This is what I sent The Hindu on 25.3.09:
PM asks for Mr.Advani’s record.
Sir,
It would be appreciated if Mr.Advani answers Dr.Manmohan Singh’s poser about his track record as Home Minister, and, if one may add, also as Leader of the Opposition. He is seen, instead, to repeat ad nauseam a taunt that Dr.Singh is the weakest ever PM of India. Psychology of taunt, as in the case of name-calling, is that it would give the taunter a false sense of being above the blame. If Mr.Advani wants the voters to believe that he would make a ‘strong’ PM, he may attempt it with the support of his track record. P.P.Sudhakaran
Bangalore.
This is what it published on 26.3.09 under the title, "unfortunate":
Mr. Advani, besides telling Dr. Singh about his track record as Home Minister, should also explain his performance as the Leader of the Opposition instead of repeating ad nauseam that Dr. Singh is the weakest Prime Minister India has seen. If Mr. Advani wants the voters to believe that he can make a “strong” Prime Minister, he can convince them by producing his track record.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Advani: NDA lost in 2004 because of over-confidence, wrong slogans
This is what The Hindu reported on 3.3.2009
Advani: NDA lost in 2004 because of over-confidence, wrong slogans
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani on Monday said the National Democratic Alliance lost the 2004 general elections because of “over confidence” and use of wrong slogans like “India Shining.” Addressing a conference of the BJP’s traders’ cell here, Mr. Advani said that after being in power for six years and giving good governance under the prime ministership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, NDA was confident of forming the next government.
“The impression even among the opponents and foreign analysts was that we will win....but we lost...one, due to over-confidence and, secondly, using some wrong slogans like India Shining,” he said. Mr. Advani, who was the then Deputy Prime Minister, said this slogan was used by BJP’s opponents who asked the voters if they really felt India was shining.
“Our opponents went to the people and asked them if their homes were shining...everybody has his own problems...there is so much poverty in the country, farmers have their problems... they said where is India shining?” he quipped. Taking a dig at the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, Mr. Advani said they won the 2004 polls with the support of the common man.
“Five years down the line, we get reports that so many Indians have become billionaires. On the other hand, Indian Statistical Institute has said the number of people below the poverty line has gone up by 5.5 crore from 3.5 crore in the last five years,” he said.
Advani: NDA lost in 2004 because of over-confidence, wrong slogans
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani on Monday said the National Democratic Alliance lost the 2004 general elections because of “over confidence” and use of wrong slogans like “India Shining.” Addressing a conference of the BJP’s traders’ cell here, Mr. Advani said that after being in power for six years and giving good governance under the prime ministership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, NDA was confident of forming the next government.
“The impression even among the opponents and foreign analysts was that we will win....but we lost...one, due to over-confidence and, secondly, using some wrong slogans like India Shining,” he said. Mr. Advani, who was the then Deputy Prime Minister, said this slogan was used by BJP’s opponents who asked the voters if they really felt India was shining.
“Our opponents went to the people and asked them if their homes were shining...everybody has his own problems...there is so much poverty in the country, farmers have their problems... they said where is India shining?” he quipped. Taking a dig at the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, Mr. Advani said they won the 2004 polls with the support of the common man.
“Five years down the line, we get reports that so many Indians have become billionaires. On the other hand, Indian Statistical Institute has said the number of people below the poverty line has gone up by 5.5 crore from 3.5 crore in the last five years,” he said.
Advani insults the voters
The letter sent to The Hindu on 3.3.2009
Mr.L.K.Advani’s opinion that the NDA lost the 2004 elections because of overconfidence and wrong slogans is an acute oversimplification, like saying a battle was lost for want of a horseshoe nail. That the NDA deserved to win and would have won except for the two minor indiscretions verges on the delusional. Election results are too complex to be explained away with simple causes. Blaming a slogan for losing an election is an insult to the electorate.
I am sure it won't be published
4.3.2009
As expected, The Hindu did not publish. Amen!
Mr.L.K.Advani’s opinion that the NDA lost the 2004 elections because of overconfidence and wrong slogans is an acute oversimplification, like saying a battle was lost for want of a horseshoe nail. That the NDA deserved to win and would have won except for the two minor indiscretions verges on the delusional. Election results are too complex to be explained away with simple causes. Blaming a slogan for losing an election is an insult to the electorate.
I am sure it won't be published
4.3.2009
As expected, The Hindu did not publish. Amen!
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