• BJP finds its winning mojo: alliances and incumbency
• Blunt talk
• Advani wants zero tolerance towards

• Global action needed to address poverty: economist
• Anti-Conversion Law comes into force in Himachal

This could be the tonic the BJP was looking for. Tuesday's election results are a clear morale booster for it, and taken together with last year's convincing Bihar win, the double victory can reinforce those who feel party can expect to replicate the Congress formula to win the main trophy, the 2009 polls - sit tight, go for strategic partnerships, and hope the incumbency factor breaks for you. Seen from another perspective, the victories could encourage those who increasingly talk of the emergence of a right-wing constituency sensitive to the Hindutva message (the campaign in Uttarakhand had a saffron hue). While this lot is not large enough to propel the saffronites to power on their own, they can gather critical mass when there is fusion of Hindutva issues - appeasement, minorityism, softness-on-terror etc - with grievances like non-governance, inflation and so on. It can breathe fresh air into the party's campaign for UP, and spark a flurry of fresh attempts to mend fences with allies whom it discarded because of hubris and rope in new ones. In terms of intra-party dynamics, the party will now appear even more a combination of satraps rather than a centrally-controlled entity it had set out as. A significant pointer to that effect came no sooner than the results had come, with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar singling out party general secretary Arun Jaitley for handsome compliments. The praise appears well-deserved since the BJP general secretary almost single-handedly fashioned the alliance which besides fetching the record tally of 18, also saw the party moving beyond its urban Hindu constituency and even eye the post of deputy chief minister. He managed the lavish campaign to the last detail, quelled dissidence which proved Congress's undoing and even helped Akalis put together an effective strategy. More crucially, he pulled this off despite a very overt attempt by the leadership to trim his wings by dropping him as the chief spokesperson. The strike almost put a wrench in the party's works in Punjab. But now that he has steered the party to the victory stand yet again his fifth successful campaign in a row including in tough states like Bihar and Karnataka Jaitley can emerge as power to reckon with in concert with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. Modi, who has his own axe to grind with the leadership, has, in any case, emerged as the saffron subedar of Gujarat. The Uttarakhand results mark a leg-up for another central leader, Ravi Shankar Prasad, who along with RSS's Ramlal ran the successful campaign. Prasad, who has so far been in the shadow of his seniors like Jaitley, can now hope to make the transition to the Senior League even if he has some more stairs to climb.

Courtesy: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com, February 28, 2007

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Economist Kaushik Basu feels that only a coordinated action at the global level will help address the problems of inequality and poverty, which remain a cause of worry in the country despite the good aggregate growth. A global approach was required as individual countries could not do much in the age of globalisation. "Poverty and inequality are something to do with the pressures of globalisation," he told The Hindu here on Saturday. Stating that many countries, including China, faced the same challenges, the Professor of Economics and the C. Marks Professor of International Studies at Cornell University said poverty and inequality in India may have declined in recent years, but this was not enough. Prof. Basu, who is also the director of the programme on Comparative Economic Development at the University, was in Chennai recently where `The Oxford Companion to Economics in India,' edited by him and published by Oxford University Press was launched. He was optimistic about the country keeping up the average growth rate in the years ahead. This, however, did not mean a smooth path as road bumps were bound to be there. But what was heartening was the rise in the savings rate. To a query on the measures required for further growth, he said India was literally the service sector champion. The manufacturing sector, however, was "not doing well enough." This could be improved by developing infrastructure - for which he favoured use of a part of the foreign exchange reserves - and addressing issues concerning labour market regulations. Underscoring the need to re-evaluate the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, Prof. Basu said the scenario was not good for the Indian working class in terms of either living standards or employment avenues. On making the exit norms easier for the companies, he said while the firms should have the option of expanding and contracting, the workers must have a greater freedom of contract. `The Oxford Companion to Economics in India' was intended for researchers, economic journalists and the corporate world. Containing articles by 200 writers, "it is quite substantial" and in retrospect working on it was "great fun," Prof. Basu said.

