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Teflon Trump 2.0 & Its Implications for India

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Reuters reported that ‘a convicted felon is elected as the 47th President of the USA.’ Yes, convicted on 34 felony counts. The only US President with 2 Impeachment trials against him. Acquitted for abuse of power and obstruction and later for the incitement of the 6th of January Insurrection and attack on the Capitol. A corrupt, venal person, a bankrupt billionaire and 78, the oldest person to stand for the Presidential elections. A true democracy would have barred him from contesting for the highest office in the land. He has brushed aside everything for a second term at the White House. Truly remarkable. Nothing sticks to him. Teflon Trump.

What has shocked the left-liberal elite is that Trump has rallied against the odds and won the mandate emphatically in a democratic way. He has won the popular vote against VP Kamala Harris by almost 5 million votes. His electoral college votes stack up to 312 vs 226 for Harris. 46% of women voters have supported him despite his anti-abortion stance and misogynist comments; Latino votes surged to 45%; young blacks signed up for him, and Evangelicals thronged up in large numbers. Many of the latter viewed the failed assassination attempts as a Divine Call of Destiny.

The Liberal/Woke meltdown is a seminal lesson for those living in a bubble; it’s also a wake-up call for genuine liberals as their potent ideology has been diluted and contaminated by an influential coterie of self-serving people.  Elite Hysteria- we have been betrayed by the people. The educated elite cannot believe that everyone doesn’t share their beliefs and views. They have created a partisan and ideological echo chamber – an environment where they encounter only opinions and thoughts that coincide with their own, and alternative ideas are simply shrugged away. Their take on Identity Politics is that minorities and ethnic groups will only vote their way; their condescending attitude referring to Latinos as Latin X; the gender quotient with women voters inevitably lining up for Kamala Harris; that nationalism and patriotic politics are past tense. That it remained a potent force manifested in the fear of unchecked immigration. Legacy media houses have shown their total disconnect from ground realities. One cannot find a more liberal person than Senator Bernie Sanders who lashed out at the Democrats after the defeat saying that ‘they abandoned the working class which led to the working class abandoning them.’ He acidly pointed out that 60 % of the American workforce lived from paycheck to paycheck and that 20 million workers did not get even a livable minimum wage. It all boils down to the quote: “It’s the economy, stupid.’  Trump said that He would Fix It. A big takeaway for the Indian Government also. Focus on Development & the Greater Good. In the visceral hatred that was shown to Trump by the mainstream media, it was conveniently ignored that in the first term of the Trump Presidency, the USA was not involved in or did not instigate any wars. Strange for the military-industrial complex that is the USA; strange that the leftist, liberal Dems have been pro-war when it suits their agenda; strange that a liberal, woke party has abandoned the working class. Selective Agenda. Selective Narrative. Selective Outrage. We also see this being played out in India. With our Left, Liberal brigade and their colonial and ideological hangovers- for whom the BBC remains the Voice of Truth, the New York Times as the Words of Truth.

The USA has been revealed as a polarised and flawed democracy. Indian democracy and institutions come off better in comparison. Please watch the National Geographic documentary- The Great Indian Election, to appreciate the sheer magnitude and scale of the democratic exercise and how effectively it is conducted by The Election Commission of India. The Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) work effectively with Opposition protests only when they lose the election. Another pillar, the Supreme Court of India, shines when compared to SCOTUS, a rigged, corrupt institution where appointees have lifetime tenures. Kamala Harris could not become the first US women President; India already had 2 women Presidents and a strong Prime Minister in the late Mrs. Indira Gandhi, who held office for almost 16 years. It’s high time for us to shed our mongrel attitude-constantly deriding and undermining ourselves as Indians.

Millions of Indians are rejoicing at Trump’s phenomenal come-back. CAUTION. One cannot project one’s preferred outcomes on such an unpredictable personality. Trump 2.0 will disrupt the Global Order. His protectionist economic policies with higher tariffs will adversely impact Indian exports. Hopefully, things will turn out well for Indian-born green card aspirants. It is highly likely that Indian students will continue to be welcomed at US colleges, and so will be skilled Indian professionals. Trump is also expected to pull back on global commitments, and we don’t know how this will play out. However, a Trump Administration can ease things for India regarding national security, national interests, and strategic autonomy. Also, India and its companies may not be sanctioned for buying oil or armaments from Russia or doing business with them.

The Trump win may pay other dividends for India on the geopolitics and national security front against covert, subvert warfare by foreign parties. George Soros, a hedge fund manager, played a major role in triggering the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. He bet against the Malaysian currency and ruined the economy and also made huge profits by betting against the Thai Baht. The South Korean Won and Indonesian Rupiah were also targeted with dire results; this led to currency devaluation, large outflow of capital and years of political instability. Earlier in 1992, he became famous as the man who broke the Bank of England by betting against the British pound and making a billion dollars for himself in the process. Cut to 2023 when Hindenburg Research, a forward trading investor, made allegations about questionable financial dealings through offshore entities connected with Adani. Some months later, The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), funded by the Soros Open Society Foundation, alleged that Adani had engaged in stock manipulation and accounting fraud and channelized large funds to fronted offshore accounts. Old habits die hard. Adani shares tanked, and about a dozen unknown entities profited from the spoils. The Soros plan was to kill two birds with one stone. Sure enough, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress started screaming about Crony Capitalism and Corruption. Name-calling and allegations of corruption are the norm -whether it is the USA or India. The 2024 elections were around the corner. It’s the insidious, clandestine foreign meddling which is deeply disturbing. The Opposition did not join the chorus as expected and for a simple reason. Adani already had a gas-line project in the DMK-led Tamil Nadu; the Communist Government in Kerala had awarded the business house the contract to manage, operate and maintain a large port; Adani had built a major port in Naveen Patnaik’s Odisha; even the Congress-led Rajasthan Government had awarded the largest hybrid power project to the Corporate.

The Hungarian American billionaire Soros has been the largest donor to the Democratic Party for many years. Suggest to please read the book ‘Shadow Party’ by David Horowitz and Richard Poe- about how the Clintons and Soros and the 60’s radicals took over control of the Democratic Party. A NYT article eulogized him as a protector of democracy, an anti-communist, an anti-nationalist, global liberal. Soros’s clandestine influence extends to liberal media, Ivy League colleges, and established Think Tanks & NGOs, which enables him to manipulate societies and even destabilise governments. Alternate media in the US have talked about his dark side- controlling society without interfering with legislation but by controlling how laws are enforced. Thus, creating chaos and undermining the power of lawful authority.

With a Trump White House, Soros and his influential minions will be on the back foot. Especially with a powerful Elon Musk to contend with. Hopefully, it will provide India with respite from malevolent foreign interference—some examples. In 2018, Soros Open Society backed NGO -Sherpa Association filed a corruption complaint with the National Financial Prosecutor in France against the 36 Rafale aircraft deal. Connect the dots. Rahul Gandhi, Congress and the Opposition screamed ‘Scam’, and this was amplified by our Left, Liberal media in the run-up to the 2019 General elections. Frustrated that his plans had not worked out, at the 2020 Davos Conference Soros openly slammed the PM Modi Government ‘as the biggest and most frightening setback for the survival of Open Societies’ specifically mentioning CAA & Kashmir. Move to the prolonged farmer’s agitation (mainly from Punjab and in part from Haryana) in 2020-21, funded by Soros and Canadian Khalistan outfits. Please recall celebrities like Rihanna and Greta Thunberg (environmental activist) and some from Bollywood butting in.

The shadowy power of Soros. Reuters Alessandra Galloni, whose quote started this blog, is on the Committee to Protect Journalists, funded by Soros—likewise, NBC’s Lester Holt & Associated Press’s Julia Pace. CNN’s Christiane Amanpour is on the Board of Centre for Public Integrity, another Open Society venture. On a prime-time TV show she spoke of PM Modi in the same breath as Xi Jinping, Putin and the Dear Leader from North Korea. Really!! The glowing tribute of a book, ‘The Philanthropy of George Soros’ is written by Chuck Sudetic, a NYT columnist who now works for the Open Society Foundation. Economist Sanjeev Sanyal hits the bulls-eye when he says that there is so much anti-India stuff around that if AI or Chat GPT had to submit an India report, our democracy , human rights record, and governance would be shown in a starkly negative light. So, to Rahul Gandhi’s Cambridge University visit a few years back. He waved a copy of ‘The Guardian’ with the headlines, ‘Indian democracy in danger.’ It’s amusing to note that after Trump’s election, The Guardian offered counselling & therapy services to its staff and reporters.

Let’s talk about the recent events in Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League are overthrown in a well-orchestrated coup by so-called student leaders—an Islamist, extremist+ the Soros signature – an anarchist movement. The Chief Advisor to the interim government is none other than Muhammad Yunus- the esteemed ‘Banker to the Poor’ through the micro-finance Grameen Bank. He is also a Nobel Laureate, winning the Peace Prize in 2006. With humungous support from former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and who else… George Soros. The Anti-Corruption Commission acquitted him of the graft charges of misappropriating $ 2 million from the Grameen Telecom Workers and Employees Welfare Fund. The Soros heir, Alex Soros, visited him in Dhaka on the 2nd of October to reinforce his support. In 2016, Yunus contributed generously to Hillary Clinton’s Presidential campaign fund. Trump’s upset win left him ‘shattered and barely able to speak or breathe.’ He dismissed it as a ‘solar eclipse’. Trump’s return to the White House has left him writing a long, rambling congratulatory message. This was surely not anticipated by ‘the Deep State.’  It is a relief of sorts for India with another hostile neighbour appearing on our borders. A point to ponder. Candidate Trump before the Election date condemned the attacks on Hindu places of worship in Dhaka and Chittagong. The Nobel Peace Prize winner has remained silent.

Although India and China have already entered into a border cease-fire agreement, the US election results will help in dousing the dragon fire to an extent. With economic problems and the threat of high tariffs for Made in China products, Emperor Xi Jinping and the CCP will have to reset their priorities. If nothing else, the uncertainties unleashed by Trump will keep them guessing. But you never know with Trump. The Saudi Prince made him dance with a sword and followed up by bailing out his son-in-law Jared Kushner from a financial crisis. If China confers him with the Ancient Order of the Dragon or invites him to grace a throne on the Great Wall, one never knows. It’s certainly bad news for Pakistan. They badly need bailouts from the IMF and the World Bank which are controlled by the USA. Also, Trump’s acknowledgement of India as a major power and the apparent Trump-Modi bonhomie will alarm the Pak Army-ISI Establishment.

Justin Trudeau will be unnerved by The Donald’s comeback. Trump had called him ‘two-faced’. The USA is Canada’s big brother, and 75% of the nation’s exports go there. He has called Khalistan Canadians celebrating the assassination of PM Indira Gandhi as ‘just exercising freedom of speech’. I sometimes wonder why the grandson and daughter-in-law are not up in arms as they should be. The unsubstantiated allegations against the Indian Government of killing Nijjar have taken a heavy toll on diplomatic relations. The attacks on Hindu temples and devotees have further undermined his hollow narrative and exposed his hypocrisy. It’s all vote-bank politics to secure his political future. Thus far, the Biden-Harris administration has played along, claiming that there was an imminent threat to another guy called Pannun. Knowing that his cosy days in the US are over, Pannun has moved to Canada and threatened to attack Hindu temples this month, including the Shree Ram Temple at Ayodhya on the 16th/17th of November. Justin Trudeau represents the white, woke icon who has self-destructed over the last few years. As regards the Sikhs, they are a hugely respected community in India for their contributions to society and the country. (Trivia- the convicted assassin of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – Captain Noor Mohammad- has been enjoying the good life in Canada for the last 3 decades and more. Just so that you get the big picture.)

Liberal philosophy is, in its essence, a progressive philosophy. But anything good, if taken to the extreme, becomes counterproductive. Unfortunately, this humane ideology, which was primarily meant to uplift the disadvantaged and focused on human welfare, rights, freedoms and values, has been hijacked to suit the personal ambitions and agendas of some powerful people. Disconnected from the problems of the common folk and from ground realities. Many, many others have been misled, lured and trapped in this Elitist bubble. India is on track as the world’s largest, functioning democracy. However, it is a work in progress with issues of criminals in politics, corruption, unemployment, long-pending structural reforms of the judiciary and police, tax reforms and societal fractures around caste, creed and community yet to be addressed effectively. The Trump re-election will put on hold the subversive warfare launched against India to halt its progress and growing global structure. It also has many lessons for our Government and political leaders- to listen to all sections of society & to focus on innovative, inclusive development for The Greater Good.

The Real Dance of Indian Democracy

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A finger of a new woman voter on the Indian flag with voting sign of India in 2019 Indian general election or Lok Sabha election at Kolkata.

The Lok Sabha elections of 2024 have been riveting. The BJP-led NDA alliance seems to have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory despite forming the government at the Centre for the third time in succession. The Congress-led INDIA bloc has transformed itself into a resurgent Opposition. Amusingly enough, there is now no talk of tampering of EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines); and no allegations that the Election Commission of India is a lackey of the Modiji government. Indeed, the fact that elections have been efficiently conducted in 7 phases with minimal disturbances and in acute heat wave conditions is a remarkable achievement—a triumph for democracy.

