Agenda Bharat
Growing Panache of Indian Military Might - Part 2
Contd. from Part 1... The Indian Air Force (IAF): Recognized once as one of the best air forces in the world the IAF has significantly lost its edge in the last few decades courtesy their depleting fleet size. According to Ministry of Defense (MoD) India needs to maintain around 42 squadrons with 18 aircraft per squadron to maintain a dominance in the subcontinent. Currently India operates 31 active squadrons comprising mostly of Russian vintage MIG- 21 interceptors, MIG-27 ground attack fighters, MIG-29 along with Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKI air superiority fighters complemented by multi role deep strike French Mirage 2000 and UK's Jaguars. The falling fleet is aggravated further by the fact that the Russian MIG's would soon go out of service leaving India with just 22 active squadrons which is very alarming. The MIGs in IAF are considered as 'Flying Coffins'; due to their high crash rates and fatalities. India has lost a lot of IAF pilots recently in MIG crashes. Russia and MIG in particular have a poor serviceability record and low availability rates which sometimes plummet below 50%. For these reasons India has started looking towards France and US for new aircraft and recently IAF zeroed in on 4th generation Rafale Multi Role fighter which is not only outstanding in Dog fights but equally good for ground attack and weapon compatibility. A total of 36 of these are ordered for now. There is also an RFP floated for the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) for 110 more aircraft in which a lot of global players like Lockheed Martin F-16, Boeing F-18A, MIG-35, Sukhoi Su-35, Dassault Rafale, SAAB Gripen and Eurofighter Typhoon are likely to participate. But the problem arises with the delay in the procurement process which is around 5 years typically. Living with the depleting strength asks for a stop gap arrangement which makes a strong case for HAL Tejas. HAL Tejas is indeed a good option having a very promising specification with a 4 plus generation capability. Tejas also makes a good sense as there is no risk in technology transfers and availability of spares because of its Indian origin. Due of its carbon composite wing construction the Tejas is very good at stealth as its Radar cross section is very less. Tejas also supports a myriad variety of compatible weapons because of its open source software. But again the inefficiency of HAL comes in the way of its FOC and production. One of the most significant deficiency of Tejas is its low combat radius which is far lesser than similar LCAs even with the same engine. An advanced version of Tejas / AMCA is also in works. Helicopters: Like the Army aviation the air Force will soon get Apache and HAL LCH attack helicopters which will complement the existing fleet of Dhruva, Chetak, Cheetah, MI-8, MI-17, MI-25/26/35 and HAL Rudra. India is also on the lookout to procuring Kamov KA-226 light utility helicopter from Russia. HAL LCH: This is an advanced version of the indigenous HAL Rudra with similar engine and specification but for a dedicated role. The LCH is good at mountain attacks, can land at higher mountain peaks and can climb at the rate of 12 m/sec. It can carry a lot of air to air and anti-tank weapons like Helina / NAG. It can also fire DRDO's (Defence Research and Development Organization) anti-radiation missile. Reconnaissance: IAF uses Israeli ‘Searcher’ and ';Heron'; UAVs for reconnaissance purpose. IAF also deploys Israeli PHALCON airborne Advanced Warning & Control System (AW&CS) built on Bombardier aircraft for aerial surveillance. MoD has recently sanctioned the purchase of 2 Israeli AW&CS to be installed on Russian Ilyushin 76 heavy lift aircraft. Transport: IAF uses a host of aircraft including the US made humongous ‘C-17 Globemaster’ and ‘C-130J Super Hercules’ for transport of logistics and personnel. Besides National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) has developed SARAS for small scale defense transports. Radars: DRDO has manufactured an advanced AESA radar ‘Uttam’ which would be used in future aircraft of IAF. Besides that IAF also uses Israeli DARIN III and ELTA radars for advanced warning and electronic scanning. Missiles: IAF uses a range of foreign and indigenous missiles including NAG/Helina anti-tank missile, ASTRA BVR and Derby. NAG is a category of anti-tank 'Fire & Forget' guided missiles. The LCH/LCA mounted variant is called HELINA while the launcher version is called NAMICA. The NAG is manufactured by BEL and it uses an image IR sensor and active radar homing for necessary flight path correction. ASTRA is a DRDO developed ';Beyond Visual Range'; air to air missile. With