Courtesy: www.hindu.com, February 27, 2007

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Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech at the 43rd Munich meet on security policy has stirred the hornets' nest. Reactions are pouring out from all parts of the globe, more so from Washington that is visibly disturbed and angry over President Putin's unmitigated criticism. Pointing out that the world today was witnessing an "almost unrestrained hyper-use of force - military force, in international relations" that was plunging it into an "abyss of permanent conflicts," the Russian President did not hesitate to point his finger at the United States. "One country, the United States has overstepped its national borders in every way," he said, maintaining that it was apparent in the economic, political, cultural and educational policies, Washington was imposing on other nations. Angry about the missiles located by the US near the Russian border, President Putin, in effect, raised all the points that are being heard in capitals outside the US and its bloc of allies today. The vicious circle being created by the American use of force, that basically encouraged countries to acquire nuclear weapons and gave a global character to terrorism, was pointed to by President Putin in his speech. He also drew attention to the fact that despots and human rights violators were merrily participating in military operations, while the conflicts around the world were killing civilians in thousands. It was a strong speech, and clearly an assertion of a new, more confident and secure Russia. The issues were important, but so was the language in which these were addressed, as also the venue where President Putin chose to hit out at "unilateral and frequently illegitimate actions." This speech was long overdue, but that President Putin chose the time and the place with great care was evident. It also preceded his tour of West Asia, where he stopped in countries like Saudi Arabia known for their pro-US stance. The nations feeling the pressure from the US, particularly in West Asia and Africa, could be virtually heard sighing with relief as an assertive Russia could counter the unilateralism that President Putin himself has described as a bane, causing new human tragedies. Some analysts from the West have spoken of a return to the Cold War days, but this is clearly an exaggeration, and President Putin has taken care to build relations with the US at different levels, and varied international platforms, before speaking his mind. Inter-dependencies have been created, but Moscow has taken the lead to point out that the world has to function through a multipolar, transparent, and more equitable order. The trilateral platform with Russia and China, and now a more willing India on board will also be an important alternative focusing on security and development issues for the immediate region. Washington will do well to understand the sense behind President Putin's speech, and instead of turning it into an issue of confrontation, use it for necessary stock-taking and the formulation of a new, transparent, and humane international policy.

Courtesy: www.asianage.com, February 23, 2007

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An Anti-Conversion Law has come into force in Himachal Pradesh with Governor V S Kokje giving his assent to it. It has become the first Congress-ruled state to adopt legislation banning illegal religious conversions. The Governor signed the legislation passed by the state assembly in its winter session in December, Raj Bhawan sources said today. During the session at Dharamsala, the BJP had obtained a commitment from Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for a law to stop conversions in the state. Similar legislation exists in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, all ruled by the BJP. The legislation proposes a two-year prison term and a fine of Rs 25,000 or both for persons found guilty of abetting and indulging in conversion from one religion to another. In case of conversion of women and persons belonging to Dalit and tribal communities, the punishment will be three years of rigourous inmprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000. Under the legislation, anybody willing to convert from one religion to another will have to give a month's notice to the District Magistrate, who after an inquiry, can grant permission to do so. The population of Christians in Himachal Pradesh is not more than 10,000, but the BJP and Hindu organisations have from time to time complained about conversions by missionary groups.

Courtesy: www.zeenews.com, February 21, 2007

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The ruling UPA came under heavy fire from the main opposition BJP over the suspected terror attack on a train in Haryana as senior party leader L K Advani accused the centre of "complete failure" in tackling terrorism and sought zero tolerance towards the scourge. "The bomb blast in the train from Delhi to Attari itself goes to show that terrorists are still operating and are in command. The UPA government's approach lacks a concerted policy to tackle terrorists," he told PTI over phone from Pantnagar in Uttarakhand. The BJP leader also referred to National security adviser M K Narayanan's recent comments in Munich about manipulation of stock markets by terror groups to generate funds, calling them a matter of serious concern. He flayed the UPA for scrapping POTA and accused it of attempts to save Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal from execution. "The BJP feels that the UPA government should adopt zero tolerance policy against terrorism," he remarked.

Courtesy: www.newindpress.com, February 20, 2007

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