sign in sign up
<<
Home , Arun Jaitley, Murli Manohar Joshi, Rambhadracharya, Sushma Swaraj

DAILY EXCELSIOR, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014 (PAGE 9) Rise of Modi marks a paradigm shift in Indian politics NEW , May 26: resorting to “vague, non-specif- A rank outsider to the ‘Delhi father to emerge as a pan given clean chit to chief ic and subjective things like say- club’, the Gujarat Chief leader. There are many of his minister. The rise of ing that I am authoritarian, jin- Minister steamrolled all opposi- critics who contest his claim of Modi has also been under to the position of Prime Minister goistic, divisive”. There had tion within and outside to secure having sold tea. repeated attack over alleged marks a paradigm shift in Indian never been any serious allega- for BJP a majority that no party In a state the fake encounters and his close politics, ending as it did the tion of corruption, nepotism or could get after ’s called the “ laborato- aide is under a cloud domination of the Congress incompetence against him, he ‘400 plus’ victory in 1984. ry”, the chief minister consoli- in a few of these. party as also the era of fractured said. On the victory path, Modi dated his image as a hardliner But Modi mastered the art of mandates. Modi may be one of the virtually blanked out all others and election after election he converting adversities into The scale of the 63-year-old most riled leaders described in the party and became its sole delivered results for the party— opportunities. He did some pio- Modi’s electoral triumph devas- variously as divisive, polarising face in a long campaign that scoring a hat trick last year in neering work in Gujarat to win tated his rivals and even his and and a Hindutva-hardliner started last summer after he was the Assembly polls. subsequent elections in 2007 most ardent supporters. On the given the backdrop of the riots made the campaign chief in In his attempt to reach out to and 2012 on developmental pol- way he has re-written the rules that had claimed over 1000 . minorities, especially the itics decimating Congress. of the electoral game with a bril- lives, mostly Muslims, in Undeterred by the sulk of Muslims, he consciously shed He has been claiming credit liant though expensive cam- March, 2002 under his watch. veterans like L K Advani and the hardliner approach and for bringing the issue of devel- paign. But Modi is seen by his sup- grumblings of some others, focused on development, opment to centre stage in his Armed with a massive man- porters as a “strong leader” who mounted an untiring campaign including those of the poor in efforts to reinvent himself. date, Modi neverthless faces will not play the politics of criss-crossing the country help- the Muslim community. After the Supreme Court- challenging tasks ahead as he appeasement of any section. ing BJP record its finest-ever He battled all odds to appointed SIT gave a clean chit grapples with a weak economy A stocky, bespectacled man performance in more than three emerge as BJP’s prime ministe- to him in the 2002 riots, Modi and other problems left behind with a trimmed white beard, and decades of its existence. rial candidate pipping Advani undertook a ‘Sadbhavna’ fast to by his predecessor Manmohan known for his ascetic lifestyle There was more sulk when among others. But since then he reach out to Muslims of Gujarat Singh. and enthusiasm for , Modi he was anointed the BJP’s prime had run a very clever, spirited as some kind of penance by A consummate politician came under international glare ministerial face in September and never-before-seen high-tech going on a three-day fast in and the man of the moment, due to the 2002 riots. but that did not deter him from campaign addressing more than Ahmedabad. Similar fasts were Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi paying tribute to Father of the Nation Mahatma Modi is known for his bold and 450 rallies across the country. also undertaken by him in Gandhi at Rajghat before his oath as in on Monday. (UNI ) A brilliant speaker, the his mission in getting the BJP- unconventional initiatives and is Hindutva poster boy turned a led NDA back to power from Having been born in a back- Gujarat’s other cities. poised to evolve as the ultimate fragmented parliamentary elec- where it was dislodged in 2004. ward ‘Modh Ghanchi’ (oil Modi has been tom tomming ‘game-changer’ of Indian poli- tion into a presidential-style ref- In the beginning, there were crusher) community in histori- Gujarat model of development, tics. erendum in an era of coalition doubts whether Modi can equal cal Vadnagar town of Mehasana including his government’s The premiership of Modi, politics in the country. the charm of Atal Bihari district years, the rise of Modi is ‘open arms’ welcome pro-indus- who represents a fascinating His mandate, crossing caste, Vajpayee, considered a moder- phenomenal. However, his sta- try, which has its own share of turning point in the political his- region, gender and demography, ate even by his rivals, in attract- tus as a person belonging to critics. tory of the world’s largest will make him one of the most ing allies. backward community itself has Business leaders have pitched for him as prime minis- democracy, promises to usher in powerful prime ministers in But the BJP put all its eggs also been contested. ter as they feel he is a decisive dramatic changes and reforms. Indian history. in the Modi basket, a gamble The RSS pracharak, who leader especially against the During the course of his hec- Born to lower middle class that has paid with Modi attract- was loaned to BJP in 1985, backdrop of policy