Thus the Rubicon was crossed by BJP

It was in 1991 that I was first becoming aware of the political buzz going on in the country. I was 9 years back then mand it was a period of intense political churning caused by the fall of Chandrasekhar govt, assasination of Rajiv gandhi, Mandal & Kamandal. There was buzz about Bharatiya Janata Party even in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, where I hail from.

The next five years were very eventful starting with liberalization of economy,Ayodhya movement and babri masjid demolition, lots and lots of scams ranging from fertilizer scan, telecom scam(sukh ram), hawala scam etc. That was when BJP started  becoming more of a household name.

As a youngster, I used to hear arguments from elders that BJP will never come to power as it is a north Indian party with a paltry presence in south India and that it was too right of center to be able to become a ruling party. Then came the 1996 elections, where BJP was the since largest party, though  way away from the simple majority mark of 272. vajpayee govt came and left within a span of 13 days, which was followed by united front govts headed by deve gowda and ik gujral.

The instability of the United front govt, political compulsions and efforts of BJP slowly started paving way for more alliances across India. They found  alliance partners like Rama Krishna Hegde in Karnataka, Naveen Patnaik in Odisha and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, ADMK in Tamil Nadu in addition to the existing alliance partners like SAD, Shiv Sena and Samata party. Then came the 1998 elections, with BJP emerging as the single largest party and in a striking distance of power through the alliances it had built. Vajpayee became the prime minister for second time and ws able to win the confidence vote by mustering post poll support of parties like INLD and TDP. This was the first rubicon that was crossed. Yes, BJP was able to form a govt at center through a collation of different parties.Though this govt survived only for 13 months, the NDA govt that came to power in 1999 did complete its tenure.

Now the goalposts has changed with arguments that BJP will never be able to form a govt by itself as it is way away from getting a majority by itself. Two tenures of UPA did create the necessary ignition power needed for BJP to cross the majority by itself in 2014.

In the immediate aftermath of the 2014 elections, we have started hearing voices that the full majority given to BJP was the result of despicable governance provided by UPA and that 2019 will not be on similar lines. When the time for change comes, as the election date nears, the strength of the wave .
increases. The necessary groundwork for the same has already been done by BJP. When have you seen a prime minister getting close to a normal man, like Narendra Modi. Through initiatives like jan dhan accounts, swach bharat,ujwak yojana, farmer support,dbt etc, he made sure that the lives of poor are impacted in a way that is easy to quantify. Apart from this he maintained a connect with the people through public meetings, Mann ki Baat etc. When did we ever see a prime minister talking about issues that effect the lives of common man of the country ranging from exam, cleanliness etc.This has made him maintain a remarkable chord with the citizens, making this election a battle between modi and the rest in all the 543 constituencies. The result in states like kerala, bengal is going to reveal the impact of this greater connect, which is being missed by the radars of journalists.

My long wait of 23 years for surgical strike

There has been a lot of brouhaha over Modi being credited for Indian response post Pulwama through Balakot air strikes and surgical strikes on terror launchpads in POJK post Uri attack. Those critical have been arguing that the credit goes to the armed forces. Lets dissect and analyze it further.


The concept of  a muscular response to the strategy of war through a thousand cuts has been around since 1993-94, when P.V. Narasimha Roa was at the helm of affairs as the prime minister. I was an 8th standard school student back then. India was in the midst of a transition, recovering from the post cold war effect coupled with political and economic commotion within. There hardly was any political will left for some action. The same continued with the United Front government which was in power for two years from 1996 to 1998. All through the tenures of P.V.Narasimha Rao and United Front governments, BJP under the leadership of Vajpayee and Advani, has been advocating a muscular response to the cross border terrorism on the lines of how Israel responds.


Following midterm elections in 1998, Vajpayee led coalition came to power, which went ahead with the long due nuclear tests. The coalition was unstable and fell after 13 months, leading to midterm elections. Then came Kargil in the period between the fall of government and elections. Even during Kargil, Indian political leadership has decided to not cross LOC. I was pursuing my 11th and 12th during this phase.


NDA(with BJP as lead partner) , riding on the Kargil victory couple with a current in favor of  Vajpayee, came back to power general elections in 1999. The NDA tenure from 1999 to 2004 had lots of terror related incidents, be it Kandahar hijacking, Parliament attack, Kaliachuk incident, Swaminarayan temple attack etc. Post parliament attack, India went for a major mobilization and the expectation was that an attack across LOC is imminent. International community succeeded in convincing Indian leadership that they will force Pakistan to stamp down on terror factories, which Pakistan never did, but used the cool off period to play its nuclear card as a blackmail ploy. BJP lost 2004 elections and UPA(headed by Congress) came to power. I completed my Bachelors in Technology in the year 2004.


