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Filmmakers <keyword id="3162130" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vinod-bhanushali" source="Orion">Vinod Bhanushali</keyword> and <keyword id="6354782" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sandeep-singh" source="Orion">Sandeep Singh</keyword> have come together to bring on-screen the life of late Prime Minister <keyword id="47100" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="atal-bihari-vajpayee" source="Orion">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>. The biopic is titled 'Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon, Yeh Desh Rehna Chahiye - ATAL'. The film is an adaptation of the book 'The Untold Vajpayee: Politician and Paradox' by renowned author Ullekh N.P. Talking about the film, Vinod said, "I have been a great fan of Atalji all my life. A born leader, a statesman par excellence, a visionary. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji was all the above. His contribution to our nation-building is unparalleled, and it is our great honour that Bhanushali Studios Ltd is bringing his legacy to the silver screen." Adding to that Sandeep Singh shared, "Being a filmmaker, I feel that cinema is the best medium to communicate such untold stories, that will unveil not only his political ideologies, but his humane and poetic aspects, that made him the most loved leader of the opposition as well as India's most progressive Prime Minister." The makers, who are scouting for the actor to portray the role of Atalji, will soon announce the actor and director of the film. Scheduled to go on floors in early 2023, the film will be released on Christmas 2023, which marks the 99th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 'Atal' is presented by Bhanushali Studios Limited and Legend Studios, and is produced by Vinod Bhanushali, Sandeep Singh, Sam Khan, Kamlesh Bhanushali and Vishal Gurnani, and co-produced by Juhi Parekh Mehta, Zeeshan Ahmad and Shivv Sharma. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/news/coaching-classes-and-edtechs-make-the-most-false-claims/articleshow/92518895.cms">Parents beware: Coaching classes and edtechs make the most false claims</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/gadgets/news/realme-techlife-watch-r100-review/articleshow/92515922.cms">Realme TechLife Watch R100 review – decent performance with some room for improvement</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/paytm-is-on-the-cusp-of-a-cup-and-holder-breakout-explaining-the-rally/articleshow/92517971.cms">Paytm is on the cusp of a ‘cup and holder breakout’ — explaining the rally</a>

Atal Bihari Vajpayee's biopic is on the works based on the book, The Untold Vajpayee

On August 16th, a day after India’s 71st Independence Day, Atal Bihari <keyword id="40921" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vajpayee">Vajpayee</keyword>, the former Prime Minister, passed away in New Delhi at the age of 93. Vajpayee led the central government from 1998 to 2004, and till date is the only Indian Prime Minister from a party other than the Congress to complete a full term. The former <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> leader is set to be joined in this regard by current PM Narendra Modi, when the latter completes his term in May next year. Vajpayee has long been credited with moderating the BJP’s political position with his centrist <keyword id="35497" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="policies">policies</keyword> and socioeconomic reforms, thereby offering voters a viable national alternative to the Congress. A nine-time member of the Lok Sabha and two-time Rajya Sabha MP, he leaves a lasting legacy, and will be remembered for a slew of progressive and bold policies. Here are five of them:- Privatisation Vajpayee made privatisation a key component of his economic agenda when he set up the disinvestment ministry in 1999. Over the course of his tenure as PM, he oversaw the divestment of government holdings in more than 30 non-strategic public-sector companies such as VSNL, Maruti, Hindustan Zinc and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. What makes this policy all the more impressive is that Vajpayee had to overcome a considerable amount of opposition, not only from rival parties but from within his own Cabinet to implement it. Nuclearisation In May 1998, a month after his government came to power, Vajpayee ordered the commencement of five nuclear tests in Rajasthan’s Pokhran district. The move, which signalled India’s nuclear ambitions, drew the ire of Western powers, but it also highlighted India’s ability to defend itself from its neighbour Pakistan, which was building its own nuclear capability at the time. He always maintained that India would not use nuclear weapons first, stating that they would never be “weapons of aggression”. <keyword id="6354776" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telecom">Telecom</keyword> Upon his death, Vajpayee was hailed as “the father of modern telecom in India” by leaders in the industry. Under his National Telecom policy, which was introduced in 1999, Vajpayee opened up the sector and implemented a number of structural reforms such as making mobile service providers offer services on a revenue share basis as opposed to a fixed-fee arrangement. This led to a reduction in call rates, a dramatic surge in mobile subscribers and encouraged competition among telecom operators. Roads and infrastructure While Vajpayee was prime minister, he launched a number of massive infrastructure projects to develop India’s roads and railway network. His government approved and funded the operations of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which completed the first phase of the Delhi Metro in 2006. He also championed the Golden Quadrilateral scheme, a project to link all four of India’s major urban centers - Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata - by highways. Most importantly, though, was his Pradhanmantri Gramin Sadak Yojna scheme to improve road connectivity in India’s rural regions. <keyword id="45865" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indo-Pak">Indo-Pak</keyword> relations and Kargil Vajpayee made a number of steps to cement ties with Pakistan, such as the establishment of the Delhi-Lahore bus service in February 1999. He took the bus to Lahore and met with Nawaz Sharif, who was the leader of Pakistan at the time. Their meeting culminated in the signing of the Lahore Treaty, which outlined the country’s plans to steer clear of nuclear warfare. The goodwill was shortlived, however. A full-scale war took place in Kargil the following June. In July 2001, Vajpayee pushed for a peace summit with his new Pakistani counterpart, Pervez Musharraf in Agra. An agreement never materialised over the course of the summit, but not for his lack of trying.

