Sunday, May 15, 2011

Is BJP Dying?

The poor show by BJP in the 2009 loksabha election raises a question.

"Is BJP going to die"?

Even if we consider the grand victory in 2010 assembly elections in Bihar, the credit goes to Nitish Kumar. Before election, BJP tried to promote their existence separate from Nitish's shadow through controversial advertisements in the local newspapers about their aid during Kosi floods in Bihar and pictures with Narendra Modi. This backfired and provoked Nitish to return the aid provided by Gujrat. Thank God this issue was resolved as BJP accepted the reality of being number two in the state and they contested together and result came in the interest of Bihar. When BJP supreme in Bihar Sushil Modi was interviewed after the victory and asked about the challenges his stereotype statement was something like "what happened in last 50-60 years can't be done soon but we will work together by all means". Quoting the past was unnecessary. It was a sign of same old excuse and lack of will power and a mood spoiler.

There was a time when I became a supporter for BJP. Not because of its Hindutva agenda but because I believed that it is a party for common men and alternative for Congress. It gave me a strong sense of feeling that even if you do not belong to a dynasty, if you are strong and competent you can become PM of India one day. Coming back to the topic, I feel different now these days about as it is going low everyday.

Every time fuel price is hiked, BJP gets another opportunity to act weird, shout and yell. What BJP has to say about the hikes/inflation during their regime in 19-03-98 to 22-05-04? And why petrol price is highest in Karnataka? Please look at the graph below.



When nexus of corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and land mafias grab lands of the poor farmers, BJP blames the old Land Acquisition Policy of British era. What BJP was doing in their time?

What action has been taken in the land scams in BJP ruled Karnataka and Rs 11412 crore scam related to fraudulent withdrawals in Bihar?

What BJP has to say about the shameful tricks embraced to win the confidence motion last year in Karnataka assembly? Is everything fare to remain in power on the cost of dignity?

Why BJP government in Chhattisgarh is adamant to accuse the renowned human right activists Dr. Binayak Sen on the serious charge of sedition?

With what kind of intentions BJP introduced the "First come first serve policy" in telecommunication deals which was exploited by A Raja and team and resulted in one of the biggest scam in Indian history?

What kind of maturity was shown by BJP when they refuse to attend parliament session just like a kid who cry and refuse to go school? Then what is the need of such sessions? On the other hand they just ignore the issues in ruling states, why such a double standard?

Why BJP again started to complain on Bofors issue when Quattrochi got a clean chit in the scam? What they were doing during their rule? Why they did not bring the truth of scam then? Was five years not enough? Instead of writing letters to Sonia now why Advani did not completed the enquiry in those five years?

What BJP was doing to bring the money from Swiss bank to India during their time?

Is BJP/JDU also responsible for the misery of Bihar along with RJD and Congress?
Another hot topic these day is Special status for Bihar and payment of compensation package of Rs 1,79,000 crore due to bifurcation in 2000.
Then ruling RJD and opposition BJP and JDU together demanded a Rs 1,79,000 crore as compensation when Jharkhand portion was separated. Though the NDA was in power in center (1998-2004) and Nitish himself the railway minister the state could not get the package. Later on the Manmohan Singh government failed to ensure that package though both Lalu Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan were ministers in the UPA. Bihar continued to be ignored and/or exploited. Did the fatal rivalry between RJD andBJP/JDU resulted into nasty politics and proved costly to Bihar?

Once Sushma Swaraj has commented on then newly formed coalition government
कही का ईंट कही का रोड़ा
भानुमती ने कुनबा जोड़ा

Then later why BJP led NDA formed a coalition government for the period 19-03-98 to 22-05-04? What is the need of such kind of unnecessary statements?

The period witnessed below significant events:

1998 Pokhran nuclear test
On 11 May 1998 Pokhran nuclear test brought proud for India though these nuclear tests resulted in a variety of sanctions against India by a number of major countries. However this was second one; first nuclear test was carried way back on 18 May 1974. Also it is interesting that BJP government came in power on 19 March 1998 and within three months this test had been carried out successfully. Are such tests so easy and can be done in such short time? There is strong possibility that previous governments might have supported this and eventually BJP government got all the credit.

