Anna Says, " चांडाळ-चौकडीला नेस्तनाबूत करा !"RISE AND FIGHT AGAINST ‘GANG OF FOUR’ !

Anna literally writing for his blog !!!

My Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Namaskar!

Kiran Bedi has been accused of being involved in air-travel corruption. She has time and again made it clear that if she has done such a thing and used the money for the benefit of her family then the government should take help of one of its own inquiry agencies and if found guilty should take stringent actions against her.

But the government doesn’t seem forthcoming in taking such a step. To accuse and humiliate seems to be the mantra of the few. This is not the first time that such accusations have been leveled against Kiran Bedi. Every member of ‘Team Anna’ had to face accusations and character assassination by the ‘gang of four’. Who are these people? Those are the very same people who are not in favor of Janlokpal Bill.

Let’s give it a thought to the initial days of the movement when Joint Committee was to be formed to draft Janlokpal Bill. Who were the people opposing the Committee?  You will realize these were the very same ‘gang of four’ who stood in opposition. After much deliberation on 5^th April 2011 I began my fast on Jantar mantar where people gathered in large numbers. It was then they realized their mistake and agreed to form a ‘Joint Committee’.

चांडाळ-चौकडीला नेस्तनाबूत करा !

 

On 4^th June 2011 as Ramdev Baba’s agitation was in progress on Ramlila Maidan I was supposed to meet him on the following day i.e. 5^th June 2011. But on the night of 4^thJune 2011, at 1:30 pm the Delhi police launched a brutal attack on the unsuspecting crowd of men and women old and young alike and innocent children. The Government’s intention was clear-‘Anna Hazare and Ramdev Baba should not meet’. By ruthlessly beating up women was the Delhi police trying to prove they are man enough? Who were these men who did lathi charge on the women? Those were the same people who are now playing accusatory games aren’t they? The mystery will surely unfold.

Joint Committee was formed but these people did not want the Janlokpal Bill passed. This ‘gang of four’ now started accusing Shri. Shanti Bhushan and Shri. Prashant Bhushan on the CD issue. Like Kiran Bedi, Shri. Shanti Bhushan and Shri. Prashant Bhushan too maintained their stand on being innocent and asked the government to conduct an enquiry in to the matter. But these people are aware that their aim will not be fulfilled if they follow the legal path. The only way out was to spread dissention in ‘Team Anna’ thereby spreading misconceptions among people who will be dissuaded from participating in the movement.

One of the honest members of Team Anna, retired Judge Shri Hegde Saheb who was responsible for sending the BJP Chief-Minister behind bars was also accused. Who were these people? You will soon understand that these were the same ‘gang of four.’  Accusations were leveled against Arvind Kejriwal and he was attacked with slipper in one of his gatherings. Who was behind this act? On 16^th August 2011, I was to hold a demonstration in Delhi demanding the government pass the Janlokpal Bill. It was for more than a month that I was trying to seek permission for obtaining a venue for the same through letters and personal visits.  But purposefully we were not assigned a place for my fast and the matter was stretched until 15^th August 2011. They applied IPC 144 on all the public places in Delhi. Finally we de cided we will get ourselves arrested and go on fast in jail. The ‘gang of four’ were behind this conspiracy is now clear.

Early morning at 6’0 clock on 16^th August 2011, I was arrested from my house. I had not committed any crime hence they had no right to arrest me from my house. These people wanted to humiliate me intentionally. I was sent to Tihar Jail. It was four in the afternoon till necessary formalities were completed and we were taken in to Tihar Jail. We were allotted one room, set of clothes and at 6:00 pm an officer came with the news that my sentence was pardoned and I was free to leave. We have been directed to leave you at the place where you were arrested from.

I was surprised as the government had arrested me because my protest was causing disharmony and within next two hours I was set free! Had the government had some sort of divine intervention? Is this government a joke? You arrest someone at your whim and then set them free. Is this democracy? The police resorted to lathi charge on the peaceful protestors and whisked away Ramdev Baba to Haridwar in the middle of the night at 2:00 am by plane and was prohibited from stepping in to Delhi. His movement was crushed and now the ‘gang of four’ wanted to do the same to me. Their plan was to release me from jail and under the pretext of taking me home bundle me in to a car and take me to Delhi airport where an air-force plane was waiting to taxi out. Next I was to be flown to Pune and kept at unknown place; all this to thwart my m ovement in Delhi. Who was behind this conspiracy? These were the same people who were spreading derogatory remarks about ‘Team Anna’. Their conscious is not clear. I was suspicious right from the beginning when the jail authorities planned to release me within two hours of my arrest. I flatly refused to leave the jail premises. I told them if I was given a seven day sentence then I will stay in jail for seven days.

The said officer passed on my message to the senior D.I.G who said I had come out of the jail to meet him in his office hence I cannot go back. I replied, ‘I came here because you wanted to speak to me and now you say I cannot go back, this is wrong on your part. You are not letting me go back in the prison neither I am stepping out of the prison gate. You have to push me or else carry me out.’ I refused to budge out of the jail. Thus the tables were overturned on the ‘gang of four’ as the officers carried out discussions with the government past one in the night. My decision had landed them in trouble. They were clueless as to what was to be done. For the next three days I was neither in jail nor outside jail. I was in D.I.G’s office. I had not had my bath for three days as there was no bathing facility there. Thu s the people realized that the government had covert plan in its mind and hence the people lost their temper. The ‘gang of four’ had conspired to put me in jail so that they can cast aspersions on my team.

The government had no alternative but to grant permission to carry out my agitation on Ramlila grounds. When I came out of the jail I was overwhelmed by the large crowd that had gathered there. Whenever the ‘gang of four’ tried to play mischief their tables were overturned and once again they found themselves on the receiving end. For the next two and half months Joint Committee met seven times. The issues raised by Team Anna were discussed at length and then they did a turn-a-about. We will present your draft of Janlokpal Bill before the cabinet they assured us but in reality they presented government’s weak draft which had deadly loopholes in the issue bypassing what we had to say.

