INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015 Hardline Hindus become Modi’s inside opposition Rebellious lawmakers a test for PM

RISHIKESH: In an ashram near the Ganges river feet of Maharaj, who wears light brown socks particularly acute for Modi, because he and in the Himalayan foothills, Indian priest-turned- with sandals, an orange turban, gold-framed his party are ideologically rooted in Hindutva, politician Sakshi Maharaj mimes rowing a boat Dolce and Gabbana glasses and a chunky gold- or Hinduness, a concept sometimes defined in to illustrate what will happen if Prime Minister colored watch. With a self-proclaimed following strident opposition to Muslims and Christians. ’s government ignores Hindu of 10 million people, Maharaj, a four-time mem- Modi himself has consistently denied accusa- nationalist demands. “Modi will have to be a ber of parliament, draws support through a net- tions that, as chief minister of Gujarat, he did boatman: one oar must focus on the economy work of dozens of ashrams and colleges. not do enough to prevent riots in which more and the other must concentrate on “I am aware that I am a powerful man,” than 1,000 people died, most of them agenda,” says Maharaj, clad in saffron robes and Maharaj says. “I can make or break the govern- Muslims. A Supreme Court inquiry found no sitting cross-legged on a bed. ment.” Maharaj is charged by police with rioting evidence to prosecute him. He twirls his bejeweled fingers in the air, explaining that otherwise the boat will spin in circles. The Hindu priest, who has been charged NEW DELHI: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters gesture during an election rally with rioting and inciting communal violence, is addressed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra. — AFP the embodiment of hardline religious elements in Modi’s party whose strident behavior is drag- ging on the government’s economic reform BJP faces possible agenda.

Hindu agenda state poll defeat In recent months, Maharaj has created uproar by describing ’s Hindu nation- NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister eign investment. The BJP’s campaign has alist assassin as a patriot, saying Hindu women Narendra Modi is facing his first state elec- been marked by infighting with party should give birth to four children to ensure the tion defeat since taking charge last year, workers frustrated that Kiran Bedi, the first religion survives and by calling for Hindus who opinion polls show a result that would woman officer in the Indian Police Service, convert to Islam and Christianity to be given the dent his chances of consolidating power was appointed as the party’s chief minis- death penalty. For the first time since the elec- needed to speed up an economic recovery. terial candidate - even though she wasn’t tion last year, some lawmakers in Modi’s The ruling has a party member until three weeks ago. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are rebelling against ordered scores of its top national and state India’s most powerful Hindu group, the his focus on mending the economy and gover- leaders to campaign for this weekend’s Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, which is nance at the expense of promoting . high-profile election to the Delhi assembly also the ideological parent of the BJP, said This is testing the authority of a leader who cap- where a small anti-corruption party is yesterday the party was struggling in tured power to a degree not seen since Indira threatening to stop its momentum. Delhi and criticized Bedi, saying she was But even the appointment of Finance unpopular. The Aam Aadmi, an anti-cor- Gandhi ruled India more than three decades Minister Arun Jaitley to oversee the cam- ruption party, is on course to win ago. paign while he is writing this month’s fed- between 36 and 41 of the 70 seats in the Hardline Hindu politicians impatient with eral budget may not be enough. “This is Delhi assembly, according to three opin- Modi’s refusal to champion their cause are the first time that we may see Modi’s ion polls published this week. The BJP is beginning to advance their own agendas. Maharaj, for example, wants to make it illegal for NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi momentum stopped and that will be a on course to win between 27 and 32 seats chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi during a public rally. — AFP shock,” said Satish Misra, a political analyst and the Congress party, which has domi- Hindus to change religions and seeks the death at the Observer Research Foundation. nated politics over the last century, will penalty for slaughtering cows, an animal revered “Despite putting every last drop of energy win between two and seven seats, its by Hindus. Protests erupted at the most recent and inciting a mob after helping tear down a The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the into this campaign, it looks like the BJP is worst-ever performance in the city, the parliamentary session over a campaign by hard- 16th-century mosque in Ayodhya in 1992, an powerful ideological wing of the BJP, sup- heading for defeat.” polls show. The vote will take place on liners to convert Muslims and Christians to event sparking riots in which around 2,000 peo- ports lawmakers like Maharaj who are work- Feb 7 and the results will be announced Hinduism, torpedoing key foreign investment ple died. He admits being present at the demoli- ing to make India a Hindu nation, said a sen- Promise of jobs three days later. BJP spokesman legislation that the opposition had earlier tion but says he could not stop the crowds. In ior RSS official who asked not to be named. Modi needs to win most of the state Sudhanshu Mittal dismissed reports that agreed to pass. Modi had to use executive India, trials can take decades because of a short- “We will support them because it is all for a elections over the next four years to gain the party was getting nervous about a orders to drive policy, but they are seen as a age of judges. Hindu cause,” he said. There was no evi- control of both houses of parliament to likely defeat. “Who said we are in panic? stopgap measure that cannot replace reforms Modi will have a clearer idea of whether radi- dence