Here are 5 policies that former Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be remembered for

(Image Credit- Financial Express) 2018 was a year where we lost some of India's top politicians, actors, and important personalities. These people made a huge impact on our lives and contributed aplenty in their respective fields. Here's remembering those who left us in 2018 
	
	<div type="Slideshow" msid="67193134" hostid="261" title="Here's remembering those who left us in 2018" firstImageMsid="67193135" slideCount="5"></div>

Here's remembering those who left us in 2018

The man whom India’s first <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="6360386" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jawaharlal-Nehru">Jawaharlal Nehru</keyword> prophesied to become the Prime Minister of India one day, the man whom the then Prime Minister <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword> called the “Bheeshm Pitamah of Indian politics,” the man who led an Indian delegation to the United Nations for a discussion on the Kashmir issue despite being in the opposition… Yes, we are talking about no other than former Prime Minister <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>, whom even the opponents regard with utmost respect and is invariably referred to as Atal ji by one and all. 
 The political life of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, spanning across seven decades, has numerous exemplary accomplishments and statesmanship. He was the man who helped build the <keyword id="58687" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP) from an insignificant political player, with just two <keyword id="6355187" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha">Lok Sabha</keyword> MPs in the 1984 elections, to the ruling party of today. In the very first general election that the BJP contested in 1984 – amid unprecedented pro-Congress wave following Indira Gandhi’s assassination – the BJP could manage to win merely two seats in the Lok Sabha. 
 
He led the BJP from two seats in 1984 to being the single-largest party in 1996. He was invited to form the government as the leader of the single-largest party, though he did not have the majority. Here he showed he was a true statesman and not like any other power-hungry politician who would have tried every trick of the trade (read horse trading) to cobble up majority and remain in power. But he gracefully put in his papers when he did not get enough support. 
 
In 1977, as foreign minister in the Morarji Desai government, he delivered his speech at the UN in Hindi and became the first Indian leader to do so. 
 
He also served as the country’s Prime Minister from 1998 to 2004. His tenure had many accomplishments like the nuclear test, Lahore summit, Kargil victory and ushering in growth and economic development. However, after his defeat in the elections, he retired from active politics in 2005. 
 
His current state Vajpayee suffered a stroke in 2009, which silenced the great orator. He now remains confined to his bed or wheelchair in his SPG (<keyword id="494734" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Special-Protection-Guard">Special Protection Guard</keyword>)-guarded Krishna Menon Marg bungalow, where he lives with his adopted daughter Namita. He also suffers from dementia and often fails to recognise people. 
 Unlike the good old days, no one visits him these days, except <keyword id="6436232" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="LK-Advani">LK Advani</keyword> and former Uttarakhand chief minister BC Khanduri. He rarely ventures out of his sprawling bungalow, except for checkups at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. However, leaders cutting across various political parties visit him to wish him on his birthday (25 December). Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh makes it a point to visit him personally on his birthday. According to sources, Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> is likely to inaugurate Patna AIIMS on Vajpayee’s birthday this year as a mark of tribute to him. Vajpayee had laid its foundation stone when he was the Prime Minister. 
 