paralysis tic campaign, Modi, parents in Vadnagar in Gujarat, ing more allies pre-poll, includ- remained a backroom party that marked the UPA II’s tenure. a four-time Gujarat Chief he has transformed himself ing those who had left the NDA office-bearer and key strategist Minister, told his voters he had till he was made Chief Minister In one of the events, he from a Hindu nationalist into a blaming him for the 2002 riots. refused to wear a skull cap been chosen by God to do a decisive corporate-style admin- In the 12 years he had been of Gujarat to replace Keshubhai “difficult task” and promised to Patel in October 2001. offered by a Muslim cleric, an istrator. He is now at the centre chief minister in Gujarat, Modi issue that had cropped up in the replace the business as usual of global thinking, having been consciously crafted an image of Just five months after he culture with purposeful gover- took over as chief minister, current elections. But he fobbed labelled “the man who dines a man with an alternative vision off all criticism saying he would nance. alone”, a “game changer” and a of governance for a country Modi controversially came into One of the trendiest male limelight in the wake of 2002 not follow his rivals’ politics of “poet”. caught in a policy paralysis in symbolism. politicians in India, Modi, who He takes the reins of the the last few years. riots triggered after 59 ‘Kar pulled off what had looked like Sewaks’ were killed in a fire in Inspired by life and teach- country in a culmination of a With his development model ings of Gautam Buddha and an impossible feat of winning a fascinating journey from an as his campaign plank, he made a compartment in Sabarmati majority for BJP on the strength Express train incident on , Modi had ordinary RSS pracharak and an instant connect with young left his Vadnagar home as a of his persona and a muscular voters, middle class and those in February 27, 2002. Gujarat’s longest serving chief youth and joined the RSS as a poll campaign, dismisses rural areas yearning for a His detractors accused Modi minister. Modi also worked in pracharak. At a tender age he charges of being authoritarian. change. But occasionally there of inaction during riots, but all his family’s tea stall, according used to sell tea, first at the rail- Modi said during the cam- to a sympathetic biography. were hints of polarising voters the subsequent investigations, way station of his village where paign that he believed in team Modi has a formidable repu- raking up pet issues of the saf- including one directly under the his father had a tea stall and work and that those who worked tation as a party organiser, along fron forces. supervision of Supreme Court- later at the canteen of with him believed that he was with an ability for secrecy, A master strategist, Modi appointed Special Ahmedabad city bus terminal. strong-willed and decisive. which comes from years of has come a long way from sell- Investigations Team (SIT) and (PTI) He accused his opponents of training as an RSS “pracharak”. ing tea at railway station for his subsequent court ruling have Carnival atmosphere at EPFO panel grants tax exemption to 20 private PF trusts Modi's swearing in NEW DELHI, May 26: NEW DELHI, May 26: applause. Her son Rahul off-white Kurta and sporting a An empowered committee of the retirement fund body EPFO Gandhi, who led the failed tri-coloured badge, Modi took has approved granting regular tax exemption to 20 private provi- The occasion was ceremoni- Congress campaign, came with oath in in the name of dent fund trusts, which would provide tax benefits for subscribers al but it was a carnival atmos- her. God. He was lustily cheered. of these firms. phere as Narendra Modi was Colourful Rajasthani tur- The next to take oath was The firms who got approval for tax exemption during the meet- sworn in as Prime Minister bans, bright sarees, politicians' , the leader seen ing of the panel held on May 15, include big names like Food before the largest-ever gather- favourite kurta-pyjamas min- most with the new Prime Corporation of India, J K Tyre and Industries (Vikrant Tyre Plant), ing at Rashtrapati Bhawan, gled with the formal suits of Minister during the election Mercedes Benz Research and Development, Aditya Birla Nuvo, which became a confluence of corporate bigwigs such as campaign. He was followed by L&T Technology services and L&T Hydrocarbon. people as varied as Presidents, Mukesh Ambani, Gautam another party veteran Sushma The meeting of the panel is being called as outgoing Finance Prime Ministers, film stars, cor- Adani, the two business giants Swaraj and then . Minister P Chidambaram did not extend a March 31 deadline for porate and religious leaders. targeted by dur- Modi became the third the trusts to get regular tax exemption through the Employees’ Never before have well over ing the campaign. Prime Minister since Atal Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). 