AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

        'Indian politics have changed of late,

       Which leaves me piqued and sad :

        No longer can I separate

        The good lies from the bad'.

        After Arun Shourie's brilliant 'expose' of the multifarious deeds and misdeeds of Smt.Pratibha Patil, her husband and many members of her family bordering on corruption and crime, the national and international public credentials of Smt Pratibha Patil, Sonia Gandhi's glorious Presidential Candidate, have sunk to abysmal depths of unprecedented disgrace in our recent political history. Since her defence lawyers in the regular legal profession have not been able to defend her and her other family members, Dr Manmohan Singh has stepped into that gaping void by dismissing all the legal allegations made against Smt Pratibha Patil and, her husband and which are under trial in several Courts of Law in Maharashtra, in a cavalier manner as 'This is only mudslinging'. Our ever collapsing and collapsible Prime Minister wants us to believe that the Courts of Law which have admitted the petitions against Smt Pratibha Patil's husband are only indulging in mudslinging. Arun Shourie is indulging in mudslinging. Eminent journalists like Prof Madhav Das Nalapat, Sandya Jain and many others who have argued against the candidature of Smt Pratibha Patil are all guilty of mudslinging. The Director of CBI and his officers who are conducting an enquiry are also guilty of mudslinging.

        The highest proof of virtue is to possess boundless unlimited power without abusing it. According to Dr Manmohan Singh, that proof lies in abusing it in an unabashed manner for the survival of a few criminals in Indian politics at the highest level. Till the candidature of Smt. Pratibha Patil was proposed by Sonia Gandhi, the known political weakness in mind heart and spirit of Dr Manmohan Singh, rather than his unknown political wickedness, was playing havoc with our national public life. Till then, I was of the view that all the problems of India today were being caused by the weakness of his goodness rather than by the strength of his evil. Now the true political picture about his personality and image has clearly emerged. After the formal announcements of the Presidential nomination of Smt Pratibha Patil whose criminal antecedents and that of the close members of her family have become nationally and internationally known, Dr Manmohan Singh for the first time has shown his true colours in the realm of political expediency if not wickedness, by declaring that all the allegations made by many responsible citizens of India against the candidature of Smt.Pratibha Patil are baseless and unfounded.

        Bernard Shaw said that political virtue consists not only in avoiding crime but also in not desiring it. By dismissing all the legally legitimate allegations made against Smt Pratibha Patil and her close family members as “Mudslinging” efforts, Dr Manmohan Singh has made it clear that for him political virtue consists not only in not avoiding crime but also in passionately desiring it with all his mind heart and soul in order to please that person to whom he owes his 'High Office' and political existence.

        I fully endorse the brilliant and incisive analysis of Dr Madhav Das Nalapat in his essay The Big Story — Why is Sonia against Kalam? To quote him : “SONIA Gandhi's visceral opposition to the re-nomination of the current incumbent of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam is inexplicable. Why is Sonia so negative about Abdul Kalam? Is it because he supports Indian interests? Knowing the mind of Sonia Gandhi, on whom he depends for his job, Manmohan Singh has reportedly agreed to the US demand that India cap the Agni-III programme to a 5000-kilometre range. This would mean the end of this country's hopes of becoming a competitor to Europe in the satellite launch market. Given Sonia's preferences, such an outcome may not be at all unpalatable to her, for anytime she has the luxury of getting back her EU passport, the way Alberto Fujumori switched from Peruvian to Japanese in a flash. Should she do so, the fact that she was responsible for the emasculation of India would go very much in her favour. Whether it is the clandestine sale of thorium under the guise of 'exports of sand' or the efforts at signing the nuclear deal, or the retreat from Siachen and Sir Creek, this UPA government has reduced India to the stature of a diplomatic dwarf, in the process magnifying the role of Europe in South Asia. Even though he has almost never openly spoken his mind on such matters, it is known that President Kalam is deeply concerned about the direction of Indian policy, and the long-term impact of the Maino Doctrine (India as Dwarf) on the country's security. He would be troubled by the attempted destruction of the rocket and space programme under the cover of capping the range of the country's missiles to a level that would render the billion-plus people of the land defenseless in the event of a first strike by a nuclear power other than Pakistan. Is this defence of Indian interests the reason why the UPA has been prevented from backing a second term in office for President Kalam?.... The President is therefore an unpleasant example to the UPA, which revels in a five-star lifestyle while talking about the aam aadmi. Is the fact that he is honest the reason why the UPA has decided to dump Abdul Kalam?”