He is also a prolific poet and many of his poems like Kadam milakar chalna hoga and Door kahin koi rota hai were sung by the late Ghazal maestro <keyword id="6385431" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Jagjit-Singh">Jagjit Singh</keyword>. Now, singer Bappi Lahiri will also compose an album of his other poems. 
 
As much as you write about him, it seems less. According to recent media reports, the Narendra Modi government might confer Bharat Ratna to Vajpayee. This would be a befitting tribute to this great statesman.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Forgotten Statesman

The good boy of Indian government,Narendra Modi is on duty all the time, the <keyword id="6365387" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="PMO">PMO</keyword> has said. It also added that no leave records of former PMs are available with it, according to a report by a news agnecy. 
 The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said this when an <keyword id="6356198" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="RTI">RTI</keyword> applicant sought a copy of leave rules and procedures for the Prime Minister of the country from it and the <keyword id="116854" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="cabinet-secretariat">Cabinet Secretariat</keyword>. "The Prime Minister can be said to be on duty all the time," the Right to Information (RTI) response from the PMO said. 
 The applicant also wanted to know if former prime ministers <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword>, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, H D Deve Gowda, I K Gujral, P V Narasimha Rao, Chandrashekhar, V P Singh and <keyword id="12596" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajiv-Gandhi">Rajiv Gandhi</keyword> had availed any leave and were there any records. 
 "Information regarding leave record of previous PMs is not a part of records held by this office. However, it may be noted that no leave has been availed by present PM i.e. <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> since taking over charge," the RTI reply said.

Narendra Modi hasn't taken a single leave from office till date

NEW DELHI: Less than a five-minute drive from the Ashoka Road headquarters of BJP, where the old guard is losing ground to the new, <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword> sits quietly in a wheelchair in his SPG-guarded Krishna Menon Marg bungalow watching snatches of television and reading newspaper headlines. 
 The master orator, who was silenced by a stroke in 2009, cannot grasp either the small print or the big picture of what's happening within the party he nurtured. The three-time <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> — last between 1999 and 2004 — bid adieu to active politics almost a decade ago. Now, as Modi — whom he'd wanted removed as Gujarat <keyword id="5269" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Chief-Minister">chief minister</keyword> after the Godhra riots of 2002 — tightens his hold over BJP, some of his close friends and followers are feeling slighted or pushed to the wall. 
 Unlike the good old days, no one comes calling on him with complaints about the party or to listen to his poetry. The only regular visitors are N M Ghatate, Vajpayee's friend of nearly six decades, L K Advani and B C Khanduri (the general-turned-politician who was chief minister of <keyword id="44522" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Uttarakhand">Uttarakhand</keyword>), who come to sit by his side or ask daughter Namita about his health. 
 Ghatate who visits him almost every week, sometimes even twice, says, "Prime Minister <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword> makes regular inquiries about his health and never misses wishing Vajpayeeji personally on his birthday." The two, Ghatate says, have an old association. Ghatate remembers how then PM PV <keyword id="6358441" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Narasimha-Rao">Narasimha Rao</keyword> called Vajpayee to complain that his <keyword id="6355261" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Finance-minister">finance minister</keyword> Manmohan Singh had taken criticism of his budget by the opposition to heart and had offered to resign. 
 During a career spent mostly in opposition, Vajpayee had criticized everyone, from <keyword id="6383869" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Nehru">Nehru</keyword> to his daughter <keyword id="5513" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Indira">Indira</keyword>, but never realized it could hurt someone so much. Ghatate says Vajpayee immediately called Singh and told him not to take such comments to heart as they were meant to score political points. The Rao government was saved an embarrassment, and a new friendship was forged. 
 Ghatate says Vajpayee is still mentally alert. "But the stroke he suffered does not let him speak." Till then, he'd kept himself busy with books and writing. Within two months of the 2004 electoral defeat, he wrote a four-page article on the successful NDA coalition experiment and how even <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> had to fall in line; he argued that coalitions were here to stay. 
 
A better part of Vajpayee's day, Ghatate says, is spent with physiotherapists, doctors and nurses. "I go there and just watch him or talk to family members. He understands everything but cannot have a conversation," he says. Vajpayee's favourite food — Chinese and prawns — is now served only in small portions. 
 
 
 Advani, who was <keyword id="230854" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="deputy-PM">deputy PM</keyword> in the last NDA government, is reported to have wistfully told some people that Vajpayee would consult him on "everything". When asked if BJP leaders still asked him for advice, he is believed to have replied, cryptically, "When they need to." 
 
