#BJP structure

[iyemarathichiyenagari1971]

वाजपेयी ते मोदी…

देशात अनेक राजकीय पक्ष आहेत की, त्यांच्यात वारंवार फाटाफूट झाली किंवा विभाजन झाले. भाजपा हा एकच पक्ष आहे की, तो सर्वत्र विस्तारत असतानाही अभंग आहे. राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघाच्या संस्कारातून तयार झालेले कार्यकर्ते हा भाजपाचा मुख्य आधार आहे. तो कधी विचलीत होत नाही, निष्ठा बदलत नाही. त्याला सत्तेचा मोह नाही. त्याची बांधिलकी विचारांशी आहे. डॉ. सुकृत खांडेकर जगातील सर्वात मोठा राजकीय पक्ष म्हणून…

[townpostin]

BJP Gears Up for Jharkhand Assembly Polls as Key Leaders Visit Ranchi

Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Himanta Biswa Sarma to strategize and launch tree planting drive Party aims to strengthen organizational structure from booth level upwards ahead of elections. RANCHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jharkhand is ramping up preparations for the upcoming assembly elections with the arrival of central leaders in Ranchi. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister and BJP’s…

[curtwilde]

There is a concept in political science called 'Garrison state'. That is, a state that is based on military structure, military expenditure, borders, security and military expenditure. The purpose of the garrison state is to reduce civil rights by giving great importance to the military sector. The modus operandi of the garrison state is to repeatedly warn the people of danger, to frighten them, to terrorize them and to demand loyalty to the state to remove that fear. During the Cold War, the US imperialist power called its country a 'garrison state' by instilling Soviet fear. Parliamentary democracy could not be established in Pakistan's internal politics. Pakistan has become a garrison state dependent on the army since Independence. The current BJP government is walking on that path. To live in the country, one has to live in extreme fear and insecurity. This mock drill is to create this feeling and make them forget about civil rights, democratic values, social security and public welfare.

[certified-yapper-guy]

this is probably unrelated but lately I've been feeling humanity is doomed if each of us don't confront out disturbing beliefs. I think psychology has a huge role to play in this. we recreate power structures and bridges in any scenario. a man frm a dalit tribe will support bjp because he's fucking jealous of his neighbour. I'm so disappointed that even if we're able to hold anybody accountable human behaviour and psyche is so reptilian. it all seems so bleak.

not unrelated. the ruling class understand human behaviour very well because they have the luxury of time to observe. the rise of fascism in the world attacks the minds of those anxious individuals, who like many feel hopeless at the state of affairs. it preys on their fears, insecurities, and frustrations while giving them a false sense of power and belonging.

human behaviour isn’t just reptilian—we’re also capable of solidarity, resistance, and change. hierarchies aren’t natural, they’re conditioned.

as frustrating as it is to see people uphold oppressive systems, we can’t afford to fall into hopelessness. change doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen—if we do the work. i’ve seen firsthand that making people uncomfortable is the only way to get them to confront their beliefs. i grew up around these views too, and the only reason i unlearned them was because people around me were vocal. this is exactly why i keep using the hindublr tags, i want to make them uncomfortable with reality.

that’s why we have to keep pushing, in whatever space we have—whether it’s social media, family conversations, or friend groups. be vocal. make people uncomfortable. that’s how shifts happen.

[mariacallous]

While India’s Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi appear poised to return to power for a third consecutive term—a feat accomplished by a premier only once before in the country’s history—they are much diminished, having failed to secure a parliamentary majority on their own. In his 10 years in power, Modi has never had to rely on coalition partners. The election marks not only the end of single-party control in the Indian Parliament but also the BJP’s having peaked. Coalition governments—the natural order for India’s democracy since the late 1980s, except for the past decade—are back to stay.

The BJP’s supremacy over the past decade was the result of several factors. In Modi, the party had a once-in-a-generation leader whose charisma and communication abilities placed him head and shoulders above the competition in terms of popularity among voters. Religious appeals, welfare programs (especially those aimed at women and the poor), and organizational capabilities that gave the party a superior ground game all helped. So did a ruthlessness in deploying the dark arts of politics, a disunited and weak opposition, and access to oodles of campaign finance.

The BJP’s manifest hegemony appeared to presage its continued dominance of the Indian political landscape well into the future. But from the summit, the only way is down. Of course, the party may stay near its peak for a while and climb down slowly—but that is not a matter of if, but when.

Although robust political competition is a hallmark of democracies, a surprisingly large number have been dominated by a single political party for long periods of time. Examples include Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, the Christian Democrats in Italy, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in Mexico, and the Democratic Party in Botswana. India itself was dominated by the Indian National Congress party for many decades, and the communist Left Front ran the state of West Bengal unchallenged for three-and-half decades.

When in power, these dominant parties seemed unassailable—until they were not. In some cases, this happened when economic development and technological change altered the structure of the economy and the relative power of different social groups. The green revolution in India, for example, empowered farmers from middle castes who had long been excluded from the Congress party’s social coalition. Their economic ascendency translated into political power that pushed out the Congress in populous North Indian states. The shift from manufacturing to services and the concomitant decline of unions also undermined a major social base of the dominant left-of-center parties.

In many postcolonial states, the party that led the country to independence enjoyed a special legitimacy. But with each successive generation, societal memories of epochal historical events faded. It took seven decades with the PRI in Mexico and three decades with the African National Congress in South Africa (as last week’s election results demonstrate). India’s Congress party played a pivotal role in the nation’s freedom struggle, but while the halo effect persisted for decades, it inevitably dimmed.