1999 Kargil War
The Kargil conflict was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999. The nuclear tests by India and Pakistan in 1998, led to an increasingly belligerent atmosphere. In an attempt to defuse the situation, both countries signed the Lahore Declaration in February 1999, promising to provide a peaceful and bilateral solution to the Kashmir conflict. Though then Pakistan's Army chief Musarraf had briefed the PM Sharif on the Kargil operation 15 days ahead of Vajpayee's journey to Lahore on February 20.

While India was busy in Lahore yatra, enemies were infiltrating our territories. The controversial Bofors tanks played a key role in the victory.

Though the victory gave BJP another trump card for bragging it is interesting to ponder why it happened? Cheat me once shame on you, cheat me twice shame on me! Why every time we trust them? In my opinion the foreign polices should be to seal the borders with high thick wall and break all the relations till they meet all our genuine demands.

2001 Indian Parliament attack
This was another grave failure. Did either the Prime Minister or Home Minister or any other minister volunteer to resign? Though they demanded resignations after Mumbai Attack in 2008. How senior leaders like Adwani can indulge themselves in personal comments like "Manmohan Singh is a weak PM"?

2002 Gujarat violence
A shame for India. India must not let it happen. A religion and hatred based politics will make India another Pakistan.

We as a common person are getting skimmed by everyone. Government, realtors, financial intuitions, inflation, healthcare, transports, taxis, autos, airlines, entertainment (PVR, music, movie), restaurants (Pizza huts), clothing, super malls, higher cost of living everyone having a cut on us. Government is taking lands from farmers on a bare minimum price and giving it to corrupt nexus of politicians and land mafias. Either we pay high rents or we pay throat cutting price just for a small flat. To pay that huge amount we end up paying huge loans. We pay huge interests and get trapped in endless loop. Bank give loans at 7% floating and in few months they increase the rate of interest to 14%. On the other hand farmers lose their lands. Instead of cultivating grains and vegetables, buildings are getting constructed. Now grains and vegetables need to be imported from other remote districts to fulfill the demand. Increased patrol price adds on the transportation cost and no wonder the grocery cost become high with eventually increases the cost of living. All left for us is debt and struggle.

Congress is getting damaged day by day because of extreme corruption, sky rocketing inflation, insensitive policies like taxes on healthcare facilities and standing at back foot and is in remedial mode. The internal selfish politics inside the party is causing departure of influential leaders like Mamta, Sharad, Sangma and Jagmohan and eventually kneel down to their might.

Coming back to the politics of dynasty, if Bapu, JP and countless freedom fighters of India would have thought of political dynasty, India might have been different country under different dynasties. We should express our gratitude to those great souls for their selfless service to the nation. Though Rahul Gandhi looks way ahead of their BJP counterparts today because he is putting his sincere efforts to sweat and explore India. It is not his fault to born in a dynasty and if he would have wished he could have become PM of India easily without stepping out from his air-conditioned chambers.

Again Congress can't be spared from the responsibility of the ongoing problems like scams, controversies, inflation. These issues are becoming unbearable for common men and strong effective actions required in the interest of India and Indians. Increasing fuel price just after the assembly elections is a cheap politics and is sort of cheating and coward act. I expect the government to be honest, be brave and assertive to tell the facts and take action without considering election timings and act towards resolving the problems.

On the other hand when everyday I see BJP and other leaders in opposition making hue and cry on almost every issue like corruption, inflation, terrorism but they hardly look into their own deeds, it irritates my already frustrated soul. So what if they are not in power, as a common man I expect that they should debate in parliament and provide constructive inputs for solving the issues instead of pointing fingers. This can improve their degrading reputation and if they win in next election they ACT on these issue and produce results. If they don't then I believe there is enough of Congress and there is enough of BJP, India desperately needs another national party.

Life goes on for us in the hope of better tomorrow!