UPA was in power for two terms from 2004 to 2014. Of this, the period from 2004 to 2008 was particularly horrendous in terms of terror attacks and casualties. There were major terror attacks in Jaipur, Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad,Varanasi, Assam, Mumbai train blasts, Mumbai(26/11) etc.  Such destruction and the ensuing public anger failed to make the political leadership press the button to hit across LOC. After two terms, UPA was kicked out of power in 2014 and then came in NDA-2 headed by Modi.  By the end of  UPA-1 and UPA-2, I  completed my masters in engineering and worked for eight and half years as a software engineer)


By now, Pakistan was very confident that Indians lack the spine to bite the bullet. All they do is bark loud about teaching a lesson and then go back to their hibernation. Then came a major strike in the at Uri in the year 2016, which was avenged by Indian forces by crossing LOC to hit the terror launchpads. 23 long years after I first heard about calls for surgical strikes across LOC,  India went for it. Pakistan surely is not going to change so fast and it did indulge in one more monstrous act at Pulwama, which made the political leadership order airstrikes on camps at Balakot, which is inside Pakistan(not  POJK).


It is clear for every one except those pretending to be asleep to see who bit the bullet and who called the Pakistani nuclear bluff. Modi deserves the credit for political decision and armed forces for the execution part. The armed forces were ready all along, while the political will came in late. As I write this article, I have a masters in engineering and a work experience of 13.5 years.

How different has NDA been w.r.t security?

With the tenure of NDA-2 coming to an end, one question that is around in the air pertains to national security. How good or bad did NDA govt fare when it came to national security. Is it any different at al? I would deal with this subject on two issues, which makes it easy to understand. The first is  Indian response to terrorism and the other one is about Indian response to Chinese bellicosity.

India, the land of spirituality, having different cultures, religions, traditions, views has been eternally patient with terrorism, which has had the seed of origin from pakistan from early 80's. First Khalistan was the pretext they used and later it was the turn of Kashmir.

The number of terror attacks are far too numerous to recount, but some of the most prominent ones one can recollect are 1993 Mumbai blasts,parliament attack, kaluchak massacre, bombings in major cities(Delhi, Ahmadabad bombings, Jaipur, Assam, Mumbai train bombings, Mumbai on 26/11).

All along starting from parliament attack there have been calls for surgical strikes, covert operations etc as the mode to take on Pakistan.The hue and cry used to die in course of time. It is surprising that public sentiment failed to make an impact for so long, leaving common man with a sense of resignation, at the inability of the political to pull the trigger. NDA-1, which was headed by BJP, a party which all along professed an aggressive line against cross border terrorism, for a variety of reasons ended without crossing the Rubicon.

On the Chinese front, every visit of major Indian to Chin or Chinese leaders visit to India used to be preceded  by transgressions along LAC(line of actual control). All that India could muster was a  diplomatic protest, accompanied  with statements to assuage Indian public with statements like "The border is not demarcated".

Then came NDA-2 headed by Narendra Modi, who was known for his aggressive stance. The first major attack happened On 4 June 2015, when NSCN-K ambushed an Indian Army convoy of 6 Dogra Regiment in Chandel district of Manipur and killed 18 Indian soldiers. Questions about Modi's promises started making rounds in a very audible voice. In a matter of weeks, this attack has been avenged , when India conducted a surgical operation inside the Myanmar territory to destroy the culpable groups.  At this juncture, one of the argument put forth by lutyens intellectual class was that this operation was an easy one as it was conducted in Myanmar, which is a friendly country. They then challenged that such an operation would not be possible against Pakistan. Then came the URI attack, killing 17 army men. Within 10 days days, this attack was avenged through a surgical operation inside POJK(pak occupied jammu and kashmir). Then  the lutyens intellectual class started saying that India  could act against Pakistan as it was a smaller country and they challenged the Government to show spine against a country like China. The time to meet this challenge arrived sooner than what one could hope for. In the month of june 2017, China encroached upon Bhutanese territory in Doklam to build an extremely important strategic road. Doklam is located at one of the most strategic location for India at Chickens neck. At the request of Bhutanese, India stepped in and stopped the encroachment. This standoff continued for nearly 70 days, during which China tried to browbeat and bully India through psychological warfare. India held its ground with utmost poise and finally China had to back off. Visits of important leaders from either sides of late have been without of poking from the Chinese. When Pulwama attack killed 40 soldiers, India took the next big step by crossing the international border to strike one of the largest JEM training camp.

