Shveta Chhatra Debate – June 21st to July 4th

Compilation of 344 short comments via twitter on Indian Politics, Shveta Chhatra, BJP’s travails, IPC 377 and much more…

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   1. Why pray is it responsibility of the State to provide land for burial, land which comes at a premium, is it too much to ask people to pay ?
   2. As innocuous as this sounds http://is.gd/1nfeg hard to miss the communal emphasis, state would be better off devolving this to local govt
   3. Story in Rediff on EVMs is good reason why we need audit trails & random audits but to allege a Conspiracy in elections is a stretch
   4. Indian Express thinks BJP will make a strong case for Privatisation in the Indian Railways http://is.gd/1mKcC MGMG is having an impact ?
   5. To a point it appeared Aditya Sinha was on to something significant on BJP http://is.gd/1mK8C but he comes up with the worst prescription
   6. @JaideepSK Absolutely agree with you, the media is going overboard on this as usual little realizing where mainstream India is on this issue
   7. Bottomline PBM’s piece & Pioneer’s lead ed the frame issue the way it ought to be “getting State out of private consensual adult relations”
   8. Far too often we get carried away by Courts doing Executive/Legislature’s job that we fail to ask should Courts have the luxury of a vision?
   9. Phrase in PBM’s piece that needs to be paid attention to wrt Court’s progressive agenda “the Court has a vision of equal inclusive society”
   10. PBM makes useful points on Sec 377 verdict http://is.gd/1mJsE something the media must pay attention to with the kind of stories running
   11. Yet another version of whodunit on 7/11 http://is.gd/1mHRo UPA guilty of not taking 7/11 investigations beyond India, shame on you Manmohan
   12. @Acorn @Pragmatic_d Wages of coercive diplomacy, let us celebate with a nostalgic Hallmark Card with best wishes from @ShashiTharoor
   13. @JaideepSK It needs to be created, it takes leadership, vision and mission, populism is a hallmark of lazy politics looking for shortcuts
   14. Is Narendra Modi the last man standing between a Progressive monopoly and a common sense approach to governance ?
   15. When Sushma Swaraj praises Mamata on special trains and subsidies and Arun Jaitley is vague in his response, it is troubling
   16. BJP needs to come up with response rooted in “Min Govt Max Governance” for it to be seen as a viable alternative to Congress’ progressivism
   17. What next, PIL in Delhi HC to declare “Social Commitment not Economic Viability” is Constitutional tenet guiding Public Sector Enterprises
   18. So now the Indian Railways shall subsidize Islamist Education as well, the commitment to “inclusiveness” is total and complete
   19. Progressive-Media nexus exposed, Mamata’s promise of subsidized Rail tickets for the media, any surprise why 90% of media sucks up to them
   20. With a Rail promised for every social group, a matter of time before the Indian Railways is derailed, god save us from them Progressives
   21. A train for Women, aYuva train for GenNext, she didnt perhaps have advanced notice of yesterdays verdict but perhaps a train for them too
   22. A day after Delhi HC upheld “inclusiveness” as a Constitutional tenet, Mamata has actually followed thru on “identity based targeting”
   23. Mamata Bannerjee’s pearls of wisdom – “Economic viability is not only index for performance, social commitment is”, she is out to sink UPA
   24. So who wud be fit candidates for a committee that advises on Economically unviable yet Socially desirable projects ?
   25. We need “Minimum Government Maximum Governance” so Ministers are stripped of power to abuse Public Enterprises as political vehicles
   26. new Progressive catchphrase – “Economically unviable yet Socially desirable” http://is.gd/1mkZl it shud perhaps read “politically desirable
   27. On a lighter note in closing from Offstumped archives – “A club for the exclusively inclusive” http://is.gd/1lJ9T enjoy…….
   28. One thing if political parties use “inclusiveness” as codeword for “identity based quotas & targetting” quite another for Courts to do same
   29. So will Courts now start putting every legislation to an “Inclusiveness” Constitutional litmus test ?
   30. While many in the broad Center Right space have hailed HC verdict, the underlying rationale rooted in “progressivism” is cause for concern
   31. Would have been better if Court had explicitly made “Right to Privacy” Consitutional tenet for its clarification on Unconstitutionality
   32. Court may have injected a Progressive agenda into Judicial decision making with reference to “inclusiveness” as a Constitutional tenet,
   33. Just read 100 odd pages of full text of HC verdict on IPC Sec 377, conclusion makes sense but for some value judgements on inclusiveness
   34. @ShashiTharoor Success will come by standing firm on convictions to appeal to silent majority rather than appease a vocal minority lobby
   35. @ShashiTharoor In the interest of transparency pls make avlbl online all such requests for Haj Quotas, let us know who is batting Haj quotas
   36. @NandanNilekani Id-ing every Citizen wud also mean recognizing their unique needs, hopefully less “aam admi one size fit all” solutions
   37. So is the Economic Survey the government’s way to talk of things it lacks the political will to follow thru on from taxes to disinvestment ?
   38. Academic performance of students in Sangh run schools in Orissa http://is.gd/1lr5H RT@PrasannaVishy @Sreejith_PA
   39. @Diptosh thx for clarification, will read full text, was reacting to popular characterization of verdict that it “legalized” something
   40. @Roops78 @Vijay_Vikram It seems to have gone beyond that in specifying whats legal and what is not legal till the Parliament ammends the law
   41. Delhi sealing to Art377 Courts’ actions are wakeup call to delinquent Executive/Legislature Courts will step in to do their job for them
   42. Delhi HC shud have merely held Article 377 as unconstitutional if it felt so it shud not have passed value judgement on how law ought to be
   43. As reprehensible as Article377 was this trend of legislating from the bench by lower courts till legislature acts is unhealthy bad precedent
   44. Delhi HC’s verdict on Article377 is puzzling, how can Courts legalize something, it can either decree something as Unconstitutional or not
   45. For all blatant Congress propaganda, CNN-IBN is a loss making channel http://is.gd/1l6Pc interesting to know if CNBCtv18 is subsiziding it
   46. So much for reforming Higher Education http://is.gd/1kSbg between Arjun and Sibal they seem to be committed to diluting Brand IIT
   47. @SVaradarajan There is more “Azaadi” in India than in “hypersensitive insecure” AJK, we dont need kowtowing, just be honest about your bias
   48. More on sycophancy and this Congress fetish for naming after the Living Dead from Offstumped archives http://is.gd/1kzjV
   49. We may not criminalize Sycophancy but we can atleast require Sycophants to legitimize their obsession by direct approval of local community
   50. That should have read “we are not afraid to talk down to Pakistan…” http://is.gd/1kxbd
   51. Conflicted http://is.gd/1kjE3 Shud we celebrate rout of evil Left or rue the win of Irrational Left
   52. @BabyChen It still misrepresents facts hence malafide
   53. For a lifelong bureaucrat Manmohan Singh’s imagination doesnt seem to extend beyond products of CPSC, Nandan Nilekani being sole exception
   54. When was the last time a bureaucrat, let alone 3 top ones, turned around a Business http://is.gd/1kduf Air India is doomed to drain our taxs
   55. More on Muslim woman topper from Kerala http://is.gd/1jCO9 on how she abandoned Arabic to pursue Sanskrit after her schooling
   56. @Democratically Not sure how much you know about my knowledge of Minorities, check out Offstumped archives between 2004 and 2009 for more
   57. @NR_Tatvamasi In matters of faith Local Community is all believers is untenable, those who care need to put their money where their faith is
   58. @Overlordtwits The quote was a mangled version of Ravi Shankar Prasad’s personal retort to Digvijay Singh, more at phalaka.com
   59. @Democratically Not sure what relevance your dark skin and political leanings have to Offstumped, but thanks for the information nevertheles
   60. @BabyChen Absolutely truth seems to be it was a personal retort to Diggy Raja’s comments and not a dare to the Congress as a party
   61. Prodyut Bora’s rebuke of Ashok Desai’s cheap shots http://is.gd/1kbOV Telegraph needs to have a Dont drink and write editorial policy
   62. @JaideepSK The message needs to be powerful so the medium and messenger become less relevant, hidden gems like Nitin Gadkari are highlighted
   63. @ZoomIndianMedia Dont know who created it but it makes a powerful impact, hopefully her Parliamentary performance matches her public persona
   64. Excellent compilation of Sushma Swaraj in public life by an avid fan it seems http://is.gd/1k7OR need to see her step out of shadows more
   65. The NehruGandhi’s may be fair and beautiful but they are no Leaders, Sonia Gandhi shud have objected to this cheap attempt at sycophancy
   66. @PrasannaVishy Nitin Gadkari’s credentials as an Infrastructure Visionary are impeccable, BJP needs to market him better in the ELM
   67. This blatant manufacturing of communal hatred by the Indian Express raises serious questions of its credibility and its motives
   68. Simple google news query reveals only Indian Express has manufactured this provocative headline http://is.gd/1jErb and no other media source
   69. A provocative headline of this nature with no attribution shud be considered as grounds for charging Indian Express with spreading hate
   70. Makes one wonder who is in charge at Indian Express, Shekhar Gupta has clearly lost his grip on the news paper
   71. Indian Express’ mischief mongering http://is.gd/1jE3A no source attributed to sensational headline, no quote attributed either
   72. Muslim girl tops Kerala University’s Sanskrit Vedanta graduation exam http://is.gd/1jAkp she chose Sanskrit as a symbol of national culture
   73. BJP must get bold & imaginative in its “structured response” with Truth & Reconciliation, more from Shveta Chhatra http://is.gd/1jcxS
   74. Merely reiterating its commitment to a Ram Temple in Ayodhya accomplishes nothing beyond reinforcing negative stereotypes of the past
   75. Only by doing so will it be able to shed baggage of the past & lay a coherent inclusive foundation that reconciles ideology with governance
   76. BJP must do so while being committed to upholding the Rule of Law and the process of Justice taking its course on Babri Masjid demolition
   77. That creativity must evolve from Constitutional principles of Freedom to Faith from Government, Freedom to Local Community in local disputes
   78. BJP must be creative in its response to Liberhans report and create an opportunity out of it rather than get defensive or belligerent
   79. @PrasannaVishy Hence the need to call their bluff and be creative in the response to Liberhand rather than get defensive or belligerent
   80. @PrasannaVishy Agree its time to not just move on from competitive victimhood but to also label Progressivism as being just that
   81. Either make the entire report public without delay or come clean on your reasons to not do so, responsibility for leaks will lie with PMO
   82. Let us make it very clear to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh no inspired leaks sponsored media mischief on Liberhans Report will be tolerated
   83. @Democratically I cannot speak to that question I am not a member of the BJP or the RSS but your point is valid
   84. If the Mumbai Police have specific expectations from Mumbaikars in response to terror alerts they shud spell them out, otherwise keep mum
   85. What purpose does it serve to go public with Terror alerts if there is no protocol on civilian responses http://is.gd/1jalD
   86. Its time to move on from agitational politics rooted in greivances to Aspirational Politics focused on opportunities and strategic interests
   87. @JaideepSK Have covered in great detail how Culture Conflicts of last century must be reconciled in Shveta Chhatra
   88. @JaideepSK Mr. Advani’s legacy is history sooner the BJP faces that reality the faster will be its recovery, past 5 years of drift are proof
   89. @Democratically I dont know what Mr. Advani is thinking about perhaps his legacy, I have to think about the next 25 years
   90. Any reinvention of Center Right movement will have to begin with a clean break from the past shedding its baggage, this is a moment of truth
   91. Putting Babri Masjid’s ghosts to rest was long overdue the Liberhans report is timely, one hopes Manmohan Singh shows spine makes it public
   92. Contrary to ip smacking glee with which some in media are looking its release, it will serve a larger purpose for both the nation and BJP
   93. UPA government shud make Liberhan Commission Report public without delay rather than play politics with it, let the truth prevail
   94. @ShashiTharoor You could have as well sent them a Hallmark Card, one of those where you can record a song perhaps http://is.gd/1iCxl
   95. Someone needs to tell Ashok Desai the election was over a month ago http://is.gd/1ivga
   96. @KanchanGupta Valid point, this approach of making a political statement is counterproductive also agree Child Abuse laws must be tightened
   97. The Pioneer’s editorial on Article 377 is good reason why the public debate on Article 377 needs to be framed around Privacy of all Indians
   98. @KKPTN Had tweeted on Iran over the weekend, check out the tweets over last 48 hours
   99. One hopes more 4th generation leaders from the Center Right movement emerge in the days to come
   100. That Prodyut Bora has decided to “Walk the Talk” shud put to rest petty myopic criticism of the BJP’s digital campaign and IT Vision
   101. Prodyut Bora’s decision to take to an all India trek by foot in a privata capacity is a sign of 4th gen BJP leadership coming of age
   102. Prodyut Bora’s blog has more details on his planned trek of India on foot http://is.gd/1ibXZ look forward to progress on his plans
   103. Someone needs to tell greybeards and skullcaps of Deoband India doesnt run on shariat law http://is.gd/1hXFv
   104. Till there is full accounting of all aspects by an Independent Blue Ribbon Commission on Mumbai 26/11 BBC’s story will fuel speculation
   105. What we have also not been told is whether all wireless equipment carried by the 26/11 terrorists had been accounted for in the intercepts ?
   106. What we have not been told by BRaman or any of the Mumbai Dossiers is how many hrs into 26/11 did surveillance begin ?
   107. BRaman doesnt put much credence on BBC’s 26/11 story but then BRaman is merely disputing the basis for BBC’s hypothesis
   108. Prodyut Bora is taking to a long walk all India walk from Kanyakumari to New Delhi http://is.gd/1hpkR wishing him all the best and energy
   109. Review of VIP security http://is.gd/1hpbB about time, 45,000 policemen nationwide are wasting time on VIP security rather than protect us
   110. White Umbrella shall stand for preserving dignity & respecting privacy of all Indians while leaving to Faith all issues of values & mores
   111. In new Big Tent there will be no role for Government to intrude on what goes on between law abiding Citizens within privacy of their homes
   112. Making repeal of Article 377 a Right to Privacy issue for all Indians will have far greater resonance than making it about a sexual minority
