EDITORIAL
Friends
Time and tide waits for no man, so are the events. There have been five important to very important developments happening in the Indian sub continent. The Congress party has won an emphatic victory after a longtime, more than ten years to be sure. That has ushered in a hopefully stable government led by an honest man but also happens to be strong, this time round. The share market which is the immediate barometer of events in the country is very upbeat. Hopefully the economy should look up and so shall the expectations of an expectant nation are not bellied. While its generally accepted that no government can provide solutions to all its problems at all times, it is eminently possible to address most of them with sensitivity and honesty. Since it is recognized that bottleneck is always at the top, mercifully we have a top which is transparent and means business. It is therefore reasonable to believe that Sardar Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of the country shall do all he can to make life better for all those who need betterment. That’s the macro picture of the India of 2009/10.
To our west is Pakistan with its hands fully engaged in combat with the terrorists, insurgents and Islamic warriors in Swat valley and other surrounding areas. While the government in Islamabad is giving an impression that they are slowly gaining upper hand, with lots of armed terrorists and insurgents falling prey to the attacks by the army and other government forces. On the face of it, it’s purely an internal matter of Pakistan, however it’s undeniable how the whole world is looking at the happening there with deep concern. Since the situation across the border is still very fluid, it is too early for India to arrive at any considered stand in the ongoing diplomatic impasse, prevailing between the two neighbours.
At the eastern border is Bangladesh; where the new government of Sheikh Hassina has completed her first 100 days of her governance. Trouble that erupted with BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) attacking the army barracks in Feb 2009, and causing the massacre of some 80 men including 57 army officers, was largely controlled. This particular mutiny by BDR had all the potential of spinning out of control and in all probability could have become a serious problem for India from the eastern border state. But that Sheikh Hassina has not only managed to control the situation going out of hand, she has won accolades for keeping both BDR and the army which wanted to storm the BDR headquarters, post massacre, but greatly succeeded in pacifying not to resort to retaliatory counter attacks. According to the survey conducted by A.C Neilson, the result published were very encouraging for the government of Sheikh Hassina. On three counts her government has been given the thumbs up. Managing the economy, managing BDR mutiny, so also, curbing militancy are the areas where approval ratings have been very high. However law and order, has seen certain deterioration, largely due to the extortion activity of Chaatra League, the student wing of Awami League, the dominant party in the new government. Here, in relation to the effect on India, it needs to be stressed that Sheikh Hassina has managed to greatly curb the activities of Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh, the militant group, which was very active in its anti-India tirade. That’s a kind of good news for India. The recent cyclonic devastation has provided an opportunity for Indian government at the centre to reach out to Sheikh Hassina and play more diplomatically meaningful role. Hope the mandarins under S M Krishna seize the opportunity to go one up.
Then you have Nepal, still struggling to come to terms with the new found democratic ground realities. While Monarchy is consigned to the history, Prachanda, the unhappy man of the largest political party, the Nepalese Maoists, is having difficulty in democratically accepting other parties in a spirit of give and take. He is suffering from dictatorial streak so also a bit of anti- Indianness in him.
While the situation in Nepal is still far from stable, the attitude of Prachanda and his party is causing worry to not only Nepal but also to India. A new government without Prachanda has been formed, but is already suffering from the politics of coalition and the individual ambition of its leaders. The instability in the northern neighbourhood shall provide a fertile pond for Chinese to fish in the troubled waters which can snowball into greater problems for India with Maoists clearly favouring Chinese as against India. For the mandarins in the MEA, the job is clearly cut out.
Coming to South, troubled nation Sri Lanka has found peace after all. But is it the peace of grave, with many macabre happenings of the war on LTTE, like mass graves, popping up into the open!