        According to Sandya Jain, Smt Pratibha Patil has no nationalist credentials and no empathy for India's foundational ethos and national culture. Her sensitivities extend only to the faith of her Roman Catholic leader, to please whom Smt Pratibha Patil denied assent to the anti-conversion Bill in Rajasthan, despite strong provocation by the Immanuel Mission in Kota and evangelists in Dangs. Ms Patil was aware that similar laws have been passed by Congress regimes, the latest being Himachal Pradesh where conversion sprees and drug-laced moonlight parties by Western tourists are polluting the environment. Her anti-Hindu act elevated her status with the Vatican and New Delhi.

        Is it not a grim national tragedy that there are people with criminal records in the central ministry, parliament, legislatures and state governments. In a criminalised polity, who is likely to be elected as Rashtramaataa? Then, a brother, now a husband. The veil is a cover. Dr.Kalyanaraman writes poignantly as follows : “The prima donna (PD) should bear full responsibility for desecrating every constitutional office, starting with the set up of a substitute PM who calls this mudslinging. Kamaraj used to say: ore kutteyile oorina mattai, palm swathe soaked in the same mud bath. Is there anything to choose, PM? Why is the Hon'ble PM talking on behalf of the candidate? Doesn't she have a voice of her own? Electing a family with tainted records will put the coping stone on the criminalised polity orchestrated by a PD and jaalra-s (side orchestra of cymbals). There are some who hear conscience voices, there are others who seem to be conscience-keepers. Shame on the state of adharma running riot in India that is not Bharat”.

        The post of 'President' signifies the 'Sovereignty & Integrity' in the democratic set-up of our Great Nation. Apart from being the 'Supreme Commander' of our mighty Armed forces, the President must ensure the sanctity of our Constitution. The decisions made by the President are 'vital' at times like reconsideration of a 'bill' passed by Parliament, dismissal of a State Government, dissolution of Parliament and passing of Constitutional amendments brought in by the parliament. So, the Presidential nominee must have the relevant knowledge, exposure & experience apart from having a clean public image with clear antecedents. Hence, the highest constitutional authority namely the 'President' must be elected on a consensus in a healthy democracy.

        B R Haran, another 'mudslinger' according to our surrogate Prime Minister, has rightly concluded : “What is happening now in the case of Prathiba Patil is that, she has been chosen for the post of highest constitutional authority by an 'extra constitutional authority' (read Sonia), which doesn't have any responsibility or accountability towards the people of this country, with a sole aim of serving her self interests. While the congressmen are known for their sycophancy & spinelessness, the other allies have fallen in line in order to achieve their own self-interests, as they are also known for their lack of interests on matters of national interests”.

        While a small responsible section of the media reported the dubious antecedents of Smt Pratibha Patil , a large irresponsible and pseudo-secular media including the 24X7 English Channels followed obediently the footsteps of Congress President and reported that none of the accusations pointed finger on Prathiba Patil and that she is not directly involved in those issues.

        What is most condemnable is the attitude of the congress President. She has proposed the name of Prathiba Patil and announced her candidature, terming it as 'historic', knowing fully well the dubious antecedents of her presidential nominee. Talking of historicity, the election of Prathiba Patil as the President would be certainly a 'blot' in the history of I independent India, worse than the 'Emergency'. The entire episode has exposed the irresponsibility, arrogance and the scant regards which the UPA Government under the stranglehold of Sonia Gandhi has for Constitutional propriety and the Law of the Land. Alas! The election of 'President' has been made in to a mockery by the Sonia led UPA and the people of this country are simply watching the ugly scenes without even realizing the forthcoming 'danger' that lies ahead for the 'Constitution' of India which is going to be subjected to all sorts of unholy and unethical changes by a plethora of amendments, soon after Prathiba Patil takes over the mantle of Presidentship. May God save our great Nation, out collapsing Constitution, and our shattered people.