   113. In interest of dignity privacy of all Indians repeal of Article377 must be done thru omnibus reform of British era laws http://is.gd/1hntE
   114. Prodyut Bora revisits the BJP I.T.’s Vision in light of Nandan Nilekani’s appointment to UIADAI http://is.gd/1hnao
   115. Fali S. Nariman reminds us of the imposition of Emergency, why its the duty of every Citizen to protect the Constitution http://is.gd/1hn5p
   116. @KanchanGupta Good one
   117. It was PV Narasimha Rao’s 89th birth anniversary http://is.gd/1h8OP trust the Nehru-Gandhi’s to obliterate all traces of PV in public memory
   118. This is why need a Blue Ribbon Commission to fully account for every aspect of 26/11 and 13 terror attacks preceeding it
   119. If Teesta Setalvad cud eavesdrop on Mumbai police wireless chatter during 93 riots why cudnt a local LeT cell do same during 26/11 ?
   120. @Calamur so much for phony idealism exuded by the media, shameful that BBC bells the cat on Mumbai 26/11 and not the Indian media
   121. For all the drivel that passes for investigative journalism it is amazing the Indian Media has given a free pass to UPA on 26/11 and 7/11
   122. No clarity on who mysterious Baba was in 26/11 transcripts http://is.gd/1h2yq nor any explanations for many discrepancies http://is.gd/1h2BJ
   123. Local hand in Mumbai 26/11 returns to haunt UPA http://is.gd/1h2ja also read Offstumped archives on unanswered questions http://is.gd/1h2n9
   124. Dr. Kalam’s Billion heart beats http://is.gd/1gvbj is an inspiration for infectious optimisim Shveta Chhatra shall exude http://is.gd/1gvhA
   125. It must take immense wisdom and conviction for a Muslim to visit a Catholic School and invoke Dharma as a shared value http://is.gd/1gupU
   126. Abdul Kalam on Dharma http://is.gd/1gtXI Dr. Kalam makes interesting observation that righteousness must be an integral element of Knowledge
   127. Important to note this event which occured on May 27th more than week after Lok Sabha election results was hardly covered by national media
   128. When Narendra Modi http://is.gd/1goGz and Abdul Kalam shared a dias http://is.gd/1goIM to talk of Energy Independence & Capacity Building
   129. Sangh functionary Suresh Soni’s invocation of Abdul Kalam is interesting http://is.gd/1gojW will we hear more of Abdul Kalam in days to come
   130. BJP would do well to evolve a process by which the next President is truly “elected” rather than “selected” by backroom consensus
   131. Aditya Sinha over at NewIndExpress argues against Arun Jaitley being made BJP President http://is.gd/1gkwC sounds premature to discuss names
   132. Between the As and Rta duality, Deva and Asura duality and that famed Rig vedic lore of Indra slaying Vrtra must lie the answer
   133. For two cultures that shared so much in language between Avestan and Sanskrit the laterally inverted philosophies never cease to fascinate
   134. Speaking of Iran thoughts go back to how and why the Indo-Iranian Indo-Aryan split occured, was it philosophical or political ?
   135. @PrasannaVishy to think of it last weekend the Obama-mania media was running 24×7 coverage on Iran, what a difference a week can make
   136. In fact Offstumped had tweeted that as breaking news and subsequently retract due to fact that voting was still going on some places
   137. There is good reason to suspect external role in Iran events for TOI had carried news of 60% vote for Mossavi much before official counts
   138. Iran was a fiasco for Obama is clear from the fact that NYTimes has buried Iran stories much deeper after MJ, Pakistan and everything else
   139. @PrasannaVishy dont know about that but you are right the global activism is misplaced and counterproductive
   140. Could the Twitter activism over Iran be the first subversive use of the Internet to influence desired outcomes, an unanswered question ?
   141. To all the twittering global citizens, the bitter reality is they may have been played to spur events towards the desired outcomes
   142. Has the world gained or lost leverage in preempting or slowing down a Nuclear Iran, we must conclude it is the latter
   143. It must be asked who gains from these outcomes – Israel for it suits its interests or Russia which perhaps comes out with greater influence
   144. Whether by design or default the Supreme Leader appears vulnerable to the Ahmedenijad faction which clearly has come out stronger
   145. If we apply the outcomes test to events in Iran look who stand diminished – Khamanei, Obama Administration and of course the losing faction
   146. As the Iran protests unravel it must be asked if the sequence of events were scripted to preempt Obama moves on Iran ?
   147. Shahnawaz Hussan’s interview to Zee http://is.gd/1g7Lf mostly touts party line, no significant insights on either chintan or manthan in BJP
   148. This is the kind of considered response the BJP needs to make a habit of coming up with as an Opposition http://is.gd/1f3HY RT @PRSLegislati
   149. When was the last time India reposed faith in a master politician perceived in the Machiavellian or Kautilyan mould ?
   150. Cant resist saying this – Michael Jackson was many things but he was not “too big to fail”, no TARP, TALF federal bailout for his debt
   151. @Calamur I like the feminine metaphor this is why we need more gender diversity in public debate
   152. @Gudem That doesnt quite explain it for there are many Global Citizens safely ensconced in their homelands
   153. @JaideepSK He is right and wrong in parts, there will be other similar opinions, multiplicity will breed perception of incoherence
   154. Perils of not having a Shadow Cabinet http://is.gd/1eohD MMJoshi’s personal opinions on education must not be passed off as Party line
   155. @Calamur Neem twigs
   156. So what is Global Citizenry about – feeling good at the end of the day so you can go to sleep not feeling guilty over other’s victimhood
   157. “You cannot pick choose hang” but “You can pick choose reform disposal of mercy petittions ” http://is.gd/1ekkZ so why didnt You for 5 yrs ?
   158. White Umbrella shall stand for the assurance that “Minimum Government Maximum Governance” is not a mere slogan but an article of faith
   159. In new Big Tent there will be dramatic reduction in number of Federal Ministries and elimination of archaic laws to reduce wastage
   160. British comedies Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister are a must read on how Govt creates waste to keep itself in business http://is.gd/1egUe
   161. That people is what is called “Maximum Government with no real Governance”, one doesnt even need RTI, PIB press releases are eye opening
   162. NCAEUS wants NAFUS to be setup under SIDBI so MSME can be funded while UPA-II procures from MSE to keep sector viable http://is.gd/1egGw
   163. One figurehead writes to other out of work politicians on whats essentially an Executive function http://is.gd/1efOS is this funny or what ?
   164. If distributing subsidies and reviving restructing sick Units is 100 days plan http://is.gd/1efHu what was this Ministry up to last 5 years
   165. What does Adventure have to do with Rajiv Gandhi and why do we need to consolidate and standardize advencture http://is.gd/1efDJ why ?
   166. @Wanderer08 – The quote is mine the observation was with reference to the headline today and many tweets in response to it
   167. Who knew Doctrine of Necessity was Machiavellian in its origins “Necessity leads you to do things reason does not recommend”
   168. Irony of our times – we celebrate the creative brilliance of the deeply flawed and disturbed anti-role-models
   169. Interesting conflict between Global progressivism and Machiavelli – “there is no court of appeal for States”
   170. Machiavelli – At the origin of every state there is virtu of one man who grasped destiny’s opportunity presented to him
   171. With Internet at hand book reading is so much more enriching for one can instantly cross reference & discover insights beyond printed text
   172. @KanchanGupta Arent there enough of those to hold up in contrast to Madarsas, yet poor Muslims go to Madarsas in big cities – why ?
   173. @KanchanGupta We need to make the argument if they want Madarsas to give secular edn get certified and accredited like everyone else
   174. @KanchanGupta You miss the point we need to ask this question so they admit the truth – there is no secular edn in a Madarsa
   175. White Umbrella shall stand for assurance that there will be no discrimination in accreditation and performance of schools with same standard
   176. In new Big Tent poor Muslim students will have freedom to attend any school and will not have to settle for substandard secular education
   177. Look who is discriminating against poor Muslims, an unholy political nexus between Progressives and clergy who run Madarsas
   178. Arent poor Muslim Students entitled to hold their religious school to same standard for secular education delivered as any other student
   179. Kapil Sibal’s proposal for a separate Madarsa Board alongside CBSE and an independent accreditation agency makes no sense
   180. Why the double standard if any school can get certifed by independent accreditation agency why cant Madarsas do same for secular education ?
   181. As I have always Leadership is not about the electoral landscape as it exists but about remaking it as it ought to be, wll MGMG banner help
   182. @prasannavishy It may not exist today but thats the leadership challenge can you reconcile diveristy under a new Big Tent within MgMG banner
   183. @veryhuman Its more than a slogan its a philosophy of governance and a political agenda – 3 in one, you are right Progressives will oppose
   184. Beauty of “Minimum Government Maximum Governance” – it stakes a claim to the Center while drawing a sharp differentiation with Progressivism
   185. Will “Minimum Government Maximum Governance” give hope to Rural India, after all that was what Gandhi’s Rama Rajya was about ?
   186. Will “Minimum Government Maximum Governance” resonate with Urban Middle India, after all thats where its economic interests lie ?
   187. RT @Narendra_Modi Emerging Markets Forum study shows Gujarat a leader in “Minimum Govt Maximum Governance” Urban Management
   188. @Sreejith_PA It is great if it is happening at the groundlevel in Bangalore it needs to bubble up and acquire a national profile
   189. @PrasannaVishy There is a distinction between attracting talent and outsourcing leadership
   190. At heart of inability to attract new role models is the acceptability deficit BJP suffers in Urban Middle India, a space it once had lock on
   191. BJP needs to reflect why it no longer attracts professional achievers and middle class role models the way it did in the 1980s and 1990s
   192. The issue of identifying BPL to determine eligibility for entitlements is a political minefield, will put Nandan’s Corporate Skills to test
   193. To pitch National UID with social justice flavor to is clever politics, the BJP missed the argument on this one by harping on Natl Security
   194. Nandan Nilekani resigns from Infosys accepts National UID Chairmanship with mandate to identify BPL for social scheme targetting
   195. Dramatic proposal to scrap Class X boards obfuscates the issue focus ought to be on performance benchmarks with flexibility on career option
   196. Machiavelli’s influence on US Constitution is interesting with a minimalist secularism that merely requires State to be non-theocratic
   197. Machiavelli’s concept of Religion being subservient to State is interesting , did you know USA can reject a religion if detrimental to State
   198. BJP conducted a ballot election to choose new CM of Uttarakhand. http://is.gd/1cv6p . No back room consensus (RT @Sreejith_PA)
   199. On this count the proposed NCHER is no mere Regulator for it claims a Missionary role in remaking steering Higher Education “independently”
   200. There is a clear and unambiguous distinction between Enforcement Functions of a Regulator and Missionary Functions of the Executive
   201. Next think what comes to mind when you hear words – ensure transparency, quality, audit, feedback, performance
   202. What comes to mind when you hear words – strategize, steer, evolution, expansion, catalyst, conduit, spearhead, reform, renovate, innovate
   203. @KanchanGupta We dont need Statutory National Commission all we need is Independent Agency to rate Institutions against accepted benchmarks
   204. @KanchanGupta Hence the need for independent Professional Bodies for periodic Certification of Professionals and Rating of Institutions
   205. White Umbrella shall stand for an end to culture of centralizing Executive Power & of making it unaccountable thru Independent Commissions
   206. In new Big Tent Higher Education will be a State and Local subject with full freedom and professional bodies certifying practitioners
   207. Isnt it typical of Progressives that the solution to any problem is always a new Independent Statutory National Commision with noble goals
   208. With loaded phrases like “social audit processes”, this Commission is less about freeing Higher Education more about centralizing control
   209. NCHER will merely become vehicle for driving Progressive Agenda from Delhi accomodating retired bureaucrats with zero accountability
   210. Perusal of detailed report http://is.gd/1cnal reveals none of the 10 odd goals of NCHER require it to be an independent Statutory Commission
   211. If Professional bodies Certify practice of individual professions Universities have autonomy to manage affairs what role will NCHER play ?
   212. Yet another statutory commission at tax payers expense http://is.gd/1cmZX dont we have enuf already providing employment to retired Babus
   213. National Gas Grid & Gujarat – disabusing laggard states of a euphemism called equitable distribution and balanced growth http://is.gd/1cmz6
   214. Narendra Modi’s latest blog post has an interesting dynamic to it http://is.gd/1c87w
   215. To reduce debate on State control of Faith to casteism is disingenuous, more from the Shveta Chhatra http://is.gd/1c4qw & http://is.gd/1c4rJ
   216. @Mudittuli Have articulated how new Liberal National Big Tent can enable that with Freedom to Faith http://is.gd/1c4qw & http://is.gd/1c4rJ
   217. @Mudittuli Who has talked about giving Hindu Temples to Brahmins, Temples belong to everyone in Faith, need mechanisms to reflect that
   218. @BibekDebroy Kudos on your latest piece in the Indian Express on government interference in faith and AP Endowments Act of 1987
   219. Bibek Debroy must be applauded for belling the cat on this, hope others follow to put an end to AP Endowments Act of 1987 & other such laws
   220. Progressive Secular establishment stands guilty of a Conspiracy of Silence on illberal Constiutional acts that cemented State inteference
   221. Why pray should the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam be the private unaccountable slush fund at the disposal of IAS officers MLAs and MPs
   222. Liberal thinkers waking up to travesty of State interference in Faith http://is.gd/1c1lP Bibek Debroy asks the 50,000 crore question on TTD
   223. The White Umbrella shall stand for holding all acts of government which gave State a role in running Temples illiberal & unconstitutional
   224. Hence in new Liberal National Big Tent there will be complete freedom to faith, Govt will have no role in how Institutions of Faith are run
   225. Solution to Govt control of Temples is not more Govt control on how funds from Temples are used but the solution ought to be NO GOVT CONTROL
   226. Arvind Lavakare is right to the extent that the BJP failed to raise one legitimate Hindu issue it should have, Govt control of Temples
