AUNG San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader of Myanmar (pronounced ‘Myamma’) or Brahmadesh – as the RSS calls it – was never a favourite of the saffron outfit, owing to her proximity to the Western world, British (read Christian) husband and support from market forces in Europe. Not long ago, an RSS activist in Myanmar was all praise for the Army there and how it dealt sternly with the rebels, especially those belonging to the Ronghiya Muslim minority.
Little wonder, then, that eyebrows were raised when Tin Way and other pro-democracy leaders in exile showed up at the residence of BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu on October 12 and rubbed shoulders with RSS and BJP leaders. Also present was India’s home-grown rebel leader of Emergency fame George Fernandes. Though not in the pink of health, Fernandes hogged the limelight with his I-told-you-so speech in support of Suu Kyi.
While most members of the gathering invited by RSS veteran Ram Madhav chomped on the South Indian snacks, the Myanmarese leaders gave speeches lamenting the lack of support from the UPA government. It was music to BJP ears till one of the speakers complained about the inaction of the previous NDA government as well.
The evening was a virtual coup by the pro-Advani group in the RSS and, though they rolled out the red carpet (or should one say “saffron”) and explained away BJP president Rajnath Singh’s absence to the foreign guests, the latter’s followers are said to be annoyed. They are apparently planning an “intellectual summit” on Myanmar, whatever that means.
An officer and a gentleman
THE governance of Uttar Pradesh, regardless of regime, is ruled by the mandarins on the fifth floor of the Secretariat. Mayawati’s team is led by the amiable Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Shailesh Krishna. The previous regime had dumped him in a bureaucratic Siberia but he is now the most powerful officer and is slowly changing the widely-held notion that the Mayawati regime is out of bounds for party legislators. On October 19, three BSP MLAs had a session that presented a disarming picture of governance.
The MLA from Bundelkhand said he had sought permission from the Collector for immersion of Durga idols in the clean pond of a nearby village as the one in his own village was polluted. The Collector said he would pump clean water into the filthy pond from a tubewell. The MLA opposed this on grounds of water scarcity. Krishna appreciated this and ordered the Collector to be cooperative.
Next was the MLA from Bahraich district, with a complaint about 24 hour power cuts in the township within his constituency while the neighbouring township got 20 hours of supply – obviously due to an inflow of lucre into the pockets of the concerned officers. Again, Krishna called the concerned men and issued orders.
The third MLA wanted financial assistance from the government for a poor boy who had been run over by a speeding vehicle. Krishna immediately phoned a hospital and arranged free treatment.
Rampart around Rahul
Rahul Gandhi may have failed miserably to increase the Congress tally in Uttar Pradesh in the last polls, but the experience was part of his learning curve. His recent induction into the party set-up as General Secretary is a clear indication of his future place in Indian politics.
And, quite in keeping with his exalted position, the caucus surrounding him is now united in keeping at bay every potential Young Turk coming to meet the young man at 12 Tughlak Lane, his official residence cum-office. The fear is that such visitors may be drawn into the inner circle, threatening the caucus’ relationship with the Gandhi scion.
The caucus consists of a trinity: Kanishk Singh, son of Rajasthan Governor SK Singh, Sachin Rao, and Namik. Their modus operandi is deceptively simple. It comes into play when Rahul begins meeting party workers in his office. The caucus sifts through the visitors and accompanies the potential Young Turks when they approach Rahul. They then engage Rahul’s attention in other matters, depriving the visitor of the chance to open up before him. He thus fails to gauge the worker and give him an assignment. Then the visitor’s time is up and the next one is called in. And thus the game goes on.
Strange case of
a TN portfolio
Tamil Nadu, it is obvious, has a penchant for Chief Ministers from the film industry. MG Ramachandran, J Jayalalithaa and present incumbent Kalaignar Muthuvel Karunanidhi were all former film stars and, between them, have ruled the state for decades. But, apart from the film industry background, there is something else in common. Their rival parties – the currently-in-power DMK and the AIADMK – have shown a marked distaste for including a Home Minister in their respective Councils of Ministers. Instead, the Chief Minister has always had additional charge of the Home portfolio. And the state, since inception, has never had a Home Minister.
Now, the reason for this is that each Chief Minister wants to have this instrument at his or her command to settle personal scores with the previous incumbent. Jayalalithaa did it with Karunanidhi and now is fearing that she will be at the receiving end of similar treatment. The Chief Secretary is reduced to implementing what the Chief Minister decrees. Meanwhile, the law and order situation is worsening progressively with each successive Assembly poll. Bootlegging, smuggling and political murders have become routine. And the LTTE has again started regrouping in the state, causing further law and order problems.
