Shveta Chhatra Debate – May 16th to June 11th 2009

Starting with this post, a compilation of short commentary on Twitter will be posted on the blog every week or so.

This first compilation is of all Twitter posts since May 16th after the elections.

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   1. But transparency and a stake for all such voices is a necessary pre-requisite for that debate to be effective, first task is to ensure that
   2. Ignoring Anil Chawla’s frustration, his prescription for the BJP back in 2002 has merit and must be debated with other similar prescriptions
   3. Earlier observation stands Mr. Chawla does great disservice to himself by not alluding to this prescription in his open letter
   4. Reader points to Anil Chawlas prescription for the bjp back in 2002 which Offstumped and others are talking about only now http://is.gd/YYTc
   5. LK Advani with Rajnath Singh must not just take responsibility but announce process by which debate will occur & transition will take place
   6. It is time for Mr. L.K. Advani to show leadership . He must stand up take responsibility saying the buck stops with him on election debacle.
   7. The RSS needs to be transparent about its relationship with the BJP, it cannot function as a Private Holding Company with backroom diktats
   8. But NDTV reports about RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s call to L.K. Advani on Sudheendra Kulkarni raise many troubling questions
   9. Jaswant Singh to Vinay Katiyar – they all have freedom to dissent in public, this is nothing to get worked up about media notwithstanding
   10. RT @BDUTT jaswant singh interview done the BJP dissent going public. The media may have a field day but transparent public debate is healthy
   11. Swapan Dasgupta reveals he has submitted a rejoinder to Sudheendra Kulkarni’s Tehelka piece due to appear in next edition http://is.gd/YRFd
   12. Let me go further to say Anil Chawla does great disservice to himself letting his frustration get ahead of his intellect http://is.gd/YRtJ
   13. One longtime Offstumped reader takes issue with with my criticism of Anil Chawla’s letter he misses the point the criticism is of the letter
   14. Swapan Kanchan’s blogs attract heated debate, but all bravehearts, some Offstumped readers must learn to distinguish b/w abuse & objectivity
   15. The new Big Tent is open enough to endure transparent public debate for the White Umbrella shall inspire their commitment to a larger cause
   16. Let the contrarians, totalitarians, utlitarians and idea-tarians put their views to the ballot test within the new Big Tent
   17. The new Big Tent with White Umbrella for a metaphor may just be the antidote for Truth & Reconciliation within the broad space to the Right
   18. Another voice speaks for a fresh look at the ideology debate http://tinyurl.com/kqrkgl makes interesting use of the Umbrella metaphor
   19. From one IIT Mumbai alumnus to another Mr. Chawla your rant reflects more frustration than offer any positive prescription for the future
   20. Kanchan Gupta does great disseervice to his credibility by linking to this rather third rate open letter by an Anil Chawla http://is.gd/Yphe
   21. The debate must continue, it must be transparent & public but then healing process must begin with a grassroots election of next Mass Leader
   22. Picking on ideas in the I.T. Vision may make for good shock and awe, but it highlights the ideological incoherence during and after campaign
   23. Too simplistic for @KanchanGupta & others to stereotype NextGen as “laptop brigade” but they are the future, mentor them dont dismiss them
   24. My response to @KanchanGupta latest blog post http://is.gd/Yom5 Leaders must take the rap, it is patently unfair to target Campaign Managers
   25. Kanchan Gupta is right in his diagnosis, Jaswant Singh maybe right in questions he poses, but it cannot be said they have the prescriptions
   26. Finished reading Kanchan Gupta’s latest contrarian blogpost between flights on my blackberry, suffices to say it provokes more debate
   27. Kanchan Gupta is now on Twitter, Welcome @KanchanGupta
   28. If the BJP epitomises the lack of ideological coherence the Communists reflect the effects of strict adherence to dogma
   29. The latter on the other hand can result in becoming a prisoner of the past with little flexibility in responding to future challenges
   30. The former is important to ensure coherence in public debate and to help extrapolate likely choices one wud make in the future
   31. There is an important distinction between a broad ideological stance and a strict adherence to dogma
   32. @TheVarunGupta That is a misconception, we must not confuse an accurate understanding of facts with making choices on policy alternatives
