DECEMBER EDITORIAL
Friends,
Although it happened on 26th Nov. night, by its very seriousness it precedes all other issues. Deccan Mujahideen, or whatever that goes by that name has declared a war against India. Yes, IT’S A WAR AGAINST OUR MOTHERLAND, whether the authorities in Mumbai or Delhi acknowledges it or not. On all earlier occasions, when terrorists used to strike against planned targets, they used to be shrouded in hoods or some kind of a cover, but the last one at Hotel Taj and other places it was without any concealment of their facial identity. They went around shooting indiscriminately letting everybody know who they are. This was the most audacious attempt at challenging the very basis of Indian nationhood. This has to be met head on. This is no moment for theatrical or politically correct rhetoric but cold and calculated action without trying to find alibys. Hope the govt. in New Delhi and Mumbai act-without procrastination. But how would Manmohan Singh think they would oblige him, when he asked for ISI chief to visit India? But Pakistani's refusal only confirmed its discomfiture. Yes we need to press on.
Month began with the greatest event of the 21st century. The fairy tale run of Barack Hussain Obama culminated in the unprecedented election to the White House, as the most powerful man on the earth, a coloured President for the United States of America. As Thomas Freidman said in the New York Times On 4th Nov. 2008, the American civil war ended and Martin Luther King’s. "I have a dream" was truly and comprehensively realised, when white Americans actually voted a coloured man as the US President. How and why, could be a story of emerging United States longing for a change. A change as envisioned by only Obama and not by any of the 43 presidents before him. Friedman asks the question ‘How did Obama pull it off?’ And answers it himself. He says "To be sure, it probably took a once in a century economic crisis to get enough white people to vote for a black man". That’s being real stupid. How would the white man’s trouble be solved by a black man, unless he is capable and has the potential to deliver? Besides this Friedman and his ilk have a pathological dislike and suffer from a sadistic streak in calling Obama black and not coloured. In any case it’s a defining moment in the evolving contemporary world history. So its welcome to Obamas to the White House. But how would the likes of Thomas Friedman or even Obama himself, look at this oddity of having a coloured occupant in the WHITE HOUSE? Do you think Americans must think of a new name now that the WHITE has lost its lustre?
In the context of India, journalist Sunanda Dutta Ray makes an interesting observation "Detestable as American foreign policy can sometime be, there is no denying that the U.S. is a melting pot of races and cultures with no room for Maharashtra Navnirman Sena-Style bigotry". Yes, despite being a coloured, President elect Barrack Hussain Obama, a half Muslim, half Christian, with African, American and Indonasian connections, symbolizes the universalism of the American label. The concept of ‘ Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’ appears more evident in the U.S rather them the India of to-day, with rampant parochialism all over the country.
And the news comes that Sonal Shah, an Indian American, an eminent economist by her own right, has been appointed to the transition team of President elect Barack Obama. Lot of Indians felt justifiably proud. But in India as is the normal case, we suffer from poverty of mind or mental poverty. We have to perforce find a fly in the ointment. Media and some so called secularists tried to unearth her past connection with the VHP/RSS or the like. Is being part of the RSS or VHP -prima facie- a disqualification? Or being part of any other non-BJP organization is a qualification? Its really a pity that Indians cannot grow out of their mental stupor. Then Ms. Shah issues a statement that she is not a part of VHP or R.S.S, and then a news paper screams "Its official: Sonal Shah was a member of VHP America". Here it has to be noted, that news papers claimed, ‘she was’ which means she is no more the member of VHP. Shouldn’t the issue die there, if it’s a issue at all? Beside Obama may not give a damn for her political or socio religious connections. He took her in his team because of her value as an economist, and the matter should end there. We Indians suffer from a stupid streak. Indian to Indian we have difficulty in appreciating what is good in others.
Didn’t we say Indians could be funny and stupid at the same time. Here goes the news item "No Barack call to PM worries India". Of course, it should have been ‘worries some Indians’, rather than ‘India’. India has its wisdom, but some of the Indians can indeed be stupid. While its true that Obama did take a little longer to contact India unlike other countries, it should not be a reason to worry at all. Its likely there could be valid reasons for such delay, besides there were other important countries like Russia and China, who too did not receive the call in the preferred list. So what’s the big deal? However, Mr. P.M got worked up giving details of how he missed the call and then how he got it. As if that’s the be all and end all of our coming days.
There is a minor earthquake brewing in Kerala. The Law Reforms Commission of Kerala has mooted a legislation to restrict polygamy among Muslims and impose curbs on checking misuse of divorce by talaq. The proposal is likely to spark strong reaction, reports media. While some Islamic forums have dubbed it as encroachment on constitutional guarantees, women’s groups have welcomed it. The proposal stipulates that "if any Muslim man or woman married, except under special condition, again during the subsistence of the first marriage, he or she shall be held guilty of bigamy under IPC and liable to be prosecuted." This is a welcome development which liberals among Muslims should accept and encourage.
