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March 12, 1999
ELECTIONS '98
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'BJP's downfall will be more spectacular than its rise'
How readers reacted to T V R Shenoy's recent columnsDate: Fri, 05 Mar 1999 10:29:19 PSTFrom: "Mahesh Kalla" <dhutt@hotmail.com> Subject: Bofors and Bihar Dear sir, I have no intention of doubting TVR's well-reasoned arguments, but so much has been written on Bofors, so many governments have followed it and nothing concrete has emerged. Why? If it's so simple and straightforward, why is the BJP government not highlighting it? I am, like so many others, really confused about it, or may be I am sceptical of it all.
Mahesh Kalla
Dear Rediff, Startling exposure of Sonia's, and, hence, Congress's hypocrisy! Why don't other columnists base their articles on facts as TVR does? Most of them either write in a verbose manner or launch a diatribe against a particular party or person. They end up writing hate articles. On Sonia's circus, it is unfortunate that a majority of the voters will never get to know her double dealings. Probably Christian lives are more valuable to her than those of poor dalits! The Vir Sanghvis and Sais should learn to write objectively. Their stuff reads more like flights of fantasy.
Vadiraj M R
Please keep up the good work in finding out the truth. What is there in the article is the simple truth. I hope the people of India understand all this. I was a Congress sympathiser once, but after Mrs Gandhi was elected the president, I have come to the conclusion that what Mahatma Gandhi said has to be done... dissolve the Congress party!! How can a party like the Congress elect Mrs Gandhi as its president??? What good has she done to the nation all these years??? What is the Congress president's qualification... wife of an ex-prime minister and daughter-in-law of an ex-prime minister??? I think all the leaders of the Congress should be taught common sense!!! All those who were involved in Bofors should be put behind bars!!!
Dear Rediff, The analyses by T V R Shenoy are very revealing. This should be yet another nail in the coffin of Sonia Gandhi, and the anti-national Congressmen. It is news to many that Sonia sought to take Indian citizenship only after 15 years of marriage in the first political family of India. Add to these facts the disclosures of Maneka Gandhi, that Rajiv and Sonia had sought protection in a foreign embassy after the defeat of Indira Gandhi in 1977, for fear of being lynched! How Vir Sanghvi and company has tried to provide cover to Sonia by calling Maneka and her late husband names is equally revealing. The links with the Italian mafia of the Quattrocchis and the now revealed financial harakiri, and the Bihar connection, thanks to T V R Shenoy, bear ample testimony that a much bigger conspiracy than was initially suspected may be in store for India. No nation plays with one's security in as cavalier a fashion as the current Congress party seems to be doing. Even US-born citizens have to undergo a severe test of integrity and security clearance procedures for letting them into classified, secret or top-secret establishments, or even projects. Here we are talking about handing over the reins and defence of a whole nation, and Sonia is not being subjected to any security clearance requirements? Shouldn't a PIL be filed in the Supreme Court to ensure that a foreign citizen, with no fundamental loyalty or service to the nation, is barred from occupying the high office till a complete enquiry into his/her antecedents is completed, and the person has been an Indian citizen for a minimum period of say 10-15 years? But the Congress is smelling power, and for the Jaichands of the country, handing it over to its enemies is like repeating history! BJP may have political difficulty in raising the issue of 'security' in letting nationals of foreign origin acquire sensitive positions in the country through political marriages; but the seriousness of the issue demands that they raise these issues now. National need demands political courage. What is most intriguing is the connivance of the media through their 'silence'. Time for sensitivity to the name of the Gandhi family is long past. The need of the hour is the security and integrity of the nation. Will Rediff publish this letter to test the reaction of the people?
Col Rajendra Aggarwala (retd)
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 22:49:16 EST A good example of investigative and serious journalism. Dr Vinod Prakash
T V R Shenoy, you need to be congratulated for such a fantastic investigation. The poor masses in India or the illiterate Congressmen hanging on to Sonia's saree are unaware of these facts. What can we do to make them more public? Let the common men in India know about these things. God bless u and long live India and Indians. Ramachandran
The Bofors issue has been a thorn in the side of the Italians who have lived in India and profited from it. The Quattrocchis were not only Italians, they were very good friends of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi. They did not profit from Bofors in a legal way but committed so much fraud, all with the blessings of Sonia. Sonia knows that in India corruption is one subject that will never get investigated, as most of the people with some kind of authority are corrupt or let it happen with their eyes shut. The system is not set up to deal with corruption. We should call corruption "lobbying" like in the USA and do away with the subject altogether. No one is investigating the Gandhi wealth in the whole scandal. Why not?