It is no ones argument that India is a totally changed country, but one surely can vouch that things have started moving in the right direction.The elephant seems to have woken from the slumber.It surely is gaining the momentum.

Thorough discussion in parliament:Needed for Lokpal but not for FDI in Retail?

The latest act of the UPA-2 govt, which might have potentially far reaching consequences is allowing the FDI in multi brand retail. I have been hearing the argument that almost is "More FDI means reforming the economy for good". One can not say FDI is always good or always bad. It is not a white or black question. Whether it benefits the nation or not depends on the context. Sadly the kind or discourse set in this nation is that people who are for FDI are progressive and those against it are regressive.

FDI when introduced in multi brand retail can have far reaching consequences. Such a move requires threadbare discussion and debate, which unfortunately is missing. UPA-2 govt, had repeatedly said that an important institution of the parliament can not be bypassed or forced into making an important legislation like Lokpal without proper discussion and debate. The same Govt when it comes to FDI in retail, thinks otherwise.

I somehow see a similar pattern between the nuclear deal in 2008 to the current situation. Back then, anyone who opposed the nuclear deal was portrayed as a person who is unpatriotic, regressive etc. The media played a big role in shooting down the dissent and differing view point. I doubt if the media would be any different this time around.

A couple of articles in the foreign media appear criticizing the prime minister about the tragic state of affairs and surprisingly it spurns the PM and the Govt into action(which hardly cared about the resentment in this nation). Is there more arm twisting behind the scene than what is visible?

The message going out from this GOVT is "We value and remember democratic values and institutions ONLY when it will help our political objectives"

A short letter to Teflon Manmohan Singh

Oh Dear Teflon coated Dr Manmohan Singh,

How much more can you and your government stoop. You played the role of Dritharashtra, when government has become an engine for ways to get quick undeserved money ,business etc.. Is monetary quid pro quo the only kind of corruption? Isn't quid pro quo of other kinds not corruption? You let your comrades plunder the national wealth. The quid pro quo was to let you continue as the prime minister of this nation. Does your conscience really permit you to claim that you are not corrupt?

Now to tide over the current political difficulties, you and your comrade in arms come up with one more blunder called 'quota in promotions'. The same Manmohan who talked for overhauling the government delivery system to improve governance is now driving 'quota in promotions'. Read more. Compare this with how some of your predecessors behaved. There was immense pressure on Mr Vajpayee during his tenure for reservations in judiciary and private sector. He politely did side step these demands, which would have debilitated this nation. Read more. This is not an isolated incident. Did your govt not use the same quota trick to create confusion and stall the Lokpal bill a few months back? How is quota related to Lokpal bill? Read more

You have taken the pat for economic reforms in the 90's. You have been the prime minister of this nation since 2004. There hardly is any economic reform to boast of. I hope people would realize that taking economic reforms forward, requires more than a bureaucrat at the helm of the affairs. Leaders like P.V.Narasimha Rao, Vajpayee are needed for that.

The tide is against UPA-2. The more you try to resuscitate the situation by resorting to cheap tricks, the more it will boomerang. I would like to end this short letter with a famous saying "Vinashakale Vipreet Buddhi"

Parliament disruption totally unjustified?

Is BJP alone to be blamed for obstructing the discussion in parliament and for not following the institutional procedures, through which the GOVT can be checkmated like PAC, JPC etc?

I doubt that argument. I have noticed a pattern in the UPA-2 strategy. First thy ask the opposition to respect the contitutional bodies and parliamentary procedures. Thus they make the opposition ease the noose off the Govt. Then slowly they tighten the noose around the bodies like JPC, PAC. Please check the below videos, as how they stifled PAC and JPC in 2G case.

What happened in case of PAC? The Congress members of UPA taking the support of the ready to hire parties like SP and BSP prevented the chairman of the PAC Dr Murli Manohar Joshi from presenting the report. Is the state of the JPC any better? THey have called several peope to be questioned from the tenure of NDA Govt(virtually the whole PMO. CBI questioned Jaswant). While refusing to call PM and Finance minister, who were presiding over one of the biggest known scams of independent India.

