Continuing with its focus on how the mood of the nation has soured since 2004, Offstumped turns the spotlight to the Congress Manifesto from 2004 to expose its betrayal of the Aam Admi.
Here is what the Congress said in 2004 was the key issue.
The Congress recognises that this is not a moment for a
narrow pursuit of partisan power. This is the moment
to consolidate all forces subscribing to the fundamental
values of our Constitution. The Congress?s
goal is to defeat the forces of obscurantism and
bigotry who contributed nothing to the Freedom
Movement or the making of our Constitution and
whose sole objective is to subvert our millennial
heritage and composite nationhood. In this sacred
endeavour, the Congress has joined hands with
like-minded political parties in different states.
The Congress and its various allies are
united in their determination to defeat the BJP,
which threatens to rewrite our past and
wreck our future. In the process, we will present
the national alternative to bring India back on the path
of economic growth with social harmony
Well let us see how the Sonia Gandhi Manmohan Singh duo fared in the 4 years since on the path of economic growth.
- Inflation is at an all time high spiking from 4.5%-5.5% back in 2004-2005 to upwards of 11% in 2008
- If India can manage 7.5% GDP growth it will be an accomplishment marginally better than what it was back in 2004-2005
- If India’s fiscal deficit in 2004-2005 was 4.3% of GDP this editorial in the Mint lays it all out
With the fiscal deficit being much higher than the targeted 2.5% of gross domestic product, fiscal expansion may have run its course. When combined with the deficits of state governments, the figure assumes alarming proportions. In any case, these massive expenditures have generated demand in the face of supply constraints. That?s the story of Indian inflation. With inflation hovering around 11%, fuelling demand can?t be a solution.
That is the path of economic growth the Congress under Manmohan Singh-Sonia Gandhi?has lead us down.
On the Social Harmony front nothing exemplifies the State of the Nation, under Sonia Gandhi’s absentee leadership and Manmohan Singh’s Executive delinquency, better than the sad and tragic episode that played out?on a bus in Mumbai.
From Raj Thackeray to Amar Singh, from Prakash Karat to Karunanidhi, the legacy of the UPA sarkaar has been?to stoke the fires of Communal Socialism to earn the dubious distinction of social conflict in every part of the nation.
That friends is the National Alternative the Congress has offered since 2004.
In the coming days, Offstumped will further dissect the 2004 Manifesto to illustrate the betrayal of the aam admi in the past 4 years.
Filed under: Delhi Polls 2008, Lok Sabha Polls 2008-2009, Manmohan Confidence Vote, War on Terror, betrayal of aam admi
If you ask me, the aam aadmi never placed his trust in Congress in the 2004 elections in the first place! As we know, the NDA lost because of reversals in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, for local reasons rather than national ones. The NDA was overconfident, and narrowly lost.
Still, the BJP managed 138 seats and Congress got 145. It was a fractured mandate, and even the most vocal Congress supporter will agree with that. How the Congress managed to grab power through subterfuge was there for all to see.
That said, 83% of the aam aadmi (if Congress at all considers Hindus as that!) have been betrayed all along by Congress. Be it price rise, internal security, siding with anti national elements, following sickularism, the aam aadmi’s expectations have been belied.
For the sake of the our beloved nation, I sincerely hope that this time around, there should not be a fractured mandate, and there should be a decisive victory. Let the coming elections be fought on the foundations of Desh Prem.
Each one of us has to play the role of Chanakya, and defeat the forces that weaken Bharat Mata.
Jai Hind!
Time for CON-gress to eat its’ words? Naah…they are too shameless to even acknowledge them now!
I guess they are betting on the fact that Indian public has a short memory, and with serious issues like terrorism, security, economy, inflation, price-rise, relentless onslaught by the jihadis, evangelists & their cohorts on the underlying ethos of Bharatvarsh, staring the gullible public in face, voters will have less or even no inclination to go back & have a look @ CON-gress’s ‘04 manifesto!
Just to be clear YossBoss, I am not trying to undermine the basic premise of your post! I agree that voters should have a right to make informed choices, esp those that take into account the track record of a party as well as its leaders, and nothing better than reminding them of how CON-gress, in this case, terribly failed to deliver on things mentioned in the manifesto, and also drwaing comparisions between the present ruling coalition & the prev one! It, I guess, should be obvious even to a layman, unless n until he/she has been living on Mars, as to how this party, its failed leadeship and its unprincipled, pandering for votes communal allies, have driven this nation to the brink of disaster, of how the hardwork of Vajpayee as well as Narsimhrao’s govt of bringing in economic reforms, trying to uplift millions of Indians out of poverty, working towards improving & building infrastructure has come to a naught under the disaster called Sonia Maino and her puppet PM Manmohan Singh!