Violence of LTTE is matched by the violence of Sri Lankan army, so are its cruelties. Only difference was Sri Lankan army killed only LTTE cadres or its leadership by design and sometime even civilians, whereas LTTE always killed Sri Lankans, their leaders and army personal by design but also included their own Tamil brethren who appeared impediments, liberals and those who challenged Prabhakaran’s authority. LTTE also forced reluctant children to join its cadres so also used them as human shield. During the last 25 years thousands have perished in their ethnic conflict. Now it’s all over. The state, the stronger, has won. Having won, Rajpakse and his brother have the responsibility of treating them as equal citizens of Sri Lanka and not as second class citizens. The government in Colombo has to come out with a package that would at least make the Tamil population feel better that the coming days can only make them feel more hopeful. Of course there was this Sri Lankan journalist who was mysteriously killed some months ago by some ‘unknown’ assailants, for posing uncomfortable questions to the government. There’s going to be lot of such questions faced by the victorious government. Should they fail to address these questions quickly and sensitively, the resultant restlessness can lead to far more serious situation than what the government in Colombo can fathom. Hope that does not happen. Of course any restlessness cannot remain in Lanka only, without affecting the Indian states in the south. Therefore Indian government, should take up sensible approaches to address the issue of Tamils wisely, reasonably and quickly, of course within the one nation theory.
The stock taking by Communists have zeroed on the exit of Prakash Karat, the hardcore ideologue. While it is true that they have recognized that they completely failed in their approach to last election, their one point programme of disassociating from Congress is what did them in. And Prakash Karat was the man responsible for this disassociation and the resultant debacle. Also, the 3rd front was merely a platform of ambitious selfish leaders who had their private agenda in coming together. Having lost heavily in Loksabha election, the party in West Bengal is facing heavy odds in the ensuing assembly election. With Mamata didi, having focused her eyes on Writers Bldg, Buddadeb and company are having jitters. It may as well be the beginning of the end of Communist influence in West Bengal. Coming to Kerala, the situation of Communists is no better. Having lost to Congress heavily in the last Loksabha election and the Lavalin controversy being referred to CBI by the governor and Chief Minister Achutanandan on a kind of war with the party, the future for LEFT doesn’t appear right. The latest trick of attempting to win over madrasaas by granting pensions to all its maulvies after completion of only 10 years of service can boomerang. This is crass appeasement, especially because other teachers all over the state are eligible only after 30 years of service. Like all their earlier tricks this too shall not help the party politically, but shall succeed in dividing the society on communal lines. Any political party that tries to divide the society by their acts of commission and omission should be dumped without second thought.
There was this Kenyan whistle blower, John Githongo a former Anti corruption Chief of Kenya. He probed his own government and uncovered a far reaching scam extending to the highest levels of his party and then decides to tell the world. His very remarkable story was carried to the world by one Michela Wrong. Although her name is Wrong, fortunately she wrote a right book, unlike her name, and she called it most appropriately “Its Our Turn to Eat”, although “Its our Turn to Loot” could have been better.
What happened while forming the ministry in New Delhi last month between Prime Minister Man mohan Singh and the DMK leadership vividly brought back the visions of this book. In Kenya, allegedly, ‘Winning elections confers licence to steal’. How far behind are Indians in this aspect of governance, where politicians and bureaucrats make unaccounted wealth at the cost of country’s development? It is an issue the governments, both at centre and states have to address seriously. The corruption in public life has grown to such gargantuan proportions, with nobody asking questions about the disproportionately growing wealth of ministers and their hangers-on including babus and middlemen. This aspect of our governance has to be addressed in right earnest, or else another ‘Sampoorna Kranti’, a la JP movement, will become inevitable.
The news that bullet proof jackets supplied to Hemant Karkare and others by the Maharashtra police were really not bullet proof came rather as a shock. There have been reports that Chief Minister Chawan has not been very forth coming replying to querries regarding the details of purchase of these jackets and its source. An RTI activist Santosh Daundkar who had demanded details of these purchases was told that relevant files are missing. It is becoming clear that there is a lot being hidden by the Maharashtra police and are not coming out clean. Blood of those senior police officers is clearly on the hands of bureaucracy who made the purchases of those sub standard killer jackets. Media must necessarily pressurise the Maharashtra government to come clean and fix responsibility, or else it will be another, like many other, instances where bureaucrats have gone scot free with political help.
