My Columns: Without Fear and Favour

New BJP Team : Notable Inclusions and Exclusions By  Deepak Parvatiyar August 19, 2014 It goes without saying that there is a strong stamp of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the newly constituted team of BJP office bearers. The thrust on youth, the induction of the 70-year-old Karnataka strongman BS Yedyurappa as vice president (Yedyurappa had been brought back to the party fold just before the recent General Elections only on Modi’s insistence and is the only septuagenarian in Shah’s team), are more than enough indicators. But wasn’t it expected considering that Shah himself is a Modi protégé? Yet, on second thoughts, why should he remain a rubber stamp president of a ‘cadre-based’ party where even a ‘chaiwala’ can emerge as a top leader of the masses? Crucial Aspects of Shah’s New Team Before we dwell more on the issue, let’s have a critical look at the two crucial aspects of Shah’s new team and its implication on the Modi government. You may also like...

http://www.elections.in/blog/ins-kolkata-a-giant-leap-for-indian-navy/ INS Kolkata : A Giant Leap for Indian Navy By  Deepak Parvatiyar August 19, 2014 The recent induction of the country’s largest indigenously built (60 per cent indigenisation) warship INS Kolkata, designed by Navy’s design bureau, and constructed by the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), into the Indian Navy reiterates India’s defence production capabilities. Next in the line is INS Kamorta (90 per cent indigenisation) – the first of four anti-submarine Kamorta-class stealth corvettes built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata, which is ready for commissioning. INS Kolkata is the next-generation of guided-missile destroyers in the 6,800 tonnes range and incorporates stealth features. INS Kochi and INS Chennai, that follow INS Kolkata at eight month intervals, are the other Kolkata class vessels being built by the Mazagon Dock Limited – the country’s premier shipyard constructing war...