Bend it for bandit

This can happen only in India. I am aghast at certain self-styled rights activists’ attempt at defaming the STF operation that finally ...

This can happen only in India. I am aghast at certain self-styled rights activists’ attempt at defaming the STF operation that finally eliminated Veerappan. I don’t need to repeat what Veerappan stood for — that he murdered over 150 men, killed thousands of elephants, caused irreparable wildlife and environmental damage etc. The bandit didn’t even spare some of his own family members. Instead of celebrating his killing as an act of exceptional nerve and grit, these sympathisers are now trying to make a hero of Veerappan and push his widow into politics.

I must take this opportunity to congratulate Vijay Kumar for the mission he accomplished. I knew him since his days as a deputy director, SPG, protecting former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Afterwards, he could have opted for any soft assignment, but he volunteered to go to Jammu and Kashmir during the peak of militancy and eliminated almost two-dozen terrorists in different operations. When he saw how Veerappan was foxing the police, Vijay Kumar volunteered to take up the job and finally delivered. I request the President to decorate Vijay Kumar with the highest police medal. And the Veerappan ‘‘loyalists’’ must come clean. It has become a fashion to support even the worst criminals these days. If we encourage complete freedom of opinion in a democracy, we must also fix certain responsibilities, failing which, every self-styled ‘‘humanist’’ must be reprimanded.

Fooling Hindu voters

Even the Hindu hardliners can see through the BJP’s politics of opportunity. The party was in power in Uttar Pradesh and at the Centre, and yet did precious little for the Ayodhya temple. Now that it’s in the Opposition, it has again conveniently found a centerstage for Lord Rama in its agenda. It is obvious that they forget Rama when they want and reclaim him when they want — clearly a text-book example of playing vote-bank politics. Would any earnest believer be able to drop Lord Rama from his agenda as per his convenience? Moreover, the last Lok Sabha elections results only corroborate the wariness and fatigue of the Hindu masses, as BJP lost all three prominent religious seats — Ayodhya to BSP and Kashi and Mathura to Congress. It is ironic that while in power, former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee repeatedly insisted that the Ayodhya stalemate could be resolved only through a court verdict or negotiation. Once in Opposition, BJP seems to suggest that court options are not viable anymore. Not many expect statesmanship from most BJP top leaders. But it is dangerous to let them try their divisive politics yet again.

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Already, we have seen the BJP targeting the new government for allegedly going soft on internal security. Home department records don’t lie and they elaborate how ISI activities on Indian soil have gone up manifold over the last six years of NDA rule. I understand the frustration suffered by the BJP rank and file. But there are dozens of constructive ways to bounce back in a democracy.In electoral politics, one tries to win the trust of the voters, not fool them.

The business of schools

Shahrukh Khan made a very pertinent comment the other day while addressing the students of the Scindia School in Gwalior on its Foundation Day. While there are dozens of royal families in India, the actor pointed out, very few have had the vision to invest in high-quality academic institutions that actually shape the future of our society. Indeed, most of our royals have been investing in hotels and other commercial ventures rather than schools and colleges.

Jyotiraditya broke new ground by inviting a matinee idol for the big day at the Scindia School. His father always had Presidents or Prime Ministers presiding over the occasion. But the response this year was fantastic. The function was a mega hit with thousands thronging the historic fort to celebrate the day, and catch a glimpse of the superstar.

Shahrukh’s observation merits consideration. In Hyderabad, a consortium of businessmen has come up with a business school to match the Whartons and Kellogs of the West. We should make such initiatives in all four zones of the country. This cannot be achieved only through government initiatives. Top business houses, royalties and other wealthy families must come forward with such ideas and implement them as not purely commercial ventures.

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The writer is a Congress MP. He can be contacted at shuklarajeev@gmail.com