current affirs news

7/30/2019 current affirs News

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Once Upon A BeehiveWhat happened when honey levels dipped, and some bees came to be more

equal than othersChetan Bhagat

Once upon a time there was a giant beehive. It was located on an ancient tree,situated amidst meadows and gardens filled with bright and colourful flowers.

The beehive had a queen bee, who along with some senior bees, had been

chosen to run the hive. Collectively, the elected were called the Government.Worker bees entrusted the Government bees to store their honey and keep themsafe. The Government also had to discover new gardens, to provide new sources of

flowers and nectar for the new generation of baby bees.

To ensure stability and avoid chaos, the Government bees made rules and passedlaws. The worker bees had to follow them, else they could be punished. This was

particularly important because the beehive had different kinds of bees, who couldend up fighting with each other. The black bees and the brown bees for instance,

were the two main kinds. They essentially did the same work. However, they hadslightly different looks and practiced their own prayer habits.

In good times, it was the perfect beehive. Over time, however, things changed.

Government bees had their own kids, relatives and friends. Most could not join theGovernment. They had to become worker bees like everyone else. However, oneday, a senior Government bees son told his father being a worker bee was too

much work. Why not let me take a bit of honeyfrom our reserves? he said to his

father. But that would be wrong, the father bee said.Nobody would find out. What happens in the Government, stays in the

Government, replied the Government bees son. He was right. Worker beestrusted the Government more than they did themselves. A bit of honey lost would

not be noticed at all.And then it started. Slowly, all Government bees children, cousins, relatives,

friends and well-wishers started stealing a bit of honey everyday from the reserves.

They didnt have to slave in the gardens all day anymore. The worker bees did

notice the honey levels were not going up as expected. When some worker beespointed this out, the Government just ordered everyone to work harder and not be

lazy.The worker bees worked harder to make more honey. However, honey levels

refused to rise. In fact, they started to fall.

Soon, Government bees started another practice. Whenever they found a newgarden, they gave it to their children, friends and relatives first. What the worker

bees dont know, the worker bees dont miss, was the hushed conversation inGovernment circles.

Over time, not only did honey levels fall, the discovery of new gardens stopped

for the kids of worker bees. They remained idle and hungry. Sometimes, the queen

bee tossed some scraps at the worker bees, and everyone praised the queen.However, the scraps were not enough.


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Who is stealing the honey? one day, an influential worker bee finally said. The

Government noticed the influential protesting bee was black. So, the Government

said, The brown bees are doing it. Then, the Government called the brown bees,and told them, We think the black bees are stealing all your hard work.

Hungry and tired, the black and brown bees were filled with anger. They foughtwith each other. The Government bees enjoyed the distraction and continued tosteal. As brown and black bees died and suffered, the Government tossed some

more honey scraps. Worker bees praised the queen again.Soon, there was a drought. The flowers became few, and it was time to turn to

the honey reserved over all these years. However, to everyones shock, there was

no honey in the reserves at all. Worker bees, normally trusting of the Government,went to check in the Government bees and their relatives homes. They foundeveryone fat and sitting on their own private reserves of honey. Whats more, they

also found maps of hundreds of new gardens that were discovered but never shared

with the worker bees.Dismayed and shocked, the worker bees came back to their poor homes. The

brown and black bees looked into each others eyes. They realised they had beenfooled. They hugged each other and apologised for all the hurt they had caused

each other.We will teach them a lesson, the black and brown bees said in unison. The

worker bees realised the time had come to use their sting, not against each other,

but against those who had cheated them.Meanwhile, the queen bee sensed the tension. She presented her beautiful young

son, He will save you now. Like i did all these years.

However, the brown and black bees were too smart this time. They gathered

together in a swarm and unleashed their stings on the Government and their fatcronies. The Government bees barely had any time to collect their belongings.

They simply had to run away from the hive. Soon, they were all gone.

The brown and black bees decided to select their best people to be in charge.

Also, they decided to never blindly trust, but monitor everyone. The hiverecovered, and the new generation worked hard to restore the honey stores. Newgardens led to new prosperity, and the beehive became the most successful beehive

in the world.

A few years later, an old bee, talking to her grandson at night, said Did youknow we had a queen bee at one time? Yes. But we dont anymore. Because

deep down, theres a little king in all of us, replied the baby bee.

The writer is a best-selling novelist.


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Theres a little queen in every worker bee

THE SPEAKING TREE

A Self-Realised Leader Works WondersDhruva Bhargava

We all are leaders in a way as people around constantly emulate us, seek our inspiration, guidance

and support and crave for our attention, love and compassion. Therefore, leaders in any sphere face

the dual challenge of connecting with Self and others. Knowing ones true nature, the Self, becomes

crucial.

While doing so, at times, ones deep-rooted beliefs, thoughts, fixations constituting mindsetbecome obstacles. In fact, all through our lives we have been indoctrinating ourselves with these

only. Once rigidly established, they become our outlook; we simply live them out. We are so deeply

influenced and intensely identified that we seldom change or let go. This inflexibility impedes

realising our true nature and connecting with others. The true Self though self-revelation yet

appears elusive. Therefore, to uncover the Self becomes an unwieldy task, due to ego.

Amazingly, connecting within and with others go simultaneously as we let go our own dogmas,

judgments and evaluations. With evolving flexibility, gradually emerges a perspective of looking

out from within. Once this perspective takes hold, the person becomes Selfdriven. His perception

broadens from limited to that of wholeness. There is a paradigm shift; theres no falling back. While

looking and acting from Self, one then persistently demonstrates and projects the true nature which

is of oneness, harmony and love towards one and all. This is discernible in ones thoughts, words and

action. As the Self becomes apparent, the influence of ego diminishes. This is the God-experience

within us. Kabir said, When I am, God is not; When God is, I am not.

Therefore, a Self-realised leader views things in oneness and desists separation in any form. He

doesnt feel others as separate from him. From him flow love, humility and compassion towards all

without discrimination for he cognizes the divinity within and in others.

His knowing of the absolute and relative truths enables him to absorb the extreme dualities of

pleasure and pain emanating from happenings, events, relationships and dynamic business

situations. For him success and failures are but two sides of the same coin. He doesnt get elatedwith success, nor dejected by failures. He can maintain equanimity; equipoised in all circumstances.


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The Self-realised leader values differences and considers them unique. For him differences in

capabilities, capacities and competencies are like individual details of scenery, that when put

together, make the scenery beautiful. He can effectively integrate differences and utilise their

synergy for achieving results. He can enjoy the company of people and his aloneness, too, which he

uses to reflect, contemplate and meditate.

The leader who serves rather than expects to be served is intrinsically an authentic person as his

actions follow his words. He is able to demonstrate total transparency in character and behaviour,

being the same inside-out. Since his view is impartial and whole, his decisions are rooted in

fairness, enabling him to dispense justice unequivocally.

Such a leaders charisma is such that his very presence is inspiring; people around can feel

serenity, compassion and love. He is capable of transforming others by simply being a role model. He

can lead effortlessly without dominating and is often felt, seldom seen. His holistic perspective

enables him to sacrifice his comforts and gains for higher goals. Inspired by Self, he abstains from

selfish motives and remains humble and humane.

A leader inspired by his true nature, the Self, becomes truly authentic, Self-actualised andcomplete in all respects. Ask your vendor for your copy of The Speaking Tree on Sunday @ 3, special

Earth Day issue.

Nation Shocked By Rape & Brutalization Of 5-Year-Old In Delhi

Age No Bar In Sick SocietyCops Offered Us 2,000 To Keep Quiet: Parents

Dwaipayan Ghosh TNN

New Delhi: The plight of a five-yearold girl, who was brutally raped and tortured

in east Delhi and rescued only three days later because of police callousness and

insensitivity, led to widespread public outrage on Friday.