The opposition could be camouflaging their vulnerabilities using this demand. But UPA-2 has a significant role in driving the opposition to adopt such strategy, where they don't even want to discuss the issue in parliament.

One for right and two for the rest: The double standards of the intelligentia and media

I have named the title of this article in such a way to capture the message, which is the  glaring and abysmally different yard sticks for people associated with political discourse depending on which side there are (whether on left, center or right)

Collapse of the public discourse

The anti corruption and anti black money movements have been active over the last one and half year. This doesnt reflect the angst in the public. It is merely a machination of RSS and its pals to gain political mileage out of the situation.

When the issue of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh is raised and protested against, since it is virtually a demographic invasion of this nation(as said by Supreme court). That too is to serve the vicious agenda of RSS and its parivar.

Recently Assamese in particular and north eastern citizens in general are being scared to run away from across the country. The Right wing affiliates are trying to protect them and convince them to stay back by offering protection. This is a ploy to spread their agenda in the north east, where they don't have a major presence politically. When some attacks Ramdev with ink, it is quite obvious that RSS is behind the attack to generate sympathy for Ramdev baba.

The natural calamities that keep occurring in different parts of India are nothing but machinations of Sangh Parivar. They create the natural calamities and then try to win over people by serving them in the aftermath of the calamities.

These are the standard arguments to beat the RSS and its affiliates. The public discourse has become so dumb that it became so unpalatable that it compelled me to write this essay to point out the utter nonsense. Rather than discussing the issues raised by the right wing, it has become a pattern to disparage them and throw mud on them so that their argument carries no weight. The great Indian media is an active party in this strategy.

Pathetic media

When the protesters in MUMBAI ransacked and went on a rampage and attacked pollice, media and martyrs memorial, there is no big noise from the Govt or the media. The same media was missing in action there were violent protests in LUCKNOW? I dint hear their voice quite enough? Ironical though media also was targetted. Compare this with the enthusiasm and eagerness to flash the news if it were done by the fringe elements of the right wing. They would have used the opportunity to whip the entire right(especially RSS and its parivar).

I couldn't find the coverage of same magnitude for Mumbai and Lucknow violent protests where police, media were attacked.

I didn't see the media cover the Assam riots with the same verve and enthusiasm that it did the Gujarat riots. Have I heard the media talk of gross demographic invasion of Assam. Neither did I hear it speak of the injustice done to the native Assamese. When pointed out, the arguments put forth are lame excuses to dispute any double standards. Journalists like Rajdeep altogether dismisses the illegal immigration as the major issue. He conveniently forgets what Supreme court of India has remarked about the illegal immigration from Bangladesh. One can not forget the disparage-able argument he put forth in his tweet on 24th July which is "21 died in Assam, more than 1000 died in Gujarat. scale and intensity, plus logistics will determine media coverage". Like many, I failed to understand how at the start of Gujarat riots, the media(especially Rajdeep Sardesai) have known well in advance that the toll would be 1000. Read more

Indian society has become so hypocritical that the double standards have reached a point where it has become imperative to speak up and point them out. When it comes to people aligned with the non right political ideology who have economic or political muscle, you need concrete evidence and data to speak out. Even when there is concrete evidence and data, it is some times not concrete enough. But, When it comes to the people associated with the right wing ideology, they care not about the same. Judgments are passed even before the trial has started.

Do not shoot the messenger is the one of the important point in the liberal thinking. The media has played a very very important role in helping the Government shoot the messengers be it Anna, Ramdev etc. Rather than discussing the merits of issues raised by them, the Media happily facilitated the governments strategy. Media, which preaches not shooting the messenger, when it suits its business interests. The argument of the media is that it has to show all points of view. Then why did it not care to discuss threadbare things the same way about accusations of Sonia Gandhi and her families fraudulent acts. Have there been any media discussions and debates made against the  Sonia Gandhi by Subramania Swamy (more about this is detailed here ) or Mr Ram Jethmalani(details here) - he even dared anyone to sue him. One yard stick for Anna, Baba Ramdev and a different for the Gandhi family. Media facilitated the shooting of messengers of one side, which shows that it was conniving with the shooter on one side. Compare this with the way the media tried to bring up discussion on Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev, Kiran Bedi, etc.

Welcome to the great media tamasha and the highly intellectual political discourse  in India.