There was this Dhaka date lined small news item in the print media which said “Dhaka launches manhunt for Dawood’s men”. Isn’t this interesting? This fugitive criminal called Dawood Ibrahim is wanted in India for committing many dastardly crimes against the Indian nation but the “man hunt launched” against this enemy of humanity in Dhaka, is in Bangladesh. This fugitive surely must be having his network in Pakistan, where he is hiding. Similarly he is having his network in Bangladesh. He is making his money and acquiring what money can buy, in all places, to wage war against India. But the new leadership of Bangladesh do not want him in their country. What Sheik Hassina is doing should not only be commended but the Indian government must assist her in all possible ways to get at the network of this criminal Dawood Ibrahim. Pakistan should learn from their cousins in the erstwhile East Pakistan how to measure up to the demands of better governance. Which also means, India too has lessons to be learnt from its eastern neighbour.
A senior police officer in Dhaka, according to media report, has confirmed that ‘two former ministers, three lawmakers and seven businessmen patronised the gang’ without naming them. Isn’t it true that situation in India also is similar? How many times such reports regarding our ministers and politician have come from our police departments, either in Mumbai or in Delhi? Isn’t our system of policing dishonest? Is Mr. Manmohan Singh listening along with his Harward qualified home minister?
Continuing attacks on Indian students in Australia is a matter of concern. Although the media and some quarters in government levels have called it racist, it gives an appearance of being slightly different. For most of us its only the print and the electronic media that provide us inputs. Even some Australians have called it non-racist. What most opinion makers are refraining to comment and admit, is the influence of Indians in global technical employment opportunities. Unlike olden days of pre-1990s, the number of employable Indians have greatly increased. They are not only good but also inexpensive, and therefore become very attractive for most western countries. Unfortunately this attraction has become the bane of most locals, from skinheads to the present attacks in Australia. Thus, if the print details are any indications to go-by, the attackers are asking for money and if you don’t have or do not give they attack you. So, what underlines these attacks are that, they want part of your future income now only, before you get the job which otherwise could/ would go to the locals. Of course it is easier to dismiss these acts as racial to make it sound repugnant. In any case, job for the Australian authorities, is cutout. They have to act not merely to stabilize the confidence of Indian students in Australia, but these attacks are abhorrent under universal human rights declaration. MEA at Delhi has to articulate its strong points of view on the subject and continue the efforts of PM Manmohan Singh to pressure the Australian government to act. At this point the observation by the junior MEA minister Shashi Tharoor that these attacks are an internal matter of Australia defies logic.
The visit of Obama to Egypt to address the Islamic world is certainly historic by any account. Surely, there cannot be instant panacea for all the problems faced between the Muslim world and the rest of the world, especially the west and more particularly the U.S. It shall surely be a long drawn out affair. But every long journey has to start with the first step. Obama has taken this first step. If the Muslim world shall take one step forward, Obama shall either match it or improve it by one more step. There is a ring of sincerity in his words. Most Arabs were bowled by his disarming honesty and straight forwardness. For an American president to be taken on his face value, it’s a complete metamorphosis. With Obama world shall surely be a better place. Of course, like all humans, Obama too can make his share of mistakes.
He gave a fine speech like a true wordsmith. America would leave Iraq after all, he said. Israel and Palestine has to be a reality to be accepted by both, he reiterated. Terrorism must be wiped out from both Afghanistan and Pakistan, he asserted. It was all, right noises, but would it all be delivered? One has to wait and see, with right wingers in Israel already calling him ‘Jew hater’.
There was this stupid case of ‘rape’ of a teenaged domestic helper by her film actor boss being aired as a catastrophe by T.V. channels with like of Rajdeep Sardesai and others spending hours of T.V. time to the chagrin of most viewers. Stupid because there is a police department who took charge of the case who are expected to do justice to the case, without these T.V. channels sensationalizing the issue. Its stupid because, these T.V. channels had only passing reference once or twice about the ‘Aila’ cyclone that hit West Bengals Midnapore district, where over 100 people died and property worth hundreds of crores destroyed. Its stupid because it was involving a cinema star and therefore very juicy. Besides from the way things appear it is apparent to be a consensual act. The possibility that the guy is being framed is not without basis.