For Ghatate, who first met him in the 1950s, the sight of the silent statesman is heart-rending. Vajpayee, who had known Ghatate's father, Babasaheb Ghatate, a senior Hindu Mahasabha leader, took the young law student under his wing in Delhi and treated him like a younger brother. 
 
Of all the things that the protracted illness has taken away, Ghatate misses Vajpayee's sense of humour the most. When Ghatate gave him the news of the death of JN Dixit, Manmohan Singh's first national security advisor, Vajpayee said, "He was a good man. His problem was he used to work hard and worry a lot about the consequences." Ghatate pointed out Vajpayee's NSA and Dixit's predecessor Brajesh Mishra was also hard working, to which Vajpayee retorted with a mischievous smile, "Yes, Brajesh too was hard working, but then I had to worry about the consequences," Ghatate recounted this to Mishra and the two had a good laugh. 
 
Ghatate has been busy compiling Vajpayee's jokes and witticisms into a book. He has so far collected about 80; he knows there are many more out there.

A Peek Into The Life Atal Bihari Vajpayee Now Leads

Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>’s travel diary could soon be having some more new places. Come July, Modi would be visiting five Central Asian countries with an intent to tap huge natural resources including hydrocarbon and uranium. As per a news report in The Economic Times, Modi plans to spend a day each in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and <keyword id="169344" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tajikistan">Tajikistan</keyword>, diplomatic sources told the financial daily. The trip is being clubbed with Modi's maiden visit to <keyword id="6358826" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Russia">Russia</keyword> for the Brics summit in <keyword id="271311" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ufa">Ufa</keyword> on July 8 and 9, sources hinted. Modi is also expected to attend the <keyword id="157954" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shanghai-Cooperation-Organisation">Shanghai Cooperation Organisation</keyword> summit in the same city on July 9 and 10. 
 <keyword id="1333" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Beijing">Beijing</keyword> has made huge inroads in the region, with which it shares geographical boundaries, by laying pipelines to harness hydrocarbon and constructing railway and road network to connect Europe via <keyword id="6360296" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Central-Asia">Central Asia</keyword>. Prime ministerial trips to Central Asia have been few and far between notwithstanding its geographical proximity, strategic importance and abundance of natural resources. 
 While many former Prime Minsters from <keyword id="6358441" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narasimha-Rao">Narasimha Rao</keyword> to <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword> and <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword> have visited these countries lack of road and sea access has not allowed India to realise full trade potential with the region. This could change after India develops the Chabahar port in <keyword id="41896" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Iran">Iran</keyword> and will use the nation as a transit for Central Asia. India's defence ties with some countries of the region have been upgraded in recent years. India also shares historical bonds with Central Asia and enjoys goodwill in the region, thanks to its ties with the erstwhile <keyword id="6365126" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Soviet-Union">Soviet Union</keyword> of which the nations were a part. 
 (Image: <keyword id="-101" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-Times">India Times</keyword>)

Modi to fly overseas yet
again in July! This time to 5 Central Asian
countries

<keyword id="42749" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shashi-Tharoor">Shashi Tharoor</keyword> somehow manages to be in news all the time for some or the other reason. Be it his ‘cattle class’ remark, his alleged affair with a Pakistani journalist, or his Kochi IPL controversy —we’ve heard a lot about the man. But today, the man is in news because he has faced the wrath for praising Narendra Modi-initiated ‘<keyword id="6361202" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Swachh-Bharat">Swachh Bharat</keyword>’ campaign. The <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> party today sacked him from the position of party’s spokesman citing breach of discipline as the reason. 
 
What was Shashi Tharoor’s fault? Nothing, just that he appreciated the campaign run by the opposition party i.e. BJP. This raises serious question on the lack of idealism in Indian politics. Can a member of opposition not appreciate a noble campaign launched by the country’s Prime Minister? After all, the Prime Minister belongs to the whole nation and not just a single party of which he is a member of. 
 It’s not that Tharoor was constantly going against the party line or defying the party’s discipline. In fact, he had slammed the <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> government for its alleged mishandling of ceasefire violations by Pakistan. He had even dismissed speculations that he was planning to switch to the BJP, and said that those who were demanding action against him had “neither understood his remarks nor bothered to talk to him.” Moreover, he had also made it clear that he was "not pro-BJP, just pro-India," saying that he only supports some of the good programmes of Narendra Modi and not his political ideology. 
 