So the ISRO has given the Moon, on platter to all Indians. Yes its not unique, there have been other countries, 3 to be exact, who have already been there on the Moon, India shall be the 4th. Its true that it has cost the country billions of $. What with staggering malnutrition deaths staring at us at point blank range, this enormous expenditure could have been delayed. But democracy is a complex exercise and a continuous experiment. The global acceptance is also crucial to the image of emerging India. Hence, while the malnutrition is of paramount importance and the government should do its utmost, the programmes of ISRO are also of importance. We need to balance both for their own sake. In any case congratulations to chairman Madhavan and company at ISRO for their monumental success.
Last month it was mother Sonia Gandhi who could not inaugurate a railway coach factory foundation stone laying ceremony. This month it was another Gandhi, Sonia’s son Rahul who was blocked from entering the campus of Chandrashekar Azad Agriculture University to address a students’ conference. This is crazy politics of Maayawathi, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. This kind of vindictive politics shall bring dividend to none, but surely development shall suffer. The vice-chancellor of the university Prof. V.K. Suri resigned in the wake of the unsavoury episode. Breaking his silence, he spoke to reporters after the resignation. ‘Could a vice-chancellor disallow an M.P and that too a Gandhi scion from entering the campus? Never’, was his retort, when asked about the propriety of locking the auditorium on the ground of ‘no permission sought’. Stating that he was made a proverbial ‘bakra’, the whole drama was acted upon ‘under immense political pressure and that he was caught in the political crossfire,’ he averred. If Maayawathi engineered the blocking, as the Chief Minister of the state, it was governor T.V. Rajeshwar, a Congress nominee, as the chancellor of the university asked the V.C to resign. In the process an able and efficient administrator was lost to the state. According to university sources, Prof Suri was instrumental in undertaking many projects for the improvement in the state agricultural sector, including research in seed production, reclaiming barren soil and improvement of dry land farming. So, this is one more way how one can screw up development efforts by mean politicking. Last time it was a large project of railways with huge employment potential with a multiplier effect that was lost to the state. Poor mother India.
Issues & Concerns has nothing to do with the film actors and their life. But this report in the print media. "Zinta irked as the case is adjourned", did attract its attention for what it is worth. There is this defamation case, Preiti Zinta, the Bollywood actress, filed against a popular Mumbai tabloid. Last month there was a hearing fixed, she was present but the tabloid was not represented and court adjourned the case. While adjournment in such instances can be a kind of malaise in our legal system, tabloid certainly need to be pulled up and appropriately admonished. It was in the year 2005, the actress dragged this tabloid for publishing telephonic conversations between actress Aishwarya Rai and actor Salman Khan, in which Salman had spoken about his relationship with Zinta. Now this is very bad for a tabloid to have pried into the privacy of three individuals. Press council should suo moto pull up such erring members of the media.
The news about ‘Hindu terror’ is indeed alarming. Is it ‘tit of tat’ as Tehelka periodical states? In any case it is disquieting. Of course, the Maharashtra ATS (Anti Terrorist Squad) has reportedly arrested some people, allegedly involved in the Malegaon blast including one army officer Lt. Col. Shrikant Prasad Purohit. All are reportedly involved with some right wing Hindu organizations. While law should necessarily take its own course. Trying to score political points, as alleged by BJP, should be thwarted. There are free trading of accusations and counter accusations. Two important detentions have been of one Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and Lt.Col. Purohit. Reportedly Sadhvi has been narco tested some 4 times. But why 4 times? No evidence is available to the public domain. Besides at one stage Lt.Col.Purohit was linked to Samjhauta Express blast, that he supplied RDX (60kg), but the same ATS roundly denied that in the Samjauta blast no RDX was used. So what is the truth has to be clearly ascertained. Any mishandling can have a far reaching political consequences, especially with elections not very far, including elections for Loksabha.
There is this Jerusalem date lined report "Israel says it wont tolerate nuclear Iran". Speaking to ‘The Jerusalem Post’ an Israeli defence ministry official Maj Gen. Gilad, has reportedly stated while keeping all options open "The nuclear Iran is indeed a situation that we cannot tolerate", reiterating that diplomatic and economic efforts to thwart Iran’s atomic ambition shall always be there, but may not succeed.
But the fact is ‘whether Israel can or cannot tolerate’ is not the issue at all. After all who is Israel to question the sovereign right of Iran to persue its atomic ambition? Iran has its own security apprehensions and international relations are dependent on the strength of the country in the eyes of the world and in its own perception. Thus, if it has the capacity to develop a nuclear deterrent, then-covert or overt-it shall always try to achieve. And as even Israeli insiders feel, it may be difficult, after all, to stop Iran from persuing its strategic wish list. Israel may have to accept the fact of Nuclear Iran in coming days, however long drawn.
In the same breath Israel slapped ‘NO ENTRY’ for 20 European Union diplomats. They prevented these envoys on a visit to assess the humanitarian situation in the conflict ridden Gaza strip besides aid supplies into the Hamas ruled region. Continuous attacks and counter attacks by both side had resulted in the breakdown of food supplies to refugees in the Gaza area. UN agency for refugees, have thrown up their arms in despair as food stocks are finishing, with 750,000 refugees facing the prospect of going hungry.The tendency of Israel for ‘tit for tat’ has always prevented the stable peace in the region. To keep the Palestinians and Hamas engaged in continuous struggle, could it be a strategy for survival by Israel?
