Last day to replace candidate !

 

Today 30-Jun-07 is the last day for presidential nominations. In these few hours, the UPA (led by the Congress Party) can replace Mrs Pratibha Patil with someone preferably clean. If finding a clean person is not possible than they can atleast find someone accused of lesser charges.

The media continues to play the role of intrigue maker. Since, a large majority of Indians are incapable of second-order thinking – the real issues are prevented from taking centre stage.

Here is a prime example – you can find similar language in all Indian media (broadcast or print)

The race for Rashtrapati Bhavan is getting murkier by the day with allegations and charges being leveled against UPA nominee Pratibha Patil with alarming frequency.

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Can you spot the twist in the language ?  Probably not. It is because we are used to this kind of “even handed” coverage.

Dear IBNLIVE reporter : The race for Rashtrapati Bhavan is not getting murkier. Mr Shekhawat is still clean and respected across all parties. Only the UPA candidate is getting murkier. 

Here is an interview pattern, this also points to the BJP’s complete lack of ability to handle the media.

1) Host asks about grand larceny charges against a presidential candidate

2) Abhishek Singhvi or Jayanti Natarajan fumble or make the great point that “but we are not as bad as Mr Modi”

3) Interviewer then hands the BJP representative a bitch slap, by scolding them – “but Mr So and So, why are you making political capital out of this ?” or on some minor point about the independent nature of Mr Shekhawat’s candidacy.

As far as this presidential race is concerned the NDA is clean, repeat clean. It is only the UPA (led by the Congress Party) whose candidate is facing innumerable charges.

Dear media, do not try to extend the murky blanket to Mr Shekhawat. He is one of the oldest living non-Congress leaders in India, actively involved with the Swatantra Party even though he formed the Jan Sangh. There is not a single charge of corruption against him in 55 years of political life. Even more remarkable considering his career includes 3 terms as Rajasthan Chief Minister. If you have any specifics about legal issues surrounding Mr Shekhawat, lets hear it. If you dont, the presidential race is not murky, the UPA candidate is.

My electoral college vote goes for Mr Shekhawat – former sub-inspector of police.

Yes, I know about the vote bit – just kidding.

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Links from the good friends at the National Interest blog. Good job guys, keep it up. Irrespective of the results of the presidential election, you have really provided alternate coverage via the blogging medium. For now, we can live with that.

Yossarin has collated a comprehensive list of charges .

Lex (a group of Supreme Court Lawyers) take on the legal issues including the various blanket immunities