This election is a Reality Check for the overconfident BJP Netas and party functionaries. At 240 seats- losing a significant 63 from the 2019 tally of 303. This is a huge wake-up call for those living in the bubble-hype of ‘is baar, 400 ke paar.’ (More than 400 this time around.) However, on the other side, the entire INDIA coalition of parties secured 234 seats with the Grand Old Party at 99 seats. The BJP vote share in 2019 stood at 37.4 % and in 2024 at 37.37%. The big setbacks came in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. In the Hindi heartland State, the Samajwadi Party stunned Yogi Adityanath’s government by winning 37 seats. The BJP lost 29 seats from their erstwhile tally of 62 seats. The INC performed creditably with 6 seats. The party’s Ayodhya candidate (a done deal, what?) lost big by stoking fears with his irresponsible comments about changing the Constitution after the elections were over. The old Muslim-Yadav bloc which had voted in significant numbers for the BJP in 2019 consolidated into an anti-BJP force. Other local factors also created resentment. Economic corridors, highways and projects are all good to see but the affected locals did not benefit. They got a few lakhs for their lands and kutcha houses but saw the privileged stakeholders minting crores of rupees. In this era of omnipresent social media, no political party can take its eyes off the ball. In Maharashtra, the break-up of the NCP, seen to be engineered by the BJP, was regarded as an act of betrayal of their Saheb by his nephew not only by the Marathas but by many Maharashtrian voters. After 10 years in power, the BJP had lost its strongest asset- the ear-to-the-ground approach with disciplined cadres providing their leadership with critical ground information. In Delhi, the very same party swept all the 7 Lok Sabha seats even with Mr. Arvind Kejriwal playing his victim card with full support from the Opposition parties and even international media. The Delhi CM’s stint in jail was played out as the death of democracy.

The BJP’s ‘Big Brother’ persona has also cost it dearly. In Andhra Pradesh, it gained some traction because of the tie-up with Mr Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP. Likewise, if they had continued their partnership with the Akali Dal, it would have paid dividends in Punjab. If they had the sense to continue with their pact with AIADMK in Tamil Nadu at least 10 MPs would have joined their team. With Mr. Annamalai at the helm and in just 10 months their vote share in the State is more than 11%. But their obstinate refusal to play second fiddle demonstrates their short-sightedness. In the eyes of many Tamilians, the BJP remains a Hindi heartland party. They don’t have local leaders who are either well-known or well-respected to take on the DMK. A return to the healthy coalition strategy with established regional parties is the only sensible solution. Plus, the BJP national leadership seems oblivious to the fact that genuine respect and appreciation of India’s regional languages and cultures, traditions and customs is the only way to win hearts and minds across the country. For instance, if Tamil and Bengali… (Major Scheduled Languages) are taught as optional subjects in 5 years of middle school in Central and Government schools in North India it will be a game-changer and strengthen and consolidate the Union structure of India.

Mr Suresh Gopi, the National Award-winning Malayalam film actor, won BJP’s first-ever Lok Sabha seat from Thrissur- Kerala. My Malayali friends tell me that thousands of non-BJP supporters voted for him because of his humanitarian work over the years. Likewise, Dr. Manjunath, a respected cardiologist, defeated a Congress heavyweight for the Bengaluru Rural seat simply because of his reputation as a caring, soft-spoken professional. Request all political parties to throw away the oft-used Congress playbook of Money, Muscle, Caste, Creed and Political lineage whilst selecting their candidates. The BJP should also conduct an L&D workshop on Soft Skills and Communications for their Parliamentarians and Legislators. Movie Star Kangana Ranaut is going to cause unnecessary controversy with her immature remarks. The BJP candidate from Ayodhya lost simply because of reckless fear-mongering. Yes. Millions of faithful will queue up for the Divine Darshan at the Shri Ram Temple- from India and the rest of the world. But on a day-to-day basis, the average Indian citizen hopes for a glimpse of the true Ram Rajya.

After 10 years we will have a legitimate Leader of the Opposition in Mr. Rahul Gandhi. It’s also a situation of not who won (Modi 3.0 is in place) but who made the most gains. The Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK and TMC are the big winners with Akhilesh Yadav’s party stealing the show. We all know that the new Lok Sabha bills like the Uniform Civil Code and One India and One Election will be put in a deep freeze. However, it will be interesting to see how the MPs react to a critical bill on Police Reforms which has been gathering dust despite a Supreme Court directive in 2006. Most politicians, across party lines, want the police to keep doing their bidding. Good Economics is the Best Politics. Hopefully, India’s economic growth story will continue unhindered. Not only by becoming the 3rd largest economy in the world but by getting our per-capita income to jump into the top 30 in the next 10-15 years. The Government and Opposition should also work together to ensure that India’s geo-political ascendancy remains resolute and on track, with no compromises on national interests or national security.

National Security. Mr Rahul Gandhi will become the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. But I am very relieved that he is not the Prime Minister of the country. He will likely become a puppet in China’s hands; he will also play along with the Pakistani establishment. Few will remember that in August 2008 the INC and the Communist Party of China (CCP) signed an MOU that the 2 parties would consult each other on bilateral, regional and international matters. Really.!! Another Himalayan Blunder waiting to happen. Is this the reason why the INC (not just the Comrades) does not say a word about the cruel persecution of Uyghur Muslims and the demolition of thousands of mosques in Xinjiang province of China? Please also recall Mr. Gandhi repeatedly speaking about the Chinese Army taking over 2000 sq km of Indian land, categorically denied by India’s Generals. Foreign intelligence agencies rebutted the same and spoke about clashes where the Indian Army gave the PLA a bloody nose. Remember Mr Digvijay Singh, a senior Congress Leader, releasing a book ‘26/11 an RSS Conspiracy’ with Dr Zakir Naik just 2 years after the Mumbai terror attack orchestrated by Pakistan, which had been validated by international intelligence agencies and from Pakistan itself. Just imagine if Kasab had not been caught alive.?! Or take the case of the Khalistanis in Canada celebrating the assassination of the late PM
Mrs. Indira Gandhi. No outrage from the daughter-in-law or the grandson of one of India’s most formidable political leaders. They are happy with the Canadian PM taking potshots at the Indian PM. It’s up to the Modi government to assert before the Trudeau government that such hate speeches and demonstrations cannot be passed off as’ freedom of expression.’

Another intriguing aspect of the 2024 General Election is the global dimensions it took on. China’s State media, which soft-pedals elections elsewhere for obvious reasons, waded into Indian democracy. China Daily- ‘Stunning Blow to Modi’s Image.’ Global Times- ‘Economic Reforms will slow down.’ The West also jumped onto the bandwagon with the German broadcaster DW- ‘A victory that feels like a defeat.’ Bloomberg- ‘Modi just learnt that hype can carry you so far.’ The NYT headline in the run-up to the election- ‘Modi’s Temple of Lies’ in an insidious reference to the Ayodhya Mandir. Such rantings with vitriolic Op-eds penned by Indian intellectuals and media people (you know their names) have been the norm for many years. During a talk at Cambridge, Mr Rahul Gandhi waved a newspaper whilst talking to the students. The same-day headline in The Guardian read- ‘India’s Democracy in Danger.’ Please connect the dots. Some readers may not know that Hinduism is not recognized as a religion in 24 out of 26 EU countries. Little wonder that some Ivy League college publications have dismissed this Ancient Faith with 1.2 billion followers as ‘pagans’ and ‘uncivilized.’ The fact that in the last decade, India has shed its mongrel attitude and started giving it back to the White Man is not going down well with them. Guess why Harvard has nothing to say about the brutal repression of a million Uyghur Muslims in China. The esteemed University has received $ 1 billion from China over 10 years mainly as gifts.

India’s rise as an independent global geo-political power has rocked the boat- like buying cheaper oil from Russia and Iran. How can India even think about it!! Shifting from being a major importer of military hardware to a growing exporter of arms and ammunition has rattled the military-industrial complex in Washington and other capitals. So, we have Christiane Amanpour on CNN talking about the Indian Prime Minister in the same breath as the Chinese and Russian dictators. Both of whom have anointed themselves as lifetime rulers. As for the Leader of the Free World, a convicted felon may well be the next President. The UK has seen 4 PMs in the last 8 years and is now shipping out undesirable immigrants to Rwanda and beyond.

The George Soros-affiliated Omidyar network (which has just exited India) with close links to the INC has funded money for propaganda, fake news and fear-mongering. Billionaire Soros who had publicly declared war on PM Modi at Davos many years back is known to have backed regime change in some nations. Chinese money has also poured in to boost well-known media outlets and YouTube influencers to spew a particular narrative.

The churning in Indian politics is all for the good. The strong comeback of the Congress and its Allies is welcome. With the caveat that if the Congress-led front comes to power at the Centre we will see a more competent and dependable Messrs Sachin Pilot or Shashi Tharoor or Mallikarjun Kharge as the Prime Minister. Beating the 2X anti-incumbency factor and with 292 seats in the Lok Sabha, the BJP-led NDA has to settle into its 3rd term. It will have to work and focus on The Greater Good. ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ (Everyone’s support, everyone’s development, everyone’s trust) cannot be an empty slogan but an inspiration for good inclusive policies and efficient governance and administration.  However, as of now Modi 3.0 has prevailed not only over a rejuvenated Opposition but over myriad forces and powers from across the world.

Buckle Up For the Great Indian Election’s Global Ride

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The 2024 General Elections will be a Great Indian Blockbuster Tamasha. The stakes couldn’t be higher: for the I.N.D.I.A bloc of 26 opposition parties, have come together solely to overthrow the Modi Sarkar; and for the BJP-led NDA coalition, which is trying for an unprecedented hat-trick of wins. The sheer scale of the elections will be breathtaking. The magnitude of efforts taken by the Election Commission, the administrative and law and order eco-system, will be awe-inspiring. The ultimate salute to democracy.

Unfortunately, the toxic side will also be on full display. The old Congress playbook with its ‘winnability’ formula – Money, Muscle, Caste, Creed – has been embraced across the entire political spectrum. Many candidates with criminal backgrounds, dubious credentials, and low merit will be voted in as our future Members of Parliament. Vitriolic language and uncouth barbs will capture our media headlines. Political families will break up, and even long-affiliated leaders will head for supposedly greener pastures. Divisive rhetoric will prevail, and even some communal and regional disturbances may be instigated or inflamed to consolidate vote banks. TV channels, print media, and social media influencers will go berserk, spewing out a lot of stuff – less real news and loads of propaganda and negativity.

However, the X factor in the 2024 election will be the global interest, and more so, the meddling and interference, and even infiltration by some governments and nations, special interest groups, and social media disruptors. Indian political parties slugging it out is all okay. When foreign money and deliberate disinformation come in to subvert the election process, it takes on a dark and troubling dimension.

Let’s take the case of the Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros and his Open Society Policy Centre (OSPC). Ostensibly to push back against strident nationalism in any country, Soros publicly announced at the Davos Conference that he was going all out against the Modi Government. Hardly surprising! In 2018, the Sherpa Association backed by Soros filed a complaint with the financial prosecutor of France against the 36 Rafale Aircraft deals with India. The Opposition parties in India raised the decibel meter of ‘Corruption’ in the months before the 2019 elections. Is it a coincidence or is there more to it than meets the eye? Then his Organised Crime and Corrupt Repairing Project (OCCRP) targeted industrialist Adani immediately after the Hindenburg allegations (Investment firm with a focus on short selling). Are they just separate events or is there a definite pattern to it? If there is any substance in the allegations, Indian Regulatory and Investigative agencies are perfectly capable of probing into it. Period. It’s extremely likely that in the next few months, another top Indian industrialist comes on their radar, and ‘crony capitalism’ becomes the most uttered jibe by our desi politicos. Beyond this, it will lead to shocks in the stock market and jolt the Indian economy.

Generally, in conspiracy theories, there is talk of a ‘Deep State.’ Here, it is all out in the open if you know where to look. The BBC, CNN, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Guardian, Observer… The BBC keeps talking about the instability and unrest in the Indian State of Kashmir. They have to keep the pot boiling. Remember that it was in a 2001 BBC interview that Yasin Malik (JKLF) had casually admitted to killing a judge, some unarmed Indian Air Force personnel, and some civilians. (Fact check – more than 13 million Indian tourists have visited the Valley till July this year, with another 3 months of the season to go. The hotels and guesthouses are full, and also the buses, cabs, and shikaras.)

After the inspiring success of ISRO’s Chandrayan 3 landing on the South face of the moon, a British news anchor patronizingly asked India to return 2.3 billion pounds in aid given between 2016 and 2021. The years cited are the giveaway. The British Foreign Office has formally acknowledged that no British aid has been given to India since 2015. The corpus relates to a joint investment fund for fighting challenges like climate change. Sadly, our news media did not directly rebut the fake news but instead spoke about reparations of $45 trillion dollars which the colonizers had looted from India. Remember that it was the BBC that played up the big lie about Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) to justify the invasion and destruction of Iraq by Anglo-American forces. Christiane Amanpour, in a CNN interview, spoke of the Indian PM in the same breath as Putin & Xi Jinping. The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post’s default setting on India is to showcase the country in a negative light. $2000 per Op-ed article is given to members of our very own Vodka Biryani brigade (you know the names) to highlight the slow death of democracy in India and the persecution of its minorities. Remember that our national Opposition leader brandished a copy of the Guardian paper with the same headlines as he spoke to a gathering at Cambridge. The Empire Strikes Back!!

