About two hours ago, I listened to Obama's address to the Congress announcing his new plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan. His two-pronged plan aims at fighting the Taliban in both the countries with renewed vigour and also providing financial help to the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan for reviving their terror-battered economies. Obama's stress is on widespread social changes in both these countries for the betterment of the large mass of uneducated people to free them from the clutches of the orthodox Taliban.
While listening to Obama's logical pleas to the Congress for enabling him fight the scourge of terrorism, our own Varun Gandhi's recent vitriolic speech came to mind. Shouldn't the young Varun draw a lesson from Obama's book? Varun's bullet-for-bullet philosophy may appeal to many young Hindus who are led to believe that they are living as second-rate citizens in their own country. But the truth, which Varun and the Saffron brigade must understand, is that suppressing terrorism by force is only a temporary solution. For a long-term solution, you have to do the social engineering and bring the terrorist into the country's mainstream.
I personally believe that common cultural heritage, not religion, can truly bond a people. Had religion been a cementing force, Nepal, the only Hindu country in the world, would have never appeared to us as hobnobbing with China against India whose population is largely Hindu. The saffron brigade should know that by dividing people in the name of religion you may rule for a while. But the second shot at the power is a distatnt possibility. The saffron brigade knows this fact too well. Had the religion and the Ram temple been truly residing in the heart of the people, no power on earth could have ousted the BJP-led NDA government.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Advaniji's 'honesty'
"There is nothing wrong in Advaniji criticizing poor Manmohanji," I tell myself. Any politician aspiring to be the next Prime Minister will do the same. But, the upright and honest part of me is not satisfied with the answer of my other part which wants me to behave like a politician.
The honest part argues, ''Advaniji is so concerned about Manmohanji's so-called dependence on 10 Janpath for his every decision. But, did he and other heavyweights in the BJP ever allow Vajpayeeji to function freely as Prime Minister? One classic example of subjecting Vajpayeeji to undue pressure was his going back on his highly critical statement on Gujarat riots in 2002 — Mein videsh ja kar kya moohn dikhayoonga. Not only the BJP heavyweights and RSS functionaries, the NDA coalition partners like Mamata Banerjee and Jayalalitha were also a source of constant headache for Vajpayeeji."
My other part counters, "If Manmohanji was not subjected to the type of pressures that Vajpayeeji faced, it was all due to Sonia's total control over the Congress. On the other hand, poor Vajpayeeji despite being the moderate and nationally acceptable face of the BJP did not find many supporters in his party and coalition for his actions. Otherwise, he would have succeeded in strenghthening both the BJP and the NDA."
The honest part agrees, "Yes, you are right. Had Vajpayeeji been given a free hand like Soniaji has given Manmohanji in running the government, NDA might still be ruling the country. If you have any doubt about Manmohanji's grip over the government, I would like to tell you that renowned journalist Vir Sanghvi has written many times that Manmohanji has run the government in a fairly free manner. Neither the Congress party nor the coalition partners subjected to him the kind of pressure that Vajpayeeji faced."
Oh, it's going to be 11 p.m. I am going to sleep. Rest on the political freestyle tomorrow
The honest part argues, ''Advaniji is so concerned about Manmohanji's so-called dependence on 10 Janpath for his every decision. But, did he and other heavyweights in the BJP ever allow Vajpayeeji to function freely as Prime Minister? One classic example of subjecting Vajpayeeji to undue pressure was his going back on his highly critical statement on Gujarat riots in 2002 — Mein videsh ja kar kya moohn dikhayoonga. Not only the BJP heavyweights and RSS functionaries, the NDA coalition partners like Mamata Banerjee and Jayalalitha were also a source of constant headache for Vajpayeeji."
My other part counters, "If Manmohanji was not subjected to the type of pressures that Vajpayeeji faced, it was all due to Sonia's total control over the Congress. On the other hand, poor Vajpayeeji despite being the moderate and nationally acceptable face of the BJP did not find many supporters in his party and coalition for his actions. Otherwise, he would have succeeded in strenghthening both the BJP and the NDA."
The honest part agrees, "Yes, you are right. Had Vajpayeeji been given a free hand like Soniaji has given Manmohanji in running the government, NDA might still be ruling the country. If you have any doubt about Manmohanji's grip over the government, I would like to tell you that renowned journalist Vir Sanghvi has written many times that Manmohanji has run the government in a fairly free manner. Neither the Congress party nor the coalition partners subjected to him the kind of pressure that Vajpayeeji faced."
Oh, it's going to be 11 p.m. I am going to sleep. Rest on the political freestyle tomorrow
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)