Monday, September 7, 2009

Power & Politics / Mail Today, September 07, 2009

POLITICIANS are rarely blessed with the gift of decency. In Andhra Pradesh, even less so. It was a measure of his image at the national level and the cross- party respect Y. S. Rajashekhara Reddy commanded that when he died last Wednesday in a chopper crash, many states, including those ruled by non- Congress parties, observed a two- day mourning, the flag at the BJP headquarters at 11 Ashoka Road fluttered at half mast for two days, and the Leader of the Opposition L. K. Advani joined Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi at the funeral of the late AP chief minister.
It was a pity thus to see Andhra Congress leaders indulge in a naked display of power politics even as YSR’s body lay in state. The memory of this mindless and absolutely disrespectful lobbying by state Congress leaders, shown 24X7 on TV, will live much longer than the many good deeds associated with the departed leader. Instead of condoling the demise of a man who was undoubtedly dynamic, they indulged in a naked and greedy power dance.

The state cabinet met on Thursday to condole his death but they did not mourn the passing of a leader. The meeting was a precursor to a battle to grab the seat that fell vacant with his death. After the meeting, ministers came out and started the chorus for the elevation of Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy, YSR’s son, as the new chief minister. Worse, it all happened in front of K. Rosaiah, the seniormost Congressman who had just been named as interim CM by the high command.

Signature campaigns were floated and TV channels were fed stories about Jagan having the support of more than four- fifths of the Congress Legislative Party. The papers and newscasts were full of stories of suicides and heart attacks though the exact number of victims depended on which factional leader you spoke to. It was as high as 150, as the pro Jagan camp would have us believe; merely 30, the other side said. Having created the hysteria, the Congress courtiers brought forth a solution.

In an unprecedented move, all ministers ( appointed by YSR of course) signed a representation, obviously aimed at putting pressure on Sonia Gandhi to sanction Jagan’s coronation. The man behind the exercise is KVP Ramachandra Rao, Rajya Sabha MP who was YSR’s classmate.

The young Reddy is undoubtedly a successful man. With not a little help from his father, he became a media baron and last May, he won his first election to the Lok Sabha. Jagan may have the grit and guile of his father but it is doubtful if, without YSR’s guiding hands, he will have the Jaganmohan same political valuation. Yet, he has the financial muscle and control of the party’s coffers.

This is a state which has given the Congress and the country some of the tallest leaders: Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, Narasimha Rao, Brahmananda Reddy, NT Rama Rao, M. Chenna Reddy etc.

The Congress is in a dilemma: can it afford to ignore Rosiah, its senior most leader who has been a minister in seven governments, and a backward to boot, and elevate a greenhorn? The behaviour of the senior leaders, as seen on TV, was sickening and the naked greed for power is not likely to let the dead rest in peace.

7 comments:

esub basha shaik said...

Why you are thinking that YS Jagan is unfit for CM post.Compared to all the other congress men in the state he is more capable and worthy. He sucessfully running a news paper by defeating the most powerful telugu daily. He has a sensitivity and he can up hold his fathers ambitions. Giving a chance to YS is not at all installing the dynasty politics in the state. And if a candidate is fit for the post we should not have to oppose him only due to the cause of he is a son/ daughter of a politician.

esub basha shaik said...

