Home Ministry has to blame itself?

  Soon after the video footage of Mukesh Kumar’s interview leaked to media, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has asked his officials to know who gave permission to conduct this interview. Mukesh Kumar is one of the prime accused in the gang rape case that takes place in New Delhi on December 16, 2012 and he is currently in Tihar Jail awaiting his death sentence.   Home Ministry officials have found that they themselves have given permission to film-maker Leslee Udwin in June 2013 for a video interview of Mukesh Kumar as a part of her documentary film on this gang rape case. His interview is a small part of her 16 hours long documentary film made upon this incident.   While, granting permission to her for interviewing him, home ministry has laid certain conditions to the film maker and also to the jail officials. Apart from taking consent from the prisoner Mukesh, it orders the Tihar Jail officials to watch the raw video footage of the documentary film. Film maker Leslee Udwin has contacted the jail officials and also the home ministry officials for this purpose, but they have not bothered to watch the raw video footage of the film. So, she conveyed them that she is keeping a copy of the documentary with her in case if they are interested to watch it and sold the original version to BBC, from which Mukesh interview video footage was leaked to media.   Legal experts argue that the jail manuals allow only meetings between prisoners and outsiders under certain conditions, but do not allow any personal interviews or video filming of the prisoners. Any such attempt will be treated as violating the rules and regulations. So, home ministry can’t wash its hands from this case, even though the government was changed.

Chandrababu offers friendship hand to KCR

  TDP meeting held today at Karimnagar has become grand success. The meeting went peacefully without any untoward incidents. Although, MRPS activists have tried to obstruct and disrupt the meeting, police handles them firmly. TDP President Chandrababu Naidu seems is quite happy with overwhelming response to his meeting. Addressing the party leaders he said “I wish both AP and Telangana States develop and people of both states live with harmony like ever before. I have strived hard for the development of Hyderabad and was able to create enormous wealth to the state. Many irrigation projects were developed in Telangana during my regime.”   “Our party honored the sentiment of the Telangana people always. Actually, those who claim themselves as real Telangana heroes were once in my party and my students only. Some leaders might have betrayed us, but it doesn’t matter for me as long as party workers are with me. TDP has always worked for the welfare of the people and will stick to this policy in the future also,” said Chandrababu Naidu.   He said, “My government has purchased additional power from other states foreseeing the large gap between demand and supply. But, the Telangana farmers have suffered as the government lacks that foresight. Hence, it is not correct to blame me or my government for power shortage in the state. My government is ready for negotiations with the Telangana government on all issues including sharing of power from Krishnapatnam thermal power station.”   “We are aware that there are many issues need to be addressed in a proper way. Politics and governance are two different subjects. Instead of mixing and complicating the issues, we should try to resolve the problems being responsible governments. Let the politics be in their place and the government s do their job. Ultimately, our goal should be developing both states. So, I appeal the Telangana government to come forward to resolve the issues through a dialogue,” said Chandrababu Naidu.   Interestingly, Chandrababu Naidu has offered a friendly hand to KCR, instead of criticizing him and his government in his speech. It is no secret that TRS chief KCR do not want any other party throw challenge to his party in the Telangana state. Hence, KCR may lend his ears to his suggestions only if the TDP winds up its business in the state. But, when it is impossible then how can he ignore its challenges and work hand in hand with Chandrababu Naidu as if nothing is happening behind them? So, as long as the problems between the two parties persist, they reflect between their governments also. But, still both governments should create a separate mechanism to handle all these issues emerging between the two states.

Purandeswari too joins the ugly fight

  Purandeswari, who enjoys central minister post during the UPA regime, has abandoned the Congress party after realizing its future is dark. She joins the BJP just ahead of general elections and also managed to secure MP ticket. She hopes to retain her glory but she has something else in her fate. She was defeated in the elections and lost her identity also.   Earlier, she was used to be in the media focus, but now hardly she gets any media attention. Occasionally she appears in the news while attending the party membership enrolling program or in the party meetings.Recently, she visits the draught hit Tamballapalli in Chittoor district along with other BJP leaders. Minister Manikyala Rao was also present in that group. Although none of the members in the group have made any statement, Purandeswari takes pains to defend her party from the Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his party leaders’ criticism for poor allocation of funds to the state. She said “There was an old saying ‘Yadha Tadha Praja. If the King and his intentions are good, then everything will develop well. If he and his intentions are bad then the outcome also will be negative. It applies to our state government also. Would it represented our case properly with the Center, it would have granted sufficient funds to the state. We can’t blame some else for our mistakes.”   CM Chandrababu Naidu has been shuttling between New Delhi and Hyderabad for last nine months. During this period, he gave representation to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and all the concerned union ministers including M Venkaiah Naidu. He even stressed the NDA government through Union Ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Sujana Chowdary, M Venkaiah Naidu and Nirmala Sitaraman.   Venkaiah Naidu and Nirmala Sitaraman both have been assuring that they will extend their full cooperation to the state and also assures that their government will justify the AP State. So, if seen all these efforts, Purandeswari’s arguments can be assumed meaningless and are politically motivated. Actually, she should explain the people whether she ever tried to talk to her party high command about helping the state?