   33. Wisdom of the “present times” cannot be found in backroom nor in diktats, clarity on ideology can be achieved only thru open public debate
   34. Whether succession can happen by evolution is a matter of debate, the process however must be transparaent, bottom-up and representative
   35. Pre-requisite for Leadership is “mass support”, no reinvention can begin in backroom and by diktat, a grassroots ballot alone has legitimacy
   36. Ultimately mass leaders must take responsibility for electoral consequences, the buck must stop with them
   37. It must be a terribly incompetent Leader who blames strategists & campaign manager for his defeat, Leadership is not about passing the buck
   38. @Sunlaad Blair moment is more appropriate since it refers to a reinvention of a party within a sovereign functioning democracy
   39. Kanchan Gupta on Swapan’s blog takes a contrarian view. He is right on factors he lists but they wont change unless there is a Blair moment
   40. Announcing the Offstumped Community second Live Event scheduled for 10am IST this saturday, click here for more details http://is.gd/V7bn
   41. The White Umbrella shall stand for the Panchayat and the BDO being directly accountable to Kalavati and her community, buck stops with them
   42. In the new Big Tent no Kalavati will ever need a certificate from a Neta in remote Delhi to get her local govt to deliver http://is.gd/UL3k
   43. Hence the White Umbrella as a symbol of Justice to exude credibility & confidence that the Constitution & Rule of Law will always be upheld
   44. That symbol must be unambiguous in rejection of violence or Adharma and vocal in its respect for Rule of Law and punishment to violators
   45. Those aspiring to be natural alternative for governance & proud of Hindu heritage must choose a symbol that upholds Constitution as Dharma
   46. Hindutva today symbolises rightly or wrongly a fervent desire for an unfinished culture war to be fought and won by any and all means
   47. And one doent have to go beyond the mainstream to appreciate this ambivalence it was manifest in responses to Malegaon and Kandhamal
   48. That failure is rooted in Hindutva and its practitioners ambivalence on Respect for the Rule of Law and upholding the Constitution as Dharma
   49. Hindutva’s biggest failure lies in fact that neither did it codify blanket rejection of acts of Adharma in its name nor did its advocates
   50. Hindutva as popularly understood – hardly codified, poorly articulated and narrowly interpreted and practised, its as much its failure
   51. The reader poses the question why blame Hindutva if BJP failed to have a moral compass, shud one blame the ideology or its practictioners ?
   52. More from Offstumped archives on Gandhi and his Gita http://is.gd/Uz5s and how poorly Gandhi has been understood http://is.gd/Uz8J
   53. Most have poorly understood Gandhi by being stucking on his advocacy of non-violence not realizing it was a means to Anasakata selflessness
   54. A reader has a quibble with Gandhi and his interpretation of Gita here is the original from Offstumped archives http://is.gd/UySm after 7/11
   55. Typical of the Progressives to tout their ability to “spend” as proof of performance, financial clearance to 390 is nothing to cheer about
   56. A Nehruvian expansion of higher education that reaffirms Federal role must not be confused with Education Reform http://is.gd/TYNh
   57. The White Umbrella awaits its detached Moral Leader who will be missionary and visionary
   58. Leadership is about remaking the electoral landscape as it ought to be with missionary zeal and visionary appeal
   59. Leadership is not about accepting the electoral landscape as it exists and leaving the rest to “circumstances”
   60. Destiny is not shaped by those who allow their fortunes to be determined by others “circumstances” http://is.gd/TUQM
   61. Surfacing of brand new anti India khalistan bumper stickers in the US poses serious questions on events in Austria and their likely sponsor
   62. Anecdotal evidence disturbing on revival of Khalistan within non-resident Sikh diaspora
   63. Unless they repose faith in the White Umbrella’s ability to deliver Justice by seeking the Truth and facilitating Reconciliation
   64. Shveta Chhatra will not satisfy those suffering deep cultural greivances and nurturing fantasies of an unfinished culture war
   65. Hence the White Umbrella as a non-theocratic symbol of Justice from the yesteryears to build the new Big Tent on
   66. To inspire credibility and confidence it must exude clarity on how that moral compass guides it on Justice to all and discrimination to none
   67. There is nothing wrong in the BJP deriving its moral compass from Hindu thought and it need not be apologetic about it