Dominant parties can also fade because of national crises driven by international events—such as an economic shock or a defeat in wars. But for many of them, the longer that they are in power, the more that institutional sclerosis sets in. Call it the law of political entropy. As the French political scientist Maurice Duverger put it in the 1960s, the dominant party “wears itself out in office, it loses its vigor, its arteries harden. … Every domination bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.”

The longer that the BJP was in power, the more that those seeds sprouted within the party. The BJP’s singular strength has been its leader, Narendra Modi. The Congress party also had such a leader in Indira Gandhi, who—like Modi—towered above her contemporaries. The popularity of both leaders far outweighed that of their parties.

But that very strength became their Achilles’ heel as a personality-driven style of party and politics emerged. For the BJP, increasing centralization, declining intraparty democracy, and the cutting-to-size of regional leaders who were not subserviently loyal to national the leader all took their toll. Efforts to engineer defections from opposition parties (through both blandishments and coercion) meant that gradually, the party became a magnet for opportunists rather than those with deep ideological commitments.

Under Modi’s rule, such coercion often took the form of dropping corruption cases against opposition party members who defected to the BJP. But this did not mean that the defectors became less corrupt; a leopard doesn’t change its spots. There’s little wonder, then, that even though the BJP had ridden an anti-corruption wave to power in 2014, preelection polls published in April this year found that more than half of respondents (55 percent) believed that corruption had increased in the past five years. Committed party workers have begun to lose interest as party hoppers brought in for short-term gains crowd them out in coveted positions. A favorite goal of the BJP’s leadership was to create a Congress mukt Bharat (“An India free of the Congress”). Ironically, in attempting to do so, the BJP became the embodiment of that very Congress culture.

If the art of victory is learned in defeat, for the BJP, the opposite is proving true. Each new victory brought a validation of the party’s strategies, whether muzzling critics, coercing opponents, or marginalizing religious minorities. The premium on loyalty increased, and voices of dissent become more quiescent. The initial self-confidence that allowed for risk-taking became an overconfidence spilling over to reckless behavior—exemplified by allegations of India’s intelligence agencies seeking to silence overseas critics in Canada and the United States.

The arrogance meant that the party overlooked three countervailing forces.

First, the manifest reality that no party in India wins with a majority of the votes. For a party to win in India’s first-past-the-post system, it needs a plurality of votes—which requires a fragmented opposition. The more hegemonic that the BJP became, the more authoritarian that it became, putting pressure on opposition parties and their leaders. But instead of weakening them, it brought them together. Nothing concentrates the mind like a fight for survival, and, while imperfect and incomplete, the opposition’s decision to join forces in the so-called INDIA coalition limited vote fragmentation.

Second, while successful political parties embody a set of ideas and ideologies that are yoked to policies and programs, all ideas have their life cycles. Postwar Keynesianism had its day for a quarter-century, and neoliberalism subsequently had its own for about three decades. Both are passé today. Political Islam rode high for around three decades after the Iranian revolution, but its energies have since flagged. In India, the secular socialist idea had a run for nearly a half-century, but its increasing opportunism tripped it up, and it was gradually pushed out as the BJP tapped into the plentiful waters of the anxieties and resentments of the Hindu majority.

But the Hindutva ideology has its limits, too. Even though the BJP did deliver on its promise on constructing a Ram temple on the site of a historic mosque, the expected political payoffs did not materialize. In this election, the BJP failed to win even the constituency where the temple was built. Populism can—and does—secure votes for a while. But India’s complex social mosaic cannot be easily pigeonholed into binary categories.

Third, ideologies do not address the quotidian challenges facing voters. The wellsprings of voter discontent run deep, and addressing them is—and will be—difficult.

The foremost challenge is the economy, which has simply been unable to supply decent jobs in adequate numbers. More and more Indians have formal education credentials but meager skills, a sad testimony to the poor quality of the country’s education system. Rising aspirations are hitting the brick wall of precarious jobs as India continues to struggle to strengthen its manufacturing sector. At some point, the millions of disgruntled youths will find ways to voice their frustrations.

These challenges will be greater given the extraordinary technological changes that are upending labor markets—not just in manufacturing, but also the tech services that have been India’s one categorical success. Even robust growth is unlikely to produce the sort of labor demand that one might have expected in the past. And a febrile politics will be rocked even more in the future, as technological change in the form of artificial intelligence is poised to further political turmoil. Managing this will be hard in the best of circumstances. In a polity where polarization is actively encouraged, it’s hard to be sanguine about where this may lead.

India’s election was held under a searing heat wave, a vivid reminder of the inexorable impacts of climate change, whose afflictions are mounting. Indian agriculture is particularly vulnerable as temperatures climb and rainfall patterns change. A bedraggled urban India will face further pressures as the recent water shortages in India’s booming information technology capital, Bengaluru, illustrate. And this is just the beginning.

These are all exceedingly difficult challenges no matter which political party is in power in India. But for now, the one silver lining is that while commentators and experts have been deeply apprehensive about India’s democracy, its voters clearly seem to be less so. Just ask the BJP.

[hindulivesmatter]

Hello, this is concerning [https://www.tumblr.com/hindulivesmatter/742021620037713920/your-people-bulldozed-3-mosques-and-a-madrasa-this?source=share] this post.

I do not know about the bulldozing of mosques and madrassas but police open-fired on Muslim protestors because they were not being peaceful. They stone-pelleted the force heavily. They were outright violent and the orders came to control the situation. This happened in Haldwani, btw.

