SALUTE TO ISRO

ISRO has created a record by launching a bunch of 101 satellites in 600 seconds. The total payload of the lauch vehicle is 664 kg. Launched at very high speed of about 27, 000 km/hr or 40 times the speed of an average passenger liner, the launch exercise was a showcase of expertise garnered by Nations's space organization over the years.

In the field of satellite lauch ISRO has broken the world record set by Russia. In 2014 Russia had launched in space 37 space satellites in one go. Now,  in the current spectacular feat by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV,  India has managed to lauch 101 foreign satellites and one indigenous satellite

Space technology development is a pet idea of Prime Minister Narender Modi. In the recent budget an hike of 23 percent was accorded to the Space Department. The Prime Minister had been inteacting with space scientists and applauding them for their achivements.
Now the sights of ISRO is set even higher. It has planned a trip to Mars and Venus.

BATH IN THE RAINCOAT

Prime Minister Narender Modi is past master in the art of political oneupmanship. In a dexterous move he very skilfully deflected the oppostion's attack on demonetization, and changed the script of the political discourse of the day.
In Rajya Sabha when Modi rose to reply to motion of thanks the Congress expected some rivetting verbal fireworks and dribble of caustic comments. Little did they anticipitate a frontal attack on their icon of propriety, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The 'bath with raincoat on' comment which Modi made not only painted Congress and its rule with tar, it also laid the onus of misrule, to an extent, on the erstwhile prime minister.
Known to be the leading light of the economic reforms of 1991, Singh steered the country from a period of 2004 to 2014. He has impeccable credentials as a leading economist of international standing. Along with PV Narasimha Rao he snapped the mesh of  License Raj and ushered economic liberalization.

Economic laissez faire had been the crown of pride of Congress government. The latest buzz word of Modi - minimum government - is a new age term for the same. As with many other concepts, Modi has succeeded in recoining and then cashing on political philosophies of Congress.

It is a war that he has waged against the old order, and against order of things, which are entrenched with a Congress world-view and proprietorship. In an effort to cast the institutions in a new mould Modi has sharply stepped on the toes of die hard votaries of yesteryear glories of the Congress Raj.
It is a clash of political ecosystems, of worldviews. Seen in this light, Congress is again and again bought into the limelight with its policy paralysis malady.

Demonetization had been proposed to Mrs Gandhi who shirked to implement it. The quote was taken out of a memoir and flashed with impunity across the face of Congress. Holding back no punches Modi moved in swiftly and struck  humiliating at Congress.

Much is at stake for Modi. He is under attack for his demonetization move. The present elections are being fought on demonetization agenda, among others. BJP's loss in elections will be seen as a verdict against Mod's demonetization. Hence the need to strike vulnerably at Congress.An attack which would change the pace and mood of political parrying, atleast for some time as necessary. 

PANEERSEVLAM BARES HIS FANGS

The crisis in AIADMK has overnight escalated. Late night in a sharp move Shashikala had removed O Paneersevlam from the post of party treasurer, and had threatened other severe measures against him.

Events moved swiftly after Paneersevlam showed his rebel face and charged Shashikala with pressurising him to tender his resignation and supporting Shahsikala as the chief minister candidate.
High drama unfolded as Paneersevlam paid obeisance at the memorial of Jayalalitha. He meditated there for about 40 minutes and then spoke belligerently about the raw deal meted out to him. The memorial moment was symbolic. The timing well calculated. The bellicose tone well measured. The admixture of hurt and aggression is probably planned to garner supporter from party members.

The crisis has brought to the fore the simmering discontent in the party. It has also cast a shadow on the smooth transfer of power unto the hands of Shashikala.
If followed to the end, the stand off has all the ingredients for a constitutional crisis. It remains to be seen if Paneersevlam can muster enough MLAs if a show of strength is required.

BJP is a wait and watch mode, so is DMK. The case of disproportionate income has cast its its shadow on the swearing in of Shahsikala. Deepa Jaykumar, niece of Shahsikala has opened a front against her aunt.

The situation is fluid. Other political actors can make the scene messy. It remains to be seen if Paneersevlam's  belligerence will create a breakup of AIADMK.

LEARNING DAYS FOR TRUMP

These are learning days for US President Donald Trump. With no prior experience of holding a public office, the highest office of the land has become a sudden hot seat for Trump. Quite early in his tenure Trump has taken a head long course with the Judiciary. An executive ban order on refugee influx has triggered a confrontation with the judiciary which has stayed the presidential decree.
If Trump continues with the present order of things he will continue to ruffle feathers both in the country and aboard. As of now, many allies, friends and neighbours have had a hearburn.

Inadvertently Trump has run into the check and balance mesh that the constitution had erected to ensure fair play and dissuade heavy handedness of administration. The staying of executive order has once again proved the efficacy of constitutional provisions and foresightedness of founding fathers of Nation.

Trump should do well to pause and ponder. It is quite understood that he is in rush and pressure to prove his electoral promises true. But the way things stand portend, opposition to the President's obdurate moves are hardening. The California ruling has set a precedent which other courts are wont to follow. People have taken to street and political opposition will but cash on Trump's discomfort.

Furthermore, legal appointments are going to be viewed with sckepticism. The appointment of Chief Justice of Supreme Court is in the offing. The appointment will be viewed with a filter to check nepotism, or at least signs of a pliable candidate.

