Afternoon Despatch & Courier
MUMBAI | FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014
Was the slap stage-managed? ARVIND Kejriwal was slapped yet again and this time by his own supporter, which gives rise to suspicion that the whole thing could be stage managed for garnering sympathy just a couple of days before elections in Delhi. Also Kejriwal meets the person who slapped him under camera glare and every ill will is forgotten. While all forms of violence needs to be condemned in the strongest possible ways, politicians too should not dramatise events for publicity. People have high hopes on Arvind because they identify him as being noncorrupt and honest. But people expect governance from elected leaders and Kejriwal let down his followers by giving up power in Delhi only to concentrate on the national elections. Accountability to voters is the key and one hopes that Kejriwal would not commit the Delhi mistake of running away from power ever again. People today feel saddened and let down which is the reason for Kejriwal's declining popularity after he became a hero overnight. Our country though needs honest politicians like Kejriwal and thus one hopes that he is given another chance by the voters to prove his loyalty to them.
TACTICS? Kejriwal has been slapped by an aam aadmi yet again, in complete public view during one of his rallies.
days of non performance "earned" him a slap, one can imagine what a 2190 days (six years) of BJP government and 3,560 days of Congress government at the Centre deserves for their non performance? One is not taking into account the lethargic state governments. The theory of the act being stage managed does not hold water because why would somebody target himself to highlight his so called — Chandramohan, Ghatkopar "mismanagement". Or are people THIS refers to the editorial 'AAP seriously disappointed with him chief attacked by an aam aadmi' perceiving to be the man who (ADC, Apr. 9). Reportedly this is KEJRIWAL was slapped by an auto could really deliver? If so then oththe fifth time, in the last few days, rickshaw driver yesterday for al- ers are already assumed to be fake that Arvind Kejriwal has been leged non-fulfilment of promises politicians who can get elected (by slapped in public. Interestingly, all that he had made when forming default) but cannot be trusted. — Abdul Monim, Vashi those so called 'slaps' have been the government in Delhi. If his 49 manner for more than a decade. The Congress party as a whole stands shaken by the sheer proven ability of Modi. People at large all over the country are fondly, eagerly and anxiously looking forward to end this Congress regime and make Modi the PM and quite sanguine that the country will have the benefit of his skills towards development, contain inflation and defend our sacred borders. — T.M. Uday Shankar, Mumbai
SP and Congress
Dawn of development MODI filed his nomination as a BJP candidate from Vadodara and was accompanied by a tea vendor and a member of Gaekwad royal family. This signifies his humility by according respect to a person who is doing a job which he was doing earlier for a living. Modi has shown 'reverence' to the Royal family as he was born in Bhavnagar in Saurashtra said to have been under the then Gaekwad kingdom. He is the clear winner from Vadodara and Varanasi and the immediate next PM. It is heartwarming to note that Modi has come the hard way, from a tea vendor to this level where he is today. He has endured all the testing circumstances and proved his ability in developing Gujarat in a unique
Auto mela at Kandivali
any other poltical parties which are nothing but bogus and misleading THERE is always a mela of autos at with false promises as the parties the Kandivli station (W) haphaz- forget the voters as well as their ardly parked here. It seems that the promises after coming to power. concerned authorities are blind to People should not bother about the this problem of people of Kandivli manifestos of the parties and vote (W). There is no queue system nor consciously to those candidates any rules are followed by the auto who believe in action and work for drivers, since they know too well people's welfare rather than talking that they are absolutely safe. This is only on the paper without any acthe second time I am writing about tion. — Bhagwan Thadani, Mumbai this. It is also very difficult to even walk here as there is hardly any space for pedestrians. Inspite of knowing this, the traffic authorities THIS is in response to the open letter by J. Dias of Christian Secular do not take any positive steps. Once in a blue moon, if a cop Forum to its Dalit flock to vote for does visit the area, hardly any dif- secular parties (ADC, Mar. 7). Has Christianity in India failed to preference is noticed in the situation. I hope that the traffic police take vent cancer of caste afflicting its notice of this and take stern action laity? Further isn't it sad to find that 60 years of secular dispensation has against the auto drivers. — Perin Akolawala, Mumbai failed to improve the the lot of Dalit Christians. If Dias had his headquarters in Delhi, Madam Sonia would have approached him also IN their all-out efforts to pin down just as she called upon Imam the BJP at any cost, the Congress Bukhari. seems to have chanced upon a During British rule many Dalits "golden opportunity" in the Amit converted to Christianity due to Shah case. However, in a hurry to folly of upper caste Hindus, but gain an upper hand over the Saffron their social status did not improve. Party, the Congress appears to be If Dias seeks to improve the social going overboard. By attacking Amit respectability or acceptability of Shah from all the fronts, the party Dalit Christians, the reservations would be unwittingly making a mar- won't help. If economic improvetyr out of him. He can very well grab ment is desired, then why only for a lot of media attention and portray poor Christians and Muslims? Why himself as a victim who is being not for poor Hindus? Is that secuhounded by the secular lobby for no larism? Virendra Kapoor has exfault of his. Such an eventuality will posed the hollowness of secularism prove to be counter-productive and of secular parties. (same date) Dias will, on the contrary, affect the must have read that. If more and chances of the Congress itself. more groups are brought under — Arun Malankar, Santacruz fixed overall quota for reservations, there will be fights between its present beneficiaries.
