BJP's stand on black money and the foul language used by the prime minister of india

The Congress party is clearly getting desperate by the day as it reads the clear writing on the wall that the people of India are not returning it to power. The language of its leaders including the usually cool Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is becoming more and more shrill and intemperate as the election campaign reaches its inevitable end. The Prime Minister has chosen to describe Shri Advaniji's call to bring black money stashed abroad by Indians as an 'election stunt'. He has also alleged that Shri Advani and the BJP were 'behaving irresponsibly' by raking up the black money issue. He has said that BJP's campaign would "alert" those who had stashed this money illegally abroad. And finally, he has accused the BJP of not understanding economics.

We plead guilty to the last charge. The BJP does not understand economics as well as Dr Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi do. At the same time, we would like to assert that even with our limited understanding of economics, the BJP/NDA government managed the economy much better than Dr Singh with his vast understanding of the subject. Even the Economist of London which the Congress party's General Secretary Digvijay Singh quotes with such pride has said in the same article that the NDA government's performance on the economic front was creditable. We would also like to remind the Congress party that quoting foreign sources can be a double edged weapon. If they draw comfort from the Economist, what about Razeen Sally's article in the Financial Times of London in which the economic performance of the UPA government, and specially the role of Dr Manmohan Singh as a ''do-nothing, zero-reform" Prime Minister, has come in for severe criticism? Sally has said "Mr Singh has proved a hopeless decision-maker as prime minister……Mr Rao and A.B. Vajpayee proved their mettle despite heavy political constraints. Mr Singh has failed."

The BJP understands enough economics to realise that the entire global environment today is far more conducive to bringing the black money of Indian's back to India than it ever was earlier. Shri Advaniji has seen this opportunity and grasped this moment. Dr Manmohan Singh refuses to recognise this opportunity and use it for the country's benefit. Nothing exposes this government more on this issue than its own affidavit before the Supreme Court in response to a Public Interest Litigation which has failed to satisfy the Supreme Court.

What can be more ridiculous than the Prime Minister's fear that the BJP's campaign would alert the depositors of the black money and they could withdraw the money? According to its own claim the government has been at it seriously for some time now. Has not that alerted the black money depositors already?

Foul and abusive language cannot be a substitute for sound argument. Having lost the argument, the Congress party and the Prime Minister are resorting to a language which is eminently avoidable even in the heat of electoral battle.

BJP's message on the black money of indians in swiss and other banks.

The Congress party is clearly getting desperate by the day as it reads the clear writing on the wall that the people of India are not returning it to power. The language of its leaders including the usually cool Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is becoming more and more shrill and intemperate as the election campaign reaches its inevitable end. The Prime Minister has chosen to describe Shri Advaniji's call to bring black money stashed abroad by Indians as an 'election stunt'. He has also alleged that Shri Advani and the BJP were 'behaving irresponsibly' by raking up the black money issue. He has said that BJP's campaign would "alert" those who had stashed this money illegally abroad. And finally, he has accused the BJP of not understanding economics.

We plead guilty to the last charge. The BJP does not understand economics as well as Dr Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi do. At the same time, we would like to assert that even with our limited understanding of economics, the BJP/NDA government managed the economy much better than Dr Singh with his vast understanding of the subject. Even the Economist of London which the Congress party's General Secretary Digvijay Singh quotes with such pride has said in the same article that the NDA government's performance on the economic front was creditable. We would also like to remind the Congress party that quoting foreign sources can be a double edged weapon. If they draw comfort from the Economist, what about Razeen Sally's article in the Financial Times of London in which the economic performance of the UPA government, and specially the role of Dr Manmohan Singh as a ''do-nothing, zero-reform" Prime Minister, has come in for severe criticism? Sally has said "Mr Singh has proved a hopeless decision-maker as prime minister……Mr Rao and A.B. Vajpayee proved their mettle despite heavy political constraints. Mr Singh has failed."

The BJP understands enough economics to realise that the entire global environment today is far more conducive to bringing the black money of Indian's back to India than it ever was earlier. Shri Advaniji has seen this opportunity and grasped this moment. Dr Manmohan Singh refuses to recognise this opportunity and use it for the country's benefit. Nothing exposes this government more on this issue than its own affidavit before the Supreme Court in response to a Public Interest Litigation which has failed to satisfy the Supreme Court.

What can be more ridiculous than the Prime Minister's fear that the BJP's campaign would alert the depositors of the black money and they could withdraw the money? According to its own claim the government has been at it seriously for some time now. Has not that alerted the black money depositors already?

Foul and abusive language cannot be a substitute for sound argument. Having lost the argument, the Congress party and the Prime Minister are resorting to a language which is eminently avoidable even in the heat of electoral battle.

Will witty Narendra Modi have the last laugh?

If comedy kings Raju Srivastav, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Shekhar Suman are invading the political stage, Modi is intruding on their comic space. 

While a creative Modi has spun one-liners, hate has been missing from his stinging speeches. Instead, satire is his favourite weapon against his targets these days. His barbs at the Gandhi family and Congress are laced with wit, humour and repartee. If Congress has refrained from provoking or reacting to Modi, the CM has invented ways of hitting the headlines. 

Coming handy are his early lessons in theatre and his ability to connect with the audience. Academic records at his school in Vadnagar, and some teachers are alive to authenticate that, show that though an average student, Modi used to excel in theatre. 

Those who have seen Modi from close quarters say this election has unmasked a new aspect of the leader - his humour. Call it part of his image makeover excercise to wish away the taint of the 2002 riots, but he has clearly conceded the hate space to Varun Gandhi, if some detractors in the party wanted it this way. 

What Varun was saying in Pilibhit last month matched what Modi had spoken during the Gujarat Gaurav Yatra in Chanasma before the December 2002 Assembly elections, tapes of which were sent then to the Election Commission. Even then, Modi was careful with his words while he aroused hate. 

He could have endorsed Varun's venom. Instead, in a TV interview, he casually brushed the issue aside saying it was sub-judice. "There is a shade of A B Vajpayee in Modi this time. Vajpayee's speeches were full of wit, which endeared him to the voter,'' said a senior BJP leader, adding that there was a coarseness in Modi's humour which the common man would find more appealing. 

Riot of laughter 

* O Ba, O Ma 

When terrorists attacked Mumbai, Congress leaders rushed to the US. They should have gone to Pakistan. In the US, they pleaded O Ba, O Ma... please save us 

* Budhiya 

Terminology to describe Congress as a 125-year-old party. This sent Modi's TRPs soaring 

* Gudiya 

Priyanka Gandhi, who reacted to Modi. Since then, the Gandhis are silent 

* SRP is after me 

S for Sonia, R for Rahul and P for Priyanka. In this age of SMS, abbreviations are an in thing, he says 

* Not MAR but RAM 

Before Congress could say MAR (Modi, Advani and Rajnath), Modi put it in their mouth. He said they should respect seniority. "They should have called us RAM (Rajnath, Advani and Modi). But something stops them from saying RAM 

* Kapadwala, Dabbawala, Gas Batlawala 

Congress troika of Shankersinh Vaghela (textiles minister), Naran Rathwa (railway minister) and Dinsha Patel (petroleum minister) 

* Middlemen Congressmen 

Congress manifesto promised wheat at Rs 3 a kg to the poor, Modi joked that Gujarat government was selling wheat at Rs 2 a kg. The Congress would buy wheat from Gujarat at Rs 2 per kg and sell it for Rs 3 per kg. 

