Mohan Yadav’s Big Show

Bhopal was decked up for the big event from the weekend onwards. Laser lighting on buildings along the city’s big lake with an imposing statue of Raja Bhoj and coloured illumination at traffic roundabouts and road dividers bathed buildings in a soft and alluring tint. The big show was the state Global Investors Summit (GIS) addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, February 24. The conclave was Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s big push to bring industry to the state and start a new cycle in its economy. Modi met state legislators, MPs and senior party office bearers over dinner a day before his address and the idea was to seed the need for change required to move Madhya Pradesh from being an agricultural success story to one that attracts investments and creates new jobs. Yadav set the ball rolling by meeting some of the state’s leading realtors ahead of the GIS, recognising their key contribution to the state’s economy and construction of infrastructure. He sweetened the meeting by releasing pending dues to builders as per a state government incentive plan. The gathering was impressed by the chief minister’s focus on practical issues rather than political grandstanding. The GIS is happening about a year-and-a-half after BJP beat incumbency and returned to office and is a key aspect of the state government’s efforts to woo industry. Modi’s visit was followed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s. He too spoke at the summit.

Sore Wounds

The conviction of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots serves to highlight long delays and slothful investigations that saw many guilty of violence after Indira Gandhi’s assassination escape the law. The widows and young children who had to suffer the trauma of losing husbands, fathers and bread winners and live in camps for years struggled to recover from the blow fate dealt them. Decades after the riots, residents of Tilak Vihar struggled to make ends meet, surviving on the help and charity of civil society. Kumar was denied a Congress ticket for Lok Sabha but was subsequently rehabilitated as were other high-profile Delhi politicians named in the riots but never successfully prosecuted.

Hope for NCR

The change of guard in Delhi was greeted with a sense of relief in neighbouring states which have BJP governments in office. The Haryana government fast-forwarded proposals to improve connectivity between Gurugram and Faridabad and Delhi with new roads, elevated corridors and intersections and is awaiting discussions with new Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Previously, officials said, there was no response from the AAP government on multi-modal transport proposals urgently needed to reduce congestion and pollution in the entire Delhi-NCR region.

Tharoor’s Point

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor stirred party waters again, first with his “unbiased” appraisal of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US and then with his comments on the leadership, or lack of it, in Kerala. Kerala Congress leaders brushed aside Tharoor’s remarks, pointing out that he has met Rahul Gandhi after his acknowledgement that Modi achieved some success in Washington. But it does seem Tharoor is chaffing at having to play second fiddle to party functionaries in parliament and Kerala. The problem is that the cabal he is hinting at pulls its weight from Rahul Gandhi.

Hamas Roadblock

A survey conducted by the Foreign Affairs journal shows that Hamas continues to enjoy support of a large number of Gazans although the numbers have dropped after the killing of Yahya Sinwar. The survey puts the spotlight on a strong view within Israel, and shared by the Trump administration, that Hamas must not be the masters of Gaza. Israel under Benjamin Netanyahu is clear it cannot accept a permanent threat to its security. The next round will be played out over fresh talks about hostages to be released by Hamas which is realising that its mentor Iran’s ability to help is limited.

Politics And Fitness

Modi’s decision to ‘nominate’ J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as an ambassador to advocate the need to control obesity is not very surprising and can be interpreted in a political light too. The health reasons first. Abdullah has emerged as a health and fitness icon with his trim physique and diet control. On the political side, he has so far avoided feuding with the Centre and even praised Modi at public events. Modi sees the benefit of working with Abdullah in the sensitive state even if the National Conference and BJP have little in common. No surprise that Abdullah accepted the request.

BJP Bounces Back

The victory in Delhi has greatly boosted confidence levels in BJP as the capital under AAP was a sore sticking point for the Centre. New Delhi’s Lutyens’ zone is home to think-tanks and cultural elites opposed to BJP who saw the AAP government as an ally despite the party’s occasional recourse to nationalist sloganeering. With Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi under its belt, BJP insiders feel the negative commentary after the June 4, 2024 Lok Sabha results is a thing of the past. There is also a renewed zeal to pursue the economic and political agenda at the heart of BJP’s thinking that it hopes will shape Modi’s third term in office.

Benjamin NetanyahuDelhi NCRMohan YadavNarendra Modinational politcsSajjan KumarShashi Tharoor