to suggest that the RSS was actively deliver on his promise of jobs and eco- We will deploy all the resources at our needed to address India’s slowing economic cals elements are alienating voters when the BJP involved in pushing the hardliners’ agenda, nomic growth. The upper house, where his command. This is Delhi. Ministers and par- growth. fights elections in New Delhi. Also this month, however. party is in a minority, is frustrating his liament members live here. Why should “Modi has a major problem with these the government must present the budget and Modi’s ties with radical Hindus “can be best efforts to pass laws related to tax and for- they not campaign?” — Reuters extremist elements,” said S Chandrasekharan, try to enact three emergency decrees in parlia- described as a game of chess,” said director of the South Asia Analysis Group in New ment. In December, Modi told lawmakers their Ramchandra Guha, one of India’s leading histo- Delhi. “If he can’t bring them under control they behaviour was hurting the party and warned rians. “Both sides are on board when it comes are going to sap the energy needed to carry out them not to cross the Lakshman Rekha, a forbid- to establishing the Hindu supremacist agenda, reforms.” In a sign the world is watching, US den line in Hindu mythology, according to party but they want to follow a different strategy to President Barack Obama warned on a recent vis- officials briefed on the meeting. “The message is achieve it.” Maharaj says most Indians, includ- it that India’s success depended on it not splin- loud and clear: there is no room for any diver- ing Modi, privately share his views, and he will tering along religious lines. sion from the economy,” said GVL Narasimha continue promoting Hindu supremacy. “The Rao, a spokesman for the BJP. only difference is he is refined and maybe we ‘I am a powerful man’ are crass,” Maharaj says of Modi. “We may have At the spiritual retreat, or ashram, elderly dis- Game of chess to fine-tune the message but the message will ciples with long grey beards bend to kiss the The battle for the government’s direction is remain the same.” — Reuters

US lifts US-India nuclear deal to secrecy on be finalized within year aid to NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON: A “breakthrough ty on the operator, said one senior US official. Afghan army understanding” to open India’s nuclear power New Delhi also proposed setting up an insurance sector to US firms reached during President pool with a liability cap of 15 billion rupees ($244 WASHINGTON: The US military has Barack Obama’s visit to New Delhi last month million). The state-run Nuclear Power Corporation performed another U-turn and will could be finalized this year, Indian officials say. of India would pay premiums to cover its liability. DHAKA: A Bangladeshi resident who suffered burn injuries after a petrol bomb attack on publicly release information about The Jan 25 announcement by Obama and Indian Suppliers would take out separate insurance a bus is treated by a doctor at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. — AFP its aid for Afghan forces, after com- Prime Minister Narendra Modi followed six weeks against their secondary liability - which could not ing under criticism for declaring the of intensive talks, but few details were released exceed that of the operator - at a “fraction” of the data top secret, officials said beyond a framework based on India’s acceptance cost. India must still ratify the International Seven burnt to death Monday. The commander of US and of the principle that plant operators should bear Atomic Energy Agency’s Convention on NATO troops in Afghanistan, General after bus firebombed John Campbell, had classified details primary liability in the event of a nuclear disaster. Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear of the assistance program for Afghan Significant work remains on the fine print of a Damage (CSC), which requires signatories to DHAKA: Anti-government protesters fire- a friend in flames. I doused the fire but his security forces, saying the data could deal aimed at unlocking projects worth tens of channel liability to the operator and offers access bombed a bus full of sleeping passengers in condition is critical,” one survivor told private be exploited by Taliban insurgents. billions of dollars that have been stuck the draw- to relief funds. eastern Bangladesh yesterday, killing seven in Ekattur TV. His move drew complaints from a US ing board for years. India wants to nearly treble its “We would be looking at how quickly we can spiraling political unrest aimed at toppling Up to 15 people were also slightly injured government watchdog, the Special installed nuclear capacity, which would make it ratify the CSC - this is part of our assurance to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Several passen- after they jumped from the vehicle’s win- Inspector General for Afghanistan the world’s second biggest market after China. suppliers, along with the insurance pool,” said an gers were also critically injured in the attack dows, trying to escape the blaze, the police Reconstruction (SIGAR), which in Chauddagram town blamed on activists chief added. Police inspector Mahfuzur US officials say details of an insurance scheme Indian member of the contact group, set up by accused the Pentagon last week of to protect suppliers from crippling lawsuits need Obama and Modi at a Washington summit last from the main opposition Bangladesh Rahman said authorities suspected BNP depriving American taxpayers of to be thrashed out and India still has to ratify a UN year. The US official said Washington expects the Nationalist Party (BNP) led by two-time for- activists were behind the petrol bomb. Raids vital information about the $65 bil- mer premier Khaleda Zia. were carried out on local villages near the lion program to bolster the Afghan nuclear convention. Indian officials do not rule out Indians to ratify with the IAEA in the near future, The deaths brought the number of people location of the attack, but no arrests were army and police. But Campbell soft- completing the process this year. “We are commit- along with documentation “stating what their law killed in the month-long