Latest news with #Delhi-centric
NDTV
4 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
"Need To Relook At Our History": Economist As PM Offers Prayers At Iconic Cholapuram Temple
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Shiva temple, has put the spotlight on the Chola empire, especially on the time of Rajendra Chola, who stood tall when northern India was under Muslim rule. This, however, was not an area or a period that gets much attention -- the study of history being "Delhi-centric", said economist and historian Sanjeev Sanyal, pointing to the big takeaway from the Prime Minister's visit. "We need to begin to relook at our history and think about our great ancestors as a vigorous people," said Mr Sanyal, explaining that the popular conception of Indians as a passive people who are thankful to invaders -- from Muslim to British -- for bringing in technology, culture and cuisine. Our ancestors, he said, "built great temples, they built entire new cities when necessary". "This is a much more vigorous view of ourselves than, you know, we are waiting for somebody to conquer us and give us the railways," said Mr Sanyal, who is also the Principal Economic Advisor to the government. "These were vigorous, risk-taking people, happy to go to war with each other sometimes or with foreign invaders. But the point is, this were not a passive people. And instead, the only person in our history of our, you know, pre-Islamic history that we celebrate is Ashoka. And the only reason we celebrate him is because he was passive, because the empire collapsed under him," he added. He said he was "glad the Cholas are being celebrated," but they were not the only people who had left their mark on the history of southeast Asia. "Even Tamil Nadu itself has many others. The Pandyas, the Cheras, which are from next door in Kerala, the Pallavas, and then the Gajapatis and all the kings of Kalinga, who also had these great maritime linkages to Southeast Asia. The western coast of India has amazing history of links with the Roman Empire and so on," he said. Even in the north, there was more than what gets most attention. "Whether you have the Ahoms of Assam or the Pal dynasty and the Sen-s of Bengal or the Kadambas of Goa or the Chalukyas of Maharashtra and the Rashtrakutas, we all have amazing histories for every part of the country. But somehow we are obsessed with this Delhi-centric view that, you know, we should all be grateful to the Mughals for biryani," he added. The Cholapuram temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site built around 1030 by Rajendra Chola, stands as evidence of the affluence of the of the empire under him. It was built around two decades after the Tanjore temple and in the same style. The Prime Minister's visit comes ahead of next year's assembly election in Tamil Nadu, where the BJP is trying hard to carve out a niche.
News18
25-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
After Delhi Heartbreak, Bypoll Wins Lift AAP's Spirits; Kejriwal Predicts Sweep In Punjab & Gujarat
AAP regained momentum with bypoll wins in Punjab and Gujarat after losing Delhi. Leaders celebrated at Kapurthala House, calling it a turning point. After its recent electoral setback in Delhi, where it lost control of the Capital after nearly a decade in power, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has found renewed momentum with bypoll victories in Punjab and Gujarat. Once seen as a Delhi-centric outfit, the party has steadily expanded its footprint over the years, forming a government in Punjab and opening its account in states like Gujarat– long considered BJP strongholds. The latest wins — in Ludhiana West (Punjab) and Visavadar (Gujarat) — have come as a morale booster for the AAP cadre, who see them as signs of public endorsement amid political headwinds. On Wednesday, senior leaders gathered at Kapurthala House in Delhi, the official residence of the Punjab Chief Minister, to celebrate the victories. Those in attendance included AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai, and Atishi. In Delhi, the BJP ended AAP's 10-year reign, winning 48 out of 70 seats in the capital in the assembly election held in February this year. The AAP retained the Ludhiana West seat with its candidate Sanjeev Arora registering a victory against his nearest rival and Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu by a margin of 10,637 votes. Arora secured 35,179 votes while Ashu got 24,542 votes. BJP's Jiwan Gupta polled 20,323 votes while Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) nominee Parupkar Singh Ghuman received 8,203 votes. Ghuman lost his security deposit. The bypoll — held on June 19 — was necessitated following the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi in January. The result was announced on Monday. AAP candidate Gopal Italia won the Visavadar seat in Gujarat, defeating his closest BJP rival by about 17,000 votes. AAP's Bhupendra Bhayani won the Visavadar seat, but he later defected to the BJP. Bypoll Victories Were Semifinals For 2027 Assembly Polls In Punjab, Gujarat: Kejriwal Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the Aam Aadmi Party's victories in the Punjab and Gujarat bypolls as a 'semifinal" for the 2027 assembly elections, asserting that the party is on track to form the next governments in both states. 'The bypolls in Gujarat and Punjab were a semifinal, and in 2027 assembly polls, we will cross 100 seats in Punjab and form the government," he said. Kejriwal congratulated Gopal Italia, who won in Gujarat and Sanjeev Arora, who emerged victorious from Ludhiana West, and thanked the people for ensuring the party's win. 'We have been in power in Punjab for the last three years. Leave anti-incumbency, there is pro-incumbency there. We had won 92 seats in the 2022 assembly polls, and it looks like we will cross 100 seats in 2027," he added. The AAP chief said the Congress top leadership is hand in glove with the BJP. 'AAP is fighting against the system. We have come to give clean politics to people. People are fed up of BJP in Gujarat. They did not have an option earlier. Congress is not an option. They see an option in AAP and have hope from the party," he said. 'We will form the government in Gujarat in 2027," Kejriwal said. (With PTI inputs) First Published:
