MONTH THAT WAS
Friends
When we crossed 10 years in the print media, after multiple highs and lows, we indeed felt justifiably very excited. Now that we have turned 11 last month, we are more relaxed, although mildly excited, all the same. Looking back over the shoulders, the labyrinth that we traversed had all the makings of trekking in woods with its own cliffs and valleys. Yes, thank God we remained reasonably unscathed. And going ahead with renewed vigour with the help of our patrons, friends and well wishers.
Yes, coming to the participative readership, we go back to what Dr K. N. Prabhu in Sept. 11 issue had suggested and echoed by Dr K V Venkataramana in Oct. 11 issue. Hence we have decided to stop all present life subscription at 15 years instead of the 25 years we had proposed initially. Hope our valued readers wouldn’t mind this change, forced purely on economic reason. The change shall be effective from Nov. 2011. Of course, for those who insist that we must keep our promise of 25 years, we shall keep it, only if one insists in writing to do so. Kindly help us to help you. Keep this periodical alive.
One of our staunch well wisher, a lady subscriber reader, asked the other day. ‘Do you think it is possible to have, even peanuts, for 25 long years for Rs. 1000/-? And you have offered to give this impressive periodical for 2 ½ decades for this paltry sum of Rs. 1000/-. How do you do that?’ She asked in bewilderment. Except a smile we could offer no answer. What she was saying was absolutely true. Only we knew how it has hurt us. She articulated the ISSUE succinctly. Her CONCERN did warm us up.
Month began with the Principal District and Session Judge of Dharmapuri passing a judgement of holding a whole contingent of 269 as criminals in the attack that happened 19 years ago in the tribal hamlet of Vachathi in Western Tamil Nadu bordering close to Karnataka. On 20th Jan 1992, a large contingent of forest and police officials descended on the village, ostensibly to unearth large scale sandalwood smuggling. Although for record the team claimed to have recovered large quantity of sandalwood, they were found guilty of ransacking property, destruction of tribal houses and killing their cattle, besides men in uniform having raped around 20 women of the tribe. Of course the state government took the side of the officials, but the Civil Society persistence forced the Madras High Court to handover the case to CBI in 1995. The sixteen years trial after all, did end with 215 of Tamil Nadu officials and lower level staff being convicted for prison terms ranging from 2 years to 10 years imprisonment, 54 officials in the mean while having died. Of course it has been rather a very long wait for the men and women of Vachathi.
Surely many of those, who suffered ignominy at the hands of these cruel men in uniform, may have died as well, waiting for the day of deliverance. However it is to the credit of the system which took along, those who fought for justice, for all these years, despite inadequacies and obvious iniquities in the polity. But why at all this has happened?
Is it because of the social structure in place for ages, where exploitation and suppression, has a vertical mobility down ward bereft of any democratic camouflage? Of course Indian society has been evolving, although very slowly, towards a more egalitarian and humane kinship. And this judgement, though belated, should only help things improve to a better degree of tolerance and acceptance especially from those in power.
The arrest of Sanjiv Bhatt, the courageous IPS from Gujarat, is quite simply vindictive and devoid of any justice. It could be true that Sanjiv Bhatt may not be a paragon of virtue, but by arresting him because of a constable’s complaint has exposed the vulnerability of Gujarat government, especially the CEO of Gujarat Mr Narendra Modi. While it may not be very easy to hold candle to the senior cop for his involvement apparently with opposition politicians and some of the less than evenhanded NGO/media combine, he may well have some points to make. It is rare that any serving officer taking on the govt of the day, but he could well have said in 2002, instead of almost 10 years late, when it could have better influenced the course of the sorry events, rather than the course of investigations, which will only help in keeping alive the divide, rather than finding solutions, to bridge the divide. That Narendra Modi, apparently trying to make the difference to the social scene, needs to be revisited by the media, in the light of the deposition by the cop, and try to find a middle of the road approach in the larger interest of the social fabric rather than proving who is right or who is wrong, so late in the day. Hope it happens.
The Supreme Court’s order on setting up SIT to probe the black money cases has understandably upset the UPA government at the centre. Prime Minister has always complained about the pro-active role of apex court in recent times. What Prime Minister Singh has failed to accept and appreciate is apex court has come into intervene only when the executive has failed to perform its legitimate and expected role, for far too long. But what is disturbing is the split decision of the Supreme Court, when UPA government approached it to recall the court’s order to set up SIT to probe black money. If the Supreme Court had decided to set up Special Investigation Team (SIT) with 15 members, including 2 Apex Court judges along with the directors of CBI, IB, ED, CBDT chairman and many others of equally high rank, it must have applied itself to the seriousness of the issue, before ordering the setting up of SIT, and therefore its maintainability should have been beyond review. Hence the split decision is indeed surprising. Hope the reference to Chief Justice Kapadia for a larger bench, will set at rest the speculation entertained by the union government.
Rise and fall of former Chief Minister of Karnataka Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yediyurappa (BSY) is a stuff of Shakespearean tragedy. Coming from not so well-to-do family, he made his foray into politics in 1975 as a municipal council member in Shikaripura in Shimoga distt. Within 8 years in 1983, he entered the Vidhana Saudha, and since then did not look back. He won every election to the assembly. He tasted power as an opposition leader in 2004, and became the Deputy Chief Minister of first JDS-BJP co-alition government in 2006, with an understanding that he will be made the Chief Minister in the middle of the period of the co-alition.But somehow JDS went back on its words and the government collapsed to pave way for the election. BSY, adapt at scoring political points, using the broken promise of JDS, romped home as the largest party close to a simple majority. He managed blatant buying of MLAs with the Reddy brothers’ funding. Money power propelled Reddys to the centre stage of Karnataka politics and they hovered over BSY government as a Sword of Damocles. Being a bit of a dictator, he blundered by forcing his lady friend as a minister of prominence, which was resented from across the state BJP. Of course it is important to have some dependable deputies for a chief to perform better, but the blue eyed boy of BJP in South wasn’t sensitive enough to this Shobha dimension within the government. Thus it created hugely avoidable headaches and heartache for both his political and personal life. Thus it was his over- confidence that did him in. In a democratic set-up, it pays to be moderate in everything one does. Weakness for Mannu (earth) Honnu (wealth) Hennu (woman) in Kannada are the precursors of eventual fall of men of prominence, and that is what happened to BSY. Sometime turn of events can be such that we shall have no time to regret. Surely in the VVIP cell of Parappana Agrahara jail the strongman from Shikaripura must be ruing his moves that failed him. Hope all those in power and hoping to be in power, do find a lesson or two, in the meteoric rise of BSY and his fall equally like a meteor.
