'Bharat Ratna' getting politicised
Parties have begun to prepare for elections. On one hand they are looking for coalitions to pose a strong challenge to BJP. Rahul Gandhi is in touch with regional political parties for the same purpose. Chandrasekhar of Telangana and Mamatha Banerjee of West Bengal are in talks on this issue. Leftists are still unclear about their stance. To cause major embarassment to BJP, Shiv Sena has been insisting on having Ram Mandir built soon as possible. Delhi government has somewhat provided answer to rumours that Congress would truck with AAP on the upcoming elections. Delhi government has submitted a plea to the centre demanding the withdrawal of Bharat Ratna conferred on Rajiv Gandhi because he masterminded the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. BJP has also joined hands with AAP on this.
It is rather easy to understand why this order was passed in Delhi assembly. AAP wants to break into Punjab and hence it has assumed the stance to repeal Bharat Ratna from Rajiv Gandhi's name.
Punjab is a very promising state for AAP apart from Delhi. The party wants to garner Sikh votes. Which means the party will fight elections in the near future with Sikh massacre as its moot issue in Punjab. But the most unfortunate aspect is Kejriwal has presented this issue before a PM who defends massacres. Delhi government is expecting those elements to facilitate responsible behavior and justice from the others, while the former didn't even apologies for the violence they created in Gujarat. That's a tall order!
Rajiv Gandhi hasn't assumed power when Sikh massacre took place. He had reportedly said “when a huge tree falls, it surely causes small damages” or something to that effect. At the same time, there are allegations that he had shielded those who were part of the massacre.
Hence Rajiv Gandhi's role was limited in this case. But when the Gujarat incident happened, Modi was the CM of that state. Amit Shah was the home minister. Media reports have repeatedly suggested how the government machinery was used to create and mastermind this massacre. And the man who stayed put on his chair of CM owing to Gujarat is the PM of India. Kejriwal surely is aware of all of this. With this plea by Kejriwal as the context, most BJP leaders in the centre are all set to sling some mud on Rajiv Gandhi themselves. Let's agree that Rajiv Gandhi needs to be stripped of this honor. At the same time are they ready to strip former PM Vajpayee of the honor of too? Because when the Gujarat massacre happened, Vajpayee was the PM.
While instructing Modi to follow the 'Raj dharma’, Vajpayee defended this massacre in his speech in Goa. Most of the senior police officers maintain if the centre had taken cognizance, the massacre could have been contained. Vajapayee also faced charges of outing the details of freedom fighters to the British and getting them arrested during the struggle for independence. If both names of Rajiv and Vajapayee were placed together, then this demand could have been a bit balanced. Rajiv Gandhi family has a deep bond with this nation. Motilal Nehru sacrificed all his ancestral property for the nation, during the years of freedom fight.
His son Jawaharlal Nehru not only took part in the freedom struggle but also became the first PM of the nation and took it towards progress in the initial years. Nehru's daughter Indira Gandhi was popular among people with her poverty eradication programmes. The boldness she showed in getting freedom for Bangladesh left the world dumbfounded.
She sacrificed her life to contain the terrorism in Punjab. She didn't ever have any animosity with Sikhs. If she did, she wouldn't have Sikhs for her bodyguards even after Operation Bluestar. If this is the background Rajiv Gandhi has, the only thing that follows Vajapayee are those tasks he did you favour the English during the quit India operations. The youth came into focus after Rajiv Gandhi became the PM. The digital era was ushered with his foresight. If we are roaming with two mobiles each, the dream that Rajiv Gandhi saw has a significant role in making this turned true and country was on a path to technological progress. But the Bofors scandal followed him like a shadow even when he had a reputation of being Mr Clean.
But the court said he had no role in that deal, in the case that continued after his death. He sacrificed his life for the sake of this country too. Having started something as indignifying as this against a leader who was the role model of youths isn't very complementary to AAP. Through this, Kejriwal has shown he isn't too averse to doing dirty politics and whatever it takes to win elections.
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World saw valour, courage of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor: President
New Delhi (PTI): President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said the world saw the valour of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor when they destroyed terror camps on the strength of their own resources and asserted that any terror act will be responded with decisive action.
"India has proved that power can be used with responsibility and wisdom. The world has seen the valour and courage of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor," Murmu said in her address to both Houses of Parliament, marking the beginning of the Budget Session.
"Our nation, on the strength of our own resources, destroyed terror camps. My government sent a message that any act of terror will be responded to with resolute and decisive action," the President said, amid thumping of desks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other parliamentarians.
Murmu said the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty was part of India's fight against terror.
"We are also working on Mission Sudarshan Chakra to further strengthen national security," the President said, adding that security forces have also taken decisive action against Maoist terror.
Following Operation Sindoor, she said, the trust on Indian defence platforms has increased.
Murmu further said her government was committed to social justice in the country.
In the third term of the government, she said, work is being done to further empower the poor, and social security benefits are available to nearly 95 crore citizens now.
"My government is committed to true social justice," she said, adding that 25 crore Indians moved out of poverty in the last 10 years.
The President also said the government has been successful in tackling corruption and scams, and ensuring proper use of public funds.
"For India, the end of the first 25 years of this century has been filled with several successes, proud achievements and extraordinary experiences. In the last 10-11 years, India has strengthened its foundation in every sector," she said.
Lauding India's celebration of the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and the country's tribute to revered tribal leader and freedom fighter Birsa Munda on his 150th birth anniversary, Murmu said, "when the country remembers the contribution of its ancestors, the new generation gets inspiration, which further speeds up our journey towards Viksit Bharat (Developed India)."
"The country celebrated the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. During the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, the entire country paid him tribute and remembered his contribution to the tribal community," the President said.
"The events related to the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel further strengthened the sense of Ek Bharat, Shresht Bharat (One India, Best India). The entire country became witness to how Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika's birth anniversary celebrations filled the country with music and a sense of unity," Murmu said.
The President's mention of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) scheme was met with loud protests from the Opposition benches.
Murmu said the VB-G RAM G initiative would provide guarantee for 125 days of work, would stop corruption and leakages, and provide a new impetus to rural development.
The Opposition members raised slogans demanding its rollback, even as the treasury benches thumped their desk in support of the scheme.
The President had to take a brief pause amid opposition cries of "vapas lo" (roll back) against the Act that replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The Opposition parties have been demanding withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law in its original form, the right to work and the authority of panchayats.
The government has, meanwhile, claimed that the new Act will further strengthen the guarantee for rural employment.