   227. It would not just cement grip of the State on every aspect of Life it would Institutionalize Identity based policy making for every group
   228. If one were to extrapolate Arvind Lavakare line of thought it would be taking Social Justice to its ultimate perversity based on identity
   229. Arvind Lavakares prescription for BJP on KanchanGuptas blog reduces Hindutva to Social Justice for Hindus issue with greater role for State
   230. @ZoomIndianMedia Arvind Lavakare’s comment on @KanchanGupta’s blog is right on diagnosis wrong on prescription, he wants more govt control
   231. Diptosh Majumdar (@Diptosh) has an interesting blog post on how the BJP failed Advani http://bit.ly/Kb6J4 makes familiar arguments
   232. This story from the Upanishads that Joseph Campbell alludes to in Power of the Myth also comes to mind on moral limits http://is.gd/1bwn9
   233. Was Ashwamedha ancient India’s solution to tame unbounded free will & its pursuit vainglory does this explain absence of Machiavellian virtu
   234. @Gudem Machiavelli’s virtu has deeper meaning, answer lies in literal translation of Ashwamedha & this Upanishadic story http://is.gd/1bwn9
   235. How to explain near total absence of Machiavellian virtu in ancient India while it became its victim thru Greek Hun Mughal British invasions
   236. One must not confuse virtu with either unbounded freedom or Liberty, for even the vagabond desires them, virtu is about unbounded vainglory
   237. Perhaps unethical Capitalism of 21st Century is a modern day manifestation of Machiavelli’s virtu, now globally diffused to non-State actors
   238. Kautilya & others drew geographical boundaries to advocate against Imperial expansion, Machiavelli’s virtu puts Imperialism into perspective
   239. In Machiavelli we find the fundamental distinction between the West and East, R.P. Kangle alludes to this in his Kautilya’s Arthashastra
   240. To appreciate why Machiavelli & Kautilya are poles apart we must recognize Machiavelli held a very cynical view – Man by nature is corrupt
   241. Where Machiavelli has no moral compass, Kautilya never loses sight of Dharma requiring State’s Ministers to ensure King never strays from it
   242. One would be thoroughly justified in taking offence and disabusing any suggestions describing Kautilya as Machiavellian, it is an outrage
   243. Five pages into Machiavelli on relationship between Individual & State it is clear there is no equivalence between Kautilya & Machiavelli
   244. Enough with BJP musings back to Machiavelli on conflicts between the Individual and the State
   245. Most meaningful advise for the BJP comes from the Mint http://is.gd/1b4GK echoes Offstumped on the need for a Liberal & National Big Tent
   246. Media’s BJP obsession continues Suhit Sen http://is.gd/1b4oN Neerja Choudary http://is.gd/1b4mn this curious one in ET http://is.gd/1b4tQ
   247. BJP failed since 2004 due to its eagerness to give Communists a race for populist opposition to UPA to cede the centrist space to Congress
   248. The only way the BJP can do this is by driving a sharp differentiation in its response to UPA’s policies by bracketing UPA with Communists
   249. Sheer real politik demands that BJP deprive Congress the luxury to occupy Centrist space by default, courtesy Left’s populist criticism
   250. BJP’s bane has been incoherence & confusion in responding to UPA since 2004 on issues where far Left positions make Congress look centrist
   251. There is a risk here though for the BJP, it is far easier for Left to occupy space of political opposition by making populist arguments
   252. Dinosaurs often confuse their ability to read and write with intellect to offer unsolicited advise on education http://is.gd/1aZUc
   253. The Hindu’s lead editorial talks of what it calls “low key Hindutva” http://is.gd/1aYy1 all the more reason for BJP to shift the debate
   254. Kanchan Gupta also rightly calls for a Blair Moment for the BJP, wholesome praise for Narendra Modi apart, the rejuvenation seems far away
   255. Kanchan Gupta rightly calls out the BJP for not having decoupled Article 370 and UCC from the popular labelling of them as Hindutva issues
   256. Kanchan Gupta’s contrarian take on BJP National Executive http://is.gd/1aX53 there is more to agree with him than disagree on this one
   257. @KanchanGupta reading it right now, I like the title “Waffle at the BJP National Executive”
   258. Ashok Malik’s analysis and prescription for BJP http://is.gd/1awjt echoes Offstumped on need for transparency and ballots
   259. @mallumusings @babychen http://is.gd/1atJ9
   260. @BDUTT Watch MI-5 or Spooks as they call it in the UK
   261. Comment in Swapan Das blog quoting this piece by Arun Shourie http://tinyurl.com/km6bwv Here is Offstumped critique on it http://is.gd/1acFp
   262. @ZoomIndianMedia Arun Shourie got it horribly wrong with all due respect to him here is my critique exposing the flaws http://is.gd/1acFp
   263. The Burqa issue is best left to Muslim women, let them discard it of their own free will, let no one force them to wear the veil
   264. National Legislation mandating what Citizens can & cannot wear is as illiberal as a theocracy, french better deal with public smoking first
   265. @Diptosh Migrate to France dont have wear anything at all on the sleeve, they have areas marked out on the beaches
   266. White Umbrella shall stand for open transparent decision making where Leaders earn their right to lead by putting themselves to ballot test
   267. In the new Big Tent there will be no backroom nor will there be a totem pole called the High Command
   268. This mutually beneficial consensus on backroom decision making will only result in petty sharing of what remains of spoils of power
   269. Once you “select” individuals to leadership to suit your convenience you lose the moral high ground to petty politics
   270. Culture of High Command doesnt make BJP a superior better alternative to Congress merely a clone without advantage of dynastic chromosomes
   271. Indira Gandhi institutionalized culture of changing CMs sitting in Delhi is undemocratic and anti-federal, a slap on the face of Uttarakhand
   272. There shud have been a transparent claim challenging Khanduri, people of Uttarakhand are entitled to know why their CM is being replaced
   273. Backroom consensus is forced consensus, till the BJP embraces a culture of transparency and a faith in the ballot recovery will be remote
   274. LK Advani and Rajnath Singh’s electoral fortunes cannot be the basis for Khanduri’s performance, this matter shud have been settled in state
   275. Culture of High Command will be the BJP’s undoing, BC Khanduri’s cannot and shud not be decided in New Delhi, this is Congressisation of BJP
   276. Reading Machiavelli by Guiseppe Prezzolini – politics is a human activity incompatible with Christian Morality
   277. The poorgeoise Bhadralok of Bengal lost the plot somewhere between Bohemian pursuits and Bolshevik politics
   278. Is Mamata Bannerjee the best Bengal can produce in response to over two decades of Communist rot, is there no spark to the Right left ?
   279. An interactive forum for RTI enthusiasts in Punjab and elsewhere www.rightto.info
   280. If Consitutional sanction to State Interference in matters of faith is a shame that BJP lead NDA did nothing to correct it is a bigger shame
   281. Extending NN Vohra’s warped logic perhaps Pravin Togadia should be appointed to the Haj Committee to ensure safe passage next
   282. So does Amarnath Yatra now need to be secular and politically correct to obtain safe passage http://is.gd/19EY5
   283. So what will be Super about these Regulators – will they wear their unmentionables on the outside and rent a cape ?
   284. It seems to be the season for super regulators http://is.gd/19ELC this one is for spectrum
   285. A super regulator by any other name would end up being just that http://is.gd/19AIZ retired bureaucrats cannot inspire fresh thinking
   286. Bibek Debroy rips 7th schedule and the Concurrent List http://is.gd/19Aw0 says we need concurrence on separate Center State & Local lists
   287. GVLNR comes out of hibernation http://is.gd/19AqE forget the fine print, tell us why you got it wrong
   288. What goes on in a University ought to be its business, the young and aspirational CM would do well to focus on governance http://is.gd/19Ab9
   289. They may as well take their cue from one Yedyyurappa who is doing the rounds of temples in Tamil Nadu http://is.gd/19A0c
   290. Karat-o-saur is not known particularly for its ability to think consistently and apply logic http://is.gd/19zWx often that results in rebuke
   291. @Sreejith_PA There is just no basis for his followers to claim protectionism redistribution are based on an Indian model of a Welfare State
   292. @Sreejith_PA But thats about it beyond that Integral Humanism is on very weak grounds on socio-economic world view
   293. @Sreejith_PA That Pt Deendayal was in favor of decentralization is clear and consistent with Gandhi Nanaji Deshmukh Govindacharya
   294. @Calamur They could have been creative in using the instruments of Constitution without undermining it to achieve same end
   295. @Calamur There is right way to eliminate Zamindari and wrong way to do it, whats the point in having a Constitution if you had no faith in i
   296. @PrasannaVishy Once the ideological influence wanes transactions are reduced to the petty and inane
   297. @Calamur We know with hindsight there are No Good Marxists so that settles that debate
   298. @Calamur Exactly he shudnt be deemed one we must not be blind to his strenghts and faults else no lessons wud be learnt
   299. @Calamur With the 9th schedule he opened the pandoras box for ammending Constitution to suit political expediency
   300. @Calamur Nehru fails on legacy of failed Institutions starting with the Constitution to which he provided an escape clause in 9th schedule
   301. @Calamur India was lucky in Nehru to the extent that post Independence insecurities had to be managed but leadership is also abt legacy
   302. @Swapan55 could have to do with the fact that “influence” has been on the wane given the deep fault line on economic issues
   303. @Prassannavishy That is a profound observation, if there is any state ripe for a Center Right spark its Bengal, tragedy the BJP is sleeping
   304. @Calamur @ZoomIndianMedia Fact that his daughter Institutionalized all the ills of Indian Democracy and Indian State stands testimony to it
   305. @Calamur @ZoomIndianMedia Right way to judge him wud be by quality of Institutions he left behind on that count he fails the history test
   306. @Calamur @ZoomIndianMedia Nehru was in some parts Kautilyan in his actions and in some he wasnt, how must we judge him ?
   307. @Ranjithp Dont know if Upadhyay wud have supported State control of education but his followers have by prescribing syllabi denying autonomy
   308. @Ranjithp Reference to Gandhi was limited to his description of utopia called “Rama Rajya” not so much so to education
   309. Next time we are forwarded obfuscations like Rama Rajya, inclusive Hindutva or Integral Humanism, remember to challenge their Indian origins
   310. Govindacharya is right this is psuedo-Hindutva but the bad news is even Integral Humanism is psuedo-Hindu by and large with more Greek in it
   311. It is ironical that those swear by a Hindu identity have learnt the least from the most Hindu of works on statecraft and political realism
   312. Answer may lie in his advocacy of non-violence for the ancient Indian State put a high premium on protecting National Interest by all means
   313. It must be asked why Gandhi talked of a utopia called Rama Rajya that had more in common with Aristotle than with Kautilya ?
   314. Where Aristotle echoes tight State control of education in the ancient Indian State education outside the control of the State in Gurukuls
   315. The most striking contrast between Aristotle’s State and Kautilya’s State is the role of State visa-vis education
   316. Dinosaurs share deep ethnic bonding and usually speak up for each other even the bad ones http://is.gd/199oU mystery how they became extinct
   317. Speaking to United Press Jun 1945 Gandhi describes it as dreamland that may never be realized that he is happy imagining http://is.gd/18RXK
   318. Reading Gandhi’s description of Rama Rajya as a dream state almost reminds one verbatim of Aristitotle’s definition from Book1 of Politica
   319. Follows hence that ancient Indian State did not prescribe moral behavior to Individuals limiting itself primarily to enforcing rule of law
   320. RP Kangle on Arthasastra draws an interesting distinction between Moral Codes prescribed for individuals from crimes punishable by State
   321. Amartya Sen revives the Social Justice debate http://is.gd/18GBX
   322. Interesting find in book on Vedic Metaphysics by Prem Sabhlok http://is.gd/18EgG echoes Offstumped on Dharma nature of ancient Indian State
   323. This raises an interesting question if what is passed off for “Rama Rajya” as a welfare State is of Indian or Greek origin ?
   324. Where Aristotle requires a welfare role for the State the ancient Indians it seems left that welfare role to autonomous local communities
   325. In contrast ancient Indian role for State seems minimalismostly focused on upholding rule of law and protecting against external threats
   326. Having read thru most of Politica it is clear modern “progressive” “welfare” State is largely an Aristotlean idea
   327. Education is strictly controlled by Aristotle’s State and is enforced to be uniform to all citizens
   328. Aristotle’s regulatory role for the State extends to regulating marriages, childbirth, abortion and conduct during Pregnancy
   329. Aristotle also asserts regulatory role for the State in land distribution and usage to provide for public welfare services like common meals
   330. Aristotle lists out 6 functions of the State and views the purpose of the State to be their fulfillment
   331. But recognizing the importance of exports/imports Aristotle recommends developing ports outside fortified cities, almost sounds like SEZs
   332. A rather familiar fear of foreign trade and influx of foreigners comes up as well
   333. Aristotle clearly comes in favor of controlling the size of the State thru a limit on population and controlling immigration
   334. @Chakreshm Direct from an English translation of Politica with of course a lot of modern american opinion polluting the original text
   335. @chakreshm I think its too broad a generalization for there are many diverse schools of thought
   336. One even sees an echo of NREGS in Aristotle’s description of Carthaginians who give work to poor in turns
   337. Subsidies and modern welfare find mention in Aristotle who wants surplus revenues of the State to be redistributed to the poor
   338. @Chakreshm That seems to be a very poor generalization, original reference please ?
   339. Where Aristotle is focused on internal affairs of the State Kautilya and others mostly focus on protecting the State from external threats
   340. An interesting contrast in Greek and Indian view on role and management of the State
   341. It begs the question of advocates of Integral Humanism where from did they derive their socio-economic world view – Greece or India ?
   342. Cannot recall any references to role of State in equalizing wealth or redistribution in either Arthashastra or Sukraniti
   343. Aristotle’s views on property limits equity it is clear there is more Greek in Integral Humanism than Dharma from Arthashastra
   344. Reading Aristotle’s Politics his definition of the State minus patriarchy and slavery sounds like Integral Humanism