NYT Mangalyaan Cartoon October 2014

The hypocrisy and double standards in peddling news is staggering. A few months back, an unarmed 17-year-old man of North African descent was killed by the police in a Paris suburb, sparking off weeks of violence in the city and across the country. Cut to BBC reporting on the banlieue (suburbs) where the migrant populace stays, “Is the violence the result of poverty and discrimination?” Not quite. “It’s a law and order problem. Gangs and petty criminals use anger over a tragic death to sow mayhem. Their problems have long been recognized by the authorities. But it will not be resolved anyway soon.” BBC Verify also talked about false posts and images about the French riots spreading online. Remember that Brexit happened with a 52%-48% leave vote majorly influenced by images of a wave of immigrants from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia swamping the country. These images were dropped by Putin’s army of social media manipulators sitting in St. Petersburg. Rest assured that the handlers from ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations Unit of the Pakistani ISI) will be extremely active in fear-mongering and spreading toxic disinformation in India in the run-up to the 2024 election. Insidious versions of Chinese whispers will also pass around.

Sticking to Britain, the extradition of fugitives Nirav Modi & Vijay Mallya will be drummed up by our Opposition bloc as a major election issue. Status – Nirav Modi – his case is said to be ‘statute barred,’ indicating further pending litigation. This after he lost his final appeal in November 2022. The latest about the ‘King of Good Times’ is that he cannot be extradited till a ‘confidential legal issue’ concerning him is resolved. When our MEA tells us that the entire extradition process is tortuous, it is exactly right. No wonder that London is the haven for financial fraudsters and oligarchs.

Recently, liberal France banned the wearing of the Islamic Abaya dress in schools. Check out the reaction from the Western media. Zilch!! Why then the uproar when the erstwhile Karnataka Government talked about standard school uniforms for all. Think about the profound disrespect shown against a Great Religion in Sweden and Denmark in recent months. Shrugged off by the Western media and channels like Fox News as mere ‘freedom of expression.’

Let’s move to Canada. Justin Trudeau openly supported the farmers’ agitation in India, which was confined to 2 States and went on for months in a heavily politicized manner. His vote bank politics led him to interfere in another sovereign country’s internal affairs. The funding for the agitation came from Khalistanis and allies in Canada, the UK, the US, and Australia. Fast Forward. How did the Canadian PM respond to the country-wide transporters’ strike in his nation relating to some Covid regulations? He went missing and underground for a week. He emerged to declare a national emergency (Fact Check – which was the party in power in India when the Khalistan crises came to a boil?).

It is an undeniable fact that the Union and State Governments in India handled the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic challenges more effectively than any advanced nation. Yet papers in the US and Europe showed photos of dead bodies at the Varanasi ghats as Covid deaths, which were being suppressed by the Indian authorities. India supplying vaccines to more than 100 countries also did not receive the media attention it deserved.

Selective Outrage. Remember that the World Health Organisation (WHO) and reputed Western virologists and bio-scientists played PR for Beijing after the Wuhan leak. China is the second-largest funder of WHO, and The Gain of Function Research which resulted in the leak has been a financial bonanza for the scientific community. Likewise, the persecution of over a million Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province of China does not raise protests from even Islamic countries. It’s not surprising that our human-rights Comrade activists are quiet.

In the 60’s & 70’s, the KGB infiltrated the top rungs of the Indian government, public service, media, university campuses, and even the Hindi film industry (The Mitrokhin Papers). If not Ideology, Vodka, Money, or a Honey Trap did the trick. Now it is Chinese money that is funding leftist media outlets, some political parties, NGOs, and social influencers. It’s distressing to hear the complete silence from the Opposition parties and this eco-system when China recently released a map claiming Arunachal Pradesh as its territory. All political parties in the Philippines joined together to lambast China’s claims to their part of the South China Sea. A joint US-Philippines naval exercise followed. It is high time that our political parties, irrespective of ideology or political compulsions, do not undermine serious matters of National Security. Remember that ahead of the 2019 election a national political leader after meeting the Chinese Ambassador claimed that the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) had occupied 2400 sq km of Indian territory. Mocking the Indian Army just to take some political potshots.

China’s remarkable growth over the last 3 decades has been propelled by the Communist Party’s absolute dictatorship and State Controlled Capitalism. No dissent is allowed. India as the world’s largest democracy has made a more gradual but definite progress. With the additional internal challenge that some elements in the political domain and media have actively worked to undermine the national interest. Today the bottom line is that India’s growing geo-political clout and economic rise do not sit well with 2 neighbors, some Western countries, and their special interest NGOs and agenda-driven Think Tanks. It is interesting to note that Harvard has received $1 billion from China over the last decade, mainly as gifts. Show me the money. Be prepared for a lot of negative flak from Ivy League intellectuals over the next 10 months.

Cartoon from German Magazine Der Spiegel

In April 2023, a cartoon in the German magazine Der Spiegel depicted an overcrowded Indian train passing a modern Chinese bullet train on a parallel track with only 2 drivers inside. The many passengers on top of the Indian train are holding the tricolor.

‘Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But they are not entitled to their own facts.’ Daniel P. Moynihan-US Senator and Ambassador to India. The stakes and criticality of the 2024 Lok Sabha election cannot be overstated. Please fact-check. Please don’t get misled. Please see through the clutter and noise. Then please cast your valuable vote. Once the dust has settled and the debris removed we will have our new Government per the mandate and will of the people.

Own Goals which have cost India dearly

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Over the last 75 years, India’s standing and development have been heavily compromised by statecraft blunders, misplaced ideology, prejudices and biases and lack of vision from our top political netas and a compliant babudom.  They have shown a flair for scoring own goals in the fields of geopolitics and national security. They have also undermined national welfare and governance in the single-minded pursuit of power at any cost. Some of our most esteemed leaders have let the nation down through short-sighted policies and actions and even more so through sheer inaction.

Let’s put the Kashmir problem in context. In 1946 Sheikh Abdullah raised the call of ‘Quit Kashmir’  to get rid of the Dogra rulers. Mr Nehru rushed to support his friend and Raja Hari Singh stopped him at the border. The Nehruvian ego cost India dearly as subsequent events proved. In July and Sept 1947, Raja Hari Singh approached the Indian leadership for accession to the Dominion of India. Nehruji declined. He wanted Sheikh Abdullah to first take charge of a provisional government and accession would come later. National interest, logic and common sense dictated that he accept Kashmir’s accession to the Indian Union, forever shut the door on any Pakistani plans and then go for the change in administration. His intransigent position still haunts us after more than 7 decades. Pakistan took advantage and invaded Kashmir occupying a large portion of it and the State became a disputed territory. The Instrument of Accession was finally signed on the 27th Oct 1947. All the tragic events which have panned out since have been a corollary to this original sin.

Worse was to come. On the 2nd Nov 1947 PM Nehru announced that the fate of Kashmir would ultimately be decided by the people through a referendum held under the auspices of the United Nations. So the Kashmir problem was internationalised by our own Prime Minister. To aggravate matters further Article 370 came into force in 1954 with the Agreement of the State Constituent Assembly- basically granting local authority to the State of J&K. Article 370 was a temporary provision with its applicability to last until the formulation of the State Constitution.  However, the State Constitution dissolved itself without recommending the abrogation or amendment of Article 370. The huge benefits of this special provision and the Union Government’s generous funding accrued to Nehruji’s dost Sheikh Abdullah’s family and the family of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Shockingly, some terrorists and separatist leaders sponsored by Pakistan enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle in the Valley with security also provided by the Indian government. Finally, on the 5th Aug 2019, the pernicious Article 370 was abrogated.

In the 1950’s, PM Nehru rejected Nepal King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah’s offer that the Himalayan kingdom become part of the Union of India (The Presidential Years- Pranab Mukherjee). The same is also detailed on the Shodhganga website. Nehruji rejected the offer on the grounds that Nepal was a free country and should remain so. The late President has commented in his book that ‘had Indira Gandhi been in Nehru’s place she would probably have seized the opportunity as she did with Sikkim.’

On the 5th of May 2018 (Karl Marx’s birthday)Mr Sitaram Yechury celebrated the merger of the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) as a transition from a once-Hindu kingdom to a Republic.  Since 2006 the Indian Comrade had become a mentor to this nation’s tryst with Communism. Cut to 2023. India faces an imperialistic China with humungous influence in Nepal. At times it does seem that our Comrade General Secretaries sit in Delhi. Their Chairman sits in Beijing.

Then there is the curious case of India being offered a permanent seat in the UN Security Council in the 1950s. In 2023, it remains one of the country’s top diplomatic objectives considering the chaotic geopolitical situation. A seat at the table should be reserved for the world’s largest democracy, the 5th biggest economy, an established nuclear and military power plus a Soft Power in its own right.  The Great Wall of China is the barrier. Even left-wing media in India have acknowledged that in August 1950 as the Cold War gained momentum, America dangled the bait for a permanent seat at the UNSC. There was more to come. Servapalli Gopal’s biography of Nehru (1979) specifically mentions that ‘he (Nehru) rejected the Soviet offer in 1954 to propose India as the sixth permanent member of the Security Council and insisted that priority be given to China’s admission to the august group.’ Please note that the historian was the son of President Radhakrishnan, a close friend of the Prime Minister. Further, a detailed exchange between Nikolai Bulganin and Nehruji on this subject is part of another Nehruvian scholar’s book- AG Noorani’s ‘Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru’ (2002).  Some Congress leaders and intellectuals have dismissed this as baseless rumours and a conspiracy theory of the BJP. The Hindi-Chini bhai-bhai bonhomie was rudely jolted by the Chinese invasion in October 1962 resulting in the loss of Aksai Chin territory in Eastern Ladakh. This humiliating loss is detailed in Brig John Dalvi’s ‘Himalayan Blunder’. The helplessness and shock displayed by the PM and his close acolyte, Defence Minister Krishna Menon. The outdated rifles of the Indian army and even the lack of warm clothing. Today, China has its eyes on Arunachal Pradesh.

In 2017, 2018, and 2019 the PM in waiting Rahul Gandhi met the Chinese Ambassador multiple times. He publicly announced that India had lost hundreds of square km to the Chinese without a fight.  Shameful!!. A disparaging remark by a national party leader for the Indian Army just to score some political points. But flashback to 1962. His grandfather had done exactly that. Foreign intelligence agencies reported that in a few clashes in recent years, the PLA had retreated with a bruised nose. The latest is that the Chinese are reinforcing their border forces with Han-Tibetan soldiers.

The Vodka Biryani brigade, which drives the ‘Aman ki Aasha’ narrative should get a reality check done. China and Pakistan are hostile neighbours. Period.  Check out what happened after the PM Atalji Vajpayee- PM Nawaz Sharif Lahore peace declaration in early 1999. KARGIL!!.

In the late 1970s, Mrs Indira Gandhi’s Congress attempted to co-opt Bhindranwale in a bid to split the Sikh votes and weaken the Akali Dal- its chief rival in Punjab. For starters, Congress supported his candidates in the 1978 SGPC election. Mr Sanjay Gandhi and Giani Zail Singh are credited with transforming an obscure preacher into a Frankenstein monster. The rest is history leading to Operation Blue Star.  Followed by the shocking assassination of PM Mrs Indira Gandhi. Then the genocide of thousands of innocent Sikhs with Congress leaders inciting the mobs and goons. Even 40 years later justice has not been done. Connect the dots to the well-orchestrated Khalistan rallies in Canada, the UK, the USA and Australia. Follow the money to the funders of the farmers’ agitation.

The implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a hotly debated topic today amidst the Amrut Mahotsav of Azaadi. Countries with large Muslim populations like Indonesia and Bangladesh have adopted the same. UCC has been practised for decades in Goa and Puducherry. Dr Ambedkar tried to reform Indian society by recommending the UCC.  It just ended up as an article of the Directive Principles stipulating that ‘the State shall endeavour to secure for the citizen a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.’ The recommendation remained a dead letter because Muslims took a hard line on their personal law. There was also a pushback from traditional Hindus who were opposed to reforms of Hindu practices like inheritance, marriage and divorce and adoption. But the next few decades did see codification and reforms of the Hindu code as also the practices of Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.

In 1985 the Shah Bano case became the litmus test for the progressive Rajiv Gandhi government. A 73-year-old woman was divorced through Triple Talaq and denied regular maintenance under Muslim Personal Law. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Shah Bano (Section 125 of All India Criminal Code) pertaining to the maintenance of wives, children and parents irrespective of religion.  The Congress Government with 400+ Lok Sabha seats capitulated to vote bank politics and appeasement. In 1986 the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights of Divorce) Act was passed making Section 125 inapplicable to Muslim women and verily overturning the Supreme Court decree. Alimony or maintenance was deemed payable only for 90 days after divorce.

