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The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sanjay Raut's book refers to BJP bigwigs as ‘ingrates,' triggering a political row
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's controversial and as yet unreleased book Narkatala Swarg (Heaven in Hell) has made several claims concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, which sparked an uproar on Friday (May 16, 2025). The ruling alliance and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised Mr. Raut and advised him to stick to the 'facts.' In the book, he claimed that the Shiv Sena Chief late Balasaheb Thackeray, and NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar helped Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah when they faced political and legal troubles, yet the 'two were ungrateful.' 'During the 2002 Gujarat riots, former Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Modi, was about to be arrested. It was Mr. Pawar who opposed the arrest as he was an elected CM, thus shielding him,' said Mr. Raut, adding that Mr. Pawar might tell the truth. Mr. Raut made a similar allegation against Mr. Shah, saying he reached out to Balasaheb Thackeray when the CBI opposed bail during a trial in a murder case. Mr. Raut recalled Mr. Thackeray personally made a few calls for Shah's bail. Mr. Raut held Mr. Shah responsible for the split in the undivided Shiv Sena and said, 'This is how he repaid the Thackeray family.' The book further claims that the current Modi-Shah leadership, despite benefiting from the goodwill of leaders like Mr. Thackeray and Mr. Pawar, later turned against them and the very institutions that once stood by them. Mr. Raut points out that while the mainstream media has now largely turned pro-Modi, Balasaheb Thackeray was among the few who supported Mr. Modi when most political forces and media houses were against him. Explosive claims His book makes several such explosive claims, including that the media is becoming pro-Modi. Mr. Raut wrote a book about his time in jail after his arrest for alleged involvement in a financial scam. The book revolves around the investigation and his release. He also said, 'Any more revelations would have taken the State by storm.' Mr. Raut's claims were dismissed by BJP leaders. 'His words make no sense,' BJP leader Chitra Wagh said. 'No matter what he writes, it will not impact Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Maharashtra.' Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took a potshot at Mr. Raut and said, 'I don't read novels and children's books anymore; they no longer interest me. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule advised Mr. Raut to change the book's name from Narkatla Swarg to Narkatla Raut (Raut in Hell). Meanwhile, BJP leader and Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane advised him to state the facts and complete the book. 'He forgot a few pages; he did not include all the slang he used for the Thackeray family during the case to go with his affection for Balasaheb. If he writes all the facts, Uddhav Thackeray will take him to hell,' said Mr. Rane.
Express Tribune
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Political pundits downplay risk of war
While the spectre of full-scale war remains distant, the possibility of limited military action looms large – one that could fan the flames of war hysteria deliberately stoked by the belligerent Modi government, analysts have warned. Tensions continue to simmer on both sides of the border after India vowed retaliation over a recent attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which it blamed on Pakistan without furnishing evidence. In response, Islamabad issued a stern warning against any misadventure and placed its forces on high alert. Political analysts in Pakistan have downplayed the chances of full-scale conflict, arguing that India's media-driven war talk serves to bolster the ruling party's domestic image rather than signal genuine military intent. Despite the heightened rhetoric, they believe strategic restraint still holds at the military level, though a return to calm appears out of reach for now. Former Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, speaking to The Express Tribune, said the current "no war, no peace" situation is likely to persist as it benefits the Modi regime. However, he asserted that no military conflict or war between the two neighbours is expected. He said that despite Pakistan's smaller size, it had responded responsibly to India's threats. "Not only that, we are also apprising the world of the risk of misadventure by India, which shows our commitment to peace even in these testing times," he said. He likened the situation to the Cuban Missile Crisis, which brought the US and the USSR to the brink of nuclear conflict. "The world must be made aware of the consequences of a nuclear fallout," he warned. He added that Pakistan was compelled to issue a strong response only after India threatened annihilation. "Despite the chest-thumping on the Indian side, Pakistan remained composed, its people and its media," he said. He noted that Indian media's jingoism had reached a fever pitch. "The language pro-Modi media was using bordered on hate speech," he observed. Commenting on India's move to hold the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, Mushahid said it was a dangerous game that could backfire. "If we are the lower riparian in the case of the Jhelum, Chenab and Indus rivers, then India is a lower riparian state in the case of the Brahmaputra and Indus, both of which originate from China," he said. "If India tries to fiddle with our water supply, China could disrupt the flow in those rivers." He clarified that India had only held the IWT in abeyance and had not suspended it. "They cannot suspend the treaty, nor can they disrupt the water supply in the short run. They simply don't have the infrastructure for that," he said. Senior political analyst and former caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Hasan Askari also said the probability of a full-blown war was low. However, he warned that limited military action remained a real possibility. He noted that India had for the past two decades sought ways to punish Pakistan below the nuclear threshold, but had failed to do so thus far. He praised Pakistan's overall conduct during the crisis. "Other than the defence and information ministers, Pakistan and its media have acted maturely and professionally," he said.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rajeev Chandrasekhar's onstage presence hits a political nerve with CPI(M) accusing PMO of politicising event
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official commissioning of the Vizhinjam International Seaport on Friday appeared to have some politically awkward moments. For one, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar's presence onstage hit a political nerve. Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, seated among the audience with his Cabinet colleagues and other dignitaries, accused the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) of politicising the national event by violating protocol to ensure Mr. Chandrasekhar's onstage presence alongside Mr. Modi. At the venue, Mr. Riyas somewhat dramatically asked journalists to focus their television cameras on the stage where Mr. Chandrasekhar had seated himself hours before the function commenced. Lone presence Occasionally, Mr. Chandrasekhar, a lone presence on the stage for two hours, raised his fist to loud pro-Modi sloganeering by a group of BJP workers sitting near the stage. The activists raised placards hailing the Prime Minister and the BJP. Mr. Riyas said the PMO decided who should share the stage with Mr. Modi. It relegated the Ministers and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan to the audience while inserting Mr. Chandrasekhar into the list of persons who would share the stage with Mr. Modi. He accused the PMO and Mr. Chandrasekhar of political impropriety by allegedly attempting to turn the State function into a BJP political event. 'People now have a clear perspective about the undemocratic and arbitrary nature of the PMO. Kerala will not forgive persons who used the momentous national event for untimely and absurd political theatre,' Mr. Riyas said. Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State secretary M.V. Govindan, who was among the audience, told reporters that the Union government had not given a 'single paise' for the project. Vizhinjam was a testimony to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's political will and commitment to the State's development. People would see through those 'passers-by' who falsely and ignobly claim credit for Vizhinjam without as much as lifting a finger for the international port, he said.