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
AAP Jalandhar Central MLA in jail, seat gets in-charge: new inductee & industrialist Nitin Kohli
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday formally inducted Nitin Kohli, a leading industrialist and president of Hockey Punjab, into the party, and appointed him as the Jalandhar Central Assembly in-charge. The move is being widely seen as a strategic attempt by AAP to reclaim ground in the politically sensitive Jalandhar Central constituency, which recently witnessed turbulence following the arrest of its sitting MLA, Raman Arora, in a Vigilance case on May 23. Raman Arora was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau for allegedly indulging in corruption in connivance with an official of the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation. While the induction ceremony featured standard expressions of welcome and gratitude, a deeper reading reveals that AAP is recalibrating its political narrative in Punjab; moving from anti-corruption slogans alone to incorporating economic competence, sectoral credibility, and class realignment. Kohli's induction is not merely symbolic. It reflects AAP's growing efforts to attract technocrats and professionals from outside the traditional political class, according to political experts. The appointment of a successful entrepreneur and sports administrator like Kohli comes at a time when AAP is attempting to shed its image as a Delhi-centric experiment and assert its governance model in Punjab with broader socio-economic appeal. 'AAP doesn't believe in dynasties. We give power to the capable,' said AAP Punjab chief Aman Arora, underlining the party's contrast with legacy parties like Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal. 'Nitin Kohli's clean image, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to public welfare align perfectly with AAP's principles. AAP provides a platform for capable individuals to excel and serve. Under the leadership of Kejriwal and Mann, those who adhere to the party's principles of clean politics will achieve great heights,' he added. With Kohli's deep roots sports, business, and education sectors, his appointment allows AAP to tap into Punjab's aspirational middle and business class, especially in urban-industrial constituencies like Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Amritsar. However, the timing of Kohli's rise within the party cannot be overlooked. Just six days after AAP MLA Raman Arora's arrest in a vigilance case, the party was facing criticism for internal contradictions in its clean-governance narrative. Kohli's entry is viewed as a political damage control mechanism—projecting an 'untainted' and successful face to reassure both voters and the local business community. AAP's Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia, while speaking at the event, has reinforced this positioning. 'AAP is the only party that takes immediate action against wrongdoing, even if the individual belongs to our party. We do not shield anyone,' he said. With this induction, AAP seems to be testing a new formula in Punjab —leveraging the credibility and influence of non-political industrialists who have strong community linkages and administrative potential. Kohli's background as managing director of Hike Shoe Pvt Ltd, chairman of Punjab Leather Federation, and educationist with Cambridge International School brings diverse social capital into the party fold. His track record in sports governance, especially his role in elevating his family brand Vijayanti in global hockey equipment manufacturing and serving as vice-president of Hockey India, adds to his profile as a development-oriented leader. AAP's bet seems to be that voters, especially in semi-urban and urban Punjab, are increasingly receptive to non-political problem solvers who carry the promise of job creation, better governance, and global exposure. Kohli's induction could signal the start of AAP's next phase in Punjab, moving beyond its 2022 landslide victory to build localised leadership in key urban constituencies. Jalandhar, a city with a mixed demography of industrial workers, professionals, and youth, presents a ripe opportunity for AAP to build a class coalition that spans from working-class families to small and medium business owners. After his induction in the presence of AAP Punjab chief Aman Arora and Sisodia, Kohli said, 'I am deeply impressed by the AAP's focus on industries and their commitment to Punjab's development. This is the party that genuinely prioritises the welfare of citizens. I am eager to contribute to the growth of industries and the welfare of Jalandhar under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann.' The political experts felt that his induction matters a lot to AAP because Kohli brings economic credibility to AAP in a business-heavy district. Also, his induction helps fill the vacuum created by the recent vigilance case against Raman Arora.