I do not blame all the ministers from the Congress party or the Government as a whole. There are some righteous and committed people in the government but they cannot raise their voice because of this ‘gang of four’. We are dashing off letters to all our members that saints, Mahatma’s, Prophets and Great men had to endure hardships and criticism when they tried to do good to humanity. (I appeal to my closer ones) Please do not react again and again on any or repeated allegations made by the ‘gang of four’ (and their agents from various fields). People are wise enough to understand what the truth is. Thus it becomes futile on their part. Corruption has driven people to their brink. People are weary of the rising corruption level. That is the reason the people of this country are unhappy with the present government.< /p>

Corruption has given way to inflation. It is becoming difficult for the common man to run his house. The common man understands we are fighting for his sake. Hence no matter how many aspersions are cast on us people’s support for us will remain undeterred. We have to move ahead through the obstacles. People who chose the path of righteousness always have to face difficulties. But truth has always prevailed as seen in history. So we should keep walking the path of truth.

The only thought that keeps us going and binds us together is it doesn’t matter if someone is trying to spread dissent in the ‘Team Anna’ or maligning our reputation. Why do people stoop so such low level? They have their own reasons. They are afraid if Janlokpal Bill is passed they will be stripped off their power. They will no longer be able to take bribe. Hence under any circumstances they will see to it that the Janlokpal Bill as a law does not come in to existence. They will keep blaming Team Anna so they can go on doing corruption.

The number of Ministers who are opposing Janlokpal Bill in Cabinet is handful. It is similar to a village where there are 2 to 4 goons who hold the entire village to ransom. In government there is a majority of people who are righteous but can’t go against these ruffians. Leaving aside these specific 4 to 6 people no one points a finger at us.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured us in writing that he will pass a law in favor of Janlokpal Bill during this winter session. He has also given this assurance before television channels. Shri. Salman Khurshid too has promised people that he will see to it that Janlokpal Bill is passed during the winter session. This shows that righteous people are in majority as to ‘gang of four’. The way these people are leveling allegations against Team Anna it shows they are not bothered for the well-being of our nation or society at large. They are casting aspersions on others for their own selfish interests. They are quite capable of pressurizing the government not to bring Janlokpal Bill and if need be might take help of the handful belonging to the opposition party.

But I think this storm will give birth to Lalbahadur Shastri’s Congress, Vallabh Bhai Patel’s Congress and Kamraj’s Congress. Today people will carefully sort out the unwanted from the list and this to happen is the need of the hour. In order to achieve a bright future and corruption free India the country and its country men have to do this. If need be I too will tour the nation and campaign for the cause.

I will be writing a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the draft for the Janlokpal Bill to be passed should be put on the internet so that people can have a look at it and not limit it to the Joint Committee. Late Prime Minister Shri. Rajiv Gandhi before making amendments in the 73^rd and 74rth Act had sent a letter to 5.5 lac villages to call for Gramsabha vote. When we speak about democracy, Independence and Republic we have to take the people of this country in confidence before any law is drafted. But as per Prime Minister and the other Ministers assurances I have kept on hold my agitation till the winter session. If the law is not passed in the winter session then I will tour the five places where assembly elections are due to be held and then tour the rest of India during national elections. People should make it a point that they form a resolution on the Janlokpal Bill to be passed in Winter Session or else we will once again agitate and send it across through their village panchayat and Gramsabha to Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and to the President. From all over India 35 to 40 lac resolutions should reach the government.

When resolution for Lokpal Bill is passed a bill for Lokayukt should be brought and the state’s Chief-Minister, Governor should pass a resolution for this purpose. The directives for Lokayukt Bill will be sent on behalf of the Government. Before that a resolution comprising of our demands should be sent to the Chief-Minister and the Governor of our own state. We are short on time hence please send the said resolution as soon as possible. Those who are trying to create mischief will learn a lesson. This is the only opportunity we have in order to get a corruption free India, ‘now or never’. If the Government goes back on its word and refrains from passing the Janlokpal Bill then it will have to face much more damage than they are facing now. But if a stringent Janlokpal Bill is passed then the government will be able to bounce back from the damage it has faced till now. For the past 25 to 30 years I have led agitations without taking in to consideration any political party, person, part of society, state but have always kept in mind the well-being of the nation. Henceforth my agitations won’t be any different.

Inquilab Zindabad! Vande Mataram! Bharat Mata Ki Jai!

K. B. Hazare (Anna)

The Anna effect is bigger than the foibles of Team Anna

“Chalo, hum sangharsh karein, 

Anna hamare saath hai”

With each passing day, the media keeps dragging out yet more ‘dirt’ on Anna Hazare’s core leadership team. With absolutely no sense of scale, they have amplified and blown up what was, in Kiran Bedi’s case, merely an attempt at cross-subsidising her voluntary services:  simply put, Bedi accepted contributions from those who could afford to pay to have her come and talk – and used the savings on those contributions (by travelling cattle class) to offer her services for free to those who couldn’t defray her travel and other expenses.

Would it have helped if Bedi’s NGO had been more transparent in its accounting practice vis-à-vis her contributors? Of course.

Would it have been better for Bedi to have claimed actual reimbursements for her discounted economy-class travels – and asked her patrons instead to make donations that would have served the same purpose of cross-subsidy? Decidedly.

Given the goodwill that she enjoys with her patrons, they would probably have made generous donations – on which they could additionally have claimed tax breaks!

That would have been a win-win for everyone – except, of course, that the state exchequer would effectively have been subsidising Bedi’s NGO twice over: first, on the airfare discount she qualified for, and on the tax-breaks that donors would have claimed.

Sure, you could then have picked on Bedi’s NGO for milking the mammaries of the welfare state, and she would have been guilty on that count. But so would have a thousand other NGOs – and Ministers and MPs across the political spectrum who personally profit on everything from government-subsidised accommodation to a clutch of discretionary quotas.

But do these exposes against Bedi warrant the delirious sense of ‘gotcha’ emotion that hit-and-run media commentators and turncoats-in-saffron are exulting in, after dubiously blurring the ethical lines that separate minor accounting indiscretions from wholesale plunder of state funds and resources of the sort that Bedi and others campaigns against? Most definitely not.

Nor do these hatchet-job commentaries dilute in any way the persuasive case that Anna Hazare and his core team have made over the past few months for a strong Lokpal institution – which the entire political establishment has at various times been lined up against.

Anna Hazare greets supporters. AFP

The only ones who are rejoicing over the tar-and-feather treatment meted out to Hazare’s core team are the political class that has been fighting dirty to dilute the provisions of the Lokpal Bill.

