VHP’s Hidden Agenda

If the VHP is so confident of their Hindutva followings, why don’t they go to the polls and emerge as the largest party in the state assemblies and Parliament? We know what fate awaits such attempts from history when Hindu Mahasabha was routed in the polls all over India with most of their candidates losing security deposit. The fact that the VHP is feeling sidelined is also evident from their attempt to split the Hindus between the followers of Ram and the followers of Shiva. Any Hindu who remembers his Ramcharitmanas would know how Lord Ram himself said that he couldn’t even dream of blessing someone who was against Lord Shiva. Not only this, in Rameshwaram, before invading Lanka, Lord Rama had worshipped Shiva. It’s pathetic that the self-styled champions of Hindutva had to stoop so low in their attempt to save themselves from getting marginalised. In reality, ordinary Hindus never identified with such jingoistic leaders who claim to be more Hindu than the Hindus — only to pursue their vested interests. Frankly, the VHP owes us a few answers. What are its leaders’ Hindutva credentials that they dare question Sankaracharya’s authority? What makes them so insecure that they try to divide the Hindus between Shiv and Ram disciples? What exactly is the desperation that they are even publicly attempting to split the BJP between Atal Behari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani? Don’t they want the Ayodhya issue to resolve? Most importantly, what do they stand to lose if Kanchi seer’s proposals and Muslim Law Board’s response lead to a positive solution?

In fact, plenty. We all know the Ayodhya issue has been a great vote-spinner. But people are so tired of it that a solution to the row can, in fact, turn out to be an even bigger election clincher. This explains the BJP leadership’s cautious attempts at distancing itself from VHP on the issue. But, without Ayodhya, the VHP stands to lose more than jingoistic command. It has got hundreds of branches all over India as well as overseas. Is the Parishad leadership so cagey because their donation boxes will lose much of their appeal once the cause of temple construction is lost?

If the VHP wants to avoid these unpleasant questions, it must act responsibly. So far as Ayodhya dispute is concerned, India’s national interest won’t care how, and with who, we reach a solution so long we find a solution acceptable to all the parties. The Centre should go ahead with the present proposal so long there is any light visible at the end of the tunnel. Meanwhile, the VHP may continue to further isolate itself.

Think Indian

It doesn’t make any sense for Air-India to arbitrarily enter into code sharing of flights on lucrative routes. Shortage of aircraft is cited as the reason for handing out these golden routes to foreign airlines. Apart from huge loss of revenue, what compounds the tragedy is the fact that we cannot even utilise bulk of the seats offered to us. Official data reveals that out of 34,500 seats allotted to us by foreign airlines, just 9,900 could be availed. The seats allotted on code share flights have to be sold by Air-India. The airlines with whom Air-India has commercial agreements divert a large chunk of traffic that would normally accrue to Air-India and so, as a quid pro quo, Air-India is paid royalty which is not sufficient compared to the loss of revenue.

In certain cases like in Emirates, code sharing is strategic as Ministry of Home Affairs is busy sorting out sensitive issues like extradition with the authorities in Dubai. But code sharing just for the heck of it is counter-productive. It is important to consider our private airlines under one umbrella with the government carriers because, after all, money generated by each of them eventually gets pumped back to our economy. Now if the national carrier doesn’t have enough aircrafts to cover all routes, priority should be given to private Indian players. It makes sense to allow Sahara or Jet to operate on certain golden routes rather than doling them out to foreign airlines.I recently took an American airlines flight from Los Angeles to Chicago. The seats were far from comfortable and during the 4-hour-plus flight, all I was served was a cup of cold drinks. Now compare such facilities with the excellent service some of our domestic players offer. I am confident that given an opportunity, Indian private airlines will be able to draw a good crowd and do sound business.

In the groove

We knew Vijay Mallya for his top-end, quality brands that have made millions of connoisseurs pleasantly high. We knew him for his lifestyle, his private jets and his lavish spirit. A few months into real politics, and he has discovered nothing can offer him better kick than, well, politics. These days, Vijay’s reading has been that the ground reality in Karnataka is fast brewing in favour of a change and he has decided to join the home fray to project himself as a chief ministerial candidate. And how does one who we never thought would survive outside an air-conditioned enclosure, is coping with the hard political grind? After all, it’s not just about attending the Rajya Sabha and rub shoulders only with the elected representatives?

Make no mistake, we are talking mass politics and Vijay has hit the circuit head on. Sample this: With actor Sanjay Khan, Vijay has already covered 700 km in just two days making direct contact with the people of Karnataka. What’s more, like a hard-core politician he is covering his head while visiting Gurdwaras and makes it a point to put on traditional kurta-pyjama while entering mosques. Now if the ‘Kingfisher man’ himself can take to grassroot politics like fish takes to water, Indian politics is likely to make room for more such professionals. The days of guest appearance, it seems, are finally over.