a range of around 80 Km it has already been deployed in Tejas MK1 with other aircraft following suite. It also employs active radar homing technology and categorized as a 'Fire & Forget'; missile. Apart from all these India is working with Russia towards the development of a 5 th generation stealth fighter named Sukhoi SU-57. India has also reportedly approached Russia towards the upgrade of the avionics and radars in their existing fleet of SU-30 MKI. Final take on IAF: While it’s a fact that Quality trounces Quantity but when put against a two front attack both Quality and Quantity matter. India's depleting fleet doesn’t even stand close to the joint size of our two formidable neighbors. According to the Chief Air Marshal Mr. Birender Singh Dhanoa none of the neighbors are sitting idle just to give India a chance to get equipped. India needs numbers in its favor fast and that too capable enough to gun down enemy aircraft. This shortfall is created as a result of long term apathy and lack of financial patronage to the IAF. The situation is so bad that India even doesn’t match the number of air borne AW&CS that Pakistan has. In absence of a capable aircraft India cannot match the Chinese Jengdu J20 or SU35 for that matter. India is also short of UAVs and the domestic industry isn’t doing enough. The current Government should be credited for their decision to fast track the Rafale purchase and acquire all 36 of them in fly away condition. The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) developed India’s own jet engine project (Kaveri) has now obtained necessary clearances and certification recently partnering with the French Engine manufacturer SAFRAN after years of failed attempts. While the home grown HAL, Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), DRDO and GTRE have improved their performance over the years they are far from being world class and require to concentrate more on R&D activities. Contd... To Next Part Disclaimer: Some information are sourced from various public domain and open sources like, MoD portals, Wiki, Journals etc. |
Growing Panache of Indian Military Might - Part 1
Can The U.S Afford Alienating Narendra Modi?
In 2005, Bush Administration revoked Modi's tourist visa, under pressure from the Evangelist lobby working relentlessly in India for decades on dubious purposes. Some for good cause of charity. Some on an 'Age of Empire' mission. But when Obama Administration officials have been talking out of turn univocally, at least till October '13, "visa policies unchanged", they were playing to the Red Galleries. There was dangerous intrusion by Extremist supremacy groups into policies under Bush regime, there are worse and more harmful Red bugs under Obama's. Friends in Israel will agree on this too. Perhaps the US needs another avatar of Jefferson to build a Rubicon between the State and the Apostate. ![]() The US, in recent days, has been under this acidic assault more than ever before. We have seen how litmus of bipartisan public decisions is mindlessly turning Red these days in multiple occurrences. What, till a few years back, was a fringe voice against Israel, is now being trumpeted across diplomatic quarters. US dealing with Syria, Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, and even 'drone today-dole tomorrow' policy with the traitor State Pakistan bear testimony of massive confusion that has been injected within. Harvard dismissing Dr. Subramaniam Swamy, a long time economics lecturer for what he wrote half way around the world or Wharton India Economic Forum canceling scheduled keynote speech of Modi under blackmail of Jihado-Facsist gang, were burning examples. Healthcare reforms and giving up to Red agenda groups are not equally acceptable socialist practice. The former has some merit, the later challenges liberty. Narendra Modi is not just a three term successful and democratically elected Chief Minister in the Indian province of Gujarat, from September 2013, he is also the official Prime Ministerial candidate of National Democratic Alliance, the main opposition block, for upcoming General Polls to be held some time around April 2014. In all opinion polls carried out by major survey agencies in India, he is whoppingly the most popular choice of a billion people. In September '13, a premier election surveyor C-Voter reported Modi as #1 choice with 55% lead, compared to Rahul Gandhi, the Nehru dynasty's heir apparent, trailing at 18%. Though this was an early lead, it is not likely to reverse before election. Modi is almost set to be the 14th Prime Minister of India. In worst case, for debate's sake, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. Not engaging with him, is disregardful of the democracy