National
Indira and Sanjay didn't spare even sports; India paid for it at Montreal Olympics: Book Excerpts
New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) Editor’s Note — TV journalist, blogger and newspaper columnist Vishnu Sharma has painstakingly put together a book titled ‘Indira Files’, whose blurb makes it clear what it sets out to do. It is indeed a ‘Critical Look at the Controversial Side of Indira Gandhi’.
It is not only a ‘critical look’, but also a timely reminder of how the late former prime minister repeatedly subverted constitutional institutions, tinkered with the basic features of the Constitution using the 42nd Amendment, promoted dynastic rule, pulled back no punches to silence her political critics, Jaipur Rajmatra Gayatri Devi being one notable instance, and nurtured future Frankesteins such as Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
An easy-to-read book for all those interested in recent Indian history, studded with episodes that have slipped into the recesses of public memory, ‘Indira Files’ (Prabhat Prakashan; Rs 600) is a good read.
In the excerpts that follow, the author exposes how Indira Gandhi (and her favourite son, the late Sanjay Gandhi) did not spare even sports and let national sports federations be hijacked by political operatives, thereby creating a legacy of mismanagement.
BOOK EXCERPTS
* Political interference in sports institutions
In 2021, when the men’s hockey team won a bronze medal in the Olympics after 41 years, the Narendra Modi government immediately changed the name of the country’s most prestigious sports award from ‘Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award’ to ‘Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award’.
In these circumstances, once again the argument of why there is so much political meddling in sports institutions surfaced. Why are so many stadiums named after politicians? When during Pandit Nehru’s era the football team travelling to the Olympics did not even receive shoes or when during Indira Gandhi’s era, famous actor Pran had to step forward for Kapil Dev’s bowling training at a foreign academy? The Congress, too, questioned the naming of the nation’s largest stadium after Prime Minister Modi.
In such a situation, you ought to be aware of an intriguing episode from Indira Gandhi’s tenure. Though it wasn’t the beginning, yet the fact that an Air Force officer replaced an elected Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president over a phone call, shows how autocratic the regime was.
Elections are held in accordance with the IOA’s constitution every three years, therefore following 1974, elections were scheduled for 1977. The country’s situation, however, changed following the Emergency in 1975. People had the impression that the institutions for sports would remain unaffected, but the sycophants accomplished a lot of what they wanted through mother and son during the Emergency.
In 1976, the Montreal Olympics were scheduled. Former Punjab chief minister Amrinder Singh’s uncle, Raja Bhalindra Singh, was the president of the Indian Olympic Association. It is ironic that although he was a cricketer, he was made the IOA President. It is a different matter that the two presidents before him were from his family. One was his father, Patiala’s Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, and the other was his brother and Captain Amrinder Singh’s father, Raja Yadavindra Singh.
* Phone call from Sanjay Gandhi gets IOA president replaced
Sanjay Gandhi used to live in the Prime Minister’s house back then. The Prime Minister’s office was located in the bungalow next door. Additionally, he was given two phones without any obligation and every call of his weighed equal to a word from the Prime Minister’s office.
The IOA received an order from Sanjay Gandhi that Om Prakash Mehra, who served as the Air Chief Marshal between 1973 and 1976, be appointed the association’s president.
Despite the representatives of all the sports federations being present at the meeting, no one objected to the choice, so in the middle of Raja Bhalindra Singh’s term, Om Prakash Mehra was chosen to head the IOA. The Gandhi family had a special fondness for him. He was awarded a Padma Vibhushan two years later and was subsequently appointed governor of Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
* For the first time, India did not win a medal at the Olympics
Air Chief Marshal Om Prakash Mehra had absolutely nothing to do with sports prior to his appointment. To be considered for the position he held, one must have served as president of a state or national sports association. But it did not matter as long as he had Sanjay Gandhi’s blessings.
As a result, the nation suffered. Right before the Montreal Olympics, he was made IOA president, but India failed to bring home even a single medal. The men’s Indian hockey team, which had been coming home with medals since 1928, returned without one for the first time.
It is another matter, though, that Raja Bhalindra Singh had to be reinstated because the Janata Party, immediately after assuming power, cancelled all political appointments, including that of Air Chief Marshal Mehra.
When Indira later assumed leadership again in 1980, she had to first shed the ‘dictator image’ of her Emergency period. The 1982 Asian Games offered her the chance she needed under those circumstances. Pandit Nehru barely interfered in the 1951 Asian Games.