If voters, citizens of this nation still fail to learn from the unmitigated disasters that Manmohan Singh govt has been in the last 4 years, and fail to take corrective measures, meaning voting for the ‘right’ party & leader (no pun intended, btw!), they’ll get what they deserve & can probably kiss goodbye to any progress achieved under prev. Vajpayee (a Narsimhrao too) govt!
Manmohan Singh government is a total ‘failures on the economic front,’ besides internal security, foreign policy, and so on.
UPA government’s performance in economic field is “an unmitigated disaster,’’ it is “anti-aam aadmi (common man), anti-farmer, anti-middle class, anti-working class and anti-poor.’’
Single most important issue in the economy today … is price rise and its adverse impact on the aam aadmi.
The measures set in motion by the UPA government to control prices …proved to be inadequate
High inflation had inevitably led to high interest rates, which had hit the middle-salaried classes hard.
Voting out the Congress-led alliance in the coming elections, is the only way get out of the pain being inflicted on aam aadmi.
—-
UPA govt an economic disaster: BJP
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/UPA_govt_an_economic_disaster_BJP/articleshow/3483438.cms
If Con is opposite of Pro, isn’t Con-gress the opposite of Pro-gress!
Manmohan Singh government is a total ‘failures on the economic front,’ besides internal security, foreign policy, and so on.
UPA government’s performance in economic field is “an unmitigated disaster,’’ it is “anti-aam aadmi (common man), anti-farmer, anti-middle class, anti-working class and anti-poor.’’
Single most important issue in the economy today … is price rise and its adverse impact on the aam aadmi.
The measures set in motion by the UPA government to control prices …proved to be inadequate
High inflation had inevitably led to high interest rates, which had hit the middle-salaried classes hard.
Voting out the Congress-led alliance in the coming elections, is the only way get out of the pain being inflicted on aam aadmi.
UPA govt an economic disaster: BJP
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/UPA_govt_an_economic_disaster_BJP/articleshow/3483438.cms
And the Congress regularly flouts the Con-stitution, ie it is indulging in pro-stitution of India’s ideals.
Seriously, people who have been long-time Congress voters, whose TVs are set on IBN or NDTV most of the time…these people do not know one fact about the current Maino
-run party. I am telling you this from personal experience with such people. And they will not read/listen to anything that (in their minds) is “communal”.
So approaching such people from the “true secularism vs false secularism” is the key.
The words “ideals” and “Congress” should not be used in the same sentence. Congress doesn’t believe in ideals.
Congress has betrayed aam-aadmi on many fronts, BJP can use it in so many ways-
- Internal security; no action against bomb blast accused
- Pakistan’s growing infiltration attempts
- China’s dangerous designs
- Flawed Nuclear Deal with US (Focusing on our thorium reserves can undo the damage though)
- No check against growing fundamentalism and political violence
- Messed up education system; add to that the “quota” issue
- Economy in tatters; high Inflation; “Golden Quadrilateral” stopped; Infrastructure?
- No major Economic reforms initiative; “Dream Team” ??
- No significant improvement in healthcare, children have been dying of malnutrition
- Acc.to news reports (yeah the mainstream english media), ISRO’s Manned space mission hasn’t been approved by this govt. as yet
- Not only “Vigyaan” but “Javaan” (pay scales and modernisation) and “kisaan” (double standards in loan waiver; farmer suicides) have also been neglected
- Regionalism at an all time high; Petty politics over language and region
- Dangerous situation in North-east; Arunachal Pradesh in danger; Bangladeshi infiltration
- “Communist terrorism” at an all time high; chattisgarh, orissa and Andhra Pradesh affected
- “Congressi psycho-Terrorism” at an all time high (related to first 2 points and divisive politics)
- Sonia’s past (refer to this- http://www.janataparty.org/sonia.html)
and the list goes on and on… We can’t say BJP doesn’t have a chance.. If they are smart and aggressive enough, they can win the election.