Filed under: Offstumped on Twitter, Shveta Chhatra, Uncategorized

Shveta Chhatra Debate – Week of June 21st

 A compilation of 275 tweets on Shveta Chhatra Short Commentary and the BJP debate between June 14th and June 21st via Twitter.  

 

1.   The White Umbrella shall stand for protecting federalism and the republic through freedom to states and a strong Justice delivery system
   1. In the new Big Tent there will be no role for unelected Governors operating as political stooges of the party in power at the Center
   2. At the heart of Union Cabinet riding roughshod over state legislatures is the anachronism of politically appointed Governors
   3. Of course the UPA’s response to GUJCOCA is a states rights issue the BJP would do well to make it such in the days to come
   4. To have the Union Cabinet dictate legislation Constitutionally passed by an elected Legislature is a slap on federalism http://is.gd/18sAZ
   5. Those who have concerns on GUJCOCA must fight it politically in Gujarat and legally in the courts http://is.gd/18sAZ
   6. Merely prefixing the word inclusive will not change perceptions, a stand must be taken against bigots without beating around the bush
   7. Wishy washy feel good skullduggery cannot rationalize bigotry http://is.gd/18rk3 a choice will have to be made sooner than later
   8. Till we see a Vision and Roadmap for future that reflects a contemporary socio-economic world view all redefinitions will be merely cosmetic
   9. BJP will have to reconcile stagnant 1960s socio-economic worldview of Integral Humanism with Modi’s “Min Govt Max Governance” Gujarat Model
   10. Key leading indicator over next 12 months would be less on inclusive definition of Hindutva & more on reconciling socio-economic faultlines
   11. It appears Swapan Da set very low bar on expectations from the BJP National Executive, perhaps being closer to reality he has good reasons
   12. Swapan blog is up with his take on BJP’s National Executive http://is.gd/18luC key point to note 12 month timeframe for discernible change
   13. Veteran journo MV Kamath gleans various surveys to pose a moot question http://is.gd/18hpE why is the BJP not breaking new ground ?
   14. Yet another definition of Hindutva in the Organiser http://is.gd/18gYB what does joint family have to do with Governance ?
   15. Till we see more talk of a Vision and Roadmap for the future and less regurgitation of rhetoric of the past, BJP’s recovery is far from over
   16. Not enough for BJP to claim an aspiration to be better superior alternative to the Congress it has to first forward a Vision for the future
   17. That BJP is still looking to Mr. LK Advani to tour the length & breadth of the country reflects on lack of readiness of the next generation
   18. The fact that far more space was dedicated to explaining defeat rather than on a roadmap for future is not encouraging http://is.gd/189LC
   19. Read BJP’s political resolution & LK Advani’s remarks after National Executive – regurgitation of rhetoric of past little hints for future
   20. Watching Venkaiah Naidu live on TimesNow TV after BJP National Executive
   21. Culture of sabotage within and without continues to hurt BJP, for how else can it allow a 30 yr old idiot to dominate its National Executive
   22. From when have government run Forensic Labs started working Sundays ?
   23. @Sunlaad There is a difference Gandhi lead by example from his personal life he never stood for Government controls or Legislation
   24. BJP needs to decide if it wants to spend rest of the decade in obfuscation while rationalizing actions of the judgemental and the bigoted
   25. It would be fair to say most in active politics subscribe to 1st, apolitical ideologues subscribe to the 2nd and fringe elements to the 3rd
   26. 3 views of Hindutva – 1st is deliberately vague to allow for obfuscation, 2nd is judgemental on personal lifestyle 3rd is outright bigotry
   27. If it cannot be defined how pray can it be a coherent ideology for Governance how can it guide in making chocies between policy alternatives
   28. Every single time BJP spokesperson pontificate on Hindutva they end up obfuscating it futher http://is.gd/17QIh read last para by SN Singh
   29. @KanchanGupta Absolutely Governance must be guided by broad ideology but that ideology must not be judgemental on personal lifestyle choices
   30. @Gudem We cant afford many decades for this churning, it has to result in outcomes in this decade not the next one
   31. @Acorn That tweet was directed at the pro-poor Aam Admi types who protesteth the Nano, agree any product has to be viable on multiple counts
   32. @Gudem You make a valid point, but when you are at 116 thats hard to happen making this all the more difficult
   33. @Acorn agree moral science is best left to family, school and community in that order
   34. That was RA Mashelkar former head of CSIR speaking to NYTimes on innovation in India, food for thought on promoting Spirit of Enterprise
   35. If you make something for the rich, the poor cannot afford it, But if you design for the poor, everyone can afford it. – RA Mashelkar
   36. Ideology for governance must be neutral on personal values such that an ascetic or a ethical self indulgent still make same policy choices
   37. @KanchanGupta Then where is the debate, this debate is not on personal values its about ideology guides Governance in making policy choices
   38. @KanchanGupta Look forward to it keep them coming its pretty banal in the rest of the media.
   39. @KanchanGupta Where you are missing the point is it is not the job of Government to legislate personal values, that job belongs to family
   40. @KanchanGupta Generalizations can work both ways. Self interest is as old as Human race itself, values are important no debate on that
   41. @KanchanGupta How can you stereotype and generalize, I am sure 30 years back the elders felt the same way over Dum-maro-Dum generation
   42. Its not about preserving ideas that were a product of an age & context but about inventing new ideas based on the essence which is constant
   43. @KanchanGupta So what is the constant between all 4 of them, your need for freedom to move and communicate, there in lies the moral
   44. @KanchanGupta Quite well actually unless you are proposing that we all go back to riding Chariots and fighting Wars between Delhi & Patna
   45. Preservation is for relics & fossils, in new Big Tent it will not be about preservation but continuous reinvention with free flow of ideas
   46. BJP needs to stop talking about preservation of core values, start talking about making those values relevant to a young aspirational India
   47. Unless we see a hint from Mr. Modi on Day 2 of National Executive in addressing this disconnect BJP is many months away from reinvention
   48. That disconnect is real even today between Narendra Modi’s Gujarat Model of “Minimum Government Maximum Governance” and Integral Humanism
   49. BJP will not understand 2004 2009 debacles till it accepts the complete disconnect between a stagnant ideology & NDA’s 6 years of Governance
   50. Whether it is Hindutva or Integral Humanism it is reluctance to face up to socio-economic views past their sell by date which is at the root
   51. How can BJP that views itself as natural alternative for governance in 21st century Young India swear by a ideology not revised in 40 years
   52. Integral Humanism is weakest in its socio-economic prescriptions, its 1960s articulation viewed automation with suspcion http://is.gd/17GBk
   53. The problem though is Integral Humanism has been intellectually stagnant too since 1960s, more from Offstumped archives http://is.gd/17Gyj
   54. Sudheendra Kulkarni writes a compelling highlighting the absence of Hindutva in Deendayal Upadhyay’s Integral Humanism http://is.gd/17Gw3
   55. Media accounts of BJP National Executive largely speak of personal interventions intellectual obfuscation, where is first hint of reinventon
   56. @KanchanGupta We know about fierce clashes in Teheran at the rate of 200 tweets a second, tell us about fierce clashes in Parliament Annexe
   57. @Swapan55 @KanchanGupta Hoping to see new blog posts with your take on Day 1 of the BJP National Executive
   58. Shourie Jaswant Singh raise legitimate questions without imputing motives BJP would do well to put every issue to ballot test for legitimacy
   59. BJP doesnt need committees, needs open transparent process to elect new leadership & to chart new direction, committees can only rationalize
   60. Swapan Dasupta has a rejoinder on his blog in response to some personal remarks by Arvind Lavakare, this is the tragedy of this debate
   61. BJP National Executive would do itself party its friends & sympathisers a lot of good by focusing on debate rather than on rationalization
   62. We now have that pygmy Buddhadeb doing a press conference in Delhi, what a contrast in conviction from the bold DIG to this pygmy of a CM
   63. That was DIG of Western Range, Bengal, watching him on TimesNow is a treat, this man is impressive in his rhetoric handling of media
   64. DIG of West Midnapore exudes far more clarity conviction on upholding writ of State Rule of Law than all the pygmy politicians on Lalgarh
   65. Rajnath Singh taking responsibility seems to be emphatic BJP should be strongly differentiated from the Congress – devil is in the details
   66. Reading Govindacharya’s many warnings on organizational atrophy as far back as 1997 makes one wonder this churning in BJP is a decade late
   67. @Calamur Carry on keep the debate going, ultimately Truth shall prevail
   68. @Calamur Read Gandhi’s original letters on gandhiserve.org he clarifies many of these riddles quite well with amazing clarity and simplicity
   69. @Calamur Disagree that episode if true was not just, problem we have is medevial rationalization of original text to reconcile bitter truths
   70. @Calamur A King who acts on will of the people without verifying the Truth is guilty of Rajya Adharma period, he was fallible let us face it
   71. @Calamur Thats a debate in itself, ever wonder why “Satyameva Jayate” is inscribed on the National Symbol, will leave it for another day
   72. @Calamur To clarify I agree it is not faith it is also not fuzzy duties based on relative value systems or social mores, its natural justice
   73. @Calamur Actually it is not, thats a medevial obfuscation and unfortunately it has received Institutional sanction over the decades
   74. @Calamur There cant be 2 relative Truths on Sita’s fidelity in fact in the absence of verifiable Truth there was no basis for his Justice
   75. @Calamur You are confusing Faith and belief systems with Truth and Justice. Faith and Beliefs can be relative, Truth cannot hence Justice
   76. @Calamur He committed Adharma period no fuddy duddy wishy washy rationalization can justify his decision in that episode
   77. @Calamur Faith, personal value systems can be private individual and circumstantial but not so with Truth & Justice Rama was wrong btw
   78. Interesting interview by Govindacharya back in 2000 http://is.gd/16O3x Many of his observations are relevant in the present context
   79. @Sunlaad They could, they did once, but is this labelling as pro-rich pro-US cud be irreconcilable
   80. If the mood in the office bearers meeting was anything to go by it is anybody’s guess what surprises the National Executive has in store
   81. When you suffer a complex of being the poor clone without the advantage of chromosomes this is what you end up with http://is.gd/16JfA
   82. Former Secy Urban Development makes a compelling case for direct democracy and autonomy to local government in the IE http://is.gd/16EVN
   83. @Calamur The distinction is when people confuse the “what” of socio-economic choice with Dharma instead of the “how” of it
   84. @Calamur Actually Dharma is not relative it is absolute refer you to Offstumped archives for Dharma 101 thru 701 to clarify this exact point
   85. @calamur You are right there will be many shades, the reference here was to the two broad schools that have emerged at this point in debate
   86. The White Umbrella must stand for that freedom of choice recognizing the legitimacy of either choice without being prescriptive
   87. The sticking point will be as before shud the State legislate and force socio-economic choice top-down or leave it to the local communities
   88. Such a freedom and autonomy to local governments with the option of direct democracy would be consistent with Gandhi’s views
   89. In new Big Tent Freedom to Community shall mean autonomy to Local Governments to make policy choices on model of socio-economic development
   90. In the new Big Tent there can be room for both schools of thought provided each recognizes the legitimacy of either socio-economic choice