In October 1993, the Vohra Committee submitted its 100-page report which has never seen the light of the day. The Home Ministry now claims that it has been misplaced. It is said to have explosive revelations of the cosy relationship between senior Maharashtra ministers and politicians, Mumbai crime branch officials and primarily the D Company of Dawood Ibrahim and some other underworld figures. The Netflix serial ‘Scoop’ tangentially refers to this in a 2011 time frame. If only the Vohra Committee report had been discussed responsibly in the public and national interest.  The needle moves to 25 years later and the sordid saga of the MVA government in Maharashtra with its Home Minister in jail, an absconding Commissioner of Police and a reinstated sub-inspector- who had easy access to both- running an extortion racket targeting bars, dance clubs and restaurants. Truth be told, the Congress playbook with its winnability formula for elections- money, muscle, caste and creed have wholly been embraced across the political spectrum including by the BJP. So we have 233 elected MPs in the current Lok Sabha with criminal charges; 65% of sitting Kerala MLAs with criminal records with 21% in ‘the serious category’; and the BJP leading with 37% criminally tainted representatives in the UP Vidhan Sabha.

It is said that a fish rots from the head down. Independent India’s first official scam was the Jeep scam. In 1948, Krishna Menon, High Commissioner to the UK bypassed protocols and ordered 2000 refurbished jeeps for military use from an unknown foreign company. A substantial amount then of Rs 80 lakhs was paid upfront.  155 jeeps were delivered but did not pass the Defence Ministry tests. PM Nehru’s patronage ensured that even judicial enquiries were dropped in 1955. In Jan 1956 Menon was inducted into the Council of Ministers and continued till he met an inglorious end as Defence Minister in the disastrous Indo-China war of 1962. Those were supposed to be idealistic and patriotic times with memories of the freedom struggle still fresh. The Scourge of corruption was unleashed and has now become synonymous with India; gnawing like termites at the vitals of the nation and hurting the poor and needy and the middle class the most.

Jaichand and Mir Jafar are not confined to our history books. In 2008, India Today presented the Youth Icon Award to the mass killer and Kashmiri terrorist Yasin Malik.  He was cheered on by the Vodka Biryani brigade in full strength. The trophy was handed over by a well-known Harvard-educated industrialist. In 2002, Malik had laughingly admitted to the killings of a Judge, some unarmed IAF personnel and some innocent bystanders in a BBC Hard Talk interview. Not surprising, what?! Consider which self-respecting government would have done absolutely nothing after the persecution and forced exodus of half a million Kashmiri Pandits from 1990 onwards. Just 2 years after 26/11 we had Digvijay Singh, Mahesh Bhatt and Zakir Naik on the stage for the release of the book- ‘26/11 an RSS conspiracy. Disgusting!!!  Several Congress and Opposition leaders were in denial after the Balakot surgical strike against Pakistan. Can’t blame them, what? It’s totally beyond their comprehension. But more seriously, this is the reason India is seen as this soft, fractious and easy to lecture to and meddle with country. Even national security matters have become political football.

The majority governments of PM Nehru, Smt Indira Gandhi and Mr Rajiv Gandhi faltered and messed up in vital areas and the side-effects are still being felt. PM Modiji in his second term and with a majority in both the Houses also does not seem to be focused on urgent structural reforms. Possibly his own BJP Parliamentarians, Legislators and Corporators are the nay-sayers who defend the toxic status quo. The Supreme Court in 2006 in a landmark judgement had directed the Centre and State Governments to bring in urgently needed police reforms on a PIL filed by a retired senior police officer. Road maps on the way forward were already in place. Zilch!! (meaning nothing.)The 33% reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies was first proposed in 1996 and was also part of the BJP election manifesto. The Sound of Silence!!! A well-thought-through election finance bill on the lines of the French model to curb black money has never been on the table.  To borrow some lines from Bob Dylan’s famous protest song- ‘The answer my friend… Blowin’ in the Wind.’

 So it seems that in 2047, 100 years since independence, India will remain a work in progress. The country may make huge strides as a major economy, in technology and defence innovation and in global geopolitics. However, in key areas which directly influence governance and the greater good we may still languish behind as a developing nation. Courtesy of the reluctance of our tall political leaders to go the whole hog in cleaning up, revamping and reinforcing the entire edifice of the country’s public institutions and support systems.

Over the last 2 decades, a galaxy of stars of Indian spirit and origin has sparkled brightly in the space of business, technology, culture and entertainment. Is this destined to be India’s century- with India leading the comity of nations?!

The Scourge of Corruption

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Photo by rupixen.com on Unsplash

My earlier blog ‘Cans of Worms’ was about the big scams and corruption scandals in India over the last 7 decades. Corruption in India has taken on a huge, toxic dimension. It takes a cruel toll on the poor and is very troubling for the middle class. It has seriously compromised our polity and public systems and is pervasive across the country.  It has eroded the quality and prospects of life for millions of Indians and aggravated the struggles of the majority populace of have-nots. The malaise has gone so deep that many good, educated citizens helplessly shrug that nothing can be done about it.

Western countries also have acute problems of corruption but it does not intrude into the day-to-day lives of their people. The venal ex-President and self–proclaimed billionaire Donald Trump has evaded paying income tax for many, many years. London is the welcoming, Go-to place for the world’s financial criminals as extradition is difficult. The serene beauty of Switzerland with the snow-capped Alps as shown in the Yash Chopra films is the picture-postcard version of it. The country’s banks have been the preferred havens for black money from all around the world. The Nazis were amongst their first customers.

Let’s hit the pot-holed roads. Their proliferation is such that the traffic has to navigate the holes to find the stretch of roads. The NCRB (National Crimes Records Bureau) finds that 5% of the deaths on Indian roads are due to pot-holes. The traffic police point to the same as the cause of long traffic jams in cities. This perennial bane can be resolved only if the roads are constructed with good materials and maintained properly. But there’s the rub. The 10% cut from the contractors to public officials and politicians has moved with inflation to 25%. The quality of roads becomes the first casualty. Poor roads or bridges or flyover construction is the fall-out. Let it be noted that one of the major reasons for China’s economic explosion was the focus on building good roads and infrastructure. Creating many, many jobs and driving economic growth.

The Public Distribution System (PDS) is supposed to cater to the food requirements of the neediest- the ration card holders. Instead, the sad reality is that the fair price shop owners sell the good quality food-grain in the open market by using fake ration cards. The BPL (Below Poverty Line) populace is often left with poor-quality residual stuff.  As it is, the system gives them access to only items like rice and wheat, ensuring that the poor continue to suffer on the nutrition front. The program also has an urban bias because the rural areas are not well connected by an efficient transport system. But surprise, surprise! Uttar Pradesh has redefined the system by becoming the first State to achieve more than 95% food distribution through a transparent biometric identification system.

Let’s look at the Minimum Wages scenario outside the States’ Shops and Establishment Act and the Central Sphere of Employees. The major chunk of daily wage workers is in the informal, unorganized sector.  The National Floor level wage for an unskilled worker is Rs 178/- per day.  Varying from State to State and Cities and towns. But it’s no secret that these poor people are at the mercy of the Agents.  Through a social worker friend of mine, I was shocked to learn that these middlemen appropriated 40% of their daily legitimate earnings if they wanted 20 days of work a month.  Also, extending work hours by a couple of hours a day is deemed normal.  Talk about ‘bonded labor’ in our cities. They remain gagged as the Principals, Agents, and public officials enjoy the spoils. Meanwhile, the law against underpayment or exploitation gathers dust within the legal tomes.

The Medical profession and the hospitals have also fallen from grace. There has been a positive side to Covid management in India but the flip side has been very disheartening. The black marketing of oxygen cylinders and drugs like Remdesivir has been reported in the media.  Less so the extortion from some in the hospital management for the availability of rooms and beds. Overbilling and prolonging patient stay is common practice at many private hospitals across the land. But a particular data shared with me by a health professional friend stunned me- 22,000 pediatric claims at government hospitals in a State for Rs 15 crs; 30,000 child care claims amounting to Rs 165 crs in the same State by private institutions. Malafide intent goes even beyond this. HPR (Health Professional Registration) by the National Health Authority has been made mandatory in several States. Many hospitals are accessing or buying or leveraging such certification as a cover for billing and conducting procedures and surgeries by less qualified or experienced professionals. So you have the case of 1 registered eye specialist deemed to be performing 300 cataract surgeries a day at different locations.  Eyeball-rolling, Really?!!  Then there is the frightening scenario of quacks endangering the lives of poor patients by donning surgical masks and gloves and wielding the scalpel. In fact, the ‘The Wealth is Health’ mantra goes back to the late 1980s. An anecdote as told to me by a colleague- his friend, a senior employee at a pharma firm had to pay Rs 1 lakh a month to the Health Secretary to secure access for his Company’s products at government hospitals.  As they became more comfortable, the babu confided that most of the money went upstairs.

Digitalization of the economy and business has had a positive impact. The Co Win App and the vaccination drive showed what the country and the governments are truly capable of. Listen to Sundar Pichai (CEO-Google) about UPI and the Covid Relief fund. “It’s remarkable. It shows up on an individual’s account immediately.” But E-Governance has not really freed the citizens from the corruption quagmire. A simple case of renewal of a driving license. One goes online, fills in the details, uploads the documents, and makes the requisite payment.  All one gets is the transaction number. So multiple rounds to the RTO with the same documents to get the job done. Then the middle-man enters and the fees are paid and hey presto! The job is done. This is where corruption spooks the average Indian. For every standard routine matter, one has to grease palms.

Let’s dekko at the judiciary and the police- 2 important pillars of the State. There is this saying, ‘the fish rots from its head.’ So we have a retired Supreme Court Judge reluctant to let go of his perks- having 20 public servants at his beck and call for many months post-retirement. From ‘Your Honour’ to ‘My Lord.’ Two more cases illustrate the rot in the judiciary. In May 2015, a Hindi film star was sentenced to 5 years in jail by the Mumbai Sessions Court in a hit-and-run case. The same night the High Court convened and suspended the sentence. The Superstar walked out with the swag of a Sultan. On the other hand, you have nearly 3 lakh under trial who have been locked up for more time than their alleged crime warrants. But the Governments and the Courts which only cater to the privileged do not initiate the process to set them free. It is a truism that in India a number of litigants pass away before their Judgement Day on Earth. A fresh infusion of 1 lakh + judges and magistrates and the fast track model can only clear the staggering pile of cases.

The police have a dismal reputation for being amongst the most corrupt organizations. This will continue till the Union and State Governments let go of their feudal hold on the police through the much-needed police reforms recommended by Shri Prakash Singh, retired IPS officer, and endorsed by the Supreme Court in 2006. So we have a reinstated police sub-inspector in Mumbai extorting crores of rupees from bars and clubs and having unfettered access to the Police Commissioner and the Home Minister.  More than 40 years back, I had heard from a senior police officer that Rs 50,000 was the price for a lucrative posting at one of the stations in the Bombay port area. This was the investment and a resourceful cop would certainly look forward to a multiple ROI. The same sleaze was again exposed by a report around a decade back. –the secretary of an MLA asking for Rs 15 lakhs for a posting to a particular police station. It was further elaborated that the asking amount would depend on the importance of the police station in their constituency and its income-generating capacity. However, it needs to be said that a critical part of the Police Reform Report says that the ground level Constable force be given more dignified living and working conditions.

Elections are high stake games with tons of black money involved.  All political parties follow the winnability quotient from the Congress playbook- Money, Muscle, Caste, Creed. So you have the BJP in UP strongly supporting their ‘Bahubali’ MLA from Unnao, Kuldeep Sengar. Accused and later thankfully convicted for the brutal rape of a 17-year-old girl and later killing of 2 of her relatives in a planned road crash. Sengar had earlier represented the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, and the Bahujan Samaj Party.  But this serious and blatant criminalization of politics and shameless horse-trading has not served as a wake-up call for any of our tall leaders.

The 2014 Lok Sabha election, according to informed sources, cost around Rs 30,000 crores.  The political coterie in India has become an exclusive, self-serving club. Hence, very few top politicians end up in jail. Some of them increase their assets by more than 1000 percent from one election to another. The Companies Act 2013 and the Electoral Bond scheme 2017 do not provide for more transparency and do not work for the greater good. The possibility of anonymous corporate, individual, or even foreign funding has increased.  Increasing the risk of public policies being framed for the funders and not the voters. A potentially scary situation.

With the budget session looming, signing off on the much-debated topic of Income tax. Only 3.2 lakh Indians declare income of more than Rs 50 lakhs annually; only 16.8 lakhs fall into the highest 30% tax bracket; only 5.83 crs IT returns were filed in FY 2022. Think about all this in the context of the 1 million SUVs sold in FY 2021; and that 30.85 lakh Indian tourists applied for visas in 2022 despite the pandemic travails. The parallel economy in India is estimated to be around 50% of the GDP. Despite DeMo and the increase in digitalization, the cash economy has grown from 10.7% of the GDP to 14.4% of the GDP to a record high of Rs 30.88 lakh crores. Easy to understand why ‘ the captive salaried class’ or the organized sector employees are fervently praying for tax relief in the budget. A recent Oxfam report has revealed that 64.3% of the GST collections have come from the bottom 50% of the population. High time for a more equitable review of both direct and consumption taxes and widening the base through lesser tax rates.

As the current Government has a clear majority in both Houses it should pass the much-needed structural reforms Acts-police reforms, revamping the judiciary, 30 % women’s representation bill, recall of corrupt representatives, and election finance laws and regulations (look at the French model). There is no hope for a Naya Bharat or a New India till this rampant corruption is controlled and minimized. Only well thought – through and transparent public policies and laws can reverse decades of neglect and indifference. The third largest global economy will not have a satisfying ring to it if India continues to feature in the highly corrupt and high inequality indices in the world order of nations.