   68. Hindutva’s failure has been its inability to provide such a moral compass & worse offer rationalization to right wrongs commited in its name
   69. The difference is Gandhi’s deep and public assertion of his faith was to convey his moral compass that told him right from wrong
   70. Its like nobody can think of Gandhi without his deep faith in Gita and Karma Yoga, but then nobody labelled Gandhi communal on its account
   71. A reader writes it may be too radical for BJP to shed its Hindu identity, in a way he is right
   72. Plausible deniability is hardly a negative as the painful process of introspection gets underway http://is.gd/Tfmp
   73. Those who swear by essence of Hindu thought wud do well to reflect on how that essence spread to South east Asia from Indonesia to Cambodia
   74. For all the talk on Swadeshi, trade protectionism is as Videshi an idea as it can get
   75. BJP’s protectionist response to FDI in Retail is a good example of Hindutva’s failure to provide coherence and guide on policy alternatives
   76. @PRSLegislative you are revolutionizing Public Policy debate with your tweets, kudos
   77. Under the White Umbrella it will be up to each Community to decide what form of Retailing it will prohibit or not based on local factors
   78. The White Umbrella shall stand not for phony protectionism that protects special interests but for protecting community’s freedom to choose
   79. In new Big Tent it will not be about onesize fitall Retail policy but it will be about freedom to community to decide what best serves needs
   80. RT @PRLSLegislative the full Standing Committee report on FDI in Retail available here: http://bit.ly/6ai0B
   81. The Standing Committee report on FDI in Retail addresses tangential issues in its 9 recommendations, the 3 letter word FDI is notably absent
   82. Beware once again of unsolicited advice from Progressives masquerading as well-wishers http://bit.ly/Z4Nk7 they want a progressive monopoly
   83. White Umbrella shall stand for principle that there is as much wisdom in local community as there is in unelected NewDelhi based Commissions
   84. In the new Big Tent the Executive shall not only be directly accountable to the community it serves it will also have a stake in its future
   85. Problem with nonperforming bureaucracy has less to do with political interference more to do with lack of accountability to community serve
   86. The Civil Services Bill in its present form makes the problem worse,by shifting accountability of bureaucrats away from elected executive
   87. Civil Services Bill is yet another symptom of the obsessive centralization disorder suffered by the Progressives http://bit.ly/OhwtO
   88. The review appeared in Indian Express http://is.gd/SmLe Hyderabad Univs Vasanthi Srinivasan attempts to derive a coherent political ideology
   89. Interesting review of a biography of C. Rajagopalachari comes to attention as a reader draws parallels between Swatantra and Shveta Chhatra
   90. The White Umbrella shall herald the Indian renaissance by harnessing knowledge ideas innovations of all Indians from the farms to factories
   91. The White Umbrella endorses his rejection of this “aam admi” approach that treats people as having mouths, legs and hands but no head
   92. The new Big Tent will echo Prof Anil Gupta on his view that “Uniformity of policy in a country as diverse as India is a recipe for disaster”
   93. The White Umbrella shall stand for treating every Indian as special and unique instead of the dismissive Progressive approach of “aam admi”
   94. A distinguishing feature of the new Big Tent shall be a rejection of the One Size Fit All approach of the Progressives
   95. India deserves decentralised diversified and innovative policies http://is.gd/S6nL Prof Anil Gupta echoes Offstumped
   96. Till the commentators in the Organiser overcome their deep paranoia and victimhood there is not much hope for the movement to recover
   97. This must rate as one of the worst commentaries in defense of Hindutva as an ideology http://is.gd/RSrq
   98. Refreshing candour and clarity from an Indian and a Muslim http://is.gd/RB1y
   99. In the answer to that question lies the key to the BJP’s predicament to reinvent itself as a natural alternative for governance
   100. It imperative to ask if the Shveta Chhatra was one common symbol of governance and justice thru centuries why did the Sangh choose the Bhagwa
   101. Its Solution lies in Dharma hence the White Umbrella to symbolize the core of that ancient tradition
   102. Mackenzie ” The problem of government is the ethical problem of the individual projected onto the State”
   103. The answer lies in his closing sentence which is a gem by itself
   104. So why did Mackenzie Brown identify the Shveta Chhatra or White Umbrella as one common symbol spanning Manu to Gandhi ?