of India, US's democratic peer. ![]() Narendra Modi also poses as the' Iron Man' (Lauh Purush), pitted against the lackluster, effete leadership of incumbent Congress. He prefers to emulate and own the legacy of Sardar Patel, and not Nehru or Indira. Which means, he breaks off the Lohiaite shackle, the Nehruvian status quo of Indian politics. He is the first national leader after Indira and Vajpayee who talks with the nation, sweeps the masses, evokes passion. And all these, minus the pro-Sovietism of Nehru and anti-Americanism of Indira. Does not the U.S still see a potential ally in him? U.S must not keep alienating this Modi any further based on some Red propaganda that have been rejected by Indian courts. U.S must not create an Ahmadinejad which it can very well start with as a Cameron. Lastly, though Mr. Narendra Modi does not harp on the traditional strings of 'secularism', blames rivals for practicing it as a 'votebank politics', his political USP 'Development for All, Appeasement to None' concludes that he embodies Ashoka, the best and most benevolent leader India ever had. The political rant machine against him has anyways got booed down my Muslim population in his own province Gujarat. In my eyes, he is definitely not anti-Muslim. Photo Credit: Jagaran Post |
The Bachelors' Party
By: A. Chattopadhyay ![]() ADMK's brotherhood with Patnaiks is nothing newfound. Biju Patnaik who had close bond with late ADMK supremo MG Ramachandran once mediated in a merger with DMK's Karunanidhi. Patnaik negotiated with Karunanidhi on MGR's behalf; brought them to Cheepauk Guest House to formalize the reunion but, as claimed by Karunanidhi himself, P Ramachnadran marred it all. Jaya perhaps thanks P Ramachandran now for that day but does still hail Biju Patnaik as “fatherly figure”. Some may say, personal friendship does play little role in political alignments. Not wrong but, in turbulent Janata period, it did miracles too. Biju Patnaik was known to be an amalgamator between groups ideologically apart. During his captive days in Rohtak Jail, he glued trust among Sikander Bakht from Congress(O), socialist Samar Guha and Madhu Dandavate, Chandra Sekhar from a Congress rebel faction, Piloo Mody from Bharaitya Lok Dal, Jaipal Singh from CPIM, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, L K Advani, K R Malkani from Jan Sangh. It is said, this was the first round-table of non-Congress leaders that took place in Rohtak Jail and eventually led to the first fall of Congress government in Center. For Naveen, being confined to a province does not do justice to the magical stature of his late father. I believe, he has realized that it is time for him to replay. Naveen Patnaik, except some minor initial differences like that over carving East Coast Railway, has always maintained political symbiosis with Mamata Banerjee, the other most popular leader from the East. From their NDA alliance in past till present days of partnership on NCTC and Central Sales Tax (CST), he reiterated his admiration for Mamata in public. In West Bengal, there is hardly a scope left for a debate between Congress and Trinamool on who needs whom. Ballot has not empowered anyone else like the machinery of “Maa-Mati-Manush”. Mamata Banerjee, like any Chief Minister, needs to remain engaged with Delhi but assembly result of 2011 has exposed that after Siddhartha babu, Mamata stands for whatever anti-CPIM and anti-CPIM means Mamata only. Her discontentment over Congress cozying up with communists in UPA-1 was never concealed. And she is unsure if her ally can afford to avoid it in 2013-14 Lok Sabha again. But that will indeed dilute her anti-CPIM credentials in 2016. Frequent watermarks of her strained dialogue with Congress state unit as well as the government at Center signify a transition of Didi from a fiery street leader of Bengal to an architect of a potential national alternative. We have witnessed how Mamata fought against Central cabinet on NCTC, retail FDI, CST and petrol price hike from within. Analysts also believe, it is highly probable that she ends up supporting a candidate of parallel consensuality in Presidential poll. She, therefore, solidifies this provincial axis of powers. One can name it as Jaya-Naveen-Modi-Mamata or any alphabet soup in making. I prefer to name it as the Bachelors' Party, much impressed by the Tea Party movement of the US. And the party has begun; let us wait for crackers. Let us not diminish this phenomenon terming it a 'Satrapization' of Indian politics. If parivartan awaits us, it will not drop on Ramlila or JantarMantar but with this true political representation of provinces. We are a nation because we are provinces. Photo Credit: PTI/ the Hindu |
Is Anna the JP 2.0?
