Journalist diary

Japan K Pathak, Ahmedabad, 7 December 2013

Perception of proximity to Modi is important

Lot of people believe that Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Corporation(GCMMF) Chairman Vipul Chaudhary’s present troubles are due to his visit to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi. Insiders say this is not true. For long time there was anger brewing against Chaudhary in GCMMF board due to his working style and his decisions. However the board members had impression that Chaudhary was Modi’s man and therefore its not proper to disturb him.Chaudhary knew this and he himself had taken enough care to maintain this image. Ahead of the assembly elections last year, Chaudhary had organized couple of inauguration functions where Chief Minister was called to speak. It was a time of elections, and Modi too needed such functions where good size of crowd would be there.

Yes problems for Chaudhary began after he visited Gujarat Media Club’s interaction session with Rahul Gandhi, but the problems began not because of BJP or Modi. Chaudhary attended this Rahul Gandhi function on invitation of a group of media persons he was in touch with as he had approved Amul sponsorship for some event. Practically Chaudhary is in BJP and he should not attend Rahul Gandhi’s interaction with media. But Chaudhary thought he should attend it for good relations with media friends. He was of opinion that not as a BJP member, but as GCMMF Chairman he could attend that function. Chaudhary not only attended the function as a commoner but briefly talked with Rahul Gandhi afterwards. According to insiders, he had just given his introduction to Rahul and had not talked much beyond that.

Chaudhary’s visit to Rahul Gandhi was highlighted well in the media. It was not that BJP or Modi had problem with Chaudhary’s Rahul visit. Actually Chaudhary’s opponents in the board took benifit of this opportunity. They thought Chaudhary’s bonding with BJP/Modi must be weaker after his Rahul visit, and here was proper opportunity to attack what they perceived “coverless” Chaudhary. They quickly built an attack.

Modi is so powerful in Gujarat at present that even perception of proximity with him provides you a protection cover in various sectors including political and cooperative sectors. A day this perception is damaged, your political position is down down down.

Law and son-in-law

What happened to speculations that Keshubhai Patel may join BJP? Or what about the speculations that Keshubhai’s(but more than that Gordhanbhai’s) Gujarat Parivartan Party(GPP) may merge with the BJP? Initially Keshubhai avoided to react to such speculations, but later on he issued a denial in writing and communicated it to media. Then extra IPC section was added to police complaint against Keshubhai’s son-in-law in car accident case. Gordhanbhai’s Z security was downgraded to Y, and pilot car was removed from his convoy(decision taken earlier, implemented now). Both actions were correct. Keshubhai’s son-in-law was over speeding when his car hit a bike, killed one, while the other is brain dead. Gordhanbhai was minister of state for Home in year 2002, but with his anti-Modi position, he is facing no threat from Muslims. However the timing of both actions is interesting. So far Dr. Mayur Desai, son-in-law of Keshubhai has not been arrested. Gordhanbhai’s security has not been entirely compromised too. It would be appropriate to mention here that Dr. Mayur Desai’s name was discussed like Robert Vadra when Keshubhai was in power in Gujarat.

When character ‘P’ in PIL is for public and not for publicity or politics

Most of the Public Interest Litigation(PIL) we notice these days reported in newspapers in Ahmedabad look like directly or indirectly aligned with left-leaning, foreign funded, church connected, Congress backed non governmental organizations(NGOs). They are primarily against the state government. Huge “legal-aid” fund is transferred from dubious foreign organizations to their Indian counterparts for this purpose. In many cases courts don’t entertain such PILs, but before that wide media publicity is gained. So genuine PILs are not reported or they just don’t happen anymore? Well, but here’s one good PIL lately in the Gujarat High Court. It is against the Airport Authority of India(AAI). It objects to the norms of parking at the international terminal of the Ahmedabad airport. The petition claims that levying fee of Rs 60 just five minutes after entry of the vehicle in the airport area is not proper. It is not possible for vehicle to come out of the airport in five minutes after loading/unloading luggage and passengers. Parking fee should be only for the vehicles that enter the parking lot.

Impossible things stay impossible!