   105. Twin principles of Economic Freedom & National Interest must be inferred from this minimalist role for the State with Dharma as moral compas
   106. In fact Sukraniti postulates Liberal Nationalism very eloquently with just 2 roles for the State – protect subjects and punish offenders
   107. Interesting to note that in the ancient Indian State the role of Government is limited to upholding the rule of law and National Interest
   108. Mackenzie goes further “behind all brutal expediencies there remains the ultimate accountability to the rule of law or Dharma”
   109. Mackenzie ” the modern reader must fully appreciate the tenacity and restraining power of Dharma…”
   110. Respect for Mackenzie grows with his observation that a common mistake is made that the Mahabharata condones cynical realism at War time
   111. One also sees the roots of “Minimum Government Maximum Governance” in Dharma demanding a moderately low Tax regime from the Indian State
   112. Also important to note that ultimately Dharma would take precedence over Kautilya and Sukra propounded “realism”
   113. For according to Mackenzie the ancient Indian State did not exercise popular control over trade and productive enterprise
   114. Most interesting to my liberal national friends shud be Mackenzie’s observation that the ancient Indian State should not be called socialist
   115. Mackenzie highlights how Freedom to the Community flourished through autonomy to Local Government over the centuries while Empires perished
   116. Mackenzie demonstrates astounding clarity on how Dharma was the basis for the Indian State why India never developed into a Theocracy
   117. Reading Mackenzie Brown’s The White Umbrella – Indian Political Thought from Manu to Gandhi
   118. Industry Community engagement is a must for the new Big Tent to be a reality http://is.gd/QGXF kudos Bangalore IT cell
   119. Absurdity doesnt require a 100 day roadmap http://is.gd/QvL8
   120. National Interest is not served by white-washing the past http://is.gd/QumA a Blue Ribbon Commission is in order, will the media stand up ?
   121. Beware of Progressives masquerading as well-wishers http://is.gd/Qt1P they would like nothing better than Progressivism becoming a monopoly
   122. Swapan Dasgupta is unrelenting on why its time to drop Hindutva http://is.gd/QmAa misses the point on why ideology when he speaks of ideas
   123. Truth and Reconciliation in the new Big Tent http://is.gd/Phti
   124. Will the women stand up and challenge how gender issues will be addressed by forcing a permanent quota in the Legislature ?
   125. The Progressives get their guilt and victimhood loaded spend spend spend agenda http://is.gd/OqzN
   126. It is not without reason there are no walls or doors in the new Big Tent – freshness is welcome but no preferred access
   127. In fact there cannot be any Dharma in a strict dogmatic ideological prescription, the new Big Tent must remain Open at all times
   128. This is where those who claim to understand the essence of Hindu thought have failed for that essence is the absence of strict dogma
   129. There is room to be guided by a broad ideological anchor without becoming a slave to strict dogma, navigating it is the challenge
   130. He misses elaborating the difference between dogma and ideology, the many arguments he lists against ideology have to do with dogma
   131. He is right on core premise thou, ideology is the moral compass to tell private from public, legal from criminal and immoral from personal
   132. But to begrudge private wealth with no basis is incoherence, Kanchan Gupta makes the case for ideology through his own confusion
   133. Spending public wealth on private events is illegal, abusing public office for private benefits could be unethical if not always illegal
   134. After a brief bright moment inanity returns to the debate http://is.gd/O02z or maybe not …
   135. Now that formalities have been done with can process begin with transparency and ballots perhaps to elect next mass Leader http://is.gd/N9YA