*Soniaben's homework 

She mixes up the script. The other day, she spoke in Jetpur about Sujalam Sufalam. This speech was to be read out at Kheralu which has a Sujalam Sufalam project. 

$27bn flows out illegally every year from India

Just when a partisan debate rages over the issue of billions of black money hoarded abroad by India's corrupt, a US-based organisation 

— Global Financial Integrity (GFI) — has ranked the country fifth in the list of 160 developing countries suffering from the outflow of huge amounts of money through illicit channels. 

Quoting its report -- 'Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2002-06' — which came out in December last year, GFI said total illicit financial outflows from India during the period averaged from a low of $22.7 billion to a high of $27.3 billion per year. 

The report comes bang in the middle of a confrontation between Congress and BJP over the latter's promise to bring the illegal billions back. 

Congress has accused the BJP of exaggerating the issue by distorting facts for partisan ends. It, along with the Left, has also accused BJP of not taking measures to tackle the problem during NDA's tenure at the Centre. The BJP has returned the fire with full force, accusing Congress of ignoring the issue. 

GFI director Raymond Baker said it was not just India's problem. "In 2006, total outflows from developing countries outpaced incoming official development assistance (ODA) by a ratio of 10 to 1. This means that for every $1 in ODA a developing country received, $10 was lost due to illicit financial outflows," he said. 

China topped the list of countries for illicit outflows with $233bn-$289bn, followed by Saudi Arabia ($54bn-$55bn), Mexico ($41bn-$46bn) and Russia ($32bn-$38bn). 

The issue of money taken illegally abroad and stashed in tax havens has recently acquired prominence because of the feeling, encouraged by the global slowdown, that days of secret banking are over. The consensus was reflected in the recent meeting of G-20, and has been strengthened by the promises of Swiss authorities to cooperate with demands, provided they are backed up by specific details, for investigation into accounts in banks within their jurisdiction. 

In India, Supreme Court has taken up the matter following a PIL by a group of well-known citizens. 

The Centre has promised to get back to the court this week with details of what it has done to deal with the issue, particularly with regard to details of 1,400 accounts with a bank in Liechtenstein which has been made available by German authorities. 

The GFI report estimated that total illicit capital flight from developing countries was as high as $1 trillion per year during 2002-06. The illegal outflows involve activities such as corruption (bribery and embezzlement of national wealth) and proceeds of licit business that becomes illicit when transported across borders in violation of laws and regulatory frameworks. 

Baker said, "This massive loss of assets is the greatest impediment to economic development and poverty alleviation and should be of concern to all nations." 

The GFI report is based on examination of trade and external debt data from 2002-06 maintained by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. 

Funny Campaign Advertisements

The defensive posture of the Congress is really amusing. It is trying to convince people with statements that even Congressmen cannot convince themselves with. The latest of these is 'Congress does not have a problem if Afzal is hanged'. Here we don't even have to ask why he hasn't been hanged till now. It is all so obvious. Then there is the Swiss bank accounts issue.

All I have seen this elections is that Congress has initially denied everything that BJP accused it of. But then it surrenders with lots of ifs and buts added. It has made a joke of itself. Our 'strong' PM acknowledges that there are links between terrorists across the border and Indian terrorists belonging to a particular community (read Muslims). So he devises a solution : community policing is the best thing to do. Ok, we accept this partly....but can the PM please tell us what if community policing fails or it does not happen? What is the role of the state?

The economy was fine and now the PM will revive it in 100 days if voted to power. What has he been doing all these months? He had much more than 100 days available to him.

Grow up Congress men....people of this country have much sharper intellect than you think they do. You are insulting them if you think otherwise. I get to watch some campaign advertisements of the Congress on TV and really...they are better than the best comedy shows on air. Some of them are:

1. Prices are falling - vote for Congress

2. Na main Hindu hoon, na Musalman, na Sikh, na Isai - main ek Bhartiya hun - Vote for Congress. This one definitely needs a big correction. It can be tweaked like this: main ek Bhartiya tha...par mujhe Musalman, Isai banaya Congress ne..to kya main Congress ko vote karoon?

3. Another ad is on the lines of the above ad. Here I would say - Party jo mile hue rangon ko alag kare ek hi hai - Congress . So don't vote for Congress.

4. This one is the funniest: Join/support Congress in fighting terrorism.

TOI-My God, I am so sick of this newspaper. Only voices that support the Congress or its allies and are against the BJP are covered by its reporters. As if the opinion of others doesn't matter. One thing I would definitely like to say to TOI - YOU ARE UNFIT TO RUN THE LEAD INDIA CONTEST. You are the least bothered about this country and its welfare. So stop this gimmick.

Another characteristic of Congressmen including Kapil Sabil I have noticed is that they don't have the basic etiquettes of debating. They never let the other person finish what he has to say. I know this is a sharp tool for fooling some people....but others can make out. So before you go out to debate..go back to school and learn the rules. You only spoil your already spoilt image.

BJP’s Charter of Rights for the farmers and Its Priorities for Farmers

1. Loans of all farmers to be waived off under the principle of equality.

2. Agricultural loans to be provided at the rate of four per cent Interest.

3. Provision of subsidy directly to farmers

4. Adequate Power, Water & Work

5. Farm income guarantee insurance scheme for small farmers

6. Pension for old age farmers

7. Minimum Support Price for all crops after adding 50% over production cost

8. Implementation of the recommendations of the Agricultural Commission.

9. Strengthening rural infrastructure by providing electricity to each village and connecting it with all weather road.

10. Strengthening agriculture across India and improving farmers’ economic livelihoods through remunerative prices, right decisions on crop management, the best agricultural technology, adequate water supplies, clear property rights, the necessary rural infrastructure that will allow them to operate as efficiently as possible and a comprehensive income insurance scheme.

11. Implementation of the Ladli Lakshmi Scheme for girls to enable them to complete their education and become a lakh pati at age of 21. This scheme is implemented in M.P by our C.M Sri Shivraj Singh Chauhan

Summary of BJP’s IT Vision Document –Benefitting Rural India

 

 

Following steps would be taken by the BJP led NDA government at centre  :

 

 

1.        Will generate 1.20 Crore new IT-enabled jobs in rural areas. This will be achieved by way of at least 20 jobs in each of the aprox 600000 villages in the country. A series of initiatives have been devised to make this a realty.