Didn't want to say anything on that anon bc my words here are constantly being misinterpreted. From what I could gather while looking at the news:

The madrasa was built illegally and the people in control of the structure were unable to furnish documents proving it was built legally.

I saw photos of police officers after the ordeal, they were beat-up and bloody. There were also reports of policewomen's clothes being torn.

BJP has been absolutely ruthless in terms of demolishing buildings on illegal land. Both mosques and temples have been bulldozed. So this isn't only an "oh no BJP's targeting Muslims" situation.

The order for demolition was given by the high court.

Both Muslims and Hindus have been hurt and killed in the riot.

They don't want to get it. They just don't.

[cyndaquillt]

I'm sorry to bother you but all the elections stuff is really confusing me and i don't know what's happening

I'm not at the age of voting but will be by the time of the next elections

Again sorry to be a bother

Not a bother at all! And good on you for wanting to learn about this stuff already! The more informed you are by the time you are of voting age, the more informed of a decision you can make 🙂

Full disclosure, I'm not a social scientist or anything, just an average Indian citizen/voter with some academic expertise (not in this field). If someone reading all this finds something wrong, please feel free to point it out, preferably politely.

TL;DR : Indian parliamentary system is built to thrive on diverse viewpoints representative of its people. An attempt to smooth out dissensions and differences without healthy discussion goes against a democratic system. What we are happy about this week is election of a healthy opposition and a coalition that has the potential of keeping power concentration into one hands in check.

This is a bit of an expansive topic but I'm gonna break down certain key terms that you're gonna hear a lot in the news or other election commentary in the next few days. I'm not sure how much of a background knowledge you already have, so this is super long and detailed. Sorry about that in advance! Take your time reading this, or use it as a reference. Up to you! Follow up questions are more than welcome.

The Indian Parliament: The Indian Parliament is split into two houses, the Lower House or the Lok Sabha/House of the People, and the Upper House or the Rajya Sabha/Council of States. Lok Sabha members are appointed through elections while Rajya Sabha members are selected by the State Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha) and the President. When a new law is proposed as a bill or an ammendment to the constitution is proposed, it must pass through BOTH the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

The Lok Sabha: Lok Sabha has a total of 543 seats, representing 543 electoral constituencies throughout the country. Note that these 543 constituencies aren't exactly based on existing district divisions (eg: The Ayodhya district in UP is in the Faizabad constituency). Constituencies are split by population density. This means a region with more people will have more seats/stronger voice in the Lok Sabha. As a result, the largest state by area, Rajasthan has 25 seats in the Lok Sabha, while the most densely populated state of Uttar Pradesh has 80 seats in the Lok Sabha despite being the 4th largest state in the country. Also means if a political party bags UP, it gives them a huge leg up in winning Lok Sabha elections. To form a government, a political party or a group of political parties (a coalition) needs to have majority in the Lok Sabha. This mean winning over 272 seats or in other words, winning majority votes in 272 or more constituencies. Lok Sabha elections happen every 5 years, and the one that just happened, was a Lok Sabha election.

Important parties and alliances to keep in mind while parsing the news and comments are :

Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP): The ruling party that formed the government in the past two Lok Sabha terms (10 years). Note that in the 2014 and 2019 elections, BJP won a majority without forming an alliance with any other party. BJP's core politics are right-wing, which typically translates to capitalism, socially conservative, and maintaining class hierarchy as a form of order and structure in society.

Indian National Congress (INC or Congress): The main opposition party against the BJP. Indian National Congress's politics are liberal/center. While their polities don't entirely dismantle class/caste divide, they don't entirely aim to privatize sectors or take capitalism as the end all be all.

National Democratic Alliance (NDA): BJP-led coalition that secured majority in Lok Sabha elections and will form the government for the upcoming election term.

Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA): Congress led coalition which didn't get the majority, but did secure 232 out of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha. Even though those that are part of the INDIA coalition won't be forming the government, they will be present in the Lok Sabha as the elected representative of their respective constituency to voice their opinion on any motion that passes through the Lok Sabha.

Janta Dal (United) or JD(U): A political party from Bihar led by Nitish Kumar. JD(U) is currently part of the NDA, however JD(U) joined NDA pretty much right before the elections. As a matter of fact, Nitish Kumar has a tendency to switch sides depending on what he thinks would ensure his power and position. In 2014, when it became apparent that BJP was aiming for a Modi-led government and that Nitish, as someone who is not formally in BJP, didn't stand a chance of even being a cabinet minister, much less the Prime Minister, Nitish left NDA. However, back then, BJP managed to get a clear majority and Nitish's pullback didn't have weight. However, with JD(U) winning 12 seats in this election and BJP having to rely on a coalition government, Nitish's pullback has weight. At the time of writing this, word on the street is Nitish is sticking with the NDA and has made demands for 2 cabinets being handed over to JD(U) (See below cut for info on what is a cabinet).

Telugu Desam Party or TDP: Led by Chandrababu Naidu, TDP is a party with a stronghold in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Currently also in the NDA coalition, TDP managed to win 16 seats in Andhra Pradesh. While Chandrababu Naidu isn't as much of a flip-flopper as Nitish, he has been fairly outspoken against the Modi government in the past. That being said, word on the street is also that Naidu garu may have been offered the position of the Lok Sabha Speaker (as in the person who mediates Lok Sabha discussions) and to also assign 2 cabinet berths to TDP in exchange for their continued support of NDA.

Other notable parties and names:

- DMK : Won 22 seats in Tamil Nadu. Is in the INDIA coalition/opposition. Led by M. K. Stalin.

