How long ?

By afternoon today , it will no more be a question ,

"  Will AAP form a government in Delhi  ? "

Over the past 10 days , people of Delhi have decided that

Question will be ,

"  How long will that government last  ?  "

My guess :

It will last until after the 2014 national elections

Neither Congress , nor BJP want to run the risk of a re-poll in Delhi

They know that they will get wiped out in case of a re-poll

But one thing is certain

Despite its desire to keep BJP out of power in Delhi by propping up AAP , Congress will withdraw its " outside support ' , if pushed to the wall by AAP

That would depend on what are AAP's priorities , viz:

>  Deliver on its promises of " pro-poor " reforms ( water / power / prices )

OR

>  Launch a barrage of " anti - congress " / " anti-corruption " investigations

Any attempt to embarrass / humiliate Congress , at this stage, will backfire  !

If that happens , Congress will not hesitate for a re-poll ,- come what may  !

The questions that AAP leaders must debate this morning , are :

>  Can we fulfill our promises to people without getting uninterrupted 6

    months to perform  ?

   

>  What is more important in the short - term  from viewpoint of Delhi-ites ?

>  If we do not get next 6 months to carry out our reforms , can we make

    a meaningful impact on 760 million voters in 2014  ?

>  If Congress withdraws its outside support after 2 months , will BJP come

    forward to support or will they gloat , " We had told you AAP can't last "

>   What will we achieve by focusing on past corrupt deeds of Congress ?

     People already know about these . How will exposing these deeds help

     people right now ?

>   Should not our TOP-MOST priority be to offer good governance  ?

>   Can we not leave this matter ( of past corrupt deeds ) to Jan-lokpal

     and the judiciary  ?

Dear Arvind ,

If  you have learned your " Game Theory " ( John Nash ) well at IIT , you are expected to be a " Rational Player " , whose sole focus is ,

"  Forget about the dis-advantages of the opponent ( in this case , discomfiture of Congress ) . That is NOT the winning strategy

What move will secure AAP's long-term advantage ?  "

I am not asking you to compromise with your principles

Just get your priority right  !

*   hemen   parekh  (  23  Dec  2013  /  Mumbai  )

" Adarsh " is an " Ideal " Scam !

In English , hindi word " Adarsh "translates as  " Ideal

 "

And true to its name , Adarsh Society Scam is an " Ideal " scam , where ,

>   Guilty ex Chief Ministers and bureaucrats are not to be punished

>  Quid-pro-quo , flat owners do not have to vacate their flats

>  Only tax payers are made to bear the cost of Rs 7 crores investigation

Now compare this with the " Case of Campa Cola ", where ,

>  Builders and bureaucrats have been let go scot-free despite violating

    all laws

>  Innocent flat-owners are about to be thrown out on the footpath , for

    remaining ignorant of the conspiracy between the builders and the

    bureaucrats

>  Flat owners have had to sell ornaments and spend crores of rupees in

    legal battle stretching 20+ years , just to prove their innocence  !

May be  , a "  less - than - ideal  " scam  !

Talking to FICCI general body meeting yesterday , Rahul Gandhi said ,

"  Corruption is bleeding our people dry . It is an unacceptable burden on the people of our nation . We must fight corruption with all our strength and determination "

And not a word about Adarsh  !

But poor people of Delhi don't understand management jargon  !

They only understand Arvind Kejriwal when he says ,

"  Congress is sucking the blood of the poor  "

And they don't think Arvind is being too harsh  !

They are least bothered with how many laws UPA - 2 have already enacted and how many more , it is planning to enact

They are telling Arvind ,

"  Please form a government

   Now in Delhi - and later at Center in 2014

   Then , whether they are ex - or current ,

   place behind bars , all those corrupt / criminal politicians and bureaucrats ,

   and do it  NOW "

   The writing is on the wall  !

   At the coming storm , the ostrich is hiding its head in the sand  !

 *   hemen   parekh   (  22  Dec  2013   /   Mumbai  )

  

Bitter Truth ?

A Sanskrit saying goes ,

"  Do not speak untruth , even if sweet

   Do not speak sweet , if untrue

   Only speak what is both true and sweet

   Never speak bitter truth  "

But when Kumar Vishwash says ,

" I will tell the bitter truth " ,

he expresses the anguish / suffering of , not only the people of Delhi but of entire India

He is saying ,

"  While offering unconditional support , Congress has no love lost for AAP

   Their single point agenda is to keep BJP out of power

   And it is no different with BJP  "

What Congress and BJP seem to have failed to realize is ,

"  AAP does not need anybody's support

   People of Delhi have chosen to bypass them and have given AAP , a

   conditional support - based on conditions contained in AAP manifesto "

Despite such loud and clear message , Rahul Gandhi has failed to firmly tell Maharashtra CM , Prithviraj Chavan to accept Adarsh Scam Report and initiate actions against those found guilty of misusing their positions

May be RaGa does not want the bitter truth to come out in the courts  !