"Bali Bombers Executed" was an Indonesian news that media informed the reading public in India during November. A Tenggulum date-lined news informed that three jehadis were sentenced to death for bombings in Bali that killed over 200 people. They were executed by a firing squad early on November. The 2002 attack led by Islamic radicals on crowded night clubs on the holiday island of Bali killed more than 160 foreigners as well as some 40 Indonesians. Although the country consists of over 2/3 Muslim population who are peace loving, a small section of violent hard core sect of fundamentalist has also thrived. But the government in Indonesia did not buckle under pressure of hundreds of their supporters and awarded the guilty with capital punishment in an year’s time, in 2003. Execution in 2005 was due to the legal challenges to the punishment. Question making its round in the New Delhi’s corridors of power is, ‘Even as secular India sits on petition of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, a Muslim dominated Indonesia has executed three Bali bombers, all Muslims, despite empathy for the militants.’More need to be said?
Yes, legal reddressal continues to give hope in an India where it can be hopelessly bad most of the time. After 16 years, justice seem to have arrived for the parents of sister Abhaya who was murdered on 27th March 1992. On 19th Nov 2008 the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested three persons including 2 catholic priests and a nun. Fr. Thomas Kottoor, Chancellor of Kottayam archdiocese and Fr. Jose Puthrukayil, principal of the church run college in Kasargod district were taken into custody and sister Sephy of Pious X th convent, where sister Abhaya was found dead in 1992.
Sister Abahya a pre-degree student and an inmate of the convent, on that fateful morning at 4.00 am, entered the kitchen to drink water, but found Fr. Kottor and her Superior in a compromising position. CBI case has stated that Fr. Kottoor hacked sister Abhaya with an axe, to death and dumped her body in the convent well.
The case, had rattled the Kerala corridors of power, has seen several twists and turns during the past 16 years. The local police that first probed the case concluded that it was a suicide as the chief of the convent gave similar statement . Under pressur CBI took it up under Deputy SP Verghese Thomas, who resigned mid-way saying he was being forced to close the case as suicide. In fact he had gone public saying that P.V. Narasimha Rao, the then Prime Minister, no-less, had asked him to close the case as suicide. Then there have been 4 more CBI investigations which some how went round and round, and failed to establish guilt and therefore guilty. Out of the blue a Kerala newspaper reported that medical tests on the deceased had indicated that the sister was sexually abused before her murder and that the test reports were tampered with, and the 6th CBI investigation began with court intervention. The police had concealed the narco test report of the three accused which court came to know and had expressed its deep displeasure and hence forced the hand of CBI to act.
Yes indeed, if the intentions are clear, the reach of law can be loudly conclusive. Hope perpetrators shall be duly dealt with, for the barbaric crime.
Obama seem to occupy lot of print space the world over, fortunately for all right reasons. New York Times informs that 'Obama may appoint Republicans to cabinet'. Replying a press person Obama replied in the positive when asked "will there be Republicans in the cabinet?. Although he did not outline the role and position of any particular Republican, he gave ample Proof of his governmnet being one of consensus rather than confrontation, a sure sign of matured political behaviour. For a global politician who is still in his forties, Obama is clearly growing in stature. Commenting on the correctness of the choice of Obama as the president of U.S, mainstream print media has described Obama as, sensible, strong, compassionate and honest. Can India, another large democracy, proudly present an Indian to the electorates, a leader as tall as Obama? Indian media should, in fitness of things educate Indian politicians how to Obamise our public life.
For the last several years, may be even a decade, our leaders of all political parties have been mouthing that country is on the verge of being a super power. Our decorated former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has even targeted 2020 as the year before which India can emerge as the super power. Early last month three young persons died inside the manhole in Yelahanka due to asphyxia. Labour safety, especially among unorganized sector is extremely poor in India, not that organized sector it any better. But organized sector, which is less than 10% of our working population, has at least a setup to fight for them for some semblance of safety. Two of the victims were contract labourers and the third, an auto rickshaw driver was an unlikely good Samaritan who rushed into the drain on hearing the cries of other two already trapped inside, to help. All three succumbed to the toxic gases emitting from the sewage remnants stuck in the drain. Authorities all over India know from experience that drain cleaning is a hazardous job and need overall to protect body with proper respiratory masks. There have been deaths in the past, some reported some not reported, in accidents of similar nature. But as usual, when it’s a helpless labour, authorities attitude is casual. In India being a poor is crime. His death may not even become part of the inane statistics.
Probably governments all over India should not give drain cleaning and garbage collection/dumping work to contractors, or make contractors responsible for the physical safety of all sanitary works where supply of clothes and apparatus should be the responsibility of the government, thereby some semblance of safety for workers can be ensured. Or else tragedies like this shall continue to happen and vision of 2020 shall be a mirage on the run.
