By Nora Chopra
RAJNATH DIFFERS WITH JAITLEY ON ISSUE OF CLEARANCE TO SUN TV
The Sun TV which has been denied security clearance can sell its ownership to Anil Ambani owned Reliance division. The Sun TV which is the market leader in South India and its radio channels under the brand name of Surya FM in Tamil Nadu and Red FM in other cities that is owned by the Maran brothers Kalanidhi and Dayanidhi are under tremendous pressure from the home ministry to change the ownership of the Sun TV or will not be granted security clearance. The decision to deny security clearance was based on considerations of adverse impact on economic security. The denial of the security clearance is said to have been given because of the criminal cases pending against the Maran brothers. Maran brothers are facing a CBI probe over the alleged allotment of 300 high speed BSNL telephone lines to the residence of the former communication and technology , minister Dayanidhi Maran in Chennai which were extended to his brothers channel .. Then there are two more criminal probes against the Sun TV network and its owner Kalanidhi Maran – CBI’s Aircel Maxis Case and an ED case of money laundering. Meanwhile this denial of security clearance to Sun TV has raised differences between the home ministry and the I&B ministry. the I&B minister Arun Jaitley had written a letter to the home minister Rajnath Singh to reconsider the decision and the secretary of the I&B ministry Bimal Jhulka had also sent a reminder to the then secretary of home ministry L C Goyal.. This move of the MHA has also been contradicted by the attorney journal of India Mukul Rohtagi.
DISGRUNTLED SHATRUGHAN SINHA TAKES ON BJP LEADERSHIP
Shatrughan Sinha is not shooting from his mouth but he is shooting from his heart these days. He is extremely upset. His party has sidelined him. Despite his thumping victory in the Lok Sabha elections from Patna Sahib in Bihar, he could not be jubilant for long. As SS witnessed the gradual scaling down of his importance within his party, he was baffled to see how newcomers with little experience, were taken in the union cabinet and he was ignored. He was also critical about Arun Jaitley who was given a prime position in the Government despite being defeated in the Lok Sabha elections. Shatru told his biographer without mincing words in his forthcoming biography, Anything but khamosh by the time Bihar elections rolled along ,the disregard for SS had snowballed. The new frontline of the party to the point that his open dissidence was ignored like he just did not matter. There was hurt and humiliation. But his suggestions were met with stony silence making him seem a disgruntled voice that did not deserve either a hearing or a platform as a star campaigner in his home state. The party was hijacked by some people in Bihar who conveniently ignored him. But he proved right and all his observations and warnings before the state elections proved right. Shatrughna Sinha cannot be silenced, he is expressing his views on BJP through twitter and that is not at all palatable to the central leaders.
SAJJAN JINDAL IS THE LINK BETWEEN MODI AND SHARIEF
The track-two diplomacy between India and Pakistan is being done not by any diplomat or a politician but by an Indian businessman Sajjan Jindal, the elder step brother of the former Congress MP Naveen Jindal who is implicated in the coal scam. The recent surprise trip of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lahore to wish the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his birthday and attend the marriage of his granddaughter Mehrunnisa too was organised by Sajjan Jindal. Sajjan Jindal who was himself present at the wedding runs a steel business with the Nawaz Sharif family in Dubai. He is a personal friend of Sharif and his family members. When Sharif had come to Delhi to attend the swearing in ceremony of Narendra Modi, the only personal visit he had made was at the Jindal’s place. .
MANISH TEWARI MAY BE RAJYA SABHA CANDIDATE IN APRIL FROM PUNJAB
The former information and broad casting minister in the UPA government Manish Tewari who had not contested the Lok Sabha elections from Ludhiana because of his illness, is now all set to replace KPS Gill in Rajya Sabha from Punjab. There are three seats that are falling vacant in April. Ambika Soni whose term too expires in April will be repeated in all likelihood. Soni played an active role in convincing a reluctant Rahul Gandhi to make Amarinder Singh the party president in place of Bajwa. Soni is close to both the captain and the Gandhis. The other person to retire in April is Ashwani Kumar. He is being backed by Manmohan Singh but does not have many friends in the party. if he fails to get a renomination then he might be replaced by Parneent Kaur ,the wife of Amarinder Singh. But then this can only happen if she does not contest from Amritsar the seat which would soon be vacated by her husband captain Amarinder Singh who will contest from her seat for the assembly elections in Patiala.
RAHUL GANDHI UPSET WITH PRITVIRAJ CHAVAN FOR HIS REMARKS
Rahul Gandhi is extremely upset with the former chief minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Singh Chavan for his recent utterances against him despite the fact that he was retained as CM before the assembly elections against all opposition from the state leaders. The state leaders had warned the high command that unless Chavan is replaced, the party cannot win in Maharashtra. But despite this soon after the Congress lost the Lok Sabha elections, Chavan was among those who put the blame of the defeat on Rahul Gandhi. This week too Chavan has criticised Rahul for his role in parliament. But these utterances against Rahul are being seen as a result of being sidelined. Chavan has been lobbying hard to get a post either as PCC chief or leader of the opposition in the assembly. But this would be against the popular sentiment within the rank and file of the party in the state. The state leaders are extremely opposed to him being elevated as they blame him for the party’s defeat in Maharashtra. Chavan is totally isolated in the assembly. He comes alone and goes out alone without a single MLA standing by him. He made the nine times MLA from Karar to vacate his seat for him. But though he was the CM he did not canvass for a single candidate. As a result he does not have a single supporter in the state.
SHARAD PAWAR RATTLED AFTER ENFORCEMENT RAID AT BHUJBAL’S HOUSE
Sharad Pawar is nervous. His statement giving clean chit to Arun Jaitley is only a volte face of his previous position after the ED attached property worth 110 crores of the then NCP PWD minister Chagan Bhujbal. The move of the Fadnavis government is being seen in retaliation to the NCP’s recent anti BJP moves in the just concluded assembly session in Nagpur. The NCP during the just concluded session of the Maharashtra assembly in Nagpur had stalled the proceedings of the house for nearly one week on the farmer suicide issue. Soon after Bhujbal’s house was raided and then his property worth 110 crores has been attached. But more than this, it is the ED’S move to open cases against Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar who was deputy CM in the previous Congress led government that has rattled Sharad. (IPA)
