focus on the faults and blunders of the BJP Govt. The De-Mo fiasco which only helped them to win the UP elections and stopped stone pelting in Kashmir for months as Pak stooges did not have the cash. The disappointing delivery on their tall promises on development. Also the fault lines developing because of the Hinduvta ideology. The continued erosion of certain institutions like the CBI with the ugly Verma-Asthana spat. The undermining of the RBI Governor post…

Take all the shots you may like. However, please do not put your own Armed Forces in the dock to score some petty political points. National security is sacred and cannot be trifled with. And India’s global stature and standing cannot be compromised. Irrespective of which party is in power at the centre.