President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam‘s “announcement” that he is willing to go for a second term “if there is certainty” can be viewed in two ways. One way is to see it, as he and his legions of admirers do, as a natural reaction of “People’s President” to the “overwhelming love from people from across the country.”
The other way is to see it, as his detractors are likely to do, as proof of the scientist being deluded by his popularity and allowing himself to be used as a pawn by politicians of the “Third Front”. Some are even likely to ask if Kalam’s proximity to the BJP-led NDA has not been exposed by his possible decision to align with that front.
Kalam has left his decision to contest the poll hanging for a few more days. But in not dismissing his interest in taking on Pratibha Patil, who will be at least a lakh votes ahead even if the “consensus” he is seeking develops, is the bachelor-Bharat Ratna tilting at the windmills of history?
With the Left parties opposed to a second term for an NDA candidate (because the NDA said no for a second term for K.R. Narayanan), does Kalam risk the danger of squandering his goodwill while appearing to stall the precedent of a woman occupying the helm?
For one thing, the votes in a Prez election are never ‘certain’…. and you never know how some of the smaller parties may swing with this option around.
Still…. I would have preferred if Kalam had said yes or no right at the beginning… but then again, that was before the shenanigans of the rest of the nation.
Hell, anyone would be tempted to run for President if they found out that more than 70% of the country (as determined by opinion polls of various hues) loves you. Hell, even I would stand!!
From “consensus,” Kalam has climbed down to “certainty of victory” as the condition for his recontesting.
It’s a clear change of position, but Kalam is only responding to the overwhelming public undercurrent in his favor.
The change of position, of course, does not make him a poor president. Only one public incident might taint his legacy — his wavering on the execution of the convicted terrorist Afzal Guru.
Overall, Kalam has shown a mind of his own — a brilliant one. He has inspired young Indians, and has preserved the style, substance and solidity of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
I am just sorry that leaders in the Congress and CPM won’t support another term for this great Gandhian. Their silly excuse: “NDA did not support Narayanan for a second term so we won’t support Kalam”!!
I’d like to hear better excuses than that.
Mysorean,
I agree. I don’t blame Kalam for seeking a ‘winning’ platform–it is par for the course. Even with the Afzal affair, I am happy to support ole K because he denied Sonia the PM’s post. I am not sure of talented-Patil-Shekhawat doing the same thing!
1. Communists opposed Kalam in his first election too. They fielded a candidate. Hence Kalam need not worry about communists this time.
2. BJP proposed Kalam’s name in his first election. Congress wanted a second term for Narayanan. When Kalam’s name was proposed, congress chose to support him. So Kalam need not worry about his ‘proximity to BJP’ being exposed. He was BJP’s choice for president 5 years ago, and hence ‘proximate’ to BJP. That is 5 year old news.
BTW, why are *You* worried about Kalam’s proximity to BJP?
3. Given 1 and 2, ‘certainty’ is not a climbdown from ‘consensus’. Certainty can be NDA + third front + BSP. Or NDA + third front + some other allies of UPA.
Afzal Guru’s execution will be a cold blooded state murder. I’m happy that Kalam has kept the move in hibernation. In any case the mercy petition has to be decided by the cabinet first. Kalam biggest bungling was the Bihar affair. In my opinion Kalam doesn’t deserve or India doesn’t need a second for him. But compared to Patil/Shekhawat, I would support him anyday.
Balaji,
Why do you think Afzal’s execution will be a state murder?
Who is biased here? :?
@Doddi Buddi
“ole K . . . denied Sonia the PM’s post.”
Didn’t know he did anything like that! — care to explain?
Ole K gently but firmly explained to the “Nanny-become-Indian-Lately” Sonia that she cannot be PM of India while still hanging onto Italian passport–and he did this with enough determination! Oh BTW Mysorean are you still in your nappies? Why do you think Soniaji wants retard dotards and rubber stamps like Talent Patil to be the President? I am sooo disappointed in you!
Balaji
–Afzal Pyaare!
Balls 2 U G!
I am still waiting
From your comments DB you must be like Bush Jnr who claims to talk to God or a fly in the mansion of Raisina Hill- you must have actaully heard it all !!!
Issues of PC language apart I find the language of ‘Retard and Dotard@ extremely offensive- but one still lives in the hope that the literate NRi might even improve. BTW apart from wanting someone naive and pliant what noble and wise reason could the saffron brigade have for nominting APJ for his first term and not really wanting him now- have they grown sick of the apolitical man and his 20/20 inanities.
I need to know for curiosity’s sake, when you call the Ms Patil names is it the misogynist Indian male living in Amrika projecting into blog writing :)!
Doddi Buddi,
Death penalty is supposed to be handed in rarest of rare cases. I do not think Afzal Guru’s crime is serious enough to be given death penalty. Well, I know ‘seriousness’ is subjective. But handing out death sentence to all those who help terrorists is not the solution. I think he would not have got the same sentence, if that attack had killed x people in Kashmir instead of same at the Parliament complex. I think it was an emotive and exemplary (to show others) judgment. In my opinion such exemplary punishments are unethical.