In an India, where reaping demographic dividend by official policies have never happened, the initiatives by the Karnataka Government along with Vocational Education Qualification Framework is praise worthy. It is a well known fact that we have a huge unemployment problem, but there is a serious problem of shortage of skilled hands. So it is the non-employability that needs to be addressed. While population continues to be a big economic problem, policies by both, states and centre, can at least help mitigate the hugeness of the issue by making youth better equipped to avail the opportunities available in a globalised market place. The initiative of the state government in deciding to introduce vocational courses from 9th standard in government schools, on voluntary basis, deserves to be commended. Of course an interface with the industry will go a long way in not only creating infrastructure for vocational training but also can address the industry need of trained manpower at middle and lower levels. Hope the initiative transforms itself into a meaningful policy to make a real difference at the ground level.
The news “BJP activist hits the minister with slipper” need not raise eyebrows. This is the spirit of the times we live in. Footwear has become a missile of a kind, starting with George Bush to the latest attack on minister Somanna of the Karnataka Cabinet, there have been increasing attacks on senior leaders in different parts of the world. If George Bush was hit because of patriotic hurt of the Iraqi journalist, the one at Bangalore Secretariat was blatantly for a selfish reason. The guy, a BJP worker probably, wanted some government largesse like a Chairmanship of some govt. company or agency. Of course the minister trivialised the whole episode in public, but there could be some quid pro quo arrangement, “You work for my victory I’ll take care of you”. One part of the deal was thru, the minister had won in the election and had become minister, but the minister’s promise could have been made, without the intent to keep it. Or else, how could an ordinary party activist take such a drastic step as hitting a minister, no less, with slipper?!!
Darvinder Singh, a resident of Bhagote village, some 140 km north of Jammu, has reportedly sent a demand draft for Rs: 26/- to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, asking then to show how to spend a day on Rs: 26/-, the planning commission bench mark for non-poor people. The villager had reportedly stated that the ‘said bench mark is an insult to crores of poor of the country’. It is good, a Sardar has sent this to another Sardar, in fact two of them, the PM and the Dy. Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia. What is sad is, Ahluwalia continues to harp on the relevance of Rs: 26/- and Rs: 32/- as the good enough money to manage a day in a village and city respectively, across India. How can one be so wonkey and display a complete lack of sensitivity and knowledge of ground realities in India, despite being incharge of development planning for so long?
Our whole investigative system, from Delhi to state capitals, work rather too slowly, when people with power and money are involved. There could be any number of instances where cases involving VIPs and VVIPs have been soft peddled for years by government controlled agencies like CBI or state police machineries. Take the case of Hassan Ali, the notorious stud farm owner as a front activity – who is allegedly involved in billions of $ money laundering, besides other crimes, who is closely connected with another notorious international wheeler dealer Adnan Khashoggi. Instead of CBI or the Maharashtra police, here is a common man, a concerned Indian who has filed a Miscellaneous Application under MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) in the session court of judge SM Modak invoking action against Hassan Ali. Now the judge has asked the Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik to file a reply. All Indians, privy to the media, know that this has been a simmering case against Hassan Ali – the Rs: 100,000 crores Income Tax unpaid due, money laundering, black money in tax havens, scores of fake passports – since a long time and authorities have been dragging their feet indefinitely in their own gingerly pace. Isn’t it a shame, that an activist had to move the court to even make the deptts. realise their failings and therefore their responsibilities? And Prime Minister Singh says both courts and CAG should not cross their constitutional limits! Oh how this babudom and police with politicians’ complicity have let our Mother India down!!
The news that “Rabbanis’s murder was planned in Pakistan”, need not surprise anyone who knows, how Pakistan works against its nieghbours. We in India have time and again provided evidence of every kind on the involvement of Pakistani nationals and their official agencies, in terror strikes against India and Indians, including the attack on Indian Embassy in Kabul. But every time Pakistan denied, as is normal with them. Now comes the hard evidence from Kabul on the killing of former Afghan President Prof Burhunuddin Rabbani. No wonder, for the first time U.S. administration of Barack Obama is coming very heavily on Pakistan to ‘Behave or else……! The recent visit of Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of state had all the features of no-nonsense approach. Of course, as usual, Pakistan tried to show off its ‘nuclear capability’ and warned of serious consequences if U.S. military gets involved inside Pakistan. How far this brinkmanship will go, has to be seen. Of course Pakistan cannot simply afford to antagonise U.S, so also U.S has its own set of problems, not to push Pakistan too far. In any event, Pakistan’s duplicity is getting exposed, and that is a positive development for India.
Jairam Ramesh, as usual makes, news with waves, wherever he goes. In environment ministry, he was the blue eyed boy of environmentalists, and industry had a love/hate relationship. That he is an IITan and urbane, makes him bit exclusive from among the semiliterate bunch of political jokers in and around Delhi. Now that he is the boss at Rural Development Ministry has given him a vast canvass to operate. He is already on his job and has given a certificate of “Poor Execution” to the flagship job guarantee scheme of the UPA. He is on record having said “There are serious, serious shortcomings in the implementation of MGNREGA. The record of its implementation is very patchy”. Most of the time, its journalist activists like P. Sainath and his ilk who kept saying negative things about this scheme, and rarely a minister from the ruling party had admitted. People like Jairam Ramesh bring freshness and open approach to the functioning of a ministry. He is a no-nonsense and yet intellectually flexible politician and instantly commands respect. He had no problem in admitting openly at a programme that there have been cases where NREGA scheme funds have been diverted to buy Boleros and Pajeros, the high end Mitsubishi SUVs while recognising that “there are very serious issues in its implementations”. He had reportedly stated that “scheme get more yawns within the country than outside”, for its ineffective implementation.