The child is now battling for life at AIIMS where she was shifted from Swami

Dayanand Hospital in Dilshad Garden when public anger boiled over, leading to

heckling of Delhi health minister A K Walia and the slapping of a 17-year-old girl

protester by a senior cop. A series of protests has been scheduled for Saturday.Reading the mood early, a government that had faced flak over the Nirbhaya

incident barely four

months ago, moved into damage-control mode with a string of high-level

meetings, culminating in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing deep regret

over the incident.

Within hours, the SHO of Gandhi Nagar police station, the first probe officer in

the case and the ACP who slapped the girl had been suspended.

What fuelled public anger were two allegations made by the victims family:one, cops delayed in filing the FIR and failed to search their house, wasting


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precious time; two, cops tried to fend them off with Rs 2,000 after the child was

rescued. They were told to be happy that she was alive, the family alleged. A

vigilance inquiry has been ordered, and the report is to be submitted within 24

hours.

The brutality, bordering on bestial, has shocked the conscience of the entire

nation. We found a 200ml bottle and two-three pieces of candle inserted into

her private parts. This is the first time I have seen such barbarism, said R K

Bansal, medical superintendent of Swami Dayanand Hospital. There were injuries

on her lips, cheeks, arms and the anus. Bruises on her neck suggested attempts to

strangle her. Her blood pressure was way below normal.

Police said there were efforts to slit her throat. The accused has been identified

as Manoj, 22, and the police are on his trail in Muzaffarpur in Bihar. He belongs to

Orai village in the district. Late at night the police said the arrest could happen

anytime. Eight days ago, the accused rented the ground floor of the house where

the victim stays. Police said he had probably lured the child into the room on the

evening of April 14.

After brutalizing her and leaving her locked up, he escaped some time on April

15 even as her family was looking for her desperately.On the morning of April 17,

the mother and their neighbours heard someone crying in the room and called

the cops, only to find their child.NIRBHAYA ALL OVER AGAIN

Five-year-old girl raped & brutalized by neighbour, locked up in ground-floor

room of building where she lived

Girl endured pain, went without food for 3 days before being discovered on

Wednesday

Doctors find severe infection in genitals & injuries elsewhere, including

strangulation marks on neck. A candle and 200ml hair oil bottle surgically

removed from inside herCondition critical but stable. Shifted to AIIMS on Friday evening. Doctors say

girls external genitals may be

irreparably damaged INSULT ON INJURY 1

Cops made victims family wait for 6hrs at police station before registering case 2

Police didnt bother to visit girls home, where she was locked up, or question

neighbours 3

Cops allegedly told family to settle case for 2,000, not involve activists and

media4


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Family claims it was told by police to be content that girl was alive 5

ACP slapped a woman protester, suspended. As were area SHO, SI Furore as cop

slaps two women Five-Year-Olds Rape Protest: Officer Caught On Camera,

Suspended

New Delhi: In scenes reminiscent of the outrage over Nirbhayas gang rape in

December, more than 300 protesters laid siege to the hospital in northeast Delhi

where the raped child was being treated.

Visiting politicians, like Delhi health minister AK Walia and MP Sandeep Dikshit,

were heckled and in the ensuing commotion an ACP slapped women protesters.

By night, the child was shifted to AIIMS and her condition was said to be

improving. Meanwhile, ACP Bani Singh Ahlawat, whose slaps led to a furore, was

suspended. Protests started in front of Swami Dayanand Hospital on Friday

afternoon with Aam Aadmi Party members alleging that police had tried to bribe

the childs parents to hush up the case. They demanded that the girl be moved to

a well-equipped hospital. However, the drama became intense after Walia and

Dikshit reached the hospital around 3.40pm. Although both leaders used a

separate entrance, women protesters from AAPprotesting at the main gate

spotted and immediately surrounded them.

ACP Bani Singh Ahlawat from Khajoori Khas was trying to stop women

protesters from attacking his uniform. In the process, he slapped protesters fourtimes. One of them, Beenu Rawat, started to bleed from her ear. As footage of

the victim was being aired on TV, police commissioner Neeraj Kumar immediately

suspended him, said a senior source at the police headquarters. Some AAP party

protesters were roughed up by police at Swami Dayanand Hospital. Two women

protesters were slapped and beaten by ACP Ahlawat.

PM is deeply disturbed

New Delhi: Prime minister Manmohan Singh is deeply disturbed by the rape of a

five-year-old girl and has directed Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna to take strictestpossible action against the police officials who slapped women protesters. Khanna

briefed the PM about the law-and-order situation amid indications th-at Delhi

Police is zeroing in on the suspect. The PMO was swift to react to the outrage on

Friday unlike in the Nirbhaya case, where the government was accused of

failing to grasp the enormity of the crime and the depth of public reaction that

spilled onto the streets.

Singhs response came immediately after home minister Sushilkumar Shinde

briefed him and Congress president Sonia Gandhi about the incident. TNN


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The victim being shifted to AIIMS. Well-wishers gave her toys, hoping for the best

Dated: 16 Apr. 13

terest rates may fall as inflation slows to 3-yr low

Will Offer Relief To Govt, Home Loan Borrowers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: The inflation rate slowed to a more than three year low of

5.96% in March on the back of softening vegetable, fruits and milk

prices, brightening the prospect of an interest rate cut while bringing

relief for the politicallybeleaguered government.

Lower interest rates would provide relief to thousands of borrowers


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reeling under the burden of high equated monthly installments (EMIs)

on their home loans.

Official data released on Monday showed that the widely watched

wholesale price index rose 5.96%, slower than the previous months

6.84% and in line with RBIs expectations. A sub-6% inflation level,

a 40-month-low, instantly triggered celebrations in the government,

among industry and on bourses.

Politically, the deceleration in price rise augurs well for a

government as it deals with popular sullenness over inflation,

corruption and the perception of inaction.

POSITIVES

Easing prices of fruits, vegetables and milk mean more money in the

housewifes kitty

Global crude oil price has moderated in recent weeks, reducingpressure on subsidy

The fall in gold and oil prices also augurs well for foreign exchange

management

PRESSURE POINTS

Prospects of higher crude prices remain, especially if global economy

revives

Fiscal deficit remains high, reducing RBIs elbow room in cutting

rates

Prospect of data revision remains, as experience shows upward bias

Petrol now costs 72.63/l in Blore

Fuel retailers have decided to slash petrol price by Rs 1.31 per litre


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from Monday midnight. A litre of petrol costs Rs 72.63 in Bangalore.

The earlier petrol price was Rs 73.94. Diesel price was marginally

reduced to Rs 53.02 from Rs 53.10 per litre.

Gold at 15-month low of 27,600

Gold on Monday tumbled by Rs 750 to Rs 27,600 per 10 gm,

hitting a 15-month low in New Delhi, due to persistent selling

triggered by a heavy sell-off in global markets. RBI has asked gold

loan firms to furnish details of their LTV ratios to avoid a

crisis.P13Sensex recovers on rate cut hope

The sense of relief in government was evident from Planning

Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalias reaction to

the data. Inflation behaviour is consistent with what government has

been saying that it is slowly coming under control, Ahluwalia said.

A clamour was already building up for a reduction in rates, withIndia Inc calling for aggressive cuts against the backdrop of easing

price pressures saying that it was crucial for the revival of economic

growth expected to slow to a decades low of 5% in the just-ended

financial year.

The BSE Sensex, which remained choppy in the face of some

disappointing company earnings and sluggish economic data last

week, joined in the celebrations. The bellwether index bounced back

115 points to close at 18,357.80 points on hopes of an interest rate cut

when the RBI meets to review policy on May 3.

But the data showed that pressure points still existed in some

segments such as cereals and pulses while food inflation still remains
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in double digits at the retail level. The government also revised

upwards the January number to 7.31% from the previously reported

6.62% largely due to the impact of the diesel price increase.

Slowing global crude and gold prices have also brought some relief

for the government battling a widening current account deficit and

fiscal deficit. While the softening in inflation provides some leeway

for the central bank to ease rates to boost growth, it would be guided

by the high current account and fiscal deficit.

The moderation in inflationary pressures was led by vegetables

which declined an annual 0.95% in March. Prices of fruit, milk, eggs,

meat and fish also softened.