And ofcourse, its another story that I oppose death penalty on principle. Most of the civilized world has already abolished it.
Balaji,
Thank you for returning despite some provocative stuff from my side.
We have to be even-handed and to that extent I agree with you. But Afzal is no innocent man! He was playing the guardian angel to many terrorists. It was his misfortune that he was detected during the Parliament attack. I am sure he was involved in many Kashmir terror attacks as well. Just like the US Government convicted Al Capone on tax evasion charges, I am happy to let Afzal swing for many of his innovative crimes.
You can see what a fair-minded fellow I am…I am sure you would have wanted your relatives to file a case on “one Afzal who was involved in a terrorist attack on Chennai airport where passenger Balaji was sent heavenward in a bomb attack?:)” Or you prefer Afzal facing ‘Regamawn’s” music:) You cannot be selective my friend! The same secular fundoo A Roy was spouting the same nonsense earlier…
Balaji said:…”I know ’seriousness’ is subjective…”
What a bunch of crap!!!! Aiding & abetting the terrorists, who had audacity & seditious intentions to hit at the symbol of Indian democracy…is NOT SERIOUS ENOUGH in your eyes???
You talk about civilized world having already abolished the death penalty. phew!!!…T A L K about “subjectiveness”…The countries that have abolished death penalty for eg…..Spain, Portugal, Germany, Australia, South Africa, France, UK..etc appear to you civilized ?????…have you been taken in by the glitter, glamour and geneva bull shit?? Man…these countries have butchered hundreds of millions of people…’HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS” of innocent people. Now they preach the world about abolishing death penalty for individuals who threaten the peace & stability of a society??
Balaji..please keep your “holier than thou” mentality to yourself. Our political class has ‘wuss’ written all over it. Anymore of it…is unbearable.
No! Into the hands of the PEOPLE who adore him!
Thank you, Dharma. What a lovely thought!
DB,
I like your thoughts and aggression on all the subjects posted.
I however have a request. Can the language be more plain and readable by anyone? I think, this website deserves it. My 2 cents…
Kannada Blogs aggregation
http://www.thamizmanam.com/mozhiThiratti_details.php?mozhi=kannada
I do not see anything wrong in Kalam expecting a certainity in victory. Imagine a situation where he stands and is defeated by an unknown Pratibha Patil. It is an insult both to the post he is holding and also to the Kalam as an individual. Lets not see too much into his change of position. His stand is fully vindicated in the current situation wher politics is being played out for choosing the president.
Lets also no diagress the discussion by talking about Afzal Guru. Its a different tpoic and I can challenge that no president will take a decision on it so fast since it involves vote bank.
I would rather say that its better for kalam not to be the president. Alternatively we can use Kalam for furthering and achieving our goals in the field of Defence research.
At least, there will be sense of fair play if President Kalam continues because the peope of the country want him back…..But that is unlikely with Madame taking a hard line.
He always used his so called innocence for personal gains. He loves power. But won’t admit that. Any doubt?
If at all anyone was to be given a second term, it should have been KR Narayanan.He was the best president India had .
There is a convention , unwritten though that a president would serve only one term. Lets follow it and allow Abdul Kalam to retire. Abdul Kalam , one feels was never really tested politically.It would have been interesting to see how he would have handled affairs if there was a hung parliament in 2004.A clear mandate against the BJP led NDA saved Abdul Kalam from taking any decision.
Polotically he was active only on two occasons-office of profit bill and Afzal Guru.
He has been inspirational, brilliant and seems to have had the welfare of India at the top of his mind.But as we say, all good things have to end. So does Abdul Kalam’s tenure.
Time to go sir and wish you a happy retired life.
Sad to see Kalam getting graceless at the end of such a fine term…he should asked the politicians to &^%$ off
I hate to do this, (so don’t crucify me) but I really want to know something:
(Even though its very much beside the point)
The following has been written by a rather demented Maharashtrian by the name of Pravin Sonawane (A man who seems to be doing his best to give Maharashtra a bad name). I suspect strongly that they are not. Anyway,
Are these things true:
1. In the entire state, Kannada language is compulsary in schools.
2. For all State Government jobs, Kannada is a must.
3. All boards are compulsarily to be written in Kannada first and then English (By law). Be it Central Govt. office OR airport OR busy MG Road OR even any MNC company, you see Kannada everywhere.
4. Karnataka people have a separate quota in Railway Jobs – By Law (See Maharashtra, all N and S Indians filed in Railways, Railway recruitment ads are placed only in Hindi and English newspapers.)
5. In chain restaurants, shopping malls etc, local people are always given preference in Jobs.
5. Kannada people insist the use of Kannada whenever they do any transaction outside. They are very very proud of their language and people. They do not tolerate the imposition of others.