If NREG scheme was criticised for its shoddy implementation he has squarely blamed all governments, both at state and at centre for the birth and growth of naxalism, and has already set in motion the employment creation steps in rural and tribal belt on massive scale. He has also come down heavily on the poor sanitation across rural India. “Open defecation is a blot on India’s image. There is no other country in the world where 60% of women population have to go to the field for open defecation. These women do not have access to hygiene. This is actually a very sad commentary on our society. We seem to be doing nothing about it” he said at a function organised by Project: Hunger.
D.P.Tripathi, a general secretary of NCP of Sharad Pawar is in the news, for right reasons fortunately. NCP is known to be in the news, mostly for wrong reasons, due to the machinations of its chief and his coterie, and his proximity to questionable characters. However, whatever the reason, the decision of Mr Tripathi to write a book on a Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, is commendable. What is significant is, that he released it on 2nd Oct. 2011, being Gandhi Jayanti day at Lahore. What Tripathi claimed was that both Gandhi and Faiz were both advocates of peace, and hence his decision to release it on 2nd Oct. While it is beyond the wildest imagination of anybody to compare Gandhi, the Mahatma, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz, the poet, who migrated to Pakistan, this is a welcome addition of confidence building efforts for the sake of peace in the sub-continent, to alter the average mindset of Pakistani civil society. Mr Tripathi had reportedly equated both Mahatma and Faiz Ahmed as ‘two historical figures, who worked for peace throughout their lives’. By all account Faiz Ahmed Faiz must be a peace loving man, but by any stretch of imagination, to elevate him to the level of Mahatma Gandhi, is far fetched. Could it be that there is an unstated agenda of promoting NCP interest in electoral arena?! Hope it is not.
Suddenly Income Tax department is very active, when it comes to Anna associates. Media was full of reports on the notices to Arvind Kejriwal and latest being the news of Rs. 9 lakh recovery notice that reportedly Kejriwal received. And comes the news “IT notice to NGO’s associated with Bedi”. Reportedly notices pertain to certain exemptions enjoyed by them under different provisions of the Income Tax Act. While, on record, Kiran Bedi did not attribute any motive to the notices and their coming to-gether at the same time, it is very apparent that somewhere along the line, the dirty tricks department is alive and kicking. It certainly portray the central government in poor light. It wins neither friends nor influences people. And as it stands, both Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi have welcomed the government’s negative initiative. This action by the government will only help the Anna Team image.
The news that “India to train Afghan forces” is a welcome development. Besides the regional co-operation, the pre-eminence of India as regional power has to be asserted, at least on a low key. But at the end of the day, it is the empowerment of Afghan people that should be the priority of Indian government. The co-operation between India and Afghan has a long history and need to be sustained for the good of both countries. In an atmosphere of hostility from our immediate western neighbour, it is in the interest of India, to be seen as somebody genuinely helping Afghanistan in its moments of need. This helping approach can help us even-out things with Iran. The Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) reportedly covers co-operation in the fields of political, security, trade and economic tie-ups, capacity building, so also educational, social, cultural, civil society, and people to people relation besides training Afghan National Security Forces. This co-operation shall effectively keep Pakistan at a distance, with whom Afghanistan is disillusioned after the killing of former President Rabbani. Reportedly Haqqani group was responsible for the killing of Rabbani with the involvement of Pakistan’s ISI, and Afghanistan was most unhappy with the incident. Thus this SPA should go a long way in strengthening relationship between both countries and to the advantage of both countries. Also, since it is the peace time co-operation, international community shall take a serious note of it, so shall the other Islamic countries. This will surely help the image of the ‘Idea of India’.
Conducting Essay Competitions and Elocution Competitions in schools and colleges on the eve of Gandhi Jayanthi has been an on-going exercise by many social organisations. However the activities of Bomaby Sarvodaya Mandal (BSM) have been highly inspiring and exemplary. According to reports from Mumbai, some 1100 jail inmates from across the state of Maharashtra took Gandhi Peace Examination on 2nd Oct, with another 3000 convicts lined up for the examinations in small batches through the year. Although this programme of examination is there as a reform exercise for jail inmates, its effect has been far deeper in transforming these criminals into responsible citizens. Of course exposure to life and times of Father of the Nation can have salutary effect on these victims of time and circumstances, to help them recognise their own role in nation building in whatever little way its possible. BSM Chief TRK Somayya was on record saying that one Laxman Gole, a hard core criminal, has so completely turned over a new leaf that he has become a full time management consultant. In fact, according to reports, on 1st Oct., he gave an inspiring speech to some 350 students of Chetana Instt. Of Management Studies, Bandra, Mumbai, on “Gandhi & Management”. That is indeed a metamorphosis. Yes BSM should be commended for their inspiring and exemplary efforts in making a huge difference to the society around them.
It used to be medical colleges in Karnataka which were employing doctors on daily basis whenever Indian Medical Council Members used to visit to check the facilities and doctors’ strength in the proposed colleges. These colleges used to pay some Rs: 25000/- per day as payment. In Karnataka, marketing medical seats is a hugely successful business and therefore to pay these one day/2 days’ doctor’s, huge payment was possible. Now comes the case of Aided Schools verification in Mumbai. In the wake of this verification drive, these school are on overdrive to literally buy boys and girls students from unaided schools so also young farm hands from the fields at Rs: 1000/- per day per student. After all, at stake is the huge government grants. Of course, like it is possible to buy Medical Council Members, it should also be possible to buy education deptt. Inspectors. It was reported recently that all over Maharashtra many schools existed only on papers, and some with very low number of students, but were still siphoning off huge government grants. So you know where does our education ministry budgets go. Thus free India spends thousands of crores of rupees but still our literacy rate leaves much to be desired. This is one more type of ‘chori’, or can it be called loot of public money? And it is happening in Anna's home state!
In an attempt to partly stem the spree in murders of RTI activists, Central Information Commission (CIC) took a decision to go public with information sought by these activists before they were murdered. This is a positive move, as the information so sought and presently made public, can give some clue to the possible cause of murder and who probably committed. Of course there could be more than one information sought and hence there could be complication in identifying the murderer. In any case, the proposed move by the CIC can drive some unease into the minds of possible criminals. Of course, this action may not be of major help in the resolution of the problem, but shall help all the same. Something is better than nothing.