Given elevated levels of CPI (10.4%) and the CAD, we are

maintaining our view of a 25 basis points cut in the RBI's May 3

policy, followed by a long pause, said Rohini Malkani, CitigroupIndia economist in a note.

What could change this is lower commodity prices both oil and

gold which will not only have a positiveimpactoninflation but also on

the fisc and current account, Malkani said.

Growth is estimated to have slowed to a decades low of 5% in the

2012-13 fiscal year and both the RBI and the government have taken

steps to revive sentiment and boost growth.


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Inflation behaviour is consistent with what govt has

been saying that it is slowly coming under control

MS Ahluwalia, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, PLANNING COMMISSION

632 PU colleges must implead, says court

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The high court on Monday asked the state government to

instruct all the 632 pre-university colleges across the state which have

less than 25,000 sqft of land to get themselves impleaded in the PIL

before it.

A division bench headed by Justice KL Manjunath gave this

direction after a statement was filed before the court on behalf of the

pre-university education department stating that 632 PU colleges don't

have this space as required under Rule 4(2)(a) of the Karnataka Pre-

University Education (Academic, Registration, Administration and

Grant-inaid, etc) Rules, 2006.

According to the statement, Bangalore North has 33 such schools,

Bangalore South 91, Bangalore Rural 13, Bellary 88, Mysore 56,

Tumkur 36, Dharwad 34, Gulbarga 46, Chitradurga 35 and Raichur

31 with less than 25,000 sqft.

As per the rules, colleges are required to acquire 25,000 sqft landintending to construct a college building with principal's chambers,

classrooms and libraries, etc within a year of the receipt of letter of

intent.

The high court is hearing a 2009 PIL complaining that the sanction

was wrongly accorded to Vidyaniketan PU college run by Chougule

Education Society at Deshpande Nagar in Hubli.


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THE SPEAKING TREE

Jadugarni Devi Had Three Choices

Bejan Daruwalla

She was beautiful beyond belief. Those who saw her skittled like a

row of ninepins. Your Ganesha devotee saw her momentarily in a

village pool surrounded by hedges and trees. She was languorously

bathing, singing softly to herself. I was bewitched. She took no notice

of me and Ganesha was there for support. Swan-like neck, a sheen

and shine which made her skin glow, shimmering copper to glittering

gold. Her hands and fingers were certainly made to do filigree work

with exquisite delicacy. She was sensually sublimeif that be

possible.A village lad robust, rustic and smelling of the good earth passed

by and saw her. He was felled as if by a thunderbolt. The bathing lady

glanced at him and smiled. It flashed in my mind that she was the

original jadugarni, that my great, great forefathers had talked about.

The jadugarni went near the lad and touched him on the forehead.

He awoke. Big, black, bright eyes. Aquiline nose. Broad forehead.

Fine eyebrows. Tousled, unruly hair and bowshaped lips. She touched

him again and he stood before her. He asked her as only a rustic can,

Please, devi, may i know who you are?She replied, I have come

from the heavens. They call me jadugarni. Why have you come, he

asked. I get bored. I want to see joy and sorrow. See life as it is, not


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as it should be.

The lad took her to his house. She came to know that his name was

Ramu and he lived with his parents, a sister, a brother, goats and

cattle. She was invisible to all the others.

Being a jadugarni she could take any formman, woman, child,

animaland thus be completely unnoticed, anonymous. Soon she

was a regular visitor at Ramus place unnoticed and unknown. Ramu

talked to her about fruits, flowers, grass, plants, seeds, labour, rest, the

seasons, the land, crop, sky, rain and the sizzling slices of summer.

She took it all in. She talked to him ofparadise and palaces and

princess and nymphs, saints, angels and fairies. He did not understand

all this but somehow he felt happiness in his heart, smiled like a seas

expanse and accepted that there could be a real place like it. The

adugarni recognised all this from his smile and the sparkle inhis eyes. She sighed in understanding.

Seventy years passed as in a dream. Ramu never married. The

villagers accepted simply and naturally that he was with the jadugarni.

No questions asked. One day he was delirious with fever. The village

doctor and the vaid could not do much. The jadugarni was by his side

all the while. She cried. She knew he was dying but she could not

bear to see it. She flew to the heavens, met an archangel and said,

My Ramu is dying. Help me. The archangel replied. I recognise

your love for him.He certainly deserves it. But my dear, human

beings are mortal and they do die. The jadugarni asked, Is there any

way i can save him?


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The archangel replied, You have three choices: First, you can

allow him to die and go the way of all flesh. Second, you can take him

to yourabode in heaven and love him forever. Last, you can go back

to the world, be with him and die with him. Thats it. The jadugarni

chose to die with him, saying: There is no substitute for simplicity

and sincerity.I will die with him. Post your comments

atspeakingtree.in
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BJP will not dump Modi for Nitish, NDA headed for split

Ignores Bihar CMs Threat To Walk Out

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: The NDA on Sunday looked set to split in a few months

after the BJP virtually rejected Nitish Kumars demand to rule out by

the year-end Narendra Modi as the partys prime ministerial candidate

and ignored the Bihar CMs warning that he would walk out of the

opposition grouping if his wishes were not complied with.

Kumars warning came in a hard-hitting speech aimed at Modi in

which hewithout taking namesrejected the BJP leaders

candidature for the powerful political office on the ground of lack of

secular credentials and for pursuing a growth model which was

exclusive and not humane.We have worked well underAtal Bihari Vajpayee and our

coalition has run smoothly in Bihar, but we cannot compromise with

our fundamentalprinciples like secularism, Kumar said in his much-

awaited address to the JD(U) national council.Other allies must take

cue: Cong

As the BJP-JD(U) relations appeared to hit a rough patch, the

Congress quickly moved in, saying NDA constituents must insist on a

PM nominee with secular credibility beyond doubt. I&B minister

Manish Tewari said, I think other partners of NDA need to take cue

from what JD(U) has said and step up to the plate and make the vision

of India clear. Congress leader Rajiv Shukla sought to join cause


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withNitish Kumar, saying, Modi has been beating his own drum.

While other CMs have been doing better than him, they are not going

around beating their drums.Wont accept Narendra Modi as

NDAs PM nominee: NitishMakes Stand Clear In Meet With

Rajnath

New Delhi: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar made plain his veto on Narendra

Modis projection as PM to BJP chief Rajnath Singh, pointing out that

a perception was swiftly gaining ground that the Gujarat strongmans

candidature was a done deal. During his meeting with Singh on

Saturday, Kumar is understood to have made the point that even if

BJPs formal position was that no decision had been taken on a PM

nominee, the impression about Modi being the saffron choice was

getting sanctified.

Kumar conveyed to Singh that he had no complaints about thefunctioning of the JD(U)-BJP alliance but was not amenable to

amending his view that Modi as PM was unacceptable. Singh is

understood to have accepted that the point ofcontention was not easy

to resolve but urged the Bihar CM to wait it out so that both sides

could give a thought to possible solutions.

Sources said that although the JD (U)s relaxed deadline to the BJP

that it should declare its PM nominee by the year-end gives both

parties some breathing space, tensions can rise after the Karnataka

polls in May when Modi could be made in-charge of the campaign

committee. BJP will have to give careful thought to any decision that

is seen as another step towards naming Modi as PM-in-waiting.


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Kumars notice to BJP may be somewhat relaxed, but the CM is firm

on opposing Modi even if this leads to a split with his ally.

Kumars message is intended to test the saffron outfits resilience

and so far, BJP has not risen to the bait. The view in BJP seems to be

that since there is no obvious solution, it might be better to wait and

see if one suggests itself.

Clarify stand on secular PM candidate: Congress

New Delhi: With the JD(U) almost vetoing Narendra Modi as BJPs

prime ministerial nominee, Congress on Sunday tried to drive a

wedge between the two NDA constituents by advising other partners

to take cue and clarify their stand on a secular PM candidate.