A few years back when Shankersinh Vaghela was offered Governor’s post by a senior party leader in Delhi, Vaghela in his reply said that his house ‘Vasant Vagdo’ in Gandhinagar is better than any Raj Bhavan in the country and he would like to rest there only rather than resting his political career dropping in some Raj Bhavan. Vaghela’s this residence has helipad, personal organic farming area, swimming pool, a big gym facility and what not! ‘Vasant Vagdo’ hosted wedding of Vaghela’s grand daughter Deepalba(daughter of Vaghela’s MLA son Mahendrasinh) and Siddhpur MLA and Chief Whip of Congress party in assembly Balwantsinh’s son. Everyone was curious about the presence of Narendra Modi, and he arrived, spent twenty minutes time there. Then there was a news of Ahmed Patel’s arrival, and memorable moment of Modi and Ahmed Patel standing together and a photograph of that was anticipated. But Ahmed Patel actually arrived long after Modi’s departure. Impossible things stay impossible! Shankersinh’s media team sent Modi’s photo with groom, bride, Mahendrasinh and Balwantsinh to media persons. Shankersinh was not in frame, and Ahmed Patel of course not. Another thing observed was, Congress men scrambling to have photo with Modi.

“Modern” Gujarati films

“Why you go to watch Gujarati movies?” I was asked!

“Well, because I run DeshGujarat,” I replied.

When pushed by publicity person to watch a new “modern” Gujarati film to review it, I went to the theater this week, but like everytime the show didn’t kick off as there were less than 3 persons. An employee on ticket window told me that they run show only if there are at least 15 persons to watch it! So I returned without watching the film! This has not happened with me for the first time. I have experienced it in the past too.

On Friday, I managed to watch another Gujarati new “modern” film. And what a disappointment again? I left the film in interval itself after tweeting “the only good thing in this film is interval!”

The last Gujarati film I could finish was “The Good Road”, and prior to that “Kevi Rite Jaish”.

One who speaks much

That CNN-IBN man Rajdeep Sardesai was in IIM Ahmedabad to speak. It appears, this man happily accepts invitations to speak, as he has much to say. Earlier he was in this city to speak at Divya Bhaskar event. What I have observed is that this media man is self-obsessed. And that too is an understatement. I should say he seems too much self-obsessed. It seems he is in love so much with himself that in political debates on TV we find he doesn’t allow others to speak much. In interaction session at IIMA, his reply were chronically longer. One who has so much to say and little to listen is unfit for the job of anchor or journalist. Then this man is burn out case according to my opinion. Actors come to us on film to film basis, and people accept or reject them. Sports-persons are rated by their score on game to game basis. You fail, you are out! But this Rajdeep Sardesai and others whom we see for last many years stick to their position, and don’t go. Then self obsession is witnessed at various front. Interviewer’s photograph would be there without failure when some interview has been put online. Having seen his journalism for over decade on TV, I couldn’t stop laughing when he tried to speak like a saint during his speech!

In wedding receptions!

A few months back I heard from my friend that when his family invited Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia to their wedding reception, Togadia came along with 12 other people. Togadia asked all 12 including his security staff and VHP workers to join the dinner. My friend had fixed the hotel venue on per-dish rate. Togadia’s supporters and security staff added 12 dish count to friend’s budget unnecessarily. This week I attended three wedding receptions hosted by super-rich families, and at one of such wedding receptions hosted by Patang hotel fame Dharmdev Infrastructure owner Umang Thakkar, I spotted Pravin Togadia’s security staff having dinner with other guests. Well this is purely an issue of one who invites and one who is invited, but this reminds me my nanaji. Back in 1980s, my nanaji was the first BJP Mayor of Ahmedabad. At that time BJP was not in power in the state. I used to accompany nanaji to many functions. I observed nanaji would not take dinner in any of the wedding receptions where he was invited as Mayor of city. Not only this, but he would instruct me not to take anything barring ice-cream when I’m accompanying him. If pressed, he would take ice cream or soup but not go beyond that. Coming back to wedding reception hosted by Thakkars, the set of the function was created on Italian theme. Parshottam Rupala, Parimal Nathwani, Pradipsinh Jadeja were among some guests I spotted during my brief stay there, but I heard many ministers, businessmen, babus, cops and well-known persons attended the functions(yes not one function)in span of several days. And Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Italian food counters at wedding receptions are not something new, but for the first time I saw Hungarian food counter in Gujarati wedding reception. In two super-rich wedding receptions this season, I saw live Jazz band performing at venue. The third one was held at pool-side venue in five-star hotel with select guests. The host of one wedding reception at SG highway farm-house refused to take ‘chanlla’ or gifts completely. After Mumbai, such practice is now considered ‘high standard’ in super-rich class of Ahmedabad also. A former journalist I met has started a business of perfuming the functions. He said he charges Rs. 15,000 per wedding reception of Karnavati Club or Rajpath Club size ground. He said he would use rose smell in weddings, mogra in reception, lovender in ring ceremony! Perfect tone of smell is important in this business! It’ always pleasure to meet entrepreneurs. Back again to receptions. Attaching photographs of Italian theme.