What is happening to Pakistan? There have been series of killings of minority Hazara Shias in and around Quetta. Community has been accusing the police of abject failure to protect them despite repeated pleas and attacks. Come to think of it, if this is the state of minority Muslims what about fate of minority non-Muslims? Its indeed very tragic that the government in Pakistan cannot control the fundamentalist terror outfits on their soil. And comes the news that judge Parvez Ali Shah who gave the judgement awarding the death sentence to the assassin of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, has gone on indefinite leave. After – believe it not - a group of lawyers attacked the office of the judge in the court, for awarding capital punishment to the killer Malik Husain Qadri, Justice Shah felt helpless, as there were also death threats, which led to his indefinite leave. If this is the case of judge, then what about ordinary citizens! Can even God save Pakistan?
Global rating firms are in the news these days. If S&P had shocked the U.S. out of its wits, some time ago, they have shocked Italy as well with downgrading their sovereign ratings. And now comes Moody’s downgrading State Bank of India, the biggest Indian Bank, over the deterioration of asset quality. Of course this need not shock us. Our public sector banks are known to have financed many questionable projects with equally questionable apprisals which have resulted in soaring NPAs. The present NPA of all banks could be close to 100,000 crores, despite all imaginative window dressing undertaken jointly between corporate houses and bank management, where it helps both to save their skin at the market place, so also with the Ombudsman at the RBI. It’s a corruption of another kind, probably beyond Lokpal!
Corruption no doubt is probably the biggest problem the country is facing, all other issues are the byproducts of this national malaise. All political parties are responsible for the state of the nation and no political party can be absolved of this raging crime. Of course all political parties do have good and honest people who hold hope for a better future. But what is the good of the good people if they are not better in dealing with the issues, atleast, within their party forums? Union government of the Congress makes always extra efforts to put BJP in the dock, while glossing over their allies DMK’s massive loot of national wealth. Their voting allies BSP and SP – on whom CBI decided to go slow because they helped the government in the test of strength in the parliament is known to all. But media too does not take it up. Besides Maharashtra is reeking in corruption cases, and nobody is talking about it. What about Goa mining scandal? Andhra Pradesh is another, there too CBI is chasing Jaganmohan Reddy, since he left Congress. If Karnataka has been exposed it is only because of Lokayukta and why can’t Maharashtra have Lokayukta? and nobody answers the querry. Lokpal is being persued by a bunch of honest people. May be it holds some hope and people too think the same way. Will the UPA government act?
Sri Ram Sena is a disagrace to the memory of Maryaada Purushottam Sri Ram. If people like Mutalik are the leaders of this outfit, even Sri Ram may not be able to save them. Remember the Tehelka scoop! Of course Tehelka is known for the scoops, rightly or wrongly. But for once they caught the real villain, when they caught on camera, wheeling dealing of this Mutalik, who reportedly agreed for a large sum for creating a riot. The men who barged into Prashant Bhushan’s chamber in Supreme Court and beat him up are reportedly, the disciples of this Mutalik. If they are the types who would cause a riot for money, it is no surprise that they did it to Mr Bhushan, probably for money. In any case, once again, their colour is exposed, as those who have contempt for the law. Hence they have to be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law of the land.
The print media and electronic media who went to market saying “Take heart auto drivers Bedi also overcharges”, are suffering from poor taste. It is meanness of the highest order to cast aspersions and motives to Kiran Bedi. Her life, whatever is known to public is an open secret. Why should organisations calling her should be given the benefit of her gallantry awards, and what if her NGO is benefitted by this discount or excess receipts. If she says that she is not benefitted by it personally, I think we should trust her, for whatever she has done as a cop or after retirement is above the national average of any ‘Make a difference’ individual standard. All those who disagree with what she has done with this ticket fare is nowhere near her, in her standard of probity and what she has done for Indian society as a whole. We at I & C are fully with her. And for press to quote this joker of a Digvijay Singh, is a poor missile. Yes, please do not stoop low and mercifully Kiran Bedi is a tough lady to be pushed around by sensation monger jurnos or the likes of Digvijay Singh. You can’t do what she is doing, let her do whatever good she is trying to do.
What lives by sword has to perish by sword. It was Nicholas of Romania long ago. Saddam Hussain, the Iraqi president, and his children followed. Osama was killed violently without a moment's hesitation when he was found at the end of his fugitive run. And now comes Libyan-King of Kings of Africa-Gaddaffi lynched inside a drain pipe, while trying to escape. What a way to die for a ruler who ruled his country for over 4 decades? Yes, it was a sad end to one of the most colourful personalities in the Arab world. Having taken the reigns of a nation at so young an age as 27, he had an opportunity to go down the history as a model ruler. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, is an oft repeated saying. No wonder like most leaders, who enjoyed absolute powers, Libyan strongman had to pay for the unfettered freedom he had on his people, who had no freedom of any kind. Will despots ever learn lesson from such ends?
The news that “China upset with India-Vietnam oil & gas deal” did throw up some interesting dimension in the relations between: India & China, Vietnam & China and probably between India and Japan with U.S. participation. While the terms of agreement between China and Vietnam is not available in the public domain, the fact that an agreement took place between India and Vietnam, only a-day-after, is very significant. It shows in no uncertain terms Vietnamese preference to India while asserting its own regional role. In this context Chinese newspaper “Global Times” stated the Chinese thinking. “India is willing to fish in the troubled waters of the South China Sea so as to accumulate bargaining chips on other issues with China”. While China realises that India is no longer the India of 1962, but a dominant global player with its own intrinsic strength, it is unhappy that Vietnam, a former communist regime, no longer looks at China as Big Brother and instead looks up to India, the competitor China would like to live without. That is probably is true since Japan is warming up towards India with its own overtures as appeared in media in recent times. And west, represented by U.S, is happy joining the emerging block by identifying itself with Japan in its overtures with India. This development is good for the region and good for the world.
Kashmir is our ever present national headache. Different people had different opinions at different times. Its fate is entwined with our civilisational ethos. Thus the stand of Team Anna man Prashant Bhushan became a subject of intense debate. We have taken it up under Focus, for the importance it deserved. Hope our readers shall find it worth their time. Do revert with your inputs. Rest is as usual.