Another reason why this is called stupid, is because these channels have no time to chase a news coming from Swiss Banks that “Indian Authorities are dragging their feet on Black Money”. There is this story of Pune based stud farm owner Hassan Ali Khan who is accused of stashing away nearly $ 6 billion in Swiss Bank. In a major embarrassment to the UPA government Swiss justice Department has informed the government in Delhi that it had received forged documents from New Delhi two years ago involving this Hassan Ali in money laundering case. Despite the knowledge of Enforcement Directorate at Delhi, the Swiss spokesman was reported to have claimed that Swiss government submitted some querries to the government of India as far back as April 2007, but had not received any reply even after 24 months. He has reportedly also stated that “India makes only few requests per year to Switzerland for assistance in tracking down black money”. Now this is some Rs 30,000 crores worth news of ill gotten money that belongs to this country, and our T.V. channels have no time. And they have all the time in the world to chase an apparently fake rape case because it involved a celebrity.
That brings us face to face with the sad truth that governments come and governments go, but the show of rich men plundering the national wealth and siphoning it off to far off lands beyond the national laws with the connivance and purchased silence of men in power go on and on. Of course LK Advani made some noise, but he didn’t do much either when in power. But the Congress party which ruled the country for over 45 years of 61 years of India as a free country could have done so much, yet failed to do. Where should the common man go for a just and fair society?
The incumbent government in Bangalore has completed a year in the office. For the BJP, there is every reason to feel elated that it has managed to instal a first BJP government in the south on its own and that it has completed its full one year without any hick-up. Of course its journey from the party with highest number of seats to the party with a majority had its share of drama and intrigue. Yes, it did manage the number game and managed to survive one full year in the office. Although its not all hunky dory, it may survive its full term. But the captain of the team, the Chief Minister B.S. Yadiyurappa is not a team man. He has difficulty in taking everybody along. There are many disgruntled members in his cabinet. All complain about his style of functioning. According to a columnist Pratap Sinha of Vijay Karnataka. ‘Yadiyurappa must give up that pride of ‘I’ in him. BJP is not a one man party, it was built and sustained by faceless millions. All big names in BJP are not born to riches. They all acquired riches after tasting political power. He needs to have some mental space for his ministerial colleagues, to talk to them with trust and amiability. He needs to cultivate the good nature of earlier incumbents like former Chief Ministers Kumarswami and SM Krishna?’ He concluded by bluntly telling B.S. Yadiyurappa that “After all it is not your government, it is the government under your leadership Mr. B.S. Yadiyurappa. If you do not understand this, and if saving your chair is your only programme you will be hunted by people, like what is happening to Buddhadev in West Bengal”. Thus, it’s a rough ride, besides there’s nothing much really to show-case the government’s performance. Government led by B.S. Yadiyurappa has to pull up its socks, if they are having visions of returning back to power in 2013.
After GN Patil, the brother of President Pratibha Patil, its the turn of Dr Padamsinh Patil of NCP who is accused of murder. Dr Patil is a medical doctor, an MP and a former Minister of Maharashtra, is accused of hatching conspiracy to kill congress leader Pavanraje Nimbalkar and social activist Anna Hazare. Nimbalkar and his driver was killed in June 2006. The Maharashtra police under home minister R R Patil, a NCP nominee, gave a clean chit to Dr Patil. When the case was transferred to CBI, at the instance of Nimbalkar’s son, it started to look at the case afresh. So on June 7, 2009 the law finally caught up with the NCP man. News papers say Sharad Pawar, the NCP supremo was embarrassed at the latest development. Yes nobody likes to be caught with pants down. But the question is, how clean is this Sharad Pawar himself? And would CBI work with the same zeal if Dr Patil was a Congress man and not an NCP man and a brother-in-law of Ajith Pawar, a nephew of Sharad Pawar? Isn’t the lenear mathematics at the centre taking its toll either way? This is the seamier side of Yeh Mera India
Women’s reservation has again come back to the centre stage with vertical split among different political parties. The Yadav trio is opposing the bill in the present form ostensibly to have reservation within reservations, which Congress & BJP are opposing. But what is important is we are only talking of empowering the already empowered and not the marginalised. We need to look into the issue in right perspective. Therefore we have taken up the issue under Focus. Hope you will find it interesting. Do revert with your valued inputs. Rest of the issues are as usual.
