A Political Googly

10

It is high season among MPs for an absurdist drama of staggering proportions. When the Congress petitioned the Election Commission seeking Jaya Bachchan's disqualification from the Rajya Sabha on the ground that she held an "office of profit" as chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Film Development Corporation, the party would scarcely have imagined that in the ensuing political storm, their own leader would resign from the Parliament after allegations of a similar description are raised against her. A classic instance of the law of unintended consequences if ever there was one. A few MPs have also followed suit on the same grounds. Some have gone with dignity such as Karan Singh. Others have no such qualms and appear determined to ride out the storm. If the media reports are anything to go by, there are apparently as many as 40 others treading on delicate territory. What....

The Politics of Grievance

3

The extent to which the political landscape in India continues to be influenced by grievance should be a matter of concern. Recent events bring this issue again into sharp relief. By alluding to grievance, I am referring to perceptions of historical injustices spanning many centuries that still seem to affect identity formulations in modern India and have the ability to impact political outcomes. However, the critical question remains: Is this continued obsession with historical baggage beneficial to the ethos of Indian society or is this detrimental to community relations in a diverse country? Whatever the substantive merits of the historical grievance, there is a real need for communities and individuals within those communities to desist today from seeing themselves as victims of an endless cycle. My contention is that those individuals who fail to break free from the burden of the past are shackling their own....

His-Tory lesson for BJP

10

The Tories offer the BJP some valuable lessons The Tories were once seen as the natural party of power in Britain but three successive electoral defeats threatened to irrevocably dent that reputation. Labour was able to capture power in 1997 because Blair had astutely assessed that post-Thatcher, the British elections would be fought over the centre-ground. To this end, he persuaded the Labour party to bury its ideological aversion to private enterprise. Three successive electoral victories have followed. The wheel has come around a full circle since. Just as a younger Tony Blair had recognized the importance of discarding staunch ideological convictions, today, David Cameron, the youthful Tory leader exhorts his party to welcome the reality of a modern Britain by returning to the centre-ground. Recently, the Tories published a text of their aims and values which their party membership will be asked to vote on. In....

Letter From London

4

The Balance of Power
Two significant events have occurred recently which deserve closer attention. First, as part of a restructuring of its diplomatic services, the US has announced a reduction in the number of diplomats in Europe and an increase in its presence in Asia. Second, Mittal Steel's dramatic £12.7 billion hostile takeover bid for Arcelor, the European steel giant, has generated a heated controversy in Europe. Both events have a common sub-text which is quite clear: The balance of power in the world is slowly shifting eastwards. Explaining the diplomatic reshuffle, Condoleezza Rice is reported to have said that in the 21st century, emerging countries like India and China "are increasingly shaping the course of history." The landmark nuclear deal between the US and India reached last week during George Bush's visit to Delhi is another step in that direction. The comparison between the actions of....