When we crossed 10 years in the print media, after multiple highs and lows, we indeed felt justifiably very excited. Now that we have turned 11 last month, we are more relaxed, although mildly excited, all the same. Looking back over the shoulders, the labyrinth that we traversed had all the makings of trekking in woods with its own cliffs and valleys. Yes, thank God we remained reasonably unscathed. And going ahead with renewed vigour with the help of our patrons, friends and well wishers.
Yes, coming to the participative readership, we go back to what Dr K. N. Prabhu in Sept. 11 issue had suggested and echoed by Dr K V Venkataramana in Oct. 11 issue. Hence we have decided to stop all present life subscription at 15 years instead of the 25 years we had proposed initially. Hope our valued readers wouldn’t mind this change, forced purely on economic reason. The change shall be effective from Nov. 2011. Of course, for those who insist that we must keep our promise of 25 years, we shall keep it, only if one insists in writing to do so. Kindly help us to help you. Keep this periodical alive.
One of our staunch well wisher, a lady subscriber reader, asked the other day. ‘Do you think it is possible to have, even peanuts, for 25 long years for Rs. 1000/-? And you have offered to give this impressive periodical for 2 ½ decades for this paltry sum of Rs. 1000/-. How do you do that?’ She asked in bewilderment. Except a smile we could offer no answer. What she was saying was absolutely true. Only we knew how it has hurt us. She articulated the ISSUE succinctly. Her CONCERN did warm us up.
Month began with the Principal District and Session Judge of Dharmapuri passing a judgement of holding a whole contingent of 269 as criminals in the attack that happened 19 years ago in the tribal hamlet of Vachathi in Western Tamil Nadu bordering close to Karnataka. On 20th Jan 1992, a large contingent of forest and police officials descended on the village, ostensibly to unearth large scale sandalwood smuggling. Although for record the team claimed to have recovered large quantity of sandalwood, they were found guilty of ransacking property, destruction of tribal houses and killing their cattle, besides men in uniform having raped around 20 women of the tribe. Of course the state government took the side of the officials, but the Civil Society persistence forced the Madras High Court to handover the case to CBI in 1995. The sixteen years trial after all, did end with 215 of Tamil Nadu officials and lower level staff being convicted for prison terms ranging from 2 years to 10 years imprisonment, 54 officials in the mean while having died. Of course it has been rather a very long wait for the men and women of Vachathi.
Surely many of those, who suffered ignominy at the hands of these cruel men in uniform, may have died as well, waiting for the day of deliverance. However it is to the credit of the system which took along, those who fought for justice, for all these years, despite inadequacies and obvious iniquities in the polity. But why at all this has happened?
Is it because of the social structure in place for ages, where exploitation and suppression, has a vertical mobility down ward bereft of any democratic camouflage? Of course Indian society has been evolving, although very slowly, towards a more egalitarian and humane kinship. And this judgement, though belated, should only help things improve to a better degree of tolerance and acceptance especially from those in power.
The arrest of Sanjiv Bhatt, the courageous IPS from Gujarat, is quite simply vindictive and devoid of any justice. It could be true that Sanjiv Bhatt may not be a paragon of virtue, but by arresting him because of a constable’s complaint has exposed the vulnerability of Gujarat government, especially the CEO of Gujarat Mr Narendra Modi. While it may not be very easy to hold candle to the senior cop for his involvement apparently with opposition politicians and some of the less than evenhanded NGO/media combine, he may well have some points to make. It is rare that any serving officer taking on the govt of the day, but he could well have said in 2002, instead of almost 10 years late, when it could have better influenced the course of the sorry events, rather than the course of investigations, which will only help in keeping alive the divide, rather than finding solutions, to bridge the divide. That Narendra Modi, apparently trying to make the difference to the social scene, needs to be revisited by the media, in the light of the deposition by the cop, and try to find a middle of the road approach in the larger interest of the social fabric rather than proving who is right or who is wrong, so late in the day. Hope it happens.
The Supreme Court’s order on setting up SIT to probe the black money cases has understandably upset the UPA government at the centre. Prime Minister has always complained about the pro-active role of apex court in recent times. What Prime Minister Singh has failed to accept and appreciate is apex court has come into intervene only when the executive has failed to perform its legitimate and expected role, for far too long. But what is disturbing is the split decision of the Supreme Court, when UPA government approached it to recall the court’s order to set up SIT to probe black money. If the Supreme Court had decided to set up Special Investigation Team (SIT) with 15 members, including 2 Apex Court judges along with the directors of CBI, IB, ED, CBDT chairman and many others of equally high rank, it must have applied itself to the seriousness of the issue, before ordering the setting up of SIT, and therefore its maintainability should have been beyond review. Hence the split decision is indeed surprising. Hope the reference to Chief Justice Kapadia for a larger bench, will set at rest the speculation entertained by the union government.
Rise and fall of former Chief Minister of Karnataka Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yediyurappa (BSY) is a stuff of Shakespearean tragedy. Coming from not so well-to-do family, he made his foray into politics in 1975 as a municipal council member in Shikaripura in Shimoga distt. Within 8 years in 1983, he entered the Vidhana Saudha, and since then did not look back. He won every election to the assembly. He tasted power as an opposition leader in 2004, and became the Deputy Chief Minister of first JDS-BJP co-alition government in 2006, with an understanding that he will be made the Chief Minister in the middle of the period of the co-alition.But somehow JDS went back on its words and the government collapsed to pave way for the election. BSY, adapt at scoring political points, using the broken promise of JDS, romped home as the largest party close to a simple majority. He managed blatant buying of MLAs with the Reddy brothers’ funding. Money power propelled Reddys to the centre stage of Karnataka politics and they hovered over BSY government as a Sword of Damocles. Being a bit of a dictator, he blundered by forcing his lady friend as a minister of prominence, which was resented from across the state BJP. Of course it is important to have some dependable deputies for a chief to perform better, but the blue eyed boy of BJP in South wasn’t sensitive enough to this Shobha dimension within the government. Thus it created hugely avoidable headaches and heartache for both his political and personal life. Thus it was his over- confidence that did him in. In a democratic set-up, it pays to be moderate in everything one does. Weakness for Mannu (earth) Honnu (wealth) Hennu (woman) in Kannada are the precursors of eventual fall of men of prominence, and that is what happened to BSY. Sometime turn of events can be such that we shall have no time to regret. Surely in the VVIP cell of Parappana Agrahara jail the strongman from Shikaripura must be ruing his moves that failed him. Hope all those in power and hoping to be in power, do find a lesson or two, in the meteoric rise of BSY and his fall equally like a meteor.