(SACRIR Desk: Agenda Bharat) By A Chattopadhyay, SACRIR Whether Ramlila Ground is the Tahrir Square of India is still not clear, but I can clearly see the shadow of Jaiprakash Narayan, popularly known as JP, in Anna Hazare. JP shook the largest democracy in protest against Indira Gandhi's 'Emergency' of 1975. It was the same Ramlila Ground, where amidst more than a hundred thousand people, JP asked Indira to resign. Deja vu. Looking at the huge crowd of youth uttering 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' ('Hail Mother India') in Anna's Ramlila, it seems JP has returned. JP was a Leftist who slightly got
tweaked to a Gandhian socialist after joining Indian National Congress. But he
could never remain that loyal to Congress. A Gandhian declaring 'Total
Revolution' against the slaughtering of democracy caused the death of Congress
government at New Delhi. The first non and anti-Congress government could never
be a reality without JP's warcry. Anna Hazare, another Gandhian socialist
perhaps lags in JP's oratory but is no lesser deity. Anna's movement demanding
Janlokpal Bill, the umbrella ombudsman legislation, is aimed at eliminating
corruption from Indian civil life. It sounds as Utopian as did JP seeking an
end to Indira Gandhi's authoritarianism and nepotism. Both appeared, at times,
as things too tightly entwined with Indian psyche. Never forget, 'Indira was
India' in those days. Anna is often seen as JP's avatar
for some of his grass-root social activism as well. His model village Ralegan
Siddhi and rainwater harvesting, crop rotation, self-reliant village might
sound too idealistic in a free-trade, less-government modern society but are
realities. As real were JP's Sarvodaya and Bhudan movements focusing village
upliftment. JP was rubbished by many mainstream politicos. Anna has been ridiculed
too. Interestingly enough, socialist
JP's 'Total Revolution' never assumed the 'Indian Right' as untouchables. The
Hindu Nationalist group, namely Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and allied
political front Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) leaders were in full collaboration
with JP. His Navnirman revolution of 1970's against corruption of Gujarat
provincial head Chimanbhai Patel of Congress grew up on foundations created by
RSS. Anna's Janlokpal movement, similarly, is now receiving moral backing and manpower
from RSS and other organizations perceived as right-wingers, e.g. Swami
Ramdev's Bharat Swabhiman Trust. It took more than a week, although, for the center-right opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a literal successor of BJS, to lend full-fledged support to Anna Hazare publicly. BJP's upcoming possible Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi has held multiple occasions to throw his weight behind Anna. Few of Modi's Tweets go as: @NarendraModi: "Nation concerned about Anna’s health. Congress talks of democracy & parliament but uses anti-democratic means to wipe out Anna’s movement" @NarendraModi: "My request to dear tweeples: let us expose each of the undemocratic means used to curb Anna’s movement through tweets" It is believed by many that
during Navnirman revolution, Modi, a then young RSS volunteer, came to JP's
notice! After Indira's great fall,
ministry in 1977 at New Delhi with Morarji Desai as Prime Minister was an
unusual coalition of center-right BJS and center-left Janata. Anna wave has
potential to dig down Manmohan Singh-Sonia Gandhi's government. Political
pundits are not ruling out possibility of a mid-term election too. India's
center-right is no more a minor party but principal opponent in parliament.
Will a post-Anna fall-out see the return of India's center-right? Only time can
tell that. But Anna Hazare is surely JP 2.0 of India. |
Why I Stand By Dr. Subramanian Swamy
(SACRIR Desk: Agenda Bharat) From: contact_sacrir@ gmail.com Sent: Monday, July 31, 2011 5:57 AM To: president@ harvard.edu Subject: Why I Stand For Dr. Subramanian Swamy
Dear Professor Drew Faust,
Re: Why I Stand By Dr. Subramanian SwamyMany could realize a Jihadist uproar, but were shocked at the so-called ‘Leftist’ maneuver against Dr. Subramanian Swamy, all for his piece of Op-ed published on an Indian newspaper Daily News and Analysis (DNA). Well, I was not. ‘Left Liberal’ is an oxymoron. Red-robes, be under Stalinist brand of Socialism, Maoist brand of communism or disguised neo-Leftists of 21st century, have never upheld people’s freedom and democratic rights. Historians are of opinion that at least 3 million lives were butchered during Stalin’s regime, at his or his ‘Socialist’ machinery orders. Mao’s period too, that witnessed slaughtering of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, saw one of the worst and widespread red-terror in China and neighboring nations. Horror of red-robes continues in the remote pockets of this world till date which the ‘Devil’s Advocates’ or neo-Leftists try to either exonerate or mute down. Neo-Leftists of Modern Earth, who have infiltrated into press, academics and public lives of democratic countries, pose a greater threat to human rights and freedom. In India, to get lost power restored, extreme Lefts have set-up entente with Jihadists. What? Leftists and faith together? Yes. No surprise. Atheist Stalin who destroyed hundreds of churches, massacred monks and nuns, also reopened many of the shutdown shrines toward a later point of his reign for political benefits. Collaboration between the Left extremists of India, also known as Naxalites, and Jihadists from parts of Kashmir, illegally occupied by Pakistan are well documented. Neo-Leftist sects in Indian media sympathize with Islamists – is not a mere perception. In U.S press too, there is no scarcity of people of the ilk of Helen Thomas, the