The betrayal of aam-aadmi should be motivation for BP to perform and finish Congress and the mulayam-karat-raj-karunanidhi combine
one thing that needs to be ensured is to have the right proportions and combinations of local and national issues in the election campaign. India has voters who are illiterate. These folks will really be not interested in infilteration by Pakistan, but talk of water problem, inflation and they will listen. Also this needs to be in a language which will make sense to them. e.g.: talk of double figures of inflation and that will not sink in. talk of an example : mutthi bar paiso me bori bhar anaj ata tha… ab boribhar paiso se mutthi bar anaj nahi ata. and that hits the right cord….
So all the points of betreyal need to be converted into easy to understand situations for common man to appreciate. Depending on local situation appropriate “betreyal items” need to be selected and spoken about.
Also voter needs to be made aware of the fact that freebies distributed may help onetime but will jeopardise future for 5 years. What is the use of a Colour TV if your state has no electricity for16 hrs.
I have heard rumours of crack in Gujarat Congress. It looks like Shankarsingh Veghela and other previous Janta dal leaders (who joined congress in early nineties) are make sounds of splitting away from congress. If this happens, it will be tremendous blow to congress in Gujarat. I really see very high chances of this happening. If BSP makes strong show in MP, Raj and CH,, and BJP wins all three states back. I think gujarat congress will be first to split.
@proud Indian
Good point. Of all the 16 points I have listed (http://offstumped.nationalinterest.in/2008/10/28/how-the-congress-betrayed-the-aam-admi-part-1/#comment-31911), Some are for educated yound indians, some can be used for rural voters (irrespective of region) and some for others. The way you have presented can really make a good impact on voters, especially rural voters.
BJP can divide these issues and attack accordingly. Publish ads on front page of news papers at the right time and somebody pls tell the idiots in BJP to learn Media Management.
@ Z, thanks,
we can have a good powerpoint presntation elaborating the 16 points with graphical represntation and facts from authentic resources. We can mail this thru our mailing list and propogate it among the netizens and educated class. It can be uploaded to BJP site as well.
we need to highlight the folly of congress aswell, eg: vilasrao deshmukh says maharashtra has a law for preferencial recruitment of locals – but he never talks of whether the law is implemented at all?
Congress has a habit of speaking half truth… BJP needs a strong cell in place to look into the local and national advertisements by Congress, identify their lie and Hit back real hard with facts and data the very next day … public memory is short … make you of it when they are listening.
BJP also needs to anticipate what Congress will use against them in the campaign, try and clear water before the campaign hits else be prepared to have a counter campaign.They should ensure to use common national level figures and appropriate local level figures in campaign.
Contradictions amongst BJP leaders during campaign is a BIG NO NO.
BJP needs to really use the internet very very skillfully to propogate themselves.
Aam Aadmi has never been with Congress after 1989 elections.
Again, 2004 elections were a verdict against BJP not for Congress.
Media has been highlighting 2004 elections as Congress Victory which is totally Untrue.
Gujjuman,
What is the reason for that. They must be convinced that Congress has no chance in Gujarat because of central leadership.
AGP, BJP agree on seat-sharing
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Oct 27 – The seat-sharing arrangements between the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the coming Parliamentary elections is likely to be formally announced on November 3 following a meeting between the leaders of both the parties.
AGP would support the ASDC-BJP alliance in the hill districts. The AGP also held talks with the Bodoland People’s Progressive Front (BPPF) and the possibility of leaving the Kokrajhar Parliamentary seat to the party can not be ruled out.
Patowary revealed that the AGP decided to go for seat- sharing with the BJP only after receiving assurance from the national party to deal with the burning problems of the State.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=oct2808/at01
==========
My take.
I did a small research on Asom, as AGP became partner with BJP for 2009.
To my assessement, in Asom, BJP+AGP+Others alliance can win 8-9, out of 14.
BJP fight 6 seats in 2009, they can win 3-4.
AGP fight 6, can win 3-4
ASDC-BJP alliance can won 1
BJP-AGP-Bodo alliance can win 1
BJP alone 2009: Best possible 5, worst 3
Note. BJP losts two seats in 2004, due to vote split between BJP and AGP, BJP and ASDC.
==
INC can surely win 5-6 seats 2009. Two seats- Dhubri and Barpeta, are eternally gone to muslims, as they are illegal Bangladeshi jihadi controlled constituencies..
Best possible INC – 7, Worst – 4
PS. I shall not share detail data, as it is an open forum. I may submit to BJP office.
arjun
Local congress leaders know that they cant win until central government stops its opportunism on Godhra. Also, with kind of minority appeasement going at centre they are having hard time convincing people here that congress stands for everyone and not for muslims.