It was Lord Swaraj Paul who had observed, when the Nuclear Deal 123 was embroiled in a battle royal between UPA and Communists, that only people who can be affected by the cancellation of the deal are the reactor suppliers. That was indeed true then, so is now. The news that the United States of America is despatching its largest ever trade mission of businessmen to India early next month is no news at all. It was indeed the purpose of the whole exercise why U.S. was literally in love with India with lot of public relation visits by high profile politicians, businessmen and lobbying experts to India during the 123 deal debate.
From the size of the planned visit by the U.S delegation it is evident the kind of importance the U.S. government is attaching. In this recessionary period in the U.S., this business opportunity is expected to give tremendous boost to its economy, both in terms of employment generation and financial gain. So what decide the economic and foreign policy of a country is not its friendship or its enmity but its financial interest. Thus the adage, in international relations there is nothing as the permanent friend or a permanent enemy its only permanent interest.
Law makers of this country, UPA may not do it, at least communists must propose to have a law against fatwas. Recently one UP based cleric issued a fatwa against Madhushala, a collection of poems by Harivansh Rai Bachchan, father of actor Amitabh Bachchan. Omar Khayyam is an Arab poet, he published the book of poem Rubaiyat, which inspired Bachchan. This cleric is born little too late, or else he would have issued a fatwa against Omar Khayyam. Its indeed very funny, that these clerics, just to get some publicity, that too negative, issue these silly fatwas. Fortunately there is a sharp division among clerics on this latest of fatwas. There is a need to debate this business of fatwas with some sense of social responsibility. Hope the latest differences shall lead to some meaningful debate among clerics so the life of ordinary people are made less complicated.
Recently Prime Minister Manmohan Sing visited Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar to strengthen the already existing ties. But a prominent Mumbai based daily screamed “Foreign policy to woo minorities”. Answer could be both ‘yes’ and ‘no’. While Oman is a country with very pragmatic leadership of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, other countries are not as accommodative of non-muslim foreigners. Among all middle eastern countries, Oman has an independent foreign policy which give an impression of being non-aligned. All governments in New Delhi, did not cultivate friendship with these Gulf States, when a huge remittances routinely come every month from these states from our NRIs working there. These visits are long overdue. Even if it means to woo minorities, such visits can bring long-term dividend for both countries.
While it is true that most readers of I&C may not have children going to government schools, its an issue all of us must be concerned. Government of India spends Rs:524 crore rupees a year as Mid Day Meal scheme across the country for some 15 crore children. Its now 10 years, since it was started. Government had launched two schemes MDM and ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme, - Anganawadies) with an eventual outlay of Rs. 44000/- crores with the objective of building a strong, learned and skill full India. CAG in its report expressed complete displeasure over the administration of the entire MDM scheme. CAG has blamed the HRD ministry of Arjun Singh, that the Ministry has failed to assess, to monitor, to collect data and to ensure proper infrastructure in those schools implementing the scheme. Even after 10 years ministry never put in place a system to assess the impact of the scheme. The aim of the scheme was to improve the level of primary education vis-ŕ-vis enrolment, attendance and retention. The whole exercise was intended to increase enrolment and decrease drop outs. But the ministry of the Human Resources Development under Arjun Singh was more interested in politics of reservation and politics of interpreting history in school books rather than human resources development. Churhat lottery hero Arjun Singh continues to be a liability to UPA government, who nursed a secret desire to be the Prime Minister. While it is true that those senior officials of the ministry had the responsibility of doing the job, if the boss is incompetent,officials and staff tend to follow the boss. And the UPA government has Okayed a 40% jump in their salaries. Its progress on the reverse gear, yeh mera India
Going back on the terrorist attack on Mumbai targets, its pertinent to note what Wall Street Journal (WSJ) had to say. It was reacting to what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated post attack. “Every perpetrator would pay the price”. WSJ commented, “Congress party, has done little more than bicker with its coalition allies over the past five years on how best to fight terrorism. The ruling alliance may pay a price for its incompetence." It blamed the political leadership for the mess.
In these columns we have been articulating our views on the lack of seriousness and sense of direction in taking on the terrorism –not just last month but last years. The government in Delhi must, in the national interest, come to grip with the situation without petty politicking and without delay.
Death of V.P.Singh brought to an end a colourful but a controversial icon. As an individual, he gave a picture of being very clean. An image, which helped him, takes on the mighty Gandhi family. He gave the nation Bofors case to beat the Gandhi family with. A case which shall forever haunt Gandhi family not only for what was said about it but also what is left unsaid or rather coerced to leave unsaid. He is also credited with accepting the Mandal commission report on caste-based reservation. Since then politics of India did not remain same, but it, did cause social polarization. Social justice is eminently possible without socio-political polarization, a principle Singh jettisoned for the more immediate political imperative. But his action did disturb the conscience of the nation for better. May his soul rest in peace. In Focus we have takes the Obama election to the White House for the importance it deserves. Rest of the issues are as usual.
