Inducing Them For Sycophancy

As he is a scion of the Gandhi family which has inherited a vast political legacy in the country, Rahul Gandhi was all in his right when he appealed the 1200-odd students gathered in front of him to join politics. Probably he was putting forth his own model as the one who has stepped in the widely perceived murkier field, when he could have easily chased brighter avenues. Add to this two most cruel sacrifices coming from his nearest ones. However, his message does not hold enough merit to attract the innumerable young persons in the country, who throng to in vogue areas like information technology, in a bid to attain the best possible lifestyle which was hitherto a dream for most part of the immediate history when Rahul’s party Congress, or his family members to be precise, ruled the country.

Rahul said, politics can bridge the gap between communities. This is a oft repeated sentence. But unfortunately, like a coin which has lived too long bearing the market forces, it has also worn out of its existence. There is hardly any field in country more divisive than the politics is. Rahul’s own party has consistently showed its preference for minorities, read Muslims, resulting in the alienation of Hindus from it. This gave rise to Bharatiya Janata Party, which enjoyed power for six years and became the only non-Congress party so far to have that long stint in New Delhi. More than that, the most important question one can pose is this – is the political environment in the country conductive enough for new and young entrants? Just recently, Rahul’s mother Sonia got elected to the post of party president. How many in Congress party itself remembered Jitendra Prasad, a politician from Uttar Pradesh, who was only one to challenge Sonia for the same post in 1998-99. He was washed away into the oblivion after the unsuccessful attempt, that nobody again dared to repeat the feat. Sycophancy reigns supreme in all political parties in India, it is the only currency in Congress market. By cashing this currency, the political posts are brought as is seen by almost each level of organization and power occupied by offspring of political leaders.

As Rahul himself admitted, he got so far just because he has Gandhi tag on him. Can the same privilege be claimed by innumerable youths in the country, who, god forbids, wish to join the politics? Can the same youth be ‘inspired’ to follow the path of sycophancy in lieu of their physical progress into realms of power? Unless political and social equality does not take their roots into parties, what logic allows anybody to induce a productive section of population into yoking themselves to one or other form of subjugation? The youths are performing better in whatever they do.

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Sorry Plight of Marathi Schools

Two separate agitations in two different cities in Maharashtra have brought to fore the sorry state of Marathi schools in the state. In an year when the state is celebrating 50 years of its formation, the government apathy is killing the language schools in favour of the English schools. The action of the government is in stark contrast to the numerous promises it has offered to public, both before and after the elections last year.

Thousands of students and teachers joined hand to protest against the closure Marathi schools on Saturday. “We have a right to learn through Marathi medium, the government can’t deny us the right to do so,” the statements written on the placards carried by students read.

The issue was first raised by Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthhi Sena, student wing of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. The porganisation first objected to a Government Resolution brought out by the state government on June 19 which made running Marathi schools in the state illegal. First the government invited applications from the willing school owners for permitting the schools. When it received 9,000 applications, it conveniently allowed other schools while denying the same right to Marathi ones. Not stopping at that, it even threatened with criminal action for running schools without permission. Almost 4,000 schools all over the state are now facing the axe putting a question mark on the fate of the students.

The activists and lovers of Marathi are obviously concerned over the manner in which their schools are being sent into obscurity in a systematic manner. The Chief Minister himself and his council apparently have misplaced their priorities. In a state where 13 members of legislature have been elected on a strong linguist agenda and rejuvenation of the Marathi culture is evident everywhere, symptoms of Macaulay's mentality will be hard to digest. It comes as no surprise then that the opposition is growing stronger day by day against government policy. The state government will have to mend his ways.

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Politics of Settlement

Settlement has become the catchword of the Maharashtra politics nowadays. The thing was part of the political manners for a long period, probably dating back to pre-independence era. However, the personalities involved in the process always tried to avoid the utterances which might give any clue to this thing.

On this backdrop, it was surprising when Sharad Pawar, a veteran of settlementalsim went public with his displeasure over how 'some opposition members are blackmailing builders, threatening them with raising questions in legislature and thereby arriving at settlements'. Having spent his almost five decades of political career in more than three parties, forging alliances with thrice that number parties and boasting of innumerable friends in various political parties as well as businessmen, Pawar is undoubtedly a seasoned player in the way the settlements are done.

