It is quite surprising that TV has the audacity to talk about bribes. Hardly a month has passed since the BJP was installed in Karnataka and they have been buying MLAs from the JD(s) and Congress. Tell me did these elected members suddenly fall in love with the BJP or where there pecuniary benefits at work here? Is this really the difference in the party with the difference? You may say they resigned their seats but is that not horse trading when an elected member opts out and moves to an opposing party. This entire piece is an attempt to show PM Manmohan Singh as a lackey of the Congress President. The entire effort of the Sangh Parivar be it in politics or those commenting on these columns in readers views - some barely literate people who spew venom on the PM and as a whole they are 'Gobbelsian' in repeating the same rubbish. Manmohan Singh has repeatedly resigned when he has felt offended or slighted. Don't take my word for it by look into his life and see. Why then should this proud Sikh continue in office when his track record shows something else.
The currency notes so dramatically produced in the house have their own story to tell and a proper investigation will prove its veracity if any. If not those guilty of this drama will be punished. I was also surprised to note the tough on terrorism stamp accorded to the NDA government where the Foreign Minister chaperoned a few terrorists safely to Kandahar and the Home Minister did not know what was happening!
RE:Bribes in Politics
by Bharat Kr on Jul 25, 2008 10:08 PM Permalink
R Iyer: If a member, MP or MLA leave a party on will and join another party is not horse-trading. BJP win the Karnataka assembly confidence without buying any MLAs. Six independents supported them. Now, any MLAs join BJP govt is their own choice. Perhaps, MLAs in Cong-JD don't want to remain 5 years out of power. SO, they joined BJP. They resigned from their previous parties, and have to get elected in six months. This is not horse-trading. If some BJP members in Maharastra leave the party and join Congress, it is not horse-trading. Let we be more objective in assessment.
RE:Bribes in Politics
by Readiff on Jul 24, 2008 03:50 PM Permalink
It is immature to compare Karnataka episode with Indian parliament episode just to support the evil cause. In Karnataka BJP is a clear winner and only short of 2 seats to form the govt. Whereas Congress did not have 1/2 of what is required to form the government in center. They had to woo as many small parties as possible to form government and when big fish (Communists) withdraws support they have to survive on several small fishes. There is no secret that its their duty to to appease all as nothing in this political world comes for free. To the worst, our PM had to join hands with all sorts of goons like Mulayam, Amar Singh, Lalu etc. to come out of the danger.
Coming to performance of this government, people have aptly replied in several assembly elections.
NDA was tough on terrorism because they caught the culprits at least (Now UPA protecting all of them in Jails in the name of secularism). The Afghan flight episode was bad, but India was not ready to sacrifice its travelers and the Congress supported the decision to bring the innocent travelers back. Advani did not like the idea of exchanging terrorists for innocent travelers.
The prime thing is whether N-deal good or bad for the country. It was initiated by NDA, but apparently the safeguards were changed by US soon after UPA took over. This is the sole reason BJP rejected N-deal in present format. Please read more articles on this issue for bettering your assessment.
RE:RE:Bribes in Politics
by Readiff on Jul 24, 2008 03:57 PM Permalink
Terrorism has been growing all over the world. Even secure countries like US, UK, Spain, France etc were not free from terror attacks. There was at least an anti-terror law to deal with terrorists during NDA rule. There is no justification to remove the law in the name of secularism. All the terrorists are now treated with respect in Jails and our Jawans had to die for nothing and treated badly.
RE:Bribes in Politics
by Radhakrishna Iyer on Jul 25, 2008 03:06 PM Permalink
Mr. Readiff (Not to be confused with Rediff) - by you are justifying BJP Horse Trading only because there were a couple of MLAs short tells the world who is immature!
The Jihadi events are broadly of two types - those who are courtesy of the Rabble elements inhuman acts where they have been abetted by the State Machinery. A good example is the Akshardham temple attack immediately after the Gujarat Genocide. The other type is that fanned by the ISI to further their goal of attacking India.
the NDA rules were well used by the Modi regime so much so that innocent Muslims were arrested and detained without trial. You cannot trust such laws in the hands of Fundamentalists whose only intention is riding roughshod over the minorities with State Patronage. Let us see the adverse effects of the BJP rule in Karnataka - already there are bomb blasts there in Bengaluru
RE:Bribes in Politics
by Manjula A on Jul 25, 2008 02:41 PM Permalink
Congress has always bought MPs and will continue to do so, only modes differ in accordance witht the contemporary anti-defection laws.
