The right question is still left

I have been interested in the happenings in the BJP and am happy about the RSS intervention. I think the RSS intervention would do it a world of good.

I watched the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's interview recently. One thing that he said stuck with me. I paraphrase "RSS is ready for change. Everything can change except the roots. The roots are that India is a Hindu rashtra". I do agree that it is a Hindu rashtra, but Hindu in its culture. Hinduism is after all a way of life. But the India that was formed on 15th August 1947 was a secular entity. It includes all peoples present in its boundaries at that time. One cannot discriminate against people just because they are not Hindus. Would we not give a child Indian citizenship if he/she is non Hindu if he/she is born in Indian territory?

There are two things to consider when one decides ones leanings. There is strategy and then there is day to day implementation. The Congress and the Democrats have a strategy of non religious Govt. The implementation might be flawed with minority appeasement and being overly populist. But the strategy is correct. The BJP(and the Sangh) and the Republicans have a strategy of a religious Govt. At least in India, the BJP is good at day to day implementation with better governed states. Day to day implementation problems are temporary and easier to fix. Political strategy is linked to your identity, choose the wrong one and you are fooling yourself. The day when people achieve their final goals, if you are the side that you dont like, youll be finished.

Good reading on YSR

http://retributions.nationalinterest.in/two-thoughts-on-ysr/

Media at the BJP again

I generally like Vir Sanghvi, however I think he resorts to some good old BJP bashing here as well. I am not privy to all the "inside" information Mr Sanghvi is. But mine is the layman's view point which he influences.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/The-continuing-saga-of-the-BJP/H1-Article1-450739.aspx

I do agree with the comments on Advani's poor image management. Also, I do agree with "If the last two weeks have made anything clear it is this: the BJP’s idea of collective leadership is that its senior leaders all collect together and go and meet the RSS chief who instructs them on what to do next."

However, "In a democratic party, the fate of Advani, Rajnath Singh and the rest should be decided by elections. Instead, a small group of old men in khaki knickers, sitting in Nagpur, will decide who runs the BJP and how." Excuse me? the fate of Rajnath Singh and Advani WAS decided by elections. But who stands for elections and which candidates the BJP and the RSS project is their own business. Does Mr Sanghvi mean that the BJP needs to hold elections for its candidates?

And "That will leave the field clear for a new generation: the Modis, the Jaitleys, the Sushmas, etc. Even the toothy Ananth Kumar is now presenting himself as a future BJP leader!

The RSS will bring in another generation of state leaders: Manohar Parrikar, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Raman Singh, etc.

By the beginning of next year, the BJP of Vajpayee and Advani will be dead. In its place, we will have a new BJP, its leadership a combination of mass-murderers, state chieftains and rootless politicians. All of them will take orders from the RSS."

Again, excuse me? Is it bad to be a state chieftain and a rootless politician? And mass murderers really? We have enough of those everywhere, especially in the UPA.

A generational change, decided by RSS or not will do the BJP a world of good. The thing to see is which way the new generation goes.

Are you left, right or center?

Are you a left or a right winger? Wiki (my ultimate source of useless info) has once again done it with this piece http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-right_politics

I think its hard to come up with black and white answers to the question. One could probably define ones political positions in each category. Heres a crack at mine:

1. Economy : I am probably right of center on this. I think a smaller government, minimal intervention and meritocracy is the way to go. The success of Texas as a state as opposed to California would probably be my poster boy for this argument. The government does have a role to play as shown in the recent economic crisis but should be minimal and not straight jacketed control around how the private enterprise operates.
2. Revolt against existing order : I am probably centrist on this. I think the social order needs to change in a few spheres and remain the same or even go back in a few spheres. LGBT rights, racial discrimination, caste in India are probably the areas where we need to go liberal. Revival of Hindu philosophy, vedic traditions especially in India where we probably need to revisit history.
3. Worker's interest vs Corporate profits: Again a centrist. Its probably a choice between workers and shareholders and personal gain. I think its a balance as both the shareholders and the workers are a part of the same populace. And whats the point of a Corporation if it doesnt make profits and reinvest for progress?
4. Equality of outcome vs equality of opportunity: I am a right winger on this. I think equal opportunities need to be provided but the outcome decided by merit. This especially holds in the case of affirmative action and reservation in India. I do believe the backward castes need to be given opportunities, but you should not control the outcome by forcibly reserving seats and positions.
5. Religion in government : I am left winger on this. I believe in freedom of religions and a secular Govt. Hence would probably back the Democrats on this. In India I do not believe that the Congress is secular at all and indulges in minority appeasement. Hence I support the BJP and the RSS which push for the Uniform Civil Code. And if any religion is to dominate, I would rather have the RSS dominate.
6. Scientific progress: Left of center. Anything for curing people and easing pain. I would however think twice before human cloning. On abortion, I think it should be legal but done on a case by case basis and not indiscriminately.
7. Military : Totally a right winger. The United States and India both have heavily militarized enemies and we have no choice but to be right wing and militaristic as well.

Having said all this one cant elect totally on positions but has to look at the candidates as well. Obama and Manmohan Singh would be my choice in contrast to their opponents.

RSS and the BJP

I am currently following the happenings in the BJP quite closely these days. I am bittersweet about the intervention of the RSS. The fact that the BJP is heavily reliant on the RSS for any organization leads us to be skeptical about its ability to manage itself let alone the country. However the RSS itself has a young (relatively) new face in Mr Mohan Bhagwat and the BJP would probably go the way the RSS does. If the RSS chooses to go a more modern route I would be more interested in the outcome. If the RSS goes to the extreme right, then I would think the BJP would be unelectable.

God save the media

I think the worst of India can be currently seen in its media. Stumbled accross this article.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-crisis-deepens-rss-chief-meets-vajpayee/100674-37.html?from=search

What I do not understand is how Bhagwat meeting Vajpayee and asking about this health and having a chat translates to the crisis deepening in the BJP? How about Mr. Sardesai (who needs to get the amplifier in his throat uninstalled ) and the illustrious Ms Dutt who wants to know "How are you feeling" when the Taj burns (orgasm Ms Dutt orgasm...) and the other cronies who display in excruciating detail where the commandoes are stationed... going and revising their journalism course material? I am assuming that they have journalistic backgrounds that is.

Random news and links

India will launch its first nuke submarine. Cant wait for the next Agni V

This is especially heartening after the Sharm-e-Sheikh episode. Mr Singh, what do we have to say to Pakistan except for stop terrorism? And how did Balochistan come into the picture? Was this a communication issue or a tactical mistake or something else?