you may not be able to imagine the death toll after Y.S.R'S death. But it crosses more than 150 as per the anti congress paer EENADU and 300 according to sakshi. And how can reply that the toll may not be more than 67 with out any proper information . I'm not at all encouraging these deaths but unfortunately this tally only resembling the affection of the poor towards the great YSR. It may not possible for you to see good things in YSR. I Know that you never encouraged the YSR for what he did for the needy . Our andhra is not a rich state like gujrat . (remember that gujarat is always in the top position even before the mody also in your surveys also.)
I think according to you developement means establishing big big stupid factories or continuously being in national media for not getting visa's or for fake encounters or ceasing the rights to minorities or what else may be. But according to our Andhra's expired CM developement means:
Helping the poor people, physically hadicapped, giving financial support to ladies and encouraging them to take active part in social and political life, giving scholarships , fee refund to the students , developement of minorities, fulfilling the dreams of farmers giving support to them, sanctioning pentions to old, physically challenged, helping the unhealthy people. As your a journalist I think you know these works conducted by YSR.
1. JALA YAGNAM -FOR FARMERS
2. FREE CURRENT - FOR POOR FARMERS
3. WHITE RATION CARD - FOR THE PEOPLE OF BPL
4. AROGYA SREE - FOR THE UNHEALTHY , WHAT EVER MAY BE THE DESEASE
5. INDIRAMMA HOUSES - FOR THE NEEDY
6. INCREASE IN PENTION FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDI CAPPED AND POOR PEOPLE
7. GIVING THE RESERVATIONS FOR THE MINORITIES (and this must be needed because all the reservations what ever are going only belongs to hindu's it may be OBC'S OR SC'S OR ST'S SO bjp's objection is entirely wrong that reservation should not be according to religion .)
8. 108 - IN THE EMERGENCY
9. ABHAYA HASTAM SCHEME FOR THE WOMEN - YET TO BE STARTED
10. 25 PAISE INTEREST SCHEME TO WOMEN
11. KILO 2 RUPEES RICE SCHEME
12.CONTINUOUS IN TAKE OF GOVERNMENT POSTS
13.DEVELOPEMENT OF RTC
14.AND THERE ARE SO MUCH BUT I'm not able all TO LIST HERE
yes there are some mistakes by him but compared to any other CM'S track of progress YSR IS VERY MUCH BETTER. You have named your magazine as INDIA TODAY but your not giving much importance to the south states especially the largest south stae andhra. yes your releasing the telugu magazine but what it contains all the un important things . What kind of surveys you are conducting? all false results . Take the example of general elections? what your magazine said? how you expected that 3 'rd front will gain more seats? ND TV 'SURVEY IS SOME WHAT ACCEPTABLE. And on SEEDHI BAAT ALSO YOU TRY TO LISTEN THE guest's answer . Don't expect to get the answers what you want?
You have very strong media in your hand . Don't mis use it.
If any harsh staements in these please excuse me. I 'm a regular follower of india today since past 10 years.And I clearly observed the changes in it.you are not daring to oppose the ruling party or encouraging the good things of it. you are sitted just ideally giving the informations about things happening in the opposition party.
Sorry prabhu chawla sir for any thing in this comment which may hurts you ............Esub basha shaik

G.V.D.Krishna Mohan said...

Dear Prabhu,
Instead of making such baseless comments, please visit Andhra Pradesh once, and hear the heart beat of the people. pre-concived notions, sensationalism and wicked creativity are seen in your so called editorials. This is not freedom of the press. Please restrain.
G.V.D.Krishna Mohan

Unknown said...

I doubt even single person died. People are paid Rs.5000 to relate death for YSR death. I am so sad to see people who are educated are able to believe such a non sense.

serach said...

Chawla

Donot comment on Our Yung leader or Andra politicians. We are not making leaders. We are hartly welcome to lead Y.S.R Reddy polacies. Do you know with out Y.S.R family we can not imagine Congress .

Please donot post such a comments.

-- Surendra Pulagam

Unknown said...

Hi Prabhu,

I had highest regards to you.
I do understand that Chandra Babu(TDP)is a good friend of yours, but that does not give a reason for defaming the leader who has earned milliions of hearts.

You should know that Mr Jagan has extensively canvassed in Andhra and Rayalseema region whic made congress possible to through TDP out second time.

Please restrain !!!!!!

SubhashReddy said...

Hi Prabhu,

When every other media house is either terrored or bought by Mr YSR and his gang you dared to unearth the shocking REALITY.
If somebody who is benefitted by a 2/- KG rice or a 2 room dwelling commits suicide because of YSR's death, then what about his son who grew to few thousands of crores from no where in just 5 years? What about his family? what about his close associates who has earned 100's to 1000's of crores just because they are CLOSE associates of YSR?

Why any one of them atleast had a heart ache with that shock?

Then, why should somebody in a remotest village do not even have a TV commit a suicide? Ofcourse all these points have no answer. Simply because there is NOT EVEN a single death because of the so called SHOCK........!

If Jagan wanted the crown post his father's sudden demise, he could have played any other game than trying to earn after the natural deaths of poor people by paying 5000/- per death.

Once again, hats-off to your efforts in revealing the REALITY.