   136. In the new Big Tent the dream HRD Minister will be dreaming how not to get in the way of Higher Education
   137. Why should a Delhi based bureacracy control who sets up a University where and why ?
   138. Why does the Federal Government have a regulatory in higher education ?
   139. If even Govindacharya uses phrases like “Saffron Congress” there is definitely an acute need for ideological clarity and coherence
   140. The new Big Tent is big enough for Govindacharya http://is.gd/MqPb his objection to consumerism apart he does stand for Freedom to Community
   141. The White Umbrella awaits its detached Moral Leader who will shall evangelize Minimum Government Maximum Governance and Justice to All
   142. New Big Tent has a case study in Minimum Government Maximum Governance in Gujarat will it show the way on Justice and Discrimination as well
   143. Gujarat’s WASMO shows the way on Freedom and Responsibility to the Community http://is.gd/Mitt Center agrees too
   144. The Shveta Chhatra will stand for the assurance that while Indian sleep there is someone wide awake outhinking those inimical to India
   145. In the new Big Tent protecting national interest is not about fighting the previous attack but about pre-empting and preventing the next one
   146. Justice to 26/11 and 7/11 victims cannot come from kangaroo courts and exchanging dossiers, there has to be a moral commitment can UPA do it
   147. In the new Big Tent, National Interest will neither be episodic nor seasonal, the White Umbrella shall stand for a long time horizon
   148. Wages of coercive diplomacy – India’s post 26/11 was flawed to begin with for taking an episodic view of Jihadi Pakistan
   149. Arvind Lavakre misses the point http://is.gd/LBvF its not about PR when out of power but about coherence when in and out of power
   150. The White Umbrella shall stand for the assurance that local aspirations will be met without the need for central patronage and entitlements
   151. In the new Big Tent local aspirations will not be held hostage by centralized bureaucracies, local demand and commuter needs shall be key
   152. This is a good reason why Freedom to the Community must mean local solutions to local needs http://is.gd/Lsdn
   153. The ideological revision or redefinition urged by Swapan Dasupta and Kanchan Gupta will not happen without the next detached Moral Leader
   154. There could be less convoluted, more persuasive arguments to call upon the Karma Yogi to walk the talk http://is.gd/KVrr it still has merit
   155. Kanchan Gupta too makes the case for a fresh start to define a new ideological anchor http://is.gd/KLC3
   156. The White Umbrella that symbolizes Justice must become the metaphor for a movement that sees itself as a natural alternative for governance
   157. Governance is about Justice and not faith, its time to relegate Saffron that symbolizes faith to the private realm
   158. If Hindutva is essence of Hindu thought then which dyed in the wool traditionalist can object to that essence “Dharma” as a starting point
   159. Swapan Dasgupta says its time to drop the H-word http://is.gd/KKgz the Shveta Chhatra could provide a soft landing
   160. Progressives are not very Internet literate either they will miss early signals on where the rejuvenation will come from http://is.gd/KHn3
   161. The Progressives thrive on victimhood and guilt, they will never work to eliminate Caste prejudices, this is one root cause they wont get to
   162. White Umbrella shall stand for an unflinching commitment to removing all incentives that allow lineage and kinship to be used as leverage
   163. Caste prejudices are about lineage and kinship, its time we got to the crux how they preserve and perpetuate discrimination
   164. That debate must begin with a honest admission that Caste prejudices are a social phenomenon with no religious sanction in any faith
   165. To forward logic that caste doesnt change even if religion changes is an open invitation for some hard questions on caste based reservations
   166. The new Big Tent is open and large enough for a honest debate on caste based reservations http://is.gd/KF9v
   167. Inclusive politics must not come to mean providing Constitutional Sanction to Bigotry at the expense of the State to appease a Minority
   168. While respecting a private Institution’s right to its bigotry it is unacceptable to allow access to public funds & allow discrimination
   169. The White Umbrella shall stand for a strict separation between faith and State, public and private preferences
   170. In the new Big Tent Discrimination against none shall mean any private Institution receiving public funds shall not impose cultural prefs
   171. This is a good reason why Courts should not be called upon to judge matters of faith http://is.gd/KhJw
   172. Too early to say if the new Big Tent is the solution to the BJP’s problems, first step would be for it to admit to the reality of its ills
   173. In 2004 there was no Varun Kandhamal BudiyaGudiya Mangalore or even media bias & plenty of moderation in Vajpayee, BJP’s problems lie deeper
   174. Having women for Speaker and Deputy Speaker maybe just the antidote to fix unruly Parliamentarians
   175. Manmohan Singh makes a good bi-partisan beginning offerint Deputy Speakership to the Opposition
   176. Harvard is putting Dharma to practice http://is.gd/JODE while we are still debating what the Shveta Chhatra must stand for
   177. The White Umbrella shall stand for keeping the State and Government far away from interfering with Culture
   178. The dream Culture Minister in the new Big Tent would be one who is actively looking for a different portfolio even before being sworn-in
   179. In the new Big Tent Culture is the exclusive preserve of Individual, Community and Faith. The Govt has no role http://is.gd/JOou
   180. In the new Big Tent unrealized Social Goals are a reminder to the detached Moral Leader of the job half done
   181. If every unmet social goal merits a Constitutional Right solves the problem why pray has Right to Adult Franchise not solved low turnouts
   182. The White Umbrella shall stand for crystal clarity on the distinction between Constitutional Rights and Private Obligations
   183. In the new Big Tent Food Security and Education will be about economic freedom with direct and transparent welfare providing safety net
   184. Competitive guilt and victimhood politics of Aam Admi are blurring the distinction between Private Obligations and Constitutional Rights
   185. If every Individual Responsibility is deemed a Constitutional Right will the Progressives service every basic instinct ?