However, the Congress held him guilty of breaching party discipline. Interestingly, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh had supported Tharoor. “I see nothing wrong in Shashi Tharoor accepting to be Brand Ambassador for Swachhta Abhiyan. It is Congress Party programme adopted by Modi,” Singh had said on Twitter. 
 
This incident reflects that in India, the opposition parties take the word ‘opposition’ too literally. For them, party comes before the nation and not vice-versa. In a democracy, the opposition party has an important role to play other than opposing each and every move of the ruling party. The arguments they raise in the Parliament or otherwise, should be constructive for the nation. 
 In the past, we have seen some shiny examples of statesmanship. Erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had sent <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>, her ardent opponent, to represent India at the Geneva Convention. Even in the 90s, Narasimha Rao (again a Congress Prime Minister) had sent Atal ji to argue India’s case against Pakistan in the UN. But sadly, we do not find such examples of statesmanship any more.

Congress Takes Away Spokesperson Tag From Shashi Tharoor, Testifies Limited Democracy In Indian Political System

Last week’s eviction of the <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword>’s trimurti – <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>, <keyword id="58476" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Murli-Manohar-Joshi">Murli Manohar Joshi</keyword> and <keyword id="50272" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lal-Krishna-Advani">Lal Krishna Advani</keyword> – from the party’s parliamentary board marked the final nail in the coffin of their political career. Their exit means an end of an era, which should have been more graceful and dignified. Instead of sacking them from the membership of the parliamentary board, they should have been allowed to fade away or kept as ‘honorary members.’ 
 Leaders from the opposition have started taking a dig at this decision. Recently, Congress leader and former Cabinet minister Manish Tewari said that this recent development clearly indicates that the “process of complete centralisation of power in one hand.” Another Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, “The <keyword id="2490292" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Margdarshak-Mandal">Margdarshak Mandal</keyword> is a ‘mookdarshak mandal.’ It is like an old-age home from where Advani and Joshi will witness the functioning of the BJP like mutes.” 
 
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani and MM Joshi were the pivots around which the party was built. Their role in building the BJP is unquestionable. They helped propel the party, from an insignificant political player with just two Lok Sabha MPs in the 1984 elections, to the single-largest party in 1996. 
 
Vajpayee, often referred to as the Bheeshm Pitamah of Indian politics, was the founder president of the party, and Advani and Joshi were general secretaries. Vajpayee was the party’s chief orator, statesman, and the most acceptable and respectable face of the party. 
 
Advani was the organiser and charioteer, who organised movements to propagate BJP’s core ideology of Hindutva. His Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya was crucial in building the Ram Temple movement and helped BJP form a government in the country’s largest state of Uttar Pradesh, thereby bringing the party into the mainstream politics. Advani was also a talent-spotter. He nurtured a pool of second-rung leaders, which ironically included Modi, besides Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Ananth Kumar and others. 
 Joshi, a PhD in Spectroscopy from <keyword id="6364092" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Allahabad-University">Allahabad University</keyword>, was the intellectual face of the party. He was the key man behind the process of manifesto preparation and policy formulation of the party. 
 Alongside the rise in the stature of Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>, there has been a steady and parallel decline in the fortunes of party stalwarts MM Joshi and LK Advani. Unlike Vajpayee, who is ailing, both the leaders are still fit and active politicians whose vast political experience and acumen could have been used by the party. However, their eviction from the parliamentary board – the party’s highest decision-making body – can only be attributed to Modi’s attempt at complete centralisation of power and further strengthen his stranglehold on the party by undermining the leaders taller than him. 
 On the contrary, other political parties are giving their seniors due respect. For instance, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) continued with veteran leader <keyword id="2502752" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Harkishan-Singh-Surjit">Harkishan Singh Surjit</keyword> as the party’s general secretary till 2005 and the party came up with its best ever performance so far by winning 43 seats. He was also a member of the party's Politburo till 2008, when he died at the age of 92. Even in the Congress, where many leaders complain of being sidelined to give way to Rahul Gandhi, <keyword id="219946" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Motilal-Vora">Motilal Vora</keyword> (86) is still the party’s treasurer and also a member of the Congress Working Committee. 
 
It is sad to see that the BJP, which talks about Hindutva, seems to have forgotten that giving due respect to elders is the essence of the Hindu culture and the Hindu society reposes great faith in the wisdom of elders.