It’s a Strange and Bizarre World

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Pedro Castillo, the Peruvian President under the legal scanner, declared a national emergency, dissolved the Congress, and anointed himself as the dictator. Half the capital’s populace came out on the streets to save democracy, the Congress convened to impeach the despot and by the night he had been arrested and jailed. Popular protests continue to dissolve the Congress and hold democratic elections.

In Germany, 25 persons were arrested in a plot to storm the Reichstag parliament, seize power and overthrow the government. The conspirators included members of the extremist Reichburger group (Citizens of the Reich) who do not believe in the legitimacy of the German State. A crackpot movement, harking back to the days of the Kaiser Emperor and then the Fuhrer, was stopped in its tracks because of good intelligence reports and the law and order machinery cracking down. This seditious group was already known for violent protests and racist and anti-Semitic attacks. A cache of 100 lethal weapons was recovered. Also uncovered were plans to execute and arrest people in the government, media and business. Those arrested included an ex-Member of Parliament, a sitting judge, a celebrity chef, and Wilhelm XIII, the ring leader, and an aristocratic real estate baron. Loony times?!! The German police estimate the committed cadres to number around 30,000.

On the 6th Jan 2021, the US Capitol was stormed by right-wing mobs fed on deranged conspiracy theories of a stolen election. The MAGA coup attempt egged on by Trump was supported by Senators and Congressmen, civil servants, and some media outlets. The evidence is all over the place. During the insurrection attempt, there were chilling chants of ‘Hang Pence’ (the VP) and ‘Where is Nancy?’ (Pelosi- the head of the Democratic-controlled House). Almost 2 years since the shameful event no top conspirator has been arrested and thrown in jail. The venal Trump is going to stand for re-election in 2024. His cult base of almost 30% white adult Americans are rooting for him. Simply put, neither the Justice Department, Congress or President Biden have the balls to indict and arrest this most dangerous of ex-Presidents. His powerful accomplices have also got away with acts of sedition, exposing an impotent legal and administrative system. MSNBC, and CNN have finally started drawing parallels with Peru’s fight for democracy and the German crackdown on the plot to oust the elected Government.  Not the normal B.S. about ‘this is not who we are as a people’ or about being the greatest and oldest democracy. Take a leaf out of the Peruvian book. Peru is not ‘the banana republic’. Get the point?!

The USA is a highly polarised nation but it is getting even crazier. Amongst Trump’s fervent supporters are the lunatic Q’ Anon who avow the belief that Trump is waging a secret war against elite Satan-worshipping pedophiles in government, business, media, and entertainment. This cult has grown to scary proportions since its origins in 2017. Also, many rabid evangelical leaders embraced and endorsed the corrupt Donald as the man to right things, especially for the white folks-abolish abortion, and LGBTQ rights and clamp down on immigration. The ‘land of the free and the brave’ also has a rigged and subverted Supreme Court- SCOTUS- which would be a disgrace in any other civilized democracy. Filled with ultra-conservative Trump appointees with lifetime tenure. So SCOTUS has turned the clock back 50 years (Roe v Wade) by declaring abortion illegal except in the rare case of rape victims. The USA has moved even ahead of Indonesia which recently declared sex outside marriage as a criminal offense.

When there is a coup plot in Deutschland (Germany) can Italy be far behind? Giorgia Meloni, the PM is inspired by Mussolini and heads a far-right government. The fascist II Duce (the leader) still has his fan base in Italy. Definitely not good news in 2023 for gay rights, abortion laws, and especially for minorities and immigrants.

We have heard a lot of sermons from the European Union Headquarters in Brussels on democratic values, human rights, freedom of speech… Now the Qatar corruption scandal has blown open the sleaze at the Brussels Institution. A  Vice President at the EU along with a few others have been arrested for alleged illicit lobbying for Qatar, money laundering, and for a soft stance in the run-up to the World Cup. Euros 1,50,000 were found in cash at the VP’s apartment and her PR for Qatar in the lead-up to the World Cup and other issues are trending on social media and news channels. The hypocrisy is deafening.

The controversial allotment of the ongoing World Cup to Qatar happened in 2010. The sordid story is well documented in ‘FIFA Uncovered’ on Netflix. This premier sports body is again managed and controlled by major European countries. The scale of greed and manipulation is staggering. Now that the tournament is well on its way, the deaths of thousands of migrant workers whilst constructing the grand stadiums and infrastructure facilities will be reduced to a mere statistic. The appalling living and working conditions will all be forgotten.

The Russia-Ukraine war takes us back to the tense decades of the Cold War. NATO’s reach-out to countries like Ukraine and Finland which border Russia has had Tsar Putin fuming. After all, he was a mid-level KGB operative in East Berlin when the Wall fell in 1989 leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union. If this totally unnecessary war continues Ukraine will be reduced to rubble as is the case with the unfortunate Syria and Yemen.  It’s the 70-year-old geopolitics of brinkmanship being played out again and again. No mature diplomacy or well-thought-out response from both sides. The world is certainly not a better place in 2022.

After 2 years of the Covid pandemic seriously undermining the world economy, Putin’s switching off the Nord Stream gas to Europe has ushered in a fresh crisis. A cold winter, double–digit inflation, and looming recession and unemployment.

It’s been 3 years since the outbreak of the Wuhan virus in China through a lab leak. The independent figure of the pandemic mortalities is over 6 million globally, with the World Health Organisation finally admitting to 3 million deaths. Remember – the Secretary General of WHO played PR for China and played down their negligence in the spread of the deadly virus which then mutated into other forms. Recently scientists and researchers from the USA and Europe have admitted to the leak from the Wuhan lab where a ‘Gain of Function’ research was on without adequate safety and security measures. Briefly, the virologists control the ‘serial passaging of micro-organisms to increase their transmissibility, virulence, immunogenicity and host tropism by applying selective pressure to a culture.’ Both the USA and China have conducted these experiments for bio-chemical warfare also. A top US epidemiologist who worked closely with the Wuhan lab for 2 years has recently spoken out that ‘what he saw at the lab terrified him.’ Many US & European scientists have been part of the cover-up as they benefitted from the huge grants in this space- ‘Gain of Function research.’ The close association of some US institutions and private firms with the Wuhan lab is now being exposed.   At least an apology from China, WHO, USA, and the top researchers in the know, if no reparations- wishful thinking, what?! The double standards and sheer sense of entitlement are shocking. The Dragon nation is now facing a resurgence of Covid and a record-high number of cases. Leading to Zero Covid lockdowns and unprecedented public protests. The Chinese vaccines are not effective and the wheel has come full circle.

Anti-hijab protests started in Iran more than 4 months back after the tragic death of a young woman in the custody of the moral police. After more than 450 deaths, 2 public executions and thousands of arrests by a brutal, repressive regime, the young and the women agitators remain unbowed. Shockingly, women have been shot in the face and genitals by pellet guns. The movement has now morphed into a resounding call for democracy, equal rights, and a modern State. Yet another nation where the rulers have turned the clock back to 1979-80 instead of progressing forward.

Now, a take on our erstwhile colonial master, the United Kingdom.  The Brexit vote in 2016 was a narrow one- 51.8% to 48.2%. Russian hackers swayed the ‘Aye’ voters through images of hordes of brown and black immigrants. The pitch for regaining British sovereignty was a pure hallucination. Within 3 years the volume of British Trade with the EU has slumped by almost 20% and it has had an adverse impact on the labor market in the UK.  It’s just a matter of time before foreign investment takes a hit as also the pivotal position of London as a financial capital. As of now, London is the most attractive refuge destination for financial scamsters from across the world.  You see the extradition process is tedious and difficult as in the case of Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi.  The country is facing a bleak winter further aggravated by strikes by nurses, rail employees, and many unions. And lest we forget, in the last 5 years there have been 4 Prime Ministers at 10 Downing Street, all from the Conservative Party. Not becoming of a civilized, mature, functioning democracy, is it?!

The West has long patronized and dominated the ‘Third World countries. They have created a lot of hotspots and war zones through their manipulative geo-political games. They have exploited natural and human resources for their own gain subverted emerging democracies and installed puppet rulers. But their hollow preaching and high moral ground stands have gone unopposed and unquestioned for decades. Not anymore. There are many developing nations asserting themselves in a multi-polar world and many voices cutting through these hypocritical posturing. Social media is also exposing the rot with real reporting from the ground. It’s time to reset the equation with the so-called First World. Peru’s tryst with democracy is showing the mirror to the United States of America.  The island country of Mauritius not only boasts of a growing economy but has a high literacy rate of over 90%, a life expectancy of 75 years, provides free health care and schooling, and is a beautiful and safe African country to visit. Brazil is a leader and the largest job creator in renewable energy and one of the most respected experts on climate change on the global stage. India’s leadership is being accepted globally not only as the 5th largest economy and a soft power to reckon with but as a responsible military power, especially with hostile neighbors in China and Pakistan. A multi-polar world does not necessarily mean a more peaceful and collaborative world.  But it does open up an opportunity by dismantling the old order and having more seats at the global geopolitical table.

The Sinister Art of Covert Warfare

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John Adams, the second US President, had prophetically said, “The two ways to conquer and enslave a country is by the sword, the other way through debt.”

The USA, the undisputed super-power after WW2, suffered humiliating military defeats in Vietnam and Afghanistan after many years of occupation. But for decades their geo-political strategy, as supposed leaders of the Free World, was to install puppet rulers to do their bidding. They rolled out 800+ military bases across the globe in a show of sheer power. US controlled institutions like the IMF and the World Bank doled out loans to the developing and poor countries. As they got sucked into the quicksand of debt, the Americans took over their natural resources and cheap labour. Arms sales further pushed these nations into US subservience. Colonization- without the burden of actual occupation.  Please read ‘The Confessions of an Economic Hitman’ by John Perkins to get the real picture.

Xi Jinping, the Chinese strongman, has delusions of being the Emperor of China. In 2013, ‘The One Belt One Road’ (now Belt & Road) initiative was launched with grand fanfare. To supposedly promote trade, commerce and development in partnership with over 100 countries across the world. What happened? The $ 300 million power plant in Tajikistan has made the country a China vassal state. Default has led to take-over of the gold and silver mines. A debt-ridden Angola is now supplying cheap oil to its benefactor. The Hambantota port in Sri Lanka is’ a white elephant’, adding no value to the local economy. The corrupt ‘Gotta Go’ Rajapaksa family perfectly fits into the profile of leaders the Chinese government wants to deal with. The Chinese research vessel which docked at the port for a few days is a naval warship used to track down satellites and missiles. China has already established a naval facility at Djibouti on the Horn of Africa. It’s said that the Sri Lankans are reeling under a $12 billion debt from China.  In fact much more. The Chinese banks, monitored by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) have also loaned big.

Pakistan has become a willing pawn to the Dragon’s scheme of things. Govt to Govt debt of $ 26 billion has made it a basket case. The majestic African Union (AU) headquarters in Ethiopia has been built by Chinese loan money, Chinese contractors and workers and even their food sent over from mainland China. As the African countries cope with the debt, the Chinese have already cashed in. Also Huawei cameras have been installed to spy on their African brethren leaders.

The factory to the world plans to rule the world.  Markets + Natural Resources + humongous geo-political influence. Many of these countries are being coerced to vote for & support China on critical issues like Taiwan and human atrocities in the Xin Jiang province.

Vladimir Putin was a middle level KGB operative in East Berlin when the Berlin wall fell in 1989. Followed by the collapse of the Soviet Union. This trauma has dictated his world view and it helps that millions of Russians think the same. The Ukraine invasion was triggered by the NATO overreach. But control and supply of oil and gas to Europe is what the news headlines are now all about. Europe and especially Germany are in for a harsh and long winter. Putin has turned off the Nord Stream gas pipeline. The Continent is now reeling with the heat-wave and high inflation and is bracing for the inevitable recession. If you add the fact that Russia and Ukraine are amongst the world’s major wheat exporters, the consequences are even more alarming.

Trump has always been Putin’s puppet. The Tsar probably has the dirt on him-peeing on the bed occupied by President Obama during his Moscow visit or doing something more in keeping with the Donald’s playboy image. Russian oligarchs also got together to secretly bail out the distressed Trump Org through a major European Bank. Likewise, the Saudis sent $2billion to Jared Kushner’s (Trump son-in-law) dwindling account to control the fall-out of the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi reportedly at the behest of MBS.

The army of hackers in St Petersburg have attained cult status. They delivered Brexit to Putin with the Ayes at 51.9%. Social media was flooded with images of hordes of immigrants from the Middle East & Asia. In 2016, the same ploy had helped to get Trump into the White House. Only, then the hordes were from Mexico and South America. Indian economic institutions, corporates and infrastructure utilities are major targets of hacking, mainly from China and North Korea. A hack attempt on JNPT port was thwarted a few months ago. Imagine if the ATC (Air Traffic Control) of a major airport like Dubai or Heathrow is hacked- with flights grounded for days the financial losses will be huge. A few years’ back 60 trusts of UK’s NHS (National Health Service) bore the brunt of a cyber- attack with ransomware demands. 20% of the UK Health Service was crippled. It has still not been established whether the Russian State or a criminal group from the US were behind the attacks.