- AITC or TMC: Won 29 seats in West Bengal. Is in the INDIA coalition/opposition. Led by Mamata Banerjee.

- SP : Won 37 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Is in the INDIA coalition/opposition. Led by Akhilesh Yadav.

All in all, the Indian parliamentary system allows for diverse voices and points of view to be a part of the discussion regarding national policies and lawmaking, even if the said voice doesn't make the ruling government. Something also to keep in mind about Indian politicians specifically is that they rarely think about public welfare and rather prioritize their personal hold on power. None of them are above the other when it comes to scheming on how to maintain power and these schemes often involve tactics to deflect their accountability towards the people.

In its decade long term, BJP as a ruling party has invested on multiple levels to maintain a one-man stronghold. I want to keep this answer objective and won't comment on any specific ruling. However, know that a one-man stronghold and a weak opposition defeats the purpose of the parliament and the constituencies. What most people are celebrating today is having a healthy opposition in place in addition to a coalition which would be a sort of check against power being concentrated into one person's hand.

When you vote in the next election, keep in mind that Indian politicians aren't like bands or artists you should root for. What you will be electing them to are positions of public service. Their priority is power and YOUR vote helps them have that. You are not answerable for their loss, THEY are answerable to YOU.

Also whoever you elect to the Lok Sabha is among the candidates in your constituency. A random schmuck from South Delhi who voted for BJP didn't vote for Modi, they voted for Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, the BJP candidate running from South Delhi. You could make the argument 'they voted for Modi Sarkar!' but the real, flesh and blood person that vote put in the parliament was not Narendra Modi, it was Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. Only people in Varanasi could vote directly for Modi because he contested from there. Had Modi lost the Varanasi seat, he wouldn't have been a member of the Lok Sabha. In which case, even if BJP or NDA made the government, Modi would have to become a part of the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha in the next six months to be chosen as the Prime Minister. Long story short, learn more about the constituency you are in, the candidates and parties in that constituency, the demographic of your community, the problems it faces, and in light of all of that, who is the best candidate to represent your community's voice in the Lok Sabha.

Adding an additional note cabinets, but I think that's a little tangential so it's under the cut. Again, follow up questions more than welcome. Hope this helps you make some sense of the mess that is Indian electoral politics!

Cabinets and Socialism: A Cabinet Minister assumes leadership of one of the 53 ministries within the government. Most countries around the world, regardless of their government system, have a similar structure. Though, I do want to point out that India is a Socialist Republic. What this means, is that there are entire sectors that are folded into a centralized, government funded cabinet as opposed to a third party, like a private company, being responsible for it. Indian Railways are a great example for this. From literally manufacturing trains to operating railway stations to laying down rail lines to issuing tickets, the Ministry of Railway is responsible for all of it. While Indian Railways do have subdivisions to handle different aspects, the Minister of Railways is in-charge of the management of ALL of those subdivisions. There are also sectors like Aviation or Telecom where while the government doesn't own ALL airlines or telecom companies, the government does have it's own public funded unit (Air India in case of aviation and BSNL and MTNL in case of Telecom) and there are cabinet ministers who oversee the management of these units in addition to laying out guidelines and regulations which the entire sector has to follow.

Socialist structures with their govt centralized system help regulate cost and keep cost inflation in check because the purpose of a cabinet that runs on government money is public service, not profit margin (eg: general compartment train tickets are affordable and have been affordable for a long time). In the meantime, privatization of sectors may increase efficiency of a service (eg: Ministry of External Affairs outsourcing passport services to TCS has been a huge success), it may also drive cost inflation, unless checked on by the ministry responsible for the third party contract. We will find out who in the NDA will lead which cabinet on June 8.

[jobaaj]

🔴BREAKING NEWS: BJP-led NDA got majority! But why did the BJP fail to get 300 seats this time? 🤔 What happened?

Indians closely followed the announcement of the latest election results, observing a surprising turn of events for the nationalist ruling government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which faced a humbling outcome yesterday.

In the 2019 elections, the BJP had a remarkable victory, securing 303 seats on its own. However, in the recent elections, the BJP's seat count significantly dropped to 240. Even with the support of its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the coalition couldn't reach the 300-seat threshold.

Although the BJP, along with its NDA allies, still holds a majority, the new government will have to be formed through a coalition, as the BJP did not achieve a sole majority this time around. This marks a notable change in the political scenario, indicating a more collaborative governance structure ahead.

🧐 Why?

Several factors contributed to the decline in the BJP's popularity:

▪ High unemployment rates, rising inflation, and the controversial Agniveer scheme significantly damaged the party's standing among voters.

▪ Additionally, the BJP, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adopted an aggressive campaign strategy. Modi's campaign included several controversial remarks, such as the mangalsutra comment, the mujra remark, and the infiltrator comment, which sparked widespread criticism.

▪ Conversely, the Opposition performed effectively. They successfully consolidated votes through their I.N.D.I.A. alliance, and Akhilesh Yadav skillfully leveraged the PDA strategy.

▪ Furthermore, the Congress party made several enticing promises that, while potentially harmful to economic health (such as the Mahalaxmi scheme, increased MNREGA wages, and MSP guarantee), resonated positively with many voters.

😕What now?: ▪ Despite the disappointing results, the BJP still has the most seats independently and has the majority in Parliament with its allies in NDA.

▪ However, if the JDU and TDP choose to leave the NDA, Narendra Modi would not become the PM!