With dissenting voices coming from within NDA, Congress raked

up the secular versus communal debate in an attempt to corner

Modi who is emerging as the frontrunner as the BJPs PM nomineefor the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Today, these voices have started emanating from within the NDA.

So I think the other partners of NDA need to take cue from what

JD(U) has said and step up to the plate and make the vision of the idea

of India clear, I&B minister Manish Tewari told reporters. TNN


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ADDING SOME SENSE

If Advani is Available to be PM, it Should End Debate

It is not a given that a successful chief minister will

automatically become a successful prime minister, says former

finance minister

YASHWANT SINHA SENIOR BJP LEADER

JD(U) wants BJP to declare its prime ministerial candidate by the


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year-end. You had said in January that the time has come to declare

Narendra Modi as BJPs PM candidate. What would you say now,

especially considering JD(U)s reservations about him?

There are two facts which we should keep in mind. One, the

confusion in Congress has become more confounded because the

present prime minister has thrown his hat in the ring for a third

term. Earlier, I also believed that Rahul Gandhi was their

unquestionable candidate. In the light of this development and also

in view of the fact that JD(U) feels BJP should declare its PM

candidate by the end of the year, perhaps we should wait and BJP

parliamentary board should take a view in this matter.

A JD(U) spokesperson has said that NDA fought 2009 polls under LK

Advani, which suggests that the party may not be adverse to him.

What do you have to say?

Advaniji is the senior-most, most respected leader and if he is

available to lead the party and government, then that should end all

discussion. Everyone should fall in line and work together for the

party under his leadership. But the call will have to be taken first by

Advaniji himself, secondly by the party and finally by NDA.

But you had only said that Modi was the best candidate to lead the

party. Why this change now?

The cadres still want Modi and most people want him. But that was

always being discussed in context of leaders who belong to a

generation below Advani. As far as Advaniji is concerned, he is in a


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different league.

In 2009, the party had fought the Lok Sabha elections under

Advanis leadership. The experiment failed and after that BJP had

decided against projecting a PM candidate before elections.

There are many instances in our political history, including that of

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, when we failed to muster a majority under his

or somebody elses leadership. There were instances when they may

have lost their own election also. But that did not prevent Atalji from

becoming the most successful PM when he got the chance. So the loss of one

election, in our system, is not held against anyone.

Would there be unanimityin BJP on Advanis candidature?

In BJP, once a decision is taken, everyone falls in line.

If Modi is announced as BJPs PM candidate and the JD(U) snaps ties with

NDA, what do you think would be the repercussions?

This is a hypothetical question. If you go back in history I am the father of this

alliance. I forged the alliance with the Samata Party, when George Fernandes

was the president and Nitish Kumar was a senior leader. I will be the last

person to wish it to break. We are two different parties and both have the

right to take their political decision in their own best interest.

Would JD(U)s parting ways with NDA weaken the anti-Congress campaign?

Its not just our anti-Congressism campaign. It is as much JD(U)s campaign. I

will find it difficult to believe they will do anything which will give an advantage

to Congress. As far as Bihar is concerned, Congress has been dead.

Will JD(U)-BJP break-up effect Bihars politics?

Its difficult to answer because people of Bihar want neither Congress nor RJD,

and, thats why I feel we should not confront them with a difficult choice.


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Several chief ministers Modi, Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Nitish Kumar

have been projecting states development models. Which in your view would

be best suited for the Centre?

A development model, howsoever successful at the state level, cannot become

the development model for the country as a whole. In formulating the fiscal

and development policies for the country, one has to keep in mind issues like

interest rates, money supply, the current account deficit, FTAs and promotion

of trade, all India direct and indirect taxation issues, apart from international

developments, which impact the countrys programmes. These are not issues

with which the state governments are concerned. It is therefore not a given

that a successful chief minister will automatically become a successful prime

minister.

How would you compare Modi and Rahul Gandhi?

Its a comparison unfair to Rahul. Here is a mature, chiseled leader and

administrator who has proved himself over a decade, and, on the other hand,you have a struggling politician whose only asset so far has been his pedigree.

The second part of the budget session is beginning next week. Is BJP ready to

cooperate with UPA in passage of financial sector reform bills?

UPA needs BJPs cooperation on several issues, including land acquisition,

Bangladesh boundary settlement, Lokpal and therefore I have always felt that

apart from issues on which cooperation is sought, it is the spirit of the

cooperation displayed by the ruling side that is more important.

Interviewed by Amita Shah


22/51

ON RAHUL Vs MODI

Its a comparison unfair to Rahul. Here is a leader who has proved himself

over a decade, and, on the other hand, you have a struggling politician whose

only asset is his pedigree

On JD

U

ALLIANCE

We are two different parties & both have the right to take their political

decision in their own best interest


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APPLE SALES TO REACH A MILESTONE

With $1B This Fiscal, i Now Stands for India

Revenues to jump from . 2,000 cr in FY12 to over . 5,400 cr on back

of surging iPhone sales

WRITANKAR MUKHERJEE & SAGAR MALVIYA

KOLKATA | MUMBAI

Apple Indias revenues rose three times to cross . 2,000 crore for the

year ended March 2012, and analysts expect surging iPhone sales in


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the country to propel the companys topline to over $1 billion (.

5,400 crore) in the current fiscal.

The maker of iPhones and iPads does not disclose the financial

results for the Indian unit, but as per the latest filings with the

Registrar of Companies (RoC), Apple India Private Ltds revenues rose

223% to . 2,003.9 crore in FY12 from . 620 crore, a year ago. During

the same period, the Indian units net profit shot up 431% to . 311.5

crore from . 58.6 crore.

These figures predate the aggressive marketing strategies adopted

by Apple in the last six months and experts say it is possible that

Apple Indias strong showing in 2011-12 woke the company up to the

countrys huge potential. The companys huge jump in revenues has

made it realise the potential of the Indian market. Apple is chasing

volumes and looking at the number game, said Manasi Yadav of IDC,

a firm that tracks sales of consumer technology products. iPhone

shipments to India have risen three times in the last six months

and according to Singapore-based market researcher Canalys, its

robust sales growth will continue this year, enabling the company to

clock $1 billion in 2013-14. According to Canalys, Apple would have

grossed $500 million from iPhone sales in India alone in 2012-13.

Apples iPhone shipments to India will be in the range of 6-7 lakh

units during 2012-13 as compared to some 4 lakh units during 2011-

12, said a Canalys analyst.


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LEARN OR EARN

DEBATE: Should students opt for a traditional degree

(Bachelors) or a professional course at the undergraduate level?

FOR SWATI SALUNKHE Career

Counsellor Professional/specialised courses should be ones choice at

the undergraduate level. Once students decide on their profession,


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which they usually do at the UG level, it is important to specialise

from the beginning. For example, today, there are several specialised

courses like BMM, BBI and BAF offered at the UG level. These

courses are pursued by students who have a clear idea of their career

path. A detailed

knowledge of their field

of interest helps them build a strong foundation. Todays

generation is clear on what they want to do. Hence, pursuing a general

graduation degree that covers a wide range of topics is not beneficial

to students since they wont need it. Students usually decide on a

career option after much research, after they have had a taste of what

they are getting into.

In line with this, it is beneficial for students to complete a

specialised course at the UG level. This is because, once theygraduate, they have a fair idea of what the industry expects. A

combination of both, UG and PG specialised qualifications, produce

fairly experienced, market-valued fresh.

However, students who pursue certificate/diploma programmes

along with a specialised UG course, have an edge when applying for

PG courses. Some of the certificate/diploma programmes that can be

pursued along with graduation are design, computer, travel and

tourism, language, education, fitness training, photography, event

management, etc. But, students need to consider their long-term goals,

interest, potential, time factor and financial resources before

committing to any course or profession.


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- As told to Anishaa Sahijwala, Mumbai AGAINST

PARTHA PRATIM GHOSH

HoD, Department of Economics,

St Xaviers College, Kolkata Professional courses should not be

taken up at the undergraduate level and should be opted for only after

graduation or higher studies. For a student who has just

entered college, it would be beneficial for him or her to have a broad-

based education, often not provided by professional courses.

