Month: August 2019

Sushma Swaraj Breathes Her Last

By LokMarg Publishing
Former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj breathed her last at the age of 67 here on Tuesday night. Swaraj was admitted to All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) following a deterioration in her health.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had accompanied her in the hospital. Other ministers Prahlad Patel, Rajnath Singh, Piyush Goyal and Nitin Gadkari were some of the top BJP leaders who rushed to the hospital following the news of Swaraj’s demise.

Earlier today, the senior BJP leader had welcomed the revoking of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the move.

“Thank you Prime Minister. Thank you very much. I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime,” Swaraj had tweeted.

Swaraj was appointed the foreign minister in the first term of Modi government in 2014. She opted out of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections citing health reasons.

During her tenure, the BJP leader had been active and popular on Twitter reaching out to the Indian diaspora in distress for assistance. (ANI)

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister

Can Kamal Nath Hold His Pack Together?

By Anita Katyal
As Madhya Pradesh chief minister with a wafer thin majority in the Assembly, Kamal Nath has his task cut out for him – the looming threat to his government calls for his political management skills

The Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh has got a temporary reprieve since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his second-in-command Union home minister Amit Shah are currently preoccupied in tackling the Kashmir issue following their momentous decision to scrap Article 370 and bifurcate the state.

However, Kamal Nath cannot afford to be complacent or let down his guard as the Modi-Shah duo are known to strike when the enemy is least prepared for an attack. This was evident in the ongoing budget session of Parliament when opposition parties like the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Telugu Desam Party were caught napping when faced with a string of defections from their ranks in the Rajya Sabha.

After the Bharatiya Janata Party toppled the Congress-Janata Dal (S) government in Karnataka, it was expected that Madhya Pradesh would be its next target since the Kamal Nath government has a wafer-thin majority in the assembly. In fact, the BJP  let it be known publicly after its massive victory in the Lok Sabha polls that the Madhya Pradesh government would not last long.

But project Kamal appears to have been deferred for the time being. Besides the fact that the BJP’s central leadership has more pressing issues to tackle at present, the party has to first settle the leadership issue in its state unit.

It is an open secret that after 13 years in office, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is itching to get back his old post but Modi and Shah have other plans for him. The two leaders have signaled that Chouhan’s innings in the state is over and  have deliberately denied him charge of the party’s state unit. They did not even  appoint him the leader of the legislature party in the assembly.

The BJP wants a new leader in Madhya Pradesh and there was talk that  Kailash Vijayvargiya, the party’s national general secretary in charge of West Bengal, would be Chouhan’s replacement  but his chances have dimmed after his son courted controversy by assaulting officials with a bat.  Finding an alternative is also proving to be problematic as Chouhan’s popularity has not taken a hit even after he lost the government. He remains the BJP’s top mass leader in Madhya Pradesh.

However, the BJP will move in for the kill at an opportune moment when it stands to gain politically from Kamal Nath’s ouster. Having promised justice to the victims of  the1984 anti-Sikh riots, the BJP would like to stack up sufficient material against Kamal Nath for his role in stoking violence in Delhi following Indira Gandhi’s assassination. The Congress leader was indicted by the Nanavati Commission for his role in the riots but no action could be taken against him for lack of evidence. Nevertheless, this issue comes back to haunt Kamal Nath periodically. His appointment as Madhya Pradesh chief minister met with strong protests from the Sikh community. Though these protests died down, the BJP has a powerful weapon in its armoury to dethrone the Congress chief minister.

Kamal Nath has his task cut out for him. The looming threat to his government calls for his legendary political management skills. He recently provided a glimpse of what he is capable of when Kamal Nath managed to persuade two BJP legislators to vote in favour of a government Bill. The tables have turned as it is the Congress which is now openly declaring that several more BJP MLAs could switch sides in the coming days. Having been caught off-guard, the BJP’s state unit is rattled by this development. It is eagerly waiting for word from the central leadership to proceed with replicating the Karnataka model in Madhya Pradesh but it has not got the go-ahead so far.

During his long stint in politics, the nine-term MP from Chhindwara has held several portfolios at the Centre, ranging from environment to commerce. Kamal Nath has earned the reputation of being an able administrator with a quick grasp of contentious policy issues and has fought well for the country both at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and during the WTO negotiations. While jet setting across the globe, he never lost sight of his constituency, setting up a well-oiled establishment to deal with the grievances of the local people.

