Month-In-Perspective

Andhra Pradesh: Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, the ambitious son of Y S R Reddy, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, is becoming a bit of hot potato for the Congress leadership. It could as well be a case of chicken coming back home to roost. When father Reddy was alive, not only father but also the son were allowed free hand by the Congress high command, ostensibly because it was serving the party interest. But when he died and son staked his claim for CMs gaddi, he was only doing what was Congress culture, the "Father to Son" politics. Now in their wisdom, may be even very right, the party denied the prodigal son, his claim to the gaddi. But he has come back to haunt them.

He is young and has the advantage of money power, earned rightly or wrongly, he was a ‘bit of Sanjay Gandhi’ and had developed youth coterie during his father’s reign, which had helped him in his Loksabha victory earlier. Clearly his shenanigans were not welcome in the corridors of the high command. What they feared is not clear, but they tried the time tested trick of using CBI against him to investigate “the disproportionate asset case (DAC)”. How many politicians are there in India who could be justifiably qualified to be investigated under this DAC? There could be hundreds if not thousands. There would be, similarly, hundreds of bureaucrats who too are qualified under DAC. But is this Convenient Bureau of Investigation (CBI) being used against all of them? Answer we all know. This selective approach in chasing the crime and hopefully the truth, has been the bane of Indian politics. We are not honest. We take recourse to the law when it suites us.

In the event, son Reddy, and his YSR Congress party, has humbled the ‘Mother Congress’ in the recently held by-election. He walked away with 18 seats. He announced his arrival in the AP political scene blowing the proverbial conch. Surely there will be no looking back for YSR Congress. Jagan Reddy and his party managers successfully exploited this CBI arrest just before the by election, as political vendetta, to their advantage.

But the question before the country is, can the electorates in A.P. be oblivious to the wrongs committed by Jagan Reddy in amassing assets of hundreds of crores of nations resources for him and his family? They could have rejected both Mother Congress and YSR Congress. The former for exploiting the system to fix Jagan, and YSR Congress for unethical and blatant exploitation of power. Electorates had a very good option in going for Loksatta of Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, who unfortunately drew blank. It is a sad day for Andhra and the nation.

That Andhra Pradesh High Court has struck down the recent reservation of 4.5% for minorities in jobs and educational seats out of the 27% OBC Quota is not the issue, it is only a news. The court had ruled the latest reservation as unconstitutional.

Doesn’t the government at Delhi or in any state, know the constitution and its provision? They do know it pretty well, inside-out. They have enough of legal luminaries, both among members of legislative assemblies and parliaments, but also on the government regular pay rolls. These legal eagles always give them sound advise at all occasions and on all issues. But the intention to tinker with the constitutional provisions, to fit into its political agendas has always been an ongoing activity all political parties have tried at different times. They are either hoping against hope that such blatant acts of legislation will pass the muster, if the courts do not intervene, or at the most court will throw it out as it happened now. These political parties are only trying to tell their vote bank that they have tried but court didn’t allow, and in the process they are trying to get some mileage. Such acts by elected governments not only fools the target group but also is wasting time and public money to advance its own survival agenda. Something all govts should refrain from doing, since it is prima facie a dishonest act.

MAHARASHTRA: ‘Satyameva Jayathe’ of Amir Khan is having its ripple effect after all. It was Rajasthan government, which acted fast after Amir Khan spoke to the Chief Minister Gehlot. Rajasthan govt had reportedly suspended some 15 ultra sound sonography clinics conducting sex determination tests. Khan had exposed some of the practitioners in Rajasthan through his T.V. show.

Close on its heels comes the news of Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has reportedly suspended 5 doctors and some 20 others have been sent notice for female foeticides resulting from sex determination tests.

Skewed sex ratio-Male to Female-has been our national bane. In their eagerness to have male progeny, Indians from different social strata cutting across religious divide have been, truly speaking, murdering these small little babies in the womb itself. In the process medical profession has been very mean, in enriching itself. Reportedly in Mumbai, some of these doctors were even feeding aborted female feotuses to dogs to destroy evidence of foeticides. And we called doctors are like gods, haven’t we?!

Understably doctors were up in arms after ‘Satyameva Jayate’ of Amir Khan exposed the medical fraternity of its malpractices.

Reportedly an umbrella body of some 21 medical associations have demanded that Amir Khan apologise for what he showed and accused doctors of malpractices.

Of course Amir Khan has rejected the demand outright. While it is true that there are many, may be even overwhelming majority of medical practitioners who are good and are concerned about the state of health of people and the practices in the profession, it is also true that there are many, for whom, helplessness of a patient is their capital. There are doctors and hospitals who do indulge in blatant exploitation of the ignorance of people, especially poor and ignorant.