But what these slur campaigns perhaps miss out is that for all the momentary setback in the mood of the Anna-led campaign, the baton of the anti-corruption movement has, in a larger sense, been passed on from its leaders to its foot-soldiers. And at the grassroots level, the seed of empowerment that Anna Hazare planted with his two hunger strikes against corruption has taken root – and is giving transformative power to ordinary people in everyday situations.

There are several anecdotal accounts of people who invoke the spirit of Anna in their daily lives to either not yield to demands for bribes – or otherwise find the strength of purpose to challenge wrongdoing by those in positions of power. Two such anecdotes are narrated hereand here: they’re inspirational and worth reading.

One other recent narrative, which has gone viral, relates to a Delhi resident who was flagged down by traffic policemen in Ghazipur – and found to his mortification that his insurance and pollution clearance certificates had expired. Asked to settle the matter without being challan-ed – by bribing the cops – he resisted, solely on the strength of his having been a part of Anna’s campaign at Ramlila Maidan. He instead asked to be issued a challan, after which he appeared at the Kakardooma Courts to pay the fine.

Within the court premises, he was approached by an army of touts who said he would be required to pay a fine of Rs 2,000, but that they would settle the matter for Rs 600. Yet, he shook them off and persisted, and went through the due process of law, which took him barely a few minutes. More surprisingly, he was required to pay a fine of only Rs 100.

The sense of empowerment that he feels today – at not having succumbed to the pressure to pay a bribe – is compounded by his realisation that the straight-and-narrow path of due process occasionally works. That realisation he owes entirely to Anna’s campaign.

It is narratives like these, replicated a million times over, that will change the landscape of everyday corruption that confronts ordinary folks, irrespective of the slanderous campaigns that movement’s leaders are subjected to.

After all, even the slogan of Anna Hazare’s movement has changed to reflect the sense of ownership that the foot-soldiers now have over the anti-corruption campaign. Where once they chanted: “Anna, tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare saath hai” (Anna, carry on the campaign, we are with you), they now say: “Chalo, hum sangharsh karein, Anna hamare saath hai” (Let’s carry on our campaign, Anna is with us).

As Leonardo DiCaprio says in the mind-bending film Inception, the most resilient parasite is not a bacteria or a virus or an intestinal worm. It is an idea. It is “resilient, highly contagious… Once an idea has taken hold of the brain, it’s almost impossible to eradicate…”

Anna has planted a very radical idea – that you don’t have to give in to corruption, and can fight it – in millions of people’s minds. It may seem a foolishly naïve idea to some, given the monstrous hold that corruption has on our everyday lives.

Yet there’s the hope that the spark that Anna lit, and the inspirational, resilient, contagious idea that he’s planted, could well start a prairie fire of a revolution that turns the heat on the monumentally corrupt.

Anna Effect: Occupy Wall St. inspired by Gandhi & Anna

The late Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela, who led vast movements to bring equality and freedom to their people, have often acknowledged the inspirational role of Mahatma Gandhi. These leaders, notably King as well as movements like Poland's Solidarity, were users of Gandhian techniques such as civil disobedience, apart from drawing broader inspiration from the leader of India's epic struggle for Independence. 

The Indian influence is echoing again and this time at an unlikely place - Wall Street, New York, the financial capital of the world. Thousands of American citizens, protesting under the banner Occupy Wall Street, against alleged greed and corruption in that country, are using tactics made famous by Gandhi and recently used by the mass movement in India against corruption, led by his self-proclaimed followerAnna Hazare. 

"The spirit of Mahatma Gandhi is felt tremendously here. Occupy Wall Street is a non-violent movement," said Guillaume Marceau, in an email interview. Marceau, a PhD student in computer science, is a representative for the New York General Assemblythat spearheads the protests whose organisers describe it as a "leaderless resistance movement". 

Marceau says Occupy Wall Street is drawing on the "technical and spiritual leadership of the classic non-violent leaders, such as Gandhi". 

"The community here has gone to great lengths...to reconfirm its commitment to non-violence, even in the face of the growing numbers of people here in Liberty Plaza who have been victims of police attacks. As Gandhi taught, the discipline of non-violence displayed by the people here at Liberty Plaza helped convince millions of people - visibly, viscerally - that we hold the moral high ground. With each wave of police action, we grow stronger next day," Marceau added. 

The first call for mass protests came from a Canadian anticonsumer, pro-environment group called Adbusters, which on July 13 issued a call to 'occupy' Wall Street. Since then similar protests have sprung up in 1,500 locations across the US. Occupy Wall Street claims to represent the 99% that is paying for excesses of the 1% which comprise the ruling elite. And they "will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%". 

The movement, which is still debating its goals and demands, is keen to get the government to provide relief for the 12 million people who are long-term unemployed - as a starting point. 

While Anna Hazare's anticorruption agitation is widely followed, Marceau argues there is a significant difference between the two movements. "Anna Hazare's movement's main thrust was to push specific Bills through the government. Here at Occupy Wall Street, (it) is not at all clear whether people trust this channel of action anymore. 

Still, all the options are on the table while the conversations and strategic planning continues," Marceau added. While Indian media is credited with acting as a force multiplier for Hazare, thus putting pressure on the government, the US media, which was eager to report on Tahrir Square protests, has been accused of ignoring a mass movement closer home. 

"Certainly, you can imagine a character, maybe an uncle, who finds faults in everyone around him, but never in himself. We imagine countries would rise above the biases commonly found in people, but they really don't. After all, countries are made out of people," the activist riposted. 

But the movement has now got the media's attention. "That said, after four weeks of protests...we are happy that we are getting broad news coverage, and enough popular support across to withstand (New York) Mayor (Michael) Bloomberg's eviction threat."

Anna Movement: Government messed it up by its poor engagement with the middle class

By Jai Mrug

It was a busy morning on 22 August. I was late to office and had hailed an auto-rickshaw on the way. I was accosted by an unusual question by the rickshaw driver: Did I attend the latest rally in support of Anna?

I wondered  why he had asked me about it, when he explained his involvement. Apparently, he had been one of the principal organisers of a candle-light march the previous evening and his gathering had attracted the people from the apartments nearby as well.

