Let's save Jharkhand,Rahul

Dear Rahul,

After taking the nation by storm in the general elections and becoming the proverbial poster boy of Congress you are coming to Jharkhand to revive the dilapidated morale of your party-men. In your whirlwind tour, you plan to cover almost everything including ‘The Dalits’. After your grand success in Uttar Pradesh and Tamilnadu, Jharkhand also expects you to repeat the same and perhaps change the status quo.

In the youngest nation in the world, activities around youth raise omnipresent expectations. From MTV icons to Indian idols, names across professional verticals reflect the hope India holds in its young ambassadors. And when the credo hits Jharkhand, the reference parameters are genuinely high because the competition comes directly from the most eligible bachelor of India: M .S.Dhoni.

Though the rules in politics and cricket differ subjectively, the aspirations with the stars do share striking commonality. If multitudes worship them for successes, they also offer them the deserving ridicule when they fail to deliver. Ranchi hardly took anytime to forget Mahi’s T20 triumph when team India lost in England. Similarly, you don’t have many options in one of the most troubled states of the country should you fail it.

The timing of your tour gathers more relevance because of several real-time coordinates. The local youths are routinely de-motivated with the incompetent leadership across social, political and cultural ranks since the formation of the state. The last four killings by Naxalites that include Police Inspector Francis Induwar and other government employees, have received national attention. Vigilance department is about to use Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against an ex-Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues for their national as well as international escapades. Mittal has made it clear with enough finality that inordinate bureaucratic delays can no longer be the excuse to buy time.

Infighting in local outfit of Congress has attained alarming proportions with five ex MPs flagging revolt against the local leadership. The old ally JMM has declared to go alone in the ensuing assembly polls; and so have the RJD and left parties. Even for your talent hunt campaigns to encourage young, educated and determined people to join politics, Jharkhand portrays a sorry picture. All the previous selections have been nullified because of dodgy procedures and fresh hunt has again been ordered.

Champions love to deliver against the odds and they see them as opportunities to take charge. Mahi does it naturally and you also have proved your mettle by choosing the most difficult political terrains. Since your Jharkhand tour primarily zeroes in on the membership drive, you need to send the message across from the first ball in no uncertain terms. You need to establish that young minds with vision, drive, constructive thought process, education and most importantly honestly dedicated to the cause of Jharkhand will get priority over sycophancy, pedigree, wealth, criminal affiliations and most importantly impatience to get a party ticket without enough hard work. May be, asking all the ticket aspirants to ideate on NREGS in Jharkhand or visiting a few sites can be useful. Your secret tour to UP has raised hopes and don’t discount Jharkhand should you want to do that again.

Even if these initial steps don’t look to deliver a grand success in the next elections, long term gains should be aimed at. A consistent and selfless cleaning of its political infrastructure can save Jharkhand and the responsibility surely lies on your shoulders. Mahi has given so much to the nation and its people; his home state needs your help to reciprocate. Please don’t let Jharkhand down!
Kunal Sarangi
Jharkhand

Jharkhandi colors of austerity

Austerity was never so voguish. Like KKR, CSK and DDD during IPL, economy class, cattle class, slipper class are the buzz words for this political season. May be the corruption plank will be passé in ensuing assembly elections and battle will be drawn on the lines of mileage points, air miles, frequent flier memberships and colour of boarding passes. With president rule coming to an end soon and a tested and trusted governor from the old school of congress loyalties in the hot seat, the party will surely try to paint Jharkhand with its united colours of austerity.

A check on the track record of UPA and its allies, sleeping partners, brand ambassadors and ex-members during their raj in Jharkhand will help to follow the score on its blacksheeps and holy cows.

In the last three years of UPA dispensation, the misuse of helicopters incurred loss of Rs50.98 crore -all thanks to 2236 flying hours. Any comment or action by the UPA bosses? Not that we heard of.

Two cabinet ministers went to jail with unaccountable wealth running into crores. PILs are being filed against a few more and TRP triggering marriage bashes by its ministers and vulgar display of muscle power, private jets, collection of designer shoes and political clout still get occasion mentions in media. But, political circles are abuzz that they might get to contest on UPA tickets.