The stories of exploitation and loot are many and profession has indeed been rendered naked by some very unscrupulous and mean professional brothers and sisters. That is the truth. So the medical men and women surely need to look inward, how it can improve its records.

There was this interesting case of Mumbai University (MU) teachers, who are assigned the work of assessing BCom answer sheets, going to court. ABVP or the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, a student political wing had gone to court to pressure these MU teachers to spend extra time to assess the BCom answer sheets so that they can complete the assessment earlier. It is very obvious, these ABVP leaders, who have petitioned the Bombay High Court has their brain in the wrong place or else how could they ask the assessing teachers who have already worked on these papers for the stipulated full day and probably on the verge of fatigue to assess more papers, when it is very likely that they can make mistakes in assessment due to overwork?

No wonder the court, as if it threw the ABVP out of window, rejected the petition. The court observed “If professors are asked to check papers for additional hours, injustice will be caused to the students. It is not mechanical or clerical work, it requires concentration”. Hope these student politicians use their head for better things, so that they become better and responsible citizens.

There was this Mumbai datelined report “11 months after death ATS gives clean chit to Usmani”. Title of the news itself is a tragic commentary on the way our police work. Post 13/7 blast in Central Mumbai – Oper House, Zaweri Bazar & Dadar – Mumbai Crime Branch picked up Faiz Usmani from his grocery shop in Govandi, the following day. They had absolutely no ground to zero-in on this guy, except his brother Afzal Usmani was allegedly involved in 2008 Gujarat blast and was part of the Indian Mujahiddeen. Whether they interrogated or not is unknown, but he died the next day in custody, probably the fear overtook him and his heart succumbed. May be police didn’t harm him, which is difficult to believe. But the very detention only on suspicion is primarily a human rights violation. And our police across the country have been ham-handed in handling people only on suspicion, especially Muslims.

The latest report by Tata Institute of Social Sciences has emphatically remarked, reporting on Muslim prisoners in Maharashtra, “Most of prisoners in Maharashtra jails are victims of prejudice”. Accusing the police of acute bias for arresting most of them who have no connection with any criminal gangs, is a reflection of deep seated prejudice with communal overtone. This is a sad certificate for a country that boasts of secularism, and the government in Maharashtra is by the so-called secular party of Congress and NCP. This trend has got to be reversed.

There was this news about NCP of Sharad Pawar setting up NYC that is Nationalist Yuvati Congress. There isn’t any Nationalist Yuwa Congress – Guess why? Yes, you guessed it right. Sharad Pawar does not have a son. And what better way to provide a national platform for Supriya Sule than create NYC! In one stroke he ensured a permanent place for his daughter so also championed the cause of women empowerment. Of course he is primarily empowering his own progeny. Yes, democracy, my foot! He could as well have made somebody else, another educated woman, with some political background, but he didn’t, as is the wont of most politicians, and don’t we always harp how democratic we all are? If you are at the receiving end, it has to be democratic but if you are at the giving end it is always autocratic, its my way or the highway!

While having NYC is a unique idea to empower women, it has to be based on democratic principles. With Pawar family can that be expected? It is a big question, which even Pawars cannot answer. We do have tradition among followers, of crawling when only bending is required.

WEST BENGAL: Mamata Didi is in the thick of news for all wrong reasons. In recent days she was everywhere, especially post presidential nominee fiasco. Two regional satraps have dropped a bombshell by proposing Dr Manmohan Singh among the three they listed, abondening outright the Congress nominee Pranab Mukherjee. Suddenly presidential contest became hyper with no value attached to it, since it would be the number that would decide the president not hype.. Given to sudden bursts of hype, Mamata did not realise the pitfalls she is creating for herself. By proposing Dr Singh as a presidential candidate, both Mamata and Mulayam Singh were sending the signal they do not want him as PM, which Congress will never accept. By not supporting Pranab, it would be the end of the road for her association with Congress, also she can be seen as somebody who tried to deny a Bengali becoming the 1st citizen, which Bengali pride may not be happy to accept. Besides, not many are comfortable dealing with her for her mercurial and extremely unpredictable behaviour. As it stands after a week of her announcement she stands isolated since Mulayam Singh has already retraced his steps to Congress camp.

If her stand on presidential election was a lost cause, she also lost a court case on Singur land dispute. Calcutta High Court struck down Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act 2011, terming it unconstitutional and void. The act was made to facilitate the return of land to unwilling farmers who did not want their land to be acquired for Tata Motors Project at Singur. Thus, her credibility is seriously being eroded. She too could be one term sensation like Mayawathi.