Now here was a movement that most TV channels and the intelligentsia had branded as elitist or middle class-centric. Some of its prominent spokespersons were PLUs (People Like Us). How, then, did it generate a following, as well as some organic leadership, at the subaltern level? How did an allegedly middle class revolution become all pervasive?

In an economy like ours, the poor are presumed to be preoccupied with making ends meet. Participating in agitations is thus a luxury that few can afford. The rich, with their minimalistic dependence on government, may not bother much to change the fundamentals of legislation. So who powered the quick-silver movement that sprouted all over the country almost overnight?

Never before have we sought to define and understand the term ‘political economy’ as much are we are doing today. Rising income levels – our per capita income was projected to grow 11 percent in 2011 over 2010 – and a growing global exposure have created a threshold momentum for the middle class, putting a premium on political freedom and legislative participation.

Though it may be electorally docile, its activation could prove disastrous for the government as it has the ability to craft  the message and set the symbols of communication for several other sections of society. The middle class has the ability to articulate causes, ensure the adoption of ubiquitous symbols, and drive mobilisation that can severely alter political constructs.

Supporters of Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare wave the Indian national flag as they celebrate near the India Gate. AFP

Should the strength of the middle class be judged simply by what fraction of the population it constitutes? Not quite. How can they be engaged  meaningfully, if at all?

Though the pet issues of the middle class appear pertinent only to them, the trickle-down effects of flawed policies help the other sections of society relate to the symptoms. The middle class then puts in the intellectual bulwark to connect the dots and helps them connect the symptoms to the root cause by way of ubiquitous symbols and slogans.

Thus, they now have a larger constituency that spans virtually all segments of the electorate – and therein lies the danger of not engaging the middle class. It is not that flawed policies or corruption did not touch other sections of society earlier, but the middle class did not have unlimited access to media, and an unfettered liberty to exaggerate things the way it does now.

This is why the chaperones of the Anna movement came from the middle class, while the support came from all sections. This is what explains the auto-rickshaw driver’s commitment to the Anna cause. The government messed it up by its poor engagement with the middle class.

Not engaging the middle class can do any party or government the same damage that lack of a lobbyist may do to a business in a foreign nation. A lobbyist may not necessarily succeed in his endeavour, but he or she can certainly nullify or reduce the negative impact of any environmental factors.

Similarly, cultivating the middle class may not necessarily yield dividends at the hustings, but it will prevent negative articulation of some obvious chinks in your armour, which you may take long to correct or which the political class may have no will to correct at all.

Given the relentless technological tools at their disposal and increasing incomes, they will take the first available opportunity to set the agenda for the rest of the electorate. That is exactly what happened in the case of Anna Hazare’s agitation. And, that is precisely the reason why the BJP has a more volatile base than the Congress. Its growth was driven by the middle class.

So how does the government appease this fast growing beast?

Let’s look at an obvious bugbear for the middle class: service tax. A widespread service tax net was created in the name of infrastructure development without a single high-speed railway line coming up. Potholed roads are not the symbols of governance any government should want this constituency to look at. After all, it was the government which, at one point, branded service tax as the prince of all taxes meant for infrastructure development.

This is where the crafting of deliverables by a government is far more complex today than it would have been even a decade ago. Most policy goals cannot be achieved without ministries working in tandem with an enforced business plan.

The example of the Indian Railways tells us what a business plan can do. Before the Sixth Pay Commission bled the organisation, the railways had reported quite a healthy annual surplus of Rs 20,000 crore or more. Now even if Rs 10,000 crore had been invested in capacity augmentation it would have meant building 2,500 km of high quality railway line, perhaps with electrification.

That’s almost a double railway line on the Mumbai-Delhi sector (approximately 2,800 km) – one complete arm of the much-touted freight corridor. Now if only the pace of land acquisition had been as agile as when BC Khanduri was surface transport minister in the NDA government. A combination of such skills and execution would have ensured the completion of more than half the dedicated freight corridor by now.

Clearly, a business plan and coordination between various ministries is required. Setting up food storage and processing units within the hinterland of this railway line would have drastically enhanced the efficiency of the food supply chain. Several thousand tonnes of wheat were declared unusable in 2008-10 due to spoilage, but 98 percent of this was due to unscientific storage.

India can drastically cut down post-harvest losses by systematically integrating the development of storage complexes along railway lines, which will further help the timely evacuation of stored foodgrains and food produce.

This can impact inflation positively and also increase the revenue yield for farmers. It is when ministries work in tandem on a business plan that a real tangible good is produced and it can be felt by the common man, too.

Coordinated business plans between ministries would lead to creating relevant returns on investment for this increasingly aware audience. The future of governance and effective voter engagement thus lies in a business plan approach.

Tax reliefs, increased entitlements, and greater subsidies may no longer be sufficient to ensure a handsome return at the ballot box. Those techniques have reached the production possibility frontier, as economist Paul  Samuelson would have put it. As we move forward their returns will diminish sooner rather than later.

A developing economy has complex problems which call for coordinated solutions. Business plans are essential to deal with a fast-growing economy where an increasingly articulate number of voters see democratically elected governments as giving them the least return on their buck.

A NREGA without a coordinated effort from other ministries and greater transparency may, therefore, not help much. Any failure on coordinated growth will fuel civil society movements and they will always attempt to set the agenda for governments they deem as failures. With new media and a threshold mass readily available to them, the rules of the game have just changed.

Jai Mrug is a political commentator and a close watcher of the election scene in India.

Anna Effect:More Whistle Blowing Will Lay New Foundation Of Ethics & Corporate Governance

 Recently, India's anti-corruption crusade led by Anna Hazare received a huge nationwide response. The Lokpal Bill proposed by Anna Hazare has already had huge political ramifications. However, it appears that the movement may also have some unintended outcomes for India Inc. More importantly for companies that are dependent on government for their businesses.

After the recent mass movement, whistle-blowing could gain prominence amongst employees who are privy to illegal confidential information. While earlier they were a bit hesitant in voicing their opinion, the Anna movement may have re-instilled their faith in the system. These whistle-blowers could affect the business prospects seriously as new skeletons can get uprooted from the cupboard soon.

Secondly, corporate governance practices are likely to gain further importance. Companies with strong governance standards have always garnered a premium as compared to the ones with opaque practices. And in such an environment the importance on transparency has increased considerably. If not, the fund raising plans of the corporates may run into trouble impacting their long term growth prospects. Thus, the importance of disclosure standards is bound to increase amongst the corporates after the anti-corruption movement.