▪ The NDA is set to meet in Delhi today for the same!!! ❓Is Narendra Modi set to be PM? Or will the NDA betray the BJP?? Follow Jobaaj Stories (the media arm of Jobaaj.com Group for more)

[techno-99]

Narendra Modi Story

Narendra Modi (born September 17, 1950, Vadnagar, India) Indian politician and government official who rose to become a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 2014 he led his party to victory in elections to the Lok Sabha (lower chamber of the Indian parliament), after which he was sworn in as prime minister of India. Prior to that he had served (2001–14) as chief minister (head of government) of Gujarat state in western India.

After a vigorous campaign—in which Modi portrayed himself as a pragmatic candidate who could turn around India’s underperforming economy—he and the party were victorious, with the BJP winning a clear majority of seats in the chamber. Modi was sworn in as prime minister on May 26, 2014. Soon after he took office, his government embarked on several reforms, including campaigns to improve India’s transportation infrastructure and to liberalize rules on direct foreign investment in the country. Modi scored two significant diplomatic achievements early in his term. In mid-September he hosted a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first time a Chinese leader had been to India in eight years. At the end of that month, having been granted a U.S. visa, Modi made a highly successful visit to New York City, which included a meeting with U.S. Pres. Barack Obama.

As prime minister, Modi oversaw a promotion of Hindu culture and the implementation of economic reforms. The government undertook measures that would broadly appeal to Hindus, such as its attempt to ban the sale of cows for slaughter. The economic reforms were sweeping, introducing structural changes—and temporary disruptions—that could be felt nationwide. Among the most far-reaching was the demonetization and replacement of 500- and 1,000-rupee banknotes with only a few hours’ notice. The purpose was to stop “black money”—cash used for illicit activities—by making it difficult to exchange large sums of cash. The following year the government centralized the consumption tax system by introducing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which superseded a confusing system of local consumption taxes and eliminated the problem of cascading tax. GDP growth slowed from these changes, though growth had already been high (8.2 percent in 2015), and the reforms succeeded in expanding the government’s tax base. Still, rising costs of living and increasing unemployment disappointed many as grandiose promises of economic growth remained unfulfilled.

This disappointment registered with voters during the elections in five states in late 2018. The BJP lost in all five states, including the BJP strongholds of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. The rival Indian National Congress (Congress Party) won more state assembly seats than the BJP in all five elections. Many observers believed that this portended bad news for Modi and the BJP in the national elections set for the spring of 2019, but others believed that Modi’s charisma would excite the voters. Moreover, a security crisis in Jammu and Kashmir in February 2019, which escalated tensions with Pakistan to the highest point in decades, boosted Modi’s image just months before the election. With the BJP dominating the airwaves during the campaign—in contrast to the lacklustre campaign of Rahul Gandhi and Congress—the BJP was returned to power, and Modi became India’s first prime minister outside of the Congress Party to be reelected after a full term.

In his second term Modi’s government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, stripping it of autonomy in October 2019 and bringing it under the direct control of the union government. The move came under intense criticism and faced challenges in court, not only for the questionable legality of depriving Jammu and Kashmir’s residents of self-determination but also because the government severely restricted communications and movement within the region.

In March 2020, meanwhile, Modi took decisive action to combat the outbreak of COVID-19 in India, swiftly implementing strict nationwide restrictions to mitigate the spread while the country’s biotechnology firms became key players in the race to develop and deliver vaccines worldwide. As part of the effort to counter the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Modi undertook executive action in June to liberalize the agricultural sector, a move that was codified into law in September. Many feared that the reforms would make farmers vulnerable to exploitation, however, and protesters took to the streets in opposition to the new laws. Beginning in November, massive protests were organized and became a regular disruption, particularly in Delhi.

Modi’s policies backfired in 2021. Protests escalated (culminating in the storming of the Red Fort in January), and extraordinary restrictions and crackdowns by the government failed to suppress them. Meanwhile, despite the remarkably low spread of COVID-19 in January and February, by late April a rapid surge of cases caused by the new Delta variant had overwhelmed the country’s health care system. Modi, who had held massive political rallies ahead of state elections in March and April, was criticized for neglecting the surge. The BJP ultimately lost the election in a key battleground state despite heavy campaigning. In November, as protests continued and another set of state elections approached, Modi announced that the government would repeal the agricultural reforms.

[thegoldenstar]

Everyone in Ladakh knows China has taken away our land: Rahul Gandhi

On Sunday last, Gandhi had claimed that Modi's statement that not an inch of the land in Ladakh has been taken over by China is not true.

KARGIL: Raking up the border issue, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said every individual in Ladakh knows that China has “taken away our land” and claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion that not an inch of land was taken away was “absolutely false.”

The former Congress president’s remarks come after Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a conversation on Wednesday on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit in Johannesburg.

The conversation was not a structured bilateral meeting and was an informal one.

“I visited the whole of Ladakh on my motorcycle over the past week. Ladakh is a strategic place and when I was at Pangong lake, one thing was clear that China had taken over thousands of kilometers of Indian land. Unfortunately, the prime minister during an opposition meeting makes a statement that not an inch of our land was taken away which is ‘absolutely false’,” he said addressing a public meeting here on the last day of his nine-day tour of Ladakh.

“Every individual of Ladakh knows that China has taken away our land and the prime minister is not speaking the truth,” he alleged.

This is the second time during his Ladakh tour that the Congress leader has raked up the border issue with China.

On Sunday last, Gandhi had claimed that Modi’s statement that not an inch of the land in Ladakh has been taken over by China is not true.

