Tuesday Titbits

Some titbits news on this first Tuesday of June 2019.

1 Post debacle in the Lok Sabha elections, Youth Congress workers in Maharashtra vent ire on their leaders. Their common comment was Leaders/Office bearers of the party who have made it to top, drive by, with window closed and do not bother to look out. Those whose families have enjoyed power for decades are rarely seen on the ground. They vented out their frustrations at a brain storming sessions.

Their contention is how to win over the ‘new voter’  who have gone over to Modi. These voters knew nothing about Congress’s contribution to the post independence history. Some speaker even said that two of the most famous leaders of Maharashtra YB Chavan and Vasant Dada Patil were freedom fighters. Patil had even escaped from prison and was shot  in the shoulder during escape. He further added that these stories should be published.

One speaker added that ‘there was time when Congress boards and flags used to be seen on city’s every street. Today we see only BJP’s boards and flags.’ Another speaker emphasised that the common perception in the minds of public is that Congress is anti Hindu party. The party’s participations in Hindu festivals is negligible.’ Another comment was, that it was Rajiv Gandhi who had allowed the Ayodhaya Ram Temple         Shila nyas, then why Congress is now against building of Ram Mandir.

My  opinion in this issue is- why Congress should be still harping of their role in freedom movement, and what their leaders did pre and post independence. They are unable to understand that past is past, and today’s generation is not interested in that, they are only interested in their present and future, and what is being done for the betterment of  the citizens and the country’s image. Where BJP has scored over Congress in the last few years, that they have been able to understand the aspirations of the youth, and what is needed to be done  to raise the image of India in the world.

2 It looks like the much publicised Maha ghatbandhan between  Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is over, it was clear from the Lok Sabha elections this year. BSP supremo Mayawati was not at all happy with the results. Making no bones about her displeasure, she has asked her workers not to depend on alliances but to improve party’s organisation.

SP came off worse than its coalition partner BSP, as the caste arithmetic in UP failed- and SP got just 5 seats, which is the same number it won in 2014. Mayawati yesterday asked office bearers, MLAs and MPs in the party to be prepared to contest assembly by elections on their own. She told her party workers that the BSP won 10 seats in UP duo to its traditional vote bank and that the votes of SP could not get transferred to its candidates.

The assembly By polls will be necessary as 11 MLAs have won the Lok Sabha seats (9 from BJP and one each from SP & BSP).

In my opinion this was bound to happen, the 2 parties which were at loggerheads for more than 2 decades-their grass roots workers could not reconcile with the facts that they have to work together, and that is the main reason this ghatbandhan has failed.

3 One more example of Arvind Kejriwal has lost his mind – yesterday he announced one more concession, which is being termed as election gimmick, that within 3 months Women will be travelling free in buses and Metros in the state of Delhi. This he announced without consulting any of the state or central bureaucrats. The centre involvement has to be there because Metro services are being partly financed by  Central govt. The reason given by Kejriwal is that this is being done for Women’s safety.

I fail to understand how the free passage in Buses and Metros will enhance the women’s security. On the contrary, one lady on TV commented that we are more safe inside the metro network, the safety outside the Metro has to be improved. Other woman commented that we are talking of women’s parity with men, then why by announcing this freebie, CM is degrading the women. Kejriwal has asked Delhi officials to work out the proposal and cost implications.

The announcement of the scheme sparked much controversy with opposition parties including BJP & Congress questioning the rationale behind such freebies.

Awaiting for your views/comments/feed backs.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

4^th Jun 2019