To take an example, one can remember how Chhagan Bhujbal, the lone Shiv Sena legislator in Assembly during late 80s fought single handedly against the illegal sale of 289 land plots all over the state. Bhujbal raised a storm of protest which has damaged Pawar's image, putting a stigma of 'land shark' which has refused to leave him since then. Pawar managed a Houdini act of political settlement when he brought Bhujbal into his fold just two years later. The latter has become a stauch loyal foot soldier of Pawar since then and continue to enjoy fruits of power till today.

On this backdrop, Pawar's statement drew a lot of criticism, which he intended, from the opposition quarters. Eknath Khadse, leader of opposition in Legislative Assembly, was at the forefront. Khadse has raised many issues pertaining to land scams in assembly, notable among them were irregularities in Lavasa and land scam at Pune.

Pawar had tried many times to repeat Bhujbal feat for Khadse but latter refused to budge. Again, NGOs and activists have shown with evidence how Pawar is involved in the Lavasa project. It was fitting then that when Pawar came up with his utterances, Uddhav Thackerey, Executive President of Shiv Sena replied him with 'a thief knows well the ways another thief uses'. It is a well observed convention in Indian polity that one politician does not reveal his cards, even after a game is over. So when Pawar disclosed the cards, it was evident that either he wants to change rules of the game, which is a Herculean task to say the least, or he simply want to dissuade others so that they are no longer interested in game.

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Festivals Are Among Our Few Healthy Signs

The mood in Pune is festive. With Krishna Ashtami tomorrow and arrival of Ganesh less than two weeks away, the rush of Ganesh Mandal workers has begun. However, as usual voices of protest against the 'pollution through jubilation' has begun already.

Citizens of Pune have tradition of raising their voices against the unnecessary noise pollution in tha name of the celebrating Ganeshotsav, which is arguably the biggest festival in the city. This tradition dates back to same era when the celebration began as an occasion to raise consciousness against British Raj. In an age when marketing consideration have taken precedence over everything else, the voices of opposition have not diminished in least.

As the economic situation of the country prospers, so does the level of enthusiasm among masses to find a way for collective recreation. Nothing can stop them. The dance, the blaring music, high walls of music, all these are only symptoms of the less sophisticated formation of the society.

People, especially the youths, seem uncontrollable when engaged in revelry. But they do so because almost all elements of Indian society vie for the pomp and superfluousness. Since the showiness is catchword of the day, it will be little wise to blame the youths for missing their ways during the festivities.

With so many problems and vices plaguing this country, it is one of the few healthy signs that so many people come together for whatever reason and indulge in non-destructive activities. On the contrary, the number of Ganesh Mandals doing one or another kind of social welfare work runs into thousands all over Maharashtra. Therefore, we should welcome, not despise the festivities.

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Another Blow To Sharad Pawar

Till Tuesday afternoon, Nationalist Congress Party supremo and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar enjoyed a week-long adventures of aggressive statements. He first ruffled some feathers in opposition parties' camps in Maharashtra. His associates and garters managed to wrest some brownie points in Pune by forcing mayor to announce that the Dadoji Konddeo statue will be removed from Lal Mahal.

However, the Supreme Court came down heavily on union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for saying that the court's suggestion on free distribution of foodgrains to the poor was not binding on the government. Referring to media reports attributed to Pawar wherein he said that the court only made a suggestion Aug 12 and the government will consider it, an apex court bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Deepak Verma told Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran: "Tell your minister not to make any such comment."

According to court: "What we have said is an order and not a suggestion. Let him not misunderstand our order."

This comes one day after Eknath Khadse, leader of opposition in Legislative Assembly let his tongue loose, in the same fashion as Pawar had done a day before. He went on to say that Pawar is a builder's friend and opposition will try its best to expose deals in the state done at the behest of builders. Khadse's pounding of words appears creditable since Narayan Rane, Minister of Revenue in state cabinet has openly expressed doubts over Lavasa deal. A meeting in this regard is scheduled tomorrow in Mumbai.