On the other hand, in general studies, a wide range of topics are

taught under a single subject. This helps a student to build a strong

foundation, even though s/he may later venture into professional

fields or choose to stay on in academics. In this age of competition,

higher education is necessary as a certain level of maturity develops

over the years and a student is in a better position to choose a fruitfulcareer.

On a personal note, when I was pursuing my MBA, I realised that I

was able to grasp the concepts of economics better than my

classmates. This clarity of sense and thought can only be attributed to

my graduation and post graduation in economics.

Young students today are in a hurry to start earning at an early age.

It is true that the job market is competitive, but the early bird does not

necessarily fare well. This is because there is a difference between

quick earning and good earning. Professional courses may provide

easy placements but the nature and stability of the job is questionable.

It is of no use to get any odd job that does not pay well. Rather, one


28/51

can pursue higher studies and gain experience by doing well-paid

apprenticeships and internships. Work experience is highly valued by

employers and it gives a certain edge during recruitment.

- As told to

Aditi Guha, Kolkata

THE SPEAKING TREE

Discovering God In The GapsKishor Kulkarni


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Consider three common scenarios:

1. A lady is sick for a long time with a chronic disease. Despite

unsparing efforts by her family and best medical expertise, there is

no improvement in her condition.

2. A man toils very hard at his work. But his income is meagre and

not enough to support his family. Despite his best efforts at finding

additional source of income or another job, his financial situation

does not improve.

3. Scientists have been struggling to figure out how matter came

into existence. Two scientists propose a theoretical particle that

gives mass to matter which is named as Higgs boson particle after

the theorists who proposed it. Now the scientists are carrying out

experiments at Cern laboratory in Geneva to actually verify the

existence of such a particle.

The common thread in the above three scenarios is the existence

of a certain gap in each of them that is not being breached despite

best efforts by the concerned people. In scene 1, there is a gap

between the efforts of the patients family and doctors on the one

hand and the desired well-being of the lady on the other. In scene 2,

there is a gap between the mans financial needs and his efforts. In

scene 3, scientists are stumped by the gap between matter and its

origin.


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We are commonly faced with various kinds of gaps. When we find

that we cannot breach the gap despite our best efforts, we tend to

take recourse to a concept of God that covers that particular gap. For

example, in scene 1, the sick lady and her family members pray to

God in the belief that He is the only one now who can cure her. In

scene 2, the man starts thinking that it is probably Gods wish that

his financial situation be what it is. Yet, he may pray to God whom he

regards as Almighty. In scene 3, scientists end up naming that

mysterious particle, of all things, God particle, though their rational

and scientific minds may not accept the concept of God!

People taking recourse to the concept of God are classified into

four categories as per the Bhagwad Gita. The lady in scene 1 is an

aart, a sufferer who is desirous of relief from her suffering. The man

in scene 2 is an artharthi who is desiring some worldly benefit. Most

believers may fall into these two categories. They believe God to be

someone who is omnipotent and kind enough to respond to prayers.

There are two other categories of God-believing people described in

the Gita. Jidnyasu are those who have quest for knowledge. They

believe there is something more than the perceptible world. They

are curious to know about it. So, they say God is the Creator. Cern

scientists in Geneva say God particle gives matter its mass.

Thus, for most people who fall in one of the three categories

described above, the realm of the unknown and unattained belongs

to God of the gaps.


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But there is the fourth category of people. It is called jnani, the

Self-realised. They are those who have understood the real nature of

existence and have ceased to see any duality. Hence they perceive

no gap any longer. They are in the state of Aham Brahmasmi. There

is no God apart from them. In other words, they themselves have

become God!

Post your comments on our website,www.speakingtree.in

The Big Boxing Bout Begins GUESS WHOS PUNCHINGWHOMHarish Bijoor

As Karnataka wakes up to another summer of election discontent, the decibel

level in our lives is slated to go up in the weeks ahead of May 5. This is not just

aural noise. Instead, its all about the clutter of the visual, the confused tonality of

touch, the sense of mixed election smell, and indeed, the delicious taste of an

election as well. Not to talk of the after-tastebitter or otherwise!

Elections, after all, are very sensorial processes. Sensorial processes that affect

our sense of sight, the sense of smell, the sense of touch, the sense of sound, the

sense of taste, and indeed, the sixth sense. This is a lovely time to assess what each

party has in store for itself in terms of imagery. Imagery cues that each party has

accrued over the last five years, and in the case of one party, cues that have accrued

over the last three months.

The brand position of a political party is the exact pinpointed position a political

party occupies in a voters mind at a point in time, in relation to all other parties.

Lets explore the brand positions and high ground occupied by the parties now.

Lets remember, every political party is a brand and its leaders are sub -brands that

either embellish or rob the party of its deserving image. So, here goes a quick
http://execlinktarget%28%27www.speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/http://execlinktarget%28%27www.speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/http://execlinktarget%28%27www.speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/http://execlinktarget%28%27www.speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/http://execlinktarget%28%27www.speakingtree.in%27%2C%27url%27%29/


32/51

paintbrush imagery of the four prominent formations assembled to face the

electorate.

BJP

THE STORY SO FAR

Heres a party in tumult. But, then, which party is not? The nataka of Karnataka

politics has bitten every one of them. The BJP, however, has many bites to show

though. It had a clear mandate to rule. BS Yeddyurappa, the grass-roots leader,

became CM. It had a good start. What followed was the politics of appeasement,

rebellion of the Bellary Brothers, scams, and finally imprisonment(s). A new CM

took charge. Again, we saw resort politics, brinkmanship, and another CM. Old

issues cropped up again. BSY got all set to split the Lingayat vote. Brinkmanship

followed. The leader quit the party he built. The KJP was born.

BRAND IMAGERY

Corruption is a non-issue; performance is. Voters strangely forgive corruption but

not lack of performance. The BJP is seen as a party that squandered the popular

and solid mandate given to it; its an unforgivable image the party now has to

contend with. Significantly, this is the key explanation the partys communication

strategy needs to address.

Congress

THE STORY SO FAR

A party broken in form. While the party ruled the roost in the UPA coalition at the

Centre, Karnataka remained a muddled dream of fishing in troubled waters. The

efforts kept moving in a straight-line trajectory as any opposition party worth its

salt would indulge in. Despite so many opportunities provided by the ruling party

in the state, the party could never seize them really. A divided state leadership

ensured the partys biggest competition was from within. Sadly, th is continues to

date, with the latest bickering on ticket allocation catalyzing it even more. Who is

the real leader of the Congress party in the state, then?

BRAND IMAGERY

The Congress is fighting with itself. It has a near sure-shot chance at governance.


33/51

The party has, however, not got its act together. The party is seen to be secular. Its

leaders seem to exhibit ability, but the missing element is a common weal and a

common driver who all will respect, before, during and after elections. This is the

key communication that the party needs to address. Manifesto apart, the party

leadership needs to be defined.

JD(S)

THE STORY SO FAR

A party that is intermittently awake and intermittently asleep. Are there two parties

really, or one? Is there a party in North Karnataka and one in Bangalore-Mysore?

HD Kumaraswamys work has been appreciated in the past at the ground level. But

has Kumaranna lost out being centre-stage for long? Public memory is proverbially

short. The partys stand on Cauvery and Krishna waters has been appreciated by

farmers. Thats a plus. Is JD(S) a party that is family -led and family-managed?

And has this put off a lot of leaders who have deserted it over the last five years?

BRAND IMAGERY

Confused as of now. The party needs to address key issues in the eye and move

much beyond its trajectory of talking about farmers at large. Rapid urbanization is

a reality and the party needs to address issues related to infrastructure and

education clearly and purposefully. Just water politics may not do.

KJP

THE STORY SO FAR

A newborn led by an old warhorse. Yeddyurappa is possibly the only leader in the

pantheon of leaders around who can be seen to be a real grass-roots leader capable

of rousing the troops into action. The pity, however, is that the troops are just being

assembled, and some of his key confidants still sit in the BJP. This delay might

prove to be just too costly.