So much for his trying to take credit for Lokpal Bill  !

Will Anna now demand,  Maharashtra's toothless Lok Ayukta to initiate proceedings against those allegedly involved in Adarsh Scam  /  Irrigation Scam  /  Sale-of-Sugar Mills scams  ?

Or

By keeping quiet , will Anna enable another Kumar Vishwash to rise in Mumbai  ?

May be a Mayank Gandhi  ( MaGa ) ?

In 2014, will it be RaGa Vs NaMo ?

 Or , will it be , RaGa  Vs  MaGa  ?

*    hemen  parekh  (  21   Dec   2013  /   Mumbai  )

Wanted : A Chief Minister

Instead of trying to woo  /  cajole  /  persuade , suitable candidates , Delhi Lieutenant Governor Jung may want to try the conventional method of filling government vacancies , by releasing following advertisement in leading national newspapers  :

COMPANY   DATA

>   Vacancy            :   Chief Minister - Delhi

>   Company           :   State Government of Delhi

>   Business            :   Delivering good governance to citizens of Delhi

>   Posting              :   Delhi

MAN  SPECIFICATION

>   Age ( Max )        :   45 years ( relaxable in case of SC / ST / OBC )

>   Edu Qualification :   Any graduate other than a Medical Doctor

                                   ( Engineers from IITs preferred  )

>   Experience          :   Prior experience in running a Government , would

                                    be a " distinct disadvantage "

                                    First time MLAs preferred

JOB  SPECIFICATIONS

>  Responsibility        : -   To get rid of corruption among Govt Employees

                                   -   To fulfill poll - promises

>   Eligibility              :  Preferably a bachelor with no brothers / sisters /

                                   uncles / cousins etc

                                   Must not hold shares in any company

                                   Assets of less than Rs 2 Crores

>   Skills  Required     :   Participative style of Management

                                    Ability to delegate ( no abdicating of responsibility )

                                    Reward performance of colleagues

                                    Zero tolerance for non-performers (merciless )

               

GROWTH  PROSPECTS

>  Career Growth        :  Outstanding achievers can look forward to staking

                                     their claim for PM position in 2014

TERMS

>  Salary                      :  Rs 10,000 - 400 - 12,000 ( Pre-revised )

>   Perks                      :  House + Car ( temporarily suspended till money

                                       becomes available - till then , occupy own flat

                                       and drive own bicycle , for which loan will be

                                       given on low interest )

>   Probation Period       :  5 years from swearing-in

LAST DATE TO APPLY      :  X-Mas Day 2013

Suitable candidates should attach supporting documents , such as Support Letters from other political parties .

Support must be unconditional

Selected candidates will have to pass a written test of Confidence Vote

SEND TO                         :  Lt Governor Jung , Raj Bhavan , New Delhi

-----------------------------------------------------------

*    hemen   parekh   (18 Dec 2013 / Mumbai )                  

      

No Option ?

Arvind Kejriwal is left with no option but to form the government in Delhi

By agreeing with almost all the conditions stipulated by him , Congress has left him with no excuse , not to form a government

Although it is difficult to say what motivated Congress to accept AAP's conditions , here is my guess :

>   As in the case of " Tainted MPs " ordinance , Rahul Gandhi forced the

     issue , because he too , genuinely believes in decentralization of

     democracy

>   By hook or by crook , Congress wants to keep BJP out of power in Delhi

>   Congress may have realized that in case of a re-poll , it would end up

     losing even its current 8 seats . A terrible omen for 2014 elections !

>   In any case , on most of the issues raised by AAP , there is a lot of

     commonality in the poll manifestos of Congress and AAP

     Not accepting AAP's conditions would be tantamount to saying ,

     "  But our poll promises hold good only if we are voted to power  "  !

>   In view of the 2014 national elections , Congress wants AAP to remain

     pre-occupied with governance of Delhi , effectively putting a brake on its

     national ambitions

>   By agreeing , Congress wants to divert the attention of the people from

     its murky past and let them focus on the re-invented image of ,

     "  Congress - the Reformer  "

>   If , with its backing , AAP succeeds in delivering good governance in the

     next 6 months , Congress can share the credit of being , " Pro Poor

    People "

    That would enable Congress to tell 760 million voters ,

    "  We can deliver good governance nation-wide, if you vote for us "

At this point of time , trying to figure out the motives of Congress is irrelevant

It is entirely possible that , on the condition of strong Lok Ayukt in Delhi , counter-condition of Congress , could be a trap for AAP to walk in  !

But knowing that fully , AAP must take the risk  !

When he went to attend the second Round Table Conference in London ( 1931 ) , Mahatma Gandhi realized that it was going to be a failure

He was acutely aware of the trap laid by the British

But he saw that the hopes of millions of Indians fighting his non-violent movement , were riding on his trip

So he went

My uncle , poet  Meghani  sent following poem to Mahatma :

"  Even as you know the futility of your mission ,

   O  Bapu ,

   Drink this last cup of hemlock ( poison ),

   You ,

   Who have drank oceans of poison

   Served by the British ,

   Do not throw away this spoonful  "

Poor people of Delhi are saying something similar to Arvind , today  !

