Indian BJP government’s “humanitarian help” in exchange for Lalit Modi’s liberal financing!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff

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Indian politics is being conducted with dirty money. Financing of and reaping benefits from politics is the basic logic of capitalism which so-called democracies like India promote globally. The Modi government of India is now facing problems as it wants to pursue this age old hidden policy for political exigencies.

The unprecedented mandate for BJP in the national poll in 2014 obviously made the party and government not just firm or bold but arrogant with people of India in promoting corruption.   

No sooner than the ruling BJP government of Narendra Modi finished celebrating the completion of one full year in office, some stinking scam skeletons have begun falling off the BJP cupboards owned by the RSS.  One rich Lalit Modi who is closed to many influential Indians, parliamentarians, BJP ministers and government, but wanted by law in India on serious scams but enjoys life in London as his prerogative with Indian state shield has become the first thorn in Modi-BJP flesh. The pain is slowly becoming intolerable for PM Modi who however keeps his cool as if nothing bad is happening around and he is extra safe, and possibly toying with plans for his future foreign trips.   

BJP claims it has majority in parliament and Rajasthan assembly and so nothing should happen to Sushma and Vasundhara. RSS has signaled all BJP leader sot shield the troubled BJP duo if not the trio, including L. Modi. This is the same way the cricketers share 100 and 50 runs and the bold IPL frauds who have the backing of the government and parliament also think. 

Even senior but sidelined BJP leader LK Advani hints at weakness of the party leadership and government. He said democracy is lacking in India and India would return to emergency era if the current trend continues and civil liberties could be crushed. Advani is not happy about the state of affairs in the BJP party and government. One is not sure if Advani trying to help the Modi government or seeks regime change.

Meanwhile, people in India are disappointed with the Modi government over non-fulfillment of the pledges of PM Modi on crucial issues concerning India’s pride like returning of black money from foreign banks and distribute to citizens and undertaking steps to end money laundering. Now the “humanitarian” aspect of illegal operation by Lalit Modi-Sushma-Vasundhara   trio has put the BJP and Modi government on the defence.  

Not only did Indian government refuse to ask the British government to arrest and extradite Modi wanted in India, but it helps him to enjoy life abroad with usual privileges the rich Indians do abroad.  Lalit Modi continues to be India’s VIP turned Briton’s VIP. USA is also silent on the issue. Perhaps when Indian state protects a wanted criminal abroad, Lalit Modi or any other person, there is very little that UK or USA can do. Only L Modi case has come to light.

As Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje faces calls for her resignation in connection with the controversy swirling around former IPL chief Lalit Modi, her party BJP has decided not to back her for now. The BJP has taken a clear stand to support foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, who is facing attacks for helping Lalit Modi obtain emergency travel documents from Britain when his passport was held by Indian authorities over corruption allegations, the party has asked its leaders not to defend Ms Raje or speak for her "till facts are ascertained."

Lalit Modi had also apparently given a “loan” of Rs. 11.6 crore to a company run by Vasundhara Raje's son Dushyant Singh. Ms Raje phoned party chief Amit Shah on Wednesday after documents released by Lalit Modi's PR team showed that she had agreed to be a secret witness for the controversial former IPL chief's immigration application to the UK. A three-page note dated 18 August, 2011, nearly a year after corruption allegations surfaced against Lalit Modi, shows that Ms Raje had supported his immigration application when she was opposition leader, but on condition of strict secrecy. Sources close to her say the document is not verified; it has no signatures. Ms Raje purportedly says in the document  she supports any immigration application that Lalit Modi makes, but do so on the strict condition that my assistance will not become known to the Indian authorities.

BJP can make full use of a divided and weak opposition and a corrupt Congress party. The opposition is clutching at straws here, at least in the case of Sushma Swaraj. The Rajasthan CM case might have more meat to it and hence the reluctance of BJP to offer full support. It should be properly investigated. Another point to note is that Vasundhara has been losing popularity in Rajasthan due to her style of functioning which is seen as arrogant and non-inclusive. She is called the Maharani and she behaves like one. The Congress Party has announced street protests across Rajasthan to press for Ms Raje's resignation.

Even as Congress and communist parties ask the tainted ministers to step down Aam Aadmi Party urged the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to take action against External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for the role they played in former IPL chairman Lalit Modi receiving travel papers, adding that they had committed an act 'which cannot be defended'.