India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Thursday said Modi conveyed to Xi India’s concerns on the “unresolved” issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, underlining that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas was essential for normalisation of India-China ties.

The ties between India and China came under severe strain following the eastern Ladakh border row that began in May, 2020.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

During the public meeting, Gandhi also extending support to Leh-based Apex body and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which are fighting for full statehood and safeguards under sixth schedule of the Constitution, and said his party would not allow the BJP to hand over the resource-rich land of the union territory to its corporate friend.

The former Congress president said he was briefed by the people about their demand for political representation, safeguards for land, culture and language, unemployment, non-functional Kargil airport and the problem of cell phone coverage.

“I heard you and want to convey that the Congress is standing with you in your struggle, whether linked to the demand for safeguards or employment issues. All the people know that Ladakh is rich in natural resources. The 21st century is of solar energy and Ladakh has no dearth of it,” he said.

“The BJP knows and understands that if you will be given (political) representation, they cannot snatch your land,” he said and alleged that the “BJP wants to take your land for (industrialist Gautam) Adani and we will not allow this to happen”.

The two powerful bodies are jointly campaigning to press for their four-point demands, including full statehood, safeguards under sixth schedule of the Constitution, creation of two separate parliamentary constituencies for Leh and Kargil districts, recruitment and job reservation for the youth of Ladakh.

Both the Apex body and KDA, which is a separate amalgam of socio-religious, political and youth organisations of Leh and Kargil districts, were formed after the Centre abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into Union territories of J-K and Ladakh.

The BJP Ladakh unit was also part of the Apex body but later distanced itself after it raised the demand for full statehood.

In an apparent reference to Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, Gandhi said, “Some are speaking what is in their heart but I came here to know what is in your heart. One thing is clear that the ideology of Gandhi and Congress exists in the blood and DNA of the people of Ladakh.”

He said migrant labourers from different parts of the country, including Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, told him that they feel that Ladakh is their second home as locals are lending a helping hand whenever they come forward to seek their support.

Referring to his Bharat Jodo Yatra from September 7, 2022 to January 30, 2023, he said the only goal of the foot march was to stand up against the “hatred and violence being spread by BJP and RSS” in the country and spread the message of love and brotherhood.

“The yatra was not supposed to end in Srinagar but in Ladakh. The administration did not allow us to continue the march due to harsh winter and we accepted it. My visit is in continuation of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. I visited every nook and corner of the region on the motorcycle and heard the people,” he said.

He also thanked the people of Kargil for always standing with the country during crisis and war, and said, “All the people in the country, irrespective of their religion, language and culture are equal for us and we all want to live together with love and respect.”

Gandhi described Ladakh as the most beautiful region of the country and assured the people that he will raise both their local and central issues during the next Parliament session.

After his over 15-minute long address, Gandhi walked past the security cover to interact with the gathering amid chants of ‘Jodo Jodo Bharat Jodo’.

Besides the working president of Ladakh Congress Asgar Ali Karbalai, National Conference leader and co-chairman of KDA Qamar Ali Akhnoon, AICC in-charge of J-K and Ladakh Rajni Patel were present at the public rally.

[unicausnews]

Kerala plans lesson on governors powers, duties at school syllabus

Kerala plans lesson on governors powers, duties at school syllabus Jun 21, 2025 05:03 AM IST Kerala's training minister introduced a brand new lesson on Governors' constitutional roles for colleges amid tensions with Raj Bhavan over a ‘Bharat Mata’ portrait. Amid rising friction between the Kerala authorities and Raj Bhavan, state basic training minister V Sivankutty stated a lesson on the constitutional powers and duties of Governors would quickly be part of the varsity curriculum. In Kerala, the workplace of Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who took cost in January and who was seen to initially take pleasure in cordial relations with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan(PTI) The announcement got here only a day after Sivankutty walked out of an occasion on the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram protesting in opposition to the show of a portrait of ‘Bharat Mata’, related to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on the dais. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Sivankutty stated that the lesson explaining the constitutional rights and duties of Governors in India can be included within the second quantity of social science textbooks for sophistication 10 college students this 12 months. The chapter can be added to textbooks for college students of lessons 11 and 12 as a part of curriculum revision as nicely, he added. “Schools are the best place to study the values of democracy. School curriculum is being revised whereas upholding constitutional values. In the nation right this moment, efforts to destabilise elected state governments by way of governors are rising. The Supreme Court has not too long ago made it clear what the constitutional rights of governors are,” the minister stated. His reference was to the Supreme Court’s ruling on April 8 that set a timeline for Governors to clear state payments or refer them to the President. It additionally set a timeline for the President to clear them. The President has sought a Presidential Reference on the judgement. The courtroom’s ruling got here after the state of Tamil Nadu approached it citing the alleged obstructionist behaviour of Governor R N Ravi. Several states ruled by events against the Bharatiya Janata Party have seen clashes between the elected authorities and the Governor, whose powers are restricted below the Constitution. When requested if the choice had something to do with the continuing row with the Raj Bhavan over the usage of the ‘Bharat Mata’ portrait, the minister replied, “I strongly really feel college students should study and perceive the duties of governors. That’s why now we have determined to incorporate the chapter. It is part of structure. It is true that governors are interfering loads. Students should be taught the correct issues.” In Kerala, the workplace of Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who took cost in January and who was seen to initially take pleasure in cordial relations with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan -- particularly when in comparison with the previous Governor Arif Mohammed Khan -- has been locked in a tussle with the LDF authorities over the utilization of a portrait of ‘Bharat Mata’ , displaying a lady holding a saffron flag astride a lion at official occasions. The CM and ministers of the state authorities have argued that the portrait is related to the RSS, the ideological fount of the BJP, and its show at official authorities occasions is inappropriate and violative of secular values. On Thursday, Sivankutty walked out in the midst of an occasion on the Raj Bhavan to honour scouts and guides after objecting to the show of the portrait. Later, he argued that Indian nationalism attracts its energy from its variety of languages, religions, areas, cultures and so on. None of those will be contained inside a slender or unified picture, he stated. “Calling the picture of a lady carrying a saffron flag the only real image of Indian patriotism ignores this fundamental actuality,” he added. Raj Bhavan issued a press release claiming that the minister’s ‘staged walkout’

