THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE AND THE INIMITABLE REBEL
TWO SIDES OF THE SMAE COIN THAPAR AND SHOURIE
Both revel in
controversies. Both never stuck to a known position in their lives. They
critique for the sake of criticism or when they find the weather is not
suitable. Sambit Patra was dot on point when he called Arun Shourie “ The Fair
Weather Politician”, one who enters or exits a political argument as the
weather is suitable or not. Karan Thapar, as the nname Devil’s Advocate means
argues for the sake of argument.
In the
Shakespeare drama, “ Julius Caesar” a character Cassius, who entertains a
grudge on the King engages others to participate in the conspiracy to kill him.
The conversations between these conspirators look similar to the interview of
Shourie with Thapar. Cassius turns each dialogue and each event in such a way
that the others are but forced to agree with him, “Yes! Caesar is ambitious”. “
Yond Cassius has a hungry look” These are hungry politicos who used their
intellectual dishonesty to occupy positions that well-deserved full time
workers of the party deserved. Once, that power is gone they rebel. In 2005,
2009 and again now, Shourie tried to hog the headlines, to repeat his own
words. I need not elaborate on the economist turned politician, turned fanatic
Hindu who roused passions, turned journalist, turned rebel against his mentor
Goenka, turned politician, turned Minister with controversies that never left
him, turned rebel and ambitious like Cassius to settle scores with one
politician that he thinks does not match his calibre. Calibre in politics does
not come by just learning vocabulary. If that was so, many including me, would
have been Prime Ministers.
Many in India
prayed for a weak coalition at the Centre post May 2014, so that they can
pursue their agenda and continue to rule by proxy. When that did not happen, I
knew one lady journalist, that hopped and jumped between Pro-Modi and Anti-Modi
stances until results are out and the day when Modi became strong started
coming down heavily for taking this as minister, not taking that one or this
policy was wrong or that one disastrous. They influence a few disgruntled
elements. But not many. Reason is disappointment that they can no longer
blackmail the establishment with their columns.
Now, let us come
to the interview part. The questions were premeditated, mostly known to the
interviewee and the interviewer too got his expected replies. The timing is
important. When Modi’s stock is rising internationally with his hands down
approach to spur the whole bureaucracy into concrete action in reaching out
help to Nepal even before authorities in Nepal knew what happened. This news
should not hog limelight. So, create controversy. So, who better than the Devil’s
Advocate or the perennial rebel with no cause and a few Brutusses here and there
who are swayed by emotion.
Now, the crux of
the interview. The questions were leading and the answers naïve and 200 percent
below the level of the high IQ politician. Many answers were off the track and
I still do not understand why intellectuals like Amartya Sen and Arun SHourie
stoop so low to pursue a set agenda. They do not differ from another A, Arvind
Kejriwal.
The very first
question and answer. “ What is your take… “. Okay, Modi is good. I do not know
what others are doing.” Did he as minister come out in public and say what he
was doing? On economy, I was disappointed. Did he want the rubble in Nepal
cleared in one day? Or Rome built in one day?”
And the second.
On foreign visits. Shourie projects as if the whole exercise was to downplay
China leaving aside the great success Modi achieved on economic issues and
investments. Is this intelligence or cunningness like Cassius who infers each
word spoken by Caesar to suit his needs?
Third and fourth
questions dwell on China and Shourie conveniently turns it on Modi quoting the
experience of not following up and hence he did not have confidence. It looks
like a friendly advice, but in journalistic lingo is like breaking news to
rouse passions instead of subduing them. With his reach in BJP, if he has any,
he could have sent a mail PMO, instead of blabbering with the Devil’s Advocate.
In the fourth and
fifth questions, both try to downplay the Modi visit and Tahpar goes to the
exent of declaring “ So, there is no big break” and “Yes” says Shourie like
Brutus.
In the sixth and
seventh questions, Thapar continues to taunt (pre -meditated), on America and
China and Shourie says some-one told him so and so and hence things were moving
slow and USA was impatient. India is sovereign country that can make its own policy
vis a vis China or USA or this some-one unnamed. In politics some ones and
sources are enigma and Media uses this to the hilt.
Eighth and ninth
are continuation and are aimed at people who did not still catch what these two
highly intellectual guys were plotting to kill Modi spirit.
Ninth and tenth
questions are hazy and answers too. Shourie advises on an issue that he is not
sure whether it is being followed or not, outside advisors, on India’s Pak and
China policy but feels to pass on advice unasked for by the government, just
because Thapar asked him. Too naïve.
Eleventh and
twelfth questions are musings of Thapar than that of Shourie confusing us who
the interviewerwas and who the other was. Ultimately, Shourie says a meek “Yes”,
like again Brutus, who says “yes” to conspiracy not knowing why he was doing
that. Neither of them knows exactly the role of Foreign Minister in policy
framing as she never talked on the subject and is religiously doing her duty.
Thirteenth and
fourteenth questions. The answer is “Yes! Steadier thinking. I wonder what was meant
by that or what Thapar understood. In the third month after marriage, if child
birth does not happen and if some nincompoop says “Yes! Steadier Relationship needed”,
do we accept the answer? It is surprising how low people stoop to pursue
personal agenda.
The next three
questions on economic policy. The very first diktat of Modi to his ministers
was not talk to Media unless concrete results were achieved. And since they are
not talking these guys imagine nothing is happening, everything was at
standstill etc. Who was responsible for bad loans? How does credit off take
happen? If a politician walked into a bank since 1969, his loan was cleared
with no verification and that was the credit off take and the bad loan
portfolio. Work is done in tranches. Since I am suffering from head ache I cannot
chop my head and say “Gayab”, if I too have to stoop low as these guys.