In an India, where reaping demographic dividend by official policies have never happened, the initiatives by the Karnataka Government along with Vocational Education Qualification Framework is praise worthy. It is a well known fact that we have a huge unemployment problem, but there is a serious problem of shortage of skilled hands. So it is the non-employability that needs to be addressed. While population continues to be a big economic problem, policies by both, states and centre, can at least help mitigate the hugeness of the issue by making youth better equipped to avail the opportunities available in a globalised market place. The initiative of the state government in deciding to introduce vocational courses from 9th standard in government schools, on voluntary basis, deserves to be commended. Of course an interface with the industry will go a long way in not only creating infrastructure for vocational training but also can address the industry need of trained manpower at middle and lower levels. Hope the initiative transforms itself into a meaningful policy to make a real difference at the ground level.
The news “BJP activist hits the minister with slipper” need not raise eyebrows. This is the spirit of the times we live in. Footwear has become a missile of a kind, starting with George Bush to the latest attack on minister Somanna of the Karnataka Cabinet, there have been increasing attacks on senior leaders in different parts of the world. If George Bush was hit because of patriotic hurt of the Iraqi journalist, the one at Bangalore Secretariat was blatantly for a selfish reason. The guy, a BJP worker probably, wanted some government largesse like a Chairmanship of some govt. company or agency. Of course the minister trivialised the whole episode in public, but there could be some quid pro quo arrangement, “You work for my victory I’ll take care of you”. One part of the deal was thru, the minister had won in the election and had become minister, but the minister’s promise could have been made, without the intent to keep it. Or else, how could an ordinary party activist take such a drastic step as hitting a minister, no less, with slipper?!!
Darvinder Singh, a resident of Bhagote village, some 140 km north of Jammu, has reportedly sent a demand draft for Rs: 26/- to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, asking then to show how to spend a day on Rs: 26/-, the planning commission bench mark for non-poor people. The villager had reportedly stated that the ‘said bench mark is an insult to crores of poor of the country’. It is good, a Sardar has sent this to another Sardar, in fact two of them, the PM and the Dy. Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia. What is sad is, Ahluwalia continues to harp on the relevance of Rs: 26/- and Rs: 32/- as the good enough money to manage a day in a village and city respectively, across India. How can one be so wonkey and display a complete lack of sensitivity and knowledge of ground realities in India, despite being incharge of development planning for so long?
Our whole investigative system, from Delhi to state capitals, work rather too slowly, when people with power and money are involved. There could be any number of instances where cases involving VIPs and VVIPs have been soft peddled for years by government controlled agencies like CBI or state police machineries. Take the case of Hassan Ali, the notorious stud farm owner as a front activity – who is allegedly involved in billions of $ money laundering, besides other crimes, who is closely connected with another notorious international wheeler dealer Adnan Khashoggi. Instead of CBI or the Maharashtra police, here is a common man, a concerned Indian who has filed a Miscellaneous Application under MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) in the session court of judge SM Modak invoking action against Hassan Ali. Now the judge has asked the Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik to file a reply. All Indians, privy to the media, know that this has been a simmering case against Hassan Ali – the Rs: 100,000 crores Income Tax unpaid due, money laundering, black money in tax havens, scores of fake passports – since a long time and authorities have been dragging their feet indefinitely in their own gingerly pace. Isn’t it a shame, that an activist had to move the court to even make the deptts. realise their failings and therefore their responsibilities? And Prime Minister Singh says both courts and CAG should not cross their constitutional limits! Oh how this babudom and police with politicians’ complicity have let our Mother India down!!
The news that “Rabbanis’s murder was planned in Pakistan”, need not surprise anyone who knows, how Pakistan works against its nieghbours. We in India have time and again provided evidence of every kind on the involvement of Pakistani nationals and their official agencies, in terror strikes against India and Indians, including the attack on Indian Embassy in Kabul. But every time Pakistan denied, as is normal with them. Now comes the hard evidence from Kabul on the killing of former Afghan President Prof Burhunuddin Rabbani. No wonder, for the first time U.S. administration of Barack Obama is coming very heavily on Pakistan to ‘Behave or else……! The recent visit of Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of state had all the features of no-nonsense approach. Of course, as usual, Pakistan tried to show off its ‘nuclear capability’ and warned of serious consequences if U.S. military gets involved inside Pakistan. How far this brinkmanship will go, has to be seen. Of course Pakistan cannot simply afford to antagonise U.S, so also U.S has its own set of problems, not to push Pakistan too far. In any event, Pakistan’s duplicity is getting exposed, and that is a positive development for India.
Jairam Ramesh, as usual makes, news with waves, wherever he goes. In environment ministry, he was the blue eyed boy of environmentalists, and industry had a love/hate relationship. That he is an IITan and urbane, makes him bit exclusive from among the semiliterate bunch of political jokers in and around Delhi. Now that he is the boss at Rural Development Ministry has given him a vast canvass to operate. He is already on his job and has given a certificate of “Poor Execution” to the flagship job guarantee scheme of the UPA. He is on record having said “There are serious, serious shortcomings in the implementation of MGNREGA. The record of its implementation is very patchy”. Most of the time, its journalist activists like P. Sainath and his ilk who kept saying negative things about this scheme, and rarely a minister from the ruling party had admitted. People like Jairam Ramesh bring freshness and open approach to the functioning of a ministry. He is a no-nonsense and yet intellectually flexible politician and instantly commands respect. He had no problem in admitting openly at a programme that there have been cases where NREGA scheme funds have been diverted to buy Boleros and Pajeros, the high end Mitsubishi SUVs while recognising that “there are very serious issues in its implementations”. He had reportedly stated that “scheme get more yawns within the country than outside”, for its ineffective implementation.