2.        Raise farm productivity, bring cost of cultivation down and increase Kisans’ income using IT for water conservation, soil enrichment, procurement, marketing, credit needs of Kisans, waste elimination and taking R&D from ‘lab to land’.

3.        Internet in every town and village – with unlimited upload and download data transfer limits

4.        Every BPL (Below Poverty Line) family to be given free smart mobile phone – Free of cost.

5.        100% financial inclusion through Bank accounts, with eBanking facilities for all Indian Citizens. Direct transfer of welfare funds.

6.        Providing highest standard Medical Services under eHealthcare initiative – using video conferencing facilities, without the need to travel to Big cities for medical treatment. This is known asTelemedicine. The BJP led government will use IT to provide best medical services to Rural India.

7.        Land and property records to be computerized to reduce the number of disputes / litigation due to non-clarity of land records in rural areas.

8.        Panchayats will be able to communicate between themselves,free of cost!

9.       Purchase of Railway and Bus tickets from the Internet in their own villages!

10.     All courts to be computerized for faster decision on cases and clearing of back log..

11.     All Citizen to have free call facility to call their areas M.P.. This will be a 24 Hours facility. This will be helpful in their discussing the problems with their elected representative.

12.     Under eGovernance for Good Governance – Making available government services online and in local languages in every village & town.

13.     Implementing ‘E Gram Vishwa Gram’ : Gujrat’s pioneering project that BJP ledges to implement nationwide – This project aims at providing broadband connectivity to all gram panchayats. Video conferencing facilities at all the villages. Gram Panchayat to issue citizen related documents and certificates, application forms including 7 / 12 certificates to farmers from Panchayats.

14.     The use of IT will help in better communication from Rural areas to City Government, State Government and even the centre government. This will reduce corruption ,since all transactions between government and citizens will be computerized.

15.     Under eDevelopment for all – To provide Information required by Farmers (About markets, inputs, farm operations, government schemes etc) to be provided through digital platforms – at Panchayat level only.

16.     National skill development mission to increase the number ofskilled workers from 8% currently to 20% in five years of BJP led NDA rule. Climate change also to be addressed with green technologies.

17.     A great initiative planned by BJP led NDA government – eBhasha – National Mission for promotion of IT in Indian Languages– All softwares sold in India would have to be compatible with all 22official languages. This will go a long way in e-enabling our rural India and ensure deeper penetration of IT / Internet which will help in much faster development of the Rural India

 

The BJP & NDA seek the support of India & Bharat in the coming elections. We assure you a future NDA Government will implement this IT vision with the speed, vigour, ambition and determination to uplift the rural economy for asustainable growth of Bharat.

Bjp Views on the Failure of the congress Govt.

Congress and Prime Minister must first explain, why it allowed economy to deteriorate for 1826 days before making false promise of reviving economy in 100 days. Slogan of 100 days is an admission of utter failure of the UPA Govt., on the economic front. The Govt. touted itself as having three economic wizards in Dr. Manmohan Singh, Dr. Chidambaram and Dr. Ahluwalia. Country witnessed all out failure of this economic trio. Congress and the PM fooled the people for five years but people have realised that the Govt. has betrayed them and hence are not going to fall pray to their 100 days slogan.

BJP wants to remind five cardinal sins of the UPA Govt., which made life of the common man miserable. First, its failure to tame the inflation on ground level is irritating the masses. Govt. figures of 0% inflation has become irrelevant and subject of ridicule as the prices of all essential commodities like rice, wheat, atta, pulses, edible oil, sugar, tea, cement are going up. Figures based on WPI have no connection to the ground reality. This Govt. allowed the situation to drift. There is cartelization in cement and the sugar prices are going up because of Govt’s wrong decisions. It allowed exports of sugar at 18 rupees per kg and even paid export subsidy. Within three months Govt. is now importing the sugar at 23 rupees per kg. This sugar scam will blow up in the face of UPA. Sweet sugar will become sour for Congress. In the first place Govt. could not hold the price line because of its utter failure in ensuring food security, streamlining PDS and monitoring the movement of prices in time.

Second, UPA precipitated the economic crisis by squeezing the liquidity out of market in face of evolving economic crisis globally. The credit crunch resulted in high interest rate regime, making Indian industries uncompetitive. Undeclared devaluation of rupee wiped out any possible profit for exporters. High interest rates and falling rupee hampered exports adversely and resulted in loss of jobs for millions. Govt. did not help the workers who lost jobs and made them fend for themselves.

Third, it did not keep the momentum in infrastructure development initiated by the NDA Govt. roads, irrigation, power generation and river linking suffered the most. Govt. engaged itself with cosmetic makeover and lost the opportunity to carry forward the momentum in development of infrastructure, which only ensures long term development.

Fourth, UPA made farmer suffer and never made any effort to correct the unfavorable balance of trade in face of steep rise in input prices of agriculture. PM’s package to heal the farmers, who were committing suicides failed miserably and suicides continued all over. Loan waiver scheme failed because it did not offer any benefit to 80% farmers and worst was that the scheme punished the honest. Anybody who has repaid even a single installment did not get any benefit from the scheme.

Fifth, the Govt. did away with fiscal discipline. The 2% target of fiscal deficit has gone awry. The unbudgeted items and the scale rose continuously making it the worst deficit regime. The total deficit is hovering around 15% and is much worse than 1991 financial crisis.

Congress and the Prime Minister have failed the nation and cannot expect people to forgive them. We once again challenge them for open debate on the state of economy.

Manifesto of BJP for Progress of India, Plz Read & Forward

Following are the Key Points of BJP's Manifesto for the ongoing General Elections to make India a Prosperous, Developed & a Stronger Nation.

PUTTING POOR FIRST:

1. All BPL families to get 35kg of rice or wheat every month at Rs 2 per kg.

2. Ensure farm loans at a maximum interest rate of 4 percent.

3. Initiate special schemes for the urban poor, such as loans at 4 percent interest to poor vendors.

ECONOMY GROWS, INDIA PROSPERS:

1. Generate employment through massive public spending on infrastructure projects. Complete the implementation of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s dream projects: National Highway Development Project by building 15-20 km of new highways every day; and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, to link all villages with over 500 people by all-weather road.

2. Exempt personal Income Tax for those earning up to Rs 3 lakh per annum. For women and Senior Citizens, the exemption will be Rs 3.5 lakh per annum. This will benefit over 3.5 crorepeople.

3. Take firm steps to identify and retrieve Indian money stashed away in foreign banks. Estimated at Rs. 25 lakh crore- getting this amount back through international cooperation will be enough to complete road and power connectivity throughout the country; ensure setting up of quality schools in all villages. 

WAR AGAINST ENEMIES WITHIN AND WITHOUT:

1.BJP commits to introduce improved POTA type law to counter Terrorism & Insurgency. India’s 4000-km long coastline will be fully protected by enhanced naval security.