But unlike his predecessor Chouhan who was constantly on the move, meeting and connecting with the people, Kamal Nath confines himself to his office as he deals with files and policy decisions. Not just the public but his own party workers have complained about his inaccessibility. The Congress is hoping that as chief minister, he will compensate for his lack of people’s skills by delivering on governance. The fact that Kamal Nath has a wide network of friends in the corporate sector, the party believes, could prove to be a plus point as it could help in attracting investments to the state.  

Like senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, Kamal Nath does not believe in antagonizing his political rivals but tends to reaching out to them. Shortly after the Lok Sabha results were declared, Kamal Nath lost no time in calling on the Prime Minister, ostensibly to introduce his son who has replaced him as Chhindwara MP. Only time will tell if this visit will help in saving his government from a predatory BJP.

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Cong Divided Over Article 370 Abrogation

By LokMarg Publishing
While the NDA government is celebrating the “historic decision” with regard to Jammu and Kashmir, the main opposition party Congress is divided on whether to support or oppose the move.

Former Union home minister P Chidambaram on Monday declared it as the worst day in the Constitutional history of India and warned that every political party should wake up on this issue as it can be done in other states too by dismissing the state governments and imposing President’s rule.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad too condemned the government’s proposal to revoke Article 370 which gives the special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in the House, Azad accused the BJP of murdering the Constitution. Later, many other leaders also came in support of scrapping Article 370.

However, a shock came to the party when its young leader and former MP Jyotiraditya Scindia tweeted in support of the Central government’s move on revoking powers of Article 370 and J&K bifurcation.

“I support the move on #JammuAndKashmir & #Ladakh and its full integration into union of India. Would have been better if constitutional process had been followed. No questions could have been raised then. Nevertheless, this is in our country’s interest and I support this,” Jyotiraditya Scindia tweeted

Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Deepender Hooda also tweeted in favour of scrapping it saying that Article 370 has lost relevance in the 21st Century and it should be abolished.

“It is my opinion that Article 370 has no relevance in the 21st century and it should be revoked. It is also in the interest of the country’s unity and people of Jammu and Kashmir that are an integral part of the party. But it is the responsibility of the current government to executive this in the environment of peace and belief,” Hooda tweeted.

Another Congress leader and party MLA from Rae Bareli Sadar, Aditi Singh tweeted in favour of scrapping the Article 370.

According to sources, a difference of opinions openly breaks up in the internal level of the party. Many leaders said that opposing the move will be harmful to the party as the public sentiments are in favour of the government proposal.

Although it has passed in Rajya Sabha and will be taken in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, few leaders are of the opinion that if the Congress will support the bill then questions will be put up that why anything was not done in their rule for many years.

Amid this situation, top leadership is observing the whole situation and the Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have not given any statement. Both leaders were also present in the meeting of MPs in Parliament that took place on Monday afternoon.

According to sources, senior leaders are being instructed to stay alert as meeting likely to be called later in the evening on Tuesday.

The central government had revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed that the state be bifurcated into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The Jammu & Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill, 2019, which strips Jammu and Kashmir’s status of a state and converts it into a Union Territory with legislature and carving out Ladakh region as a UT without legislature, was passed in a division pressed by the opposition with 125 votes in favour and 61 against, and an NCP member abstained.

(ANI)

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Wagah Border Ceremony

Pak Army Vows Support To Kashmir Till End

By LokMarg Publishing
Rattled by India’s landmark decisions scrapping the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and converting the state into a Union Territory, Pakistan army said on Tuesday that it is prepared to go to any extent to “stand by Kashmiris” in this regard.

“Pakistan Army firmly stands by the Kashmiris in their just struggle to the very end. We are prepared and shall go to any extent to fulfil our obligations in this regard,” Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said, as cited in a tweet by Army Spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor.

The statement has come a day after India scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution that gave a special status to Jammu and Kashmir and barred people from the rest of the country from buying property there. The BJP-led Centre also converted Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory with a legislature, while hiving off Ladakh as a separate Union Territory without legislature.

Ironically, Bajwa’s statement has come even as Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan recently accepted that about 30,000 to 40,000 militants and as many as 40 different militants group are operating on the country’s soil.

Meanwhile, Bajwa on Tuesday chaired a Corps Commanders’ Conference in Rawalpindi on the developments in Jammu and Kashmir. The conference “fully supported government’s rejection of Indian actions regarding Kashmir,” Ghafoor wrote in a separate tweet.