If you ask any lay person in Gujarat, he will say “Congress musalmano ni party chai!!”
Till they are linked with congress, they wont make local government, alteast for next 10 years. Also when they will see BSP surge it will be difficult for them to switch to BSP.
Also, if Shankarsinh and narhari amin switch to BSP, congressi is done with.
Both of them have been heard saying lately that they are not happy with congress leadership and merging Janta dal to congress was wrong step.
it will be difficult for them to not* switch to
In elections, you need a core message to keep harping on, back and forth, a base to return to after each foray into any issue you talk about, a common thread which binds all diverse items on your anti-Congress list of items. This core will not, repeat not, stand alone by itself, nor can it even vaguely replace concrete issue. But is has to be the refrain that begins and ends any issue.
That core is:
“We will bring in true secularism, where no religion gets special treatment and no religion gets trampled on. The Congress has fooled the people with its false “secularism” in which special treatment is given to some religions and other religions are treated like rubbish. Congress hatao, Desh bachao”.
Most issues can be linked to the core; but some cannot (cannot be linked in a succinct way, at least; and therefore linking them is inadvisable). Issues like the economy. So the BJP can say, “In addition to issues arising out of this false Congress-chaap secularism –in which some religions have priority and others are third-class– what has the Congress done? (Talk about inflation etc)”
It is important to be clear when talking about false secularism that it is “false Congress-chaap secularism, in which some religions have priority and others are third-class” etc, because without speaking a those few extra words everytime, the public gets lost. Which is suicide. Diluted message or confused voter = defeat.
http://www.congress4india.com/
http://www.congress.org.in/
Have you guys seen this congress site. I tried to find out what the supporters of Congress think but there are no comments at all.
http://www.aicc.org.in/
Its funny to see that AICC still congratulates Sonia for 2004 victory. I guess they have no other victory to congratulate her for.
Guys,
We have to stop Raj Thackery and his despicable goons. They are going after the weakest sections of society. I wish the Sadhvi had got these racist scumbags instead. And seriously if any of your marathi friends are condoning this violence they need to be ostracised
UP labourer lynched on Mumbai local train
29 Oct 2008, 0125 hrs IST, Nitin Yeshwantrao , TNN
Print Email Discuss Share Save Comment Text:
THANE: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s hate campaign against North Indians claimed the life of a 25-year-old labourer from Uttar Pradesh who was
beaten up on Tuesday by Marathi-speaking youths in a local train at Khopoli station.
“Dharamdev Rai, the labourer, died two to three hours after he was admitted to a Badlapur hospital. There are no external injuries. He, along with three others, had boarded a CST-bound train at Khopoli station when they were attacked by a group of ten to 12 people. The four north Indians were punched and kicked by the group. They alighted at Badlapur station where Rai was admitted to Dubey Hospital. He died two to three hours after his admission to the hospital,” A K Sharma, commissioner of the government railway police, told TOI.
Asked if it was a hate attack, Sharma said, “The three who were accompanying Rai have said that the attackers were all speaking Marathi.” Sharma said Rai and the others worked in a factory in Khopoli and were going home in Uttar Pradesh.
Rai, with Veerendra Ramgopal Rai, Satyaprakash Kaushal Rai and Shivkumar Verma, hailed from Gauri Ghat in UP’s Gorakhpur district. The boys were to board the Kushinagar express from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at Kurla.
Verma told a private TV news channel that the immediate provocation for the attack was an argument between them and the Marathi-speaking youths. It’s learnt that the four, who had boarded the 1.55 pm CST-bound local, were questioned about their destination as they were carrying suitcases and luggage with them. “When the Marathi-speaking youths learnt that we were going to UP, they taunted us and angrily told us not to return,” Verma said.
“When we protested, we were humiliated and beaten up by the group which got off the train at Karjat station,” Verma said. GRP commissioner Sharma said there were no external injuries on any of the four but the death could have occurred because Rai was hit in a sensitive area. “The port-mortem will reveal the reason for the death,” he said.
Yoss,
You might want to write about this Raj Thackery phenomena. We can’t brush this under the carpet as it could become another Bhindrawale.
Marathis themselves have to stand up against this Rakshasa who is threatening the fabric of the nation. They cannot justify this violence for racist reasons.
