Above the Fold
*Swine Flu has killed more than 624 people this year, more than double last year's tally.
*The Aero India 2015 show and exhibition of aerospace and defence technology begins in Bangalore today.
*Separate Taliban attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan have killed 28 between them.
*A Coast Guard official has claimed that India blew up the alleged "terror boat" that the government had claimed was set on fire by the people on board.
The Big Story: Modi's Makeover
In one sentence: After a complete drubbing in the Delhi elections and ahead of the Budget Session, the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have decided to take charge of the media narrative suggesting the government doesn't care for the poor, for minorities or for its allies.
In the first major mention of communal violence since his independence day speech, Modi told a Christian gathering on Tuesday that his government would not tolerate any such incidents. He also condemned any attempt to instigate violence.
This is being seen as a message to the conservative Hindu Right which has gotten more vocal in the last few months under Modi, although the Vishwa Hindu Parishad said it was a message to Christians. The speech was also delivered in English, a suggestion that Modi is also attempting to wrest control of the narrative ahead of the all-important Budget Session later this month, which will be followed keenly by the international business community.
The speech isn't the only attempt from Modi and his party to change tack after being routed in Delhi elections. The monogrammed suit that the PM wore while meeting US President Barack Obama, which has come to be known as the Rs 10 lakh suit, is set to be auctioned off for charity today. Many had held the suit as a symbol of Modi's growing arrogance and distance from the people, so the auction works to temper that narrative.
The Big Scroll:
Modi bhakts aren't too happy about his decision to speak at a Christian event and promise tolerance. But others feel that if the PM won't name the problem of communalism, how will he solve it?
Need to Know 1: The BJP placates its allies
It's not just Modi undergoing a makeover following the Delhi debacle. The BJP has also begun to get closer with its allies, especially with the Shiromani Akali Dal to stave off any potential for the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab. The fractious relationship with the Shiv Sena is also now getting a coordination committee to prevent coalition conflict. And the talks with the People's Democratic Party in Kashmir are bound to make the BJP moderate some of its hardline positions, although its parent organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, isn't ready to make concessions.
Need to Know 2: India ventures into its own Ocean
External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is in Oman today and, in March, Modi will visit four nations in the Indian Ocean, including Sri Lanka, the Maldives and the Seychelles. The idea is to improve outreach in the neighbourhood, especially as India becomes a bigger player in the maritime security arena. As part of this the government on Tuesday also cleared the construction of 7 stealth frigates and 6 nuclear-powered submarines for the Navy.
Politicking
*The Aam Aadmi Party, embracing criticism from the Centre that it is simply promising free power to people in Delhi, has asked the government for a coal block that can service the capital.
*As the Telangana Rashtra Samiti cosies up to the BJP, its rival and current member of the National Democratic Alliance, the Telugu Desam Party, is threatening to leave the coalition.
*The BJP is making further moves into Assam. A top leader left the party on Tuesday after its positive results in council polls, and this is seen as a sign that the BJP might be ready to welcome former Congress minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma.
*Bihar continues to be a complete mess.
Giggle: Savage Chickens
Punditry:
*There is increasing concern over Modi government's smart city project, which many believe is turning into an elitist concept, writes Nivedita Mookerji in the Business Standard.
*Prashant Bhushan in the Economic Times says the hounding of activist Teesta Setalvad shows the way an powerful executive can influence the judiciary.
*Malini Chib writes for NDTV.com about how being in a wheelchair in India leaves her trapped.
*In the Indian Express, KM Chandrasekhar says ranking states by ease of doing business is a bad idea.
Don't miss
Aman Sharma reports on how Cobrapost pranked journalists and the government into thinking it was about to unveil a major expose on the government. It was actually just a stunt to launch a comic book:
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letters@scroll.in.
*Swine Flu has killed more than 624 people this year, more than double last year's tally.
*The Aero India 2015 show and exhibition of aerospace and defence technology begins in Bangalore today.
*Separate Taliban attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan have killed 28 between them.
*A Coast Guard official has claimed that India blew up the alleged "terror boat" that the government had claimed was set on fire by the people on board.
