Political Climate of Delhi

By: Sep 30th, 2017 12:23 am

Prof N.K. SinghProf N.K. Singh

Former Chairman International Airports Authority of India

I have been reveling climate of Delhi both physical and political forpast few days. Delhi is same as I witnessed in the past but it isfuzzier, more congested with unending traffic snarls. As I arrivedthere, it was a gas chamber, the words used by the High Court, and itsizzled. There was no respite from humidity and heat except in theair-conditioned chambers which rumbled throwing waste hot air onpeople outside. No doubt the railway station, which incidentallyis undergoing massive renovation that I had been demanding since years,is in full swing with dusty and debris strewn everywhere. The planshows, it would become international standards train station.

Strange no one dared to do anything on the ancient building which presents an elegant front with dirt and stink inside. No one changed it for last 70 years and passenger continued to face dilapidated conditions offacilities inside when hundreds slept on the bare floors even inburning heat and shivering cold. When complete, it would be wonderful gift to the harassed travelers and they would not know that Suresh Prabhu deserved credit for it, although, he had to shift from Railways for being a gentleman. Outside too, the back to back breaking traffic with three wheelers and rikshaws besides automobiles without properregulation shakes any new arrival. But I am witness to it right frommy college days. Staying in the central part of what is now nick-named Luteyens’ Capital, it is interesting to rub shoulder with Leftists and extreme rightists fighting over debatable issues withoutan end.

* I was surprised that there was return of opinions on the possibilities of change on account of deteriorating image of Prime Minister. The reason was slow growth of economy, lack of jobs, investment, and GST failures of complexity increase of prices etc. After the debates,however, no one could name a successor to Modi who remained unchallenged as the leader of the nation

I recollect one of my Haiku written in the forest of Himachal“Jungle babblers / noisy fighting/over a straw.’(Haiku View –Pub. Haranand) If you sit in the lounge there are already group-wise gathering. In bar too every one knows what the other is going to say as affiliations or ideology is already publicised in the media or books written by some of them or advocated in the centre. Opinions sounded by the groups often find covered in the media as members or editors of newspapers are assiduously participating in debates. Surprisingly these debates many a times lead to wrong conclusions.

General opinions misleadingly overestimated SP numbers in UP elections. It was also a miscalculation in Haryana where Hooda and Chautala were mostly mentioned in talks. Most of the people are now talking about Modi in 2019 and Rahul in US with his expected tour of Gujarat. No one had anticipated Modi’s stunning success in 2014 elections and later tried to reconcile with it. The air of Delhi mostly smelt Modi nama and in spite of his staunch opponent talking endlessly of a change they thought Modi cannot be replaced as they called it TNA factor as there is no leader to challenge him now.

This time the temperature gauge announced a change. In Delhi there was rain, cats and dogs and all prominent roads were jammed. Many of my friends who started from their own residence to come for a meeting went back after halfway because drains overflowed or got closed in absence of cleaning thus causing flood on roads. I told such friends that a well known journalist was right when he said on tape ‘When a journalist calls someone a friend, it does not mean that the person is a friend’.

I was surprised that there was return of opinions on the possibilities of change on account of deteriorating image of Prime Minister. The reason was slow growth of economy, lack of jobs, investment, and GST failures of complexity increase of prices etc. After the debates,however, no one could name a successor to Modi who remained unchallenged as the leader of the nation. The gossip about Saccha Sauda and rapes was dying down but new episode of Banaras Hindu University has come to fore front. There is a tendency to blow such instances and create an atmosphere of fear. Coming times will test the mettle of Modi who has still no competitor and can bring transformation of the nation.

Bus Stand

First Passenger: “Why we are not allowed in Bus stand?

Second Passenger: “Almost every day, there is some MLA to inaugurate it even if it is already done.


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