   91. Between Govindacharya and Narendra Modi we have an interesting contrast in style and convictions
   92. Have to break friday sojourn for some very clear thinking and articulation from Govindacharya http://is.gd/16rvs between Modi and Govindacha
   93. In closing Friday 19th, the Shveta Chhatra continues to await its detached moral if not political Leader, will Mr. Modi seize the moment ?
   94. One may disagree with Nandy ideologically especially on his views on Gujarat but his analysis in this piece pretty perceptive on many counts
   95. Ashis Nandy’s piece in Tehelka on BJP’s moment of truth is worth a read http://is.gd/16msL
   96. Narendra Modi must assert moral leadership of the movement for in intellect & practice he has dwarfed sangh ideologues
   97. @Gudem This is what makes Narendra Modi unique for he triangulates to the Right on all 3 axes – economic, cultural and national
   98. @Gudem The unambiguous line is economic not cultural that is what must be recognized when Sinha says we never allowed it before we wont now
   99. @Gudem missing the point its not about denial, its about what cannot be compromised on, Rakesh sinha is emphatic – BJP cannot be allowed to.
   100. The million dollar question is will he challenge his ideologue colleagues with deep Leftist sentiment and dubious Hindu pretensions
   101. It is clear where Narendra Modi stands on his economic worldview and its roots in Dharma consistent with Gandhi’s thought process
   102. To truly call their bluff debate ought not to be on the mask called Hindutva it has to be on economic worldview to challenge its Hindu basis
   103. Which leads us to conclude that the real mukhota is Hindutva for it allows them to mask that leftist worldview to give it a false Hindu spin
   104. What this really tells us is deep down at the heart of Sangh/BJP ideologues who swear by Hindutva is a strong Leftist economic world view
   105. In fact Rakesh Sinha emphasizes this in a roundabout by highlighting that economic issues were never compromised over the decades
   106. If we put the political evolution of BJP/JP/JS into perspective cultural issues were never sacrosanct political hot button issues till 1990
   107. After all aggressive political Hindutva was an issue in only one election which the BJP lost to Congress in 1991
   108. Deeper reflection on Rakesh Sinha’s line reveals something – the fundamental fault line within BJP/Sangh is not cultural it is economic
   109. It is a moment of truth for Narendra Modi how he handles this opening will tell us a lot about the future
   110. This could very well be the plank for a Center Right reinvention of the movement to stitch a new coalition and to break new ground
   111. From flexible labor laws to freedom to decide how to spend on welfare, states rights are a potent issue from Bihar to Gujarat, Kashmir to TN
   112. The UPA’s arrogance in dictating legislation to Gujarat is a perfect opening for Narendra Modi to make this about states rights
   113. Unless the BJP differentiates itself on true federalism and autonomy to local government it will be reduced to a poor clone of the congress
   114. The White Umbrella shall stand for crystal clarity in preserving states rights and in recognizing that only the Courts can sit in judgement
   115. In the new Big Tent it will not be up to central governments and figurehead Presidents to sit in judgement over legislations by states
   116. UPA government’s decision to return GuJOCOCA is a violation of states rights and a slap on the face of Federalism
   117. What kind of federalism is this where Union cabinet dictates legislation to state governments http://is.gd/16723
   118. Interesting find from Jan 2002, who would believe this Christians and social workers expressed faith in Narendra Modi http://is.gd/15Jva
   119. Look when Narendra Modi first said it – 30th January 2002 http://is.gd/15Izl people of Gujarat are enterprising they want minimum government
   120. Striking similarity between Narendra Modi’s “Minimum Government Maximum Governance” and Gandhi’s “Largest Good with Minimum of Controls”
   121. @KanchanGupta Agree cynical self interest is a reality, but must not stop us from demanding ideology guide politics hence moral detachment
   122. Those who bandy phrases like Gandhian Socialism, abuse Gandhi, if anything Gandhi’s clarity of thought exudes Dharma inspires Shveta Chhatra
   123. Guess who also said – “They want to achieve their aims through Legislation, to me legislation implies coercion” – is this Left or Right ?
   124. Guess who said “My difference with socialists is they advocate collective effort while I advocate beginning with individual effort”
   125. Guess who said “Test of a good government lies in the largest good of the people with the minimum of controls” – is this Left or Right ?
   126. Guess who said “Indian economic independence is economic uplift of every individual by his or her conscious effort” – is it Left of Right ?
   127. Some riveting words from MG Devasahayam in the new Indian Express on Jayaprakash Narayan and Vajpayee http://is.gd/15Els worth a read
   128. For if you take away that incoherent Hindutva you are indeed left with a poor clone of the Congress without the advantage of chromosomes
   129. In closing it must be said it is understandable why a section of Sangh & BJP is stuck on an incoherent & dubious “essence of Hindu Thought”
   130. Unless they can prove Dharma from Manu Kautilya Sukra is their “alternative philosophy” we must conclude it is as un-Hindu as it can get
   131. How pray have they derived the essence of Hindu Thought or Hindutva to mean Left of center egalitarianism/socialism & rejection of globalism
   132. A challenge to Rakesh Sinha & sangh ideologues – prove which ancient Hindu Thought is basis for their alternative socio-economic philosophy
   133. There is a problem though Gandhian Socialism is as much an abuse of Gandhi as the notion essence of Hindu thought is Leftist egalitarianism
   134. One cannot fault Rakesh Sinha on historical accuracy intellectual clarity or moral certitude, far cry from muddled definitions seen to date
   135. Rakesh Sinha of DU biographer of Hegdewar puts it bluntly http://is.gd/15B7M RSS therefore Hindutva stands for Left of Center Gandhian s
   136. Some time in future when history is written someone will have to explain why the man who built the movement became detached to let it drift
   137. Prem Shankar Jha has an interesting piece on BJP http://is.gd/15sU2 dont agree with his simplistic conclusion but his diagnosis is bang on
   138. How else can we challenge Venkaiahji on how Hindutva can be both an ideology and a way of life and challenge Joshiji on austerity and so on
   139. Speaking of Shourie Twitter Sanjay Jha’s unsolicited advice on making the movement cool, BJP National Executive shud be covered on Twitter
   140. @hg6789 I have no idea maybe its him little wonder, the 140 character limit was perhaps too suffocating and claustrophobic for him
   141. @hg6789 Didnt understand your question “who is it him” on Twitter ?
   142. If Twitter can get Arun Shourie to make his point in 140 characters it would truly have arrived as a micro-blogging platform
   143. Speaking of verbosity and twitter, it amazes me how a 140 character limit can inspire shapr succint eloquence
   144. Arun Shourie’s insightful but verbose piece in IndiaBanao http://is.gd/15ogn wud be interesting how Shourie wud be challenged on Twitter
   145. @ZoomIndiaMedia Bane of any Institution Movement, only remedy is robust Culture of Vigilance, ultimately intrinsic strength of idea itself
   146. @ZoomIndianMedia Anyone who doesnt accept the new Big Tent is outside it automatically no ? What do you mean by undermine it, example pls ?
   147. White Umbrella will also stand for Culture of Vigilance & long public memory to sustain social costs for a lifetime thru public databases
   148. White Umbrella will stand for assurance that social costs & punishment will be raised so high for sexual offenders to be effective deterrent
   149. In the new Big Tent Local Law Enforcement will be directly accountable to the people as will be first layer of Justice Delivery
   150. @Saindeos That and many others, hence the need to make Local Law Enforcement directly accountable to local community to take these seriously
   151. Manmohan Singh’s toughtalk on terror loses all credibility, fight against terror starts in Cities with robust surveillance by 1st responders
   152. This modus operandi of committing crimes in moving cars needs a tough response as well, Cities must be held to account for surveillance
   153. The fact these incidents occur with no fear of consequences is a reason for us to relook at Justice delivery & socio-economic costs
   154. Increasing incidents of gangrapes in moving cars are a wakeupcall for Local Law enforcement, latest incident in Bhopal at gunpoint (TOI)
   155. @ShashiTharoor Ozymandias comes to mind
   156. Would the Delhi based media’s value judgement on coverage bias be different if the communal identities were reversed ?
   157. Typical of Delhi based media, serial rapists with a fetish in Gujarat get zero coverage while Shiney Ahuja’s sexcapades get saturation cover
   158. Since the outsourcers are undeclared it also means MAD and No First Use dont have much meaning either, are set for a dangerous guessing game
   159. @Acorn This centrifuge to mushroom cloud lifecycle outsourcing of WMDs basically renders non-proliferation meaningless, need new paradigm ?
   160. @ZoomIndianMedia Its not about the smartphone its about the idea of empowerment thru access to information cutting out the middleman
   161. @Acorn The World Bank reference was to data from survey of BPL households and NREGA effectiveness not so much to specific prescriptions
   162. @Acorn WMD Outsourcing seems to be a viable business, if the Saudis can order one, question is who else has WMD’s in offshore safe havens
   163. Swapan Da in the Asian Age has an interesting line Alongside this battle against superannuation is the battle over ideas http://is.gd/14PZ5
   164. @KanchanGupta More here on languishing USO-Funds on Rural Telephony, Direct Cash Transfers and Smart NREGA http://is.gd/14PAj
   165. @KanchanGupta you dont seem to read much news, smart phones not such a dumb idea after all http://is.gd/14Pv3 takes conviction imagination
   166. Credibility & Conviction can be exuded by deriving vision from a coherent ideology & by demonstrating its promise with real life examples
   167. It is a shame that many of BJP’s own mocked the I.T. vision based on unimaginative stereotypes and ideological incoherence
   168. Here is an example from LiveMint on rural BPO http://is.gd/14Mxt BJP’s I.T. Vision spoke of this but no credible advocacy during campaign
   169. To truly differentiate itself from the Congress the BJP needs conviction and credibility on all issues not just pet Hindutva peeves
   170. There is no dispute on sustainability or equity the dispute is on One sizeFitAll solutions forced Top Down that limit the freedom to choose
   171. @KanchanGupta but if you read that report carefully it advocates by spurring local economy with more freedom and hence more opportunities
   172. @KanchanGupta Fixing the elite below is a Justice Delivery problem that needs to be solved separately, centralizing it is not the answer
   173. This is the kind of ideological clarity and coherence the BJP needs to drive else it will be reduced to Hindutva+Congress clone
   174. We need to make local govts directly accountable to the Rural BPL Households so they deliver and no Kalavati has to go to Delhi to plead
   175. We need to empower Local Government at City Town Taluk Block village level to make socio-economic decisions that best suit local conditions
   176. It cannot be up to a bureaucrat sitting Delhi or State Capital to decide who gets what when in the name of balanced or equitable growth
   177. It is a mockery of the aspirations of the Rural BPL household that wants opportunities and skills to deny it the freedom to acquire them
   178. The 2002 BPL Census data and the recent World Bank Survey on “Moving from Poverty” proves this, we dont need theory we need to pay attention
   179. There is more wisdom in the BPL Rural Household than the Delhi based Central Planners promising false hopes of equitable growth
   180. @KanchanGupta No theory here have you seen BPL Census data rural households are screaming for Self Employment and New Skills not Dole
   181. @KanchanGupta We have seen the tyranny of State Controlled Balanced Development in Maharashtra which is a greater mockery of the poor ?
   182. S. Gurumurthy writing in the Mint has an interesting perspective on BJP’s future http://is.gd/14CSU clear BJP shud not be a Cong clone