Prof Jean Dreze, member of the Central Employment Guarantee Council, refers to Jharkhand State as “ one of the worst performing states as far as NREGA is concerned” in the country [The Hindu, 19 July 2008]. Monitoring by Rahul Baba or his brigadiers to improve things? The membership drive of his youth force finds more media space. Huh!

An ex-UPA supported Chief Minister’s closest aides got caught with foreign currency at Mumbai airport and one of the leading Hindi daily ran regular headlines with direct allegations on him of amassing unfathomable wealth. Who cares? The BJP own 8 out of 14 and looks to do well in assembly as well. Congress won only one. So, Jharkhand can wait. Right, Mr. Gandhi?
Ex-Governor Mr. Raji’s (ex-congress cadre) OSD- Avinash kumar (ex District Collector of Ranchi during UPA regime) - who was summoned back to Ranchi from his holy trip to Devghar when CBI raided his residences and the findings also led to Kumar’s suspension. Another sidekick of the Mr. Raji and ex-Health Secretary Mr. Pradeep Kumar was also raided by the CBI. These officers had an almost free reign during UPA times and they were the political favorites.

Last but not the least of these counter austerity stories- the Congress in-charge K Keshav Rao was zoomed out of Jamshedpur by a chartered plane (courtesy one of his well wishers who also doubled up as ticket seeker for the next elections). But attempt to find the generous soul? Zero.
The same state has leaders like Kadia Munda –the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha- whose simple living exemplifies the common touch that is so much sought-after to fight this hypocritical sharade. There are many other Jharkhandi MLAs and MPs who are equally austere most of them because they genuinely can't afford anything else.

One retired senior govt. official has a very nice but pragmatic take on austerity by politicians. If Netas start travelling economy class, where will their chelas fit into? The challenge to maintain the balance of power and to accommodate the desires of their cadre class is not child’s play. Did anyone check the boarding passes of Sachin Pilot and Ashok Tanwar during their maiden trips to Ranchi? But will that really help Jharkhand? Hope, the most austere female of congress party who renounced Prime Ministership can use her cost cutting motives to slice down on Jharkhand’s misfortunes by helping form a democratically elected govt.

The balancing act of Jharkhand

Time is a great leveller; and so is Jharkhand. Its extremities in terms of striking a balance between both the dark and bright sides of human life predictably get more TRPs than any other State. A closer look on all the newsmakers unravels the prudent judiciousness.

If record-breaking corruption among its incompetent ministers of the previous Cabinet makes one cringe with frustration and hopelessness and asserts Jharkhand's place in the lowest rungs of backward states; the news of a next door girl winning an international archery competition, a hard working bureaucrat being chosen to lead a national mission, an outstnding maiden speech delivered in the Rajya Sabha by a newly elected young MP reaffirm the talent the State has. But, will the brighter aspects extend some convincing lessons to the newsmakers from the other side of the fence? For the uninitiated, they were among the most powerful names in the last cabinet.

Mr Kamlesh Singh! It's immoral to amass unaccounted wealth by looting the public exchequer, getting your daughters married off in a Saahi way when Kanyadan yojna in the State is running way short of its deliverables; and exhibiting your designer collection - 89+1 (the pair you are wearing) when our talented but poor athletes get rejections from international tourneys for lack of compatible shoes.

Mr Enosh Ekka! It's criminal to flaunt glares of Gucci and Armani from funds designated for 70 per cent Jharkhandis who live in villages, flying business class with someone's money who doesn't even have access to a bicycle and buying tea estates and resorts with the money meant for the homeless aspirations.

Mr Bhanu Pratap Sahi! It is unhealthy workout for the proverbial six packs in an in-house multi gym sponsored by those doctors who bribe you and your department for prized postings and have never treated the majority of the state that live to struggle for a square meal a day.

