Tridib Raman
Amidst the evolving dynamics of Bihar politics, concerns within the Sangh regarding upcoming assembly elections are becoming evident on the ground, particularly as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar takes on a transformed persona. Reports suggest that before the Jharkhand elections, RSS had presented a secret report to the BJP leadership. This report highlighted that in key constituencies like Rajmahal, Lohardaga, and Palamu, it would be extremely difficult for the BJP to secure victories due to the significant influence of Christian missionaries in these regions. The report further stated that while missionaries traditionally focused on converting Dalit and tribal communities, recent strategies have shifted their attention toward backward castes—especially Dhanuk, Mallah, Koeri, Kurmi, and Yadav—who had been reliable BJP voters. The question now arises: Will the Church replicate this “Jharkhand model” in Bihar, where these caste groups are prominent? According to sources, the rise of new churches in regions like East Champaran, Gaya, Aurangabad, and Buxar indicates increased missionary activity. The Sangh believes that areas under church influence tend to favor parties opposed to the BJP, as seen recently in Jharkhand. Historically, Christian missions were more active in South India, but there is now a marked shift toward Northern states. Punjab, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh have witnessed a rapid expansion of churches, even in BJP strongholds like Jabalpur and Indore. In Punjab, a significant Christian population resides, and many converts continue to wear turbans while attending church regularly. Poverty-stricken regions, the Sangh observes, are fertile ground for missionary outreach, as they offer basic amenities like healthcare and education. Additionally, reports claim that a foundation funded by an American agency provides full scholarships for higher education. Previously, most beneficiaries hailed from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but now, more students from Northern states are receiving these scholarships. Despite these concerns, the BJP leadership remains cautious, unwilling to antagonize the Church and risk diplomatic tensions with the United States and European nations.
Diljit Dosanjh’s Unexpected Meeting With PM Modi
Tridib Raman
Diljit Dosanjh has emerged as one of the most prominent musical icons of contemporary India, redefining the country’s significance on the global music stage. His soaring popularity on international charts is a testament to his success. However, his rebellious nature has often put him at odds with the ruling party. The reasons are clear- he has openly criticized ‘Godi Media’ and stood firmly with protesting farmers, giving voice to their pain. In such a scenario, his sudden invitation to meet PM Modi raises questions. Is this a victory of his soft power or a strategic move by the leader to connect with future young voters, win over disgruntled farmers, or present a reconciliation to Sikh voters hurt by the recent incident involving Dr. Manmohan Singh? These voters are particularly aggrieved that while the world was honouring Dr. Singh’s contributions, he was not given a place at Ekta Sthal, where two spots remain vacant. Interestingly, this political maneuvering is not unprecedented. Around two decades ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin executed a similar gesture. Although some political commentators dismissed it as a PR stunt, Putin met Beatles legend Paul McCartney in a surprise encounter that aired on live television. Despite a ban on the Beatles in the USSR from the 1960s to the 1980s, the band’s music had captivated Soviet youth, who secretly listened to their songs. During the meeting, McCartney even played ‘Let It Be’ on a piano for Putin. Similarly, Dosanjh sang a hymn by Guru Nanak Dev Ji— ‘Dhiaan Dhar Mehsoos Kar…’—for Modi.
Arif’s Strategic Mission to Bihar
Tridib Raman
The BJP leadership has sent Arif Muhammad Khan, the former Governor of Kerala, to Patna with a specific purpose ahead of the Bihar elections. Arif, who understands the intricacies of politics, quickly started his campaign, sensing the intentions of the BJP leadership. Amidst discussions that Nitish Kumar might switch sides again during Makar Sankranti, Arif went straight to Lalu’s house in Patna under the pretext of wishing Rabri Devi a happy birthday. In their conversation, he hinted to Lalu that if his party RJD forms another ‘incongruous alliance’ with Nitish’s JD(U), President’s rule would be imposed in the state immediately, and strict measures would be taken. He conveyed a similar message to Nitish, visiting Kalyan Bigha on the 14th death anniversary of Nitish’s mother, late Parmeshwari Devi, and subtly made Nitish understand that breaking the current alliance would land him in unnecessary trouble. Sources say that the honorable Governor hinted to Nitish that a wrong step could entangle him in investigations from the ‘Srijan scam’ to the fallen bridges, so he should maintain the bridge of relationships and keep the lotus of harmony blooming.