Over time, corporates may be lured to shift their focus from government businesses due to heightened political and bureaucratic interferences. The recent policy paralysis has also increased the risk perception towards businesses with government involvement. Infrastructure and mining are classic examples where the businesses have been suffering due to policy inaction. Unless the decision making process improves from the government side corporate interest in government oriented businesses would continue to wane.

Political ownership in businesses (can lead to a probe on disproportionate assets) is likely to reduce over time as it is easily traceable unlike other asset classes like real estate. Although the business ownership is camouflaged by creating layers of fictitious companies any significant probe into the matter can reveal the true ownership structure. This may jeopardize political aspirations of the parties. Hence, one can expect the political ownership in corporate entities to come down gradually.

It can be said that while Anna's movement was political in nature it did have an impact for corporate India by laying down a new foundation of ethics and corporate governance. Although it was by fear and not by choice.

Anna Effect: Collective sentiments should translate into the power of the vote

Nobody in the country today, neither the Aruna Roy group with all its arguments for “parliamentary procedures” (which failed to tackle corruption in the last six decades), nor technocrats like Nandan Nilekani or any politician of some stature can take on the Congress. The only person who has been able to is Anna Hazare, given the chord he has struck with the people. It is important to understand that Hazare is just a symbol and we Indians will have to fight many a battle with or without him. One powerful way of doing that effectively is to diligently exercise the power of our vote.

Such is the scourge of political and politically-influenced bureaucratic corruption in our country that nothing less than a relentless crusade is necessary to deal with the deep-rooted cancer of corruption. In such a situation 64 years after Independence, there’s a glimmer of hope that something worthwhile will emerge from the Hazare movement. The Gandhian crusader has been accused of using Gandhian tactics as a tool of blackmail, of being disrespectful of “parliamentary procedures” and now, of playing into the hands of the opposition by threatening to campaign against the Congress in the October 13 Hissar by-poll in Haryana.

The fact is that the Indian politician is afraid of just two things today — of suffering the wrath of the top-most rungs of the judiciary which have made an example of the Suresh Kalmadis, A Rajas and Kanimozhis of the day; and the power of the vote, which in recent months, toppled the communists in West Bengal and the DMK in Tamil Nadu.

Will the Congress suffer the same fate in the 2014 general elections as more scams surface and the infighting intensifies? Who will replace Manmohan Singh? Will Sonia Gandhi continue to lead?

Imagine for a moment what could happen if all those thousands of Anna Hazare supporters stepped out, with their families, to exercise their vote whenever the next election takes place in their city, town or village.

While it’s too early to predict, the fact is that Hazare has touched a raw nerve in the Congress. On October 4, Hazare warned in his village Ralegan Siddhi that he would urge the voters of Hissar not to vote for the Congress unless a commitment was made to introduce the Jan Lokpal Bill in the winter session of Parliament.

This threat was issued after candidates from all the major political parties in Hissar- barring the Congress- expressed support to the Lokpal Bill while replying to civil society activists on the issue. Hazare said that as a part of the Jan Lokpal movement, a similar appeal would be made in other states that face the assembly polls next year.

Barely four months from now, Maharashtra will face the municipal elections and already, the ruling Congress in Pune is terrified with Anna’s anti-Congress threat.

Holding lighted candles to support Hazare during his two fasts to press for the Jan Lokpal Bill did make a pretty picture for TV cameras and newspapers. As did the show of solidarity by wearing “I am Anna” caps which instantly became fashionable. Endorsing pro-Anna online petitions and forwarding chain mails from the comfort of one’s home or office also gave many the satisfaction of being a part of the Hazare movement.

All of this will be reduced to a waste of time unless the collective sentiment is translated into the power of the vote.

Anna Movement Changed Branding Concept !!!

In a recent survey, leading marketing and advertising professionals hailed the anti-corruption campaign led by Baburao Hazare as a favourite. It successfully competed against the usual favourites like Vodafone’s “Zoozoos”, Cadbury’s “shubh aarambh”, Airtel’s “friends”, Pepsi’s “change the game”, among others. This, at one level, shows that professionals are also citizens and relate to these issues. However, there is, subliminally, admiration for how the Hazare campaign was executed. This can be instructional for branding and brand communication in the future.
First, the campaign was based on a larger cause: a purpose that was both current and real. Though corruption has been an issue in India for decades, the spate of scams in the last one year has made the issue “hot” today. And the campaign brought that out in the open.

Second, there was an immediate milestone that had to be achieved. It opened with the demand for passing the Jan Lok Pal Bill. The acceptance of the civil society’s version of the Bill was clearly seen as a step forward. It had a start and an end date.
Third, the movement had distinct symbols, role models and rituals — in short, it had all the essentials of a strong brand. Mr Hazare had established himself in the target audience’s consciousness with his earlier fast and was now a known face people were ready to rally around. A 74-year-old soldier who has led an austere life fighting for various causes makes a good role model. Linked with the symbol of the topi – the white cap – reminiscent of the freedom struggle and the ritual of a fast – again harking back to the British era – the movement had all the right ingredients to stir emotions and create connections.
Fourth, it was an integrated campaign: online and on ground. Technology was used to reach the influencers and an on-ground event was used to galvanise people to have a taste of the real thing. While the online movement created a buzz, the on-ground one created a real experience. The on-ground event had both entertainment and celebrities, besides a “fasting” Mr Hazare, to provide enough fodder for media coverage and engagement for attendees. That was smart!
Fifth, the media was enlisted as a target audience and not just as a channel. The organisers of the movement understood that the media today needs content and TRPs. The cause, the milestone and the traditional brand trappings provided enough stimuli for the media to get excited about providing free mileage for the movement. This is certainly a departure from traditional communication exercises which see the media as only a means of dissemination.
Finally, it was interesting to note that many people who attended the rally were not conversant with the finer details of the Jan Lok Pal Bill, nor did they know how it was different from the government’s version. However, given the stature of the role model – Mr Hazare – and the support the movement got from other credible celebrities – Aamir Khan for instance – people were willing to accept, rather blindly, the “citizen” version was superior to the one already proposed in Parliament by the government. This is quite insightful, clearly revealing that reaching out to innovators and opinion leaders is enough to get the masses and followers to join the fold. Everyone doesn’t need to understand the fine print to support a “good” cause.