Haryana: Little Mahi, the 4 year old child that fell into an open borewell, was brought out after 4 days, dead. It is indeed very sad that a child as small as 4 died a death without reason, except callousness of all. It is the society, the state, and all of us who have killed her.

Stories of small playing children falling into these deadly holes have been there for all these years. Except, curative approach, the level of struggle to get the child out, nothing has changed. The level of concern has no doubt increased to get the little life alive back to light from those dark holes. Every attempt is made from civil society, the govt, the army, all chip in their bit to save this one life. It is a good sign, in an India where life is so cheap otherwise.

There were media editorials what should the govt do, or where govt has failed, or why at all borewells are dug, the water problem etc. But no where the sense of responsibility is driven into the psyche of civil society. Yes, water is essential. Borewells are dug when you don’t get water. Of course some are with permission and some without. But, if no water is found or water is depleted or borewell has dried, how can that be left open? It has to be made mandatory that all such abandoned wells are covered by people who dig it in the first place. If left open, it has to be declared a crime and culprits are jailed, besides all cost of saving the child, which has fallen inside the gaping borewell, has to be recovered from the culprit. This has to be made stringent without bail. Only then will civil society understand their responsibility. Now who will pay for the life of little Mahi and that whopping cost the state has incurred to get hold of her lifeless body?!

New Delhi: Has the Coal Gate opened the flood gate for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh? But Mr PM is not biting the bullet. New Delhi datelined report informed “CBI starts preliminary probe into alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks in 2006-09, but makes it clear that it was not probing the Prime Minister”. Anna Hazare has said “Have lost faith in PM”. Dr Manmohan Singh reportedly claimed innocence. “If the Prime Minister is claiming innocence, why is he afraid of an independent probe” demanded Arvind Kejriwal, an Anna associate. Frankly, it is in the fitness of things that PM Dr Singh must submit himself for an independent investigation. After all he had agreed himself to be covered under Lokpal. So what’s the problem? There is absolutely no point in going to the market by the Congress functionaries and cry hoarse. In fact the very fact of the investigation, if and when ordered, shall blow the wind out of the sail of Anna tirade. Otherwise, you are only running away from the truth and making it more murkier, especially when all Anna associates have suggested that there can be any investigation against any of their members, and they will welcome it.

While all Indians know that Dr Manmohan Singh has not personally enriched himself, but his culpability as minister in charge of coal portfolio is an open ended question. The country has lost huge revenue, and somebody have enriched themselves, and that is the truth. So, for the sake of the nation, Dr Singh has to submit himself to scrutiny, in the larger interest of the nation. “If there is even an iota of truth in the allegations I am willing to give up my public career. I think the public should decide whether this sort of politics should rule the roost in this country” - Dr Manmohan Singh is reported to have stated. We all know, he is a very learned man, an economist of world repute. He is clean and very unassuming in his position as the Prime Minister of the country. His slate is clean. But is he beyond criticism? His problem is, he cannot take criticism. Criticism can be sometime wrong, but can be right too at times just like one can never be right all the time. Some time one can be wrong also. Is Dr Manmohan Singh beyond criticism? If a leader cannot take criticism in right spirit can he be called the leader of world’s largest democracy?

The report of self immolation bid by one Salim Ali, at the fasting venue of Anna Ramdev combine at Jantar Mantar may have had its nuisance value, but he had relevant questions.

Report informed about this Ali being counseled and medically examined, probably to find out if he is mentally alright.

He had come to the venue, armed with questions which obviously disturbed him and certainly disturbed many Indians. “How can Ramdev talk about Bhagat Singh always when he himself had runaway from his protest site in a woman’s clothes? was his question to Baba. “How can Anna support Raj Thackaray who is violently against north Indians working in Mumbai”? was his other question.

Both are very relevant questions and both of them need to answer, their respective question. Just because they are agitating for a corruption free India, they cannot runaway from explaining issues which they have created, to the satisfaction of we general public. They are public figures and hence are under constant public scrutiny. Their bench marks should be higher than most, to be role models. For them escape routes are shut, like it or not.

That our governments react more than act on its own, was more than exemplified by an action of the most pro-active and a very competent technocrat minister Jairam Ramesh recently. We have heard about the stinking toilet controversy in the recent past, involving our BPL decision maker Montek Singh Ahulwalia.

Mr Ahulwalia has exposed himself by spending Rs: 35 Lakhs on renovating two toilets in Yojana Bhavan offices, especially during a time of cost cutting and the infamous cut off income level for BPL at Rs: 27/- and Rs: 32/- per day for rural and urban poor .