Mr Bandhu Tirkey! It's exemplarily illiterate to expect any qualitative inputs and transparency from the practically defunct JPSC and other affiliates to Jharkhandi education, when an ex-education minister showcases his lethal interests in kattas and other equally dynamic weaponries. And, to talk of the Jharkhandi version of national games that became a national shame with its inordinate delays, your VVIP inspections and strategic meetings with incompetent bureaucrats were more regular than the ground level preparations. Striking the riches and power is never wrong if achieved through honesty and hard work; and the achievement is permanent and stable. But these names have dealt a deadly blow to the State and its future.

Mr RS Sharma's track record got a Nandan Nilekani stamp to head the Unique Identification Number project; Deepika won Gold in youth world Archery championship despite the State's dilapidated sports infrastructure. Allegations of favouritism through a heavily loaded surname and guruji preferring son over talent couldn't stop Hemant Soren from delivering a 22 minutes maiden speech that got appreciated by parliamentarians across party lines. These authentic approvals are not only for the magnanimity of glamour, power, monetary rewards and media attention, but for their contribution to Jharkhand and they are bound to stay here and get counted. But for the infamous names from the power corridor, its curtains! The blinded passion to make the most of godsend opportunity rushed them to write their own political and social obituary, and as the history suggests life style becomes a habit if one doesn't watch out, their misery will haunt them to no end.

Did you hear? Mahi got a brand new Hummer H3 and omnipresent reaction is of celebration and pride. Reason is obvious. After all, the less travelled roads through sincerity and uprightness are not that discouraging Elections are knocking and it's time for politicians to change loyalties. But for Christ sake, please change it for Jharkhand and join the brighter side of the fence. As they say: It's never late to become what you might have been. Johaar!!

Guruji! enough is enough

Politics is the art of possible. However, a few politicians of Jharkhand are impossible on many accounts. Their opportunism, self-centered thought processes, shameless volte-face, way of redefining the lowest morals of public life, are incredibly impossible to match. Leading the pack of such faces is none other than our honorable Chief Minister Shibu Soren. Caught in a fierce battle between the choices of political oblivion and a proven authority on the kingdom of Jharkhand, Guruji's moves appear as desperate as the word desperate is.

Tamar's claim to fame till date has been restricted to Ramesh Singh Munda, but Guruji's candidature has not only hogged national and international limelight, it has also brought a world of attention, freebies and goodies to this almost unknown constituency and its electorates. All the candidates are trying to score some democratic points, but their ammunitions still wear the conventional political strategies involving money, muscle, power and diplomacies. Guruji has traveled the extra mile by falling way below the lower limits of humanitarian values and ethics of electoral politics. Maoists are like my son, they are a part of my family, MCC didn't kill Sunil Mahato and other inviting gestures from the septuagenarian stalwart speaks volumes of his political insecurity, and vulnerability to his leadership potential.

All said and done, it is one of the most trying times of his political career as time constraints, constitutional regulations and his biggest dream to rule Jharkhand for substantial time have brought him to Tamar which has never been a JMM stronghold. The party doesn't have an organisational structure in place and local leadership is completely out of sorts. The UPA dispensation deserves to mobilise its all resources to ensure a smooth victory for their poster boy in Jharkhand, who can make or mar its fortunes in the ensuing parliamentary elections, but at what cost? The residents of the unfortunate State, where MCC runs parallel governance, can't correctly to decipher the coded carrot Guruji is trying to offer the Maoists. He has several questions to answer. Is a victory in Tamar so important that he could stoop down to this new low of making a dreaded criminal like Kundan Pahan equivalent to his sons? Is the infamous chief ministerial chair that lucrative that he decides to undermine the sacrifice of a young and promising MP from Jamshedpur? Is another small stint at the helm of affairs so compelling that he has turned for help to those fanatics who killed a popular leader like Ramesh Singh Munda and dragged the State to political instability when it should have been focusing on other priorities? Has his credentials on winnability suffered such a big blow that he can't win an Assembly election without flouting the code of conduct laid by Election Commission, by distributing electrical transformers, sanction orders of new bridges and roads that would not have been there had he not been in the fray? Has this fear of a debacle made Guruji remove Enos Ekka and Harinarayan Rai, who literally institutionalised corruption for the last three years through his chosen indifference to their deeds, or is it the threat perception analysis of Raja Peter?