Though there is a difference between a mass movement, which needs no financial commitment from an individual, and a product campaign urging people to fork out money to buy a final product. However, even the Hazare movement expected people to spare some of their time – a scarce resource – to either come out and be at the venue or watch news on television. Many viewers across India wholeheartedly traded their “entertainment” time to follow Mr Hazare’s fast on TV. A movement with a physical manifestation only in Delhi managed to get fairly high “physical” engagement with people across at least top ten cities in India.
Causes work. NDTV over the last couple of years has been able to raise crores of rupees for causes as diverse as lighting villages to saving the tiger to a school programme through its talkathons.
Clearly, there is an opportunity for product branding to shift gear from “propositions” to “purposes” to connect with consumers. A “purpose” provides a platform for brands to engage with consumers and create a buzz that can involve the media (including new media correspondents like bloggers) to become carriers of the message. It means clearly marking the channel as a target audience and understanding what tickles them as much as what tickles the end consumer while developing brand campaigns. This could also mean that there is no need to do carpet bombing and convince all prospective buyers; aiming at a select few in the innovator segment and using them (and the media) to amplify the brand message to create action can suffice.

This could also provide a great way to differentiate a brand with a “purpose” from one with a “proposition”. A brand with a point of view on the world or life could provide a connect at a higher level than just providing a strong emotional benefit.
All the same, in today’s busy life, it is important for Mr Hazare to constantly remain relevant to ensure that the cause and the issue stay alive both in the minds of the country’s citizens and lawmakers. Given that marketing is quite persistent in its efforts, the transience of the Hazare campaign is irrelevant to the world of branding

2014 Will End Dynasty Raj: 'Anna-nomics' will decide India’s mandate

A speculation is gaining momentum as to who will be the Prime Ministerial candidate for India in 2014 election – Narendra Modi of BJP vs. Rahul Gandhi of Congress. News channels have already indulged in hosting analysis on the next prime ministerial candidate on their primetime shows to catch higher TRPs. After a spate of political muddling, the battle of politics has now zeroed down to the Youth Leaders to take the centre stage in order to provide the country with the zing of next generation leadership. Moreover, the Gujarat Chief Minister is in news of late on account of his token three-day Sadbhavana fast for the peace and development of the state.

Modi has been instrumental in Gujarat’s development since last many years. He has been credited with attracting investment opportunities worth thousands of crores through his initiative of Vibrant Gujarat investment summit, which has been dubbed as the deal-making jamboree of India largely attracting corporate groups to pledge staggering investments.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s refusal to wear a skull cap, offered by a Muslim cleric, during his fast may have taken some sheen off his celebrated exercise, but the Congress has surprisingly been wary of attacking him on this issue. Except Congress spokesperson Renuka Choudhary’s childish & casual remark — Modi doosron ko topi pehnate hain — party leaders have refrained from raking up this issue. As per the assessment of ruling party strategists, an attack on Modi over skull cap issue could result in “consolidation of the majority community” in his favour. Convinced that Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s maut-ka-saudagar remark had backfired in the last election, Congressmen are no more willing to play any ‘minority card’ against Gujarat CM.

As the debate on potential prime ministerial contenders for the 2014 elections picks up in India, a US Congressional report says it might just turn out to be a direct contest between controversial Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

A report on India by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), a bipartisan and independent research wing of the US Congress, finds Modi a strong prime ministerial candidate for the opposition BJP in 2014, while at the same time discussing the prospect of the Congress putting up Rahul Gandhi for the position

Controversial Chief Minister Narendra Modi has streamlined economic processes

The United States Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports mentions on page 47, “Perhaps India’s best example of effective governance and impressive development is found in Gujarat (pop. 60 million), where controversial Chief Minister Narendra Modi has streamlined economic processes, removing red tape and curtailing corruption in ways that have made the state a key driver of national economic growth. Seeking to overcome the taint of his alleged complicity in deadly 2002 anti-Muslim riots, Modi has overseen heavy investment in modern roads and power infrastructure, and annual growth of more than 11% in recent years. The state has attracted major international investors such as (Ford), General Motors and Mitsubishi and, with only 5% of the country’s population, Gujarat now accounts for more than one-fifth of India’s exports.

Another positive example in 2011 has been Bihar (pop. 104 million), one of India’s poorest states, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has won national attention through his considerable success in emphasizing good governance over caste-based politics; he is credited with restoring law and order across much of the state, as well as overseeing infrastructure and educational improvements of direct benefit to common citizens projects. Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) party, in alliance with the main national opposition BJP, won an overwhelming reelection majority in November 2010 state elections.

The examples set in by Chief Ministers Modi and Kumar may have inspired the popular leader of India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh (pop. 200 million). Chief Minister Mayawati, who is widely believed to maintain national political ambitions and was at the forefront of a nascent “Third Front” in 2009, has shifted her own focus much more toward infrastructure projects such as road-building and improving the state’s poor energy grid.” (CRS: page 48)

However, the report which gives a detailed account of international political dimensions of India, does not clearly state it would be a Modi vs Gandhi affair in 2014. Brief and separate references made to Gandhi and Nehru in the CRS's 98-page report titled "India: Domestic Issues, Strategic Dynamics, and U.S. Relations" have been used by sections of the Indian media to suggest as if some elements of the US official establishment expect the 2014 elections in the country to be a direct battle between the two politicians.

Nowhere in the report is there contention, speculation or projection that the 2014 parliamentary election will be between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi. Gandhi and Modi have been mentioned in two different places and in two different contexts, contrary to the impression they have been clubbed together as some of the Indian media reports create.

The reference to Modi's prime ministerial prospects on page 41 says, "At present, the BJP president is Nitin Gadkari, a former Maharashtran official known for his avid support of privatization. Although still in some disorder in 2011, there are signs that the BJP has made changes necessary to be a formidable challenger in scheduled 2014 polls. These include a more effective branding of the party as one focused on development and good governance rather than emotive, Hindutva-related issues, and Gadkari's success at quelling intra-party dissidence and, by some accounts, showing superior strategizing and organizing skills as compared to his predecessors.”