2. We will systematically detect, detain and deport illegal immigrants who have emerged as a major source of homegrown terror. Fencing of the India-Bangladesh border, deliberately neglected by the UPA in pursuit of vote bank politics, will be speedily completed.

3. Introduce a comprehensive Multi Purpose National Identity Card for all citizens of India.

 JAI JAWAN IN ACTION:

1. All members of the armed forces and the para-military shall be exempted from payment of Income Tax. This will benefit nearly 20 lakh Jawans who guard our Nation.

2. Implement one-rank-one-pension.

ENERGY SAVED, ENERGY GAINED:

1. Generate an additional 120,000 MW of electricity in 5 years through speedy conclusion of ongoing projects while sanctioning new power plants. 20% of this will be through harnessing non-conventional energy sources.

WOMEN EMPOWERED, NATION STRENGTHENED:

1. Introduce the Madhya Pradesh BJP Government’s highly successful ‘Ladli Lakshmi’ Scheme throughout India to directly transfer funds to the school going girl child to encourage education and secure economic self-sufficiency for young women. Rs. 1.18 lakh after completion of 12th standard.

2. Pave the way for nationwide implementation of the Bhamashah Scheme proposed by the erstwhile BJP Government in Rajasthan to directly pay Rs 1,500 to open a bank account for every adult woman.

3. Provide bicycles to every school going girl child from BPL families throughout India.

4. Salaries of 28 lakh Anganwadi workers and helpers, who are the backbone of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) will be doubled.

5. BJP believes all sections of Indian women cannot be fully empowered without the enactment of a Uniform Civil Code d emphasized repeatedly by the Supreme Court..

YOUNG INDIA, NATION’S PILLAR:

1. A network of National Knowledge Incubation Centres will be set up throughout the country to identify and groom young talent for every sector of the economy.

2. Study loans will be made cheaper and more accessible by fixing student loan interest at 4%.

3. BJP will create 12 million IT-enabled jobs in rural areas. Computer prices will be drastically cut to make it affordable to every section. All educational institutions will have internet facilities within 5 years. Broadband connectivity to every village.

4. Launch an aggressive project to groom young sporting talent by allocating Rs 5,000 crore for creation of sports infrastructure especially in educational institutions Appoint trained coaches; secure employment for international medal winners. Sport will be a compulsory subject in school curricula.

NATION’S WEALTH, PEOPLE’S HEALTH:

1.BJP is committed to making the right to clean water a fundamental right. A massive programme will be launched to provide clean, drinking water to every citizen.

2. A regulatory authority to be set up for private hospitals and nursing homes to monitor unfair practices.

3. A comprehensive project to bring health-for-all by 2014.

4. Introduce a mandatory ‘Dial 108 for ambulance at your doorstep’ scheme throughout the country.

5. Revive the creation of new AIIMS, originally initiated by the NDA Government but neglected by UPA. All six state-of-the-art hospitals will be rapidly constructed over the next 5 years.

6. Janani Suraksha Yojana to care for delivering mothers and infants will be strengthened.

SENIOR CITIZENS:

1. Recognising the importance of Senior Citizens in nation-building and inculcating civilisational values, BJP commits itself to reducing the age for receiving travel benefits from 65 to 60 years. 

2. Complete tax exemption to senior citizens in respect of pension income.

CREATING THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT:

1. Combating climate change and global warming through non-polluting technologies will be prioritized.

2. Importance given to programmes to arrest the melting of Himalayan glaciers from which most major rivers in North India originate.

3. Take all appropriate steps to save Tiger, the National Animal, and safeguard critical habitants of all wildlife. Emphasis to be laid on protecting India’s resplendent but endangered bio-diversity.

DEFENDING THE CIVILISATION:

1. The BJP remains committed to the construction of a grand Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.

2. BJP will not allow anybody to touch the revered Ram Setu. We will evolve a new route for Sethu Samudram bypassing Ram Setu.

3. Cleaning the revered Ganga and other major rivers will be a priority. Local communities will be enrolled in this gigantic task.

4. Cow protection is an article of faith with BJP. This will be pursued relentlessly.

5. Full integration of the nation is not possible as long as Article 370 stays on the statute books. BJP remains steadfast in its belief that the provision must be removed to ensure Indian unity.

NDA's future strategy on getting black money from swiss..

On 29 March 2009, I had addressed a press conference in New Delhi and raised the important issue of vast amounts of Indian wealth stashed away in secret Swiss bank accounts and other tax havens around the world. The press conference was held against the backdrop of the G-20 Summit in London on 2 April, where the issue of illicit funds parked in tax havens was scheduled to be discussed. The country expected Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who represented India at the G-20 Summit, to put across India’s concerns and expectation forcefully at this global forum. Disappointingly, he only paid lip service to the issue. In contrast, it was the OECD (Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development) group of rich nations that were most vociferous in demanding an end to banking secrecy in countries like Switzerland.

At my New Delhi press conference, I had stated that a future BJP-led government at the Centre, if elected, would bring India’s sovereign wealth back from foreign shores and use it for various ambitious developmental projects. I had also announced the formation of a Task Force to recommend specific steps that a future government may take to translate our promise into reality.

I am pleased to announce that the Task Force has submitted its recommendations in the enclosed interim report. I sincerely thank members of the Task Force — Shri S. Gurumurthy (Chartered Accountant and investigative writer, Chennai); Shri Ajit Doval (Security expert, New Delhi); Dr. R. Vaidyanathan (Professor of Finance, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore); and Shri Mahesh Jethmalani (Senior lawyer, Mumbai) — for the outstanding work they have done.

The interim report of the Task Force is useful for four important reasons. Firstly, it has placed the problem of India’s wealth hoarded in secret bank accounts abroad in the context of a larger global menace, which western nations have now resolved to fight due to their own internal compulsions. Hence, it has rightly pointed out that India should become an active player in the global crusade against banking secrecy and tax havens.

Secondly, the Task Force has correctly asserted that the “fact of the loot” cannot be questioned although there may be debate on the “maths of the loot”. Based on studies conducted abroad, the Task Force has mentioned that the Indian wealth in Swiss bank accounts and other tax haven may be in the range of $500 billions [Rs 25 lakh crores] and $1.4 trillions [Rs 70 lakh crores]. The credibility of these estimates is reinforced by the figure of $11.5 trillions (Rs. 575 lakh crore) officially given by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development), a group of rich countries, at the G-20 Summit in London early this month as the amount of global wealth parked in various tax havens.

Thirdly, the Task Force has highlighted the casual approach of the Congress-led UPA government in taking up this important issue at appropriate international fora. Spokesmen of the Congress party have even mocked at the BJP’s effort in this regard. My appeal to voters is simple: Punish the Congress that has no political will to fight corruption and crime money. The word “corruption” does not even figure in the Congress party’s manifesto!

Fourthly, the Task Force has recommended specific measures as part of the Global and National Strategies to bring back Indian money from tax havens abroad.