Shobha De shouted: Enough is enough-after Mumbai terror attack! There has been a great deal of civilian upheaval in response to that. Those were extremists and Pakistan sponsored them. But how a country can safeguard itself from external enemies, when one of its own Chief Ministers offers the internal destructors a parentage? Jharkhand is on the brink of State-sponsored lawlessness, chaos and anarchy. Who will define the term 'enough' for Jharkhand? Surely, not leaders like Shibu Soren! If the common man of the State doesn't wake up even with this alarm, the headquarters of MCC and other similar outfits will soon shift to CM's residence at Kanke Road! Doug Gwyn said: Truth is not determined by majority vote. At least, never in Tamar!

Aaj ka goondaRAJ

When Readers Digest called it the rudest city on earth in 2006, it almost caused a civilisational upheaval in Mumbai. In 2008, history is repeating itself when Raj Thakre trying to endorse the magazine’s verdict. The extant hullabaloo originated from a chef (Read Raj Thackre) recommended menu of political parochialism which branded our faith and trust in Chhatpuja as new nataks. It went on to smack the first family of bollywood (all Amar Singhs inclusive) and a penultimate showdown between the so called shenanigans of Maharastra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the more quantified but less qualified North Indians who practically move Mumbai- the city that never stops. The occurrences have received denigration from opinionated politicians and from Thakre’s previous political address as well. The scope of the debate is rummaging through new geographies every day, and certainly the states of Bihar and Jharkhand stand an opportunity to ring in their disquiet.

Cause célèbre:
What made the ‘controversy child’ of the Thackre family raise his head again? Which exigencies caused a bunch of monstrous rapids take it head on with the biggest of all north Indian festivals and the ginormous Big B, to beating up the innocent examinees. It’s a clear case of identity crisis and the indulgences justify his hunt of a political resort after his infamous departure from Shiv Sena. If he is trying to do a Gujarat there, he must not forget he is not a Narendra Modi and Mumbai is not an Ahmadabad. These regionalised approaches don’t go well with the cosmopolitan setting of the city. The Indian constitution empowers us to earn our livelihood anywhere in the country. Does Mr. Thackre have an answer to this if we demand ouster of all non-Jharkhandis from local companies such as Tata Steel, CCL, and SAIL? Nothing happened to the affluent political bosses, when trains get cancelled and around 15000 people get stranded in Bihar. The common man suffers. These divisive ways won’t blow any good wind for his sagging political fortunes.


Reality bites:
What is your story Mumbai? Have you done a SWOT analysis on the scenario of new Navi Mumbai (Mumbai minus North Indians)? Can you live on with these diversionary tactics? “The sheer stupidity of his desperations can bring in multitudes of losses to city.21% of the Mumbai population is North Indian and his North India specific tirade clearly shows his bankruptcy of relevant issues and provincial mindset. The poor and uneducated people of states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand come here for livelihood because of homegrown conditions of poor governance, corruption and unemployment. Unlike their well-healed Gujrati or Punjabi counterparts, they can’t flee to New York and London to drive Taxis and sell hot dogs and lingerie. Make no mistake about the highest number of Doctors, Engineers and Civil Servants these fertile and mineral rich regions produce. The rich and famous of Mumbai depend on them for the chauffeur driven school drops, security, and bhelpuris at chaupaati. It’s an LPO (life process outsourcing) intra national industry. If these events continue, we will lose the force to Bangalore and Chennai like the country is losing the manufacturing jobs to China, Korea and Taiwan. Additionally, it will set a disastrous precedence for others to follow and an apparent threat to our 60 years old republic. Can the Marathis tolerate the disrespect of Ganapati as a natak?

