True Lies

No super powers for ''supercop''
As the announcement on K P S Gill''s arrival here was made in Delhi, rumours began running high in the bureaucracy on why exactly was he here. The CM''s office, even 16 hours after his arrival, refused to utter a word on the reason for the entry of the supercop even though news reports had come from Delhi saying that he was to be made security adviser to the CM.Later, the CMO officials said Gill is an adviser to the CM on law and order, in the same way as S K Shelat is adviser on economic affairs. There is little difference in status or salary. Surprised, a top bureaucrat asked, if this was so, why did the top cop come here at all. The CM has sidelined Shelat. Gill, on the other hand, was also chosen to go to Kashmir to curb terrorism. Yet, Gujarat was preferred to Kashmir. Apparently, Gill''s appointment was to be made officially by the PM during the latter''s visit here on April 4. But the CM did not agree. The selection was finally endorsed by Union home minister L K Advani and defence minister George Fernandes, after the latter''s visit here. However, when the announcement was made, it was made to seem that it was Modi''s idea to bring in Gill as adviser.
Cold shoulder to Gill
Ever since his arrival on Friday evening, a confused officialdom in Gujarat did not appear keen on giving much importance to supercop K P S Gill. State protocol minister Vadibhai Patel, who travelled in the Jet Air plane which brought Gill to Ahmedabad, did not wait to receive the supercop at the airport. Seeing the supercop, he quietly slipped away. To his advantage, Gill did not know him. Gill was instead formally received by Parendu Bhagat, alias Kakubhai, informally the state''s protocol man, known for his closeness to the CM. Protocol-conscious bureaucrats raised eyebrows asking how could such a low-ranking person be deputed to receive Gill, sent by the Centre to take over state law and order. Vadibhai did not appear to give much importance to Gill even a day later. "Gill is here when the law and order is normal. He does not have much to do. Finding things all right, he will go away," remarked Vadibhai.
Heady feeling of power
Chief Minister Narendra Modi is beginning to get a feel of power. Recently at Assembly deputy speaker Upendra Trivedi''s constituency, Bhiloda in north Gujarat, to lay the foundation stone for a GIDC estate, he ensured a new helipad was constructed for his helicopter to land at the chosen site. This was to avoid the trouble of travel by car. This despite the fact that a perfectly functional helipad was there a mere 10 km away from the site. On reaching the site, he declared at a rally that he had become a "hero from zero", thanks to the Opposition campaign to oust him. "See my clout. Newspapers have me on page 1, every national and international channel must talk about me. There were Zindabad slogans for me in the Lok Sabha," he added. "I welcome those who say Murdabad for me. Already I am eternal even if I die."
Modi, desh ka neta...
It is a tantalising question for ministers when they are asked, "desh ka neta kaisa ho." When the CM returned from Goa on April 13, his supporters greeted him with the slogan, "Desh ka neta kaisa ho? Narendra Modi jaisa ho." When the same question is posed to several ministers in the Secretariat, they still spontaneously say "Narendra Modi." Minister of state for home Gordhan Zadaphia, known for having gone rather close to the CM during the riots, was, however, a little puzzled the other day when he was confronted with the question. In his unassuming style, he said, "Of course, Narendra Modi jaisa." But with hardline MLA Maya Kodnani also sitting in his chamber, he realised something had gone wrong. He corrected himself "Atalji jaisa... This is the correct answer." Zadaphia knows, Modi considers him a great success during his riot management exercise. Yet, he must be cautious. There are those who control Modi''s strings too.
Polls still on agenda
The election fever has still not subsided in the state secretariat. Cabinet ministers are not tired of discussing polls. They wanted early polls, which was denied to them by the Central leadership. A case in point is state finance minister Nitin Patel. Talking informally with his friends, he said the state BJP wanted the elections to be held before June. That would have helped the BJP emerge as a powerful force in the state, riding as it was on the ''Hindutva wave''. Still he wishes the polls do take place in September, and not in February, as scheduled. The earlier the polls, the better for the party. But what about "wiping tears," the chief aim of the state government before declaring any polls? That of course is the job of the administration.
BJP checks Modi
Is the Central BJP beginning to feel uneasy over the party slipping into the hands of Narendra Modi? This is the message one gets with the appointment of BJP general secretary Sanjay Joshi as the party''s western zone in charge. Ministers close to Modi do not consider Joshi important enough. They say, it is Ramdas Agarwal, the Gujarat in-charge, who will call the shots, not Joshi. Joshi will just look after Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Goa, not Gujarat. They say Joshi was pushed out of the state by none other than Modi. Insiders, however, have a different story to tell. Agrawal is not a Sangh man. Joshi is. Within no time, he has emerged strong even at the Delhi level in the BJP. He will direct the Gujarat party organisation as the Sangh wants him to. Indeed, the party leadership seems to be playing the politics of checks and balances by appointing Sanjay Joshi.