BJP’s Founding Forefathers Reduced To ‘Mookdarshak’

Last few days saw much hue and cry, mainly by politicians from down south led by <keyword id="6357766" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="DMK">DMK</keyword> chief Karunanidhi, over the Union <keyword id="6359327" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Home-Ministry">Home Ministry</keyword>’s directive to bureaucrats to use <keyword id="6357660" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="hindi">Hindi</keyword> on social media platforms. But was such a strong reaction to a normal advisory justified? 
 With Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> assuming office, Hindi has found the place it deserves in the corridors of power. After his swearing-in ceremony, Narendra Modi spoke to foreign dignitaries in Hindi. Even on his trip to Bhutan, his first official foreign visit, he addressed the Bhutanese Parliament in Hindi. 
 Before Modi, former prime minister <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>, a great orator and accomplished poet, always used Hindi as his vehicle of communication. In 1977, Vajpayee addressed the annual assembly of the <keyword id="6355833" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="united-nations">United Nations</keyword> in Hindi and became the first Indian leader to address the UN in Hindi. But unlike Modi, he did not mind switching to <keyword id="42216" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="English">English</keyword> when addressing joint press conferences with his foreign contemporaries like Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and George Bush. 
 However, after the statesman unexpectedly lost the elections in 2004, Hindi, too, started losing its place of privilege in the corridors of power and was totally marginalised during the decade-long rule of former prime minister <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword>. Although many international leaders of developed countries like China, Germany, Italy, France, Japan and Russia speak in their respective national languages even on foreign visits, Indian leaders have always taken pride in using English even in the Parliament. This was evident during the Manmohan Singh regime. 
 
Now, let’s come back to the present controversy over the use of Hindi. It all started with the Home Ministry issuing a directive to bureaucrats to use Hindi to convey message through social media. It’s pertinent to mention here that the directive was only meant for ‘social media messages’ and not for the official communications sent from the Centre to the states, which continue to be in the two official languages - Hindi and English. 
 Social media messages are meant for the general public. According to the 2001 census, Hindi is the mother tongue of more than 41% of the country’s population. Add to that 5% <keyword id="52565" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="urdu">Urdu</keyword> and 1% <keyword id="29621" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maithili">Maithili</keyword> speakers, which takes the percentage of people proficient enough in Hindi to more than 47%. Hindi is also used as a link language in states like West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Punjab and Goa – the states where Hindi is not spoken as the first language. Moreover, Hindi is also understood in many parts of southern states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and even north-eastern states like Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. So what is wrong in asking bureaucrats to use Hindi on social media? Which other language can fulfil the purpose of reaching out to such a large population base? 
 
But the anti-Hindi crusaders of Tamil Nadu lost no time in raking up a controversy out of a non-issue. M Karunanidhi, chief of Tamil Nadu-based DMK party went on to say, "No one can deny it's beginning to impose Hindi against one's wish. This would be seen as an attempt to treat non-Hindi speakers as second class citizens." Where is the question of treating non-Hindi speakers as second citizens? 
 Barring Tamil Nadu, no other state has raised any objection to this direction. In fact, it is heartening that this time, the push for Hindi comes when the government is headed by someone whose native language is not Hindi (Narendra Modi’s mother tongue is <keyword id="6369979" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gujarati">Gujarati</keyword>). 
 Union Minister of State for Home <keyword id="638723" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kiren-Rijiju">Kiren Rijiju</keyword>, who belongs to the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, also voiced his support for Hindi. “Hindi is our <keyword id="71459" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Official-language">official language</keyword>, we have to promote Hindi," he said following the controversy. 
 
Noted poet Ashok Chakradhar also welcomed the move, saying “If this government is getting bureaucrats to use Hindi, it is a great idea. Hindi is understood by 80% of Indians who pick it up from popular films, songs and the media. But at the official level, no one is fighting for the language.” 
 
Tamil Nadu’s opposition to Hindi dates back to the 1960s. In 1950, the Constitution declared Hindi as the official language and English was to be used as secondary official language till 1965 to facilitate a smooth transition. But the DMK launched an anti-Hindi campaign in Tamil Nadu, during which, Hindi books and effigies of ‘Hindi demoness’ were burnt on village bonfires. Does it not reflect deep-seated anti-Hindi bias? 
 