[curtwilde]

I really need to know please. Do you find there to be any redeeming traits of Hinduism which you can share since it is a lasting ancient religion? It's still a highly sought after spiritual lifestyle for people to choose from among eastern philosophies, in spite of the extreme problematic behaviour adopted by extremists.

Tricky question. I unfortunately do not have an absolute answer and it is something I feel conflicted about. All religions including Hinduism have homophobic and misogynistic aspects which I cannot contend with, but Hinduism has the advantage over other religions that you can pick and choose your texts, the scriptures are contradictory and there is nothing absolute.

My biggest problem with hinduism's core ideology is caste, and since caste was institutionalised through the Vedas I cannot contend with vedic hinduism. However, I do believe that once the institutional/organisational structures of hinduism is dismantled, once it has been stripped of the people (upper-castes) who use hinduism as a means to get social benifits for themselves, or the people who use it to justify their hatred of other religions (rss/bjp/hindutva), then it will return to the localised folk and pagan forms of worship that it had originally been before it was appropriated and incorporated into the vedic aryan milieu.

I have to warn you though the 'spiritual lifestyle' that you mention that is sold to westerners is usually some half-baked philosophy informed by deeply racist orientalisms. It is usually either a indianised version of christianity as propagated by ISKCON, or some pop-psychology to do with meditation and drugs which hardly has anything to do with any actual worship or devotion.

[taxassistantorg]

Tax Law Makeover: India Prioritizes Simplicity in New Bill

A parliamentary committee reviewing India’s Income Tax Bill, 2025, is set to recommend clarifying the language in some clauses to remove ambiguity, rather than proposing any major overhauls. This suggests the focus is on simplification and clarity within the existing framework.

The committee, led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, is expected to submit its report on July 21, 2025, when the monsoon session of Parliament begins.

Introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 13, 2025, the bill aims to replace the Income Tax Act of 1961 with a more streamlined version. If passed, the new law will take effect from April 1, 2026, with the government hoping for its passage during the upcoming winter session.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has indicated that the new bill removes redundant provisions, utilizes clearer sub-sections and clauses, and employs simplified cross-referencing, along with tables and formulas for enhanced understanding.

While tax experts acknowledge the structural simplification, some express concern that simply refining language might not prevent future legal disputes, particularly over terms that have historically led to litigation, such as the definition of ‘royalty’. They suggest that cross-references should be more contextual, briefly explaining the referenced section’s content.

Furthermore, industry stakeholders have advocated for simplifying and rationalizing provisions like Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), intercorporate dividend deductions (Section 80M), LLP book profits taxation, and tax refunds.

Key changes highlighted in the bill include:

An expanded definition of undisclosed income to include virtual digital assets.

Allowing authorities access to virtual digital spaces during search and seizure.

Requiring dispute resolution panels to issue directions with clear points of determination and reasons.

Clarifying the interpretation of undefined terms in tax treaties.

Replacing ‘Financial Year’ and ‘Assessment Year’ with a unified ‘Tax Year’.

Introducing revised tax slabs and rebates under Section 115BAC for the new tax regime, as announced in Budget 2025.

Increasing TDS/TCS thresholds for various sections.

Providing benefits for units in International Financial Services Centres (IFSC).

Removing the Equalisation Levy.

The committee’s approach signals a commitment to making tax laws more accessible. Do you think these linguistic clarifications will be enough to reduce tax-related litigation in India?

[axneha]

BMC issues notice to Mithun Chakraborty over alleged illegal construction in Malad

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sent a show cause notice to actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty for allegedly building an illegal structure in Malad’s Madh area. The notice says that a ground-floor structure was built on a plot in Erangle village without the required permission from the authorities. The BMC has asked Mithun Chakraborty to explain the changes made to the…

[bloggingtamizhan]

Stalin Slams Centre Over Presidential Reference in Governor Case: A Fight for State Autonomy

In a sharp escalation of the ongoing tussle between the Tamil Nadu government and the Union Government, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday strongly criticized the BJP-led Centre's move to seek a Presidential reference from the Supreme Court regarding the time limits set for Governors to act on state Bills. This comes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling that established clear deadlines for gubernatorial assent, aimed at curbing indefinite delays.

🏛️ The Core Issue: Tamil Nadu vs Governor

At the heart of the controversy lies the Tamil Nadu Governor’s delay in assenting to Bills passed by the state legislature. The Supreme Court had ruled that Governors must act within a reasonable time frame to uphold democratic processes. However, the Centre’s decision to seek a Presidential reference under Article 143 has triggered criticism, with opposition leaders viewing it as a tactic to undermine the judiciary and embolden Governors acting under political influence.

📣 Stalin’s Strong Words

Stalin, who also heads the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), accused the Tamil Nadu Governor of acting as a proxy for the BJP, and described the Union Government's legal move as a "desperate attempt to weaken democratically elected state governments."

