Opinion Whose money?

In an editorial,the Organiser has reasoned the government’s denial was “more grave” as it does not explain whether the cost was “borne by either the Congress party or a third private source”. The Organiser argues it is “obligatory” to know who funded these trips and why,because Gandhi “influences the government,in fact runs it by remote control”.

The editorial emphasises that the issue is not her trips for health reasons. The editorial seems to suggest it has no problem with the government funding her medical treatment as it supported Murasoli Maran and Priyaranjan Dasmunshi. The Organiser disapproves of the Congress’s attempts to convert the issue into one “involving only her health trips of the recent past”,as against what should be “the frequent travels abroad of not only her but her family,extending to her son-in-law”.

An accompanying report claims that Modi,who is “slowly,but,steadily” “emerging out of Gujarat on the national scene” has “stumped” Gandhi and faulted Congress leaders for jumping to her defence without questioning her on this issue. “Within [the Congress it is an undeclared and covert fascism. The Congress leaders,like that of the Nazis,have been trained to go down saving the ruler rather than stand up to him and say that he is wrong,” says the report.

Foreign direction

PANCHJANYA,the Sangh Parivar’s Hindi journal has criticised the government’s recent decision to provide legislative backing to FDI in the pension and insurance sectors. This follows the UPA’s approval of FDI in retail,which had already angered the Sangh Parivar. An editorial in Panchjanya describes these decisions as the “wrong path of economic development”.

Despite expressing apprehensions as to whether the government will be able to get these decisions approved by Parliament,the editorial accuses the government of “selling the country to the US in the name of economic reforms”. While the BJP understands that FDI in insurance and pension is different from FDI in retail,to which it’s opposed in toto,the editorial does not spell out whether it should be opposed to the former in the same measure as it is to the latter. Panchjanya’s editorial does not state whether FDI in pension and insurance is bad and why so,considering the way it has argued against FDI in retail. It has steered clear of clear opposition to these two reforms,suggesting that “supporting or opposing” was not as important as pondering whether these decisions taken in a “hurry” are in the interest of the country.

The editorial suggests it will be “dangerous” for the country to adopt a “foreign approach” for economic development at the expense of the “swadeshi” way. A cartoon alongside the editorial suggests opening the floodgates of FDI in retail,insurance and pension will drown the ordinary citizens whom the PM seeks to help.

Thus spoke the chief

BOTH Sangh Parivar weeklies covered RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s lecture in the capital recently. His Deendayal Upadhyaya Memorial Lecture is the cover story in both the Organiser and Panchjanya.

The Organiser highlights Bhagwat’s remarks that “globalisation is nothing but Westernisation” that “limits choice,variety,diversity and national sovereignty” because “hegemonistic global players impose uniformity,monopoly and consumerism… Swadeshi is the Indian way”. Panchjanya has highlighted his argument that “true Bharatiyata”can be the solution to all problems in the world and,therefore,the challenge was being a “true Bharatiya”.

Compiled by Ravish Tiwari