In this age of frenzied social media, misinformation by hostile powers is the name of the game.  Take for example the controlled propaganda narrative about the prolonged Farmers’ Agitation in India. Public protests and rallies are an integral part of any democracy. Yes, the genuine grievances of the farmer community deserves to be heard and addressed with sensitivity and respect.  But it soon became obvious that a very grim picture was being created, hyped and funded by controllers in Canada, USA and UK. As if the entire country had come to a stand-still. The underlying objective was to create chaos and malign and embarrass the Government of the day. Even PM Trudeau jumped on to the bandwagon to satisfy a segment of his vote-base as did some western celebrities for the lure of Mammon. But Karma hit back. The transporters strike in Canada against some Covid-19 regulations saw Trudeau hiding from the public eye for days and then emerging to declare a national emergency. Hence, spreading toxicity, stoking social unrest and fanning law and order problems is the subversive agenda of such ‘warriors.’

The proxy war through radicalised terrorists has been going on for more than 30 years. Major outfits like the Ku Klux Klan (now morphed into Proud Boys), Red Army, Black September, ISIS, Boko Haram have done their work and spread their message . Young men, brainwashed on-line, are now weaponizing motor vehicles to kill and maim and to spread terror as they did in London and Spain in 2017. Interestingly, after 9/11 an unknown assailant sent weaponised anthrax through US mail in an unsuccessful attempt to kill members of the US Congress. Disruption, fear, instability and more free lancers recruitment ensues.

Insidious infiltration of the political parties, journalists and academia has been the game-plan of the CIA & KGB from the 1950’s onwards. ‘The Mitrokhin Papers’ (KGB archivist who fled to the UK) reveals how top Indian leaders and bureaucrats were compromised by the KGB in the 60’s. The Comrade ideology was soon embraced by journalists, writers, poets, professors and even some in the film industry. Vodka, honey-traps and money did the trick where Ideology did not deliver. Now the Chinese are up to the same tricks. Besides India, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Eastern Europe and South America are on their radar. In India, we have heard some netas screaming that the People’s Liberation Army has occupied over 2500 square km of Indian land over the last 2 years. Debunked by international intelligence agencies of standing and repute. The Lab leak of the Wuhan virus and gross negligence by China has been downplayed by some of our top TV channels and newspapers. Moreover some human rights activists and NGO’s have kept eerily silent on the brutal pogrom run by the CCP against the 1 million Uyghur Muslims in the Xin Jiang province of China. Surely, the Comrade-rie is growing.

The Wuhan Lab leak happened when a ‘Gain of Function’ research was on.” This refers ‘to serial passaging of micro-organisms to increase their transmissibility, virulence, immunogenicity and host tropins by applying selective pressure to the culture.’’ A Red Flag alert to the scary scenario of bio-chemical warfare. The USA sprayed Agent Orange and napalm bombed Vietnam with brutality. They weaponised and stockpiled 7 bio-agents by the time they shamefully exited Vietnam. Saddam Hussein’s stockpile of chemical weapons was unleashed on the Kurds and during the Iraq-Iran war. Russia used Novichock nerve agents to murder political opponents in Salisbury, England in 2018.

The other intriguing facet enabling the Art of the unconventional power-scramble is the undermining of independent international institutions. The IMF & the World Bank were run by the US for decades. The WHO played tango with China to cover-up the country’s responsibility in the origin and spread of the pandemic which cruelly enveloped the world for 2 years. The UN and the Security Council are clearly impotent in dealing with tragic crises like Yemen, Syria or the Ukraine war. This has led to an unstable and untrusted world order. India as the largest democracy, the most populated nation and the 5th biggest economy in the world does not have a seat as a Permanent Member of the Security Council. This tells the whole story of the power struggles in the elite, self-serving club and the overwhelming desire for control.

Conventional war-fare is no longer the preferred option for the big powers. If wealthy Europe can be brought to its knees by shutting down the Nord Stream gas line, why not?! Hacking and disrupting the Pentagon or a financial powerhouse sends an incredibly strong message. A much wanted terrorist in Kabul can be taken out by a drone attack. Planted news articles and relentless social media propaganda can diminish a country, manoeuvre an election there or even topple a legitimate government. Sinister disinformation and conspiracy theories can lead to riots and even civil wars. The Remote, covert way of warfare is now the espoused strategy by both States and fanatical groups. The world may not be on the brink of WW3 despite all the noise and posturing but the world is certainly a very troubled and uncertain place.

Why our high profile Investigations usually wind up nowhere?

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The scourge of corruption and the unaccountability of the political class and their complicit bureaucrats have seriously undermined India’s well-being and development. Good, transparent and fair governance has never been front and centre. In our country the rich and the connected are above the law.

Let’s start with the sensational potboilers playing out in Mumbai for the last 2 years and more. The unexplained death of film actor Sushant Singh Rajput (SSR) which the city police immediately dismissed as a suicide. This tragic event was preceded 3 days earlier by another mysterious death of Disha Salian, one time manager of SSR. Passed off as another suicide. Accompanied by a curious, affirmative chorus from a section of the media, some film people and some politicos. Both the cases were closed in the first week itself by the Mumbai police, supported by botched up post mortems at a convenient hospital. The entire approach seemed casually pre-determined. The professional Mumbai police of yesteryears under Julio Ribeiro would not have contaminated the possible crime- scenes. Once evidence surfaced of a possible link between the 2 suspicious deaths, the detectives should have been smacking their lips. Instead, a narco-racket connection, missing hard-drive from SSR’s systems and trails leading to the film industry and the corridors of power were ignored and buried. Thanks to massive outrage on social media the CBI and NCB were brought into the picture and raised hopes of a thorough investigation. Over the last 18 months there have been political theatrics and lots of planted news but justice has not been served. The Central Agencies have flattered to deceive. Why the inordinate silence. ?! At least let the final official version come out.

The other matter is equally sensational and has many strands. The “Vasooligate” or extortion scandal masterminded by some politicians and their police lackeys. Collecting monthly money from dance clubs, bars, restaurants et al. Shades of the protection money or hafta collected by the goons of the underworld. The Home Minister had to resign, a big wicket to fall. That’s all. The Sarkar’s hand-picked Commissioner of Police ended up on the wrong side of this venal churning and disappeared for more than 220 days. What were the State Police and the Central Agencies doing??!! An absolute disgrace. A re-instated sub-inspector goon presumably ran the racket at the behest of the powers that be and went around with a note counting machine. Was the administration sleeping?! Amidst all this a dead body was found floating near a creek. Quickly pronounced as another suicide by the local police authorities. However, in this case the charade could not be kept up and Murder it was. Another link to this curious plot was the planting of explosive devices outside the residence of India’s richest man, Mr Mukesh Ambani.  Central Agencies like the CBI and NIA joined the fray with the Mumbai CID and Police going great guns. With so much time, energy and resource invested what has been the outcome so far. Another never-ending saga. Till the next episode. For public memory is short.

This leads to 3 assumptions. First, that the police are under the control of their political masters and will not rock the boat. The colonial police of the British Raj has evolved into the “Feudal” force of present times. All political parties are one on this matter. Ironically, if given a free hand the cops will not cop-out but can solve difficult cases like the Nirbhaya rape and murder.

The investigating agencies have not been provided with the professional know-how and infrastructure to crack today’s crimes. Forensic training, social data recovery, tracking cyber-hacking footprints and money-laundering trails and sharing of inputs between different agencies.  In the much publicised “Aarushi” murder case incompetent police and forensic work has led to the question of whether the conviction of the Talwars was a miscarriage of justice.

Last but not least is to whether there is a quiet understanding between the political parties to have each other’s backs if a big scandal erupts. A few pawns will have to be sacrificed but that’s the political chess-board, isn’t it. The long-hands of the law rarely grasp the necks of the biggie politicians, business and media tycoons and stars and celebrities.

Please draw your own conclusions. Are these raids or arrests – witch-hunts or political or personal vendetta? Or just to gain political capital from a gullible populace and garner votes during elections. For many of these arrests and allegations are made just before election season kicks off? Or to deflect and distract public attention from some sordid goings on in their own camp? Here, a word of caution. In all fairness, such fraud or crime issues should not be kept simmering indefinitely. The Government of the day (the BJP led government now or the State governments) should give it a closure if there be no conclusive evidence. It should not be raked up again for a hit job during the next election season. As the Bard said, “a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

The unearthing of the Rs 270 crs cache of black money from the residence of a perfume baron in UP coincides with the upcoming UP election. Probably, these monies were to fund rallies and campaigns; to buy and swing votes for some political party in the State polls. With some part of the country always in election mode, such news snippets give a sense that the anti- black money mission is very effective. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Despite De-Monetisation, unaccounted cash continues to grow and thrive.  This dark side of our election story harks back many decades. The Nagarvala case of 1971. Supposedly a RAW agent gone rogue. The Rs 60 lakhs of unaccounted cash was kept in suitcases at a leading nationalised bank branch and handed over to this mystery man on the basis of a purported phone call from the PMO office. He was nabbed the next day, confessed and sentenced within 2 days, to a 4 years imprisonment and died in prison a few months later. One of the speculations was that this was KGB sponsored election funds. The Agency had infiltrated the highest levels of our Government per the Mitrokhin documents.  Today’s Chinese whispers are that Chinese money is propping up some of our political outfits, media houses and activists. A serious national security issue. Indian intelligence agencies will be on high alert.

Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi are our poster-boys of financial crimes. The two have duped our PSU banks of thousands of crores and are financial fugitives in London.  Their passports could have been impounded as evidence of their scams had already surfaced. That the King of Good Times attended a Rajya Sabha session on the 1st March 2016 before fleeing the next day is telling. Coincidentally, it was on the 2nd March 2016 that a cluster of PSU banks moved the Debt Recovery Tribunal against Mallya. The diamond merchant escaped from the country on the 1st Jan 2018. On the 29th Jan 2018, the PNB filed a case with the CBI against Modi. Is it just sloppiness on display here or is there more to it? The Panama papers were released in 2016 with the names of 930 Indians or entities parking their monies in off-shore accounts in tax havens. The Pandora papers of 2021 exposed the names of 300 Indian businessmen and celebrities with such accounts. These reports are the work of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICICJ) and many European countries have taken serious note and action. Other than a few snippets here and there like the actress Aishwarya Rai being called for questioning, there does not seem to be much headway. It needs to be said that some of these off-shore accounts may have been disclosed and legitimate. Official statements to such effect must also be released.

Over the last 70+ years Independent India has seen thousands of public frauds, corruption scandals, corporate favouritism cases, and ties with the underworld. But the administrative will to go after the big-wig culprits has simply not been there. Yes in the late 50’s Mundhra went to jail in the LIC scam as did Big Bull Harshad Mehta in the stocks-scam of the 1990’s. But the exception proves the rule. The defence procurement scams of HDW submarine, Bofors and Augusta Westland have never been laid to rest. The middle-men have been outed and named (foreign nationals) but the investigators have lacked the balls or the skills to connect them with senior political figures or bureaucrats. Mr VP Singh, our Mr Clean PM, used them to win an election, period. The leaked Nira Radia tapes not only brought to light the corporate lobbying interface with the Union Ministers. It also hinted at how coalition political partners were vying for lucrative ministerial berths and how influential media persons were facilitating the same. The Saradha Chit fund Ponzi scam claimed a couple of MLA’s in Bengal and the file was closed. Coming to the present, is it so difficult to establish whether in the Rafale fighter aircraft deal kickbacks of 7.5 million euros were paid in secret commission to a middleman to seal the deal (alleged by a French investigative journal in 2021). Although, the Supreme Court has already ruled on the matter in 2019.

Some may pertinently point out that Bihar’s CM Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav went to jail in the fodder scam.  Sure. His wife, Smt Rabri Devi became the interim CM.  Madam Jayalalitha also spent time in jail in a disproportionate assets case, but her life is celebrated in a recent film drama called “Thalaivi” or Revolutionary leader. Sahara Shree Subroto Roy is in the Tihar jail. But he is frequently out on parole and by all accounts having a cushy arrangement in the prison quarters also. The Sahara group long innings was enabled by political patronage. Mr Ramalinga Raju spent only 35 months behind bars for the Satyam Corporate scam which shook the Indian business world at that time. Not even a slap on the wrist. Film star Sanjay Dutt was jailed for illegal possession of weapons but was out on parole for a large chunk of his sentence time. And then there was the film, “Sanju” and director Raj Kumar Hirani doing a great white-wash job on his buddy’s  very dubious connections. 

The NCB raids especially on Bollywood stars have attracted a lot of media attention.  Drug peddlers have been nabbed and there have been drug seizures across the country. Some film stars have been grilled eliciting excited reactions on social media. The spotlight on drug trafficking and the film world is welcome. These celebrities are role models to millions of youngsters and their being held accountable is a good thing. So is the counselling of some of the young stars and star scions. But here again are we missing the forest for the trees. Drugs are the main source of income for the underworld and the Pakistani establishment and terror outfits in the region use it to fund terrorism.  It finally boils down to a national security issue. No political party or law and order machinery can compromise on this.  Also, what of the 3000 kgs of heroin worth Rs 20,000 crores seized at Adani port in Oct 2021. The Director of Revenue Intelligence and the National Intelligence Agency are seized of the matter. But will we know more about the origins and the kingpins or will it just remain one of the largest drug seizures in the world?

