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

Modi win may force Pak to put Kashmir on backburner, resume trade ties with India

By Salman Rafi Sheikh*  When Narendra Modi returned to power for a second term in India with a landslide victory in 2019, his government acted swiftly. Just months after the election, the Modi government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution of India. In doing so, it stripped the special constitutional status conferred on Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only Muslim-majority state, and downgraded its status from a state with its own elected assembly to a union territory administered by the central government in Delhi. 

Tyre cartel's monopoly: Farmers' groups seek legal fight for better price for raw rubber

By Our Representative  The All India Kisan Sabha and the Kerala Karshaka Sangham that represents the largest rubber producing state of Kerala along with rubber farmers have sought intervention against the monopoly tyre companies that have formed a cartel against the interests of consumers and farmers.  Vijoo Krishnan, AIKS General Secretary, Valsan Panoli, Kerala Karshaka Sangham General Secretary, and four farmers representing different rubber growing regions of Kerala have filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court.

'Assault on civic, academic freedom, right to dissent': TISS PhD student's suspension

By Our Representative  The Mumbai-based civil rights group All India Secular Forum (AISF) has said that the suspension of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) PhD student Ramadas Prini Sivanandan (30) for two years for allegedly indulging in activities which were "not in the interest of the nation" is meant to send out the message that students and educational institutes will be targeted if they don’t align with the agenda and ideology of the ruling regime.  TISS in a notice served to Ramadas has cited that his role in screening the documentary 'Ram Ke Naam' on January 26 as a "mark of dishonour and protest" against the Ram Mandir idol consecration in Ayodhya.  Another incident cited in the notice was Ramadas’ participation in the protest against unfair government policies in Delhi under the banner of the Progressive Students' Forum (PSF)-TISS. TISS alleges the institute's name was "misused", which wrongfully created an impression that

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. 

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.

Why it's only Modi ki guarantee, not BJP's, and how Varanasi has seen it up-close

"Development" along Ganga By Rosamma Thomas*  I was in Varanasi in this April, days before polling began for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There are huge billboards advertising the Member of Parliament from Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The only image on all these large hoardings is of the PM, against a saffron background. It is as if the very person of Modi is what his party wishes to showcase.

Joblessness, saffronisation, corporatisation of education: BJP 'squarely responsible'

Counterview Desk  In an open appeal to youth and students across India, several student and youth organizations from across India have said that the ruling party is squarely accountable for the issues concerning the students and the youth, including expensive education and extensive joblessness.

Following the 3000-year old Pharaoh legacy? Poll-eve Surya tilak on Ram Lalla statue

By Sukla Sen  Located at a site called Abu Simbel in Nubia, Upper Egypt, the eponymous rock temples were created in 1244 BCE, under the orders of Pharaoh Ramesses II (1303-1213 BC)... Ramesses II was fond of showcasing his achievements. It was this desire to brag about his victory that led to the planning and eventual construction of the temples (interestingly, historians say that the Battle of Qadesh actually ended in a draw based on the depicted story -- not quite the definitive victory Ramesses II was making it out to be).

India's "welcome" proposal to impose sin tax on aerated drinks is part of to fight growing sugar consumption

By Amit Srivastava* A proposal to tax sugar sweetened beverages like tobacco in India has been welcomed by public health advocates. The proposal to increase sin taxes on aerated drinks is part of the recommendations made by India’s Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian on the upcoming Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill in the parliament of India.

Poll promises: Political parties 'playing down' need to retrieve and restore adivasi land

By Palla Trinadha Rao*  The Scheduled Tribes population of 10.43 crore constitutes 8.6% of the population in the country inhabiting 26 States and 6 Union Territories. Parliament elections along with Assembly elections in some states have been notified this year.