But an important mention in the CRS report is on its page 47 with reference to June 29, 2011 article by Reuters – “Rahul Gandhi: A Leader in Waiting for World’s Largest Democracy,” Which says, “Meanwhile, Congress President Gandhi is suffering from an unknown illness, and in early August virtually disappeared from India’s political stage, having left the country for surgery at an undisclosed U.S. hospital. Moreover, as key Congress figures express support for the future leadership role of Sonia Gandhi’s youthful son, parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi, Manmohan Singh’s political authority is correspondingly undermined. The 2009 polls may have represented a coming out party of sorts for the younger Gandhi, who many expect to be put forward as Congress’s prime ministerial candidate in scheduled 2014 elections. Yet this heir-apparent remains dogged by questions about his abilities to lead the party, given a mixed record as an election strategist, uneasy style in public appearances, and reputation for gaffes.”

Trouble is at hand for Congress. End of Dynasty Raj is eminent

Without saying so, the American establishment is veering round to the view that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance may not return to power in the next elections to be held in 2014 or earlier. Rahul Gandhi has been given the gentle thumbs down in any potential 2014 contest with Narendra Modi irrespective of whether it happens. But, when the American establishment privileges the opposition over the ruling dispensation, trouble is at hand for Congress. End of Dynasty Raj is eminent.

The Congress crisis is rooted in three things: corruption, price rise, and the worsening security situation. No terrorist attack since 26/11 has been solved. Corruption, however, is the biggest killer. Anna Hazare has focused on this issue brilliantly. In a sense everything boils down to corruption, from a minister who rigs his election, to an environment of tolerance created for food hoarders, to an inspector on the coast who with corrupt impunity permits the landing of explosives, which are then used for terrorist attacks.

When Rahul Gandhi and Chidambaram faced angry relatives of the recent Delhi bomb blast victims at a hospital, the searing cry of hurt and outrage said: You can’t control corruption, and you can’t give us security. Why have you come?

Badly for the Congress, the opposition is capitalising on the anti-corruption wave sweeping the country. Bihar is punishing corrupt bureaucrats and Madhya Pradesh will follow suit. Damned by the lokayukta, BS Yeddyurappa had to go. Blamed from all quarters, Congress Chief Minister and Minister for Mining for Twelve years Digambar Kamat dogged with Mining Scams, still occupies the chair, has increase the problem manifold. P. Chidambaram, can face a a CBI inquiry, Court trial and ultimately imprisonment anytime soon.. The latest is the Central Bureau of Investigation’s desperate attempts to stall the investigation into Chidambaram’s role in the 2G spectrum scam, as legally demanded by Subramanian Swamy. But the Centre resists fighting corruption. Venerable institutions like the CAG are attacked.

The CRS report thus draws the attention of Congress members to the post-2002 positive image of Modi as well as to the lingering allegations about his negative role in 2002. Modi is seen as a positively evolving leader with a negative historical background. Unless he is able to rid himself of the negative memories evoked by the ant-Muslim riots of 2002, any exercise mounted by his followers and party to rehabilitate his image abroad will be problematic.

In the short and medium terms, the CRS report could have two fall-outs in respect of US policy. Firstly, a dilution of the decision of the US State Department in 2005 not to issue a visa to Modi and, secondly, a greater readiness on the part of the US diplomats posted in India to interact with him, his ministers and officials. Some of the WikiLeaks documents already indicated a developing view in the State Department that the policy of avoidance of interactions with them (Team Modi) could prove inadvisable. This view is likely to be strengthened in the months to come and before the next elections. Whether the US likes Modi or not, he is there to stay. Better take cognisance of him.

The second development is the order passed by the Supreme Court of India in a case in which it had been monitoring investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into allegations in a petition regarding Modi’s role in the 2002 riots. The petition alleges willful inaction by the administration headed by Modi. The SIT investigation has not been able to find any substantive evidence in support of the allegations. At the same time, non-Governmental activists carrying on a decade-long campaign against Modi on this issue have not been able to produce any concrete evidence in proof of their allegations. Thus, Modi stands in a position where he can neither be proved guilty or established to be innocent.

The Supreme Court has decided to discontinue the monitoring of the investigation in view of the completion of it and has referred the results of the investigation made so far to a trial court for further action as warranted in accordance with the law. It is doubtful whether the court will be able to come to definitive conclusions. The claims made by the supporters of Modi and his party that he has been vindicated are premature.

If Modi wants to pursue his Prime Ministerial aspirations, the only option available to him is to make public and sincere amends to the victims of the anti-Muslim riots and persuade them to forget and forgive. His continuing reluctance to do so is evident from his subsequent comments and actions. He and his supporters seem to believe that if they continue to stonewall the allegations against him, public memory would fade away. This may not happen as we had seen in the case of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi under the rule of the Congress.

With celestial omens clearly in his favour, the Gujarat Chief Minister recently sat on a three-day fast, which was viewed by many as an attempt to improve his hardline image, especially among the minorities (Muslims). Buoyed by the pleasing circumstances, a visibly delighted Modi hoped that his fast named "Sadbhavana Mission" will bring peace, harmony and unity in his state.

However, bringing peace and prosperity alone in Gujarat is not Modi’s only agenda as he is clearly preparing himself for a larger role in the national politics. However, his possible ascension to the throne of Prime Minister would be bumpy and full of obstacles because of the controversies shadowing him.

The Gandhi scion attempted to parachute himself onto the summit, but landed in a ditch!

If you compare Rahul Gandhi with Narendra Modi then what will you compare except that Rahul occasionally goes to Uttar Pradesh to spend few nights with the downtrodden and sometimes to Maharashtra to enquire welfare of the farmers who have been shot dead for raising their voice against land grabbing by illegal means. What other credentials he has besides being that he is the son of Sonia Gandhi. When there are burning issues, he does not participate in them. When Anna Hazare agitation was going on in Delhi, he was probably resting in Delhi and when there was bomb blast in Delhi, he just woke up from his slumber and dashed to the hospital to enquire about the well being of Common Man. It is another fact that common man did not share their miseries with the Prince Charming and he has to take hasty retreat from the hospital. Rahul Gandhi ought to know, at least now, that common man wants action and intent to do something for the countrymen and just by shedding crocodiles tears, you cannot earn sympathy and love of masses.

