The hidden message of bypolls
With the recently concluded by-elections, the whole nation was focused on Kairana in Uttar Pradesh; and in the state, people keenly awaited the Rajarajeshwari Nagar results. If a bypoll result can be considered a verdict for any party to rid itself of any allegations of electoral misconduct, then Munirathna has just been declared a clean man. Congress has earned itself a good reputation and a massive sigh of relief with the victory of their candidate. This constituency was somewhat a primary litmus test for the coalition government in the state. Hence it was necessary for either Congress or a JD(S) candidate to clinch this constituency since the coalition partners went into this bypoll with their own candidates, and not a mutually agreeable single candidate who could have been staged here. On one hand there were allegations against Munirathna and on the other there was polarization of votes that could have worked against him. But Munirathna won with a thumping margin, a much needed relief to him and his party too.
At the same time, BJP has suffered major drubbing in Kairana, Uttar Pradesh a seat that was most prestigious for the party since they had won with a massive margin last time. Political analysts had said the Kairana results could be an indicator of mood for the 2019 general elections. Kairana was the last opportunity for UP CM Yogi Adityanath to rectify the loss of face he suffered with losses in Gorakhpur and Phulpur. The MLA seat turned vacant with the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh. BJP was successful in fanning communal fires in this constituency last time. Party members had spread rumours stating Hindus were migrating from Kairana owing to a large section muslim population and the troubles they have been creating for the Hindus. The fear created by this was so massive that communal clashes broke out and this had helped consolidate Jat votes for the party in the general elections. Even if one put SP, BSP and Congress votes, it was impossible to measure up to the votes BJP was polled.
But this time around, a Muslim lady Tabassum has won the by elections in Kairana. This is a tight slap served to the misadministration of CM Yogi Adityanath’s administration. This response from the consolidation of secular forces is a strong one considering BJP had refused to stage even a single muslim candidate. And at the same time, this is also a message to SP, BSP and Congress to come together put up a united front. The attempts of saffronisation by Yogi has been rejected flatly. The coming together of secular forces will surely defeat Modi and his agenda in the coming days. This message has been conveyed loud and clear from Kairana. Similarly, the NCPU and Congress supported candidate has won from Bhandara Gondiya seat which was again under BJP last time.
In the past, during the ‘undefeatable’ Indira Gandhi’s time all opposition parties had come together to serve her a defeat. She ate a humble pie. People had come to accept this coalition because they were reeling under the ill effects of emergency. Indira Gandhi enjoyed the support of the poorest of the poor who adored her. Narendra Modi does not command the kind of support as she did. He stands on the fake foundation of lies. It won’t take too long for this bubble to burst since he has failed to deliver an administration that would help people’s lives get better. Today we have undeclared emergency in the country. People are suffering owing to hike in petrol prices. If the secular forces can come together, Modi’s dream run can end soon enough. This is the message by polls have conveyed to the people.
Now, the anti-BJP parties should not stop their battle against EVMs. BSP had spoken pretty strongly against EVMs in the past. Today, only Shiv Sena is speaking about this. This discourse has to continue till things change for 2019 elections to ensure the 2014 results do not repeat. A movement against EVMs is needed for free and fair elections to be held in 2019. Only then we can expect some miracles to happen
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Screenwriter Salim Khan on ventilator support and stable, say doctors
Mumbai (PTI): Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan suffered a brain haemorrhage which has been tackled, is on ventilator support as a safeguard and stable, doctors treating him said on Wednesday, a day after he was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital here.
The 90-year-old, one half of the celebrated Salim-Javed duo which scripted films such as "Sholay", "Deewar" and "Don" with Javed Akhtar, is in the ICU and recovery might take some time given his age.
"His blood pressure was high for which we treated him and we had to put him on a ventilator because we wanted to do certain investigations. Now the ventilator was put as a safeguard so that his situation doesn't get worse. So it is not that he is critical," Dr Jalil Parkar told reporters.
"We did the investigations that were required and today we have done a small procedure on him, I will not go into the details. The procedure done is called DSA (digital subtraction angiography). The procedure has been accomplished, he is fine and stable and shifted back to ICU. By tomorrow, we hope to get him off the ventilator. All in all, he is doing quite well," he added.
Asked whether he suffered a brain haemorrhage, the doctor said, "Unko thoda haemorrhage hua tha, which we’ve tackled. No surgery is required.
As concern over Khan's health mounted, his children, including superstar Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan, daughter Alvira, and sons-in-law Atul Agnihotri and Aayush Sharma, have been seen outside the hospital along with other well-wishers. His long-time partner Akhtar was also seen coming out of the hospital.
Khan, a household name in the 70s and 80s, turned 90 on November 24 last year. It was the day Dharmendra, the star of many of his films, including "Sholay", "Seeta aur Geeta" and "Yaadon Ki Baraat", passed away.
Hailing from an affluent family in Indore, Khan arrived in Mumbai in his 20s with dreams of stardom. He was good looking and confident he would make a mark in the industry as an actor. But that did not happen. And then, after struggling for close to a decade and getting confined to small roles in films, he changed lanes.
He worked as an assistant to Abrar Alvi and soon met Akhtar to form one of Hindi cinema's most formidable writing partnerships. They worked together on two dozen movies with most of them achieving blockbuster status.
Other than "Sholay", "Deewar" and "Don", Khan and Akhtar also penned "Trishul", "Zanjeer", "Seeta Aur Geeta", "Haathi Mere Saathi", "Yaadon Ki Baarat" and "Mr India".