The important recommendations made by the Task Force are:

Global Strategy

Step I: Creating a powerful public opinion in India is a pre-requisite for global response to India's requirements in regard to unveiling banking secrecy. The world respects powerful domestic opinion on global issues. India must first realize that this is the ideal time to act and join the global crusade against secret banks and tax havens. In the absence of a broad national consensus on the issue, only a determined leader with a committed team can create the strong national will needed for undertaking this serious agenda overcoming all attempts to impede the effort. Those who do not support the move should be seen as supporters of black economy.

Step II: India should stop being a silent spectator to the G-20 efforts against secret banking and tax havens. It must become an active player and forthwith change the perception that it is not against secret banking and tax havens.

Step III: India must immediately and effectively urge the German government to provide the details of the Indian names from the LGT bank’s secret records. The BJP, if voted to power, must send a special emissary to Germany, which is willing to give the details of Indian names in the LGT bank’s secret records.

Step IV: India must strive for a coordinated global and multilateral effort, which is the only solution to undo the regime of banking secrecy.

Step V: India has special needs beyond what the West is seeking to break banking secrecy. India should work with the West to get the OECD rules on internationally agreed tax standards. That global coercive action is working is seen from that fact that the G-20 threat to blacklist Switzerland and other tax havens is already beginning to yield results.

Step VI: We recommend that India appoint a special ambassador with adequate knowledge of tax havens and secret banking issues to work with the G-20 specifically for framing India-friendly rules.

National Strategy

Collection of travel information about persons visiting Switzerland and other tax havens. This should start with cabinet ministers and other high-profile political personalities.

Monitoring tax havens that have high transaction frequency with India.

India to become a full-fledged member of the Financial Action Task Force.

Use of financial intelligence sharing for security purposes. Illegal money is a potential source of undermining national security. Therefore, we recommend that Indian intelligence agencies should be specifically tasked to collect intelligence on this count.

Legislative support: Just as the Obama Administration is planning specific anti-tax haven laws, India should also target tax havens and secret destinations like Switzerland operating in India.  

We recommend that stricter laws should place the onus of proving their innocence on the accused if a prima facie case is made out.

High Level Task Force: We recommend that the Government of India should constitute a high level Task Force with representatives from Finance Ministry, National Intelligence Agencies, Ministry of Law, RBI, SEBI, Economic Intelligence Units, Central Vigilance Commission, CBI and other experts to collect and process the information and start legal action wherever feasible. As large-scale kickbacks are reported from purchases made by some of the Ministries like Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Civil Aviation etc., their representatives could also be co-opted wherever necessary.

The history of the illicit wealth holders should be brought out: We recommend that when India is able to unveil the banking secrecy through information sharing arrangement, it should get the names and amounts not just as of today but for the entire economic history of the account-holders.

Callous Congress, feckless PM

If we lesser mortals were to be found misleading someone intentionally, we would be accused of telling a lie. To be called a liar is as good as being told your integrity quotient is zero. Telling the truth, as we all know, may be difficult but is considered a virtue; telling a lie is sinful, a vice to which the feckless and the irresolute are given. But what about someone who holds high office and misleads the nation in the most casual (some would say sly) manner? Does vice become a virtue when your are the Prime Minister of India? I refer to Mr Manmohan Singh’s comment on Friday in response to a query on the shameful Jagdish Tytler-Sajjan Kumar episode. “I was not informed, not consulted, over the CBI’s clean chit to Jagdish Tytler,” he told members of the Indian Women’s Press Corps whom he hosted for tea.

In this age of lazy journalism it is unlikely anybody will bother to raise a doubt or two about the Prime Minister’s claim. But this needs to be done, if only to expose him for what he is, which is definitely far-removed from what he would like everybody to believe he is. So let’s check out the facts. The CBI, contrary to popular notion, does not report to the Ministry of Home Affairs; it reports to the quaintly named Department of Personnel and Training, otherwise known as ‘DoPT’, which is headed by a Minister of State. The DoPT is part of the portfolio of responsibilities held by the Prime Minister to whom the Minister of State in charge of that department reports. While routine administrative issues are directly dealt with by the Minister of State, he or she keeps the Prime Minister fully informed on sensitive issues, including high profile cases being handled by the CBI. In fact, files related to such cases are routed through the Prime Minister’s Office, which is known to have issued instructions to the CBI on certain occasions — recall the letter written by a senior PMO official, known for his proximity to 10 Janpath, directing the agency to deal with one of the accused in the Ayodhya case in a particular manner. In brief, it is an intimate relationship, never mind the Supreme Court’s directive that the CBI should function as an autonomous agency. It is highly unlikely, and that is putting it mildly, that the CBI would have sought closure of the cases against Tytler without discussing it with the DoPT, which in effect means the PMO. In other words, Mr Singh would have been aware of the CBI’s move.

Even if he were blissfully ignorant of it, surely Mr Singh reads newspapers and watches 24x7 news channels, at least those which don’t tire of extolling his ‘abilities’, such as they are. The CBI submitted its closure report to the trial court on April 2. The story was prominently published by every newspaper and found more than passing mention on prime time news. On April 7, when Jarnail Singh, a reporter with the Dainik Jagran, apparently upset over Mr P Chidambaram’s rude response to his questions on the Government giving Tytler and Kumar a clean chit despite the evidence — by way of affidavits, submissions and eyewitness accounts — of their role in the horrendous bloodletting of 1984 when 4,733 Sikhs were massacred after Mrs Indira Gandhi’s assassination, hurled one of his shoes at the Home Minister. It is only then that the Congress got into the act. Between April 2 and April 7, for full five days the Prime Minister did nothing, although he obviously knew about it, if not through the DoPT then from media reports.

For Mr Singh to now say “I was not informed, not consulted” is more than astounding. But there’s a pattern to his denying any knowledge about the actions of the CBI and pretending great surprise every time the Government has been caught on the wrong foot. When the CBI manipulated the de-freezing of two London bank accounts where Ottavio Quattrocchi is believed to have parked his share of the Bofors payola, thus helping the Italian wheeler-dealer who is a fugitive from Indian law to grab the money and run, similar lack of knowledge was proclaimed. Indeed, the Prime Minister has rarely been upfront; on the contrary, effortlessly and with great ease, he has excelled in slyly misleading the nation time and again, as he did most stunningly on the India-US civil nuclear cooperation agreement. 

In his memoirs, A Prattler’s Tale, economist Ashok Mitra is ruthlessly honest in his description of Mr Singh: “His timidity is the product of his civil servant’s mind, which many mistake as humility.” He also recounts an incident from his days as a member of the Rajya Sabha when Mr Singh was the Union Finance Minister. At a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Finance, Mr Mitra wanted the Government to supply copies of an RBI report listing the identities of individuals and corporates who owed more than a crore of rupees in unpaid bank loans adding up to more than Rs 50,000 crore. “The Finance Minister (Mr Singh) had a quick consultation with the Finance Secretary, who was sitting next to him, and agreed to place copies of the report before the members (of the committee)... Then the fun started. Days went by, then weeks, followed by a full month, but we did not receive copies of the report. I wrote to the Finance Minister but there was no reply from him. I sent him another letter... the silence was unbroken. At the next meeting of the committee, I hit the roof. Manmohan, however, was unfazed. He feigned surprise, ‘What, did I really make such a promise? I do not remember. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding’.” Mr Mitra has other stories to tell about our economist Prime Minister, but since he hasn’t committed them to paper, I shan’t either.

