Today’s papers proclaim: “Jagan draws flak”. There is three-pronged attack to checkmate him; silence him and subdue him. Or you can even say, show him his place. After a long lull, drama within Congress started unfolding in front of our eyes and we can look forward for more juicy stories in next weeks. Jagan needs to fight many a battle within the state and with Delhi and in the process he can, if he chooses to, realize what are his strengths and weaknesses.
Before delving deep on Jagan subject I would reply some of the queries raised on my earlier articles: While many have appreciated my point of view, some of the readers complained I was singing paeans on the birth of another NTR. They thought I was showering accolades on an unworthy person and wanted to know whether I was receiving any favors from him in return. Let me clarify at this juncture, as far as I know these politicians don’t care a hoot for what we write on net. Print and TV media might carry some weight. Just to remind you - in 2009 elections, whole media was against YS and still he won at the hustings.
In these circumstances if I am writing for the pleasure of any politician I must be a fool. My writings do not change the course of the events and this fact is well-known to me, for sure. I write to share my analytical skills and observations with readers. It might add an additional perspective to a thinking reader or enlighten those less initiated ones. So please do not attribute any motives to my articles. You can approve or disapprove my views. No issue. Even I can disagree with my own previously held views. As time passes and unforeseen events happen, we keep changing our views. And it is just natural. Here are some of questions raised by my detractors and my replies –
Is Jagan not doing this exercise to promote himself politically?
Of course, he is. After all, he is a politician. An ambitious politician at that. Even before his father’s pyre cooled down, he allowed his followers to collect signatures in favor of his CMship. Every politician does this kind of things. Did I anywhere said in my article that he was doing this for altruistic purposes?
Why should he go there personally to distribute compensation? Why can’t he call them to Pulivendala and distribute? Why waste so much personal money and public money (to arrange bandobust etc.)
This argument holds good for any politician. Why single out Jagan? CM comes all the way from capital to distribute bank passbooks or farmer pattas (they can be sent by post) and opposition leader swims thru floods to hand over a meal packet to a flood-victim. Prime Minister comes to a remote village to lay a foundation stone for a project which takes two decades for completion. (A mason can start off right away) State minister comes to a cinema audio platinum disc release function. (he might not heard the songs at all. Still for publicity sake he comes)
Have you ever calculated how many vehicles, policemen, followers go along with them? How many banners and hoardings are arranged; how much chalk powder poured on ground? How many officials have to be present there? Their TA, DA, stay expenses and their deputies expenses..? (If a collector comes at least 3 people have to accompany him) And the amounts spent on government handouts, publicity material, full page advertisements in 3/4 newspapers in Telugu and equal number in English.. plus doles to media men for good coverage..?
Earlier Congress criticized Chandrababu’s regime for spending Rs.100 on a Rs.10 benefit to public. Later they did the same thing. The trend is increasing but not decreasing. But now everyone is pretending as if Jagan is the first one to indulge in this kind of thing.
How can you call him a hero? After all, he is a factionist and a looter of public money.
For one thing, I did not say he is a born-hero. My caption said “Today A hero is made”. The government, TRS and Delhi made him a hero – this is what I wrote in that article. Had they allowed him to go, skies would not have fallen. If Mehbubabad people were not interested to look at him they would not have peeped out from their balconies. His trip would have been a damp squib.
Telengana sentiment and Jagan’s trip are two different things. A person might love YS and equally love to see Telengana separated from AP. After Khammam trip, Jagan did not declare that he changed T-sentiment of Khammam residents into AP-sentiment. So why fear Jagan’ trip to Warangal? By preventing something to happen, you will increase the curiosity value.
I admired Jagan for his bravado in going into a hostile terrain. I admired Lagadapati for daring to dash into NIMS hospital in the face of opposition. (pl refer my piece “NIMS Nishiddulu”). Tomorrow if KCR ventures to go to Vijayawada (Samuel of ‘Andhra’ JAC are demanding apology from KCR before stepping on Vijayawada soil. Apology should not be linked with attending Vijayawada meet, I say. JAC can demand apology even if KCR chooses to skip the meet) in the face of opposition from people there I will praise him similar way.
I admire all those who fight for their democratic rights. When Rahul Gandhi went to Mumbai to meet the challenge of MNS, I admired him. If you have appreciated Rahul for not yielding to the threats of Maharashtra chauvinists, you need to appreciate Jagan today.
As far as allegations against Jagan are concerned, I hear such things about every politician. But no one goes to court against each other. Probably they all protect each other and collectively cheat us. We can neither give a clean chit nor blacklist these guys till something is proved in the court beyond doubt. And our political system is such that these matters are always inconclusive.
How can you compare a fellow like Jagan with mighty, greatest-of-all NTR?
I have compared only one trait of NTR in Jagan. It does not mean that Jagan can act, dance and harangue like NTR. Before appearance of NTR on political scene, Delhi made mincemeat of our local leaders reducing them to mere minions. And NTR changed the equation. After he lost the 1989 elections (remember even the mighty get rejected by electorate. NTR was defeated by a Mr. nobody in Kalvakurti assembly seat) Delhi was making and unmaking CMs. Again after return of NTR, since 1994 for 15 yrs., we enjoyed respectable equation.
After Rosaiah’s ascent to chair we lost that privilege and here is Jagan who dared to fight high command. NTR was fighting from outside. He was a boss himself. But in case of Jagan he was fighting his own party bosses. Party can easily harass him. Still he did not concede to their threats (of course, now he is paying heavily for it but it is a different story) and that is what won my appreciation. (contd.)
MBS PRASAD
[email protected]