Trump has much to prove. He has to grow much as a politician, an responsible and responsive President, who knows when to stay the course and when to yield and change path. 

TRUMP BLOWS THE TRUMPET

The newly elected President of United States Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order which would clamp a temporary ban on immigration from refugees from six African and Middle Eastern nations. The aim of the order is to curb terrorists entering the borders of United States in the garb of refugees. The imminent order is in line of the election promise of Trump in which he had pledged to halt refugees from terror-infected nations.
Trump also aims to jump start the building of wall along the Mexican border, and put an end to refugee influx.
Though expected, Trump's order is seen as a  discrimination on religious lines.
Trump's action can trigger reactions from targetted nations. It may be in the form of civil protest, or more violent upstaging. The move can escalate diplomatic tension between the United States and targetted nations.

STAND UP RBI

Reserve Bank of India is the purse keeper of nation. As a purse keeper it is wont that the Central Bank guards the interest of the nation. It is incumbent that RBI maintains a strict vigil of its monies. It is also necessary that the Bank 

TOO MUCH OF MODI

The old order changeth,yielding place to new. Modi is no stranger to Lord Alfred Tennyson's pithy dictum. From the time he took charge Modi has been affecting changes in the order of things. Names has been changed, institutions demolished,personalities eased out of position of power.
The latest salvo has been fired by Khadi Gram Udyog Commission on behalf of Modi. In the calender of the Commission Modi has replaced Mahatma Gandhi as the icon of Khadi. He is shown seated behind a spindle and spinning a khadi yarn and an acquiesent and beaming Gandhi is relegated to background.

Party motormouth have done their duty overtime since then. Heath Minister of Haryana Anil Vij has endorsed the move, and called Gandhi a personage of bad omen. The name of Gandhi has devalued notes. Modi is a better brand than Gandhi, he continues in the same bad breath.

Facts and figures have been tossed up to bolster the claim that Brand Modi has given the Khadi business a strong fillip, its business has been boosted, and people have embraced the cloth as never before.

Though an obstinacy to change unto new ways is seen as an regressive mindset, some icons need to be preserved for their totemic value. Gandhi is one such icon. However, it is imperative that newer symbols and perosnalities, as well as ways and means should be adopted to carve new niches in old institutions.

However, too much of Modi acts as a backlash. It is interpretated as showmanship, as an effort to dominate and smother.
The silence of Modi in this matter, as in every other, is deafening.
Modi should speak and set matters to rest. He should maintain sanctity of institutions and should prove by his actions as well as words.

He should know that surfeit of Modi can well translate into no Modi.

KEJRIWAL'S MISSION PUNJAB

It's been a year of discontent for Kejriwal. As any other year he had been at its vitriolic best. He had exchanged barbs with all and sundry, and had made frontal attack on  Prime Minister Modi .

Betraying his political restlessness Kejriwal has now made a move beyond his marked territory. His compatriot and deputy Manish Sisodia has made a nascent and powerful announcement - look out for Kejriwal as the next Chief Minister of Punjab.

It is quite clear that Kejriwal will act now as an engine of party's growth beyond Delhi. For a party which had bagged a mere four seat in the 2014 hustings, its now a do or die situation.

With Modi's frontal attack on corruption via demonetization, Kejriwal has lost his primal thunder. His bluff, buster and boast sytle of politics needs some new meat. Punjab will be his testing ground as to how much Kejriwal and AAP can reinvent itself and challenge BJP, Akali's and Congress.

TWO HOOTS FOR MEDIA

The inscrutable Modi is at it again. This time its media. Having bashed the media with a reverse slap with a decree to ban for a day a news channel, he has come out speaking for the rights of the press.
Having had made his day by cocking a snook at the press, he seems to have become a votary of media rights.

The fact is that  after becoming the prime minister, Modi has never cared or craved for press publicity. He had conveniently bypassed the media and taken use the social media to reach out to the masses.

BIG NOTE, BIG POLITICS

Ban on big notes have become big politics. Parliament session is going to be driven by it. Parties have polarised on the issue. Debate on national agenda has shrunk along a short bandwidth. Macro issues of economy has gone out focus, and Modi Government's money management policy and its related politics have become the common refrain.
The brunt of the move is being borne by the common man. Patience is giving way to anger. Modi knows it well. It won't be a big surprise if he initiates another surgical strike of move that will divert the attention well.

The move has also brought to the fore cracks in the government's argument that the move was conceived and initiated six months early. New bank notes carry RBI governor's signature. Patel has taken up office two months before, so how come the previous Governor didn't sign on the currency.

MULAYAM MIND GAMES

The dark shadow of political gamemanship has cast a grim shadow on the mahagathbandhan dream. Mulayam, the inscrutable veteran of many political wars, has cast a dice on the troubled chequered plot of UP politics. The Supremo has asserted that his party will go all the way alone in the coming hustings.
So where does that leave the mahagathbandhan tieup efforts ?
With such fanfare socialist cheftains were gathered on one platform on the silver jubilee celebrations of the Samajwadi party. Such efforts were made by state party chief Shivpal Yadav to bring the tribe together. So has the mission of the emissary failed ?
Another question. Will Akhilesh will now have to prove his mettle on the electoral battlefront all alone ?
Another pertinent question. Has overtures of Congress failed to enchant the fair maiden that is Samajwadi party ? Did Prashant Kishore ask a bit too much from Mulayam ? Did the seat bargain upset Mulayam ?
These are some queries which are demanding answers ?