   183. @Calamur That speaks volumes on how 2009 was an opportunity missed by BJP in blowing the “pro poor aam admi” smokescreen to bits
   184. It is very typical of Progressivism to centralize and nationalize economic decision making on the pretext of “equitable or balanced growth”
   185. “Progressivisim” is not to be confused with “real progress”, it is leftie guilt & victimhood thinking that seeks to restrict economicfreedom
   186. @Calamur Inclusiveness is inherent to Center Right Liberal National ideology as opposed to Progressivism that thrives on Class War rhetoric
   187. @Calamur I have, Jyotirmaya Sharma is another one of those Progressives, if the Progressives want a Congress minus dynasty they shud say so
   188. There is onething to agree with in Sanjay Jha’s piece there is a need to making Center Right thinking “cool”
   189. Progressives would like nothing better than a political monopoly with a choice between real Congress and a Congress clone
   190. @Calamur that piece was less about Kulkarni and more about Sanjay Jha’s unsolicited advise to BJP to become a Congress clone
   191. Litmus Test for BJP will be if it elects a detached moral leader to remake movement or selects a feel good figurehead for party President
   192. Moral detachment and a back to basics focus on rebuilding the movement with Missionary zeal and Visionary appeal is the first task at hand
   193. Till the credibility and trust deficit is addressed it is foolish to talk of the next election let alone next PM candidate
   194. Excessive focus on next election and next Prime Ministerial candidate is misplaced and counterproductive and does disservice to the cause
   195. Those who are wellwishers of NaMo and sympathetic to CenterRight causes will do greatest damage with this focus on 2014 and projection as PM
   196. Many comments on Swapan Dasgupta’s latest blog post are rooting for NaMo in 2014 as PM candidate
   197. TVRShenoy on rediff echoes Offstumped on deriving a coherent center right ideology based on ancient Indian thought http://bit.ly/nwZc
   198. Respecting Gafoor’s professionalism & to save itself criticism of appeasement Cong Govt wud do well to be objective factual in its response
   199. One has to conclude that the Congress Governmentt in Maha is shy of being critical of Hassan Gafoor on 26/11 conduct account of his religion
   200. What good is 26/11 inquiry commission if State Govt is going to rubbish its findings blatantly http://is.gd/14sCn
   201. This is the all the more reason for the 26/11 report to be made public, so there is full accounting of all Mobile communications on 26/11
   202. CNN-IBN recounts wireless chatter between Karkare & Control room on 26/11, raises an old question were Kasab or his controllers listening in
   203. RT @PRSLegislature More data on the Progressive Fraud in Andhra http://bit.ly/EKq3N any surprise why YSR won ?
   204. BS Koshiyari shud have been put to ballot test to settle the dissidence in Uttarakhand this culture of central observers consulting must end
   205. @JaideepSK Article 370 is a different issue, pls chk Offstumped archives on why it deserves first a Federalist response
   206. @JaideepSK Those who oppose UCC are illiberal and thats how the argument shud have been framed to begin with rather than psuedo-secularism
   207. @BDUTT Will the media show some spine and run a concerted campaign on the 26/11 report for a change instead of the obsessive focus on BJP
   208. An Online Computation Engine shakes up the world of mathematics http://is.gd/13WNx chk it out pretty cool
   209. Absurdity of Progressivisim http://is.gd/13VrJ it is less about beneficiary’s real needs & more about Who is seen to be doling out benefits
   210. The greatest damage has been done to the legitimacy of any debate on UCC and Article 370 by labelling and advocating them as Hindutva
   211. It is absurd to label UCC & Article 370 as Hindu issues, they are Liberal and National issues, what do they have to do with who I pray to
   212. @JaideepSK Article 370 is a legitimate issue from a Federal and National standpoint and it must be debated in context of freedom to states
   213. This debate is about deriving a coherent inclusive ideology based on it that meets the hopes and aspirations of 21st century Youn India
   214. This debate is not about the relevance of the “essence of Hindu Thought” in a 21st century Young India with increasing cosmo-urbanization
   215. Kanchan Gupta revisits Hindutva question with different interpretation on what it means to him, brings us back to what this debate is about
   216. Vision Aspiration deficit that failed to capture imagination of Middle India epitomised by Delhi can only be fixed by a wholesale overhaul
   217. Kanchan Gupta rightly identifies that BJP has failed to grasp changing demographics of Cosmo delhi, there in lies lesson on rest of India
   218. Leadership is not about electoral landscape as it exists but about remaking it by breaking existing social coalitions to stitch new ones
   219. RT @Kanchangupta on latest blog post with some hard hitting plain talk http://is.gd/13TO5 but he is still trapped in electoral arithmetic
   220. This is taking citizen activism tad too far http://is.gd/13ORI at this rate shud design of every Fighter Jet & Nuke Submarine be open source
   221. Where are candlelight vigils & all the civil society types http://is.gd/13O94 whitewashing 26/11 findings by Maha Govt will simply not do
   222. Aloofness from factional debate is one thing but at some point Modi will have to speak up on process and ideology for remaking the movement
   223. But enlightenment and modernity will not be exuded till the Karma Yogi walks the talk to remake the movement
   224. Swapan is bang on in repudiating the media for its mischief mongering in clubbing Modi with the other Gandhi
   225. Swapan Dasgupta’s latest blog post lays it all bare http://is.gd/13B2x no more guessing on BJP civil war
   226. @Sreejith_PA chk Offstumped archives for piece on Golwalkar & Gandhi advocated Freedom to Community on socio-economic issues
   227. @JaideepSK you are right “austerity of the State” or “Minimum Government Maximum Governance” are bang on Right of Center
   228. This is where Dr. MM Joshi others are wrong, explains why they missed picking the Shveta Chhatra over the Bhagwa as a symbol for governance
   229. If anything Arthashastra and its derivatives like Kamandakiya are clear State must encourage more commerce to keep the Treasury overflowing
   230. There is no credible basis to argue that ancient Indian thought advocated austerity as Public Policy as opposed to Individual Choice
   231. @ZoomIndia You are right hence the Shveta Chhatra which distills their essence as opposed to a barely codified poorly articulated Hindutva
   232. Perils of charging an Internationalist with advocating National Interest http://is.gd/13qr3 thank heavens he is the junior Minister
   233. Nalin Kohli has thankless job http://is.gd/13qaT pitted against one moron who thinks Congress is rightofCenter & 2 others who barely get it
   234. Netagiri 101 http://is.gd/13pMT a bloated torso and a mean looking extended retinue, great going for the other Gandhi
   235. Non-news of Jaitley’s week old resignation makes it to Wall Street Journal, media is really starved one must take it
   236. The White Umbrella shall stand for Freedom to the Individual, Community and Faith to practise private way of Life while guaranteeing Justice
   237. But the new Big Tent will make a clear distinction between the private way of life and the public policy choices to be made for governance
   238. Dr. Joshi is however right, in the new Big Tent everyone will have freedom to practise their way of life and associate with any organisation
   239. At the heart of the incoherence is precisely this mixing up of a personal way of life with an ideology for public policy and governance
   240. Hindutva as a way of life can at best be a personal choice and if it advocates austerity great but how can it guide on policy alternatives ?
   241. Hindutva and austerity – Dr. Murali Manohar Joshi adds to the incoherence http://is.gd/13p6J
   242. It is interesting how the BJP in India and the Republicans in United States are undergoing a similar debate on ideology versus pragmatism
   243. BJP may or may not reinvent itself as the new Big Tent but Offstumped has beaten Republicans in U.S. to stake first claim http://is.gd/130JE
   244. The cat is out of the bag on the black money issue http://is.gd/130no wasnt it Chidambaram who announced the last amnesty scheme ?
   245. While the progressives are at it dropping fuedal titles http://is.gd/130fe will they be honest and drop a certain misappropriated Last Name
   246. Tyranny of Progressivism http://is.gd/1302Q the fake BPL Ration Card scam got bigger, what next fake BPL certificates for NREGS ?
   247. Those keen to follow BJP debate online check out Rajesh Jain & Amit Malaviya’s 8 part series on what next for BJP http://tinyurl.com/klpclf
   248. @Swapan55 @KanchanGupta time for new blogposts, comments are overflowing on your blogs past 100 mark, hope the gag order doesnt apply to you
   249. There has been more new and imaginative opinions expressed on friendsofbjp.org than on organiser.org that points to something
   250. As the bigger older stakeholder it is incumbent on Sangh to proactively initiate such debate on fora like Organiser with non Sangh voices
   251. In the interest of historical stakeholders & new young non-Sangh stakeholders who are the future of the BJP debate must be open transparent
   252. The Sangh is BJP’s largest and most important stakeholder that is a reality as is the reality that there are many new non-Sangh stakeholders
   253. @Vijay_Vikram I dont subscribe to oversimplification of debate on Sangh-BJP relationship with phrases like “cutting the umbilical chord”
   254. @Sreejith_PA One can take my comment as a rebuke and get offended or take it as the voice of young India and as an intellectual challenge
   255. @Sreejith_PA The fact that the Organiser is mostly reflecting outdated views and has not seen much freshness in debate points to something
   256. @Sreejith_PA There was a time as a Schoolboy and Teenager when I had treasured clippings from the Organiser for some stimulating thoughts
   257. @Sreejith_PA If Sangh is BJP’s largest most important stakeholder & Organiser its voice, why isnt most imaginative debate occuring there ?
   258. BJP must seriously consider open no-holds barred debate followed by a structured process to vote on past and future decisions on succession
   259. Dear Sushmaji when was the last time someone put a lid or gag order on a volcano and is still around to tell us about it ?
   260. Kudos to Gujarat government for deftly dealing with the Surat rape case and for nipping attempts to politicize it
   261. @Acorn @Swapan55 Debate is happening on Tehelka because Tehelka commissioned it I guess, question is why isnt the Organiser commissioning it
   262. @Sreejith_PA I gave credit to Pravin Togadia’s article for atleast being honest on where he stands, those sympathetic shud join SS MNS BJS
   263. @Sreejith_PA Bad example, a comment on INI may appear unmoderated, an article in Organiser wont appear without editorial consent
   264. With former Sarsanghachalaks giving credibility to conspiracy theories http://is.gd/128IE the Sangh is deeper in denial than the BJP
   265. Praveen Togadia writing in the Organiser is atleast honest http://is.gd/128rL he wants a new or other Hindu interests only party to grow
   266. Blaming media & opinion makers, suggesting BJP promote Varun Gandhi, we can be assured ideas for reinvention will not come from Organiser
   267. Sampling of articles in Organiser tells how Sangh is fast becoming an anachronism http://is.gd/128ct http://is.gd/127T0 http://is.gd/128hG
   268. A very interesting observation from Kamandaki on who must seek employment from the State – those who depend on others for source of income
   269. @Acorn Thanks, the correct title seems to be Kamandakiya Nitisara
   270. Kamandaki was a disciple of Kautilya, based his Nitisastra on Kautilya’s Arthashastra, the text was preserved in Bali over centuries
   271. Just discovered that Google Books has full version of a 1896 translation of Kamandaka Nitisastra of Sanskrit Original from Bali, Indonesia
   272. Trapped in the ghetto http://is.gd/11Un9 in new Big Tent socio-economic aspirations can be realised without the need for vote bank brokers
   273. Distributing smart phones was not such an outlandish idea after all http://is.gd/11UjM is the DoT listening on spending languishing USO-fund
   274. Introspection need not be instant but it needs to be genuine honest http://is.gd/11TXx a “makeover” is always cosmetic and hardly purposeful