Jihadists’ delight. So, it is not unnatural on their part to demonize Dr. Swamy. In his op-ed article on Daily News and Analysis (DNA), he defines terrorism as “… the illegal use of force to overawe the civilian population to make it do or not do an act against its will and well-being”. To bear in mind that he wrote it mere a couple of days after terrorists’ bombs shook Mumbai again (7/13) citing al-Qaeda’s declaration of India as their priority enemy. The wounds were fresh, but facts remain perpetual. It is gullible to deny that India is on Jihadist radar for anything other than religion. It is too naive to believe that agents like Ghulam Nabi Fai cook an issue out of Kashmir without a brush of religion. And it is utter falsehood that the act of terrorism on Hindu India and her people following the Islamic invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni (971 – 1030 AD) was anything but contrasting religions. Hindus of Indian subcontinent have been the targets of various forms of Jihad, in the same way Christians of Medieval Europe and Modern Americas or Jews of Middle East. Dr. Swamy, like millions of Hindus of India and Indian origin, believes that, by character, India is a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ or a ‘Hindu Nation’. There are many stalwarts of Indian electoral democracy and society who believe in the same. ‘Hindu Rashtra’, here, does never imply a Hindu theocratic state but is founded on the pluralist and democratic tenets Hindutva. Hindutva is a legitimized socio-cultural practice approved by the democratic apparatus and constitution of India. Needless to say, Hindutva is the single most significant political principle that India votes on – for or against. In his article, Swamy went on prescribing antidotes for Jihadi or Islamic terrorism that India has been suffering since 10th century. He urges sensible and patriot Muslims of India to accept their Hindu ancestry. Now, at this point one may not find it justifed. Not because it could spark off a debate but the seer question, will acceptance or denial of Hindu ancestry make Indian Muslims any different? Islam is not an Indic faith; hence it does not require an anthropologist to utter it loudly that barring a minuscule of direct descendents of Central Asian invaders, all Muslims of India bear the same Hindu lineage as any Hindu does. One may agree or disagree or debate over acceptance of this truth, but who can deny truth? The famous Muslim poet of undivided India Nazrul Islam wrote ‘Hindus and Muslims – in India we are the two buds on the same stalk’. Another noted Muslim scholar Mohammad Iqbal urged Indian Muslims to accept Rama, an avatar of Hindu God Vishnu or Krishna, as ‘Imam-e-Hind’ or ‘Prophet of India. Learned Muslims have shown Indians the way. If Nazrul, the national poet of Muslim dominant Bangladesh or Iqbal, the national poet of Islamic Pakistan are still hailed, why should Dr. Swamy be condemned? Do you find anything illogical or hateful enough to impeach someone off his conscience and wisdom? Dr. Swamy who has been a sound parliamentarian, twice a minister with the Government of India, a renowned economist, an acclaimed academician, rationally a patriot, and a summer professor in the Harvard also belongs to the center right political quarters. He has always been targeted by Indian Leftists on various issues. He is now leading a stringent legal drive against ministers in the present government who are directly charged with some of massive financial corruption and forgery cases. Leftist or rightist bias in media is nothing new in democracies. Similarly it is quite known, neo-Leftist sects in Indian media find an ally in the Indian ruling party Congress; more after the Left parties have lost last traces of power. And they are, naturally, upset with Swamy’s legal activism. The petition raised by some neo-Leftists in Harvard, almost none of whom are his students, urging the university to sever relationship with Dr. Swamy is hence, politically motivated. It is a result of Leftist frustration with Swamy. Many of the proponents of this malicious petition have links with the neo-Leftist camps in India. Surely, one can have his or her political views but I request you not to degrade Harvard, the global marvel, to an amphitheater of narrow Indian political drama and ad hominem. Nothing in Dr. Swamy’s op-ed is an assault to a person, creed or nation. If we cannot protect one’s Freedom of Expression in the very epitome of democracy, United States, we will perhaps fail the forefathers of this nation who struggled to uphold nothing but Freedom. We must defend both – Freedom of Expression and Freedom from Jihad that our great nation stands for. There are counter-petitions active on the internet supporting not only Dr. Swamy’s right to express but the content too. Few of them are: 1. Support for Dr. Swamy's Right to Free Speech Petition to Harvard University – Around 550 signatures and still counting 2. I stand by Dr Subramanian Swamy & his DNA article Petition to Harvard University, Sanjay Pinto & Umang Kumar – Around 350 signatures and still counting Dr. Swamy is truly a tolerant Indian Harvard scholar who is married to a Parsi, who has his two children-in-law a Muslim and a Christian, his brother-in-law a Jew perhaps embodies the spirit of India. I request you Ms. Drew G. Faust, the esteemed President of Harvard University, to support any endeavor to uphold Freedom of Dr. Swamy or any Harvardian, to be generic, and ignore politically motivated name calling. Still dreaming of a fear-free United States and Jihad-free World! -- Warmest Regards, A. Chattopadhyay, South Asian Center for Reintegration and Independent Research NW Arkansas, USA PS. Disclaimer: Views expressed is strictly author’s own. |
India : The Sangh-nation?