This leads me to another headline grabber- the incarceration of businessman Raj Kundra for 60 days around Sept 2021. He was arrested by the Mumbai police in connection with an adult film racket. Released on a surety of a paltry Rs 50,000. Was this yet another case of Much Ado About Nothing; or was it the Maharashtra Sarkar trying to deflect attention from the “Vasooligate” crises; or with the accused being the husband of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty was it signalling that it was not being soft on the film industry. Perhaps the Mumbai police was trying to reclaim its lost glory. Else, did this exemplify another case-study of poor diligence and follow-up in building up a convincing case? An aside. Raj Kundra is a joint-owner of the Rajasthan Royals franchise which was banned from the IPL tournament for 2 years on match fixing charges.

Take the case of match-fixing in Indian cricket. Would the truth have ever come out had not South African captain Hansie Cronje admitted and confessed to South Africa’s King Commission in 2000 that he had fixed matches for money and had been first introduced in 1996 by Azharuddin, the India captain, to a bookie. Granted that the Delhi police had shared the initial findings with the South African Cricket Board in March 2000. A side-note is that a PR movie called “Azhar” was made to clean the slate and he became the Congress MP from Moradabad and now is a senior functionary in the Telangana Congress. Then the IPL match fixing and spot fixing scandal saw CSK and RR being banned for 2 years from the tournament.  Sreesanth being the only well- known cricketer to take the rap. Why the top promoters, administrators and players got away is not really a mystery. Incidentally, the film on MS Dhoni makes no mention of this sordid saga.

The toxic effect of unbridled corruption and power on our society is there for all to see. The black-money economy has become a large, parallel and unregulated sector with all its corrosive impact. But it is the top-down trickle syndrome which has earned us the stigma of a highly corrupt nation. People in all walks of life are now emboldened to be corrupt and not only for financial gain. Integrity has lost its value and currency. The real brunt is being felt by the poor and the middle-class. Think of the labourer whose 50% wages is siphoned off on a daily basis by the contractor through his agent. The Government proclaims that a lot of government transactions and document related work can be completed on-line. Things have improved in certain areas like passport issuance and renewal. Otherwise, the ground reality is that one has to download forms and submit the documents physically. If one wants prompt results, enter the agent. You know what this means. This palm greasing for every little thing is what earns us the honors on global corruption indexes. The heroism of front-line health workers, policemen and sanitary workers and many common folk are being justly applauded in these Covid hit times. But one cannot turn a blind-eye to the huge profiteering during the pandemic. Whether it being availability of the Remdesivir drug or the scarcity of oxygen or hospital beds. Covid 19 has shown us both the good and bad sides of who we are as a people. The Aam Aadmi has just given up or become indifferent to this plague of corruption.

What is also worrying is that even educated people tend to shrug off this unsavoury aspect of life. As if it was just another tax to pay as a common citizen. Even more worrying is that many of them tend to look at corruption through the prism of community, State or ideology. Underhand dealings are ok if done by a leader from ones’s own community, State or preferred political party. Some of these charlatans are feted as Chanakyas- Masters of the political chess-board.

The pandemic of corruption is rampant throughout India and has hollowed us out as a nation. Is it better or worse in a certain area or region or government is a relative concept. The misdeeds of the present Union Government will also be exposed after a few years. After all, they have adopted the same old playbook. Then the skeletons will be out of the closet and will dance to the tunes of the new regime in place.

One of the lowest points of the current dispensation has been the handling of the 2017 Unnao rape and subsequent murder cases. The BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar continued to get the support of his party till the shit hit the ceiling. The 17 year old rape victim tried to immolate herself in front of the CM’s residence and the media and activists thankfully jumped in from thereon.  Amidst the uproar, the Supreme Court and the CBI had to step in to send this so called local bahubali to life imprisonment in 2019.

One of the ways to break this insidious status quo is the tabling of the Vohra Committee report in its entirety in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for an intensive debate. It should also be made available for public scrutiny and consumption. Submitted in Oct 1993, it is deemed to be an expose of the links between the Mumbai underworld and top politicians and officials at the State and Central governments. Only 7 or 8 pages have been briefly discussed in some Parliamentary Committee and the 100+ page exhaustive dossier has apparently gone missing. Why??? By Whom??? The PIL matter is pending with the Supreme Court.

Police reforms will be the game-changer. A litmus test for the Central Government. Incredibly, the Police Act of 1861 is still in place. The landmark SC ruling of 2006 with its 7 crucial directives for implementation has been gathering dust for many years. A law-oriented, fair, impartial and apolitical police force is a hallmark of a mature and progressive nation. But an anathema to the powers that be. This vital force has to be ramped up by half a million personnel; their abysmal working conditions and below- par salary structure requires significant improvement; with modern equipment and training enhancing their effectiveness and public perception. But considering the general disenchantment with the police, it will make sense to expand the Community-Policing initiative. To foster engagement and trust between the people and the police in an area. The other side of the same coin is to invest in, to overhaul and build a robust judicial system. Most administrations have been very miserly on their judicial related budgets.

Our Netas and their Enablers are averse to any change and they rejoice in the general public apathy. As a people we are quite indifferent to reform although we will benefit the most from it. Change for the common good has to be forced into the system. Constant pressure has to be built up and applied on the powers that be. Social media now provides a vast and instant connect and it’s for the citizens and especially the younger, aspirational generation to put the writing on the wall.

First World Hypocrisy

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Photo by Tristan Sparks on https://www.flickr.com/photos/friendly-fire/252169955/

The First World refers to the USA and its Western Allies opposed to the Soviet Union after WW2. Nations characterised by democracy, prosperity, stability and progress. Over the last 7 decades this bloc has called the shots and controlled the narrative. Developing and Third World countries like India have tacitly accepted their superiority, condescending attitude and sermons without question. As an emerging power now, it is high time we shed our colonial mind-set and see the world in starkly real terms.

The game-changing ideas and policies, innovations and inventions from these western countries are richly acknowledged and warmly celebrated. But it is time to show the mirror to capture the less known darker side also. This blog has been triggered by the American debacle in Afghanistan. Recommend that you please take it with A Fistful of Salt.

Geopolitics. Think about the chaotic retreat of the US from Afghanistan after 20 years of occupation. Leaving almost 40 million Afghans (half of them female) to the mercy of a cruel and regressive regime which harks back to the medieval ages. Leaving a huge cache of deadly weapons and armaments for their ready use. Ironically, the Taliban was created by the US and their partner Pakistan to oust the Soviet troops from Afghanistan. Mission accomplished in 1989. The land of the free and the brave sponsoring and promoting a terror outfit.  The monster comes back to drive them out in 2021. During these 20 years almost $3 trillion was spent with only a miniscule going to build hospitals, schools and much needed infrastructure.  Funds were splurged on state of the art weaponry and equipment- cheered on by the domestic military-industrial complex.  With generous cutbacks going to the defence contractors and their political patrons.

This super-power also exited Vietnam in ignominy in 1974. After dropping more bombs on Vietnam and Cambodia than in the entire second world war. Napalm was deployed to execute the scorched earth policy. Rivers were poisoned to kill civilians and livestock.  History is generally written by the winners. Here the loser cleverly covered up all the war crimes and misadventures.

Turn the clock back to the late 1930’s when Hitler’s Nazis started the most devastating war in human history-WW II. Italy, Spain played willing accomplices and second fiddle to the Fuhrer. Those long, dark, destructive days and the brutal genocide of 6 million Jews have been well documented. The War ended with the Americans dropping atomic bombs- Little Boy and Fat Man- on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.

All the hotspots in recent times have had the signature of the US and its Allies. That there were no WMD’s (Weapons of Mass Destruction) did not deter the old firm of Bush & Blair from toppling Saddam in Iraq with their eyes on the oil-fields.  Syria, Lebanon, Libya and the cursed land of Yemen- the tentacles go back to this Western bloc.  This is not to absolve Russia and the regional powers like Saudi Arabia and Iran who are equally complicit. But the First World nations have left these countries to a worse state and fate than when they first invaded. The geo-political chessboard has been played for ideology, hegemony, natural resources, trade routes and military bases. The Iron Curtain fell in 1989 but today the world is still a very divided and troubled place. The First World has not been the civilising influence it credits itself to be.

Colonial powers. UK, France, Spain, Portugal with vassal states across the world. The dream of an Empire has been a recurrent human theme throughout history. But the driving force was to exploit natural resources and wealth and cheap labour in the colonies and boast of a global footprint. “The Sun never sets on the British Empire.’ The plundering of minerals and crops, cruelty towards the native population and determined efforts to uproot local cultures and traditions are not even foot notes in the history books we read. It has all been white-washed.

Slave trade epitomises how the US, UK and other European empires manned their farms and mines and mansions. Even today statues of glorified and knighted slave merchants dot the United Kingdom. Some of the founding fathers of the US of A owned hundreds of slaves. Slaves were officially traded as cargo and even insured. Claims were paid for the goods lost at sea.  But the colonisers with their rich history are quick to lecture other nations on human rights. Smells of hypocrisy, right!!

Let’s turn back the page to August 1947 and the India-Pakistan independence story. PM Attlee announced in the House of Commons that the transfer of power would happen before June 1948. But Lord Mountbatten, wanted to have it done asap. The 3323 km border line was drawn by Radcliffe, a British lawyer, who had never been to the sub-continent and had no clue about the demography. The mammoth and complex task was completed by him and his team within 2 months in the cool environs of Shimla. IMAGINE!!! It does not take hindsight to see that the additional months would have been very valuable in communicating and planning for the inevitable cross-migration of 12-15 million people. Instead a million died in the panic and violence that erupted. The last Viceroy couldn’t care less. Nor did his political masters at the Whitehall.

The USA is deeply polarised country today. The Trump fan base of 30% voters are largely an alienated tribe who are at odds with their increasingly multicultural land. The main reason why the Brexiteers won was because Russian social media manipulators scared enough of the populace through images of immigrants flooding into their nation, from the hotspots of the Middle East, Africa and Asia.  France, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands (the cradle of liberalism) are sounding the bugle of a clash of civilisations and enacting restrictive laws and social measures. But all these happenings have not been a wake-up call for India and other developing nations . We continue with our mongrel behaviour of constantly putting ourselves down and lapping whatever criticism these elite western nations and their proxies throw at us.

The beacons of democracy. On the 6th Jan 2021 the US Capitol was attacked by an angry, vicious mob goaded on by President Trump who had lost the election and could not take it. This would have been sneered at as” a banana republic episode” in a third world country. But in the US of A the TV pundits kept sagely saying that ‘this is not who we are’ and the Trumpians even dismissed the rampaging crowd as tourists at the Capitol. The Caribbean island of Puerto Rico has been a territory of the United States since 1898 and its current President is Joe Biden. But Puerto Ricans remain second class citizens and have no representation and voting rights in the US Congress.  Again, with the most funded and militarised police force in the world in place, automatic guns are available and sold over-the –counter across the nation as a fundamental right to defend oneself.

Across continents, the patronising First World has propped up and supported despots, brutal dictators and puppet rulers. From the Shah of Iran, Libya’s Gaddafi, the Pakistani Generals, Marcos of the Philippines and so on and on. Else, a coup was orchestrated as the one to remove Allende in Chile. The UK grappled with the Irish problem for 70 years. For nearly 25 of those it was a violent cauldron of bomb attacks and guerrilla warfare- ruthlessly dealt with by the British forces. But hey, shrug, shrug. This was an internal matter of the United Kingdom and the English could deal with it.

The fault-lines of racism are now very evident in the fractured societies of the US and Europe. But these have been glossed over for decades as the developing world has been lectured on how to be civilised people. The lid has always been kept on the rape and murder of thousands of indigenous people in Canada. But now corpses of hundreds of native children have been recovered from many Catholic school sites. How many news channels carried this tragic story which played over from the 1890’s to the late 1970’s?!! PM Trudeau merely called for the Pope to apologise. Of course, the State had no role to play. News reports from France state that more than 300000 children have been abused over the last few decades by priests of the Catholic Church. The powerful Church protected its clergy from the law and order arms of the State. On the other side of the world in Australia the aborigines got a taste of hell in their own land as the white settlers discovered their paradise.

Yes, the Industrial Revolution took off in England and the technological one in the Silicon Valley. The world has benefitted in many, many ways. But not in the humane way. Many big brands in the west sourced their material and parts through sweat shops in the poorer countries.  Cheap and exploitative labour was the way to big profit margins.  Why, even in North America today, Amazon runs boot-camps with the workers having little time to pee. “Show me the Money,”  is the corporate war cry. As a whistleblower has recently revealed, Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook allowed disturbing messages and images to trend on their platforms as it made them astronomical profits. So what, if it inflamed some racial hatred and divisions or drove more suicides or even put democracy at risk. A lot of good has been done by the charitable Gates foundation. But the halo of the ultimate billionaire do-gooder has paled off. Bill Gates batted to protect the turf of big pharma at the height of Covid. Disparaging suggestions for low-cost generic vaccines to help the world battling the pandemic. And his curious association with the late sex trafficker and power broker Epstein. Presumably to help him get the Nobel Peace Prize.