   186. The White Umbrella shall not begrudge ethical pursuit of wealth while ruthlessly enforcing the law against crony capitalism
   187. In the new Big Tent this could also be called Minister spends 20 crores of personal wealth to stimulate local economy http://is.gd/JBv7
   188. Muslims of Bellary may live cheekbyjowl with BSY’s family for Gens but for a slight geographical problem called Shimoga http://is.gd/JkFK
   189. Swapan Dasgupta wants to ask uncomfortable questions of Hindutva
   190. Kanchan Gupta wants to redefine Hindutva Can Shveta Chhatra reconcile both
   191. Kanchan Gupta takes the ideology versus drift question head on http://is.gd/Jd7d while Barkha Dutt mostly drifts on familiar terrain
   192. Shveta Chhatra symbolizes the “Spirit of Enterprise” that was autonomous dominion of Local Community even in ancient times http://is.gd/JcWZ
   193. Shveta Chhatra Wisdom Soup - Cultural Diversity was not a product of State diktats, Dharma has always been about local cultural freedom
   194. White Umbrella will stand against myopic politics, giving Community & Enterprise freedom to choose without being antagonistic to each other
   195. In new Big Tent Opportunity is a 2way street, Enterprise needs to get local to market better, populace needs to get global to compete better
   196. In the new Big Tent languages and heritage will be preserved not by State diktats but by giving the community the freedom thru private means
   197. Freedom to the Community in the new Big Tent shall stand for freedom to set Education syllabi per performance benchmarks http://is.gd/J2sj
   198. @Chakreshm It is Progressive trap to label all talk of enterprise, skills, opportunities as pro-rich & anti-poor hence the need to challenge
   199. In the new Big Tent Poverty alleviation is about creating opportunities so there are no incentives to slide back to BPL status
   200. When the Progressives talk of Poverty alleviation they really mean Poverty preservation for they are trapped in the BPL mindset
   201. The average income in India has moved to 3000 Rs a month, the time is ripe to look beyond the BPL mindset to challenge Progressives
   202. Under the White Umbrella every Farmer shall have the freedom to think of himself or herself as an Entrepreneur
   203. In the new Big Tent moral obligations to rural India will not be about assuaging Urban guilt but about empowering with skills& opportunities
   204. From NREGA to Farm Debt Relief, the Progressives are killing any hopes of fostering a culture of Enterprise and Innovation in rural India
   205. Freedom to the Community guaranteed by the White Umbrella shall come to mean a culture where enterprise and innovation will be change agents
   206. The new Big Tent shall engender the Spirit of Enterprise to harness India’s technological potential http://is.gd/IM54 (RT @RMantri)
   207. The White Umbrella shall uphold the Rule of Law ruthlessly against Mob Violence, there will be no safe havens for the anonymous vandal
   208. In the new Big Tent the writ of the State shall not be undermined by political considerations http://is.gd/IsC6
   209. The White Umbrella shall guarantee that khaas admi masquerading as aam admi do not benefit at the expense of the tax payer
   210. In the new Big Tent welfare will be direct and transparent http://is.gd/Isgt to engender a Culture of Responsibility instead of Entitlement
   211. We know he can be ruthlessly honest, but can he ruthlessly defend http://is.gd/H5mY
   212. Will he remember all of their names http://is.gd/H0iu
   213. New Big Tent shall herald Third Freedom Movement to give local communities the freedom and autonomy to shape their destiny http://is.gd/GKdF
   214. Detached Moral Leader has no use for political correctness in new Big Tent, with no aspirations for power there will be no need to appease
   215. To say Moderations won implies Extremism was an option. The White Umbrella shall stand for clear Justice not wishywashy political correctnes
   216. In new Big Tent it wont do to merely be critical of shrillness sing paeans to sobriety, the detached Moral Leader must say it like it is
   217. Ethics, maturity and standing tall to dwarf pettiness are attributes of the detached Moral Leader http://is.gd/FKfW
   218. Swapan Dasgupta bells the cat http://is.gd/FpAZ its time we cleansed Saffron of political taint and restored it to its sacred place
   219. The White Umbrella awaits its detached Moral Leader who will build the new Big Tent
   220. Public conscience in the new Big Tent is rooted in the commitment to Constitution, there will be no tax payer funded conscience-keepers
   221. The White Umbrella shall inspire credibility and confidence in the ability of the Institutions of the State to uphold the Rule of Law