If NREG scheme was criticised for its shoddy implementation he has squarely blamed all governments, both at state and at centre for the birth and growth of naxalism, and has already set in motion the employment creation steps in rural and tribal belt on massive scale. He has also come down heavily on the poor sanitation across rural India. “Open defecation is a blot on India’s image. There is no other country in the world where 60% of women population have to go to the field for open defecation. These women do not have access to hygiene. This is actually a very sad commentary on our society. We seem to be doing nothing about it” he said at a function organised by Project: Hunger.
D.P.Tripathi, a general secretary of NCP of Sharad Pawar is in the news, for right reasons fortunately. NCP is known to be in the news, mostly for wrong reasons, due to the machinations of its chief and his coterie, and his proximity to questionable characters. However, whatever the reason, the decision of Mr Tripathi to write a book on a Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, is commendable. What is significant is, that he released it on 2nd Oct. 2011, being Gandhi Jayanti day at Lahore. What Tripathi claimed was that both Gandhi and Faiz were both advocates of peace, and hence his decision to release it on 2nd Oct. While it is beyond the wildest imagination of anybody to compare Gandhi, the Mahatma, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz, the poet, who migrated to Pakistan, this is a welcome addition of confidence building efforts for the sake of peace in the sub-continent, to alter the average mindset of Pakistani civil society. Mr Tripathi had reportedly equated both Mahatma and Faiz Ahmed as ‘two historical figures, who worked for peace throughout their lives’. By all account Faiz Ahmed Faiz must be a peace loving man, but by any stretch of imagination, to elevate him to the level of Mahatma Gandhi, is far fetched. Could it be that there is an unstated agenda of promoting NCP interest in electoral arena?! Hope it is not.
Suddenly Income Tax department is very active, when it comes to Anna associates. Media was full of reports on the notices to Arvind Kejriwal and latest being the news of Rs. 9 lakh recovery notice that reportedly Kejriwal received. And comes the news “IT notice to NGO’s associated with Bedi”. Reportedly notices pertain to certain exemptions enjoyed by them under different provisions of the Income Tax Act. While, on record, Kiran Bedi did not attribute any motive to the notices and their coming to-gether at the same time, it is very apparent that somewhere along the line, the dirty tricks department is alive and kicking. It certainly portray the central government in poor light. It wins neither friends nor influences people. And as it stands, both Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi have welcomed the government’s negative initiative. This action by the government will only help the Anna Team image.
The news that “India to train Afghan forces” is a welcome development. Besides the regional co-operation, the pre-eminence of India as regional power has to be asserted, at least on a low key. But at the end of the day, it is the empowerment of Afghan people that should be the priority of Indian government. The co-operation between India and Afghan has a long history and need to be sustained for the good of both countries. In an atmosphere of hostility from our immediate western neighbour, it is in the interest of India, to be seen as somebody genuinely helping Afghanistan in its moments of need. This helping approach can help us even-out things with Iran. The Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) reportedly covers co-operation in the fields of political, security, trade and economic tie-ups, capacity building, so also educational, social, cultural, civil society, and people to people relation besides training Afghan National Security Forces. This co-operation shall effectively keep Pakistan at a distance, with whom Afghanistan is disillusioned after the killing of former President Rabbani. Reportedly Haqqani group was responsible for the killing of Rabbani with the involvement of Pakistan’s ISI, and Afghanistan was most unhappy with the incident. Thus this SPA should go a long way in strengthening relationship between both countries and to the advantage of both countries. Also, since it is the peace time co-operation, international community shall take a serious note of it, so shall the other Islamic countries. This will surely help the image of the ‘Idea of India’.
Conducting Essay Competitions and Elocution Competitions in schools and colleges on the eve of Gandhi Jayanthi has been an on-going exercise by many social organisations. However the activities of Bomaby Sarvodaya Mandal (BSM) have been highly inspiring and exemplary. According to reports from Mumbai, some 1100 jail inmates from across the state of Maharashtra took Gandhi Peace Examination on 2nd Oct, with another 3000 convicts lined up for the examinations in small batches through the year. Although this programme of examination is there as a reform exercise for jail inmates, its effect has been far deeper in transforming these criminals into responsible citizens. Of course exposure to life and times of Father of the Nation can have salutary effect on these victims of time and circumstances, to help them recognise their own role in nation building in whatever little way its possible. BSM Chief TRK Somayya was on record saying that one Laxman Gole, a hard core criminal, has so completely turned over a new leaf that he has become a full time management consultant. In fact, according to reports, on 1st Oct., he gave an inspiring speech to some 350 students of Chetana Instt. Of Management Studies, Bandra, Mumbai, on “Gandhi & Management”. That is indeed a metamorphosis. Yes BSM should be commended for their inspiring and exemplary efforts in making a huge difference to the society around them.
It used to be medical colleges in Karnataka which were employing doctors on daily basis whenever Indian Medical Council Members used to visit to check the facilities and doctors’ strength in the proposed colleges. These colleges used to pay some Rs: 25000/- per day as payment. In Karnataka, marketing medical seats is a hugely successful business and therefore to pay these one day/2 days’ doctor’s, huge payment was possible. Now comes the case of Aided Schools verification in Mumbai. In the wake of this verification drive, these school are on overdrive to literally buy boys and girls students from unaided schools so also young farm hands from the fields at Rs: 1000/- per day per student. After all, at stake is the huge government grants. Of course, like it is possible to buy Medical Council Members, it should also be possible to buy education deptt. Inspectors. It was reported recently that all over Maharashtra many schools existed only on papers, and some with very low number of students, but were still siphoning off huge government grants. So you know where does our education ministry budgets go. Thus free India spends thousands of crores of rupees but still our literacy rate leaves much to be desired. This is one more type of ‘chori’, or can it be called loot of public money? And it is happening in Anna's home state!
In an attempt to partly stem the spree in murders of RTI activists, Central Information Commission (CIC) took a decision to go public with information sought by these activists before they were murdered. This is a positive move, as the information so sought and presently made public, can give some clue to the possible cause of murder and who probably committed. Of course there could be more than one information sought and hence there could be complication in identifying the murderer. In any case, the proposed move by the CIC can drive some unease into the minds of possible criminals. Of course, this action may not be of major help in the resolution of the problem, but shall help all the same. Something is better than nothing.
