Month-In-Perspective

EDITOR'S COLUMN

Friends
One and a half a century later, we do feel more than ever that our continued useful and vibrant existence is ensured. At least the crowd that gathered at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College in Udupi while releasing the 150th edition of ISSUES & CONCERNS by former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, did help us to look at the future with more confidence. 
Yes, there have been lots of good souls who congratulated I & C on reaching the 150th milestone. One called it “story of pluck and determination”, the other saluted the “indomitable spirit and courage of conviction.” The third one called it “A meaningful development”. Thus patrons were unanimous in their approbation. It did make us immensely happy and nudged as to commit ourselves to the goal “Towards a purposeful regimen,” and like our guru Padmabhushan MV Kamath  has suggested “time has come to broaden its base”. We do hope to measure up to the expectation of our Guru, all patrons and well wishers. 
All three Guests of Honour, Justice Santosh Hegde, Mr. Gautham Pai, the Manipal Media moghul, so also Mr. Ronald Fernandes, a gentle face of media in Mangalore have generously complimented our efforts. 
Continuing our serious deliberation on issues that concerns all of us, we decided to Focus, on late former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, a true Gandhian, born on the same day as Mahatma. 2nd Oct. is a national holiday, which probably kept the memory of Mahatma alive, in the national pshyche, which otherwise  suffers from selective amnesia. Also of relevance is the bout of amnesia intelligentia is going through in this country in completely forgetting inclusion of Lal Bahadur Shastri in the list of probables of “Greatest Indian after Mahatma”. We have tried to tell the world, that late Prime Minister Shastri is indeed one of the very few who deserved to be in the list, but for the intellectual impoverishment of our ‘elites’. Hope we have done a semblance of justice to the everlasting memory of this great son of India. Do revert with your inputs. We do value them.



GUJARAT: Bhagwan ke ghar mein deir hai magar andher nahee, so is our justice system. Although, the wheels of Justice grinds rather slowly in India, but it grinds for sure. The conviction of 32 people in the infamous Naroda Patiya massacre in the 2002 Gujarat carnage has proved that judiciary is one branch of governance which has not only kept the hope alive of the justice being done but also justice being seen to be done. Although most cases relating to 2002 carnage have seen its judicial conclusion, due to additional intervention of the Supreme Court and the SIT created by its order, judiciary did not let the people of Gujarat down. While conviction and punishment is always a part of judicial process, the conviction and life imprisonment of Maya Kodnani, a former minister of Narendra Modi cabinet must be reassuring for the agitated public of Gujarat. For once at least Modi shall feel the heat of the Gujarat imbroglio. His grand standing that he will not apologise, since he is not guilty, stands exposed. Nobody accuses him of personal culpability, but the government which he presides over has been responsible, and judgement has proved the involvement of people of his govenment. Thus in the interest of his Gujarat, of which he is the Chief Executive Officer, he better take stock of the situation, to address the concerns of those affected in the post 2002 mayhem and reach out to redress whatever he can to sooth their sentiments. In the context of Naroda Patiya judgement, it is an opportunity for Modi to revisit the issue to make the difference which many, all over India, who are his development votaries, are looking for. Hope it happens in the larger good of Gujarat and therefore the country.

WEST BENGAL: So, our one and the only Mamata didi is at it again, huffing and puffing. Finally she decided to quit the uneasy relationship with the UPA II and all her ministers have resigned from the cabinet of Dr. Manmohan Singh. She said ‘enough is enough’, but she didn’t hear our Sardarji’s quite soliloquy, ‘Yes indeed enough is enough’.  Apparently both were tired of each other. But the problem is Mamata is a maverick of another kind. In being undependable she can match the queen of Tamil Nadu Ms. Jayalalitha. Both suffer from an acute kind of self importance syndrome. If Jayalalitha had kept Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s govt on tenter hooks, Mamata is repeating the same with Manmohan Singh govt. 

The latest rub came in the form of Diesel price hike of Rs: 5 per litre. No government worth its salt would like to hurt the people economically. They would always explore different options, how to avoid the burden to aam aadmi. But the problem is basically created by the government itself. You keep on giving subsidies and then one not so fine day, its enough, no more subsidies. All political parties want to win the election to rule, whether in states or at centre, for which they indulge in pampering. This pampering goes on despite economic compulsions to stop, because of political compulsions of vote bank. Like the latest D.A rise of 7% to govt. staff which will cost the exchequer some Rs. 7000 crores annually. 

Like reservation cannot be stopped despite 65 years of its use and misuse, economic sops are also same. If government has proposed 6 cylinders of LPG per family under subsidized scheme and the rest at a higher price, it is indeed very good. Perforce we need to have discipline in the use of both diesel and LPG. If you are waiting for govt. largesse at all times, then there will always be a need to recover it at some point of time, in some or the other form. You neither want to pay higher tax, nor want the subsidies to go, nor you want to have a pay cut, which should include politicians, then the problem of overdrawing to bridge deficit between revenue and expenditure can drive any government to bankruptcy. Aamdanni Athanni Kharcha rupaiyya, natheeja thun thun gopal !!

