Opinion Inside Track: Plane Truths?

The conflicting versions of US President Donald Trump and India as to what abruptly brought the India-Pakistan four-day war to an end is better understood in the context of a report from well-placed Western diplomatic sources and military strategists. It is claimed that during the course of Operation Sindoor, Indian drones and missiles hit the Nur Khan Base, where many US-made planes, including F-16s, supplied to Pakistan since the 1990s under strict end-use conditions, meant only for counter-terrorism operations, are parked. Alarmed by possible damage to the planes, the US Department of Defence is believed to have alerted the US State Department that this may draw the US into the conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed the concerns to his Indian counterparts. Before hostilities came to a standstill, the IAF made a last blitzkrieg attack on Pakistan on May 10, resulting in more damage to its air bases. Trump, conscious of Pakistan’s pliability and its geostrategic importance, was reportedly unhappy with India taking its own time in halting strikes and then publicly snubbing his claims of having mediated the ceasefire. Is that the reason why Trump has cooled towards India, once singled out as a favourite?

Presidential Pause

BJP president J P Nadda’s term ended six months back, but his successor has yet to be appointed, indicating a possible tussle between the RSS and the BJP. The BJP high command’s preferred choices are believed to be Bhupender Yadav and Dharmendra Pradhan, both relatively young with proven organisational skills in polls, including the recent Haryana and Maharashtra elections. The RSS would prefer a more senior figure, like former MP CM Shivraj Chouhan, who has sufficient standing in his own right, to convey more firmly the RSS line to PM Modi, something the Sangh believes that Nadda, B L Santhosh, the party national general secretary (organisation), and Arun Kumar, who liaises between the Sangh and BJP, failed to do effectively. RSS office-bearers are believed to have also suggested the names of M L Khattar, Devendra Fadnavis and Nitin Gadkari, the latter two are Nagpur boys, but both have indicated they are not interested. Recently, Rajnath Singh’s name was proposed, but he too has expressed reluctance. Incidentally, he has been called in to fill the breach on three occasions in the past. He took over as party president when L K Advani had to step down after his Jinnah remark, and after Gadkari resigned because of a corruption charge that has not been proven to date. Even when Kalyan Singh resigned as UP CM after differences with A B Vajpayee, Rajnath took his place.

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New Besties

After five years of bickering, Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot smoked the peace pipe, with the ex-CM attending an event on Rajesh Pilot’s 25th death anniversary this month. Although there is still no love lost between the two, their ambitions no longer conflict. Gehlot is keen to protect son Vaibhav’s interests in Rajasthan as he realises there is no future for him in the state after defying the party high command. News of the Gehlot-Pilot get-together has had an immediate impact on Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra and party leader in the Assembly Tika Ram Jully. The relationship between the two was uneasy, but suddenly, they have become best buddies and arrived together in Delhi last fortnight. Significantly, the PCC president’s term ends next month. Asked by a journalist about their togetherness, in contrast to the warring predecessors, they said the difference was that they were humble workers, whereas Gehlot and Pilot are leaders. The elevation of little-known MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma as party CM by the BJP appears to have been an inspiration for all parties.

My ID Poof

Sometimes the right hand of the government does not know what the left is doing. For years, we were told that the Aadhaar is the most authentic proof of identity. To my shock, recently, at a South Delhi Sub-Registrar’s office, I was told I would have to produce some other ID, like a driving licence or voter ID, as the system (whatever exactly that means) was not accepting Aadhaars. I had to rush home and collect my passport. A week later, I returned for another transaction (let me clarify, I was selling a flat to buy another) and learnt that my password was no longer acceptable. From clerks to touts and lawyers, no one seemed to have an explanation for the strange order. Some claimed it was to weed out Bangladeshis. Surely, an illegal migrant would find it easier to get a driving licence than an Aadhaar!