NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES
BY DESH PREMI
Priyanka Gandhi Enters Politics
Having been made the party general secretary for the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh she’s been officially launched ahead of the 2019 general elections. She is compared to her charismatic grandmother, appearing to revive the lot of Congress supporters.
Comment:
We think, like majority of Indians that any attempts by Congress to bring yet another Gandhi (although she’s Vadra by married name) is desperate attempt to thwart Modiji’s popularity. This despite during the 2014 elections she had denied contesting during a TV interview saying “My brother has expressed to me many times that he thinks I should contest,” she said and added that her “decision to not contest is personal. I will only change it when I feel from within I should”.
Congress having ruled India since independence are a sorry shadow of their past in the current parliament. For the largest democracy in the world this is worrying sign, a potential unelected leader using the dynastical name to take important decisions for the nation. The gullibility and the types of supporters Congress have is evidenced as reported in Jan’ 2017 when a local farmer in the Congress stronghold of Rae Bareli seemed to think that “If anyone in India can revive the Congress and ensure the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty remains relevant, it’s Priyanka,”!!
Is she going to continue the poisonous communal narrative between communities to get votes or empower the corrupt to influence them? BJP enthusiasts should be careful not to whip up pro-Hindu sentiments to an extent that luvvies and phony secularists get opportunity to undo the good work Modjji has done. On the other hand Ms Gandhi will hardly enjoy a free ride as her husband, a businessman Robert Vadra who has been accused of wrongdoing in his real estate business in the states of Haryana and Rajasthan and is under investigation. 2019 elections are very important for India and it is the aspiration of the Indians that the changes at micro and macro level for economy must continue to bring back pride a common man lost in yesteryears.
Shambrimala Temple Ruling
In September 2018 India’s Supreme Court revoked the ban on women entering the Shabrimala temple which being one of the holiest, barred women of menstruating age (10-50). Many temples impose restrictions on menstruating women as they are regarded as unclean according to their rules. This ruling is not dissimilar to allow women to enter Haji Ali mosque. Since there have a number of defiant protests, a 620 km human chain formed by women in Kerala, entrance by four transgender women with vociferous protest by worshippers who opposed to the ruling
Comment:
It is very difficult to adjudicate in the matters of religion especially when it’s enshrined in the law of the land. Did the Left wing government in Kerala deliberately target this temple without wishing to upset devout Hindus who won’t accept the ruling? Was making a point like this to further women’s equality really successful? It is well known that non-believers are not allowed in Mecca, does it mean the religious rule supersedes 21st century expectations? Headlines like ‘Indian God Who Bars Women from his temple’ hardly help.
BBC in their erstwhile anti Hindu stance appear to suggest in their reporting that ‘critics have accused PM Modi of pursuing a religiously divisive agenda to court the BJP‘s mostly-Hindu support base’. Can the same be true of those especially Congress party rejoicing the verdict whose support is mainly from Muslims who interestingly protested against the ‘triple talaq’ bill promoted by the same PM! It was surely his initiate ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ , first time for any Indian PM.
Political parties of all colours will play the ‘voter base’ games involving religion, colour and many other issues whether the current Mayor of London or Trump however it’s wrong to suggest that because of this ruling Hinduism is suddenly been seen as obstacle to women’s equality. Why else would we pray to our Goddesses first?
10% Quota For Upper Caste Poor –Decision By BJP Cabinet
The Union cabinet approved 10% reservation for economically backward people belonging to the ‘unreserved category’ including Christians and Muslims in jobs and education with an annual income of Rs 800,000 and land holding ceiling of about 5 acres.
Comment:
Many of you will remember, post 2014 election of PM Modi, the protests by the ‘Patidar’ Patels of Guajrat highlighting the dilemma faced by the so called upper class only by name. Is this an early and clever move by BJP to appease these disenchanted communities not least as a result of disastrous performance in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh? Note that the proposal is not going to affect the existing 50% reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. Congress and other left wing parties championing the cause of the poor must own to the fact as to how the system was ‘milked’ over the years.
Will BJP now be seen by the critics as friends of the rich and discarding the underprivileged? I think the answer and litmus test lies in witnessing the progress the State of Gujarat has made. Yes the Patidars were not happy but they were allowed to voice their concerns which appear to be addressed.
Even in the most developed countries where laws are transparent and rulin governments are less corrupt the class divide will always be present.
World’s Tallest Statue- Sardar Patel
31st October 2018 marked one of the most important events in India, that of unveiling the bronze clad statute of our great independence leader Sardar Vallabbhai Patel in western Gujarat, through the auspices of our PM Narendra Modi . The monument is known as ‘statue of unity’.
Comment:
When the Dome was being built in the derelict London docklands, we saw UK newspapers headlines galore about hundreds of millions of public money being wasted on a large tent. Fast forward few more years and now of course its labelled O2, the premier arena for world famous artists, sprawling residential and commercial development and settling of whole new communities supported by docklands light railway, city airport and enormous infrastructure.
Some say Mr Modi is attempting Patel’s legacy however as long as I remember throughout my school going years more reverence was paid to Sardar Patel than after Gandhi. The post-independence unity of India wouldn’t have been possible but for his great efforts. He was qualified to be the first true Prime Minister of India and its well known that the British didn’t like him. Isn’t this enough proof to warrant building of the statue to pay tribute to this great man? It is also feather in the cap for the long suffering Hindus and Gujaratis under Congress rule. The statue will pave the way for more development, tourism, jobs and provide fillip to the local economy. For those doubting Vallabhbhai’s gallant stride to unite all the warring princely states and especially drive out Nizam of Hyderabad who dreamt of being part of Pakistan should refer to their history books.
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Absolutely redicule congres hasn’t got any one else apart from so called Gandhi Clan? Not one Indian origins how pathetic The party is suffering from inferiority complex against white skin ?