But Mr Singh’s proclivity to mislead others is not the only trait that raises discomfiting questions about India’s ‘accidental Prime Minister’. Nor should we needlessly cavil about his fake humility. What is relevant is his, to quote Mr Mitra, “lamb-like devotion” to the Nehru-Gandhi family, his “worshipful frame of mind”. It is this which prompts him to behave in the most craven manner, heaping treacly praise on the person who wields the authority of the office he holds, and which sets him apart from his senior colleagues like Mr Pranab Mukherjee. “Obviously the decision (to field Tytler and Kumar as candidates for the Lok Sabha election from Delhi constituencies) was reversed. It shows the Congress party’s sensitivity towards the Sikh community and for this you should compliment the Congress party,” he told members of the Indian Women’s Press Corps during his Friday’s interaction. Everybody knows that the decision was reversed by the Congress president. So the praise he solicits is not for the party but its president. As for ‘sensitivity towards the Sikh community’, had Mr Singh’s assertion been true, he would not have allowed the CBI to do something so reprehensible. But that would have required courage and integrity.

UPA A Sinking Ship ,Pranab Mukherjee also sulking and Munna Bhai, from Gandhigiri to Stinggiri,

UPA A Sinking Ship

In the last fortnight evidence with alarming regularity is appearing that all the allies of the Congress are leaving the UPA one after the other because the UPA and the Congress is a sinking ship. After Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), Laloo Prasad (RJD), Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP) and Dr. A. Ramdoss (PMK) it is now the turn of Sharad Pawar (NCP) to desert the Congress and the badly fragmented UPA. The NCP has already declared that Dr. Manmohan Singh is the Prime Ministerial candidate of the Congress only and not of the UPA and now, to rub salt in spite of being supposedly a key constituent of the UPA; Mr. Pawar is going to attend a third front rally with CPM and BJD in Orissa. It is evident that all the UPA allies so called are fighting among themselves and they realise to their dismay that keeping company with Congress would spell disaster. They or, the uncertain third front cannot be expected to give any stable government for the country. This is possible only by a resurgent NDA under the time tested unquestioned leadership of Shri L. K. Advani.

Pranab Mukherjee also sulking

Not only are the allies deserting the Congress but even the permanent no. 2 and trouble shooter of Congress Pranab Babu is also sulking. He has publicly commented that he is not able to get top post of the Prime Minister because among other things Dr. Manmohan Singh is a “Superior Intellectual Person” who enjoys the backing of Smt. Sonia Gandhi. This is a very loaded comment from a senior political leader of Congress, who has handled all the crucial departments with a Ministerial record of nearly forty years. Obviously, there is a great sense of unease even among Congress leaders about the patent lack of leadership qualities of Dr. Singh, “the supposed leader” of more than one billion Indian people. The comment of Shri Mukherjee only reinforces, what the BJP has been saying that Dr. Singh is in office but not in authority.

Munna Bhai, from Gandhigiri to Stinggiri

There is a famous saying “that one is known by the company one keeps”. It is truly surprising that in his new company in a very short time; Sanjay Dutt (Munna Bhai) popularised on the screen for “Gandhigiri”, has mastered the art of “Stinggiri” and that too on the Union Law Minister Mr. Hansraj Bhardwaj. In spite of the allegation and counter allegation it is a very sad commentary on the way governance is being done wherein unfortunately, even the name of the Supreme Court is sought to be brought into controversy. The BJP strongly condemns it and wants the nation to know that this sordid play is being done by players supposedly committed in the fight for secularism. The abuse of CBI in the whole matter of disproportionate asset of Mulayam Singh Yadav only confirms the extent of manipulations being done to keep Manmohan Singh Government in power. You support the Congress the CBI will bail you out; you oppose; the CBI will prosecute. The serious nature of the offence is of no consequence. How, the office of even the Law officers have been abused is also coming into disturbing focus. The people of the country would certainly respond to all this in the coming elections and vote out this conflicting combination of opportunism and bring back NDA into power.

India Elections 2009 - EC out of bounds on Varun Gandhi

The Election Commission last night issued an advisory to the BJP not to nominate Varun Gandhi as its candidate for Pilibhit while holding him guilty on charges of making hateful and communal remarks in his speeches.

At the outset let it be clear that Offstumped is holding no brief for Varun Gandhi and comments attributed to him from multiple speeches are despicable and un-Hindu.

However it must also be said that:

#1 Varun Gandhi has the freedom to practice his his bigotry howsoever disagreeable it may be to our sensibilities, as long as he has not broken a law of the land

#2 If Varun Gandhi’s bigotry is in violation of the Law, exemplary punishment is in order so a message goes out to every bigoted Politician that they cannot court controversy to make headlines and conduct whisper campaigns.

#3 If Varun Gandhi’s bigotry is not in violation of the Law, then the matter must be judged in the Court of Public Opinion.

The Election Commission is neither a court of law nor does it represent the court of public opinion.

There in lies the problem with the Election Commission’s “holding Varun Gandhi” guilty and issuing an advisory especially in a scenario where the electoral process has not even been notified and the Election Commission has no role to play.

The matter of whether Varun Gandhi’s bigotry is acceptable or not and whether he should be the BJP’s candidate or not should have been left to the BJP and the court of public opinion by the Election Commission till until a legal case was made.

Former Election Commissioner GVG Krishnamurthy explains why

The Election Commission has no jurisdiction to take action against Gandhi” for his alleged inflammatory speeches

The model code of conduct comes into effect only after President Pratibha Patil notifies the elections in the official gazette. Till then Gandhi cannot be considered an Election Commission recognized candidate

the commission has acted in haste in moving against Gandhi for violation of the model code of conduct under the provisions of the Representation of Peoples Act 1951.

Only the police can move against him under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for inciting communal passions

As of now Varun is only a probable candidate and an ordinary citizen against whom action can be taken only under the IPC if he makes inflammatory statements.

The Election Commission has no role to play till the notification of elections by the president

In fact to allow a bunch of unelected Bureaucrats who enjoy their office at the pleasure of the Political Party in Government to sit in judgement even over probable candidates is highly debatable and there ought to be a rethink on the Model Code of Conduct.

While Offstumped has serious reservations on Varun Gandhi’s candidacy, finds his bigotry unacceptable and the BJP’s indulgence of him unfathomable, the Election Commission in this case stands guilty of the same sensationalism it accuses Varun Gandhi of, for he is yet to be convicted in a Court of Law.