Although it happened on 26th Nov. night, by its very seriousness it precedes all other issues. Deccan Mujahideen, or whatever that goes by that name has declared a war against India. Yes, IT’S A WAR AGAINST OUR MOTHERLAND, whether the authorities in Mumbai or Delhi acknowledges it or not. On all earlier occasions, when terrorists used to strike against planned targets, they used to be shrouded in hoods or some kind of a cover, but the last one at Hotel Taj and other places it was without any concealment of their facial identity. They went around shooting indiscriminately letting everybody know who they are. This was the most audacious attempt at challenging the very basis of Indian nationhood. This has to be met head on. This is no moment for theatrical or politically correct rhetoric but cold and calculated action without trying to find alibys. Hope the govt. in New Delhi and Mumbai act-without procrastination. But how would Manmohan Singh think they would oblige him, when he asked for ISI chief to visit India? But Pakistani's refusal only confirmed its discomfiture. Yes we need to press on.
Month began with the greatest event of the 21st century. The fairy tale run of Barack Hussain Obama culminated in the unprecedented election to the White House, as the most powerful man on the earth, a coloured President for the United States of America. As Thomas Freidman said in the New York Times On 4th Nov. 2008, the American civil war ended and Martin Luther King’s. "I have a dream" was truly and comprehensively realised, when white Americans actually voted a coloured man as the US President. How and why, could be a story of emerging United States longing for a change. A change as envisioned by only Obama and not by any of the 43 presidents before him. Friedman asks the question ‘How did Obama pull it off?’ And answers it himself. He says "To be sure, it probably took a once in a century economic crisis to get enough white people to vote for a black man". That’s being real stupid. How would the white man’s trouble be solved by a black man, unless he is capable and has the potential to deliver? Besides this Friedman and his ilk have a pathological dislike and suffer from a sadistic streak in calling Obama black and not coloured. In any case it’s a defining moment in the evolving contemporary world history. So its welcome to Obamas to the White House. But how would the likes of Thomas Friedman or even Obama himself, look at this oddity of having a coloured occupant in the WHITE HOUSE? Do you think Americans must think of a new name now that the WHITE has lost its lustre?
In the context of India, journalist Sunanda Dutta Ray makes an interesting observation "Detestable as American foreign policy can sometime be, there is no denying that the U.S. is a melting pot of races and cultures with no room for Maharashtra Navnirman Sena-Style bigotry". Yes, despite being a coloured, President elect Barrack Hussain Obama, a half Muslim, half Christian, with African, American and Indonasian connections, symbolizes the universalism of the American label. The concept of ‘ Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’ appears more evident in the U.S rather them the India of to-day, with rampant parochialism all over the country.
And the news comes that Sonal Shah, an Indian American, an eminent economist by her own right, has been appointed to the transition team of President elect Barack Obama. Lot of Indians felt justifiably proud. But in India as is the normal case, we suffer from poverty of mind or mental poverty. We have to perforce find a fly in the ointment. Media and some so called secularists tried to unearth her past connection with the VHP/RSS or the like. Is being part of the RSS or VHP -prima facie- a disqualification? Or being part of any other non-BJP organization is a qualification? Its really a pity that Indians cannot grow out of their mental stupor. Then Ms. Shah issues a statement that she is not a part of VHP or R.S.S, and then a news paper screams "Its official: Sonal Shah was a member of VHP America". Here it has to be noted, that news papers claimed, ‘she was’ which means she is no more the member of VHP. Shouldn’t the issue die there, if it’s a issue at all? Beside Obama may not give a damn for her political or socio religious connections. He took her in his team because of her value as an economist, and the matter should end there. We Indians suffer from a stupid streak. Indian to Indian we have difficulty in appreciating what is good in others.
Didn’t we say Indians could be funny and stupid at the same time. Here goes the news item "No Barack call to PM worries India". Of course, it should have been ‘worries some Indians’, rather than ‘India’. India has its wisdom, but some of the Indians can indeed be stupid. While its true that Obama did take a little longer to contact India unlike other countries, it should not be a reason to worry at all. Its likely there could be valid reasons for such delay, besides there were other important countries like Russia and China, who too did not receive the call in the preferred list. So what’s the big deal? However, Mr. P.M got worked up giving details of how he missed the call and then how he got it. As if that’s the be all and end all of our coming days.
There is a minor earthquake brewing in Kerala. The Law Reforms Commission of Kerala has mooted a legislation to restrict polygamy among Muslims and impose curbs on checking misuse of divorce by talaq. The proposal is likely to spark strong reaction, reports media. While some Islamic forums have dubbed it as encroachment on constitutional guarantees, women’s groups have welcomed it. The proposal stipulates that "if any Muslim man or woman married, except under special condition, again during the subsistence of the first marriage, he or she shall be held guilty of bigamy under IPC and liable to be prosecuted." This is a welcome development which liberals among Muslims should accept and encourage.