The next two
questions. Credit is not to the government but international factors. In
Congress time too there were ups and downs in international factors. When wind
was unfavourable they blamed it and when it was favourable, they used to
swallow the benefits instead of passing on to consumers. Delisting millions of
dubious gas connections in three months is enough proof of what changed. If UPA
continued the whole subsidy part would have gone to the coffers of the neo-rich
politicos. Shourie should have known better or he is wearing a mask.
Subsequent
questions on coal auctions is not only naïve but laughable. When CAG pointed
out that there was loss of Rs.1.86 lakh crores UPA clarified that it was spread
over a period of 30 years, but loss was loss. Then, how can the government
mislead people that Rs.2.00 lakh crores was earned now? Government and
Ministers gave the break up figures and improvement in coal stocks, reduction
in imports of coal reduced by 38% are indicators. In, fact, if I remember well
the figure was Rs.5,942 crores this year. There too, he bungled.
The next answer
is funny. If people opposed to change do not agree to government policy, is it
confrontation? Just because hostile media projects them as mountains instead of
mole hills is it confrontation? Why did you all oppose the NAC under Sonia if
you feel experts outside must be consulted? What is the basis for your
allegation that they are not consulted? Just because they did not consult you
both, is it a fault? Please know facts, before you go public.
The questions
and answers to the next questions are out of my realm now and I do not want to
make surmises like Shourie. So, I will study and blog again. No comment now.
The answer to
the next question is naïve again. Reason is, Modi is the first PM to involve
all states in his policy making. He made more funds available. He reacted to
disasters fast, which his bete noir
Nitish too agreed. In case of Delhi, Kejriwal is a “second by second” rebel
and he does not know what he is rebelling against. He does not attend meetings
by the Centre but sitting outside critiques that his state is being ignored. He
can be brushed aside as one that is adept in guerrilla war than direct confrontation.
Answers to the
next three questions reflect his penchant for attacking Jailtely. It happened
in 2005, 2009 and 2015. Will happen again if Jaitely is treated with good
position and Shourie is ignored. Again, it is the Cassius in him, and the
positions are like Cleopatra. Who woos her better?
A mechanism is
being worked to fill vacancies in institutes as this government wants experts
not “nod-heads” as heads of prime institutes. They are not decided in TV
studios by Thapar and Shourie.
It is better to
neglect the next answers as they are on premise. At least one report said so
and so, one industrialist said so and so, Deepak Parekh said so and so (and how
can he be ignored? Is he magna carta of Indian economic policy?).
Answer to the
next question is purely political and Mamata and Nitish will be on board soon.
Jaya cannot go anywhere nor KCR, Jagan and NCBN. This is again on my premise because
I have to ape Shourie after reading so much trash in his interview.
The answers to
next questions can be given by a Congress Spokesperson better than Shourie. Do
we still call him as part of intelligentsia? Unfortunate.
Next question is
safety on minorities. The three issues he quoted were wrong interpretations by
Media and culprits were booked. As a minority basher in his earlier avatar who
opposed conversions per se, he should have advised the Missionaries instead of
Modi. He is totally bankrupt today intellectually and the only explanation we
can give may be it is out of envy on others. His answer on Modi suit shows his
hatred to the whole system, even after the suit issue was laid at rest.
Last question.
If Shourie is familiar with the goings on in the country he would not have said
that Government should maintain low profile. There is mounting criticism in
Media and other sections that he is interacting less. And this is contradictory
to his earlier view that he should interact more with experts. Does he
underestimate a common man as not an expert but stupid? That is more like a journalist
than a politician or an assumed intelligentsia.
I suggest
Shourie go back to his writing books and Thapar to his columns like where he
was during earthquakes and what he was doing. And when he was in loo, how the
earth under him shook and what happened then etc.,
Very well brought out the motives of Shourie and Thapar. I felt the timing was too bad for shourie even to point out mistakes, should have waited for at least 6 more months. When Shourie said economic policy has no direction, he cud have told where it has gone wrong and it can be taken as contructive criticism. A person like me, BJP still has the responsibility to counter that the think tank constitutes only three.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sir. No solutions. They want Modified to bend before them now request.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sir. No solutions. They want Modified to bend before them now request.
ReplyDeleteA thoughtful analysis. But Shourie is no pushover
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sir for frank opinion.
DeleteThank you, Sir for frank opinion.
DeleteThank you, Sir!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sir!
ReplyDeleteVery well articulated!Excellent!Also Arun S should know auctioning all has to be successfu!
ReplyDeletePrevious coment pl read also and not all 'auctioning also'
ReplyDeleteGood.Morning. I did not expect such low comments from this old man. He stooped low but could not conquer. Thank you for your valuable comment. His take on chuck attacks etc., is hypocrisy of the highest order.
ReplyDeleteVanichandraji, Sir i was looking for TV and sifting through articles for opinions on the programme. Your point by point counter to the Shourie&Thapar show restores calmness in the blood running through me. Thank You for the insightful and candid counter to understand between the lines and their gestures and smiles. Sir Thank You once again.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much. Good Morning. It gives me strength.
ReplyDeleteChandra ji. It is well written blog. It may just possible the reasons may be true when Arun Shouri spoke like that.
ReplyDeleteBut it would not be wise to reject the critism. You can't reject if someone like Dipak Parikh or Arun Shouri speaks. They may be 200% baised but there is something about which I am not comfertable.
Regards
I differ humbly. I did not question Dial. I said that he is not the one and all. Arun Shourie does not deserve respect after this. He just spewed venom. He is a party man. He can speak there or get out of party next speak. No party will tolerate dissent from within.
ReplyDeleteI differ humbly. I did not question Dial. I said that he is not the one and all. Arun Shourie does not deserve respect after this. He just spewed venom. He is a party man. He can speak there or get out of party next speak. No party will tolerate dissent from within.
ReplyDelete