What the doctor orders:
Is he the first politician disdainful of observing ethical standards in public life, whether it is openly ill treating a particular section of people or using his self destructive penchant for the theatrical to score some political brownie points and nationwide media coverage? But then again, how different is he from his rivals in the political arena? If he is autocratic, then virtually every party 'boss" is today. If he is narrow minded, what are our leaders who allowed the newborn state to burn under the domicile flames? In the journey to the corridors of power, one sometimes does not have the luxury of being a mahatma. So, the current dispensation in Maharastra should sit up and take notice. A collective legislation with a stern action plan should be moved. For the people, we all should quarantine these self-declared lawmakers by all possible means. Gandhigiri by a few NCP and RJD workers in Bihar can also be an exemplary move for others.

Jaya Bachchan asked, “who is Raj Thackre?” and the question has since been reverberating through out the country. This is not a battle between 'responsible' politics and, a mediocre and departed offshoot of the Thackre Kingdom. Instead, this is symptomatic of a deeper crisis of content that pervades the entire political fraternity. For the ‘Jai Maharastra’ brigade, if the religiously regular bomb blasts and reputation obsessed Mumbai rains couldn’t dampen the mumbaikar’s resilience; what another Thackre can do to its welcoming and harmonious nature? Aamchi Mumbai!

Why this feat is so special for Guruji?

If cricket is under serious threat from the Abhinav Bindras to lose its unrivalled kingdom; MSD has been put under similar propositions by the septuagenarian JMM stalwart: Shibu Soren. Though Maahi has been the standalone Jharkhandi claim to international fame and pride in recent times, guruji surely has wrested his numero uno standing to an enviable extent. Not only did he become a central theme to our aspirations of a nuclear deal with the USA, he also helped the making of a political Kinng from an otherwise tactless Manmohan Singh. From 22nd July to 26th August, if any leader has literally captured the constituents of national politics; it is our very own Dishom Guru: Shibu Soren- the new CM of Jharkhand.

His case does merit more attention, as it exemplifies the proverbial phoenix rise from dumps to the CEO of Jharkhand. His new found tranquillity with words and penchant with calculated strategic moves genuinely match Maahi’s cucumber cool and rock solid confidence about the end result. An observant take on this high voltage political drama, clearly portrays the way in which Guruji turned things to his advantage in a changed set of political co-ordinates. From Chirudih and Sashinath Jha murder case to the ever-elusive chiefministership of Jharkhand, and make shift arrangements with coal ministry; Guruji’s track record has a striking resemblance with that ‘use and throw’ pen. For his friends from the nationalist parties, his status has always been accommodative and not of felicitation. Never did it occur to Congress and its allies that a leader of this undisputed charisma among the tribal population deserved better offerings than those never ending waiting periods and vibes of self centred petty politics. Many of his colleagues with even inferior credentials continued with the hot seat, but Guruji was made to experience the political exile.

Stalin said: “If the baby doesn’t cry, the mother doesn’t know what he needs. Ask for anything you need. There will be no refusals.” Times changed and so did the equations from Ranchi to Delhi. He bailed Manmohan Singh in the trust vote on 22nd July, but there was a farsighted angle inculcated in this bargain. As the proverbial numbers were supporting Guruji’s case, the Oxbridge and Harvard managers in Delhi started dancing to his tunes. And, this time Guruji kept the discussions busy with the priorities in Delhi and sneaked Jharkhand in with a silent but prospective finesse. He was confident of three facts: the saleable set of independent MLAs who would sleep with everything that gives them a hope to remain powerfully relevant, his own indispensability for the central govt. keeping in view the ensuing parliament elections and Laloo Yadav’s miserable life with a non UPA establishment in Jharkhand, given the fact that the ghost of ‘fodder scam’ still haunts the RJD supremo. Though initially, his own image of ‘a simple and manageable adivaasi’ restricted him from being taken seriously; his resolute stand to go to the extent of pulling the Koda govt. down stunned the crisis managers across the party lines and tables got turned in his favour.