As a sequel to the above toilet controversy and smarting under media criticism, union cabinet acting on the proposal from Jairam Ramesh, recently tripled the grant for rural toilets from Rs: 3000/- to Rs: 10000/- bringing it at par with the grant available to urban households.

Rural development ministry under Jairam Ramesh is quietly bringing about a revolution of a kind, needed all the time, but acted only after 64 years of independence. According to the new proposal the rural house hold has to contribute only Rs 900/- and rest to come from different agencies, like centre, state and MGNREGS.

Subhash Agarwal, whose RTI query led to the Planning Commission toilet fiasco being exposed, but also helped the rural poor get a better quality life through quality toilets, must be smiling with satisfaction. Jai ho RTI.

Coming under increasing criticism for fixing income to fix BPL population in the country at ridiculously low levels, UPA govt has set up a new committee under former RBI governor and advisor to PM, C.Rangarajan. As is known, Planning Commission under “austere” Sardar Montek Ahulwalia, had originally fixed Rs: 28.65 per day for urban poor and Rs: 22.42 per day for rural poor as the cut off income level. It is very clear that even to have a decent rice plate in city for one time to one person, it is not possible in Rs: 28.65. So how can a family of minimum 4, (Husband, wife and two school going children) can survive on this amount for a full day. What is the basis and logic for the basis? What is the per day expenditure of Shri Suresh Tendulakar of Tendulkar Committee who decided this amount and that of Sardar Montek Singh of Yojana Bhavan? Media has been agog with the travel expenditure of Sardar M.S. Ahulwalia at over Rs 2,00,000 per day, when he travelled overseas, for valid reason or otherwise.

Naturally across the national media scene, there have been strident criticism of this very very petty amount being fixed, thereby truly insulting the poor and their human dignity.

In the new technical panel headed by C.Rangarajan, there are no doubt eminent economists and sociologists. But two very prominent names of P.Sainath, the Magasaysay awardee and Jean Dreze, of Delhi School of Economics should have been included for the sheer concern and the intellectual honesty and capability they have, so also the respect they command across the socio/economic intellectual spectrum.

Yes our poor need to be treated better. Only concern is our BPL card holders include those who are not truly poor but misusing the system by producing falls certificates obtained for a price at the Tahasildar’s offices across the country.

Of course when it is BJP inspired news item, it has become a practice to take note of it with a pinch of salt. But what right media has, to either reject it or ignore it, just because it is from BJP? There was this delegation of BJP members who called on President Pratibha Patil to complain against Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal in an alleged case of land grabbing. Citing an order of May 2010 by the Rajasthan Co-operative registrar on grabbing government land worth Rs 1000 crores by some influential persons, which included the name of Kamla Beniwal among others. Of course BJP has asked President to sack Beniwal as is the norm of all political parties as per their opposition programme. Kamla Beniwal, on her part, has neither resigned nor issued any clarification. Thus the issue is very much there.

As compared to that there is Suresh Kumar, an efficient, competent and known to be a clean minister in Karnataka govt has resigned, a day after an RTI activist accused him of getting a house site allotted under CM’s discretionary quota, which he is not entitled to. Print media from Karnataka has gone over board when it published “Suresh Kumar is the 9th minister to resign”. They were also very obliging in publishing the story promptly and prominently, and Suresh Kumar was equally obliging in quitting his ministership. Although he says he has not done anything illegal. Truth is till to be known fully.

Thus unfortunately media is never evenhanded. Issues in the media get the tint according to the whims, fancies, likes and dislikes of some of the members of the 4th estate. That is sad.

WORLD: In the ongoing cacophony of uncertainties in Pakistan by declaring Yousuf Raza Gilani, the PM, disqualified, by the Supreme Court and the election of the new PM, comes the disturbing news from Washington.

Foreign Policy journal published from US has been rather uncharitable in declaring it a failed state. Clubbing Pakistan at 101.6 points, along with Sudan which got 109.4 points was the most serious observation by the journal. It has placed Pakistan at No: 13, while Sudan is placed No: 3. Between these are Chad, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Haiti, Yemen, Iraq and other central African countries. Of course it is better than last year’s position of 12th place and reportedly it had 10th place in 2009. According to the Journal, the obsession of Pakistan has been the arming of its forces, especially targeting India. To this end it has spent heavily on defence preparedness. Whatever revenue that govt collects is swallowed by the civilian govt. alleges the journal, so also there is a general apathy to pay government due by the public.

Commenting harshly, it has observed that whole of Pakistan lacks power for about 20 hours a day on an average. Many areas never experience literacy. Male dominated tribal areas have a long history of violent existence, besides many other negative attributes.