BRAND IMAGERY

The party needs to assemble its troops together fast. The key communication piece

it needs to address is the fact that many a voter will think voting for the KJP is a

waste of a vote. The typical hurdle the best of independent candidates faces in


34/51

electionsvoters want to vote for you but dont as they want a winner and not a

loser to be the beneficiary of their valuable votefaces the KJP as well. This is a

big communication task.

The author is a brand expert &

CEO, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc


35/51

JD(U) set to put BJP on notice over Modi-for-PMAlly Likely To Bite Bullet At Weekend MeetTIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: The unity of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)

looks set to be tested this weekend, with the Janata Dal (United) likely to ask

the saffron outfit to shortly declare its candidate for prime minister while

making it clear that it would not accept a person lacking in secular image:

political shorthand for Gujarat CM

Narendra Modi.

Sources in the party said the JD(U) executive and national meetings set for

the weekend would make it plain to the BJP that it would not indefinitely put up

with ambiguity on the leadership. Such a reminder could strain to breaking

point the ties between the NDA allies who already seem to be drifting apart over

the likelihoodof Modis projection as the main oppositions candidate for the

top political job.

The BJP has been putting off a formal announcement on its candidate for the

PMO for fear of offending allies like Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

Kumar has told the BJP leadership on several occasions since last year that he

would walk out of the opposition grouping should Modi be named the

opposition candidate. The BJP leadership assuaged him by saying that they had

not decided on anyone and by promising that they would consult all NDA

partners before taking a call.

But with all signs suggesting that the Gujarat CM is set to lead the party into

the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the JD (U) is keen that the BJP reveal its hand

without delay.


36/51

TURBULENT ALLIANCE

Nitish Kumar and George Fernandes ally with BJP in 1996 when they were part

of Samata Party which won 6 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. Both were part of NDA

govt in 1999

Janata Dal (United) formed in 2003 after merger with Sharad Yadav faction of

Janata Dal

JD(U)-BJP tie-up rests on shared objective of opposing RJD leader Lalu Prasad.

Alliance elected in Bihar in 2005 & 2010

Relations jolted in 2010 when Nitish cancels dinner for BJP leaders over a

picture showing him and Modi together

In June 2012, Nitish targets Modi, says in an interview that NDA must project a

PM with secular credentials

NDA has 151 MPs in the Lok Sabha; JD(U) is the BJPs largest ally with 20

seatsDeclare PM candidate: JD(U) to BJP

New Delhi: Janata Dal (United) is likely to ask the BJP to declare its prime

ministerial candidate soon. We don't want to be caught unawares, said aJD(U) leader who pointed out that for the 2009 elections, NDA had declared L

K Advani as its candidate by 2007-end. We are merely asking them to follow

what they did the last time, the JD(U) leader said.

The ratification of Kumars line by the JD(U)s national council and national

executive is expected to eliminate the room for what the party source called a

lastminute nasty surprise.When asked, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav refused to discuss the details,

and limited himself to saying that members of the national executive and

national council will discuss the political scenario in detail and with an open

mind, stressing that nothing was decided yet. It all depends on what all the

delegates may decide to discuss and the decisions they take, stressed the

veteran leader who is to be elected president of the party for a record third

term.


37/51

Kumar also refused to be drawn out on the issue, though he indicated that the

deliberations will cover NDAs candidate for prime ministership and chart out

the way forward. We will discuss the current political situation in its entirety

and all its complexity, he said.

When specifically asked whether the leadership issue was also on the table,

Kumar said, When I say the entire political situation, that includes

everything.

However, sources in the party confirmed that the issue of prime ministerial

candidate figures high on the agenda of the national executive and national

council. They asserted that the party would not countenance any prevarication.

BJP sources refused to comment on the likelihood of JD(U) upping its ante,

but appeared resigned to the possibility of a split with one of its oldest allies.

The rupture, ironically, may work to Modi's advantage by eliminating

displeasure of allies as the consideration in the leadership sweepstakes.

JD(U)'s secular rivals have taunted it for persisting with BJP despite the

growing indications that Modi was headed to bag the prime ministerialnomination.

The pressure from JD(U) may force the BJP to confront a decision it has

dodged for the sake of preserving the NDA and not to rebuff aspirations within

its fold. With Modi having surged ahead in the race for prime ministerial

nomination on the strength of his appeal among the cadre, the party may find it

difficult to submit to Kumar's demand to rule him out, and that tooimmediately.

The meetings of JD(U)'s national executive and national council, on Saturday

and Sunday respectively, will highlight the Bihar model and its social equity

emphasis as a more viable formulation in comparison to Modi's pro-free

enterprise. The Gujarat model cannot be applicable in other states, senior

JD(U) leader Bashisht Narain Singh said.


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Re-open 84 riots case against Tytler: Court

Smriti Singh TNN

New Delhi: The ghost of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots has returned yet again to haunt

Congress leader Jagdish Tytler. A sessions court on Wednesday ordered

reopening of the case against him despite the CBI giving him the clean chit

twice.

The former Union minister is accused of instigating a mob on November 1,

1984, whose actions led to the death of three persons taking shelter

in a gurdwara.

Setting aside the order of a magisterial court, which had accepted the CBIs

closure report in 2010, the court directed the agency to record the statements of

purported witnesses.

CBI is directed to conduct further investigationand to record statements of

witnesses, who it had come to know during the investigation itself, are claiming

to be eyewitnesses of the incident, additional sessions judge Anuradha Shukla

Bhardwaj said.

Let the law take its own course, Tytler told TOI, putting up a brave front.

CBI has nothing on me and I will come out clean. Today, the court has asked

CBI to further investigate and has said nothing against me. This matter is purely


39/51

between CBI and Lakhwinder Kaur (complainant). I am not in the picture, the

veteran Congress leader said.

BACK IN THE DOCK

NOV 1984 | Anti-Sikh riots claim around 3,000 lives in Delhi. Jagdish Tytler is

MP from Delhi Sadar at the time JAN 1985 | Tytler becomes Union minister in

Rajiv government after elections AUG 10, 2005 | Resigns as minister in UPA

govt after Nanavati panel on 84 riots recommends registration of case against

him. Tytler accused of instigating a mob that killed three men hiding in a

gurdwara on Nov 1 SEPT 2007 | CBI files closure report, gives him clean

chit DEC 2007 |Court rejects closure report APR 2, 2009 | CBI again files

closure report. Accepted by court APR 10, 2013 | Sessions court orders

reopening of case, on plea of the widow of one of the victims Statements of 4

witnesses not recorded

The courts order came on a plea challenging the magisterial courts order that

accepted CBIs closure report. Appearing for the riot victims and Lakhwinder

Kaur, whose husband was one of the victims, senior advocate H S Phoolka hadsought the courts direction for further investigations. Phoolka had alleged that

the agency disregarded the statement of material witnesses. Kaur in her plea had

claimed there are four persons, Resham Singh, Chanchal Singh, Alam Singh

and Santosh Singh, who witnessed the incident.

The CBI had sought dismissal of the Kaurs plea saying the probe had made

it clear that Tytler was not present on November 1, 1984 at GurudwaraPulbangash in north Delhi, where three people were killed during the riots.

While the CBI has given a clean chit to Tytler twice in the past citing the

witnesses as non reliable, Wednesdays order left the agency red-faced as the

court found fault with the probe for not examining all available witnesses.

The CBI had contended that the statements of eyewitness Surinder Singh,

who had died, were contradictory and could not be relied upon. The court,

however, cited a Supreme Court judgment in another 1984 riots case against


40/51

Sajjan Kumar, in which it was held that contradictions in the statements of

witnesses were a matter to decided during the trial and could not be considered

earlier.

Going by the law laid down by the Supreme Court, the contradictions in the

statements of witness Surinder Singh given at different points of time could not

be analysed and read for or against any party at the stage of summoning, it

said.