The book ‘India and the Olympics’ by Boria Majumdar contains a gripping narration of how Indira Gandhi skillfully exploited the 1982 Asian Games as a platform to improve her reputation at home and abroad. The 1982 Asian Games were even dubbed the ‘Indira Games’ by Buta Singh, who was a member of her council of ministers.
* Rajiv Gandhi’s entry into sports politics
The foreign media jokingly began to refer to Indira Gandhi as the ‘Empress of India’ during the Emergency. To promote the Asian Games, she organised Festivals of India in various nations, including Russia, America and Britain. When Indira Gandhi arrived in London for one such festival, she had to declare, “I hope you will stop calling me the Empress of India now.”
It is true that Delhi saw the construction of a number of stadiums and flyovers in just a couple of years. Indira Gandhi established the Asian Games Special Organising Committee, which had 33 members, over and above the IOA to get the process moving faster. It included six Union ministers, a number of chief ministers, 11 secretaries, and directors of the security forces, such as the BSF and CRPF, along with senior DDA, DD and All India Radio officials.
In truth, Jagmohan, who eventually rose to the position of a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, should have received a bigger portion of the credit for organising the Asian Games. Only Jagmohan had the determination to establish the infrastructure during the Asiad, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Talkatora Swimming Pool, Karni Singh Shooting Range and the Games Village, all within two years.
Particularly interesting was Rajiv Gandhi’s inclusion in the committee. He had suddenly become active following Sanjay Gandhi’s death and was elected the MP from Amethi, Sanjay’s constituency. When the Prime Minister’s son is a member of the committee, it is only natural that he will be the one in charge, and that is exactly what happened.
Indira Gandhi made excellent use of the Asian Games to boost her reputation, but government meddling in sports events had also increased, which continued even later.
After Raja Bhalindra Singh, Indira awarded her trusted adviser Vidya Charan Shukla the position of IOA President in 1984. Since then it developed into a tradition. The ‘Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award’ was proclaimed one day as the highest award in the area of sports as an effort to appease the Gandhi family.
* The story of a controversial postage stamp for Asiad
You can understand from this incident how politics used to dominate sports, even during Indira Gandhi’s time. You must have seen a social media post where a postage stamp has been shared. The postage stamp is from the 1982 Asian Games. It features an imprinted image. The image depicts a match between two wrestlers.
The public perhaps did not pay attention to the image then. In any case, there were no social media platforms available to the general public back then.
It is possible someone might have protested back then, but today that image and the postage stamp demonstrate the filthy mentality of not only Indira Gandhi but also the Congress government. Understanding the wrestling scene is essential to comprehend the entire narrative. In fact, in that image a Turkish wrestler is ready to lift and slam his rival, who is sporting a ‘choti’.
The choti is a sacred identity symbol in India. It is possible that this stamp had the Brahmins as its target. First, you are portraying an Indian wrestler being thrashed, and then, as Prime Minister, you are encouraging casteism using official channels.
It is possible that Indira Gandhi might not have actually ordered this herself. It does, however, demonstrate that she had no influence over the judgements made by others around her and that she had a history of making important decisions in a hasty manner. Or was she trying to win over Muslims with this gesture? Either way, Indira Gandhi’s reputation suffered in this situation.
* Pran stepped forward to help Kapil Dev when the government couldn’t
One of the major sporting accomplishments of Indira Gandhi’s era was India winning the Cricket World Cup. Indira Gandhi can still be seen with the victorious cricket team in old photographs.
You must have seen the Ranveer Singh film ’83’ to understand how much the government assisted this team. You will discover the truth as well as the players’ perception of the Rs 25,000 incentive as fake news.
Before being named captain, Kapil Dev wished to visit Australia to improve his bowling skills. The BCCI, however, lacked the funds at the time.
Looking at these circumstances, Khalid Ansari published an announcement in his magazine saying that he was willing to cover Kapil’s airfare if a sponsor was found to cover the rest of the cost! When well-known actor Pran found out about this, he instantly declared that he was willing to cover all costs associated with Kapil Dev’s travel to Australia, including airfare and other expenses.
At that time, Pran had also written a letter to the BCCI saying, “If you do not have money, I am ready to pay all the expenses, but send a talented player for training nonetheless.” The impact of that letter was so great that the Board decided to pay for all of Kapil Dev’s training expenses.