*   hemen  parekh  (  17  Dec  2013   /   Mumbai  )      

Perennial Poll Promises

When elections are near , all political parties re-invent themselves by releasing their poll manifestos

Briefly - and as vaguely as possible - listing things they will do if voted to power

But , once in a while , person writing the manifesto gets carried away and ends up promising something " Specific / Time-bound " ( horror of horror ! )

Eg:

The BJP manifesto released on 3rd Dec 2012 , before the Gujarat Assembly election , promised that , if voted to power , BJP government will build for the poor of Gujarat ,

>  50 lakh ( 5 million ) houses in 5 years

     =  10 lakh ( 1 million ) every year

     =   2,739 every day

     =     114 every hour

     =         2 houses every minute  !

Obviously , business-friendly BJP government must have pre-qualified housing construction companies in advance and kept tender documents ready

Or sent out SMS , welcoming TATA / BIRLA / AMBANI / L&T etc to come and set up a dozen factories to mass-produce pre-fabricated houses

Poor people of Gujarat are not bothered with what this promise will cost or how will BJP government raise the money required ( approx Rs 1,00,000 Cr )

They are merely asking :

"   Since we voted you to power for the 4th time , nearly one year will be over on 26th Dec 2013

Where are those 10 lakh houses  ?

When can we move in  ?  "

Do I hear BJP saying :

"  What temerity  !

    How dare you ask such inconvenient question  ?

    And don't ever ask about progress report on our promises to ,

    #   Double electricity production

    #   Double road network

    #   Give jobs to 30 lakh women

    #   Insurance for all

    #   Pure drinking water for all

    #   Irrigating 16 lakh hectares

    #   Take Narmada water to Saurashtra

    #   Build state-wide Wi-Fi Network

    #   Loan guarantees for self employed

    #   Cheap loans to farmers  ............  etc

    Where have we said ,  WHEN  we will do all those things  ?

     Can't you see we are thoroughly  CONSISTENT  in our poll promises  ?

     Haven't we been promising the  SAME  things for the last 13 years  ?

    Can't you wait till 2018 State elections to enable us to re-promise all

    these things - just like Congress promising to abolish poverty for the past

    65 years ? 

    Can't you see we are extremely busy with passing of a lame Lokpal Bill , in connivance with most political parties - after scuttling it in Rajya Sabha , 2 years back by proposing 200 amendments  ?  "

Now please !

Let no one think of filing an RTI application  !

All political parties are unanimous in keeping themselves out of the purview of RTI  !

*   hemen   parekh (  16   Dec   2013   /   Mumbai   )

     

Unconditional Support ?

To form a government in Delhi , both BJP and Congress have offered AAP , an Unconditional Support

Arvind Kejriwal is asking ,

"  For how long  ?  3 weeks  or 3 months  ?  "

He cannot forget what those parties did to destroy the " India Against Corruption " movement in the Ramlila grounds in 2011

So  he has asked Sonia Gandhi and Rajnath Singh ,

"  Forget about   ' giving '  un-asked for unconditional support

   But since you have been so magnanimous , here are my 18 conditions for

   ' taking ' your support

   Do you accept  these conditions  ?  "

Sonia and Rajnath are silent  !

They don't like being exposed  !

A Congress spokesman even said on TV channel last evening ,

"  Most of what AAP proposes , require mere administrative decisions .

   Our support does not come in picture "

A BJP stalwart said,

"  How can there be any government without a strong opposition ?

    

Of course, we will oppose you whenever we disagree with you .

   How can we tell you now , which of your 18 conditions , we will

   oppose - and when ?

   When time comes , we will get a signal from our high command  "

As Arvind knows too well , both BJP and Congress will simply wait for the very first opportunity to pull the rug from under the feet of AAP

Irrespective of who introduces a " No - Confidence " motion in Delhi Assembly , each will give the other , an " Unconditional Support "  !

It is a pity , no TV anchor is asking them :

  Madam / Sir ,

   Does your unconditional support mean , you will decide ,

   >  Who will introduce a no-confidence motion and when ?

   >  Who will ask the LG , to recommend President's Rule and when ?

   >  Who will take the credit to discredit AAP , and when  ?

   >  Who will brag to Delhi-ites, " We had told you AAP cannot perform " ?

But people of Delhi are asking  following questions ( no doubt, inconvenient to BJP / Congress ! ) ,

   >   If unconditional support only means , mere postponement of the re-

         poll , why not get over with it , right now  ?

   >    What is game-plan of Congress / BJP ?

   >    How can we put an end to this absurdity called " Support "  ?

   >    Isn't it time to give 50 seats to AAP in re-poll  ?

  

*   hemen   parekh   (   14   Dec   2013  /  Mumbai  )