Thank the terrorists and separatists: J&K CM

  Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who take charge as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir State yesterday has given a big shock to his alliance partner BJP on the very first day. He attributes the credit of conducting the Assembly elections to Pak based terrorists and the Kashmiri separatists.   “I want to say this on record and I have told this to the PM that we must credit the Hurriyat and militant outfits for the (smooth) conduct of elections in the state,” said Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in a joint press conference attended by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.   Elaborating it further he said “People from across the border allowed conducive atmosphere during elections. My humble submission is peaceful elections were not possible, if they had done something. You know how small action was needed to disturb the elections. They allowed this democratic process to go ahead. This gives us hope.”   The former Chief Minister of the state Omar Abdullah has also expressed the same views about holding elections peacefully. He tweets “I guess we should be grateful to their generosity (sic).” He also asked the ruling BJP “Dear @BJP4India Please explain role of security forces & polling staff considering what your CM just said-Pakistan allowed elections in J&K.”   Hence, the former and present Chief Ministers of the state have not concealed their love for Pakistan, its terrorists and Kashmiri separatists. They both thanked the terrorists and separatists for letting the government to conduct the elections.   The BJP that is sharing power with Mufti government may disown his statement and all political parties might have strongly condemned their statements, but will it make them change their attitude anyway? They have taken oath to uphold the self-respect of the country and to safeguard the interests of the country and their state, but they both proved very fond and obsessed for terrorists and separatists. Then how safe is it to keep the state in such leaders’ hands and is it wise to work together with such politicians. Can the BJP justify sharing power with such militant politicians who have no love for their own country but wants to enjoy the power in the country?

TDP MPs reaction on Budget

  TDP MPs and ministers including the Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu have openly expressed their disappointment over the insufficient budget allocations to the state. MP Galla Jayadev said he was very much disappointed with the budget. He said we have been explaining about the miserable condition of our state and asking the Center to help it to bail out from its situation. But, it appears our pleas unheard and Center has treated the AP State like any other state that is troubling with deficit budget.   MP Shiva Prasad said “Personally, I am very much disappointed with this budget. It may be appropriate for the whole country but not for the state. We are just waiting for a nod from our CM Chandrababu Naidu to start a fight against the Center.”   CM Chandrababu Naidu said “The state was badly affected with bifurcation. Later, it faced devastating Hudhud cyclone. It was estimated that nearly Rs.61, 000 crores loss occurred to the state. But, the Center has granted only Rs.500 crores for it. We have expected that it may allocate sufficient funds to the state development in its budget presented today, but unfortunately it was not done.”   He said “People have voted to power because they have relied upon us and expected us to deliver the promises made to them in the AP Reorganization Bill. I have explained this to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in our every meeting during last nine months. But, unfortunately there were not sufficient allocations made to the state. I will meet them again and explain them how people of the state are reacting on this budget. I hope the Center will consider our appeal for funds.”

Rahul’s timing is not correct: Digvijay Singh

  There are huge chain reactions observed on Rahul Gandhi taking leave of absence for two weeks for soul searching. Majority of those reacted on his leave believes it is funny or an attempt to escape from the crucial budget sessions of the parliament.   But, political analysts predict something smelling fishy in this drama. They guess that he distances from the party as he might have some difference of opinion with his mother and some senior leaders of the party after the miserable defeat of the party in the Delhi Assembly elections. Hence, his mother and the party leaders have come up with this silly reason.   They are also seeing this drama in a quite different angle also. They opine he might scare to face criticism from the party leaders for the party’s defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections and so escaped. So, his mother and party leaders are trying to distract the party’s attention from the Delhi defeat.   However, many people opine that it makes no difference whether he is in the house or not. AICC General Secretary and his political mentor Digvijay Singh also stated that the timing of his leave is not correct. It is nice to hear that he start thinking about the party future even it is too late to do anything.   But, the question is can he find some miracle solution during this meditation period? Can he transform himself into a most capable political leader in par with Prime Minister Narendra Modi? Can he take bold decisions like shunting out the old horses from the party to replace with youngsters? Can he convince his own party leaders that he can steer the party to victory from now onwards? Can he convince the people of the country that he can eliminate all the corrupt leaders from the party? Answers for all these questions may be negative. He proved it earlier in many instances and may prove it again.   However, he will become a political buffoon, when he fails to perform any miracles after returning to party after his leave period. Actually, if his mother Sonia Gandhi has told some other nice reason for his absence, she would have saved him from this embarrassment, but she also did a mistake by announcing the actual reason.