(SACRIR Desk: Agenda Bharat) By A Chattopadhyay, SACRIR Be it a convenient conspiracy theory or the great Indian ‘fast’ against corruption, it finds a big-font mention all the times. Sometimes it deserves, sometimes is blamed, often push-sold. Many among mainstream politicos are proud of association with it and many others, haughty to clapperclaw it. It is what primarily demarcates India’s ruling alliance and opposition bloc, ideologically. It is what makes today’s Congress or mars the BJP or did the opposite in past. It is the Sangh. And welcome to the Sangh-nation. ![]() Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) or, in short, the Sangh has been emboldening its presence in every corner, since founded in 1925 by an ex-Congress politician. From being a small group of Hindu-rights enthusiasts in Nagpur town to orchestrating the most significant, democratically elected non-Congress government at the center ever, Sangh is everywhere. Whether one is for it or against it. Most recent anti-corruption agitation of civil societies has brought the Sangh once again to the centerstage of debate. The two prominent chieftains spearheading these popular movements, Anna Hazare and Swami Ramdev, have been damned by the government as agents of the Sangh. There is no lack of evidence that the later has pledged support to both Anna and Ramdev though. It was affiliation to the Sangh that did split the anti-Congress umbrella Janata Party in 1980 and gave birth to nationalist center-of-right outfit Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 1984 parliamentary elections, however its journey started with just two seats. Since then, both the Sangh and the Party identified camaraderie of Hindu Nationalism or ‘Hindutva’ reciprocal to each other. While the party became a political face of Hindutva, the later continued being back-office mentor. Today, pan-India unions affiliated to the Sangh are the becoming pernicious headache to ruling Congress. Not just because they have outnumbered Congress-affiliated ones but also the shadow of a potential civil uprising against it. From the largest labor union to the largest student forum, from the largest farmers’ body to the second largest political party – the Sangh holds them all. Through its scathing verbal attacks and ad hominem against the ‘Hindutva’ brigade, Congress shows, battle against BJP is won, if cement of the Sangh breaks. The combined resistance, along with Socialites or samajwadis, that the Sangh exhibited against Indira Gandhi’s Emergency, a dark-age for democracy, has drawn many of them closer lately. Samajwadi icons like George Fernandez and Nitish Kumar have joined the Sangh-shaded National Democratic Alliance more than a decade back. Both the Sangh and samajwadis have much in common on matters pertaining to their conservative economic policies. On economic bills and international affairs, a Sangh-guided BJP, thus, gets natural backing from the Left and samajwadi pockets, however different they are on social outlook. Example, from WTO agreement to Nuclear Liability – take any. It is to note, pro-US BJP ultimately persuaded its approvers on both, though. It may sound surprising to learn that BJP, the political face of the Sangh and chief opposition party, rules over a third of population of India through provincial governments. Believe it or not, Narendra Modi, the blue-eyed icon of the Sangh and Chief Minister of the Gujarat province is immensely popular among the most influential middle-class people and in any fair poll may emerge to be the most popular candidate for future Prime Minister. Congress knows these facts well and has adopted a well-devised two-pronged strategy to counter the Sangh juggernaut. One is by over-incentivizing pro-establishment media against it and other is artificially linking its pro-Hindu stance with domestic right-wing terror. And they have been quite successful in fanning bees off the Sangh time to time. But the fact remains that it is either approval or disapproval of the Sangh that shoots an event up to headlines every day. One has to be either pro- or anti- Sangh to make it to the power corridors of New Delhi. And the nation will remain so for a long time till the Sangh relinquishes or the other, both of which seems far from being achievable. Isn’t India a Sangh-nation? Photo Credit: The Hindu/ C. Suresh Kumar |