 

Filed under: Offstumped on Twitter, Shveta Chhatra

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.

1.  
   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

India Elections 2009 Results – Live Blogging

With the votes set to be counted for the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, here is what Offstumped is looking forward to today.

#1 Will the BJP overtake the Congress as the single largest party and if so by what margin ?

#2 Will Andhra turn in a hung assembly and if so how will the power equations be re-writtent by the voters. Specifically can the TDP manage the numbers with TRS and others or does the Congress have an outside chance by roping in Chiranjeevi’s PRP ?

#3 Will Orissa turn out a hung assembly. Specifically can Naveen Patnaik’s BJD manage the numbers with others or will he be compelled to a suicidal embrace of the Congress. Will Orissa become the next Karnataka for the BJP ?

#4 Will Maharashtra continue to deliver a split verdict or has the BJP-Shiv Sena combine turned the corner in this key large state ?

#5 Will Tamil Nadu’s unusually high turnout mean a AIADMK sweep or will it be a split verdict for Tamil Nadu’s revolving door politics ?

Specific bellwhether seats of interest are

#1 Mandi in Himachal Pradesh which has voted for the party that has formed the government last 6 elections. A BJP loss here would be ominous

#2 Will Dumka in Jharkhand vote against JMM/Congress/RJD

#3 Will Mayurbhanj in Orissa vote against BJP ?

#4 Will Nandyal in Andhra vote against Congress ?

#5 Will Mahabubnagar in Andhra surprise the TRS by dumping KCR ?

#6 Will Peddapalle in Andhra vote against the Congress ?

#7 Will the BJP sweep Rajmahal, Godda, Jamshedpur and Giridih in Jharkhand ?

#8 Which of these 3 Gujarat bellwhether seats will BJP wrest or retain – Anand, Bulsar, Banaskantha ?

#9 Which way will Kangra in Himachal Pradesh go ?

#10 What about bellwhether seats in Chattisgarh (Mahasamund), Maharashtra (Ahmednagar), Punjab (Jalandher), Rajasthan (Sikar), West Bengal (Dum-dum)

#11 How many of the bellwhether seats in Orissa of Aska, Phulbani, Bolangir, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sundargarh will go to BJP ?

#12 Finally will any of the 4 bellwhether seats of Tamil Nadu Vellore, Chidambaram, Coimbatore, Nagappatnam fall to the AIADMK lead alliance ?

Also catch all the action via Offstumped on

- Twitter

- Live analysis and debate on this Internet Panel

PS: As this goes to press, a short email exchange with reliable quarters in the BJP reveals fairly high confidence, fingers crossed.

Filed under: CNN-IBN Boycott, Chattisgarh Polls 2008, Chhattisgarh Polls 2008, Delhi Polls 2008, DesiPundit, Dharma-debates, Dharmayudh-2009, Gujarat Polls 2007, India Elections 2009, India Lok Sabha Elections 2009, Karnataka Polls 2008, Lok Sabha Polls 2008-2009, Madhya Pradesh Polls 2008, Madhya Pradesh Polls 2008, Manmohan Confidence Vote, Offstumped, Offstumped on Twitter, Pratibha Patil, Rajasthan Polls 2008, War on Terror, betrayal of aam admi, jeetega-bharat

India Elections 2009 – Manmohan Singh must release medical records

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who will go down in history for reducing himself to an electile dysfunctional surrogate of the mother and son duo of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, today had this to claim on his health:

I have got a clean bill of good health from my doctors. I just had a meeting with them a few minutes ago and there is no need to worry,” Singh told reporters here when asked if his health would affect his functioning as Prime Minister, in case the UPA is voted to power.

A team of five doctors from the Asian Heart Institute in suburban Bandra Kurla, who had performed the surgery, conducted the over-half-an-hour check up on the Prime Minister and his condition was found to be stable, sources said.

It is interesting that Dr. Manmohan Singh should claim a clean bill of good health to bolster his ability to function as Prime Minister while at the same time making his ill health an excuse to not contest the Lok Sabha elections.

This duplicity on the part of Dr. Manmohan Singh lends credence to Priyanka Gandhi’s remarks on Rahul Gandhi succeeding Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister.

It is imperative to remember that Sonia Gandhi despite making up her mind on mind on Manmohan Singh being her party’s Prime Ministerial candidate never bothered to go public with it in the 2004 elections.

We are perhaps witnessing a repeat of the same sleight of hand by the Congress on the aam admi, with a reluctant to contest Nightwatchman in Manmohan Singh preparing the ground for Rahul Gandhi without actually saying so in the election campaign.

In the interest of transparency and honesty it is imperative that Dr. Manmohan Singh should release his medical records so the public at large can make an independent assessment of his claims of fitness to perform as Prime Minister while making excuses on health grounds to avoid contesting Lok Sabha elections.

Filed under: Chattisgarh Polls 2008, Chhattisgarh Polls 2008, Delhi Polls 2008, DesiPundit, Dharmayudh-2009, Gujarat Polls 2007, India Elections 2009, India Lok Sabha Elections 2009, Karnataka Polls 2008, Lok Sabha Polls 2008-2009, Madhya Pradesh Polls 2008, Madhya Pradesh Polls 2008, Manmohan Confidence Vote, Offstumped, Offstumped on Twitter, Rajasthan Polls 2008, betrayal of aam admi

India Elections 2009 – BJP’s I.T. Vision

While the Congress is busy spinning Rahul Gandhi’s middle-age as youth the BJP seems to have stolen a march over the Congress as far as the GenNext Young Voter goes.

 With the release of an ambitious and forward looking Information Technology Vision the BJP has elevated the otherwise moribund public debate with its focus on the calculus of caste and the arithmetic of wannabe Prime Ministers.

The 40 page Vision Document can be found here.

So how must we judge this ambitious vision of the BJP which it believes is a key enabler to its promise of Good Governance, Development and Security ?

Offstumped has applied the below 5 principles to form a view on this Vision Statement.

#1 – Is the Vision high on rhetoric or does it get into specifics ?

#2 – Does the Vision view Government as the answer to all questions or Does it see the Government’s role merely as a catalyst ?