So the ISRO has given the Moon, on platter to all Indians. Yes its not unique, there have been other countries, 3 to be exact, who have already been there on the Moon, India shall be the 4th. Its true that it has cost the country billions of $. What with staggering malnutrition deaths staring at us at point blank range, this enormous expenditure could have been delayed. But democracy is a complex exercise and a continuous experiment. The global acceptance is also crucial to the image of emerging India. Hence, while the malnutrition is of paramount importance and the government should do its utmost, the programmes of ISRO are also of importance. We need to balance both for their own sake. In any case congratulations to chairman Madhavan and company at ISRO for their monumental success.
Last month it was mother Sonia Gandhi who could not inaugurate a railway coach factory foundation stone laying ceremony. This month it was another Gandhi, Sonia’s son Rahul who was blocked from entering the campus of Chandrashekar Azad Agriculture University to address a students’ conference. This is crazy politics of Maayawathi, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. This kind of vindictive politics shall bring dividend to none, but surely development shall suffer. The vice-chancellor of the university Prof. V.K. Suri resigned in the wake of the unsavoury episode. Breaking his silence, he spoke to reporters after the resignation. ‘Could a vice-chancellor disallow an M.P and that too a Gandhi scion from entering the campus? Never’, was his retort, when asked about the propriety of locking the auditorium on the ground of ‘no permission sought’. Stating that he was made a proverbial ‘bakra’, the whole drama was acted upon ‘under immense political pressure and that he was caught in the political crossfire,’ he averred. If Maayawathi engineered the blocking, as the Chief Minister of the state, it was governor T.V. Rajeshwar, a Congress nominee, as the chancellor of the university asked the V.C to resign. In the process an able and efficient administrator was lost to the state. According to university sources, Prof Suri was instrumental in undertaking many projects for the improvement in the state agricultural sector, including research in seed production, reclaiming barren soil and improvement of dry land farming. So, this is one more way how one can screw up development efforts by mean politicking. Last time it was a large project of railways with huge employment potential with a multiplier effect that was lost to the state. Poor mother India.
Issues & Concerns has nothing to do with the film actors and their life. But this report in the print media. "Zinta irked as the case is adjourned", did attract its attention for what it is worth. There is this defamation case, Preiti Zinta, the Bollywood actress, filed against a popular Mumbai tabloid. Last month there was a hearing fixed, she was present but the tabloid was not represented and court adjourned the case. While adjournment in such instances can be a kind of malaise in our legal system, tabloid certainly need to be pulled up and appropriately admonished. It was in the year 2005, the actress dragged this tabloid for publishing telephonic conversations between actress Aishwarya Rai and actor Salman Khan, in which Salman had spoken about his relationship with Zinta. Now this is very bad for a tabloid to have pried into the privacy of three individuals. Press council should suo moto pull up such erring members of the media.
The news about ‘Hindu terror’ is indeed alarming. Is it ‘tit of tat’ as Tehelka periodical states? In any case it is disquieting. Of course, the Maharashtra ATS (Anti Terrorist Squad) has reportedly arrested some people, allegedly involved in the Malegaon blast including one army officer Lt. Col. Shrikant Prasad Purohit. All are reportedly involved with some right wing Hindu organizations. While law should necessarily take its own course. Trying to score political points, as alleged by BJP, should be thwarted. There are free trading of accusations and counter accusations. Two important detentions have been of one Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and Lt.Col. Purohit. Reportedly Sadhvi has been narco tested some 4 times. But why 4 times? No evidence is available to the public domain. Besides at one stage Lt.Col.Purohit was linked to Samjhauta Express blast, that he supplied RDX (60kg), but the same ATS roundly denied that in the Samjauta blast no RDX was used. So what is the truth has to be clearly ascertained. Any mishandling can have a far reaching political consequences, especially with elections not very far, including elections for Loksabha.
There is this Jerusalem date lined report "Israel says it wont tolerate nuclear Iran". Speaking to ‘The Jerusalem Post’ an Israeli defence ministry official Maj Gen. Gilad, has reportedly stated while keeping all options open "The nuclear Iran is indeed a situation that we cannot tolerate", reiterating that diplomatic and economic efforts to thwart Iran’s atomic ambition shall always be there, but may not succeed.
But the fact is ‘whether Israel can or cannot tolerate’ is not the issue at all. After all who is Israel to question the sovereign right of Iran to persue its atomic ambition? Iran has its own security apprehensions and international relations are dependent on the strength of the country in the eyes of the world and in its own perception. Thus, if it has the capacity to develop a nuclear deterrent, then-covert or overt-it shall always try to achieve. And as even Israeli insiders feel, it may be difficult, after all, to stop Iran from persuing its strategic wish list. Israel may have to accept the fact of Nuclear Iran in coming days, however long drawn.
In the same breath Israel slapped ‘NO ENTRY’ for 20 European Union diplomats. They prevented these envoys on a visit to assess the humanitarian situation in the conflict ridden Gaza strip besides aid supplies into the Hamas ruled region. Continuous attacks and counter attacks by both side had resulted in the breakdown of food supplies to refugees in the Gaza area. UN agency for refugees, have thrown up their arms in despair as food stocks are finishing, with 750,000 refugees facing the prospect of going hungry.The tendency of Israel for ‘tit for tat’ has always prevented the stable peace in the region. To keep the Palestinians and Hamas engaged in continuous struggle, could it be a strategy for survival by Israel?