Rahul Gandhi Watch

Rahul Gandhi's election affidavit in 2004 claimed he had a M-Phil in "Development Economics" from Cambridge in 1995 when in fact Cambridge University transcripts tell a different story. Will Rahul Gandhi change his affidavit this time to reflect the truth ? OR Will soon to become CEC Navin Chawla bail him out ? With the Election Commission announcing Lok Sabha poll dates, be the first to blow the whistle on Rahul Gandhi's election affidavit 2009

A B C D of UPA Regime

Click on image for full view

BJP stand on the failure of UPA

1.    Bharatiya Janata Party condemns UPA government for its double standard applied in two states of Orissa and Meghalaya. In Orissa the voting on the floor of the house was not properly conducted and was not even recorded. The Governor also has submitted report to this effect. BJP has demanded immediate imposition of President's Rule in Orissa. UPA government turned deaf ears to the demand and allowed Shri Naveen Patnaik Govt. to continue in office. This is clear violation of the spirit of Constitution. On the other hand in Meghalaya UPA government imposed President's Rule even though a proper voting was carried and registered on the floor of the house. The government survived on the casting vote of the speaker in Meghalaya.

   The UPA government resorted to imposition of President's Rule on selective basis as a political game plan. This is nothing but subversion of democracy. UPA has done this time and again to subvert democratic institutions in its five year of misrule. BJP demands imposition of President's Rule in Orissa and restoration of government in Meghalaya.

2.    UPA government's claim of taming the inflation and that of Bharat Nirman have been exposed by the tragic incidence of attempt by seven members of the family to commit suicide in the National Capital. The poor family, which was suffering from hunger for several days, had to resort to this extreme step even though girls in the family were topping the school exams. The whole concept of social security net has gone haywire. Even the hunger index published by the world body has placed India at the lower position than its earlier position.

   The inflation figures indicate deflation setting in and not ground reality faced by the common man. The prices of all essential items like rice, wheat, atta, edible oil sugar, tea etc. have not come down. And the Consumer Price Index has remained at 9%.

3.    Bharatiya Janata Party condemns Orissa government for its total failure to maintain Law and Order and pleading helplessness in front of Maoists. BJP demands full fledged inquiry into the killing of Shri Prabhat Panigrahi because it is feared that the killings will continue. Even it is doubted whether the killers are Naxalite or Christian militants under the guise of Naxalites. Shri Panigrahi was eliminated as he knew the conspiracy to kill Swami Laxmanada Saraswati.

BJP's message on Shri Naveen Patnaiks move..a must read

The unilateral betrayal of the people’s mandate by Shri Naveen Patnaik on the eve of simultaneous Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections presents a remarkable opportunity to make a new beginning for Orissa. By associating with the CPI(M), B-team of the Congress, the Biju Janata Dal has abandoned the anti-Congress legacy of the State. The people of Orissa are fully aware that during the 11-year alliance with the BJD, the BJP gave unstinted support to the Chief Minister to overcome every political difficulty he faced. When the NDA was in power under Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s dynamic leadership, Orissa’s development was top priority for the Union Government. Much of the State’s present prosperity is a result of the BJP’s resolute commitment to this goal.

Given this reality, people of Orissa must be told why a perfectly harmonious, development-oriented alliance was abruptly broken off without any provocation from the BJP? Was it only because of differences over seat sharing or was there a hidden agenda? Shri Patnaik has to answer the fundamental question: Why did he break an alliance that had done so much for Orissa’s development? He must also answer why he has chosen to associate with Left parties that have denounced him loudly for over a decade?

Shri Patnaik must also come clean why he has opted to ally with the JMM which openly champions the breaking up of Orissa and merger of at least three districts with Jharkhand? He must also tell the people why the Church, which should stay away from politics, has complimented him for breaking the alliance with the BJP?

Other intriguing aspects of his inexplicable decision also need to be highlighted. How come the Congress, the principal opposition party, has reacted so mutedly to this development? Is it because they realise that, by this action, Shri Naveen Patnaik has abandoned the anti-Congress space, which his been the cornerstone of his politics all these years?

The people of Orissa now have a great opportunity to affirm their faith in good governance, all-round economic development and empowerment of tribals, Dalits and other underprivileged sections. The BJP is the only party that can resolutely implement this agenda because unlike others, it does not believe in opportunism, shifting alliances and political somersaults. The BJP has taken up this challenge with renewed commitment and determination.

In order to provide an efficient, clean and purposeful Government in the State, our party will contest all 147 Assembly seats. We are confident that the people will give an opportunity to the BJP to form a Government on its own to make Orissa’s dream a reality. For that to be achieved it is necessary that the BJP comes to power not only in the State but also that the NDA gets a clear mandate for Delhi. Accordingly, the BJP will contest all 21 Lok Sabha seats from the State so that Orissa’s voice is powerfully represented in Delhi. An unequivocal mandate for the BJP to form a Government in Orissa and head the Government in Delhi under Shri Lal Krishna Advani’s decisive leadership will ensure unimaginable transformation of the State and the nation.

THE SWING VOTE: DON’T JUST VOTE, MAKE IT COUNT

There is a myth that the Educated Civil Society, being small in numbers, can not influence the electoral outcome. Consequently majority of us are not motivated to engage with the political class and even abstain from voting because we believe that we are too small in numbers to change the ways of Indian politics. However, a closer analysis will reveal that in this age of coalition politics, with so many parties and candidates, victory margins are very small. In fact, most MPs win by margins of just few thousand votes.

Another myth is that Indian politics is decided by rural India. Hence issues relevant to the city dwellers and educated civil society are of no relevance to political parties as they do not need urban votes to come to power. The fact is that 2009 Lok Sabha will have 120 MPs (out of 543) from Urban Areas. Just concluded delimitation of constituencies has dramatically increased the number of urban constituencies, which will further grow as India urbanizes. 120 is a huge number, given the coalition politics where Mrs. Mayawati with potentially 50 MPs will have the real possibility to stake the claim for Prime Minister’s post.

We also need to note that in 2009 elections we have more than 10 Crore First Time Voters, mainly in urban areas. Compare this with the vote difference between Congress and BJP in 2004 Lok Sabha Elections – 98 Lakh.

ELECTIONs-2009 are DIFFERENT in many ways! Post 26/11 people are willing to get out and get counted. We have the real opportunity to MAKE A DIFFERENCE, this time around.

Each major party and candidate have their own committed vote bank based on ideology, caste, religion, region or language which they nurture and hold by giving sops, favours, appeasement and promises. So during the elections, what all political parties need and fear most are the SWING votes, which usually decide the winner. It is not difficult to bring together 25,000-50,000 educated people in each parliamentary constituency as SWING VOTE BANK, who will vote based on the issues of “Good Governance & Economic Development”. These ‘Educated Swing Votes’ will make every political party reach out to them and ask for their issues to be included in their agenda.