In the movie ‘Wall Street’ Gordon Gekko says the famous lines, “Greed is good.” Sure. The top 1% of the US rich pay tax at a lower rate than any other segment of the society. In the rush to cover-up the origins of Covid 19 were many top scientists from Europe and the USA.  The stakes were too high. Billions of dollars for the Gain of Function research which possibly led to the leak at the Wuhan Lab in China. The 2008 US financial meltdown featured a lot of Gordon Gekko characters. Banks, Insurers, Wall Street Finance companies, housing corporates, credit rating agencies and big name audit firms all collaborating and looking the other way as the sub-prime and derivatives  fuelled crises unravelled. “Too big to fail” and the Government bailed them out. Deregulation of the financial markets from the Reagan years and lack of oversight caused the global crises. And the CXO’s walked away with fat bonuses as millions across the globe lost their jobs and pensions and savings.

The Volkswagen emission cheating scandal represented an ethical breakdown and would have shut-down a lesser Company. The German Government stepped in to bail out this auto-giant which was poised at becoming the largest in the world. High-level talks with the Americans, some big penalties and back to business as usual. What also came out was the European Union’s somewhat lax attitude in applying emission norms to vehicle manufacturers on the Continent.

Let’s come to the Panama Papers and its latest edition called the Pandora Papers. Most of the attractive tax-havens are in the West. Of course, the scenic Switzerland heads the list which has South Dakota in the US, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Lichtenstein… It’s not only the Colombian and Mexican drug lords or Russian oligarchs or the Arab Sheikhs or super-rich Indians stashing away their money through shell companies. The First World had long earned this rite of passage. It is also not surprising that the UK is a preferred destination for financial scamsters. Perhaps, the tough extradition laws appeal to these criminal fugitives. And  staying with Colombia and Mexico which are derided for their Narcos cartels. Guess which are the most lucrative markets for the drug peddlers??

We can go on and on. The corruption at the highest levels of FIFA. The systematic doping on the Tour de France. Match fixing in football at the Serie A in Italy. These are all malaises associated with ‘those other countries.’

Human nature is what it is. Power and greed corrupts and no nation or peoples are immune to it. India is a work in progress. A huge and complex nation. We have a surfeit of venal politicians and problems of poverty, un-employment, education and public health. Community and regional divides and the scourges of corruption, and casteism.  But we are only 75 years old as a nation and progress is also being made. The young generation will signal the tipping point through its confidence and aspirations.

However, to really discover its own identity India will have to work to protect and serve its interests. That is Realpolitik. Absorb good initiatives and ideas and learn from the failures and blunders. There are positive takeaways from countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania, Middle East and South America. As an emerging power, strive to be a more responsible force both domestically and on the global stage.

The bottom-line is that ideas and philosophies and policies are revisited and revamped or fine-tuned or discarded when actually challenged by ground realities. The world is changing and the struggles and evolution of each nation needs more empathy and a better understanding. The only path towards achieving the Greater Good on the planet.

Reflections in the Nation’s Mirror

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It is election season again and I have this feeling of deja-vu. Been there, heard that. The ruling BJP in many ways has become a mirror-image of what the Congress once was. This goes beyond their appropriation of national icons like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. Instead of a Congress-mukt Bharat we would be better served if the current dispensation renders us Mukti (freedom) from the bad governance, wrong practices, precedents and policies of the Grand Old Party. But look closer-

  1. Money/Muscle/Religion/Caste was the winning combination for the Congress for many decades. The BJP has whole-heartedly embraced this mantra. Even after 70 years the Reservation footprint is expanding and the ruling party is happy to oblige. It is all about power. And power corrupts. In 2019, it is exceedingly difficult for good, qualified and well-intentioned people to break into this toxic political system. Mr Modi and his advisors have also sold their souls to the Winability formula.
  2. The ‘Aaya-Ram Gaya Ram’ politics of defection still holds currency. The Indian National Congress can claim a patent for its invention. Recent events in Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra demonstrate that the defectors are alive and kicking in this Naya Bharat. Many of them tainted by corruption charges.
  3. Corruption became synonymous with the Congress Sarkar. The BJP looks better in comparison because no major skeletons have tumbled out of the closet so far. More importantly because of the personal clean image of the Prime Minister. But let’s not forget that Dr Manmohan Singh is also well regarded for his integrity. But what happened under his watch in UPA2! The rottenness and avarice reached its peak. Politics has become the first refuge of the scoundrel. Modiji’s government is also sacrificing good governance and integrity at the altar of power. The case of the rapist MLA in UP highlights this dalliance with criminality and is a wake-up call for the BJP leadership. Their UP CM clearly looked the other way. Such thugs are shockingly called Bahubalis in these parts and actively courted by the BJP, Congress and the regional outfits.. And what about the BJP brat in MP who wielded the cricket bat to poor effect. Just not cricket. The PM delivered a strongly worded sermon. No further action seems to have been taken. His doting father is too important for the party as he oversees the West Bengal election apparatus. Politics as usual. No signs of a New India.
  4. The Anti-Corruption mission is also part of the sound and fury, signifying nothing. The Choksis and Nirav Modis and Mallyas are still living the good times abroad. After 5 years of the Modi government we are no wiser about illicit Swiss bank accounts and shell companies in Cyprus, Bahamas, Panama or Lichenstein. The P Chidambaram case may well turn out to be a litmus test. If the investigating agencies have not really done their work, the wheels will come off the anti-corruption drive. If the former FM and HM is released for lack of evidence, politicians of all hues will be celebrating. All future arrests will be termed vindictive and politically motivated.
  5. The Congress was notorious in its heydays for undermining critical institutions like the Supreme Court, CBI and the Election Commission to promote the family or party agenda. Circa 2019. The BJP continues the good work by diluting the independence of the Reserve Bank and the autonomy of the CBI. The unseemly controversy at the top level of the CBI was disgusting. Mud-slinging by the top brass of our premier detective agency. One of the actors, known to be close to the ruling party may soon get a clean chit. Also check-out the appointment of loyalists and politicos to the constitutional post of the Governor. Many of their actions and words are embarrassing. Rewind to the grand old Congress days. And interestingly little news on the much hyped Lok Ayukata. The autonomous, anti-corruption ombudsman in each of the Indian States.
  6. Both these national parties also seem to be on the same page in avoiding much needed bold structural reforms. Their leaders pay lip service to it. Nothing more. Think about the long pending women’s reservation bill for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Police Reform Act to upgrade this much neglected force and to free them from the clutches of unscrupulous politicians. The Political Finance Bill to lay bare the source of funding for political parties and for elections. The BJP leaders, despite their holier than thou pravachans, are one with their political brethren. Let the status-quo remain. Let their political fiefdoms remain unchallenged. Dynastic politics thrive. For allowing sincere people in the fray is injurious to their political health.
  7. Criminality and politics are a successful mix. Even the high-brow Communist parties have their goon squads. All political parties including the BJP and Congress have given tickets to very dubious characters. Many charge-sheeted. Some having done jail time. They wear it like a badge of honour. Our freedom fighters will be rolling in their graves. A frightening percentage of our representatives in the Parliament and the Assemblies are criminals. Three score and ten years after Independence. If the Judiciary or Election Commission want to clean-up things, our Honourable leaders scream that it is an assault on our democratic values. The more things change the more they remain the same. Modiji does not seem to realise that millions of voters voted him and not the BJP to power. Many did not know who the local BJP candidate was. He can dismantle this rotten system. Induct people of character. But does he really want to change the political landscape for good?
  8. Delhi Durbar and Lutyens Delhi invoke the Congress rule. The First Family. The Power brokers. The Leftists and Liberals. All feeding off the perks and the privileges. Such clouds do hang-over the current regime as well. The Congress and Left parties had their mouth-pieces in the media. Many TV channels and news-houses have hitched on to the Modi band-wagon. Facts and reasoned reporting be damned. Modiji will have to reach out beyond the ‘Yes Men’, the inner-circle and the clique of babus to get a real sense of things. Get professionals like Deepak Parekh, Nandan Nilekani, Arif Mohamad Khan, Julio Riberio and Raghuram Rajan known for their independent views in the PMO. It was the former RBI Governor who blew the whistle on Bank NPA defaulters – which has led to a serious socio-economic crises today. Why not consult the new Nobel Laureate for Economics, Abhijit Banerjee. Yes, he has been critical of De-Mo. But he is an authority on Universal Basic Income and has a refreshing take on hard data evidence to back policy intervention. Very relevant to our economic growth story. Also have conversations with the critics in the media and academia. Sir, you are representing the country of 1.3 billion people in your own words, and not just those who elected you. Pay heed to those who disagree, listen-in to their perspective. Sabka Saath is an important part of your ringing slogan. It will herald a clean break-away from the cosy Congress club and coterie culture.
  9. Our political parties are infested with crude motor-mouths. The Congress came up with the classic line for its uncouth who crossed the line”It is his personal opinion. It does not reflect the position of the party.” Now we have the BJP spokesperson plagiarizing this on a regular basis. Nobody is hauled-up, disciplined, suspended or expelled. The party fraternity hangs out together. Disparate elements from the Sangh Parivar have clambered on to the Modi Express.But the political tirades and personal attacks especially at election times have hit a new low. The Congress chanakyas had honed the personal attacks. The BJP seems to be determined to plumb the depths. Even their own allies are not spared. The party high-command should understand that the tragic demise of Manohar Parrikar, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitely has left a huge vaccum. These were the people who could reach out across the aisle. Speak and debate with facts and fervour. During Vajpayeeji’s stewardship, wit and banter and poetry gave flavour to political discourse. In the sound-bytes by today’s BJP netas, amplified by sensationalistic TV channels and the omnipresent social media, one can hear echoes of decadent Congress leaders and pravaktas.
  10. The PM made a strong pitch for Sabka Vishwas. Resounding words, little action, no out-reach. Is he running with the hares and hunting with the hounds (just an uncomfortable thought!). Minorities, especially Muslims, are beginning to feel disengaged if not marginalised. The other side of the same coin was the appeasement or vote-bank politics played by the Congress- a legacy of the British rule. If the Constitution of India is the sacred book, then the Government must demonstrate that it is. Replaying the same old cynical politics is dangerous in times of connectivity and social media. A suggestion- why does the Home Ministry not step in to ensure justice for Pehlu Khan’s family in Rajasthan. Send a clear message to the lynchers and their fringe supporters. The law of the land is above all politics, it is Raj Dharma.
  11. Radical Islam needs no introduction. However, it was startling to hear that barbers in some province in Pakistan were penalised for stylising beards. The customers were let off with stern warnings and presumably half-trimmed beards. In India also we have these self-styled guardians of morality and the Hinduvta elements are raising their disruptive heads again. From moral policing to telling women what to wear and other do’s and don’t’s, to monitoring the dietary habits of all and sundry. They really are the left-overs from some medieval age.And mob-lynchings are hate-crimes. Period. The perpetrators should be arrested and summarily punished. Through fast-track courts. These criminals and their cheerleaders showcase as to how people end up becoming what they hate the most. Sadly,in a recent TV interview, the Home Minister shrugged aside ‘these incidents’. Using the classic Congress playbook- Deny, Deflect and finally Rant out at some conspiracy.
  12. The BJP’s timidity on the economy front is both an off-shoot and a hang-over from the Congress era. The hero of the ground-breaking reforms was Dr Manmohan Singh with full-backing from PV Narasimha Rao. More than 25 years ago. Still we have the BJP FM’s gingerly tip-toeing around wealth-creation, promoting entrepreneurship, divesting PSU white-elephants and creating a good eco-system to do business. Like their Congress brethren they also revel in a ‘pro-poor’ image- whatever that means.Subsidies and freebies, loan-waivers and reservations continue to be the staple and populist offerings. The status-quoists still control the narrative. Even a major initiative like the GST has not been well-thought through and implemented. WARNING: A young and aspirational population will be much less forgiving than the earlier generation. Nothing less than transformational change will be acceptable.During the Congress Raj, even the well patronised liberal economists used to sneer at the low- ‘Hindu rate of growth.’ Enough reason to provoke Mr Modi & team to focus on real growth.
  13. Mr Modi’s stature rests on his no-nonsense approach to national security and tough stand against terrorism. Balakot, Uri, Abrogation of Article 370 have resonated well across the country. Made for TV spectacles like the “Howdy Modi” event have added to his 56- inch- chest aura. India is no longer a soft nation punching well below its weight in the global arena. We remember with acute shame our Government’s paralysis after 26/11 happened.

However, the BJP’s default strategy of blaming all the ills in the country on the Congress will harm its own political well-being. The PM and party have to walk the talk. NOW!

The Hon PM’s legions of followers will say with some justification- hey, this is unfair. India is a huge and complex country. Sure. But Modiji is at the top of his game. He is in prime form. He can hit the ball out of the park at will. The next 12 months can record the defining moments in the India growth story.

14. If NaMo.2.0 does not deliver on development and good governance, the BJP and Congress will share another dubious distinction. Letting India down despite absolute majority mandates and multiple terms in power.

The BJP has to carve out its own identity in national affairs, polity, economy and social change, and time is running out………

Is it the Hand touching the Lotus? Or is the Lotus striving to bloom in muddied waters?