The Big Story: Modi's Makeover
In one sentence: After a complete drubbing in the Delhi elections and ahead of the Budget Session, the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have decided to take charge of the media narrative suggesting the government doesn't care for the poor, for minorities or for its allies.
.@narendramodi shares stage with @PawarSpeaks, praises him. My #cartoon pic.twitter.com/jb2cYfaQvD
— MANJUL (@MANJULtoons) February 17, 2015In the first major mention of communal violence since his independence day speech, Modi told a Christian gathering on Tuesday that his government would not tolerate any such incidents. He also condemned any attempt to instigate violence.
This is being seen as a message to the conservative Hindu Right which has gotten more vocal in the last few months under Modi, although the Vishwa Hindu Parishad said it was a message to Christians. The speech was also delivered in English, a suggestion that Modi is also attempting to wrest control of the narrative ahead of the all-important Budget Session later this month, which will be followed keenly by the international business community.
The speech isn't the only attempt from Modi and his party to change tack after being routed in Delhi elections. The monogrammed suit that the PM wore while meeting US President Barack Obama, which has come to be known as the Rs 10 lakh suit, is set to be auctioned off for charity today. Many had held the suit as a symbol of Modi's growing arrogance and distance from the people, so the auction works to temper that narrative.
The Big Scroll:
Modi bhakts aren't too happy about his decision to speak at a Christian event and promise tolerance. But others feel that if the PM won't name the problem of communalism, how will he solve it?
Need to Know 1: The BJP placates its allies
It's not just Modi undergoing a makeover following the Delhi debacle. The BJP has also begun to get closer with its allies, especially with the Shiromani Akali Dal to stave off any potential for the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab. The fractious relationship with the Shiv Sena is also now getting a coordination committee to prevent coalition conflict. And the talks with the People's Democratic Party in Kashmir are bound to make the BJP moderate some of its hardline positions, although its parent organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, isn't ready to make concessions.
Need to Know 2: India ventures into its own Ocean
External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is in Oman today and, in March, Modi will visit four nations in the Indian Ocean, including Sri Lanka, the Maldives and the Seychelles. The idea is to improve outreach in the neighbourhood, especially as India becomes a bigger player in the maritime security arena. As part of this the government on Tuesday also cleared the construction of 7 stealth frigates and 6 nuclear-powered submarines for the Navy.
Politicking
*The Aam Aadmi Party, embracing criticism from the Centre that it is simply promising free power to people in Delhi, has asked the government for a coal block that can service the capital.
*As the Telangana Rashtra Samiti cosies up to the BJP, its rival and current member of the National Democratic Alliance, the Telugu Desam Party, is threatening to leave the coalition.
*The BJP is making further moves into Assam. A top leader left the party on Tuesday after its positive results in council polls, and this is seen as a sign that the BJP might be ready to welcome former Congress minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma.
*Bihar continues to be a complete mess.
Giggle: Savage Chickens
Punditry:
*There is increasing concern over Modi government's smart city project, which many believe is turning into an elitist concept, writes Nivedita Mookerji in the Business Standard.
*Prashant Bhushan in the Economic Times says the hounding of activist Teesta Setalvad shows the way an powerful executive can influence the judiciary.
*Malini Chib writes for NDTV.com about how being in a wheelchair in India leaves her trapped.
*In the Indian Express, KM Chandrasekhar says ranking states by ease of doing business is a bad idea.
Don't miss
Aman Sharma reports on how Cobrapost pranked journalists and the government into thinking it was about to unveil a major expose on the government. It was actually just a stunt to launch a comic book:
There was trepidation at North Block on Monday as home ministry officials tried to figure out what exactly was going to hit the government, following investigative portal Cobrapost's promise of the 'biggest story of all time'. Home Secretary LC Goyal and Intelligence Bureau Chief Dineshwar Sharma even had a long chat over the same. The worry dissipated into annoyed shrugs from officials as Cobrapost pulled off a fast one on the government and nearly 100 journalists who turned up at the Press Club for the expose.
