CAFE
COM:PORT
CHAT JOCKEYS
EVENTS

The K R Malkani Chat

JM KRIPLANI: I am happy to see that your parents are happy with Mr Chidambarams budget. And I can assure you that the budget will be passed may be with minor amendmets which is what happens every year. However, the budget is not half as good as it has been made out to be. Basically, it addresses itself to the business community which is alright. However the budget very much neglects agriculture and small scale industry, sectors of the economy which are the foundation of any national economy. This budget reminds me of the curate's egg which is only good in parts.

I have been curious: Why does the BJP reject the Mughal part of our history? Do you believe that we can reject that segment of our heritage? And what makes you say that?

Namaste Malkaniji You say that your party is of ideology but you have formed a government with the BSP in UP and are trying to patch an alliance with Jayalalitha in TN who is an Imelda Marcos and looted the state. What different are you from the others ?

WILL REPEAT MY QUESTION, ADARNEEYA MALKANIJI. PLS ANS: Tell us Malkaniji, if we as the people of India do not want Kesri what options do we have? BJP has always taken a stance that it hears the pulse beat of India. What is BJP's strategy for sorting the whole thing out, that is a pro-India solution... but not necessarily a pro-BJP solution. How are you going to help and make sure that the country will not suffer and prove that you are "for" the country and not for party games????

Mr Malkani, assuming that your party comes to power in the next election, could you articulate three issues -- that do not revolve around Hindutva -- that you will do for the good of the country? I may come back to India and vote for your party if the causes are good enough!

Malkanisaab, there is a serious problem in India with the people fed up and disgusted with politicians, your party included (may not be to such an extent), so how do you think this animus can be removed for it poses a major threat to the polity?

I WILL REPHRASE: How does BJP plan to bail India out when it teeters on the verge of chaos? Is the BJP going to be like all the other parties and dive headlong into the number game? If BJP's chances of coming to the fore are slim/poor what is its strategy for helping India get the best out of the situation???

I am sure you will not answer my questions. When has the BJP begun to tolerate another point of view?

Your party does not have any base in the south and the east except Karnataka, and how do you think of forming a govt. if you cut of the DMK, TMC, and TDP by allieing with crooks like Jayalalitha and Parvati. You also alientate people by allieng with them. People still think that it is a Brahmin and Bania party. The fact is without the support of farmers no party can ever think of coming to power in India.

ARif Mumtaz: Nobody is carrying the baggage of Partition. But Partition is a fact of history. And please don't forget that it was the Indian Muslims who not only asked for it but demanded it. Our Muslim bretheren have no reason to be suspicious of the BJP. The party is open to all sections of the population. All classes, all castes and all communities. One of our top leaders, Mr Sikander Bakht, is actually the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Many Muslims are joining the party in several states. One of the top men to join the BJP recently is Mohammad Fazal, economist, technocrat and for long years the senior-most member of India's Planning Commission. Educated Muslims are increasingly coming to view that the BJP is a party which stands for 'Justice for All and Appeasement of None'. In the election two years back in Maharashtra and Gujarat, Muslims voted for the BJP in very significant numbers. It is our political adversaries who are frightening the Muslims all the time that we will KHA-JAOO (eat) them.

I used to attend RSS shakhas in my school days in Calcutta. We used to sing a song:Path ka antim laksya nahin hai Sinhasan pa lena (The ultimate goal is not to get power). However, as we have seen that in Gujarat, a number of BJP MLAs broke the party for power. This has caused lot of pain to people who were associated with RSS one time or the other. What BJP is doing to prevent entry of such power hungary people?

Malkaniji, BJP is more secular than Cong, UF and Malayams (who are interested in votes of minorities and try to divide people for their interest). Why do people not recognize this?

Malkaniji, BJP is more secular than Cong, UF and Malayams (who are interested in votes of minorities and try to divide people for their interest). Why do people not recognize this?

I used to attend RSS shakhas in my school days in Calcutta. We used to sing a song:Path ka antim laksya nahin hai Sinhasan pa lena (The ultimate goal is not to get power). However, as we have seen that in Gujarat, a number of BJP MLAs broke the party for power. This has caused lot of pain to people who were associated with RSS one time or the other. What BJP is doing to prevent entry of such power hungary people?

Malkani Sahab Namaste. Why are you not pushing for fresh elections. This time around I think the BJP could win??

I WILL REPHRASE: How does BJP plan to bail India out when it teeters on the verge of chaos? Is the BJP going to be like all the other parties and dive headlong into the number game? If BJP's chances of coming to the fore are slim/poor what is its strategy for helping India get the best out of the situation???

If you push for elections, will you have an alliance with the BSP?

ARif Mumtaz: Nobody can or does reject any part of history. Mughal or any other. I only wish our Muslim bretheren knew a little more about the Mughal period. Basically, the Mughals had a coalition with Rajputs. And not many people know that in the Mughal court apart from NAVROZE AND EIDs, the festivals of Holi and Vasant, Dassera and Diwali were celebrated with eclat. You will be probably surprised to learn that the Mughal kings drank only Ganga Jal like any Hindu orthodox prince of those time.