What is happening to Pakistan? There have been series of killings of minority Hazara Shias in and around Quetta. Community has been accusing the police of abject failure to protect them despite repeated pleas and attacks. Come to think of it, if this is the state of minority Muslims what about fate of minority non-Muslims? Its indeed very tragic that the government in Pakistan cannot control the fundamentalist terror outfits on their soil. And comes the news that judge Parvez Ali Shah who gave the judgement awarding the death sentence to the assassin of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, has gone on indefinite leave. After – believe it not - a group of lawyers attacked the office of the judge in the court, for awarding capital punishment to the killer Malik Husain Qadri, Justice Shah felt helpless, as there were also death threats, which led to his indefinite leave. If this is the case of judge, then what about ordinary citizens! Can even God save Pakistan?
Global rating firms are in the news these days. If S&P had shocked the U.S. out of its wits, some time ago, they have shocked Italy as well with downgrading their sovereign ratings. And now comes Moody’s downgrading State Bank of India, the biggest Indian Bank, over the deterioration of asset quality. Of course this need not shock us. Our public sector banks are known to have financed many questionable projects with equally questionable apprisals which have resulted in soaring NPAs. The present NPA of all banks could be close to 100,000 crores, despite all imaginative window dressing undertaken jointly between corporate houses and bank management, where it helps both to save their skin at the market place, so also with the Ombudsman at the RBI. It’s a corruption of another kind, probably beyond Lokpal!
Corruption no doubt is probably the biggest problem the country is facing, all other issues are the byproducts of this national malaise. All political parties are responsible for the state of the nation and no political party can be absolved of this raging crime. Of course all political parties do have good and honest people who hold hope for a better future. But what is the good of the good people if they are not better in dealing with the issues, atleast, within their party forums? Union government of the Congress makes always extra efforts to put BJP in the dock, while glossing over their allies DMK’s massive loot of national wealth. Their voting allies BSP and SP – on whom CBI decided to go slow because they helped the government in the test of strength in the parliament is known to all. But media too does not take it up. Besides Maharashtra is reeking in corruption cases, and nobody is talking about it. What about Goa mining scandal? Andhra Pradesh is another, there too CBI is chasing Jaganmohan Reddy, since he left Congress. If Karnataka has been exposed it is only because of Lokayukta and why can’t Maharashtra have Lokayukta? and nobody answers the querry. Lokpal is being persued by a bunch of honest people. May be it holds some hope and people too think the same way. Will the UPA government act?
Sri Ram Sena is a disagrace to the memory of Maryaada Purushottam Sri Ram. If people like Mutalik are the leaders of this outfit, even Sri Ram may not be able to save them. Remember the Tehelka scoop! Of course Tehelka is known for the scoops, rightly or wrongly. But for once they caught the real villain, when they caught on camera, wheeling dealing of this Mutalik, who reportedly agreed for a large sum for creating a riot. The men who barged into Prashant Bhushan’s chamber in Supreme Court and beat him up are reportedly, the disciples of this Mutalik. If they are the types who would cause a riot for money, it is no surprise that they did it to Mr Bhushan, probably for money. In any case, once again, their colour is exposed, as those who have contempt for the law. Hence they have to be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law of the land.
The print media and electronic media who went to market saying “Take heart auto drivers Bedi also overcharges”, are suffering from poor taste. It is meanness of the highest order to cast aspersions and motives to Kiran Bedi. Her life, whatever is known to public is an open secret. Why should organisations calling her should be given the benefit of her gallantry awards, and what if her NGO is benefitted by this discount or excess receipts. If she says that she is not benefitted by it personally, I think we should trust her, for whatever she has done as a cop or after retirement is above the national average of any ‘Make a difference’ individual standard. All those who disagree with what she has done with this ticket fare is nowhere near her, in her standard of probity and what she has done for Indian society as a whole. We at I & C are fully with her. And for press to quote this joker of a Digvijay Singh, is a poor missile. Yes, please do not stoop low and mercifully Kiran Bedi is a tough lady to be pushed around by sensation monger jurnos or the likes of Digvijay Singh. You can’t do what she is doing, let her do whatever good she is trying to do.
What lives by sword has to perish by sword. It was Nicholas of Romania long ago. Saddam Hussain, the Iraqi president, and his children followed. Osama was killed violently without a moment's hesitation when he was found at the end of his fugitive run. And now comes Libyan-King of Kings of Africa-Gaddaffi lynched inside a drain pipe, while trying to escape. What a way to die for a ruler who ruled his country for over 4 decades? Yes, it was a sad end to one of the most colourful personalities in the Arab world. Having taken the reigns of a nation at so young an age as 27, he had an opportunity to go down the history as a model ruler. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, is an oft repeated saying. No wonder like most leaders, who enjoyed absolute powers, Libyan strongman had to pay for the unfettered freedom he had on his people, who had no freedom of any kind. Will despots ever learn lesson from such ends?
The news that “China upset with India-Vietnam oil & gas deal” did throw up some interesting dimension in the relations between: India & China, Vietnam & China and probably between India and Japan with U.S. participation. While the terms of agreement between China and Vietnam is not available in the public domain, the fact that an agreement took place between India and Vietnam, only a-day-after, is very significant. It shows in no uncertain terms Vietnamese preference to India while asserting its own regional role. In this context Chinese newspaper “Global Times” stated the Chinese thinking. “India is willing to fish in the troubled waters of the South China Sea so as to accumulate bargaining chips on other issues with China”. While China realises that India is no longer the India of 1962, but a dominant global player with its own intrinsic strength, it is unhappy that Vietnam, a former communist regime, no longer looks at China as Big Brother and instead looks up to India, the competitor China would like to live without. That is probably is true since Japan is warming up towards India with its own overtures as appeared in media in recent times. And west, represented by U.S, is happy joining the emerging block by identifying itself with Japan in its overtures with India. This development is good for the region and good for the world.
Kashmir is our ever present national headache. Different people had different opinions at different times. Its fate is entwined with our civilisational ethos. Thus the stand of Team Anna man Prashant Bhushan became a subject of intense debate. We have taken it up under Focus, for the importance it deserved. Hope our readers shall find it worth their time. Do revert with your inputs. Rest is as usual.
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