Editor, I was a little overwhelmed to read Mr. Rahul Saikia’s article “Assam – of Electoral Boats and the Modi Wave”. Though a very well written article, I fail to agree with his perception of the BJP that he has tried very hard to establish as a fact in his article. The party’s fate in Assam was declared only yesterday but Mr. Saikia has already written them off! The article reflects a sense of embedded hatred in the author’s mind against the BJP – the reason for which is best known to him. He has very strongly suggested – or must I say, established – that the party ‘will’ divide the people and it ‘will’ impose Hindutva on the other north eastern states as well. Such certainty in defining the party’s future course of action by a very learned man is hard to digest and compels me to term it partial. Firstly, a feat like this is next to impossible in the Christian states of the Northeast (being someone born and brought up here would very well understand). Secondly, in the last two years that the party has been in power at the center, how many cases of communal violence has come up that the BJP has incited? I am not a blind supporter of any party or a politician, but I was disappointed to read such negativity about a party which has just won and has not even started its job in the state yet. We can at least give the party a chance to prove its mettle in Assam. A ”Hindutvaa” group – coming to power with such huge margins, in a state which has approximately 35% Muslim voters, super powerful opposition and a large educated population – must be doing something right to be here today with the people’s mandate!
Yours etc.,
Prateek Harlalka Tura
Congress mukt Bharat in the making
Editor,
The decimation of Congress in the recent state elections, the result of which was declared on Thursday, is a repeat telecast of the 2014 General Election result. That this party of “mother – son – daughter – damad” quartet has not learnt anything, rout after rout, is indeed playing well for the saffron party and other regional parties. In fact, what is unfolding is the BJP version of “Congress Mukt Bharat”. But what is important to see now is the ensuing state election in Meghalaya? Many Congress leaders, I reckon will be rethinking about their allegiance to the first Gandhi family. We already have Manas Chaudhuri quitting from the party preceded by Frankenstein W Momin, KC Boro among others. Chaudhuri has reasoned his move to the inept manner in which the party is run in the state. With the saffron tide on the horizon in this region, Meghalaya and Manipur remaining the only two Congress ruled states, many more are likely to switch over to the BJP at least in Meghalaya. The big gamut of change right from the dethroning of UPA led congress government, stoppage of “loyal economic baskets” for Meghalaya, ban on coal mining in the state and what have you is certainly going to effect a change. After all the days of doles from the “Gandhi dynastic government” is over. We have already had some names from the state doing the rounds vying for an entry into the BJP fold. Certainly, the two veteran Congressmen who quit the party recently must be looking for an entry after the bathing saffron show. Let us wait and see.
Yours etc.
P. K. Dwivedi
Shillong – 1
BJP must start in right earnest
Editor,
The articles, “You cannot play the proxy game in politics” & “BJP should not misread the Assam victory” (ST, May 20, 2016) clearly shows that the Congress is losing its power base across the country, and for good reason. In Assam, secularminded people voted for the party, ignoring its alleged ‘communal’ tag. Mamata Banerjee seems to have fought muscle power with muscle power. The Congress’s failure to project a suitable chief ministerial candidate must have harmed its prospects. PM Modi has rightly termed the BJP’s victory in Assam as “historic” and “phenomenal”. BJP has shown that tough non-populist administrative measures can find acceptance with the people. The BJP which has been trying hard for the last few years to make inroads into India’s northeast, has not only assured to end the existing corruption in Assam but also to bring change and development and give employment to the youth. It clearly shows that the people of Assam have been frustrated at the functioning of the Congress government. There is no doubt that the new government in Assam will take concrete steps for overall development of Assam and other parts of the region and will come out to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of the people of the state. The results are a lesson for the Congress Party; it is on a steady decline in the country’s political arena. The picture shows that one of the significant outcomes of the Assembly results lies in the stupendous victory of the two women in an otherwise male-dominated polity. Now when the BJP has won the people’s mandate in Assam it must set up a model administration in the state by doing away with the corrupt governance set up by its predecessors.
Yours etc.,
Vinod C. Dixit
Ahmedabad – 15