You first spoke of the UF as a party of contradictions whose constituents would pull in different directions. You were proved wrong and now you keep quite about it. Contray to expectations, they have given back much decision making powers back to the states, their economic policies are quite coherant: liberalize for the middle and upper classes and introduce some semblance of a welfare state for the others. Why don't you admit it: In the short 10 months, they have provided good governance and changed the mindset in Kashmir. May be a left-center coallition called UF and a right center coallition with BJP would be the right ingrediants for a mature democracy in the future. The 50th year of independence is the a good time to cremate the Congress.

WILL REPEAT MY QUESTION, ADARNEEYA MALKANIJI. PLS ANS: Tell us Malkaniji, if we as the people of India do not want Kesri what options do we have? BJP has always taken a stance that it hears the pulse beat of India. What is BJP's strategy for sorting the whole thing out, that is a pro-India solution... but not necessarily a pro-BJP solution. How are you going to help and make sure that the country will not suffer and prove that you are "for" the country and not for party games????

One Mohammad Fazal does not a landslide make. Mr Malkani: Unless your party gives up its visceral hatred towards Muslims -- after all, you have no right to doubt our patriotism -- your party has no chance of ruling India. Why do you BJPwallahs keep forgetting that we are 120 million strong and you cannot crush us out of existence as you would like to.

I don't think anybody who voted for Congress planned to vote in a nasty type like Sitaram K. Speaking as an ordinary citizen and not as a BJP-wallah don't you think all efforts should be made to get Rao back in the picture.

Namashkar: Kewalji, what is the RSS position towards coalition politics? You are close to Hedgewar Bhavan, so tell us.

What is your party's stance on the stand taken by the Supreme court As you know Advani is involved in the Hawala case, do you support the Govt's move to cut down the powers of the CBI or Supreme court ?

Patel: There is no question of BJP being untouchable. It has been said that when a genius appears on the scene all the dunces combine against it. That is the situation in India today. I talked of National government. Because I think it is the national interest. A few years back, Shri VAjpayee had also come out in support of national government. Only couple of days back even Mr R K Hegde came out for it. Anybody who can look ahead and think in national terms will immediatly see the necessity and desirability of a national government of talents.

Mr Malkani, assuming that your party comes to power in the next election, could you articulate three issues -- that do not revolve around Hindutva -- that you will do for the good of the country? I may come back to India and vote for your party if the causes are good enough!

If elections come if you get a full majority will you build the Ram Mandir as promised in your manifesto ?

WILL REPEAT MY QUESTION, ADARNEEYA MALKANIJI. PLS ANS: Tell us Malkaniji, if we as the people of India do not want Kesri what options do we have? BJP has always taken a stance that it hears the pulse beat of India. What is BJP's strategy for sorting the whole thing out, that is a pro-India solution... but not necessarily a pro-BJP solution. How are you going to help and make sure that the country will not suffer and prove that you are "for" the country and not for party games????

What is the NATIONAL INTEREST? Mr Malkani, to the Congress and United Front, it means the consolidation of secularism. To the BJP, it may mean appeasement to none which the Cong/UF may interpret as communalism.

PLEASE PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTION. WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL

Mr Malkani, I am glad to hear that. But why then does your party keep referring to the Mughals as invaders -- Babar ka aulad -- and want to change names of places like Aurangabad.

Kesri's pomerian.. Nobody voted for Kesi. He hasn't won an election in years. And ...would he face elections in his own party ? You guess.

Swayamsevak: Wht has happened in Gujarat has pained all of us. It was most unfortunate that some black sheep emerged in our ranks. Fortunately, we have thrown them out. But I can tell you that this mischief was engineered in a big way not only by the mafias in Gujarat but even important elements in the Congress and Government of India. In Gujarat we were not just up against a man called Vaghela. WE had to face the power and authority of the Government of India itself operating through the state governor.

What does BJP have to show that it is not power hungry? What gentlemanly behaviour will you allI exhibit to show us that you are different.

Swayamsevak: Wht has happened in Gujarat has pained all of us. It was most unfortunate that some black sheep emerged in our ranks. Fortunatley, we have thrown them out. But I can tell you that this mischief was engineered in a big way not only by the mafias in Gujarat but even important elements in the congress and government of India. In gujarat we were not just up against a man called Vaghela. WE had to face the power and authority of the government of India itself operating through the state governor.

Malkaniji mein aap ke jawaab ke liye ka intajar kar raha hoo. Kripiya jawaab deejiye.

Hello Mr. Malkani, what is the position of BJP now with regard to the confidence motion to be taken by Gowda govt?

I WILL REPHRASE: How does BJP plan to bail India out when it teeters on the verge of chaos? Is the BJP going to be like all the other parties and dive headlong into the number game? If BJP's chances of coming to the fore are slim/poor what is its strategy for helping India get the best out of the situation???