   222. In the new Big Tent Justice for all will be guaranteed by the Executive committed to the Dharma of Investigation http://is.gd/F05t
   223. Shveta Chhatra shall come to symbolize an Ownership Society that breeds a Culture of Responsibility and celebrates the spirit of Enterprise
   224. The new Big Tent will shun agitational politics stuck on greivances, embrace Aspirational Politics to create opportunities http://is.gd/DIyv
   225. The White Umbrella shall preserve original intent of the Constitution by requiring that the Chief Executive is directly elected by people
   226. Electoral Reform and separation of Executive from the Legislature will be defining characteristics of the new Big Tent http://is.gd/D0Wk
   227. Hypocrites who don Saffron have tainted it with Political Violence the moral cleansing must begin by purging them from the new Big Tent
   228. Those who violate the Rule of Law & challenge sovereignity of the State by threatening political violence will be outcasts in new Big Tent
   229. In the new Big Tent, the Rule of Law is applied not in the exception but as the norm. There will be no moral sanction for political violence
   230. Shveta Chhatra Wisdom Soup - No protection under the White Umbrella for lumpen thugs who swear by Hindutva and commit Adharma in its name
   231. The new Big Tent is large enough for all Indians, however there will be no room for xenophobes and lumpens http://is.gd/CWCk
   232. There will be no guilt or victimhood in the new Big Tent, the White Umbrella shall protect Economic Freedom from the tyranny of the State
   233. And when you take steps to maximize economic freedom the Progressives will try to guilt trip you with class war rhetoric http://is.gd/CLJh
   234. On the twin pillars of guilt and victimhood the Progressives are all set to steamroll their tax and spend agenda http://is.gd/CLH1
   235. The Progressives are hoisting their “youth icon” at the top of the totem pole into stratosphere, we wish them best
   236. There is no totem pole in the new Big Tent, its about the idea and not about the individual, the individual is irrelevant
   237. Shveta Chhatra Wisdom Soup – there is no kitchen sink in the new Big Tent, the Cabinet cannot taint the white umbrella
   238. In the new Big Tent, the dream Railways Minister would be one who spends every waking hour dreaming how to disband the Railways Ministry
   239. Why is the world’s largest employer cursed always to suffer the world’s worst managers http://is.gd/CEVp
   240. When Kanchan Gupta leaves a comment on Swapan Dasupta’s blog linking back to his own blog, theres message on why the new Big Tent is needed
   241. Expanding the Shweta Chhatra - 5 Big Ideas for the new Big Tent http://is.gd/CoXP
   242. Shevta Chhatra Wisdom Soup - there are no revolving doors in the new Big Tent, morality will be as clear as the White Umbrella
   243. Morality of convenience is a revolving door, what goes around eventually comes around
   244. Corruption and dynastic rule are episodic, the new Big Tent must differentiate itself from Progressives on Policies and Principles
   245. Media bias is a reality but is no fig leaf for the Opposition to cover its failings
   246. The corrupt may be gone, denying the not-so-corrupt any excuses from performing, we will be watching
   247. There is no Justice in squabbling for spoils of Power. In the new Big Tent Governance is a responsibility not a reward
   248. Not just Hindu Temples, there will be no government interference or control of any religious institution
   249. Progressive Hypocrisy that Government control of Religious Institutions has been condoned for 60 years, its neither Liberal nor National
   250. Shveta Chhatra Wisdom Soup - Religious freedom is guaranteed in the new big tent, all Hindu Temples will be free from Government control
   251. Shveta Chhatra - restore credibility confidence in Institutions of State for Justice delivery, conscience keepers will be redundant
   252. In new big tent Justice will not be compromised by resorting to quasi-judicial conscience keepers that undermine Executive http://is.gd/BQRa
   253. The White Umbrella as a non-theocratic symbol of Justice is found in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Tibet apart from many parts of India
   254. Shveta Chhatra Wisdom Soup - There are no walls in the Big Tent, it can never be an echo chamber
   255. Perspective and Irony are a function of where you stand http://is.gd/BFVC with all due respect to Free Marketers the world over…
   256. State of denial even deeper in Orissa BJP http://is.gd/BEsu
   257. All BJP sympathisers friends who are still in denial here is another reality check http://is.gd/BDfp its time to look beyond electoral math
        UPA Governments second term welcomed with first terror attack in Hyderabad http://is.gd/B5Ub will Dr Singh pay attention ?