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
After Raman Arora's arrest, AAP ropes in industrialist Nitin Kohli in Jalandhar
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday formally inducted Nitin Kohli, a leading industrialist and president of Hockey Punjab, into the party, and appointed him as the Jalandhar Central Assembly in-charge. The move is being widely seen as a strategic attempt by AAP to reclaim ground in the politically sensitive Jalandhar Central constituency, which recently witnessed turbulence following the arrest of its sitting MLA, Raman Arora, in a Vigilance case on May 23. While the induction ceremony featured standard expressions of welcome and gratitude, a deeper reading reveals that AAP is recalibrating its political narrative in Punjab; moving from anti-corruption slogans alone to incorporating economic competence, sectoral credibility, and class realignment. Kohli's induction is not merely symbolic. It reflects AAP's growing efforts to attract technocrats and professionals from outside the traditional political class, according to political experts. The appointment of a successful entrepreneur and sports administrator like Kohli comes at a time when AAP is attempting to shed its image as a Delhi-centric experiment and assert its governance model in Punjab with broader socio-economic appeal. 'AAP doesn't believe in dynasties. We give power to the capable,' said AAP Punjab chief Aman Arora, underlining the party's contrast with legacy parties like Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal. With Kohli's deep roots sports, business, and education sectors, his appointment allows AAP to tap into Punjab's aspirational middle and business class, especially in urban-industrial constituencies like Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Amritsar. However, the timing of Kohli's rise within the party cannot be overlooked. Just six days after AAP MLA Raman Arora's arrest in a vigilance case, the party was facing criticism for internal contradictions in its clean-governance narrative. Kohli's entry is viewed as a political damage control mechanism—projecting an 'untainted' and successful face to reassure both voters and the local business community. AAP's Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia, while speaking at the event, has reinforced this positioning. 'AAP is the only party that takes immediate action against wrongdoing, even if the individual belongs to our party. We do not shield anyone,' he said. With this induction, AAP seems to be testing a new formula in Punjab —leveraging the credibility and influence of non-political industrialists who have strong community linkages and administrative potential. Kohli's background as managing director of Hike Shoe Pvt Ltd, chairman of Punjab Leather Federation, and educationist with Cambridge International School brings diverse social capital into the party fold. His track record in sports governance, especially his role in elevating his family brand Vijayanti in global hockey equipment manufacturing and serving as vice-president of Hockey India, adds to his profile as a development-oriented leader. AAP's bet seems to be that voters, especially in semi-urban and urban Punjab, are increasingly receptive to non-political problem solvers who carry the promise of job creation, better governance, and global exposure. Kohli's induction could signal the start of AAP's next phase in Punjab, moving beyond its 2022 landslide victory to build localised leadership in key urban constituencies. Jalandhar, a city with a mixed demography of industrial workers, professionals, and youth, presents a ripe opportunity for AAP to build a class coalition that spans from working-class families to small and medium business owners. After his induction in the presence of AAP Punjab chief Aman Arora and Sisodia, Kohli said, 'I am eager to contribute to Jalandhar's growth under the leadership of Kejriwal ji and Mann ji'. The political experts felt that his induction matters a lot to AAP because Kohli brings economic credibility to AAP in a business-heavy district. Also, his induction helps fill the vacuum created by the recent vigilance case against Raman Arora.