"Bali Bombers Executed" was an Indonesian news that media informed the reading public in India during November. A Tenggulum date-lined news informed that three jehadis were sentenced to death for bombings in Bali that killed over 200 people. They were executed by a firing squad early on November. The 2002 attack led by Islamic radicals on crowded night clubs on the holiday island of Bali killed more than 160 foreigners as well as some 40 Indonesians. Although the country consists of over 2/3 Muslim population who are peace loving, a small section of violent hard core sect of fundamentalist has also thrived. But the government in Indonesia did not buckle under pressure of hundreds of their supporters and awarded the guilty with capital punishment in an year’s time, in 2003. Execution in 2005 was due to the legal challenges to the punishment. Question making its round in the New Delhi’s corridors of power is, ‘Even as secular India sits on petition of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, a Muslim dominated Indonesia has executed three Bali bombers, all Muslims, despite empathy for the militants.’More need to be said?
Yes, legal reddressal continues to give hope in an India where it can be hopelessly bad most of the time. After 16 years, justice seem to have arrived for the parents of sister Abhaya who was murdered on 27th March 1992. On 19th Nov 2008 the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested three persons including 2 catholic priests and a nun. Fr. Thomas Kottoor, Chancellor of Kottayam archdiocese and Fr. Jose Puthrukayil, principal of the church run college in Kasargod district were taken into custody and sister Sephy of Pious X th convent, where sister Abhaya was found dead in 1992.
Sister Abahya a pre-degree student and an inmate of the convent, on that fateful morning at 4.00 am, entered the kitchen to drink water, but found Fr. Kottor and her Superior in a compromising position. CBI case has stated that Fr. Kottoor hacked sister Abhaya with an axe, to death and dumped her body in the convent well.
The case, had rattled the Kerala corridors of power, has seen several twists and turns during the past 16 years. The local police that first probed the case concluded that it was a suicide as the chief of the convent gave similar statement . Under pressur CBI took it up under Deputy SP Verghese Thomas, who resigned mid-way saying he was being forced to close the case as suicide. In fact he had gone public saying that P.V. Narasimha Rao, the then Prime Minister, no-less, had asked him to close the case as suicide. Then there have been 4 more CBI investigations which some how went round and round, and failed to establish guilt and therefore guilty. Out of the blue a Kerala newspaper reported that medical tests on the deceased had indicated that the sister was sexually abused before her murder and that the test reports were tampered with, and the 6th CBI investigation began with court intervention. The police had concealed the narco test report of the three accused which court came to know and had expressed its deep displeasure and hence forced the hand of CBI to act.
Yes indeed, if the intentions are clear, the reach of law can be loudly conclusive. Hope perpetrators shall be duly dealt with, for the barbaric crime.
Obama seem to occupy lot of print space the world over, fortunately for all right reasons. New York Times informs that 'Obama may appoint Republicans to cabinet'. Replying a press person Obama replied in the positive when asked "will there be Republicans in the cabinet?. Although he did not outline the role and position of any particular Republican, he gave ample Proof of his governmnet being one of consensus rather than confrontation, a sure sign of matured political behaviour. For a global politician who is still in his forties, Obama is clearly growing in stature. Commenting on the correctness of the choice of Obama as the president of U.S, mainstream print media has described Obama as, sensible, strong, compassionate and honest. Can India, another large democracy, proudly present an Indian to the electorates, a leader as tall as Obama? Indian media should, in fitness of things educate Indian politicians how to Obamise our public life.
For the last several years, may be even a decade, our leaders of all political parties have been mouthing that country is on the verge of being a super power. Our decorated former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has even targeted 2020 as the year before which India can emerge as the super power. Early last month three young persons died inside the manhole in Yelahanka due to asphyxia. Labour safety, especially among unorganized sector is extremely poor in India, not that organized sector it any better. But organized sector, which is less than 10% of our working population, has at least a setup to fight for them for some semblance of safety. Two of the victims were contract labourers and the third, an auto rickshaw driver was an unlikely good Samaritan who rushed into the drain on hearing the cries of other two already trapped inside, to help. All three succumbed to the toxic gases emitting from the sewage remnants stuck in the drain. Authorities all over India know from experience that drain cleaning is a hazardous job and need overall to protect body with proper respiratory masks. There have been deaths in the past, some reported some not reported, in accidents of similar nature. But as usual, when it’s a helpless labour, authorities attitude is casual. In India being a poor is crime. His death may not even become part of the inane statistics.
Probably governments all over India should not give drain cleaning and garbage collection/dumping work to contractors, or make contractors responsible for the physical safety of all sanitary works where supply of clothes and apparatus should be the responsibility of the government, thereby some semblance of safety for workers can be ensured. Or else tragedies like this shall continue to happen and vision of 2020 shall be a mirage on the run.