The sessions court also pulled up the trial court which had accepted the CBIs

plea that Surinder Singh was not reliable and, as he had died, the contradictions

in his statements could not be explained.

Citing the apex courts judgment, the ASJ said the death of a witness could

not be a ground to conclude that no evidence would come to corroborate the

statements made by him.


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Rahulsjibesmake Modi sting like a bee

A Gladiatorial Duel In The Offing In 2014?TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad: Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Saturday joined issue with

Rahul Gandhi for equating India with abeehive, heightening the prospect of the2014 Lok Sabha elections turning into a gladiatorial duel between the two politicalarch-rivals.

It is unfortunate that a senior Congress leader equated India with abeehive. For

us India is our motherland. For us, India comes first, Modi said reacting toGandhis recent speech at a CII function without naming him.

The Gujarat CM, the leading claimant for being the BJPs prime ministerialnominee, who was addressing a huge meeting of BJP workers did not mentionRahul, but rubbed it in by suggesting that the Congress scion was not familiar with

Indian ethos. If you cannot understand the language and culture of the country,avoid saying anything that insults the motherland by equating it with a beehive,

he said.

Goel puts Advani back in race for PM

The next central government would be formed under BJP stalwart L K Advanis

leadership and nobody else, Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel said on Saturday. His

comments, pitching the veterans name in the race for PM, in the presence of BJP

chief Rajnath Singh and Advani set off afresh round of speculation.P9Insult

heaped on BJP will work in its favour: ModiRahul Gandhi had on Thursday likened India to a beehive, saying that it

reflected the countrys energy and complexity. He also appeared to have taken a

veiled swipe at Modi that the CMs allegedly exclusivist agenda and

individualistic style was not suited for Indias needs.

A ripostefrom Modi was expected and it came Saturdays party function,

though in an interview to Times Now he had parried a question based on

Rahuls beehive metaphor.

In the interview, he also avoided a direct reply on whether the battle for 2014 isshaping up as a Modi versus Rahul match up. Modi also took on Congress for

terming him a Yamraj (God of death), saying that every such insult heaped on the

BJP will only work to partys advantage. The more dirt you throw on us, the

more the lotus (BJPs poll symbol) will bloom. In 2007, they called me Maut

ke saudagar and you people gave a befitting answer to them in the elections. Now,

they are calling me Yamraj. I am sure you will give them a 0similar answer in2014, Modi said.
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42/51

Delhi BJP chief stirs leadership debateGoel Asserts Next Govt Will Be Under AdvaniTIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel raised more than a few eyebrows on

Saturday by asserting that the next government will be formed under party veteran

L K Advanis leadership, although he offered a retraction soon after.

The next government at the Centre will be formed under the leadership of L KAdvani and nobody else, Goel said, stirring the leadership debate at a time when

the clamour to project Gujarat CM Narendra Modi is growing.Although Goel soon amended his remarks, saying the prime ministerial

nominee will be decided by the BJP parliamentary board, his comments in thepresence of party chief Rajnath Singh and Advani set off a fresh round of

speculation.

Goel soon qualified his comments. As Advanij i is the tallest leader, the partywill fight the next election under his leadership (n e t r i t w a), he told TOI.

However, he added that the PM debate will be settled by the parliamentary board.

There is no debatethe party president has already said that the PM issue willbe addressed by the BJP parliamentary board, he said.

This is the second time in recent weeks that Goel has been at the centre of acontroversy over his observations on the leadership issue.


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AMBITIOUS TO-DO LIST

FM rules out early polls Says Govt Will Fulfil Agenda

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Finance minister P Chidambaram on Saturday emphatically ruled

out early general elections, saying the government will fulfil its agenda and

then go for polls in May 2014, even as he unveiled an ambitious todo list for

the government in the run up to the contest.

There will be no early elections. Elections will take place on time in May

2014, Chidambaram said at the end of an hour-long news conference where

he also expressed the resolve to make the Direct Benefits of Transfer scheme a

success. He said the scheme, which the Congress expects to be the 2014

clincher, will soon cover cooking gas subsidy.

Chidambaram made it clear the government wants to accumulate an

impressive core card to run on. Why should the government expect an early

election? All that I said in the last 50 minutes, does that point towards early

elections? It points to completing our agenda for 2013-14 and then going for

elections in May, Chidambaram said when asked about a report saying the

government wants to bring forward elections.

Government has planned to get food security and land acquisition bills part of the political ammunition it wants to stack up for 2014 when

Parliament resumes on April 22 after the recess: the chief reason it has dodged

Mulayam Singh Yadavs increasing aggression against Congress.


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TROUBLED TIMES

Mallya under govt scanner

MP Kadam, Too, Faces Heat For Tax Evasion

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

NewDelhi:The government is probing Rajya Sabha member and chief of ailing

Kingfisher Airline Vijay Mallya, top industrialists and Lok Sabha member

Vivekananda Kadam, and those who figure in the list of names exposed by a

global media investigative operation are being probed for alleged tax evasion.

Finance minister P Chidambaram confirmed on Saturday that a probe has

been ordered based on the names unveiled by the investigation by the

International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and its partner

media houses.

Yes. We have taken note of the names and inquiries have been put in

motion in respect of the names that have been exposed, Chidambaram told a

news conference when asked whether the government had ordered any

investigation on the ICIJ expose. He did not elaborate on the nature of the

probe or which agencies were involved. A global journalistic investigation had

exposed secret financial dealings of several politicians, industrialists and

professionals in tax havens. Names of 612 Indians, including at least twomembers of parliament and several industrialists, figured in the list. Among

the Indians with accounts in the tax havens exposed by the ICIJ investigation

also include industrialists such as Ravikant Ruia, Teja Raju, Samir Modi, Chetan

Burman, Abhey Kumar Oswal, Rahul Mammen Mappillai, Saurabh Mittal, Sonu

Lalchand Mirchandani, Vinod Doshi etc. Some of the Indians are NRIs, and

therefore could legitimately use tax havens, while many of them whose names

figured in the list have denied ever opening accounts in British Virgin Islands or

other tax havens. The investigation by ICIJ and its partner media houses had

exposed 120,000 companies registered in secretive tax havens and nearly

130,000 individuals.

Replying to another question on the sting operation conducted by Cobrapost

which has alleged money laundering by three top private banks ICICI Bank, Axis

Bank and HDFC Bank, the finance minister said stern action would be taken if

there is any violation of laws.

My officers have told me that have taken a look at the CDs of the earlier


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sting that were telecast. My officers have not yet had a chance to look at this

CD but in the earlier sting they have taken a look at it. They have drawn some

tentative conclusions, the finance minister said.

We are waiting for the internal enquiries promised by the three banks, the

private sector banks and the report of the RBI. RBI is seriously looking into the

matter. So if there are any tax related violations certainly we will take action.

But as I said if there is any violation of tax law stern action will be taken,

Chidambaram said while replying to a question on the sting operation

conducted by online portal Cobrapost.

He said his officers who have reviewed the initial CDs of the sting have said

that the tentative conclusion is that in not one of the cases was there a real

intention to open a bank account in the name of a real person or offer realmoney to the banker to open the account.

So if there is no real money was exchanged, no real intention to open a

bank account there does not seem to be any violation of the Income Tax Act.

But they could be violating some other laws which are being looked into, he

added.

Govt meets 2012-13 tax target

New Delhi: Finance minister P Chidambaram on Saturday said the fiscal deficit

for 2012-13 is expected to be better than the 5.2% of gross domestic product

(GDP) announced earlier on the back of robust revenues and some savings.

Addressing a news conference, Chidambaram also allayed fears over the

widening current account deficit (CAD) saying the annual number for the 2012-

13 fiscal would be more tolerable. As always there will be some savings (on

expenditure). So what does it mean ... if we reach the revenue target and if

there are some savings, the fiscal deficit will be better than 5.2% that I have

projected, Chidambaram said but declined to guess the actual number.The finance minister said that revenue receipts in 2012-13 fiscal year the

government had been able to meet the overall target of Rs 10.38 lakh crore

despite a tough economic environment. He said there was a slippage on direct

taxes front but on the indirect tax front the target had exceeded the revised

estimates. In the indirect taxes there was excess over the target. In the direct

taxes, there was a shortfall over target. But overall we have achieved the

target of over Rs 10.38 lakh crore, he said and added that revenue growth in

2012-13 was 16.7%.