The BJP and the RSS try to redefine nationalism and patriotism in  “humanitarian” ways because whatever Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje had done is against the rule of law of India this country and anybody who breaks the law of the country or helps such individuals cannot claim to be a nationalist and patriot

The BJP and the RSS the supposed “humanitarian” help by Sushma is an act which cannot be and should not be defended. It is high time that they realize their mistakes, take action against them and prove to the world that they believe in the Constitution and rule of law. President of India knows too well that humanitarian sympathy is not shown to big criminals and who take law into their own hands and put the nation to shame.

In more trouble for the BJP which has been defending External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj so far despite opposition demands that she be sacked for helping Lalit Modi, the former IPL boss has claimed that Raje secretly supported his immigration plea in Britain. Since this information came to light, the opposition has been clamoring for Raje's resignation.

BJP-RSS-Modi team is only supporting Sushma and not Raje. Attacking Sushma for helping “cancer” patience is like clutching to straw when you don't find    real cause to hide the scam. BJP wants sympathy now.

Some questions are being repeatedly asked. Why isn’t Narendra Modi's name coming into picture yet? We all know that he was also involved when he was the head of Gujarat cricket board and he wanted a team for Ahmadabad along with Adani but he was overbid by Kochi. Isn’t that why Shashi Tharoor had to step down too? Will Ms Swaraj, Ms Raje and will Indian PM Modi have some shame and step down?

The Analysts say BJP is far ahead than UPA on scams in the first year of rule. And scams are not even their specialty. PM Modi’s support for Ghar Vapsi may not be far away for the Modi government.

BJP leaders thought they could coolly rule India with its thumping majority by playing with AAP leaders though some charges because AAP is only on its way to make its members honest enough.

Who will return home (Ghar Vapsi) first- Sushma or Vasundhara or PM Modi?

It is shameful that when people elect their leaders to serve them with dedication and sincerity, their elected representative, ministers, CMs, and even PM serve the corporates, mafias, and frauds.

That is the essence of Indian democracy.

Unlike Congress party, unfortunately, the BJP does not care for public opinion. It appears unless the courts step in BJP would be able to easily overcome the crisis.  Unlike the BJP, the Congress and other opposition parties are incapable of making the tainted leaders of BJP expelled from the governments.

As the BJP was facing trouble over allegations of two of its leaders' involvement in the Lalit Modi issue, party patriarch LK Advani's remarks gave fuel to the Opposition to attack the Narendra Modi government. The Congress, JD-U and Aam Admi Party (AAP) agreed with Advani's comments made in an interview to a national daily that forces that can crush democracy were stronger at present and that a repeat of emergency cannot be ruled out saying it vindicated their stand. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the validity of Advani's comments reflected in the various standoffs between the Centre and his Aam Aadmi government in Delhi on issues like power to appoint and transfer officials. Bihar chief minister and JD-U leader Nitish Kumar said Advani's concerns cannot be ignored. BJP spokesperson MJ Akbar said Advani many have been referring to institutions rather than individuals.

However, BJP refuted the Opposition's interpretation of Advani's comments saying it was not directed at the Prime Minister or his government. Though Advani was silent on the row over links of Union minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje with Lalit Modi, his interview has raised questions if he was reflecting his disappointment with the government. Swaraj was known to be in the Advani camp.

Even though they out rightly rejected the former IPL chief Lalit Modi trouble for the BJP government,   PM Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah met last night to discuss a massive political controversy that has engulfed the party in connection with Lalit Modi. Sources say the two leaders discussed strategy to counter the opposition's attacks on Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who helped Lalit Modi obtain emergency travel papers in Britain last year and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who is being accused of impropriety on two counts.

Of course, they cannot successfully argue that the “trio” behavior was in consonance with patriotic requirements of Hindutva or India. Nor can they argue that the BJP government is duty bound to be “compassionate” with those who finance the BJP electioneering or any other political purposes by citing US practice of  promoting  those rich, corporate lords,  foreign lobbyists, etc that  contribute  liberally to  the fund raising campaigns of political parties.  (After all, it is not just Lalit Modi who has benefited for their “services” from the government of a strong BJP. Incidentally, Lalit Modi was among top contenders for Bharatratna for his contribution to IPL and his financing capabilities - after all, cricket is everything for political parties of India, especially for Congress and BJP. Finance minister Arun Jaitley is a powerful BCCI member to control cricket and its fixings).    

So far, there is no trouble for the Modi government as RSS and BJP are solidly backing the trouble shooters.