The campaign soon turned into full scale riots, which led to the killing of 70 people, including two policemen. However, the riots catapulted the DMK to power in 1967 elections in the state as opposition to Hindi was a dominant election issue. 
 
Following large scale violence in Tamil Nadu, the Centre enacted the Official Language Act, 1963. The Act stated, “Notwithstanding the expiration of the period of 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution, the English language may, as from the appointed day, continue to be used in addition to Hindi.” 
 
One wonders why some Tamilians hate Hindi so much. In Gujarat, students are taught English, Gujarati and Hindi in schools. They never get offended or complained about imposition of Hindi. Hindi is the most widely spoken language in the country and it should be promoted to facilitate easier communication throughout the country. But at the same time, the importance of regional languages should also not be undermined.

Hindi Chauvinism Or Anti-Hindi Bias?

<keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> called a meeting of BJP’s <keyword id="252988" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="general-secretaries">general secretaries</keyword>, where he emphasised on the need to maintain a link between the government and the party workers. 
 
“The PM made it clear that despite the immediacy of the mandate, the party must not forget that another election will have to be fought, for that karyakartas must continue to feel a sense of ownership over the government,” said a senior party leader. 
 According to a general secretary, although the approval ratings of <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword> were high in 2004, local anti-incumbency led to his defeat. 
 
“It was observed that most karyakartas are not looking for governmental patronage or contracts. Most have simple needs – someone to help with medical treatment in Delhi or some transfer posting request,” a source told The Economic Times.

​Modi Asks BJP General Secretaries To Feel People’s Pulse

NEW DELHI: In the last nine months, he made millions in India run through an entire gamut of emotions: anger, aversion, pluck, mirth, amazement and much more. In all these speeches, <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> looked like a man in control of his emotions. But on Tuesday, after being elected leader of the <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> parliamentary party — in other words, the PM elect — he choked with emotions. Modi wept. 
 
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Full-text-of-Narendra-Modis-speech-in-Central-Hall-of-Parliament/articleshow/35420762.cms">Read full text of Narendra Modi's speech in Central Hall of Parliament</a> 
 
Before him, his senior L K Advani had wept. In fact, he triggered the emotions in Modi. Years from now those present at Parliament's historic Central Hall on Tuesday, may or may not remember what Modi said. But few, if any, will ever forget the moment when tears welled up in the BJP leader's voice and eyes revealing a carefully concealed softer side. 
 
Responding to Advani's speech where he had said that Modi had done the party a kripa (favour), he said, "Advaniji ne ek shabd kahaa. Main Advanji se prarthna karoonga ki woh iss shabd ka istmaal na kare. Unhone kaha ki Narendra bhai ne kirpa ki (Advaniji said that I have done a favour to BJP. I will request him not to use this term)." 
 
 
 
At this juncture, the BJP leader broke down. He paused to sip water and took a moment to gather himself before continuing. 
 
"Kya ma ki seva kabhi kirpa ho sakti hai? Katai nahin ho sakti hai. Jaise Bharat meri ma hai waise hi BJP bhi meri ma hai. Aur isliyee beta kabhi ma par kirpa nahin karta, sirf samarpit bhav se ma ki sewa karta hai (Can a son do any favour by serving the mother? Not at all. Like India, BJP is also my mother. A son never does any favour. He only serves his mother in a dedicated manner)," he said. 
 
 
 
Like a gifted artist who makes the audience sway with the emotion, Modi appeared to be making others emotional. Some like Ravi Shankar Prasad were tearful. 
 
It was evident right from the very beginning that it was day of emotional drama. While entering the Parliament building, Modi knelt and placed his forehead on the green carpeted steps like a devotee before a temple. "This is the temple of democracy," he said later. 
 At the start his speech, Modi was overcome up with feelings while talking about former BJP <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>, who is unwell. "Had Vajpayeeji been well, his presence would have been 'sone par suhaga' (icing on the cake)." 
 
Throughout the speech, Modi underlined the power of the pause during speech. Emotions aside, he not only displayed his command over the Hindi language but also spoke like a man in total control and command of everything he surveys. 
 