Later, Kapil Dev thanked Pran profusely. The government, though, remained indifferent. It did not recognise Kapil Dev till he brought home the World Cup.
–IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will give certificates to 11 lakh new ‘Lakhpati Didis’ at a special function to be held at Jalgaon in Maharashtra on August 25 (Sunday).
The programme will have nationwide participation through the virtual mode.
The Prime Minister will release a revolving Community Investment Fund of Rs 2,500 crore, which will benefit about 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh women Self Help Groups (SHGs), Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
PM Modi will also release a bank loan of Rs 5,000 crore, which will benefit 25.8 lakh members of 2,35,400 Self Help Groups (SHGs).
Shivraj Singh Chouhan also said that people from about 30,000 places across 34 states and union territories including state capitals and district headquarters will join this program through the virtual route.
He said that Lakhpati Didis are women who earn Rs 1 lakh or more per annum. These Lakhpati Didis have not only pulled their families out of poverty but are also becoming role models for the rest of society, the Union Minister said.
“The Rural Development Ministry has already created 1 crore Lakhpati Didis. Now our target is to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis in the next 3 years. It is heartening to note that one of these community resource persons has created 95 Lakhpati Didis,” Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
He further explained that the Ministry has adopted a structured process to enable the SHG families to earn an annual income of Rs 1 lakh or more.
This includes capacitating National Resource Persons and developing Master Trainers in each state.
These Master Trainers further train the Community Resource Persons on business planning, financing and convergence process.
The cadre of 3 lakh Community Resource Persons, who have been specially trained in business planning and the skilling of SHG members, are doing a great service in this regard, the minister added.
Some of these community resource persons will also be facilitated.
As of now, the Ministry of Rural Development has formed 15 lakh Lakhpati Didis during the first 100 days which has succeeded the 11 lakh target for the period, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
–IANS
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Agartala, Aug 22 (IANS) The flood situation in Tripura, which has been lashed by heavy rains for the last four days, remained grim on Thursday and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) retained its ‘Red alert’ for all eight districts, officials said.
They added that more National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed as the rains and floods continue to play havoc.
Till Thursday, 12 deaths, including that of a 12-year-old girl and a woman were reported from South Tripura, Gomati, and Khowai districts and two persons were also said to be missing.
A Disaster Management Department official said that two more fresh casualties due to the floods were reported from south Tripura and Gomati districts, while around 65,500 people are taking shelter in 450 relief camps in all eight districts.
He said that 17 lakh people were affected in the entire state, which witnessed the monsoon flood in such a catastrophic manner for the first time in several decades.
Chief Minister Manik Saha, who is supervising the disaster management work, spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the second day on Thursday and apprised him of the prevailing scenario.
Home Minister Shah said in a post on X, “Spoke with CM Tripura, Dr Manik Saha, and took stock of the flood situation in the state. The Centre is rushing teams of NDRF, apart from boats and helicopters, to the state to assist the local government in relief and rescue operations. Assured of all possible assistance from the Centre as and when required. The Modi government firmly stands with our sisters and brothers in Tripura during this hour of crisis.”
Later, the Chief Minister while expressing gratitude to the Home Minister said that HM Shah informed him that 11 NDRF teams would be sent to Tripura from different locations in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
He said arrangements would also be made for choppers to airlift stranded people in the flood-affected areas.
“More number of boats would also be sent along with the NDRF teams. The entire state government machinery has been working round the clock to tackle the unprecedented natural calamity. I thank public representatives, social workers and the people at large for cooperating with the state government in this hour of crisis,” CM Saha said.
The central government has provided two helicopters for airlifting stranded people in Gomati and South Tripura districts.
Following the directions of the state government, due to the heavy rain and flooding, all educational institutions remained closed.
An India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said that though a ‘heavy’ to ‘very heavy’ rainfall alert has been continued and a ‘Red alert’ has been sounded in all eight districts, the rain is likely to reduce slightly from Thursday evening.
“The low pressure area over north Bangladesh and neighbourhood persisted over the same region on Thursday. The associated cyclonic circulation now extends up to 9.4 km above mean sea level. It is likely to move nearly westwards across West Bengal during the next 48 hours. Additionally, a cyclonic circulation is likely to form over North Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood on August 24,” the official said.
The IMD recorded 233 mm rainfall in Agartala from 8.30 A.M. on August 21 to till 8.30 A.M. on Thursday.