Now the question is, how do we organize these educated people, analyze & interact with major candidates/party and make an informed decision to VOTE with a real possibility of having a winner of our choice.

Use of technology will make it possible, Obama has shown it working. We are technology savvy and quick to adapt.

Why CEC’s recommendation with regard to Navin Chawla must be accepted by Government

The current controversy surrounding Election Commissioner Shri Navin Chawla reminds me of a conversation I had had with Benazir Bhutto when she visited Delhi during the NDA regime. She had lunch with me that day and she shared with me a delicious dish of Sindhi curry, which my wife Kamala prepares excellently.

In the post lunch chat we had that day, I posed a question to Benazir: “How is it” I asked her, “that though both India’s as well as Pakistan’s political leadership had imbibed a similar political culture under British rule, India had managed its democracy with remarkable success but in Pakistan democracy had been a total failure.” Benazir’s reply was succinct: “I attribute your country’s success to two factors: firstly, your Army is apolitical; and secondly, your Election Commission is constitutionally independent of the Executive.”

Benazir had rightly identified the two guarantees for Indian democracy. For the first of these ― the Indian Army never nurturing political ambitions of any kind ― the credit goes entirely to our armed forces and those who have led it since independence, while credit for the Election Commission’s independence must be given to the Constituent Assembly.

There were, however, eminent participants in the Constituent Assembly debate on Art. 324, who wanted the Election Commission to be invested with even greater independence than given to it. These members did not approve of the fact that the Election Commission was to be appointed by the Central Government, and that the safeguards provided to the Commission were limited to its removal. Speaking on the occasion, Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru said:

“ We are anxious, Sir, that the preparation of the election rolls and the conduct of elections should be entrusted to people who are free from political bias and whose impartiality can be relied upon in all circumstances. But, by leaving a great deal of power in the hands of the President we have given room for the exercise of political influence in the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and the other officers by the Central government. The Chief Election Commissioner will have to be appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, and if the Prime Minister suggests the appointment of a party man, the President will have no option but to accept the Prime Minister’s nominee, however unsuitable he may be on public ground”.

In 2006, the then Chief Election Commissioner Shri B.B. Tandon, in a well-argued letter addressed to Rashtrapati Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, had pleaded with Government that just as in the case of the Central Vigilance Commission and the National Human Rights Commission, the appointments are made not by the Executive but by Committees in which the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Leaders of Opposition in Parliament are also included, in case of the Election Commission also, a similar Committee should be authorized to do so. Shri Tandon concludes his letter to Dr. Kalam with the observation:

“This approach would not only be in keeping with the spirit and sentiment flowing from the debates in the Constituent Assembly but also further strengthen the faith of the people of our great democracy in the continued impartiality, neutrality and credibility of the Election Commission.”

In the context of the current controversy about Shri Navin Chawla, it would be educative to compare Art.124 dealing with the Supreme Court, with Art.324 laying down provisions relating to the Election Commission. Art.124 provides that neither the Chief Justice of India nor any other judge of the Supreme Court can be removed from his office except by a process of impeachment laid down by Parliament. In case of the Election Commission, however, this kind of protection is provided only to the Chief Election Commissioner, and not to the Election Commissioners. In case of the other Election Commissioners the Constitution says that they “shall not be removed from office except on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.”

On behalf of the BJP, Party General Secretary, Shri Arun Jaitley has rightly argued that the word ‘recommendation’ used in the second proviso of Article 324(3) must be construed as a binding recommendation. Jaitley has drawn attention to Article 217 of the Constitution relating to appointment of High Court Judges where the appointment is to be “after consultation with the Chief Justice”, the Chief Justice’s views has always been regarded binding.

The Party therefore, feels that the Chief Election Commissioner’s recommendation with regard to Shri Navin Chawla must be forthwith accepted by Government.

Time to Reject the Directionless UPA government and Elect a Responsive NDA Government at the cent

Indian today appears to be on the brink of what might be a protracted recession. Over the last few months the so called economic boom bubble of the UPA government has literally burst. Be it the share market, high growth rate, booming economic activity in the manufacturing, services or agricultural sectors, all macro economic indicators have dramatically slowed down, begun to show declining trends and painting a gloomy picture of our economy.

Today the country is going through this difficult phase because we have a paralysed and directionless congress led UPA government at the centre for over four and half years. The pathetic performance of the UPA government has created an unprecedented situation of chaos in critical areas of governance. Be it the continuous acts of foreign sponsored terrorism and a vitiated atmosphere3 of internal security, economic downslide, problems in agricultural sector and farmers suicides, rising unemployment especially in the unorganised sector, the Congress ked UPA government has lacked in both ideas and initiative to find solutions to any problem. With every passing day the problems facing the nation are scaling upwards.

The Congress Party has a history of coining attractive slogans to befool the public and then doing nothing before coining another slogan to divert the attention of the people from their actual performance. The Garibi Hatao slogan of the 1970’s achieved nothing. After coining Indira Lao Desh Bachao, the country infact plunged into the vortex of terrorism. The Ikkisvi Sadi Ki Oor during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi needs to be viewed against the backdrop of the massive scandals such as Bofors, HWD submarine scandal that followed. Now the much touted Congress Ka Haath Aam Admi ke Sath, clearly shows the Congress has only made illusionary promises and delivered nothing. Infact the plight of the touted Aam Admi of the Congress Party is clearly there for all to see. With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner, one should not be surprised if the Congress dumps its Aam plank and coins yet another slogan to confuse another section of society.

The 26/11 incident in Mumbai was not just another terrorist incident. It was nothing less than an open war on India and this should be dealt with in the same spirit. However, despite clinching evidence about Pakistan’s role in this attack, nothing concrete has emerged over the last two months. All that we witness is a cacophony of confusing and often conflicting statements emanating from various responsible quarters of the UPA government. The time for a war of words is over. The time is now for action.

The BJP is confident that the people of India will completely reject the directionless Congress led UPA government and elect a responsive NDA government at the centre. In the six years of NDA rule we have displayed to the entire nation that we indeed can solve the problems facing the country and in Shri L.K. Advaniji we have a prime ministerial candidate with the experience to do so.

With regard do Karnataka, today the state has both a credible and stable government sensitive to the people’s aspirations. Our party’s vision is to transform Karnataka into a model state of good governance and development that not only outshines all other states in South India on every parameter of socio-economic development but also emerges as a shining beacon for other states of the country to emulate. I am confident that under the dynamic leadership of Shri B.S. Yeddyurappa, Karnataka will achieve this target in the shortest possible period of time.

I am also satisfied to note that the Karnataka government has already initiated strong action against the unacceptable act of hooliganism that took place in Mangalore yesterday. The BJP condemns this incident in totality. However, it is unfortunate that our political opponents and the so called secularists suffer from a “RSS-BJP PHOBIA”. They tend to level allegations without even verifying the facts.