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 23:14:27 -0500 I used to really enjoy T V R Shenoy's articles in the Week when I was back home in India. But of late, he seems to be bending over backwards to attack Sonia Gandhi and other non-BJP leaders. Not that I'm saying that they are holy people, but, seriously, what the people want is good governance.and I don't think the BJP has lived up to its boast of being a 'different party'. I don't think anybody still has hopes of recovering the Bofors or Quattrocchi kickbacks. What has the BJP on its part done in this regard? Moving over to Bihar, I think if the people of Bihar elect Laloo& co, they deserve the present govt. It's funny to note the Central govt adopting a holier-than-thou attitude in this regard. All that the people want is 'an able leader, stable govt.' Not just the slogan. If the BJP doesn't pull up its socks soon, its downfall will be more spectacular than its rise the last decade.
Sree Ram.B
Date:
Sun, 07 Mar 1999 18:04:24 +0530
TVR as usual is darned right. A similar reason is why the Congress is so desperate to get to power by Dec 99. On Dec 2, 1999, Sonia will no longer get SPG protection and, as is her wont, like she and Rajiv hid in the embassy after the loss of elections in '77, she will this time go back to eating pastas and pizzas in Turin after Dec1. Let's all pray that the present government survives at least till then. Ranjit
Date:
Fri, 26 Feb 1999 21:31:40 -0800 (PST)
I fully agree with the author about the reasons for the Lahore expedition. It is a fact that both the countries cannot afford war. Although it sounds like appeasement, we should try to establish trade relations with Pak. Hopefully that will dispel notions in the minds of top Pakistani administration about India's desires. Both countries need major economic upliftment. I feel the Indian govt should focus on economic development and growth. We must strengthen our industrial infrastructure and development policies. We must have honest and willing people at the top level to do these things. Vajpayee did do a good job by maintaining India's dignity and honour. We should have a wait and watch policy about Pak. May be India's new overtures will bring some subtle changes. Rajeev
Date:
Sat, 27 Feb 1999 07:09:12 +0600
All that talk of 'brotherhood' leaves me cold, Shenoy. That sums it up. Unfortunately, there are too many Shenoys in Gandhi's India. Literate, intelligent men talking in self-contradictory terms over an obsession. If Kashmir does go to Pakistan, the relations would enter a new era of peace, and quite probably any Indian would then be able to go and even live permanently there with no fear -- something you will never achieve by being the big bully. A Shafee
Date:
Fri, 26 Feb 1999 19:43:54 -0500
TVR Shenoy has correctly summarised the need for better relations between India & Pakistan. Both the nations will benefit from this. Good luck.
Dr M Gupta
Date:
Fri, 26 Feb 1999 21:37:24 -0200
Kudos to Mr Shenoy for writing such an excellent article. Pakistanis and all unpatriotic Muslims living in India can forget about India ever giving an inch of Kashmir away. India should establish good relations with Israel and soon enough we will also have the US on our side. Then, if it comes to a war again, the US would only be a bystander.
Date:
Fri, 26 Feb 1999 12:47:53 -0600
Well thought out article. Even if this trip saved one life, it was worth it. It's a lot better than what Ms Italy's party can think of and do.
Regards,
Date:
Fri, 12 Feb 1999 15:01:26 -0500
I read somewhere that TVR was the Govt of India's nominee to head the Prasar Bharati after the well-deserved exit of Gill. I hope for Rediff 's readers' sake that that nomination is held up further so we can continue to have the benefit of Shenoy's wisdom and experience through his columns. Most columnists seem fixated on a single ideology; unable to see when their own are in the wrong, and all too quick to see the worst in the opposition. Thank God for the few like Shenoy who take a clear ideological stance but are not blind to its occasional missteps and miscues.
Srinivas Sunder |
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