<keyword id="6354616" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword> reactions after Modi's speech 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Having lunch in the Central Hall of Parliament with all the elected BJP members! All of us quite emotional after hearing Modiji's speech!
	— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) <a href="https://twitter.com/dreamgirlhema/statuses/468676576083595264">May 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		After many, many years, it feels like India has got a Prime Minister, and not a puppet. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ModiTakesCharge&amp;src=hash">#ModiTakesCharge</a>
	— Abhilash (@talkabhilash) <a href="https://twitter.com/talkabhilash/statuses/468685127313149954">May 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		After hearing modi speech yest I can see a new era of responsibility has begun not only for them but for every indian to shape a new india
	— Subhash Ghai (@SubhashGhai1) <a href="https://twitter.com/SubhashGhai1/statuses/468945244156076032">May 21, 2014</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Emotional start to a tough journey , All the best Mr. Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ModiTakesCharge&amp;src=hash">#ModiTakesCharge</a>
	— Neha Sharma (@reinventlife24) <a href="https://twitter.com/reinventlife24/statuses/468685134682550272">May 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ModiTakesCharge&amp;src=hash">#ModiTakesCharge</a> trending worldwide! This man has something powerful in hus name. A true leader seen by the Indians.
	— Jay Pitroda (@GujjuSRKian) <a href="https://twitter.com/GujjuSRKian/statuses/468685141590560768">May 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Narendra Modi cries in Central Hall of Parliament. Made all of us emotional too. Afterall it's victory of good over evil <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ModiTakesCharge&amp;src=hash">#ModiTakesCharge</a>
	— Momee Borah (@RazorSharp_24) <a href="https://twitter.com/RazorSharp_24/statuses/468683912084848640">May 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Proud to witness dis day whn Modiji bows dwn at d staircase of Central Hall of Parliament! We hv nvr seen any PM doing dis! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23moditakescharge&amp;src=hash">#moditakescharge</a>
	— SOUMYAJIT SADHU (@I_SOUMYAJIT) <a href="https://twitter.com/I_SOUMYAJIT/statuses/468684770231058432">May 20, 2014</a></blockquote>

In Parliament For First Time, Narendra Modi Leaves Many In Tears With Speech That Mixes Drama With Substance

I’m An Outsider To Delhi And To Politics As Well, Narendra Modi Says (Full Text Of Modi Interview)

<keyword id="15141" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> (IAF) got the first squadron of ‘Made in India’ fighter jets ‘<keyword id="6376012" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tejas">Tejas</keyword>’, now named 'Flying Daggers 45'. 
 
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over two Tejas aircrafts, which were inducted in Bengaluru, and seven more will be added by 2017 to become fully operational. 
 
All squadrons of Tejas will be made up of 20 planes in total, including four in reserve. 
 
These Light Combat Aircrafts (LCA) entered Air Force 33 years after the project was conceived, giving a major boost to Indian defence aviation system. 
 
Tejas will eventually replace the ageing fleet of MiG-21 planes. 
 
Here are the other details about Tejas that you should not miss 
 1. The name Tejas, which means radiance, was given by former Indian Prime Minister <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>. 
 
2. The first Commanding Offier of the ‘Flying Daggers 45’ will be Group Captain M Rangachari. He will have seven officers under him 
initially, 42 air warriors and about 20 non-commissioned officers. 
 
3. IAF's squadron number 45, 'Flying Daggers', has to its credit the shooting down of a Pakistani naval surveillance aircraft in 1999, some 300 km northeast of Karachi, killing all 16 people on board. 
 
4. Tejas is far superior to Pakistan's JF-17 built jointly with China. 
 
5. While the idea to have an indigenous fighter aircraft was conceptualised in 1970s, actual work started on the aircraft only in the 1980s and the first flight took place in January 2001. 
 
6. It is pegged as the world's smallest and lightest supersonic fighter, a project which was started in 1983 with Rs 560 crore funds. Now, the total cost stands at around Rs 55,000 crore. 
 
7. The upgraded version of Tejas, with Active Electrically Scanned Array Radar, Unified Electronic Warfare Suite, mid-air refuelling capacity and advanced beyond the vision range missiles, will cost between Rs 275 crore and Rs 300 crore. 
 
8. Due to its small size and the extensive usage of carbon composits, Tejas’ radar cross section is very less compared to other aircrafts like MiG-29, F-16. 
 
9. Tejas will have a reach of at least 400-km and will mostly be used for close air-to-ground operations. For any strikes which happen deep into enemy territory will have to be undertaken by Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKIs or the Rafales. 
 
10. IAF plans to induct over 80 aircraft with better specifications known as Tejas 1A. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

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