Having spent months of humiliation, isolation and inequitable treatments by Laloo Yadav, Sonia Gandhi and the minnows like the independents; he cashed in on his decades long experience and with a bit of luck which one always needs in the unforgiving world of politics, came out tops in copybook maahi ishtyle - It ain’t over till the fat lady sings. Though it’s farfetched to expect any thing magical from the change in guard, as the ‘old wine new bottle' arrangements in terms of human capital in the ministry do churn out the same pessimistic vibes; the people can at least expect an iota of ownership from a Chief Minister who not only symbolises the second largest political outfit in Jharkhand but a genre of agitations, sacrifices and symptomatic tribal pride. All the best- Guruji! You truly rock!

Jamshedpur inspires Guruji!

From opportunistic sleeping escapades to admonishing overtures to get what he was initially promised with; Guruji is running from pillar to post to don the political captaincy of Jharkhand just like an insecure lover’s last ditch to marry his princess. After all, in the unforgiving uncertainties of growing age and politics, one doesn’t dare to wait till tomorrow. But, why is Guruji being singled out? Jharkhand has been a breeding ground for politically ambitious souls. The contenders from Bollywood, Bureaucracy, Corporate and Underworld may look like daydreamers, but all their hopes to make it big, surely count on the successful logics from the Jharkhandi past. Great things happen here by fluke and, the Jharkhandi fluke repeats itself.

It is not only the ‘ignited minds’ of JMM which aim to bite more than they can chew; the so called disciplined political outfit BJP hosts many Gurujis. The race has begun to find a star that will cut Suman Mahato’s dream run short. And, Jamshedpur is again the laboratory, which initiated the real apolitical mix into Jharkhandi political arena through examples of Nitish Bharadwaj (the Sri Krishna of the Mahabharata fame) and Rushi Modi (Ex. MD Tata Steel).

For the BJP ticket, the names which are making the rounds include Amitabh Chaudhary, Prabhat Sinha and Sadhu Mahato. With aspirations to make an entry to the highest podium of democracy, do these gentlemen really profess any credentials to support their candidature in terms of understanding the plight of the masses, political pedigree and knowledge of ground realities? So, it is imperative to examine their own raison d’être to envisage a candidature for themselves. Mr. Chaudhary banks on his self-declared outstanding tenure as SP of Jamshedpur. Mr. Sinha assumes that he was the only General Manager of Tata Steel with a difference, and Mr. Mahato thinks he earns enough credits because of his surname and the ideological shift he made from Congress to BJP in the eleventh hour to grab the party ticket.

A low down on their activities in the recent past offers the reality bites. The last professional achievement for Mr. Chaudhari was Surendra Bangaali- the dreaded criminal around 11 years back. After that, it has been allegations of blackmailing of tickets in the ODI between India and England, and falling out with his own Chief Secretary not for issues related to the welfare of the state, but for the impending threat Mr. P.P. Sharma was becoming to his duty free run with the JCA (Jharkhand Cricket Association) crown. The inordinate delay in his allegations against the Chief Secretary and the timing, do smell rat. The manhandling of a senior judge by his wife’s bodyguards only added value to his dubious portfolio. Discussing Prabhat Sinha makes one argue his claim to fame. People know him as the man who engineered an otherwise unknown Parimal Nathwani’s election to Rajya Sabha. He enjoys a far too superior track record as power broker for Nathwani and for the Reliance Empire than his performance as General Manager with Tata Steel and for the people of Jamshedpur. For Mr. Mahato, scores of criminal charges against him make him another of those politicians who think, only a judicial conviction can question their morality. Inner voices and public opinion are all Greek to them.

For any Jharkhandi, who is not living on either Mars or Venus for the last one year; this self promoted group of ‘A few good men’ reminds one of unadulterated opportunism to cash in on the awfully underperforming Suman Mahato to build their own political castle. So, after decades of toiling and crisscrossing through the geographies of the tribal land; Guruji’s gestures are nowhere farfetched by the traditional stretch of political imagination. Unlike his other apolitical counterparts he has decades of hardship, humiliations, and methodical fights through ground zero to his credit. If this troika can dream of Delhi, Guruji deserves to aim high. We may ridicule him, but let’s not ridicule his ambitions. Yeh dil maange more!