Minority workers ransack Rajasthan Congress office
Dissidence has been simmering within the Rajasthan Congress for the past few weeks over allotment of tickets to candidates for the forthcoming Assembly polls.
It took a rather ugly turn with Muslim workers of the party ransacking the state headquarters in Jaipur on Monday breaking photographs of Congress stalwarts like Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Agitated workers targeted the office of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president C.P. Joshi and broke the windowpanes on finding it locked.
The attackers allegedly were backing Riazuddin, a claimant for ticket from Adash Nagar in Jaipur and opposing Mahir Ajad, also a contender.
The incident followed a series of protests taking place all over the state, including a road blockade in Kota last week. It has been taken very seriously by the party since it concerns its minority vote bank. The party was forced to issue a press release asking its workers not to believe the list of candidates appearing in the media.
http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18808§ionid=22&issueid=56&Itemid=1
Raj Thackery’s brand of politics is full of hatred and barbarism. I feel Congress state govt. is going really soft on him. May be they are trying to forge an alliance with him for Lok Sabha elections? He should be jailed for instigation and spreading hatred and violence.
Nishika,
Raj Thakarey is wrongly painted Goonda by the media. If you have observed now all the political leaders including the chief minister is accepting that there is an Issue which needs to be addressed but the means used by Raj is wrong.This is solely because they have seen and felt the huge backlash of the common man. Please appreciate nobody is supporting killing and loss of public property even the common man. Especially Mumbai follows : live and let live principle.
It is time the issues raised by MNS and supported by the masses all across Maharashtra are addressed.
check the local news papers the responses send by people should work as eyeopeners to the Govt. The frustration of the people needs an outlet.
I feel media as usual is playing foul on this one too biased reporting and painting the picture of marathi versus non marathi fight for each and every thing.Local train fights are not a “news” to Mumbai people.
It will be an error to paint him without understanding the issues he has raised.
@proud Indian
“If you have observed now all the political leaders including the chief minister is accepting that there is an Issue which needs to be addressed but the means used by Raj is wrong.”
What is the issue proud indian?
the current issue is preferred local employment. As per the CM there is a law that states 80% locals need to be recruited and this is not implemented. The CM is now appointing senior officers to take care of this ( as per local newspapers). Why now – because he has to face the people in the coming elections and has no answers. This was one of the reasons why they were not taking strict action against Raj but when the survival of the MMS govt was at stake they had to arrest him.
Leaders like Sharad pawar, R R Patil, Munde, Deshmukh himself, Shivsena, bhujbal, rane all have agreed the issue needs to be addressed in the cabinet meeting. ( source local newspapers)
@proud Indian
There might be an issue but innocant people are being killed – you should hate Raj thackery just for that. He is targetting the weak
Why we hindus are so parochial ? Why can’t we at least for once leave our regional, language, state identity and concentrate in liberating India from the clutches of anti-hindu Congress ? One thing is for sure, Raj Thakeray is being propped up by Congress to split the votes of Shiv Sena. Otherwise they would have taken action at the first instance itself. They, the Congress and their fellow travellers are very adapt at these kinds of skulduggery. Creation of Bhindranwale is one among them and we experienced what that one thing resulted into. Congress is the only divisive force in this country.
We hindus fight each other. How many supported the agitation of the Jammuites for the Amarnath land issue ? But take the case of the minorities ? Even they get support from foreign governments. How many raised their voice in favour of the Malaysian hindus ? We are a hopelessly divided lot on the basis of caste, region, language and what not. We accuse each other south, north, west, east and create ill will. That is what the Congress has in mind. To divide the hindu community and get enbloc vote from the minority. That is the reason for the minority appeasement, for hindus can be easily divided.
“Proud Indians” never support divisive forces. Otherwise the Congress is sure to go all the way to their vote bank – laughing.
Nishka,
It is right and proper to hate Raj; I do too. But everybody needs to know that he is fighting for an issue close to the hearts of all Marathi people. His methods are 100% despicable, but to label him a racist goonda without any qualifying statement is wrong. Call him a goonda, call him someone who has used downright criminal tactics, but say, as proud Indian has done, that he has a point, but his methods are criminal. The MaNaSe goons who were involved in the violence need to be punished to the fullest extent of the law, and Raj should be punished too as far as his responsibility in all this goes.
Raj has the manpower to disrupt any exams without getting violent. That is an action that would get his point across. Now he has become a common criminal all over India, and should pay for his crimes.
