Dear AAP volunteers,
Hi, our quest for alternate politics is over.
Like in 1977, the leaders have once again betrayed the aspirations because of unbridled political ambition. Time to go back to whatever we were doing, feeling sad and violated. AAP may survive and maybe win somewhere and after some years, but it is already become like any another party. I realized it after the Delhi victory, many others realized later but some are still living in hopes. To all those wonderful, well-meaning and patriotic volunteers – its time to read the writings on the wall.
The feeling on the streets of Delhi is of palpable anger against AAP. Talk to any rickshaw, taxi driver or hawker, who were the main voter base and they are ready to physically hit AAP leadership. The calculation of doing well in MCD election was based on the cocky assessment of sweeping Punjab and then riding the crest of victory again to influence the Delhi voters. Now defeat looms in MCD.

There is no leadership nor support in Gujarat except on the Social Media. Gujarat will be another Goa. Goa was a small state, and after internal survey of 45% votes (another standard AAP trick), to lose deposit in 39 constituencies will be replicated in Gujarat. If they take any other state for fighting elections, the result will be similar. A small discredited coterie from Delhi cannot just descend and win elections. I have never seen that happen. Probably AAP may not fight Gujarat.
The only chance that AAP has now is to govern Delhi well, and forget fighting elections in other states. Stop the self-defeating hype and get down to do some REAL governance. Improving some schools and making mohalla clinics is not adequate governance, running a good administration is much, much more. Maybe, just maybe, after 3 years, they might get re-elected in Delhi and then AAP could probably offer a more efficient government – but that too looks far-fetched.
23 of the 67 MLAs of AAP have come from other parties, steeped in corruption. Most MLAs of Delhi have started corrupt practices. Ask any one on Delhi streets that are filled with AAP posters made of multiple faces, and they will tell you that AAP MLAs and workers have become as corrupt as earlier MLAs, if not more. Many files of AAP MLA and government corruption are with CBI and IT. The screws are going to be tightened. The CAG whom we used to quote to discredit other parties is passing strictures against AAP. Yet, we justify by pointing fingers at others.
There is a small group of people who run AAP and till now their focus was on other states and making Arvind the PM in 2019. They may restructure their goals, maybe do some drama of apology, but all that has been done before and might not be effective any more. Because of their insecurities and desire for control, they will not allow independent thinkers in decision making. Intellectuals and good people have grown antipathy towards AAP because of their cheap language and political up-manship. A party that came to change the political culture has vitiated it. So, improving the decision makers and the process seems difficult.
So, let me make my final points.
Some volunteers say that to stay in politics, one needs to COMPROMISE. But, AAP won 28 seats in Delhi without compromising. AAP won 67/3 by not compromising except in some seat distribution. We demonstrated that elections could be won without money, muscle and divisive agenda. The compromises started AFTER victory.
THEN, we started caste and communal politics. Like people, principles were also discarded. Seats were sold in Punjab, cash was taken in large doses, donation list was removed, no income-expenditure data was given for last 3 years and so on and so forth. Do you want to give your life for THIS? So, that some people can use-and –throw volunteers to fuel their ambition for power and money?
I have learnt a lot from my movement and political journey. I had quit my high paying job, but it was compensated with the knowledge and insights that I gained. I have neither become cynical nor bitter. As a person who had encountered similar betrayal during 1975 movement of Janata Party, I just thought that I should reach out to the wonderful volunteers – idealists, patriots and hopeful to say that it is over. We have been taken for a ride.
I am working on a nation building through rural transformation by adopting 15 villages in drought-prone Beed and doing 360 degree development (www.globalparli.org). I am personally in a good place, far away from any politics, due to the positive work that I am doing. I share your pain in my heart for being betrayed. Sometimes it is better to cut your losses.
Sorry if I have hurt any of you, that is not the purpose of this letter.
The truth is ugly and therefore your first impulse will be to impute motives to me, call me BJP stooge and attack me personally– it does not matter, it’s a normal reaction. My sole purpose is to share my views for you to take the right decision.
Love
Mayank Gandhi

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A Proud Indian Canadian

IAS officers in Delhi report to LG who is central government's representative which is unlike any state where IAS officers report to state government. If orders come from "above" to stall the work, what will the IAS officers do? All this is result of political tussle between Modi and Kejriwal government and the fact that Delhi does not have proper statehood like other states.

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Give free food http://www.thehungersite.com ||

ARM TWISTING OR IS IT GOING TO BE A THREAT?

Mattis and Pompeo to Seek India Accord Amid Threat of Sanctions
Tony Capaccio
September 03 2018, 7:00 AM
September 04 2018, 6:28 AM

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo travel to New Delhi this week in an effort to seal a new defence cooperation agreement with their Indian counterparts despite tensions over threatened American sanctions.

Hanging over the meeting, planned for Sept. 6, is the prospect that the U.S. will impose economic sanctions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government unless it significantly reduces purchases of oil from Iran and cancels a planned $6 billion purchase of S-400 anti-aircraft missiles from Russia. Indian officials have said the Russian arms deal would go ahead as planned


From..: https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/2018/09/03/mattis-and-pompeo-to-seek-india-accord-amid-threat-of-sanctions

FH.

NJOY Reading this too. : Trade Tarriffs Tedium and how can I leave him out TURUMPH...
https://www.bloomberg.com/businessweek

India risks US sanctions following $5 billion Russia defence deal. :

Russia, India set to sign $5 billion arms deal

New Delhi (CNN)India could soon be faced with the threat of US sanctions following a controversial $5 billion weapons deal with Russia, a move analysts say poses more of a headache for Washington than it does Delhi.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi finalized the deal, which will see India take possession of a high-tech S-400 missile defence system, during a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Indian capital New Delhi on Friday. The deal could potentially open India up to US sanctions under legislation known as Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
The law, signed by President Donald Trump last August, is designed to punish Moscow for its "malign activities." Last month, the US imposed sanctions against China for its purchases of Russian military equipment, including the S-400, under CAATSA legislation.

But whereas China is an emerging rival power, India is seen as an important US strategic ally.
US defence chiefs have worked hard to increase cooperation with Delhi in a range of areas in recent years, amid shared concerns over Chinese military expansion in the Indo-Pacific region.
India's purchasing of the Russian weapons system effectively forces the Trump administration to choose between punishing Delhi and destroy the fledgling defense relationship or granting the country an exemption, weakening the effect of the sanctions and opening up the US to accusations of favoritism.

Following the completion of the deal Friday, the US embassy in Delhi told CNN that CAATSA legislation was not intended to "impose damage to the military capabilities of our allies or partners."

Asked whether the India-Russia deal would qualify for a potential exemption, the spokesperson said the embassy was unable to "prejudge any sanctions decisions." "There are strict criteria for considering a waiver," said the spokesperson, adding that waivers would be considered on a "transaction-by-transaction basis."

Speaking to CNN, Peter Layton, from Australia's Griffith Asia Institute, said the problem for the US is that if it allows India to purchase the S-400 there is no reason why it should not also allow other countries, such as Turkey to do so too. The CAATSA will appear a rather subjective sanction program if it only applies to some nations and not all," said Layton.


The Article is in the link below.

FH.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/05/asia/india-s400-deal-intl/