   258. DNA story on vote shares of bjp and congress http://is.gd/B50q
   259. DNA has interesting analysis of how marginal swings in vote share have influenced outcomes for BJP and Congress
   260. Declining vote share of BJP since 1999 confirms attrition in strongholds while highlighting failure to break new ground except Karnataka
   261. Elections 2009 has proven there is more Wisdom in the Crowd than in the backroom. Consensus sans transparency is merely forced compromise.
   262. @Retributions Dissents healthy why begrudge it while complaining about lack of internal democracy. Question is what process resolves dissent
   263. The Leader of Opposition must be elected through a transparent ballot if the BJP hopes to turn the corner from this humbling defeat
   264. BJP has nothing to lose and must get bold to face bitter truths, transparent ballots are the best therapy
   265. The BJP had shown once that it can resolve issues through ballot in the Sushil Modi episode to quell dissidence in Bihar
   266. BJP’s center right stakeholders dont see MM Joshi as the future, they need to know with transparency if MPs reflect their sentiments
   267. Let MM Joshi, Sushma Swaraj and others put their claims to Leader of Opposition to ballot so we know where the MPs stand
   268. BJP’s stakeholders include friends sympathisers a swathe of nationalist center right believers, transparent ballots are a must to keep them
   269. From Leader of Opposition to next Leadership duo, Mission and Vision must be put on ballot, the era of Sangh backroom consensus is over
        That still doesnt resolve BJP’s existential dilemma, it needs to discard backroom consensus for transparent ballots
   270. Unless Narendra Modi demonstrate he can walk away from fruits of political power thru a public renunciation he wont have moral high ground
   271. Swapan Da’s idea of maximizing Narendra Modi effectiveness has merit must start with Karma Yogi walking the talk renouncing Office for Party
        Swapan Dasgupta takes the Narendra Modi question head on http://is.gd/AP5B roots for Jaitley-Modi duo
   272. Will Manmohan Singh start his second term with a better appreciation for bi-partisanship maybe offer Office of Lok Sabha Speaker to BJP
   273. With the Left biting dust, will we see the next wave of reforms in opening up FDI in Organized Retailing ?
   274. So much for India media’s read of the mood of the nation, WSJ had captured it best on CPG brands doing well in rural markets
   275. The Mint frames the existential dilemma for the BJP the best http://is.gd/ALrz highlights the constituency “progressives” cannot address
   276. Most under-reported story of elections 2009 http://is.gd/AxRS Sikkim has practically no Opposition in the State Assembly
   277. Raman has a useful piece in the Rediff on lessons from 2009, the UPA would do well to heed his words on Terrorism http://is.gd/AwDb
   278. Sudheendra Kulkarni has a noteworthy tribute to Mr. L.K. Advani in the Indian Express worth a read http://is.gd/AwCE
   279. It must be said all 3 bellwhether seats have come through for 7th time – all 3 voted against BJP, Mandi – Cong, Dumka – JMM & Mayurbhanj BJD
   280. It would be interesting to understand how delimitation has influenced turnouts, outcomes and margins of victory
   281. Vir Sanghvi should not dismiss away Urban India as merely Mumbai Delhi http://is.gd/Aws8 BJP won all 3 urban seats in Blore what it is worth
   282. @Gauravonomics good job bringing together bloggers, tweeters and everyone else online
   283. @centerofright Its the sacrifice great leaders have to make to build and rebuild mass movements, will he rise to the occassion ?
   284. Narendra Modi can be that leader but he will have to become a true karma yogi and renounce the fruit of political power, like Bhishma
   285. The moment calls for a decisive central leadership with a misison and vision and not a compromise stop gap leader
   286. The million dollar question for the BJP is who will don the mantle of leadership for the next generation of politics
   287. We can safely say NDA of the Vajpayee era is history, BJP has to rebuild its social coalitions solo across India
   288. Moral of Elections 2009 – It is not about Coalition Dharma but that there is no more Dharma in coalitions. Go it alone for Cong and BJP
   289. They were Dinosaurs after all, on that lighter note signing off from Elections 2009 results debate

Filed under: Offstumped on Twitter, Shveta Chhatra