Time and tide waits for no man, so are the events. There have been five important to very important developments happening in the Indian sub continent. The Congress party has won an emphatic victory after a longtime, more than ten years to be sure. That has ushered in a hopefully stable government led by an honest man but also happens to be strong, this time round. The share market which is the immediate barometer of events in the country is very upbeat. Hopefully the economy should look up and so shall the expectations of an expectant nation are not bellied. While its generally accepted that no government can provide solutions to all its problems at all times, it is eminently possible to address most of them with sensitivity and honesty. Since it is recognized that bottleneck is always at the top, mercifully we have a top which is transparent and means business. It is therefore reasonable to believe that Sardar Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of the country shall do all he can to make life better for all those who need betterment. That’s the macro picture of the India of 2009/10.
To our west is Pakistan with its hands fully engaged in combat with the terrorists, insurgents and Islamic warriors in Swat valley and other surrounding areas. While the government in Islamabad is giving an impression that they are slowly gaining upper hand, with lots of armed terrorists and insurgents falling prey to the attacks by the army and other government forces. On the face of it, it’s purely an internal matter of Pakistan, however it’s undeniable how the whole world is looking at the happening there with deep concern. Since the situation across the border is still very fluid, it is too early for India to arrive at any considered stand in the ongoing diplomatic impasse, prevailing between the two neighbours.
At the eastern border is Bangladesh; where the new government of Sheikh Hassina has completed her first 100 days of her governance. Trouble that erupted with BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) attacking the army barracks in Feb 2009, and causing the massacre of some 80 men including 57 army officers, was largely controlled. This particular mutiny by BDR had all the potential of spinning out of control and in all probability could have become a serious problem for India from the eastern border state. But that Sheikh Hassina has not only managed to control the situation going out of hand, she has won accolades for keeping both BDR and the army which wanted to storm the BDR headquarters, post massacre, but greatly succeeded in pacifying not to resort to retaliatory counter attacks. According to the survey conducted by A.C Neilson, the result published were very encouraging for the government of Sheikh Hassina. On three counts her government has been given the thumbs up. Managing the economy, managing BDR mutiny, so also, curbing militancy are the areas where approval ratings have been very high. However law and order, has seen certain deterioration, largely due to the extortion activity of Chaatra League, the student wing of Awami League, the dominant party in the new government. Here, in relation to the effect on India, it needs to be stressed that Sheikh Hassina has managed to greatly curb the activities of Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh, the militant group, which was very active in its anti-India tirade. That’s a kind of good news for India. The recent cyclonic devastation has provided an opportunity for Indian government at the centre to reach out to Sheikh Hassina and play more diplomatically meaningful role. Hope the mandarins under S M Krishna seize the opportunity to go one up.
Then you have Nepal, still struggling to come to terms with the new found democratic ground realities. While Monarchy is consigned to the history, Prachanda, the unhappy man of the largest political party, the Nepalese Maoists, is having difficulty in democratically accepting other parties in a spirit of give and take. He is suffering from dictatorial streak so also a bit of anti- Indianness in him.
While the situation in Nepal is still far from stable, the attitude of Prachanda and his party is causing worry to not only Nepal but also to India. A new government without Prachanda has been formed, but is already suffering from the politics of coalition and the individual ambition of its leaders. The instability in the northern neighbourhood shall provide a fertile pond for Chinese to fish in the troubled waters which can snowball into greater problems for India with Maoists clearly favouring Chinese as against India. For the mandarins in the MEA, the job is clearly cut out.
Coming to South, troubled nation Sri Lanka has found peace after all. But is it the peace of grave, with many macabre happenings of the war on LTTE, like mass graves, popping up into the open!
