Conjoined Twins: Dissent and Democracy

45

The BJP Yuva Morcha's decision to prevent the screening of Fanaa or any movie starring Aamir Khan in Gujarat is a comment on the unedifying level of political discourse and the inflammatory realities in the state. Ostensibly, the cinema owners in Gujarat have declined to screen Fanaa voluntarily. However, the lurking politics of intimidation guiding their stance is obvious. As this ban seems to have the tacit support of the state's governing dispensation, it also invites doubts as to the observance of constitutional and democratic values in Gujarat. Incensed by Aamir Khan's remarks on the Narmada dam issue, the BJP Yuva Morcha asserts the ban protects the interests of the Gujarati people. So you have Amit Thaker, National Secretary, BJP Yuva Morcha self-righteously proclaiming, "For us, banning the film is a way of telling the world that we will not let anybody talk or act against the....

The Silent Leadership

78

As the protests against reservations spill from the classrooms to the streets, the deep well of public discontent emphasises the unsatisfactory and piecemeal approach of the government to this vital arena of public policy. This entire controversy sheds light into the politically motivated concerns that underpin the proposed extension to the reservation programme. However, it also exposes the political mismanagement within the Congress party that has fed this issue, stoking greater confusion and public unease. With an eye on a crucial vote bank, the government continues to wilfully labour under the misapprehension that legislating for further reservations will alleviate the difficulties of the socially disadvantaged. Instead of this superficial gesture, the focus of governmental efforts to create equal opportunities should be at the grassroots level; greater investment and financial aid in primary education is the answer. But is the Congress party capable of rising above narrow political....

General Musharraf's Dilemma

18

In the altered reality of the post 9-11 era, perhaps no politician has benefited as much as General Musharraf. As Pakistan's strategic importance became apparent in the "war against terrorism", Musharraf shrewdly seized his opportunity to join hands with the US. The fruits of this friendship yielded immediate dividends: The overthrow of an elected government was overlooked and a dictator smoothly assumed his place among the high table of global statesmen. However, increasingly the strains on this strategic alliance are beginning to appear. As Bush's approval ratings plummet at home, the pressure has escalated on Musharraf to deliver tangible results quickly. The General faces a difficult dilemma: By continuing to align himself with the US, his own domestic support wanes rapidly. On the other hand, by distancing himself from the US his position may become dispensable. As Musharraf puffs his humidor cigar, this is the Hobson's choice that torments....

The Rise of Rahul Gandhi

55

It has been a very busy stretch lately for Rahul Gandhi. As campaign manager for his mother's by-election in Rae Bareli, the obedient son has left no stone unturned to ensure her re-election to the Lok Sabha. Amid the heat and dust of a scorching summer, he has trudged on from one rally to another with unflappable enthusiasm. Significantly though, in shepherding the campaign, Rahul Gandhi has also begun the process of carving a larger political role for himself within the Congress. In the soap opera of Indian politics, another hereditary dimension is added. What began as a debutant's address to the Congress party's plenary session earlier this year in Hyderabad has developed swiftly into a more substantial foray. Signalling his intent to focus on Uttar Pradesh, in a widely reported comment Rahul said, "I am ready to take the responsibility of (leading) the party in the state if....

The Price of Loyalty

10

Natwar Singh cuts a sorry figure these days. While he is convinced that the enquiry chaired by Justice Pathak will absolve him of any mala fide dealings alleged in the Volcker report, in the meantime he is fated to endure an agonizing wait. Out of grace and favour with the Congress high command and shunned by his party, it is a supremely inglorious twist to what by any standards has been a very successful career. After more than three decades of service to the cause of Indian diplomacy and equal loyalty to the Congress party, the public defenestration of this erudite former foreign minister's reputation has not evoked much sympathy within his own party. The allegations against Natwar Singh were damaging enough to make his position as foreign minister untenable. However, while the Pathak enquiry potters on, there is also a presumption of innocence in his favour. Natwar....