#3 – Will the Vision further the deepen the all pervasive Culture of Entitlement or will it mark a shift away towards a Culture of Responsibility ?

#4 – Will the Vision spur even greater dependency on Government or will it foster the Spirit of Enterprise ?

#5 – Will the Vision create Institutional Solutions that will enhance the capacity of Local Governance and make it responsive and accountable for the Last Mile of Service Delivery ?

Goal #1 – Creating one new Non-Farming job for every rural household.

On the face of it this goal of targetting 1.2 crore new rural jobs through new skills has an echo in BPL Rural Census Data with a plurality of rural households screaming for new skills over other entitlements.

With its emphasis on “Non-Farm” employment this goal could also be a first small step towards a roadmap away from a dead-end future in farming for many a rural youth.

The devil is of course in the detail on how exactly will 20 new IT-enabled jobs be created in every village.

Page 11 of the vision document attempts to answer this question at a very high level.

While it maybe lacking in specifics, the guiding principles should bring some cheer with its emphasis on local Entrepreneurship Opportunities rather than Government created jobs.

Goal #2 – A Multipurpose National Identity Card (MNIC)

The vision document sets itself up for a challenging goal of setting this up in 3 years. integrating Ration Card, PAN Card, EPIC etc..

What stands out is the centrality of the MNIC as the “pivot for enabling I.T. Vision”.

This is a fundamental shift in thinking for it recognizes the primacy of accounting for every individual through a Digital Identity.

It proposes to do so by eliminating redundancy between the Census Bureau and the UIAI to create a National Registry of Citizenship, NRC to be administered by a Citizenship Regulatory Authority of India, CRAI.

The way the BJP has envisioned the role of CRAI underlines National Security considerations and concerns around Illegal Immigation by making Citizenship Identification Numbers mandatory by law.

It would be interesting to see how the BJP will build consensus for such a mandatory national identification.

While the Vision document is silent on that, Offstumped would like to suggest that the BJP must go one step ahead and create incentives for State Governments to buy-into this concept as a pre-emptive step towards building National Consensus.

Goal#3 Digital Highways

Some lofty goals around affordable broadband internet, increased Mobile penetration. The Vision document rightly recognizes that the usability and usefulness of MNIC is depends on ubiquitous access to the Internet.

Goal #4 E-Governance

A notable feature is the extension of RTI to include a DTI or Duty to Inform by which Government agencies are mandated to inform citizens by default without requiring them to seek information. This is key for we have seen the UPA’s lip service to RTI where key agencies like the NHRC have not bothered to publish annual reports or key metrics in over 2 years on their website.

The other notable aspect is the notion of a “Leaky Service Delivery Pipeline”. The Vision document promises to increase transparency and reduce leakages of welfare funds.

Page 17 lists about 10 specific assurances on Good Governance through E-Governance. An interesting nugget is a 24×7 tollfree phone number to contact a Member of Parliament.

Page 18 goes into great detail of Gujarat’s E-Vishwa Gram initiative launched by Narendra Modi.

An area dear to this blogger’s heart finds mention here of technology enabling Retail Operations of Small and Medium Businessmen, especially the Kirana Shopkeeper through IIT Bombay’s e-Galla.

The emphasis on making the Local Panchayat the primary center for last mile service delivery and using technology to minimize or eliminate corruption stands out.

Another IIT incubated initiative around using technology for Weather forecasting and Expert advisory services for Farmers and electronic land records finds mention.

The Vision document is silent on how exactly these initiatives will be championed by the Federal Government and to what degree will last mile implementation be left to the State Governments.

The challenge as always will be in creating the right incentives for the States to follow through on these initiatives with the Federal Government’s support.

The Vision document is also silent on how it will leverage Private agencies to enable these initiatives, this needs to be elucidated further to highlight enterpreneurship opportunities and employment generation in the private sector through all this federal and state level spend.

Page 20 spells out E-Banking and how it can be used to “Directly Transfer Financial Benefits accruing from various Welfare schemes” to the intended beneficiary. Recently there was much debate on a proposal by Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam in Andhra on Direct Cash Transfer as a more efficient and corruption welfare alternative. More public debate on this is very much in order to take corruption out of welfare distribution.

Another goal that stands out in the area of Development is enhacing the skilled worker base from 8% to 20% over a 5 year period.

An entitlement that has slipped its way through into the Vision Document is spelled out on Page 21 of giving a Free Smart Mobile Phone to every BPL Rural Family.

It sounds like a great idea to stimulate the Technology Sector which is reeling from a global recession but this entitlement begs the question of why the Tax Payer must foot the bill of this free mobile smart phone which will most likely be used for private purposes beyond the intended use of better access to NREGS and other welfare schemes.

The I.T. Vision could have been bolder in spelling that it would incentivize innovation in the Smart Mobile Phone sector to come up with smart business models that take the cost of Device ownership out of the equation for the BPL Family by getting a rapidly expanding Consumer Goods and Organized Retail Industry to pay for it through direct consumer marketing and other schemes. Such a bold synergy will have the twin benefits of spurring Consumption by Rural BPL Families to stimulate the overall economy.

More ideas galore around cheaper laptops for students, which once again rather be a subsidy drain on the tax payer could be facilitated by incentives to innovative Technology start-ups and smarter Business Models that can get the market forces to pay for Device Ownership costs by exploiting the Life Time Consumption Value of a Student.

Extensive use of Private Sector in Skill Development finds mention on page 23 along with other ideas around Telemedicine and Localization of I.T. to include more Indian Lanugaues.

A simple, practical idea of Online Payments for Court Fees and Penalties alone should justify technology investments in the area of Justice Delivery.

A centrally funded and managed National Emergency Service, NES, with Public Safety Answering Points, PSAPs signals perhaps the most significant expansion of Federal Government by this I.T. Vision. While such a service is long overdue and an acute need the BJP must reflect on whether this must be centrally managed. A better alternative would be to enlist Local Governments to invest in PSAPs with Central Funds contingent upon Federally mandated Service Level benchmarks.

The most important part of the Vision Document finds mention in page 34 around National Cyber Security with concrete proposals for a Digital Security Bureau with responsibility for Cyber Warfare, Counter-Terrorism and Cyber Security of National Digital Assets.

Rather than propose a standalone Cyber Security initiative the BJP must ensure that this proposal is part of a comprehensive National Security Architecture to eliminate redundancy and Inter Agency barriers to information dissemination, analysis and response to avoid a repeat of pre-26/11 failures.

More ideas around spurring the domestic Hardware and Hosting Industries and greater sovereign control over the Internet find mention.

In closing it must be said that the BJP’s I.T. Vision is bold and ambitious in its goals and aggressive in its timelines. It is however silent on how this vision will be achieved and funded. It can definitely do better with a focus on innovative models to spur the creativity of the private sector in realising some of these goals while paying  for them with smarter business models.

This I.T. Vision of the BJP raises the bar on the Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi lead Congress. The Congress must explain its lackadaisical 5 year record in all of these areas including the Rs 7000 crore drain on NREGS which has resulted in more Rural Entitlements while doing little to nothing in the area of Rural Skill Development or in creating Opportunities for Rural Enterprise.

Filed under: Chattisgarh Polls 2008, Chhattisgarh Polls 2008, Delhi Polls 2008, DesiPundit, Dharmayudh-2009, Gujarat Polls 2007, India Elections 2009, Karnataka Polls 2008, Lok Sabha Polls 2008-2009, Madhya Pradesh Polls 2008, Offstumped, Offstumped on Twitter, Rajasthan Polls 2008, betrayal of aam admi, jeetega-bharat

India Elections 2009 – Countdown begins

The die is cast people with the election commission announcing a 5 phase poll from April 16th to May 13th and counting of votes on May 16th.

In addition to daily posts on developments in the election campaign Offstumped will have the following coverage.

#1 Track Instant Offstumped Reactions via Twitter, you can also subscribe to the Twitter XML feed. One of the features of Twitter is to distribute soundbites via SMS, consider subscribing to mobile phone updates if you can afford it. Nothing work best to spread the word around, than SMS.

#2 Today’s YouTube/Online Video Pick will highlight the most compelling election videos online. You can find them on the sidebar

#3 Today’s News/Op-ed Pick will highlight the most compelling news story or op-ed piece of the day. You can also find this on the sidebar

#4 Report Live/First Hand will be a place where Offstumped Readers in different parts of India can post first hand experiences and anecdotes from events that attend. Some of you have already done that from the recent Friends of BJP event featuring Arun Jaitley.

#5 Offstumped Current Projection will be this blogger’s take on the various projections by drive-by psephologists and will appear on the second side-bar.

#6 Offstumped on Scribd for background data from Election Commission and Press Information Bureau site for Elections 2009

An important part of the coverage will be “Rahul Gandhi Watch”.

There is a lot of debate on what this election ought to be.

Many voices of prudence believe this election was the BJP’s to lose and it didnt capitalize on the poor state of the economy and the bungling of internal seurity.

Many other voices in the Delhi based media believe this election is the Congress’ to win having pulled off a 5 year term.

This blogger has a different opinion.

Whether we like it or not we dont have a national election and we will not have one till either a single emotive issue dominates the election going-in or we opt for a second Republic to directly elect the Chief Executive.

In the absence of a single overriding national issue this will come down to a deeply personal and at some level emotional choice that every voter has to make.

This blogger has made his choice on the basic fundamental issue of values and Dharma.

We may debate endlessly on whether either of the parties has an economic model or a sound approach for security.

But there is one issue on which there is no ambiguity and the distinction is stark.

Mr. Sudheendra Kulkarni writing in his blog framed it very well saying its “Vanshbhogi versus Karma Yogi“.

The Congress has repeatedly demonstrate that it lacks basic values when it comes to ethics or Constitutionality – Pratibha Patil, Navin Chawla, Cash for Votes,  Governor’s actions in Goa, Meghalaya and Jharkhand.

It is on this fundamental distinction that the Congress must be voted out if not anything else.

Filed under: CNN-IBN Boycott, Chattisgarh Polls 2008, Chhattisgarh Polls 2008, Constituent Assembly, Delhi Polls 2008, DesiPundit, Dharmayudh-2009, Gujarat Polls 2007, India Elections 2009, Karnataka Polls 2008, Lok Sabha Polls 2008-2009, Madhya Pradesh Polls 2008, Manmohan Confidence Vote, Offstumped on Twitter, Pratibha Patil, Rajasthan Polls 2008, betrayal of aam admi, jeetega-bharat, surveys

Manish Tiwari accentuates Rahul Gandhi’s ignorance

Rahul Gandhi’s spin meisters in the Congress are clearly losing it in.

If last weekend they tried to spin away Rahul Gandhi’s ignorance as innocence, his middle age notwithstanding, this weekend they just accentuated why Rahul Gandhi is the Congress’ achilees heel.

Trying to match word for word with Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP leader Narendra Modi, Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari made a fool of himself with this retort (for those disputing the transcript here is the video)

Congress national spokesperson Manish Tiwari hitting out after Modi’s jab at Rahul said, “It’s true that Narendra Modi is from ocean but he is a ‘piranha‘

Manish Tiwari’s smart-ass retort would have carried its zing but for a simple problem – the piranha are fresh water fish and not ocean fish.

The fishmarket verbal brawl is the least of the Congress’ problem.

The bigger problem for the Congress is that for someone who claims to have studied “Development Economics”, Rahul Gandhi with his  juvenile rhetoric on “Corporate Culture” seems to match Mayawati’s intellect.

One is yet to hear anything intellectually substantial from Rahul Gandhi raising  serious questions on his competence and of what Mr. Manish Tiwari calls the grooming in Congress Culture of Young Leaders.

Filed under: Dharmayudh-2009, Lok Sabha Polls 2008-2009, Offstumped, Offstumped on Twitter, betrayal of aam admi

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