In a strongly-worded post on X (formerly Twitter), Stalin wrote:

"I strongly condemn the Union Government's Presidential reference, which attempts to subvert the Constitutional position already settled by the Supreme Court in the Tamil Nadu Governor’s case and other precedents."

❓ The Three Key Questions Raised by Stalin

Stalin directly challenged the Centre’s intent by posing three pointed questions:

Why should there be any objection to prescribing time limits for Governors to act?

Is the BJP seeking to legitimise its Governors’ obstruction by allowing indefinite delays in Bill assent?

Does the Union Government intend to paralyse non-BJP State Legislatures?

These questions underline a growing fear among non-BJP ruled states: that Governors are being used as political tools to stall governance and legislative functions.

⚖️ A Constitutional Crisis in the Making?

The Chief Minister warned that the Centre’s move poses a “clear exigent threat to state autonomy” and accused the BJP of attempting to distort the basic structure of the Constitution—particularly the distribution of powers between the Centre and the states.

“This is a direct challenge to the majesty of law and the authority of the Supreme Court as the final interpreter of the Constitution,” Stalin emphasized.

🤝 A Call for Unity Among Non-BJP States

In a rallying call to opposition leaders and Chief Ministers of other non-BJP ruled states, Stalin urged collective legal action to defend federalism and the Constitution:

“In these grave circumstances, I urge all non-BJP states and party leaders to join this legal struggle to defend the #Constitution. We will fight this battle with all our might. Tamil Nadu will fight — and #TamilNadu will win!”

📜 Background: The Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court recently ruled that Governors cannot delay action on Bills indefinitely, a judgment widely welcomed by opposition-ruled states that have frequently accused Governors of acting in a partisan manner. The Centre’s move to refer the matter back to the Court via the President is being interpreted by critics as an effort to dilute or reverse this important precedent.

🚨 Why This Matters

This development isn’t just about Tamil Nadu—it has national implications for India’s federal structure. The role of Governors, long debated for their neutrality, is under intense scrutiny. With the 2024 general elections behind and state elections approaching, the issue is likely to gain further traction as a symbol of Centre vs State tensions.

[thamilan24x7]

From Policy Dismissals to Civil Preparedness: Key National Updates You Should Know

India witnessed two major developments on May 9 — one in the Supreme Court, the other in the southern state of Kerala. While the Supreme Court dismissed a plea pushing for mandatory implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in Tamil Nadu, Kerala took proactive steps by issuing a detailed air-raid advisory in light of rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Here's what you need to know:

1. Supreme Court Dismisses PIL Seeking Mandatory NEP Implementation in Tamil Nadu

In a significant decision, the Supreme Court of India rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to enforce the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in the state of Tamil Nadu.

The PIL, filed by BJP member and advocate G.S. Mani, urged the apex court to issue directives compelling Tamil Nadu to implement the NEP, which includes reforms such as a 5+3+3+4 education structure, emphasis on mother tongue instruction, and skill-based learning.

However, the bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih was firm in its stance: a state cannot be forced to adopt a policy. The court emphasized that it can only intervene if the failure to implement a policy infringes upon citizens' fundamental rights — a condition not met in this case.

“Whether the States should adopt the NEP 2020 or not is a vexed issue... The petitioner has nothing to do with the cause he proposes to espouse. Although he may be from Tamil Nadu, on his own admission, he resides in New Delhi,” the bench stated.

With that, the court dismissed the petition, setting a precedent that policy adoption remains a matter of state discretion unless fundamental rights are violated.

2. Kerala Issues Air-Raid Advisory Amid Rising India-Pakistan Tensions

Meanwhile, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has issued a comprehensive public advisory to prepare citizens in the event of an air-raid warning. While Kerala is geographically distant from any direct threat zones, the advisory comes amid growing security concerns across the country due to escalating tensions with Pakistan.

A senior KSDMA official clarified that the advisory is “precautionary, not a cause for panic.” It's part of Kerala’s broader disaster preparedness strategy aimed at building civil defence resilience.

Key Recommendations from the Advisory:

Stock Up: Households should keep at least a week's supply of groceries, cooking fuel, and essential medicines.

Emergency Kit: Assemble a family emergency kit including drinking water, dry food, a flashlight (preferably solar or battery-powered), and a radio for receiving official updates.

Recognise Siren Signals:

A 90-second siren signals imminent danger – move indoors and halt all outdoor activity.

A 30-second siren indicates it's safe to come out from shelters.

Blackout Protocols: During alerts, switch off all indoor and outdoor lights. Cover windows using curtains or cardboard to prevent light escape.

Communication Restrictions: Limit the use of phones and electrical devices to avoid detection.

Children & Pets: Extra care must be taken for children, the elderly, and pets. Conduct practice drills to reach shelter areas within two minutes.

Stay Informed, Not Alarmed

Residents have been urged to trust only official communication channels like All India Radio, Doordarshan, and KSDMA's verified social media pages.

This advisory follows Kerala’s participation in a nationwide civil defence mock drill on May 7, which covered everything from crash blackouts and evacuations to hotline coordination and urban-rural response simulations.

A Balanced Approach: Policy Rights & Public Readiness

While the Supreme Court’s ruling reinforces the legal boundaries of federalism and individual rights, Kerala's advisory highlights the importance of proactive governance in times of uncertainty. Both instances serve as reminders that governance involves both respecting constitutional boundaries and being prepared for unexpected emergencies.

In today’s dynamic world, awareness and preparedness are as vital as policy and law.