It was Lord Swaraj Paul who had observed, when the Nuclear Deal 123 was embroiled in a battle royal between UPA and Communists, that only people who can be affected by the cancellation of the deal are the reactor suppliers. That was indeed true then, so is now. The news that the United States of America is despatching its largest ever trade mission of businessmen to India early next month is no news at all. It was indeed the purpose of the whole exercise why U.S. was literally in love with India with lot of public relation visits by high profile politicians, businessmen and lobbying experts to India during the 123 deal debate.
From the size of the planned visit by the U.S delegation it is evident the kind of importance the U.S. government is attaching. In this recessionary period in the U.S., this business opportunity is expected to give tremendous boost to its economy, both in terms of employment generation and financial gain. So what decide the economic and foreign policy of a country is not its friendship or its enmity but its financial interest. Thus the adage, in international relations there is nothing as the permanent friend or a permanent enemy its only permanent interest.
Law makers of this country, UPA may not do it, at least communists must propose to have a law against fatwas. Recently one UP based cleric issued a fatwa against Madhushala, a collection of poems by Harivansh Rai Bachchan, father of actor Amitabh Bachchan. Omar Khayyam is an Arab poet, he published the book of poem Rubaiyat, which inspired Bachchan. This cleric is born little too late, or else he would have issued a fatwa against Omar Khayyam. Its indeed very funny, that these clerics, just to get some publicity, that too negative, issue these silly fatwas. Fortunately there is a sharp division among clerics on this latest of fatwas. There is a need to debate this business of fatwas with some sense of social responsibility. Hope the latest differences shall lead to some meaningful debate among clerics so the life of ordinary people are made less complicated.
Recently Prime Minister Manmohan Sing visited Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar to strengthen the already existing ties. But a prominent Mumbai based daily screamed “Foreign policy to woo minorities”. Answer could be both ‘yes’ and ‘no’. While Oman is a country with very pragmatic leadership of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, other countries are not as accommodative of non-muslim foreigners. Among all middle eastern countries, Oman has an independent foreign policy which give an impression of being non-aligned. All governments in New Delhi, did not cultivate friendship with these Gulf States, when a huge remittances routinely come every month from these states from our NRIs working there. These visits are long overdue. Even if it means to woo minorities, such visits can bring long-term dividend for both countries.
While it is true that most readers of I&C may not have children going to government schools, its an issue all of us must be concerned. Government of India spends Rs:524 crore rupees a year as Mid Day Meal scheme across the country for some 15 crore children. Its now 10 years, since it was started. Government had launched two schemes MDM and ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme, - Anganawadies) with an eventual outlay of Rs. 44000/- crores with the objective of building a strong, learned and skill full India. CAG in its report expressed complete displeasure over the administration of the entire MDM scheme. CAG has blamed the HRD ministry of Arjun Singh, that the Ministry has failed to assess, to monitor, to collect data and to ensure proper infrastructure in those schools implementing the scheme. Even after 10 years ministry never put in place a system to assess the impact of the scheme. The aim of the scheme was to improve the level of primary education vis-ŕ-vis enrolment, attendance and retention. The whole exercise was intended to increase enrolment and decrease drop outs. But the ministry of the Human Resources Development under Arjun Singh was more interested in politics of reservation and politics of interpreting history in school books rather than human resources development. Churhat lottery hero Arjun Singh continues to be a liability to UPA government, who nursed a secret desire to be the Prime Minister. While it is true that those senior officials of the ministry had the responsibility of doing the job, if the boss is incompetent,officials and staff tend to follow the boss. And the UPA government has Okayed a 40% jump in their salaries. Its progress on the reverse gear, yeh mera India
Going back on the terrorist attack on Mumbai targets, its pertinent to note what Wall Street Journal (WSJ) had to say. It was reacting to what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated post attack. “Every perpetrator would pay the price”. WSJ commented, “Congress party, has done little more than bicker with its coalition allies over the past five years on how best to fight terrorism. The ruling alliance may pay a price for its incompetence." It blamed the political leadership for the mess.
In these columns we have been articulating our views on the lack of seriousness and sense of direction in taking on the terrorism –not just last month but last years. The government in Delhi must, in the national interest, come to grip with the situation without petty politicking and without delay.
Death of V.P.Singh brought to an end a colourful but a controversial icon. As an individual, he gave a picture of being very clean. An image, which helped him, takes on the mighty Gandhi family. He gave the nation Bofors case to beat the Gandhi family with. A case which shall forever haunt Gandhi family not only for what was said about it but also what is left unsaid or rather coerced to leave unsaid. He is also credited with accepting the Mandal commission report on caste-based reservation. Since then politics of India did not remain same, but it, did cause social polarization. Social justice is eminently possible without socio-political polarization, a principle Singh jettisoned for the more immediate political imperative. But his action did disturb the conscience of the nation for better. May his soul rest in peace. In Focus we have takes the Obama election to the White House for the importance it deserves. Rest of the issues are as usual.
Comments