“CCC on Kashmir situation at GHQ. Forum fully supported the Government’s rejection of Indian actions regarding Kashmir. Pakistan never recognised the sham Indian efforts to legalise its occupation of Jammu & Kashmir through article 370 or 35-A decades ago,” the tweet read.

Islamabad has for long aided anti-India activities on its soil, aimed at perpetrating violence in Kashmir. An example of their nefarious designs came to the fore when Indian Army on Saturday foiled an infiltration attempt by Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Keran Sector, eliminating five-seven Pakistani Army regulars and terrorists.

(ANI)

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‘New Law Will Get Me Respect I Deserve’

By LokMarg Publishing

Rukhsar, 23, a domestic help, was married at the age of 18. Her husband often threatens to give her talaq during any argument. With the new law, she hopes, he will think twice before holding out such threats.

Many Muslim men, for several years, have abused the custom of triple talaq. They have taken their wives for granted. Talaq or divorce is the last resort in a marriage. It should only be used when irreconcilable differences arise between couples. But many men, especially in the lower economic strata, have been using it as the first option to end a conflict. The smallest of argument could result into a triple talaq.  My own husband has threatened me a few times during the course of small fights. “Main teen talaq bol doonga (I will give you talaq),” he would say to win the argument. Thankfully, he never actually uttered the dreaded three words. 

I deserve to be respected. If he is a working man I am a working woman too. If he wants me to respect him, because he is the breadwinner, then I want respect too. I contribute to our household’s income and take care of the home as well. My parents got me married as soon as I stepped into adulthood. Lack of a sound education, forced me to take up work as a domestic help. 

However, one of my friends hasn’t been that lucky. Her husband left her for another woman. He just uttered ‘talaq’ three times and it was all over. She has a two-year-old son, but her ex-husband has never even tried to meet him. She has to take care of her baby and work at the same time. She has a very hard life. 

Another relative of mine has six young children and her husband keeps threatening to divorce her. Doesn’t he ever think how she will raise her children? And it’s not about money alone, in a healthy society, two people get married to build and nurture a family together. Instant talaq goes against the very fabric of a ‘healthy society’. My relative constantly lives in fear.  Is it so easy to leave people who have given their heart and soul into nurturing the family? 

So far,  triple talaq was being used by some egoistic men to get their way. But now with the passing of the Triple Talaq Bill women will have an equal say. At least now these men will not take impulsive decisions. They will be forced to think multiple times before taking divorce. They will also be bound by law to behave themselves. 

While, I am very, very happy that the triple talaq bill has been passed in the parliament, I also feel that a good marriage is based on love, understanding, respect, compassion and most importantly, trust. Apart from legal means a couple should also work on nurturing the relationship.

J&K Governor Meets Home Minister

Govt Abrogates Article 370 Amid Uproar

By LokMarg Publishing
The Centre on Monday repealed Article 370 which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir and a resolution in this regard was moved in the Rajya Sabha by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, amidst uproar by the opposition in the Upper House.

“All clauses of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, will not be applicable in the state,” Shah said while moving the resolution and added that it will come into effect after the President signs giving his assent and the central government notifies it.

Soon after Shah moved the resolution, a gazette notification in this regard was issued by the President.

Asserting that Article 370 did not allow proper integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India and should have been removed without delay, Shah said that the BJP-led government had the “political will” to take decisions concerning the “temporary” provision in the constitution.

“Article 370 has been regarded as a temporary provision and it had to go. It should have gone long back. But nobody showed will power to do so due to vote bank politics. We are not worried about vote banks nor do we lack political will under Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

Justifying the move, he said the people of Jammu and Kashmir were not receiving any benefits due to Article 370 and the politicians were allowing corruption to flourish despite the state getting maximum amount of fund for its development.

“There should not be a second’s delay in abrogating Article 370,” he said.

Opposing the move, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad accused the BJP-led government of “murdering constitution and democracy” by abrogating Article 370 and making other changes with respect to Jammu and Kashmir.

Azad, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said that Article 370 provides a special relationship to Jammu and Kashmir.

He spoke immediately after Shah introduced the resolution and also a bill for reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories along with a resolution for abrogating Article 370. Shah also introduced the bill to provide 10 per cent reservation to the economically backward sections.