4000 people gathered in the An occasional slogan of Bihari Vajpayee and Chandra Chidambaram made it mandatory in 2006 for these trusts to forecourt of the majestic 'bharat mata ki jai' and 'jai shri Shekhar to assume the top procure an exemption certificate by March 31, 2007, a deadline Presidential house as they did ram' rent the air to lend a touch office in the sprawling red-sand that has been extended many times and expired on March 31. today to watch the change of of informality to a very formal forecourt. Earlier during the first meeting of the committee held on March guard from to occasion. The glamour quotient in the 28, it had approved 68 such applications. the man from Gujarat for whom The ceremony got going a ceremony came from cinestars The panel has been empowered by the EPFO’s apex decision the oath-taking ceremony was few minutes late when President Salman Khan and Vivek making body Central Board of Trustees (CBT), headed by the the culmination of a breathtak- descended Oberoi, actor-turned-politicians Labour Minister, to grant regular exemption on January 13 in its ing political journey. the steps out of the Durbar Hall and Shatrughan meeting. The power to grant exemption is vested in CBT. The heat did not deter the to a raised platform in the fore- Sinha, who have been elected in “EPFO is still processing 148 such applications for grant of Modi admirers who had come court. His arrival was heralded the recent elections, and her regular tax exemption,” EPFO’s Central PF Commissioner K K hours ahead. There were a few by the buglers from atop. husband Dharmendra, who Jalan who heads the panel, told PTI. fans to cool them but they most- Modi arrived in his favourite were all seen enjoying the Asked whether more such applications are expected, he ly depended on their invitation Scorpio SUV and was greeted moment. replied, “We may receive such applications in future.” cards to generate some breeze by the men and women he had The presence of large num- Private PF trusts are formed by firms that manage the money till the sun set and made it bear- chosen for his Cabinet. These ber religious gurus, many of and accounts of their workers themselves and have exemption able. included BJP veterans such as whom added saffron tint to the from filing PF returns. The members of these trusts enjoy tax and 'Modi, Modi' up went the party President Rajnath Singh, ceremony, including Sri Sri other benefits at par with EPFO subscribers. chants when the PM-designate past presidents , Morari Bapu, Such trusts can start functioning after seeking ad hoc tax arrived shortly before 6 PM as and and senior , exemption from the regional commissioner after which they apply if this was yet another of his leaders and Sadhvi Rithambara was promi- for regular tax exemption. election gatherings that the Arun Jaitley. nent in the front row of guests. Once approved, a PF trust’s regular tax exemption is notified nation had witnessed over the Also seated in the front row While Mukesh Ambani was by the Labour Ministry or state government. past many months. was L K Advani, the leader who accompanied by his wife Nita According to a senior official, if the deadline for getting regu- Before Modi arrived, his has long cherished the job and two sons, his brother Anil lar tax exemption is not extended in the full-fledged budget to be special guests from abroad-- which is now Modi's. So was brought his mother Kokilaben. presented by the new government then the defaulting trusts would Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of another veteran and former BJP Gautam Adani also came with come under the income tax net. Pakistan, PM Sushil President Murli Manohar , his family. He expressed hope that the next meeting of panel may be called Koirala, Sri Lankan President who did not figure in the SP President Mulayam in the second week of next month where 30-40 such applications Mahinda Rajapakse and other Cabinet list. Singh Yadav, could be approved. SAARC leaders--had taken The outgoing Prime Chief Minister , At present, the EPF subscribers are exempted from paying their front-row seats. As each Minister Manmohan Singh Jammu and Kashmir Chief income tax on deposits, accrual of interest and withdrawal of their name was announced there came accompanied by his wife Minister Omar Abdullah were funds. (PTI) were cheers, the loudest being Gursharan Kaur and was greet- also present in the ceremony but reserved for the Pakistani ed with tepid applause. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J leader. ceremony marked the end of his Jayalalitha, West Bengal Chief SC stays trial in DA Announcement about UPA 10 years in power. Minister Mamata Banerjee and Chairperson 's Wearing a pastel-coloured Chief Minister Navin case against Jayalalithaa arrival was also greeted with Nehru jacket over a full-sleeved Patnaik gave it a miss. (PTI) NEW DELHI, May 26: The Supreme Court today stayed for 10 days the ongoing trial in a disproportionate assets case before a Bangalore court against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. A bench comprising justices B S Chauhan and A K Sikri, how- ever, said that the civil proceedings, pending before the same trial court in Bangalore, will go on. The civil proceedings relate to the plea of various companies alleging that some of the properties, shown as part of the dispro- portionate assets of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, actually belonged to them. "We are keeping at abeyance the trial in the criminal proceed- ings for 10 days. However, it is made clear that the civil proceed- ings will go on," the bench said and fixed the petition for further hearing on June 6. The bench also issued notice to the Director General Vigilance on the petition filed by AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa. Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the petitioner, said that grave prejudice would be caused if the criminal trial is not stayed. The apex court had on May 13 said it was not inclined to stay the trial in the Bangalore court in the DA case against Jayalalithaa and others. It, however, had allowed the Chief Minister to with- draw the plea and move the High Court. The Chief Minister had sought a stay on the trial till the lower court decides the plea of Lex Property Development (P) Ltd, a Chennai-based firm. (PTI)