Violence of LTTE is matched by the violence of Sri Lankan army, so are its cruelties. Only difference was Sri Lankan army killed only LTTE cadres or its leadership by design and sometime even civilians, whereas LTTE always killed Sri Lankans, their leaders and army personal by design but also included their own Tamil brethren who appeared impediments, liberals and those who challenged Prabhakaran’s authority. LTTE also forced reluctant children to join its cadres so also used them as human shield. During the last 25 years thousands have perished in their ethnic conflict. Now it’s all over. The state, the stronger, has won. Having won, Rajpakse and his brother have the responsibility of treating them as equal citizens of Sri Lanka and not as second class citizens. The government in Colombo has to come out with a package that would at least make the Tamil population feel better that the coming days can only make them feel more hopeful. Of course there was this Sri Lankan journalist who was mysteriously killed some months ago by some ‘unknown’ assailants, for posing uncomfortable questions to the government. There’s going to be lot of such questions faced by the victorious government. Should they fail to address these questions quickly and sensitively, the resultant restlessness can lead to far more serious situation than what the government in Colombo can fathom. Hope that does not happen. Of course any restlessness cannot remain in Lanka only, without affecting the Indian states in the south. Therefore Indian government, should take up sensible approaches to address the issue of Tamils wisely, reasonably and quickly, of course within the one nation theory.
The stock taking by Communists have zeroed on the exit of Prakash Karat, the hardcore ideologue. While it is true that they have recognized that they completely failed in their approach to last election, their one point programme of disassociating from Congress is what did them in. And Prakash Karat was the man responsible for this disassociation and the resultant debacle. Also, the 3rd front was merely a platform of ambitious selfish leaders who had their private agenda in coming together. Having lost heavily in Loksabha election, the party in West Bengal is facing heavy odds in the ensuing assembly election. With Mamata didi, having focused her eyes on Writers Bldg, Buddadeb and company are having jitters. It may as well be the beginning of the end of Communist influence in West Bengal. Coming to Kerala, the situation of Communists is no better. Having lost to Congress heavily in the last Loksabha election and the Lavalin controversy being referred to CBI by the governor and Chief Minister Achutanandan on a kind of war with the party, the future for LEFT doesn’t appear right. The latest trick of attempting to win over madrasaas by granting pensions to all its maulvies after completion of only 10 years of service can boomerang. This is crass appeasement, especially because other teachers all over the state are eligible only after 30 years of service. Like all their earlier tricks this too shall not help the party politically, but shall succeed in dividing the society on communal lines. Any political party that tries to divide the society by their acts of commission and omission should be dumped without second thought.
There was this Kenyan whistle blower, John Githongo a former Anti corruption Chief of Kenya. He probed his own government and uncovered a far reaching scam extending to the highest levels of his party and then decides to tell the world. His very remarkable story was carried to the world by one Michela Wrong. Although her name is Wrong, fortunately she wrote a right book, unlike her name, and she called it most appropriately “Its Our Turn to Eat”, although “Its our Turn to Loot” could have been better.
What happened while forming the ministry in New Delhi last month between Prime Minister Man mohan Singh and the DMK leadership vividly brought back the visions of this book. In Kenya, allegedly, ‘Winning elections confers licence to steal’. How far behind are Indians in this aspect of governance, where politicians and bureaucrats make unaccounted wealth at the cost of country’s development? It is an issue the governments, both at centre and states have to address seriously. The corruption in public life has grown to such gargantuan proportions, with nobody asking questions about the disproportionately growing wealth of ministers and their hangers-on including babus and middlemen. This aspect of our governance has to be addressed in right earnest, or else another ‘Sampoorna Kranti’, a la JP movement, will become inevitable.
The news that bullet proof jackets supplied to Hemant Karkare and others by the Maharashtra police were really not bullet proof came rather as a shock. There have been reports that Chief Minister Chawan has not been very forth coming replying to querries regarding the details of purchase of these jackets and its source. An RTI activist Santosh Daundkar who had demanded details of these purchases was told that relevant files are missing. It is becoming clear that there is a lot being hidden by the Maharashtra police and are not coming out clean. Blood of those senior police officers is clearly on the hands of bureaucracy who made the purchases of those sub standard killer jackets. Media must necessarily pressurise the Maharashtra government to come clean and fix responsibility, or else it will be another, like many other, instances where bureaucrats have gone scot free with political help.