“We stand by the Constitution of India. We can lay down our lives to protect the Constitution. We condemn what the government is doing. The government has murdered the democracy and constitution,” Azad said.

He said Article 370 is “historical” and integrates the state with the country.

“In seventy years, lakhs of people have made sacrifices, personnel of security personnel have been martyred. Whenever needed, the people of the state have stood with the rest of the country,” he said.

Azad also condemned the action of two PDP MPs who tried to tear the copies of the constitution.

During the protest, Mir Mohammad Fayaz of PDP tore his shirt and also attempted to tear a copy of the Constitution. Fayaz along with Nazir Ahmed Laway, also from PDP were marshalled out from the House on the direction of Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.

Following Amit Shah’s announcement leaders of opposition parties Congress, TMC, DMK and PDP protested the government’s move while the BSP, BJP, the AIADMK, Shiv Sena and some other parties supported the government.

NDA constituent Janata Dal-United opposed the repealing of Article 370 and staged a walkout in the House in protest.

BSP’s Satish Chandra Mishra said his party was supporting the government’s bill and the move to remove Article 370. Prasanna Acharya of BJD also supported the government’s move.

“In a real sense today, Jammu and Kashmir has become a part of India. My party supports this resolution. We are a regional party but for us nation is first,” Acharya said.

AIADMK’s A. Navaneethakrishnan said, “Amma was well known for upholding sovereignty and integrity. So AIADMK party supports the two resolutions, Reorganisation Bill and the Reservation Bill.”

Opposing the move, CPI-M’s TK Rangarajan said today was black day and the Indian constitution has been raped by the BJP government.

“You didn’t consult people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. You dissolved Assembly, you don’t want to hold any election. You have taken another 35000 Army people there. You’re creating another Palestine,” he said.

BJP’s Bhupendera Yadav slammed Congress over the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and accused it of not doing anything for the development of the state. (ANI)

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Centre Has Murdered Democracy: Cong

By LokMarg Publishing
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday accused the BJP-led government of “murdering constitution and democracy” by abrogating Article 370 and other steps taken in relation to the state.

Strongly opposing the government decisions in the House, Azad, a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said that Article 370 provides a special relationship to Jammu and Kashmir.

He spoke after Home Minister Amit Shah introduced a bill for reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories and a resolution for abrogating Article 370. Shah also introduced the bill to provide 10 per cent reservation to the economically backward sections.

“We stand by the Constitution of India. We can lay down our lives to protect the Constitution. We condemn what the government is doing. The government has murdered democracy and constitution,” Azad said.

He said Article 370 is “historical” and integrates the state with the country.

“In seventy years, lakhs of people have made sacrifices, personnel of security personnel have been martyred. Whenever needed, the people of the state have stood with the rest of the country,” he said.

He condemned the act of two PDP MPs who tried to tear the copies of the constitution. (ANI)

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Pak Vows Support To Kashmir On Art 370

By LokMarg Publishing
Rattled by India’s landmark decisions scrapping the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and converting the state into a Union Territory, Pakistan on Monday said it will exercise “all possible options” to counter the steps.

This statement from Islamabad comes hours after India scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution that gave a special status to Jammu and Kashmir and barred people from the rest of the country from buying property there. The BJP-led Centre also converted Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory with legislature, while hiving off Ladakh as a separate Union Territory without legislature.

It also added that Pakistan is committed to the “Kashmir cause and its political, diplomatic and moral support to the people”.

“Pakistan reaffirms its abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause and its political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination,” the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said.

Ironically, the statement comes even as Pakistan is struggling with a debt-ridden economy and has “30,000 to 40,000” militants on its soil, as accepted by their Prime Minister Imran Khan during his recent US visit. Not only this, he even admitted that his country has 40 different militant groups operating within its borders.

Islamabad has for long aided anti-India activities on its soil, many times aimed at perpetrating violence in Kashmir. An example of their nefarious designs came to the fore when Indian Army on Saturday foiled an infiltration attempt by Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Keran Sector while eliminating five-seven Pakistani Army regulars and terrorists.

Earlier this month, the Indian Army had said that Pakistani terrorists were plotting to carry out an attack on the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and that the security forces had recovered a Pakistan Ordnance Factory anti-personnel mine from a terror cache.

Following this, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had advised all Amarnath Yatris and tourists to curtail their stay in the Valley. Several countries like Germany and the UK also advised its citizens against travelling to the state. (ANI)

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