According to Disaster Management Department officials over 1,055 houses were damaged either fully or partially and hundreds of trees were uprooted blocking many important highways.
Landslides occurred in 2,032 places across the state, out of which 1,789 locations were cleared by Thursday evening.
As per preliminary estimates, around 5,000 hectares of vegetable farms and 1.20 lakh hectares of other crop lands are still submerged.
Water Resource Department officials said that most of the prominent rivers in Tripura were either flowing above ‘critical’ or ‘danger’ levels while the state’s main river Gomati has crossed the ‘extreme danger’ level in many places of Gomati and Sepahijala districts, as rainfall has continued.
The Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) has cancelled 10 local trains in Tripura.
An NFR spokesman said that due to heavy rain railway tracks were damaged in Gomati district, forcing the authorities to cancel these trains.
A Defence spokesman said that following the requisition from state administrations, four columns of Assam Rifles were deployed in different districts and they were working in close coordination with the civil administration to rescue civilians stranded due to floods.
First aid and essential items have been distributed by the Assam Rifles to hundreds of stranded people and those in relief camps.
–IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) The Muslim organisation on Thursday criticised the Union government over the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, calling it unconstitutional, undemocratic and unfair as it goes against the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution.
“Amendment bill being brought to Waqf is unconstitutional, undemocratic and unfair. The proposed amendments to the Waqf Act are also against the freedom of religion provided by the Constitution and also violates articles 14-15 and 25 of the Constitution,” said Jamiat-i-Ulama Hind, President, Maulana Arshad Madani while addressing a joint press conference of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and Muslim Personal Law Board at the Constitution Club in New Delhi.
He added that the amendment bill is also the government’s interference in religious matters which Muslims will not accept.
“Under the guise of the amending bill, an attempt is being made to deprive the Muslims of this great country and of its heritage which our forefathers have left in the form of Waqf for the betterment of the poor, destitute and needy people of the country,” said Maulana Arshad Madani.
He said that amendments have been made in the bill without consulting the Muslim religious figures and taking the Muslims into confidence while Waqf is a purely religious and Shariah matter because once the Waqf is applied.
“The donor does not remain the owner of the property rather that property is transferred to the ownership of Allah,” he explained.
Maulana Madani said that while presenting the Amendment Bill in the parliament, it was claimed that it would bring transparency to the work and would benefit the weak and needy people of the Muslim society.
“This bill is proof of the malicious intent of the government and its dangerous plans. If this bill is passed not only the protection of Waqf properties across the country may be in danger but also a door of new conflicts will be opened and the status of those mosques, tombs, buildings, imam badas and lands which are Waqf properties or which are located on Waqf land will be made doubtful,” Maulana Madani said.
He added that instead of the Waqf Tribunal and Waqf Commissioners, all powers under this bill will be transferred to District Collectors.
“By increasing the number of members of the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards, their status is also being changed and the door is being opened to appoint non-Muslims in it as well. This bill will also remove the requirement of being Muslim for officers and members,” he said.
Maulana Madani said that this is not a Hindu-Muslim issue but a constitutional problem and this bill is also against Muslim religious freedom.
He said that the Shrine Board, which was formed for the maintenance and protection of Hindu religious places, had a clear explanation that Jains, Sikhs or Buddhists would not be its members.
He questioned that if Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists cannot be members of the Shrine Board, how can the nomination and appointment of non-Muslims be justified in the Waqf Board?
“While Jainism and Buddhism are not considered separate from Hinduism, they are considered a separate sect. If they cannot participate in the shrine board even if they are Hindus on the basis of being a sect, then why is the nomination and appointment of non-Muslims in the Waqf boards made mandatory?” Maulana Madani asked.
He said that there are laws in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh etc. that those who manage the affairs of the Hindu religion’s property must be Hindus.
“Just as no other religious group can interfere in the religious affairs of Hindus, Sikhs and Christians in the same way, the management of Waqf properties should also be done only by Muslims. We do not accept any such proposal in the endowment system,” he added.
He said that it is clear that the intention of the government is not pure and through this bill, its purpose is not to bring transparency in the work and to benefit the Muslim community but to deprive Muslims of their Waqf properties and to weaken the claim of Muslims from the Waqf properties.
Maulana Madani said that an endless series of new conflicts can start in this way and taking advantage of the weak legal status of Muslims in the amendment bill may make it easier to occupy Waqf properties.