Of course Pakistan has rebutted these negative portrayal in the 'Failed States Index' of the Foreign Policy Journal. Its press attache in the U.S had gone to great length to contradict these observations.

Truly, no country likes to be negatively portrayed. Fact of the matter is both are right, but there is great deal that need to be done by Pakistan to improve its overall image. A truth Pakistani leadership must accept.

Rise and fall of Rajat gupta, the corporate America’s poster boy, is a story of Hollywood potboiler. A friend and confidant of our very own Dr Manmohan Singh, Rajath Gupta recently hit the headline for a very wrong reason-insider trading. Mr Gupta, who was sitting on some of the most prestigious Wall Street firms, including Goldman Sachs, Proctor & Gamble and AMR, the parent of American Airlines, let down his clients, who trusted him with all their confidential information they shared with him in their board rooms, so that he could advise and counsel for the benefit of their share holders. Instead he helped his business associate and friend Rajarathnam to reap enormous profit, in his quest for more money for his own investment with his friend. It was the greed of more money, when you already have enough and more, that led to his fall from grace. But it was a steep fall. In the words of Preet Bharara, the US attorney for the Southern Distt. of New York and part of the case, “Rajat Gupta once stood at the apex of the international business community. To-day he stands convicted of securities fraud, having fallen from respected insider to convicted inside trader. Gupta has now exchanged his lofty board room for the prospect of a lowly jail cell”. That was indeed a steep fall. This is how a law should take its course, fast, fair and clear, no matter, how powerful or moneyed you are. Can we Indians hope to have such high profile trial, finished quickly, before the amber has died out, with a devastating punch, however mighty you are? How many corporate fraud cases we have with the economic offences wing of our investigating agencies dragging in the court, years on, for varieties of reasons?

The report datelined Baghdad informed “65 dead as car bomb target Shias in Iraq”. Earlier US was blamed for all the problems in Iraq. Now US forces have vacated this land of Saddam. Now those who are in Iraq are all its nationals, and all Muslims. Yes, they are Sunnis, Shias and Kurds. What is the problem for these co-religionist to co-habit in peace? It is their own government, of their own people. We are told, it’s the Sunni militants who target frequently Shias, who are responsible for this killing as well. Report also informed that there were killings in Kurdish north as well so also near the office premises of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani who is a Kurd. Of course we are informed, most of the terror groups within the Muslim community are from Sunni denomination. But why is this differences so deep that it leads to bloody killing at regular intervals? Is there nobody among the global Muslim leadership to tell these divided groups to live without blood letting? Doesn’t the community owes it to itself the promotion of co-operative co-existence for its own sake, and not for the benefit of the world at large?

There is absolutely no doubt that Barack Obama is a true leader. A leader who can take an unpopular decision in the name of fairness and national interest. Of course it may be easier for an outsider to agree with him, because it suites that way. The news “US wont deport talented young immigrants”, did resonant across the globe with positive vibe for the sheer logic of the argument. Faced with unemployment problem in his own backyard, for Obama to make a policy pronouncement on immigrants, Republicans were naturally outraged. Of course the course correction, not amnesty, is available as a temporary measure to ensure continuity to the life of those who have grown, educated and are now ready to be usefully occupied in the United States, without the ‘Sword of Damocles’ of deportation hanging over their head. This is a very rational, logical, democratic and humane decision. This will certainly become a bench mark in the years to follow. Two cheers to Barack Hussain Obama. “In the run up to the ensuing election to the White House, its wishing you the best”.

Syria is increasingly becoming an international diplomatic football arena, while large number of deaths are taking place everyday. It is like a civil war, between the ruler and the ruled. It is a situation where no-body is winning, all Syrians are losing. Fact is Bashar Assad who became president after the death of his father is thinking Syria is his family property, which his people do not accept. Even Arab neighbours are unhappy with Bashar. Most countries favour the change, but Russia and China are not agreeing. Of course it is the people of Syria who should decide their fate. Kofi Annan’s mediation efforts too have failed. Even he fears, “Future is likely to be brutal repression, massacres, sectarian violence, even all-out civil war”. Russia and China had backed Annan proposals. It appears it is an unrelenting fight for Assad to go. People will eventually win. Without the people, the president is zero. It is in the interest of both himself and Syrians to climb down and quit. He may end up as Nicholas of Romania, if he does not quit.

When there is an uprising of people, its always the people who won it. May be in the short run, ruler may gain or win. But in the end it is always peoples power. It is either democracy or rule by proletariat. There is no third alternative. Assad Jr. must realize, he is fighting a losing battle. Better he leaves early, not only deaths/killing will stop, may be he can have an escape rout to live another day. Options are very limited.

J.Shriyan