protests to 53 — made. ened his stance on Monday. His ted to moving ahead on all implementation issues intends” on the issue of liability, which should most of them victims of firebomb attacks on In another attack yesterday, four people headquarters in Kabul has declassi- at an early date,” said Syed Akbaruddin, chief offer further reassurance to US firms. buses and lorries-as opposition activists try to suffered burn injuries after a petrol bomb was spokesman at India’s Ministry of External Affairs. enforce a transport blockade. “Seven passen- thrown at a moving train outside Dhaka, fied most of the information that has gers were burnt to death in the bus after the police said. Hundreds of people have been been withheld, while only keeping “There are no policy hurdles left.” A question of detail petrol bomb was thrown at 4am” district injured since the protests started, while local secret those details related to the General Electric and Westinghouse, a unit of The US industry would have preferred the police chief Tuttul Chakrabarty told AFP by media say more than 850 vehicles have been combat readiness of Afghan Japan’s Toshiba, were fully briefed on the meet- issue to be settled by amending the liability law, phone. torched or damaged and inter-city transport National Security Forces (ANSF) ings of a nuclear “contact group” that hammered something considered politically impossible for units, officials said. “Five of the passengers are fighting for services have ground to a halt. Security forces out the nuclear compromise in London, say Modi to achieve at the moment. “We want to see The US military mission in their life as 40-80 percent of their bodies were have launched a nationwide crackdown-but sources with direct knowledge of the talks. all the detail before we say: ‘Yes, it works for us’,” burnt. They have been shifted to a hospital in the arrest of more than 10,000 opposition Afghanistan “has since gone back and Bringing them into the mix was crucial because Westinghouse President and CEO Daniel the capital,” he said. Authorities have stepped supporters appears to have done little to separated data releasable to the pub- up the pressure on 69-year-old Zia, who has quell the unrest. lic from classified ANSF readiness data the prospect of huge lawsuits, like those against Roderick, who joined Obama’s delegation, told been holed up in her office since January 3, in Zia denies her BNP and its Islamist allies based on the SIGAR’s request to Union Carbide over the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster, Reuters. a bid to halt the violence. Zia called the are responsible for the firebombings and release more information to the pub- has until now kept US and other foreign firms on That note of caution, however, masks the protests early last month, urging supporters have demanded the release of opposition lic,” a military officer said. “General the sidelines. extent to which negotiators engaged with the to enforce a nationwide blockade of roads, officials and leaders detained over the vio- Campbell has not changed his posi- India and the United States signed a landmark industry to address fears that it could end up on railways and waterways to force Hasina to call lence. Hasina has accused her bitter rival Zia tion in regard to the importance of agreement to cooperate on nuclear power back the hook in a disaster on the scale of the 2011 a fresh election. The BNP and its allies boy- of trying to trigger “anarchy”, and authorities protecting ANSF readiness data, in 2008. Yet an expected bonanza never material- reactor blasts at Tepco’s plant in Fukushima, cotted the last poll in January 2014 on the ordered the probe on Monday against the which remains classified,” the officer ized because India later passed a law that would Japan. “For the first time, we had a comprehen- grounds that they believed the result would opposition leader into allegations of murder said. The US military mission “is fully expose reactor makers to liability if there was an sive inventory of concerns,” said the Indian nego- be rigged. Authorities on Monday ordered a made by a pro-government activist. committed” to cooperating with the probe into allegations of murder against Zia Zia was charged last week over lesser inspector general, he said. For six accident. The liability issue has become a tiator. Westinghouse has been granted land in over the deadly protests, while one of her crimes of “abetting” and “instigating” the fire- years, the Pentagon has publicly metaphor for the unrealized potential of the bilat- Modi’s home state of Gujarat to build six reactors, closest aides, a media magnate, was arrested. bombings. Police also arrested on Monday reported a range of data to the eral business relationship and a question mark while GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy is eyeing a simi- one of Zia’s key aides, Mosaddek Ali Falu, the inspector general about US aid to against Modi’s “Make in India” mantra. lar project in Andhra Pradesh. The liability road- ‘People burning in bus’ owner of the country’s leading television Afghan forces and the state of the block has prevented commercial talks from start- Survivors of yesterday’s attack said the station, over an arson attack in central country’s troubled police and army. bus was packed with local tourists returning Dhaka. Western countries including the EU, ‘Not incompatible’ ing on the projects, with a combined capacity of overnight from the resort town of Cox’s the impoverished nation’s biggest export The information has provided an As the days counted down to Obama’s visit, 10,000 megawatts. India has 21 nuclear reactors Bazaar to the capital Dhaka. “I woke up hear- destination, has urged Hasina’s government important measure for assessing the Indian officials persuaded their US counterparts with an installed capacity of 21,300 MW. It plans ing loud cries and saw people burning in the and the opposition to hold talks to resolve progress of the Afghan forces and the that their law was “not incompatible” with inter- to launch construction of 40,000 MW of capacity effect of Western assistance. — AFP bus. I jumped through the window and found the crisis. — AFP national standards that place the burden of liabili- in the next decade. — AP