Really secular?
nothing more than mild taps, on the cheeks. This gives strong credence to the theory that the whole exercise is being stage-managed by the Aam Aadmi Party; to be in the news and also to gain sympathy for Kejriwal and his party. Notwithstanding the fact that we Indians are an emotional lot, we are not fools not to see through the silly game of AAP. The electorate — S.N. Kabra, Goregaon will surely give a fitting reply to AAP, for such misadventures.
HOPEFUL: Thousands of voters across the country are viewing Modi as their saviour from corruption and misgovernance, and are looking forward to an NDA government led by him.
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LETTERS
www.afternoondc.in
ON one hand, Rahul Gandhi alleges that BJP ‘divides’ the nationals into Hindus and Muslims. But shockingly, Congress’ probable post election ally party SP’s Azam Khan says that the Kargil war was won because of the Muslim jawans, and not Hindu jawans. People may hope that Congress will be sufficiently cautious in the matter of joining its ‘hand’ with such divisive party, SP any time in future, just for the ‘chair.’ Rahul also seems to have forgotten conveniently that his own grandma and former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi had started to divide Indians into Hindus and Muslims, obviously for ‘chair’ since 1969, continued by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi till date, followed by Congress’ similar vote greedy allies like NCP, RJD, SP, BSP and few other parties. On the other hand, the Congress-appointed Union steel minister Beniprasad Verma addresses Narendra Modi as a goon, and Rajnath Singh as Modi’s slave. But Verma forgot very conveniently that there are many goons in his
‘Golden opportunity’
Vote consciously
THE manifesto by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the 2014 general elections is nothing but waste own party Congress, and the Con- of time and money as it is a copygress-men and women are slaves of paste of the Congress party's manithe ‘mother-son’ duo since long, till festo with various promises which already exist. I strongly feel that the date. — Hansraj Bhat, Borivali BJP's manifesto will not be implemented as they are not going to get the majority by reaching the halfway mark of the 272+ seats and will "ELECTIONS are coming. Universal have to compromise or surrender peace is declared, and the foxes before their allies by preparing the have a sincere interest in prolong- manifesto of the NDA. It is high ing the lives of the poultry", so said time that the people of India should George Elliot under 'Ponder Awhile' not trust the manifestos of BJP and (ADC, Mar. 8). How true and appropriate! Indeed, everyone is trying hard for their personal gains via the elections and as such trying very hard lest the fish escapes the net! And, indeed unless the 'poultry' is IT is heartening to note that we protected, how the hyenas and the still have good Samaritans like foxes and the vultures and rattle the Bhayandar braveheart, Robin snakes would survive without Krishna Karkee who would rush 'meat' or 'moolah'? All are eagerly to the help of a girl in distress unwaiting in great anticipation for the mindful of the risk he was putting great happening - this forthcoming himself to. No praise will be too elections! — P. Chakravorty, Fort high for his act of selfless bravery and the MBMC municipal commissioner and his deputy have done well to have appreciated his IN the media and electoral brawl on courage and felicitated him secularism, minority votes, etc peo('Brave heart felicitated, ADC, ple seem to have forgotten the most Apr. 10). In these bad, days when secular leader of the Congress. Uncrimes against women are so fortunately his death changed the rampant, we need more men like course of Indian history. Many HinRobin to give our womenfolk a dus and even members of the RSS sense of security. The girl's parand BJP shed copious tears on his ents and relatives have to arrange death and the minority heaved a to send the girl for work along sigh of relief. He was so secular that with other girls and not alone eshe would have put the RSS and BJP pecially when the accused has to shame making them look like boy been reportedly stalking her for scouts. The secular leader – Sanjay some time. — Dr. V. Subramanyan, Thane Gandhi.
Ponder awhile!
— A.K.R. Hemmady, Virar
Poor PM! APROPOS 'Why is PM not in poll fray?' (ADC, Apr. 7), the analysis by this edit piece is thread bare in respect of the reasons which stood in the way to PM's actively participating in the current Lok Sabha election for the Congress party and at the same time it graphically exposes the PM indicating his degree of leniency to let go the colossal corrupt ministers like DMK's A Raja, Kanimozi and others. — Bikram Banerjea, Mumbai
A good Samaritan!
Secular Congress leader
— T.R. Ramaswami, Kandivali
WELL DONE! Robin Krishna Karkee, who saved his female neighbour from a jilted lover's attack, is an example of immense bravery, and deserves accolades.