Skip to main content

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy believes: Mole close to top Congress leader working to topple Gujarat govt

By Our Representative
Is stage being prepared for the ouster of the Anandiben Patel government in Gujarat? It would seem so, if two recent tweets, by senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, where he seeks to identify a scheming mole in touch with a top Congress leader, are any indication. Swamy who has lately gone very close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one reason why whatever he says about powerdom acquires significance. He does not, however, identify this person.
The first one, dated February 2, seeks an answer to a question if there is a scheming mole (Swamy calls him “sakuni”) close to Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s political adviser, Ahmed Patel, seeking to tackle her government. The second one, on February 3, refers to a report appearing in a national daily, saying the planted story was part of the effort to topple her government.
Swamy’s tweets acquire significance against the backdrop of a meeting between a senior minister in the Anandiben Patel government, Vijay Rupani – considered her strong political rival ever since he was inducted in the Cabinet in November 2014 – meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on February 3.
Claim top political circles in Gujarat, it is by now a “foregone conclusion” that Anandiben Patel would be given a safe entry when she turns 75 in November 2016. It is well known that Modi has been using the 75 the cut-off age for keeping senior leaders out of the top BJP leadership and the Cabinet.
While the final decision to replace Anandiben Patel will rest with Modi, already, reports say, Modi is “unhappy” with the rumours taking rounds that her daughter Anar and Shwetank (Sanjay) are cropping up as parallel power centres who “interfere in the governance and influence decision making.”
Vijay Rupani with Narendra Modi in Delhi on February 3
The rumours have gone strong, particularly after intensive email and social media campaign by Ahmedabad-based political activist Roshan Shah on how Anandiben Patel uses her influence to help the two extend their business and NGO activities in Gujarat.
While Shwetank a businessman and owns a Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)-listed company, into “construction, infrastructure development and management”, Anar is a social entrepreneur running several trusts for the “promotion” of handicrafts, artisans and alleviation of the plight of slum children.
Sources in the chief minister’s office (CMO) are quoted by well-informed informed circles in Gujarat as saying that “that whenever any file comes in, a handwritten message in pencil comes out saying contact Anar or Shwetank.” It quite another thing that, officially, Gujarat government officials deny this.
Sources are quoted as saying that the public perception of the two interfering in Gujarat governance has lately begun to harm the Gujarat government image. Modi reportedly conveyed to Anandiben Patel about this in Delhi on January 25, the day Amit Shah was elected as all-India president of the BJP.
Meanwhile, guesswork is on, on twitter among followers of Subramanian Swamy, as to who the mole or “shakuni” – an extremely intelligent but devious man, often credited as the mastermind behind the Mahabharata war – could be.
Speculations range from Union finance minister Arun Jaitley to Congress leader Digvijay Singh. Gujarat government insiders, however, say, he could be a key man, known to be a Modi confidante, in the CMO.

Comments

TRENDING

Reducing emission? India among top nations whose coal as energy source going up

By NS Venkataraman*  The State of the Global Climate report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that the year 2023 was the warmest year on record, with the global temperature of 1.4 degree celsius above pre-industrial 1850-1900 base line.

Lockdown 'total failure' of science more than of politics: Open letter on 4th anniversary

Counterview Desk  In an open letter to fellow academicians, scientists and medical practitioners in India, marking the fourth anniversary of India's lockdown (25 March 2024), the Managing Committee* of the Universal Health Organisation (UHO) has insisted on the need to "repair two years of immense damage to science".

Insider plot to kill Deendayal Upadhyay? What RSS pracharak Balraj Madhok said

By Shamsul Islam*  Balraj Madhok's died on May 2, 2016 ending an era of old guards of Hindutva politics. A senior RSS pracharak till his death was paid handsome tributes by the RSS leaders including PM Modi, himself a senior pracharak, for being a "stalwart leader of Jan Sangh. Balraj Madhok ji's ideological commitment was strong and clarity of thought immense. He was selflessly devoted to the nation and society. I had the good fortune of interacting with Balraj Madhok ji on many occasions". The RSS also issued a formal condolence message signed by the Supremo Mohan Bhagwat on behalf of all swayamsevaks, referring to his contribution of commitment to nation and society. He was a leading RSS pracharak on whom his organization relied for initiating prominent Hindutva projects. But today nobody in the RSS-BJP top hierarchy remembers/talks about Madhok as he was an insider chronicler of the immense degeneration which was spreading as an epidemic in the high echelons of th

Magnetic, stunning, Protima Bedi 'exposed' malice of sexual repression in society

By Harsh Thakor*  Protima Bedi was born to a baniya businessman and a Bengali mother as Protima Gupta in Delhi in 1949. Her father was a small-time trader, who was thrown out of his family for marrying a dark Bengali women. The theme of her early life was to rebel against traditional bondage. It was extraordinary how Protima underwent a metamorphosis from a conventional convent-educated girl into a freak. On October 12th was her 75th birthday; earlier this year, on August 18th it was her 25th death anniversary.

Savarkar 'criminally betrayed' Netaji and his INA by siding with the British rulers

By Shamsul Islam* RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.

'Flawed' argument: Gandhi had minimal role, naval mutinies alone led to Independence

Counterview Desk Reacting to a Counterview  story , "Rewiring history? Bose, not Gandhi, was real Father of Nation: British PM Attlee 'cited'" (January 26, 2016), an avid reader has forwarded  reaction  in the form of a  link , which carries the article "Did Atlee say Gandhi had minimal role in Independence? #FactCheck", published in the site satyagrahis.in. The satyagraha.in article seeks to debunk the view, reported in the Counterview story, taken by retired army officer GD Bakshi in his book, “Bose: An Indian Samurai”, which claims that Gandhiji had a minimal role to play in India's freedom struggle, and that it was Netaji who played the crucial role. We reproduce the satyagraha.in article here. Text: Nowadays it is said by many MK Gandhi critics that Clement Atlee made a statement in which he said Gandhi has ‘minimal’ role in India's independence and gave credit to naval mutinies and with this statement, they concluded the whole freedom struggle.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

'Wrong direction': Paris NGO regrets MNC ArcelorMittal still using coal-based steel

By Rajiv Shah  A new report by Paris-based non-governmental research and campaigning organization, Reclaim Finance, has blamed the MNC ArcelorMittal – formed in 2006 following the takeover and merger of the western European steel maker Arcelor (Spain, France, and Luxembourg) by Indian-owned Mittal Steel – for using use “climate destructive” metallurgical coal for its projects in India.

Attack on foreign students: Gujarat varsity's reputation, ranking at stake, say academics

Counterview Desk  Expressing anguish over the attack on international students in Gujarat University hostels, a letter claimed to have been signed by 122 current and former academics has asked the Gujarat Vice Chancellor, Dr Neerja Gupta, to provide emotional support to the attacked students and to ensure their physical safety.  

Poor private sector engagement 'impacting' carbon pricing policy in Global South

Counterview Desk  The joint report by Environmental Defense Fund and Observer Research Fund, "Navigating Carbon Pricing: The G20 Experience and Global South Prospects", delves into the complex landscape of carbon pricing, examining its application within the G20 nations and the potential implications for emerging economies in the Global South.  The report claims to provide insights and recommendations for effective carbon pricing strategies in diverse economies.  A note: The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Observer Research Foundation (ORF) have launched the Navigating Carbon Pricing: The G20 Experience and Global South Prospects” report. The report delves into the complex landscape of carbon pricing, examining its application within the G20 nations and the potential implications for emerging economies in the Global South. The report offers a comprehensive analysis of various carbon pricing instruments currently in existence, providing valuable i