For Modi to come on to the national centre stage, he will have to first and foremost get the RSS nod and later the support of the allies. He will have to be picked from a field which has Nitish Kumar, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari besides L.K.Advani and Murali Manohar Joshi. His supporters feel that Modi was the only leader in the BJP stable who can get votes on the hindutva plank even outside the Saffron sphere of influence. He could propel BJP to its highest tally in the Lok Sabha and more than182, the number the party achieved under Atal Behari Vajpayee, its tallest leader.

“It is now a given truth that after the Gujarat elections next year Modi will come to national politics and the first thing he will do is clean up the garbage that has collected at the top in the BJP.”

Congress Leadership is worried. What worries them is not just Modi’s clear ability to give Rahul Gandhi a run for his money but that, unlike the Congress heir-apparent, Modi would come to the 2014 fight with a proven administrative record. His worst critics concede that Gujarat has gone to new heights of prosperity under Modi and, remarkably, this has happened without a whiff of corruption.

After the 2002 violence he locked up the worst elements in the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. And, it has been years since we heard hate speeches from the likes of Praveen Togadia but the ordinary Gujarati Hindu who participated in massacring Muslims has continued to see Modi as a Hindu hero for the worst reasons. It is this image that Modi seems to be trying to change because whether he becomes the BJP’s candidate for prime minister in 2014 or not he knows that it is no longer in his interests to have a sectarian image.

In a LensOnNews monthly tracking poll, many feel that this development clears the way for Modi to enter national-level politics. The agency’s tracking poll asked questions on the ‘Preferred Prime Minister’– with Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi matched up one-for-one against each other.

Their poll finds that Narendra Modi scores big as the preferred PM over both Manmohan and Rahul. Fifty-six percent of respondents say they prefer Modi over Manmohan (an increase of 4 points over August), while the Modi-Rahul match-up is 60% to 25% in favour of Modi. Modi has gained 9 points over the August figure, while Rahul has dropped by as much as 10 points. Going forward, with the favourable Supreme Court verdict behind him, Modi will be in a position to consolidate his already strong standing among voters.

Evidently, the arrogant and insensitive handling of the Anna Hazare agitation against corruption by the UPA government has affected the popular standing of both Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi.

The surprising finding is that, while 45% respondents still prefer Rahul over Manmohan (33%), Manmohan has improved his ratings by 2 points in the match-up against Rahul over the early August figures.

The precipitous fall in Rahul Gandhi’s numbers certainly has much to do with his dramatic intervention during zero hour in the Lok Sabha just before the debate on the Jan Lokpal bill, a gambit which ultimately turned out to be a fizzle. Congress’s vaunted ‘youth icon’ said he wanted to ‘elevate’ the discussion and proposed that Lokpal should have the status of a constitutional body like the Election Commission and the CAG. He expected that his proposal would be a ‘game changer’, but there were no takers for it. As Kiran Bedi commented, one should first climb a hill before attempting to climb Mount Everest. The Gandhi scion attempted to parachute himself onto the summit, but landed in a ditch!

USA or India, Think Tank will not make any difference

Ever since the US think tank expressed the view that Narendra Modi, the controversial Gujarat chief minister could be the BJP’s choice for Prime Ministership in the next Parliamentary elections, all newspapers and TV channels have been speculating whether it will be Modi Vs Rahul in 2014 (or earlier).

What amazes one is, how a Think Tank’s perception can be taken so seriously by the media as both the respective parties, the Congress and the BJP have yet to decide whom to project for the PM’s position during the next round. Many political pundits had even in 2009 thought that after the Congress/UPA win, Manmohan Singh will make way for Rahul to take over the Prime Minister’s position. They seemed to forget that unlike 2004, Manmohan Singh was projected as the PM candidate by the UPA/Congress and therefore the mandate in 2009 was as much for the party and its allies as it was for Singh. And therefore it would not have been an easy task to replace him with Rahul who despite being a Gandhi has many hurdles to cross before he can even think of assuming the top position. The hurdles are within his own party where a section, which enjoys power, may not easily let it go. This section realizes that there is no guarantee in politics that after a change of leadership, status quo will remain at every level. The second obstacle could be from allies who will spell out their positions at an appropriate time. As things stand today, Manmohan Singh is the biggest cementing force within the UPA despite a lot of inner contradictions and the fragile nature of the party and the alliance. Any attempt to move him or replace him could lead to an intense power struggle and I shall not be surprised if it even results in the fall of the government.

There are too many contenders for Manmohan Singh’s position within the UPA and this is where the danger lies. Not necessary, that parties should not look beyond their present leaders but things have to be handled deftly and without incurring damage of any kind. The scams and scandals have left the Congress vulnerable and the credibility of its government is at its lowest. It is also not to suggest that Manmohan Singh is going to be the permanent PM candidate of the UPA as long as he lives but any attempt to dislodge him is not going to be easy and will not be without inherent dangers. In this context, political pundits can only speculate who the Congress leader of the future is. And therefore Rahul Gandhi’s name is spoken about as there is no doubt in anybody’s mind that he will certainly succeed his mother as the next Congress president. And if the party does well in the next elections, he will certainly be an automatic choice for the PM’s position. Rahul, himself will feel more comfortable if Congress was to come to power on its own and be not dependent on any other political party. But this is an era of coalitions and it is not easy to achieve a single party majority. Even if the change has to come in 2014 then right candidate should be in place and even if Congress/UPA even think of installing Rahul Gandhi as PM candidate then that will be Himalayan blunder for the party.


Secondly, as the world is witnessing another slowdown and the IMF predicting that another 4.5 crore of people across the world will be pushed to poverty, it’s high time for the govt of our country to act accordingly. Our govt should take actions to take care of price hike. Though it’s expected to have a lower GDP growth of 7.8% compared to that of the predicted 8.2%, only proper steps taken by the govt can tackle the problem and lead country back to the path of development. It’s also expected to have lesser foreign investment flowing in to the country in coming years; the govt has to find out other ways to constantly maintain the GDP growth. While all these measures are to be taken, it should again be kept in mind that the common man should find his living and its them who are going to bring the govt back to power again in 2014.

These are all in the realm of speculation and let us wait for the elections to be announced to really know as to between whom the final contest will be. But interesting times are here. One thing is certain that the next Prime Minister of the country will be decided by the people of this country and not by any Think Tank in India or abroad.