@ Nishka
Is that the rule to apply always? Whenever innocent people are killed, we should hate the perpetrators?
Does it apply if its Biharis, Hindus, Muslims or Christians – as long as they are innocent – are killed? But then what is the definition of innocence?
I read marathi community sites often – and there attitude towards MNS is the same as yours is towards BD. We support the idea, but do not approve of the means.
But lack of support for the means makes no difference. You are not the killer. The killers want only your moral support of their ideas
They will take care of the killings themselves.
The same goes for everyone who does killings. They take their moral support from their larger community, ignore the opposition to the violence, and do what they want.
Your opposition is of no consequence. The killers in Maharashtra take their support from a general maharashtrian dissatisfaction, BD takes its support from a general hindu anger, and Muslim terrorists take their support from a general muslim sympathy. Decent people in no community supports killings. But the killers only want your understanding of the emotion, they dont care that you dont support the murders
Speaking as a Maharashtrian – I can argue that the MNS issue as something that hurts Maharashtra and Marathis more than anyone else. Not in terms of “image” or “perception” but purely because this is a manifestation of exaggerated sense of victimhood. Once anyone falls for the “I am a victim” trap – it is almost impossible to climb out of it.
The issue is not of a hurt marathi “asmita” either. Contrast “Gujrati” asmita – which as presented as an empowering message by Gujrat’s inimitable leader.
The present arguments are represent two extremes – one that is trapped in misplaced victimhood for an entire culture and the other that proclaims the superiority of cultural ambiguity. Neither serve to empower the Marathi “manus” in specific or India and Indians in general.
What does Maharashtra need?
Freedom. Freedom from Congress and Shiv Sena’s demagoguery. Freedom from 50-60 years of oppression.
The shame is that the birthplace of the RSS seems to be the last to see any real change. Help elect BJP to the state, without the prop of Shiv Sena, and then the real “marathi asmita” can shows its face!
Let us Narendra Modi’s footsteps and follow Shivaji’s lead in proclaiming the entire Indian nation not as an Indic “rashtra” but as an Great Indic Rashtra – a “Maha” “Rashtra.”
Nishika,
Raj has never asked his followers to kill people. As regards destruction of public property yes it needs to be addressed. But again who knows who did it, whether they were MNS followers or other people ( like Shiv Sena). Here I am not supporting Raj, i am making a point that he is NO HITLER. I donot profess killing or destruction it is a strict NO NO. Just don’t be in a hurry to label him. If found guilty he will have to face the consequences.
KSV,
Congress has dug its own grave in Maharashtra…. and Raj issue is a hot potato for them to handle. Yes agreed that Hindus should stand united.
I wonder whether really Raj is getting any “support” from Congress.. may be time will prove it…
As a Proud Indian i too am working to ensure Congress doesnot come to power.. I answered this one as i felt we are getting biased and ignoring issues.
Well , its sad that we Hindus are so parochial that we are always fighting amongst ourselves for one reason or the other. Till we all get united , full fledged BJP govt at the centre will remain a pipedream. Its disappointing that people here and outside saying Raj’s issues are very right though the means are not. Damn it guys forget the issue , dont you people realise how the game is being played . If there is an issue as some of you here say then first ask Raj to stop this attacks on innocents and then talk of the issue through peaceful means. There are millions of means to address an issue and now here dont say its not being happening. Just imagine if every state says that we wont allow outsiders then the basic idea of India is flawed.
Today he is asking for outsiders to be banned, tomorrow it will be freedom from India and then also he will come up with many issues which some of you might support saying they are issues which need to be addressed. Stop bullshitting yourself and others, we get what we deserve if you people want Raj and his kind of politics then forget the idea of India being one and united.
@ proud indian and @ G
It is not just in the case of MNS – in every issue, talking is possible. Talking without bravado is the best way to handle things easily. It takes time, but the fact that people are not killed is worth it. I am someone who thought that the Babri demolition was totally avoidable – it may have taken a lot of time, well we already have waited for 16 years afterwards for the temple!!! It was much better to have talked for 16 years.
Time to ignore ramu.
The real issue now is how to build up atmosphere so that anti-BJP forces ,psec forces NOT take advantage of this situation . Any thoughts how this can be d one?
Ramu and their ilk go around in circles and try hard to preach to Hindus who are all peace loving without exception. They know this fact and and hence without fear show off their various suave skills to us. Reverend Ramu, go try talking to ur narrow minded brethren from ur cults. Preach there not here
@ Ram jan
In theory, man, in theory.