46/51

The government had been struggling to meet its revenue target for 2012-13

against the backdrop of slowing growth and a challenging economic

environment but the last minute push by the government has enabled it to

meet the target and help trim the fiscal deficit. TNN


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RIGHT & WRONG

To win, Modi has to sell a dream

SWAPAN DAS GUPTA

Leafing through a bundle of yellowed newspaper clippings of the 1984 general

election, I was struck by the remarkable extent to which the editorial class

failed to read the clear writing on the wall. Those were the days before the

public was inundated with opinion polls and, consequently, were over-

dependant on journalistic assessments. But in fixing their gaze on caste

equations, factional rivalries and local grievances, they failed to gauge a

simple fact: that a people traumatized by Indira Gandhis assassination had

chosen to vote as a nation.The next general election is unlikely to be held under such fearful

circumstances. But whatever is the mental state of India on voting day either

later this year or in 2014, one thing is certain: the editorial classes are unlikely

to capture the big picture. The media as a whole has shown a marked

disinclination to distinguish between noise and music.

A recent event will illustrate the point vividly. Last week, the BJP president

nominated Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to the partys parliamentary

board, its highest decision-making body. The appointment was the clearest

signal that Modi had been assigned a national role and had been raised to the

status of first among equals. For all practical purposes, he is likely to be the

face of the BJP campaign in the general election. Regardless of whether he is

formally anointed the shadow PM, in the public perception he will be viewed

as such.

Ever since Modi won the Gujarat Assembly election for the third consecutive

occasion in December, there was a certain inevitability about the elevation.

Anyone with an ear to the ground would have detected the growing clamour

for Modi, not merely among the committed BJP activists and voters but among

a larger section of the electorate. There was a fierce groundswell from below

which forced the hands of the BJP leadership. And yet, despite the sheer logic

of the unstructured democratic process, there was a disproportionate media

focus on those who tried to wage a losing battle.

The details of this futile rearguard action are well known to those who are

tuned to the political grapevine. First, it was suggested that a Patel revolt


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would put an end to Modis re-election bid in Gujarat. Secondly, it was

authoritatively stated that the RSS would veto any attempt to project an

individual over the cause. Thirdly, it was suggested that the BJP couldnt

afford to disregard Nitish Kumars public disavowal of Modi. And, finally, it

was put out that LK Advanis opposition to Project Modi would eventually

prevail.

The hurdles in the path of Modis journey into national politics werent all

concocted. In normal times, these would have been formidable obstacles. In

an election year, however, their importance was nominal, particularly since

Modi was being propelled by an outburst of sentiment. In a democracy, the

biggest attribute of a politician is popularity, and in the primary rounds Modi

had that going for him.This is not to suggest that the road to Modis entry into the house on Race

Course Road is pre-determined. Although an outsider enjoys a natural

advantage at a time when the Delhi Establishment stands exposed asinept and

venal, he still faces many real challenges.

The foremost of these is his ability to reconcile his personal popularity with

the increasingly jaded reputation of his party. Trends since 1996 suggest that

Lok Sabha elections are an aggregate of local, national and leadership contests.

If Modi is unable to break this mould, he will find himself in a position similar

to that of Atal Behari Vajpayee in 1996: the leader of the largest party in a

hung Parliament but unable to cross the 272-seat hump. Since the BJPs

footprint doesnt extend throughout India, the only realistic course for Modi is

to emulate what Indira Gandhi did in 1980: convert a parliamentary poll into a

presidential election. The electorate has to be convinced that it is electing a

Modi sarkar.

Political messaging holds the key to a Modi campaign. There has to be adominant theme that touches voters in every corner of India and overrides

regional and sectional considerations. Modi has to both sell a dream and

simultaneously invoke the fear of India turning into a land of shrinking

opportunities. A nuanced campaign that appeals in part to aspirational India, in

part to Hindu nationalism and in part to caste will be a disastrous cocktail.

The personality of Modi and the national yearning for a strong leader

demands an in-your-face approach with a strong positive message. A goody-

goody Modi wont sell. He is not a Vajpayee.


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Of course, it will be a gamble and will offend those who believe that Indias

future lies in muddling through. But no wars are won without audacity and

determination.

MODI-FY: The Gujarat CM has to reconcile his personal popularity with the

increasingly jaded reputation of his party

Our inconsistent ethical instincts

We like to believe that our principles are rooted in conviction. But research

shows that they are little more than fickle, inconsistent intuitions

Matthew Hutson

Moral quandaries often pit concerns about principles against concerns about

practical consequences. Should we ban assault rifles and large sodas,restricting peoples liberties for the sake of physical health and safety? Should

we allow drone killings or torture, if violating one persons rights could save a

thousand lives?

We like to believe that the principled side of the equation is rooted in deep,

reasoned conviction. But a growing wealth of research shows that those values

often prove to be finicky, inconsistent intuitions, swayed by ethically irrelevant

factors. What you say now you might disagree with in five minutes. And such

wavering has implications for both public policy and our personal lives.

Philosophers and psychologists often distinguish between two ethical


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frameworks. A utilitarian perspective evaluates an action purely by its

consequences. If it does good, its good. A deontological approach, meanwhile,

also takes into account aspects of the action itself, like if it adheres to certain

rules. Do not kill, even if killing does good. No one adheres strictly to either

philosophy, and it turns out we can be nudged one way or the other forillogical reasons.

For a recent paper to be published in the Journal of Experimental Social

Psychology, subjects were made to think either abstractly or concretely say,

by writing about the distant or near future. Those who were primed to think

abstractly were more accepting of a hypothetical surgery that would kill a man

so that one of his glands could be used to save thousands of others from a

deadly disease. In other words, a very simple manipulation of mindset that did

not change the specifics of the case led to very different responses.

Class can also play a role. Another paper, in the March issue of the Journal of

Personality and Social Psychology, shows that upper-income people tend to

have less empathy than those from lower-income strata, and so are more

willing to sacrifice individuals for the greater good. Upper-income subjects

took more money from another subject to multiply it and give to others, and

found it more acceptable to push a fat man in front of a trolley to save five

others on the track both outcome-oriented responses. But asking subjects

to focus on the feelings of the person losing the money made wealthier

respondents less likely to accept such a trade-off.Other recent research shows similar results: stressing subjects, rushing them

or reminding them of their mortality all reduce utilitarian responses, most

likely by preventing them from controlling their emotions.

Even the way a scenario is worded can influence our judgments, as lawyers

and politicians well know. In one study, subjects read a number of variations

of the classic trolley dilemma: should you turn a runaway trolley away from

five people and onto a track with only one? When flipping the switch was

described as saving the people on the first track, subjects tended to support it.

When it was described as killing someone on the second, they did not. Samesituation, different answers.

And other published studies have shown that our moods can make misdeeds

seem more or less sinful. Ethical violations become less offensive after people

watch a humour programme like Saturday Night Live. But they become more

offensive after reading Chicken Soup for the Soul, which triggers emotional

elevation, or after smelling a mock-flatulence spray, which triggers disgust.

The scenarios in these papers are somewhat contrived (trolleys and such),

but they have real-world analogues: deciding whether to fire a loyal employee

for the good of the company, or whether to donate to a single sick child rather


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than to an aid organisation that could save several.

Regardless of whether you endorse following the rules or calculating

benefits, knowing that our instincts are so sensitive to outside factors can

prevent us from settling on our first response. Objective moral truth doesnt

exist, and these studies show that even if it did, our grasp of it would betenuous.

But we can encourage consistency in moral reasoning by viewing issues from

many angles, discussing them with other people and monitoring our emotions

closely. In recognizing our psychological quirks, we just might find answers we

can live with. NYT

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