6. Last and NOT the least, the State government is very strict in implementation of Kannada everywhere in the state.
SO, No Wonder even if Bangalore is Cosmopolitan city, with Kannada speaking people less than 40%, Kannada is not extint. The presence of Kannada is everywhere and outsiders eventually learn it.
Madhav I will answer your queries
1.) True but this is applicable only for schools which follow state syllabus and have opened after a certain date. Further it is only upto a certain standard
2.) True. And this is as well applicable in other states
3.) Kannada boards have to be written not necessarily first. But the board should be written in Kannada and may also contain any other language.
4.) False. Infact if you travel in the Karnataka part of Konkan railways you may find very few Kannadigas.
5.) False.
5.) False. Infact you can have the audacity to talk to any kannadiga in your language and he will try and reply in your language.
6.) Definately not.
Based on your queries I assume you do not belong to Karnataka. You can be rest assured and come over here. Kannadigas by nature are very friendly and will never consider you as an outsider. They are not aggressive and very soft in nature.
I heartlily agree with Madhav with a little modification. It would be cent percent true if the name of the state is replaced by Tamilnadu . This is the outcome of my 15 months stay at chennai.Rags will have no chance to say false then
Dear Mr. Rao
And by the way, to what extent can the blame be put on TN? Do educated English-speaking Tamilians refuse to speak to you in English? Or do those people who know Hindi refuse to speak in Hindi? Is the problem of Hind/English in TN one of education or prejudice-they can’t speak it so they don’t-or they don’t want to speak it so they don’t?
I am not challenging you; I have lived mostly in Goa, WB, and Ma so I don’t really know. I can tell you one thing: Maharashtrians have this view that they are not at all proud of their culture, that they do not value their language, that Maharashtrians (can you beat it?) have become slaves in their own state, that Maharashtrians are always very adjusting and accomadating and that they do not impose their language on other people in their state. (Which they always imply South Indians do). To tell you the truth I stopped reading Marathi newspapers because I was tired of people constantly complaining that Marathis were not at all language proud and South Indians were (only locals could get jobs, learning the language in schools was compulsory there, business was entirely in the hands of the locals, their languages were flourishing and doing very well becuase again they are proud etc-and that they have upheld their languages while the Marathis haven’t.)
Personally, knowing how Maharashtrians have a persecution mania (and next to no idea of how the rest of India) some of it I am sure is false. Can you guys clear up so I can knock some sense into my Marathi friends when they endlessly complain about how “”these Dakshin Bharathis are so bhasha-premi”? Is, in your opinion, Kannada
Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam in a far better position-other than the locals speaking the language-than Marathi
hmm…don’t know how H.S.Rao came to this conclusion. In which part of Chennai you find Tamil only or first in boards sir? And there’s a quota for Tamils in Railways? Please let me know the details. I’ll post it as employment news in my blog!
I think Rags replies to Madhav will hold true even in Tamilnadu except the second 5. Probably Kannadigas are more multi-lingual than Tamils.
Sorry, I have again digressed from the topic on Kalam!
NSR
Thank you. I have my style and others have their styles. QED.
DB,
In simple terms NS Rao avaru helthairodhu, cut the crap!
For example replace:
“Balaji said:…”I know ’seriousness’… blah blah…………………. The same secular fundoo A Roy was spouting the same nonsense earlier…”
by
“Balaji neen obba konga.
Afzalna hang madi.”
Summane jokingu, seriousaagbedi (am writing this after a few of beers so… :)
Does anyone have a response to Vikas’s questions? I sure don’t but I do agree with him on the persecution complex of Marathis. I think it would be good if we someone could answer him.
‘X’ Guy
Interesting interpretation…but I have my own style.
DB,
Yes and your style is original and interesting to read.
Niaz Ahmed,
In your bid to make a case against Abdul Kalam getting a second term, you have cited a convention that a president would serve only one term. Fair enough. But is it fair to violate a similar convention that the vice-president should be made the president unless otherwise he is inefficient or suffers any disqualification. Viewed against this background is it not fair to pick up the threads of convention that you have highlighted and give a chance to Bhairon Singh Shekhawat?
With the kind of politics one sees in India which the issue of next president’s nomination exemplifies, no wonder the country is a huge cess pit.
Mr.Basavaraj,
This has’nt happened consistently.BD Jatti, M Hidayatullah and Krishna Kanth were never considered though they were men of repute. I guess Shekawat is a bit unlucky. When he became Vice president , he might not have thought that BJP led NDA would lose the election affecting his chances of occupying the highest office.It would be nice if political parties follow this convention of elevating the VP as the president.
In my memory, the only person to become a vp and president unopposed was KR Narayanan.
Niaz Ahmed
Mr. Niaz Ahmed,
Thanks for your response to my suggestion of reviving the convention of elevating the VP as the president. If my memory serves me right, apart from KR Narayanan, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and a couple of other VPs were elevated to be the Presidents. I stand to be corrected. Will some one in the know of things throw more light on this?
After all said and done people prez is a typical insecure Indian citizen who aspires for risk free reward.