I don’t see much peace-love here!! “Narrow minded cults, eh?” I can feel the love already.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/oct/29inter.htm
Something which coolaborates wih hat Yoss had written earlier on Hindu terrorism
sorry shd read reg. Sadvis arrest not ” hindu terrorism”
A bit OT, but relevant nonetheless:
Muslims oppose formation of Telangana state
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Muslims_oppose_formation_of_Telangana_state/articleshow/3652120.cms
FTA: “In a new twist to the vexed Telangana issue, Muslim politicians and organizations have now started opposing the formation of the new state. On Wednesday morning, a team of Muslim leaders from the Congress left for New Delhi to persuade the party leadership that the formation of a new state would jeopardize the interests of the minorities”
Well the irony couldn’t be more obvious…the RoP followers opposing the formation of Telangana…someone should remind them as to how their brethren had demanded, fought for and gotten away with carving Pakistan out of Bharatvarsh! Another proof as to how the leaders with separatists & anti-India & anti-Hindu mindset are at loggerheads with the larger interest of the nation. It has always-always to be about these ‘persecuted’ minorities…the poor Muslims…who after independence were sooooo afraid of living under Hindu majority rule in India that they had to have a state, a nation exclusivley for themselves…later on when majority of their brethren still preffered to stay back and enjoy the hospitality of the Hindus ruled India, they kept on demanding special treatment, and had no qualms in throwing tantrums as well as baring their fangs, if & when the situation demanded (Bhiwandi ‘70, Bhagalpur ‘89, Mumbai ‘93, Godhra ‘02), so as their interests, which btw always overrode the national interests, were never ever overlooked by the communal disposition called CON-gress & its regional avatars like that joker Laloo or Paswan or Mulayam for that matter.
Muslims or their so-called leaders, who claim to speak on behalf of their community, please keep on with this charade, this separatist mentality…that the avg Hindu has witnessed in the last six decades, and you will fully succeed in wideing the bridge between the two communities, which unfortunately will lead to a situatuion where this gap will grow unsurmountable!
BTW, in context of the article, I think BJP & its allies might have a better chance of adding to their seats in this region from AP…I might be wrong…AP guys over here…can they please comment on this observation of mine?
Progeny priority for Cong tickets
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081029/jsp/nation/story_10033260.jsp
With this kind of internal politics, I am sure congress will lose all three BJP ruled states.
Guys,
There can’t be ifs and buts. This Shiv Sena and it’s offshoots Raj and bakwas have always played with the integrity of India. We cannot tolerate these guys.
MNS goons have killed plenty of people since Raj started raving and ranting. There should be no sympathy for this bozo. Also Marathis cannot demand similar privilages in other states of India and continue to flout the privilages and kill others who stay in their states. Bihar supplies a hell of a lot of mineral resources and does not take any royalty for them.
This Raj has started a horrible regional war with no thought of individual life. He is worse than a terrorist because terrorists fight for some ideology. This guy only wants power at any expense – even if it means breaking up the country
Ramu,
Talking is not possible with the likes of Raj Thackery. There is no real grievance here. It is just a desire to seize power.
What is happening in Maharashtra ? Killing just because somebody is from UP or Bihar. Is it not barbaric. Raj Thakaray should instruct his followers from indulging in such barbaric activities else the government should hold him responsible for the deaths personally.
Rather than protesting and going on a rampage, why not protest against the illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Compel the government to deport them immediately; all of them. Are they not eating away our scarce resources ? Are they not taking away our employment and thus making the life difficult for the poor by bringing down the wages ? Are they not a danger to the country ? Instead of fighting for the deportation of illegal aliens, we are fighting among ourselves. Ultimately who is going to be the loser? Everybody, including the Marathi, UPites, Biharis, we all Indians. For Gods sake think as Indians first and Indians last.
IB sees threat to Sangh from minority parties
HYDERABAD: An alert from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) indicating, either a possible terror strike or attacks by minority political parties on the offices of RSS and VHP
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=IB+sees+threat+to+Sangh+from+minority+parties&artid=l%2flg3dxxL0g%3d&SectionID=xAV59odivTs%3d&MainSectionID=xAV59odivTs%3d&SectionName=BUzPVSKuYv7MFxnS0yZ7ng%3d%3d&SEO=IB%3b+RSS%3b+VHP%3b+Malegaon%2c+Hyderabad%3b+police%3b+Sadhvi
@ Nishka,
Nothing is that simple. Maharashtrians have genuine grievances, and some rubbish ones too. I am not a Maharshtrian, but I have lived there long enough to understand their point of view.