To add woes to Pawar's kitty is ongoing scandal involving Pakistani cricket players. Barely two months after taking over as the chief of International Cricket Council, Pawar has hand full with assignments. Seasoned politician as he is, it will be very interesting how he navigates his way through this mud.

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The Same Old Story And Meaningless Too

It is funny and at the same time distressing to point how the stories are repeated. About a year ago, I was among the reporters who reported on controversy raised by the Maratha organizations. The issue was not much different from the one which has plagued Maharashtra for over a century-the Brahmin-Maratha tussle.

Last week, the city of Pune witnessed much heartburn over the issue of a minuscule statue. “Dadoji Konddeo has no place near Shivaji,” argued the Maratha organisations. Some see in it anti-Brahminism. Some – like me – try to find strains of political overtones in the drama. I would hardly repeat the same words and sentences, eating out tons of megabytes and draining down much valuable time.

The thing forgotten here is: in a land with a known record of at least 700 years of militarism (Maharashtra), Chhatrapati Shivaji is the only unifying force. Dividing him will not make any detriment to him, but the resulting loss in our present time will do irreparable damage to ourselves.

A News Story

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Pune Needs The Ownership Answer

The citizens of the Pune are asking a question now : Who is the owner of the Pune Municipal Corporation? The corporators elected by the voters whose credentials are always under the shadow of suspicion? The public who is supposed to be king in a democratic system? This is the questions few enlightened souls in the city are asking to the functionaries who taken upon them to unquestioningly assume all authority and skip the responsibilities involved therein.

The issue came to fore when a handful of activists filed Right to Information application and unearthed data from PMC. The data clearly showed that even though the elected public representatives do not spare any attempt to scream from their rooftops on various issues in city, the same representatives more often than not skip their duty when the moment of reckoning comes.

An application filed by Sandeep Khardekar, President of Creative Foundation and city deputy chief of Bharatiya Janata Party; Vivek Velankar, founder of Sajag Nagrik Manch; Vijay Kumbhar of Surajya Sangharsh Samiti;Jugal Rathi of PMP Pravasi Manch; Suryakant Pathak of Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat and senior cartoonist Mangesh Tendulkar brought the grim picture forward. The information showed that corporators across party lines, from ruling as well as opposition benches, gave a bye to the voting on important issues as well as General Body Meeting.

The just demand by the activists and their fact-supported attack did not go down well with the political parties. Ruling Nationalist Congress Party and Congress hit back at the same activists and asked them not to meddle into their affairs. Ankush Kakde, spokesman for the NCP went on to say that, NGOs have developed the habit of targeting corporators on some issue or the other. “Citizens elect civic representatives, who are thus answerable only to the common man, and not the NGOs," was his refrain.

Aba Bagul, leader of opposition in PMC and leader of Congress as well, even went further. “NGO members should contest the civic elections and take active part in the functioning of the PMC. Only then will they know under what pressure the corporators work,” he challenged the activists. The bold statements by the political parties were hard to digest by the intelligentsia. Tendulkar, a veteran in his eighties and having experience of more than 50 years for fighting for public cause, raised the question which we have highlighted above: whose house is this anyway? According to him, ‘the time has come to ask who is the real boss here.’

The public have chosen their representatives so that they can discuss and raise the problems faced by the citizens. The representatives have not been sent their to gossip and engage in mud slinging. They were not sent to the PMC house to bargain for their ‘fare share’ of commissions in tenders issued by the civic body. The PMC has a glorious history of more than 50 years but the recent incidents have overshadowed much of that glory. One corporator (Dattatray Khade) is in jail after being convicted of murder; another one (Deepak Mankar) is facing charges of land grabbing and threatening with life. One or two another are having criminal cases pending against their names. In such a scenario, it was a welcome move on the part of some of the activists to take a bold step and unearth information. Whatever points raised till now against the corporators, they were only accusations. This time it is the data which has provided ammunition to the attack.

It will be fallacy to think that all corporators skip their duty. Far from that. Fortunately, we still have people there who care for public probity and responsibility. In this scenario, it was reassuring that corporators like Mukta Tilak and Ujjwal Keskar stood on activists’ side and rapped the parties. However, it has every possibility that this verbal duel might take turn of mud slinging. Before that happens, Pune needs this answer: whose house is this?

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