There was this Dhaka date lined small news item in the print media which said “Dhaka launches manhunt for Dawood’s men”. Isn’t this interesting? This fugitive criminal called Dawood Ibrahim is wanted in India for committing many dastardly crimes against the Indian nation but the “man hunt launched” against this enemy of humanity in Dhaka, is in Bangladesh. This fugitive surely must be having his network in Pakistan, where he is hiding. Similarly he is having his network in Bangladesh. He is making his money and acquiring what money can buy, in all places, to wage war against India. But the new leadership of Bangladesh do not want him in their country. What Sheik Hassina is doing should not only be commended but the Indian government must assist her in all possible ways to get at the network of this criminal Dawood Ibrahim. Pakistan should learn from their cousins in the erstwhile East Pakistan how to measure up to the demands of better governance. Which also means, India too has lessons to be learnt from its eastern neighbour.
A senior police officer in Dhaka, according to media report, has confirmed that ‘two former ministers, three lawmakers and seven businessmen patronised the gang’ without naming them. Isn’t it true that situation in India also is similar? How many times such reports regarding our ministers and politician have come from our police departments, either in Mumbai or in Delhi? Isn’t our system of policing dishonest? Is Mr. Manmohan Singh listening along with his Harward qualified home minister?
Continuing attacks on Indian students in Australia is a matter of concern. Although the media and some quarters in government levels have called it racist, it gives an appearance of being slightly different. For most of us its only the print and the electronic media that provide us inputs. Even some Australians have called it non-racist. What most opinion makers are refraining to comment and admit, is the influence of Indians in global technical employment opportunities. Unlike olden days of pre-1990s, the number of employable Indians have greatly increased. They are not only good but also inexpensive, and therefore become very attractive for most western countries. Unfortunately this attraction has become the bane of most locals, from skinheads to the present attacks in Australia. Thus, if the print details are any indications to go-by, the attackers are asking for money and if you don’t have or do not give they attack you. So, what underlines these attacks are that, they want part of your future income now only, before you get the job which otherwise could/ would go to the locals. Of course it is easier to dismiss these acts as racial to make it sound repugnant. In any case, job for the Australian authorities, is cutout. They have to act not merely to stabilize the confidence of Indian students in Australia, but these attacks are abhorrent under universal human rights declaration. MEA at Delhi has to articulate its strong points of view on the subject and continue the efforts of PM Manmohan Singh to pressure the Australian government to act. At this point the observation by the junior MEA minister Shashi Tharoor that these attacks are an internal matter of Australia defies logic.
The visit of Obama to Egypt to address the Islamic world is certainly historic by any account. Surely, there cannot be instant panacea for all the problems faced between the Muslim world and the rest of the world, especially the west and more particularly the U.S. It shall surely be a long drawn out affair. But every long journey has to start with the first step. Obama has taken this first step. If the Muslim world shall take one step forward, Obama shall either match it or improve it by one more step. There is a ring of sincerity in his words. Most Arabs were bowled by his disarming honesty and straight forwardness. For an American president to be taken on his face value, it’s a complete metamorphosis. With Obama world shall surely be a better place. Of course, like all humans, Obama too can make his share of mistakes.
He gave a fine speech like a true wordsmith. America would leave Iraq after all, he said. Israel and Palestine has to be a reality to be accepted by both, he reiterated. Terrorism must be wiped out from both Afghanistan and Pakistan, he asserted. It was all, right noises, but would it all be delivered? One has to wait and see, with right wingers in Israel already calling him ‘Jew hater’.
There was this stupid case of ‘rape’ of a teenaged domestic helper by her film actor boss being aired as a catastrophe by T.V. channels with like of Rajdeep Sardesai and others spending hours of T.V. time to the chagrin of most viewers. Stupid because there is a police department who took charge of the case who are expected to do justice to the case, without these T.V. channels sensationalizing the issue. Its stupid because, these T.V. channels had only passing reference once or twice about the ‘Aila’ cyclone that hit West Bengals Midnapore district, where over 100 people died and property worth hundreds of crores destroyed. Its stupid because it was involving a cinema star and therefore very juicy. Besides from the way things appear it is apparent to be a consensual act. The possibility that the guy is being framed is not without basis.