BJP’s Stern Message to Nitish
Highly reliable sources claim that when Nitish Kumar recently visited Delhi and expressed his condolences to the family of the late Dr. Manmohan Singh, his purpose for coming to Delhi was different. Sources reveal that he had sought time to meet PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President J P Nadda. While he was denied meetings with the PM and Shah, Nadda had given him an appointment. However, before Nitish could meet Nadda, Nadda received a message from high command to cancel the meeting, so at the last moment, Nadda also canceled his meeting with Nitish. Nitish Kumar returned to Patna and kept his communication channels open with Lalu Yadav.
Jaishankar’s Diplomacy and Legal Tactics
Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar dominated social media discussions last week, with widespread commentary on how he failed to secure a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump despite his prolonged stay in the country. Social media also buzzed with questions: Why was Jaishankar so keen to meet Trump? The reasons are well known, and there is little need to repeat them here. However, what went largely unnoticed during his visit was something far more significant. A major development occurred involving Indian business tycoon Gautam Adani. The three criminal cases against him in the U.S. were consolidated and transferred from “legal counsel” to “federal court.” It’s important to note that legal counsel operates outside the influence of the U.S. President, whereas federal court decisions can be influenced by the President. The President holds the authority to overturn federal court rulings and grant pardons to the accused. In fact, during his previous term (2017–2020), Trump issued pardons in 144 cases, some of which involved convicted individuals. Additionally, when federal courts conduct investigations, it remains challenging to gather evidence of bribery committed in India. In this context, can Jaishankar’s diplomatic effort be viewed as a victory? Given the well-documented friendship between Modi and Trump, this entire episode might be seen as another example of how personal diplomacy can shape international legal outcomes.
Stalin’s Preferred Trio
In recent developments, the Stalin government of Tamil Nadu canceled the tender for smart meters allocated to the Adani Group, stating that ‘it was a central decision, and they never met Adani.’ Now, three companies have caught Stalin’s attention in Tamil Nadu – ‘Tata Power,’ ‘Reliance Power,’ and ‘Hiranandani Group.’ In collaboration with Blackstone, the Hiranandani Group is working on a ‘Logistic Park’ project worth 1500 crores in Chennai, which is associated with ‘Green Base,’ supported by Elon Musk’s company. Reliance is also entering ‘Renewable Energy,’ as its income from ‘Crude Oil Refinery’ might decrease in the future, currently contributing 45-50% of Reliance Group’s income. As for Reliance’s retail business, Reliance is eager to exit this business, as the profit margin is only 12-13%. However, Reliance is keen to advance its e-commerce platform ‘Ajio’.
Why Did Ashish Patel Rebel Against His Own Government?
Ashish Patel, the Education Minister in the Yogi government and husband of Union Minister of State Anupriya Patel, has raised the slogan of revolt against his own government. Anupriya’s sister and SP MLA, Pallavi Patel, has accused Ashish of a recruitment scam and has demanded an SIT investigation from Yogi Adityanath. Ashish has changed his tactics and claimed that his life is in danger from the STF. He has also targeted the state’s information director, Shishir Singh, who is the apple of Yogi’s eye. He is accusing Shishir Singh of being behind his character assassination through repeated media trials, lies, and deceit. The current STF chief, Amitabh Yash, is known for encounters and is not only Yogi’s favourite but also a close friend of Shishir. Yogi’s people feel that the ‘Delhi camp’ may be behind promoting Ashish.