He added that we are not talking about one or two amendments but most of the amendments in the bill are unconstitutional and dangerous and destructive for the Waqf.
“This bill is also an attack on the constitutional powers given to Muslims. If the Constitution has given religious freedom and equal rights to every citizen then some special powers have also been given to the minorities living in the country. And the amendment bill negates all these powers completely,” he said.
Maulana Madani added that under the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, it has been suggested that Section 40 of the current Act should be removed while the 2006 Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf and Justice Sachar Committee reported that a large number of Waqf properties are illegally occupied while the incumbent government is also referring to the same Sachar Committee report.
“Despite this, it has been suggested in the 2024 bill that the State Waqf Board shall not be empowered to identify properties which are illegally occupied and to try to recover them. This proposal of the government is very harmful to the existence of endowments,” he said.
He added that during the last ten years, the minorities of the country, especially the Muslims, were put on the margins, and to make them believe that now, as citizens, they have no rights and powers, many laws have been forcibly brought and implemented.
“This Waqf Amendment Bill is also one of them by passing it in any way there is a conspiracy to forcefully apply it on Muslims, which we cannot accept,” he said.
–IANS
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National
Calcutta HC questions Bengal govt's 'late realisation' to probe financial irregularities at RG Kar
Kolkata, Aug 22 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court on Thursday questioned the decision of the West Bengal government to set up a special investigation team to probe the alleged financial irregularities at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata when the controversial former principal Sandip Ghosh was in charge of the institution, even as the state health department was informed about the irregularities last year.
A single-judge bench of Justice Rajarshi Bhardwaj made this observation while hearing a petition by the whistle-blower in the matter — former deputy medical superintendent of RG Kar — Akhtar Ali, who had sought the High Court’s intervention to seek protection in anticipation of security threat for being vocal against Sandip Ghosh.
On Wednesday, Ali also filed a public interest litigation seeking a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar.
During the hearing, Justice Bhardwaj observed that “from the inclusion of senior police officers in the special investigation team, it is evident that the matter is serious, and wondered why the team was constituted a year after the matter was brought to the notice of the state government”.
The state government counsel argued that the petition has been deliberately filed at this moment amid the recent incident of the rape and murder of a woman doctor in the R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital.
The state government counsel also questioned why the petitioner remained silent for one year after the complaint was not acted upon as claimed by him.
The Calcutta High Court also directed the state government counsel to present a detailed argument on the formation of SIT on Friday.
The West Bengal government earlier this week announced the formation of a special investigation team comprising four senior IPS officers and headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police to prove the allegation of financial irregularities at RG Kar since 2021, when Sandip Ghosh was the principal there.
Opposition parties have already claimed that the formation of SIT by the state government was nothing but an eyewash, and it had been created not with the intention of revealing the truth behind the financial irregularities, but rather with the motive of destroying evidence in the matter.
–IANS
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Bhubaneswar, Aug 22 (IANS) Amid the furore over two deaths caused by the consumption of spurious liquor in Ganjam district, Odisha Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan announced on Thursday that a probe by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner into the hooch tragedy will be initiated soon.
At least 23 persons from Moundpur, Jenapur, and Karabalua in Chikiti block had consumed country liquor from an unlicensed shop on Monday evening. They later fell ill and were admitted to a nearby hospital, where two of them died during treatment on Wednesday, prompting Harichandan to direct the officials to take all necessary steps to stop the illegal trade of liquor in the state.
Speaking to mediapersons, Harichandan said, “An RDC-level probe will be launched in this matter within the next couple of days. Action will be taken based on its report which will be submitted within two months. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will soon take the decision in this regard.”
He also vowed that the network of illegal liquor trade in the state will be completely destroyed within a year.
“As many as 217 illegal liquor manufacturing units have been identified in the state which will be demolished soon. Instructions have already been issued in this regard. Around 117 persons have so far been arrested following raids in different districts,” Harichandan.
He also assured the people that no illegal liquor unit will remain in existence in the state.
The Minister said the Excise Superintendent in Berhampur, Pradip Panigrahi, has been transferred for negligence in duty on Wednesday, while the government has also suspended Excise Inspector Ramesh Chandara Mohanty and Sub-inspector Prasanna Kumar Jali for similar lapses.
The deceased have been identified as Jura Behera and Lokanath Behera from Jenapur village, who died at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.
The opposition BJD has also the issue in the state Assembly on Thursday, demanding resignation of the Excise Minister.
–IANS
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