Another reason why this is called stupid, is because these channels have no time to chase a news coming from Swiss Banks that “Indian Authorities are dragging their feet on Black Money”. There is this story of Pune based stud farm owner Hassan Ali Khan who is accused of stashing away nearly $ 6 billion in Swiss Bank. In a major embarrassment to the UPA government Swiss justice Department has informed the government in Delhi that it had received forged documents from New Delhi two years ago involving this Hassan Ali in money laundering case. Despite the knowledge of Enforcement Directorate at Delhi, the Swiss spokesman was reported to have claimed that Swiss government submitted some querries to the government of India as far back as April 2007, but had not received any reply even after 24 months. He has reportedly also stated that “India makes only few requests per year to Switzerland for assistance in tracking down black money”. Now this is some Rs 30,000 crores worth news of ill gotten money that belongs to this country, and our T.V. channels have no time. And they have all the time in the world to chase an apparently fake rape case because it involved a celebrity.
That brings us face to face with the sad truth that governments come and governments go, but the show of rich men plundering the national wealth and siphoning it off to far off lands beyond the national laws with the connivance and purchased silence of men in power go on and on. Of course LK Advani made some noise, but he didn’t do much either when in power. But the Congress party which ruled the country for over 45 years of 61 years of India as a free country could have done so much, yet failed to do. Where should the common man go for a just and fair society?
The incumbent government in Bangalore has completed a year in the office. For the BJP, there is every reason to feel elated that it has managed to instal a first BJP government in the south on its own and that it has completed its full one year without any hick-up. Of course its journey from the party with highest number of seats to the party with a majority had its share of drama and intrigue. Yes, it did manage the number game and managed to survive one full year in the office. Although its not all hunky dory, it may survive its full term. But the captain of the team, the Chief Minister B.S. Yadiyurappa is not a team man. He has difficulty in taking everybody along. There are many disgruntled members in his cabinet. All complain about his style of functioning. According to a columnist Pratap Sinha of Vijay Karnataka. ‘Yadiyurappa must give up that pride of ‘I’ in him. BJP is not a one man party, it was built and sustained by faceless millions. All big names in BJP are not born to riches. They all acquired riches after tasting political power. He needs to have some mental space for his ministerial colleagues, to talk to them with trust and amiability. He needs to cultivate the good nature of earlier incumbents like former Chief Ministers Kumarswami and SM Krishna?’ He concluded by bluntly telling B.S. Yadiyurappa that “After all it is not your government, it is the government under your leadership Mr. B.S. Yadiyurappa. If you do not understand this, and if saving your chair is your only programme you will be hunted by people, like what is happening to Buddhadev in West Bengal”. Thus, it’s a rough ride, besides there’s nothing much really to show-case the government’s performance. Government led by B.S. Yadiyurappa has to pull up its socks, if they are having visions of returning back to power in 2013.
After GN Patil, the brother of President Pratibha Patil, its the turn of Dr Padamsinh Patil of NCP who is accused of murder. Dr Patil is a medical doctor, an MP and a former Minister of Maharashtra, is accused of hatching conspiracy to kill congress leader Pavanraje Nimbalkar and social activist Anna Hazare. Nimbalkar and his driver was killed in June 2006. The Maharashtra police under home minister R R Patil, a NCP nominee, gave a clean chit to Dr Patil. When the case was transferred to CBI, at the instance of Nimbalkar’s son, it started to look at the case afresh. So on June 7, 2009 the law finally caught up with the NCP man. News papers say Sharad Pawar, the NCP supremo was embarrassed at the latest development. Yes nobody likes to be caught with pants down. But the question is, how clean is this Sharad Pawar himself? And would CBI work with the same zeal if Dr Patil was a Congress man and not an NCP man and a brother-in-law of Ajith Pawar, a nephew of Sharad Pawar? Isn’t the lenear mathematics at the centre taking its toll either way? This is the seamier side of Yeh Mera India
Women’s reservation has again come back to the centre stage with vertical split among different political parties. The Yadav trio is opposing the bill in the present form ostensibly to have reservation within reservations, which Congress & BJP are opposing. But what is important is we are only talking of empowering the already empowered and not the marginalised. We need to look into the issue in right perspective. Therefore we have taken up the issue under Focus. Hope you will find it interesting. Do revert with your valued inputs. Rest of the issues are as usual.
Comments