Raj is doing the only thing he knows. Remember he is not doing anything worse than what Shiv Sena has done even now. Same school of action. But MNS, or Sena, doesnt talk. And both Congress and BJP have done their bit to make them popular.
The thing is, Sena and MNS both believe no one would listen unless they break a few things. A lot of Maharashtrians have started to believe it too. They believe sena has sold out to BJP, and MNS is their only hope.
The problem in Maharashtra is that no one is willing to talk. Not even Sena- BJP even though they are allies. There is no attempt by BJP to understand Maharahtrian thinking. Congress thinks allowing Raj to do what he wants is the best way to split the Sena-BJP votebank, and they are right.
In the end, the only losers are Maharashtrians.
Have I seen anyone from any party saying, these guys seem to have some issues – let us talk it out with them. Nope. No one.
In the larger context, Muslims do not want to talk to BJP, and vice versa. Talk is not about ultimatums, it is about finding the truth. The only ‘talk’ is see is now between the catholic church and BJP (and VHP too) in Kerala.
Take a look at this for some fragments of the real problem – http://ibnlive.in.com/news/devils-advocate-shobhaa-de-on-mumbai-vs-bombay/76806-3-single.html
[...] with Part-2 of “How the Congress betrayed the aam admi ?“, Offstumped digs deep into how Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh have inflicted deep fissures [...]
“What is the issue proud indian?”
Usual strife over resources. Overpopulation in Mumbai and displacement of those who have been there for long. In a comical way, the Bangladeshis are displacing the Biharis and UP people, who in turn are displacing the Marathi people.
I don’t understand why people are getting angry about Raj Thackeray. So what if he’s a goonda, aren’t most politicians? Or is it that he is not your usual socialist-type goonda that Lalu and Mulayam are. What’s unusual then?
Same about innocent people getting killed. Have the actions of Lalu, Mulayam, Karunanidhi, even the secular socialist types not caused death of innocent people? Raj is just one more of the kind then. Why the faux outrage? Or is it that all goondas are equal but some goondas are more equal than others?
All the talk of ‘talk’ is fine and dandy so long as there is possibility of honest conversation, which can be there if only there’s some genuine leverage for the talking parties. As a columnist says today, “…. negotiating in the Middle East without leverage is like playing baseball without a bat.” How many here think that Hindus have such a leverage while talking with Christists or Muslims? With political parties falling over themselves to court the minorities, do Muslims and Christists have incentive to engage Hindu groups in talks, whilst they are served with better dividends on a ’secular’ platter? No prize for guessing where these talks are likely to head.
most Hindus, Muslims and christians do not want riots, killings or attacking places of worship. Isn’t that enough of a leverage for all sides?
Why would anyone want to give up violence if it gives them leverage? Especially since it is no becoming counterproductive for them to do so. In fact the involved groups will indulge in more aggression to extract higher leverage. And communal history in India provides a good testimony towards that.
Btw we’re repeatedly told that it is the minority of the minorities that indulges in violence. How can the wants of most Christians or Muslms stop their minority from indulging in violence?
The majority in no community is violent. The very small percentage looks to the rest of the community for support for their ‘ideas’ and then they translate it into ‘action’. Then the majority says, hey we dont support the ‘action’ but the violent minority does not care about that, as the ‘idea’ is still in favor of them!
The atmosphere of talks creates an environment where the violent groups do not get fed on moral support. It does not happen quickly, but slowly it happens.
But the problem is, while looking for quick results, no community or party wants to talk and actually end up getting no results. And often they get more than they can handle.
The maharashtrian fear that they are getting crowded out of Mumbai and Maharashtra is a genuine fear. ANswers may not come easy, but no one tries to understand that. The fear is as genuine as the Hindu fear that they may not matter in their own country. But have I seen an attempt by Hindus to explain themselves in non-aggressive terms? No. Have I seen an attempt by others to understand the root causes without reporting instantly to secularism dialogs? No.
I have sat with people from opposing camps – and apart from a few, others could dump the language of aggression and explain things, and once u put yourselves in their shoes, it is easy to understand. And make adjustments in your own unthinking behaviour to put others at ease. Aggression on the other hand brings opposing aggression and nobody gets anything.