Madhavi Latha takes the fight to the Owaisis

Ground Reports Special

Hello! Dear Reader,

This edition of the newsletter is focused on Swarajya's key ground reports. Our intention is to give a 'feel' of the constituency and help the readers gain an appreciation of complexities or the nuances involved.

For us the 50 ground reports project is way to 'read India right'. We hope it is the same for you as well.

But before that: a note on The Nature article against govt of India!

- Amar Govindarajan

Nature's wrong call

Nature, the popular science magazine, made a mistake earlier this week.

It should not have published Yamini Aiyar's list of allegations against the BJP led government without disclaimers about the author.

• A Congress leader's daughter criticizing the BJP is not quite surprising.

• The daughter may be her own person but a disclaimer was needed to help readers get the full context.

• Further, she's also a 'involved' party as you will see below.

The CPR Story. Aiyar had worked in Center For Policy Research (CPR) for seven years and acknowledges that their research relies on international philanthropic funding.

• In January 2024, Home Ministry cancelled CPR's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration, stopping the body from receiving foreign funds.

• MHA sources: "CPR used foreign funding for litigation activities."

• "Some of the beneficiaries of CPR are also involved in protests against development projects, including coal mines."

• "CPR diverted foreign donations to a non-FCRA entity to fund protests and legal battles against development projects"

• Note that these quotes and allegations were published not by pro-government sources but by The Hindu, which is virulently anti-BJP.

And the Nature walked back a little. A little after the article's publication the Nature made a small but important correction by changing the article's title.

• Original title: ‘Why doing science is difficult in India’.

• New: ‘Why doing social science research is difficult in India today.’

• It should have done more! The Nature should have also exercised more diligence and also added a disclaimer concerning the author, the cases against the institution she headed, and her background.

Bottom Line: The government is right to rein in 'foreign funded institutions'.

• Think-tanks have no business being involved in litigation activism and working against large projects in India.

• Many foreign funded institutes have tried suspicious political activism before, and deservedly got into trouble and, well, India ought to do what India ought to do.

Madhepura - the home town of 'Mandal'

Abhishek Kumar from Swarajya was in Madhepura earlier this week. He compares the election results of Madhepura to a cross seam delivery - i.e. you can't predict the outcome!

• The district, dominated by Yadavs, has seen political heavyweights like Lalu Yadav, Sharad Yadav, and Pappu Yadav lose elections here.

Mandal's Legacy: Madhepura is the birthplace of B.P. Mandal, the man behind the controversial Mandal Commission report.

• The district is famous for the slogan “Rome Pope ka, Madhepura Gope ka (Rome is for Pope, Madhepura is for Yadavs)”

• Unemployment is one issue which Swarajya found echoing in every nook and corner of Madhepura, even outside the famous electric locomotive factory

Dinesh Chandra Yadav is the incumbent MP from Madhepura, representing the JD(U) alliance partner of NDA.

• He has held multiple portfolios at state and central levels, including committees on external affairs, railways, and rural development.

• Yadav has represented three Lok Sabha seats: Khagaria, Saharsa, and Madhepura.

• Despite his experience and respect, locals criticize Yadav for being unavailable during emergencies and public needs.

• Pappu Yadav, a beloved figure in Madhepura, has announced support for Dinesh Yadav, adding excitement to an otherwise dull election.

How RJD is fighting back. They fielded Kumar Chandradeep Yadav, a professor of English, gold medalist in a post graduation course and a PhD holder from Patna University.

• Trivia: The RJD candidate's grand father was a member of the Constituent Assembly!

• The candidate's father too was MP - both of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.

• Despite storied legacy, Chandradeep's 'reach' and 'recall' is limited within the constituency.

Read the full report here.

Promise of Bhagyanagar and breaking bread with Muslim women: Madhavi Latha's campaign in Old City

Kompella Madhavi Latha is BJP's choice to storm the 'Owaisi fortress' of Hyderabad LS seat. S Rajesh from Swarajya was in Hyderabad following her campaign.

Charismatic and fiery speaker, Latha is fluent is fluent in both Telugu and Dakhni, the Hyderabadi Urdu dialect. She has been grabbing the attention from across the country - from supporters and detractors alike.

A sliver of hope and enthusiasm: When Madhavi Latha speaks about change in the Old City, she is met with applause.

• The gatherings cheer her recitation of shlokas, slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Jai Shri Ram'.

• But she get a rousing reception to the promise of renaming the city as Bhagyanagar and for her direct attacks on Owaisis.

• Children swamp Latha for photographs and she smilingly obliges.

• "I have not seen a campaign like this in the past 20 years in Hyderabad. Muslim support has increased as she is constantly showing how Owaisi has not done enough for the constituency," says Krishna Ksheersagar.

• Rajesh says he looks very similar to the party's Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh. Well, you tell us. Check their photograph in the report and let us know if he does.

Not just Hindus: Madhavi Latha is trying to approach Muslims too.

• "If I am really against Muslims, why would I participate in the Hazrat Ali julus (procession) during Ramzan," she says.

• Recently, Latha courted a controversy when a video showing her aiming an imaginary arrow at the sky was misrepresented as being shot towards a mosque.

• "The arrow was aimed at the sky. You need to see the position of my hand properly. The masjid was quite far away".

• Latha herself serves the Muslim women at a breakfast programme in her office, several of whom campaign for her and recall her role against triple talaq.

• They cite the plight of Pasmandas who, they say, have remained poor while Owaisi family's wealth has increased exponentially.

The fear and anxiety still exists: Rajesh met several people willing to speak their thoughts but afraid of being photographed. "Someone might come and beat us," the said.

• The bogus votes courtesy Hijab, most of which go to AIMIM, is a hurdle difficult to traverse.

• More immediate cause of concern is splitting of Hindu votes thanks to BRS and Congress fielding weak dummy candidates.

• But Owaisis are facing a certain heat, other than from Hyderabad's sun, and "are running around the constituency to campaign".

• "Owaisi is now doing Hindu-Muslim bhai bhai. He might soon visit a mandir," says Baldev Singh, a party worker.

Rajesh spoke to several locals to get a sense of this heated battle in Hyderabad (or is it too early to call it Bhagyanagar?). You must read this report by him!

- Anmol N Jain