NEW DELHI: This Manish Tiwari, the bombastic spokesperson of the Congress Party is at it again.  Of course he has his instructions from party HQ but uses his English language prowess to devastating effect. Wasn’t he the one who used the adjective against former Team Anna members, as ‘unelected and unelectable’. This time round he accused the CAG, the nation’s auditors, of having exceeded the mandate by commenting on government policies. But same accusation was levelled against CAG even when 2G scam was exposed based on similar postulates. And after huffing and puffing by Kapil Sibal that there is zero loss, it has been proved by the facts of the case, how badly wrong he was, by the follow up actions of his own government. Of course, as was expected CAG has rebutted the charge saying “there is nothing sacrosanct about the government policies to be above reproach”.  “Policies of the government do not emerge from closets, but are a culmination of processes involving faithful examination and analysis of empirical evidence on the ground, higher value of governance, feasibility of implementation, materiality of financial costs and perceivable benefits based on current and reasonably predictable facts”. While governments can take any stand as per the situational convenience, it is patently wrong on the part of political spokespersons to question constitutional authorities. After all Comptroller and Auditor General of India has his national responsibility of being a watch dog on the proper utilisation of country’s scarce resources. It speaks badly on political outfits and its abrasive functionaries to mouth language inconsistent with democratic decorum. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has to perforce intervene to rein likes of Manish Tiwari, so also stop attacking the CAG. This is especially so, when draft reports are submitted to the executive for comments or corrections to the material facts if any, before submitting the final report. Thus prima facie, any attack on CAG by the executive or its allied spokesmen, is an attack on constitution itself, which all political parties should note and avoid.  

With 7% DA raise to central government employees increasing the burden on exchequer by over Rs: 7000 crores annually, resources available to Planning Commission could certainly come down that much. But fanciful projects of some VVIP functionaries may have to be provided for, in ‘national interest’. After all VVIPs have only national interest in their hearts, isn’t it!

There was this print media report where Montek Singh Ahulwalia showed the gumption to say ‘no’ to a pet project of Congress Party President and NAC chairperson. ‘Montek spanner in Sonia’s pet varsity plan’ datelined New Delhi informed about a proposal to have Central Women’s University in Rai Bareli. Reportedly Planning Commissioner from Yojana Bhavan sent a letter under his signature with his articulation, why this project is difficult to be taken up especially in a proposed remote town. It certainly made its rounds of surprise in the HRD Ministry of Kapil Sibal, which had submitted the proposal.

Of course Yojana Bhavan officials had stated despite the letter from its boss, under exceptional circumstances, if funds are available, it can be taken up, provided HRD Ministry develops criteria to define such circumstances.

But there is this VVIP syndrome which the boss at Yojana Bhavan had shown the temerity to ignore. Aren’t HRDM officials right when they have reportedly stated that “the university in Rai Bareli is Sonia’s wish and therefore has to be met irrespective of the Planning Commission objections”?

Can you hear Mr Ahulwalia? This is not your infamous BPL income of Rs: 26/- and Rs 32/- which you take always great pains to justify despite the national outcry against this humiliation of poor people. After all, Rai Bareli is a private borough of Gandhis from the days of Indira Gandhi. This is Yeh Mera India.

The CAG has hit again and the UPA finds itself in a quandary for solid reasons. Those 142 coal mines allocated from 2004 under the current dispensation, came under fire from all sides. Especially since the coal ministry was under the Prime Minister, it provided a huge cannon to fire from, for the BJP, which is, as opportunistic as any other political party. Unfortunately the stand of both parties were right and wrong at the same time. Yes, Parliament is a place for debate, but debate also can become a procrastinating factor. Resignation of PM, as demanded by BJP cannot come by, and they know it very well that UPA will never oblige BJP. The problem is there is no working relationship between the government and the main opposition. Many legislative issues can be sorted out, if there exist a measure of bonhomie between the treasury benches and the opposition parties. In the absence of such conciliatory behaviour, the government end up seeking discreet support of questionable people and parties against whom the same government’s agencies have filed cases. In such unholy alliances, the country is invariably the biggest loser. A fact no political party considers or worried about. Going to the Coal Gate proper, if BJP has demanded that 142 coal blocks allocated after 2004 has to be cancelled, Congressman Chidambaram harped on procedural issues to cancel, if any. But then the problem basically was the lack of procedure which the government did not apply in the first place. Then you have Kapil Sibal, another Congress minister, mouthing inanities, saying, there will be no cancellation of allocation. But then there has been a steady cancellations of allocation by his own government. Then you have another Congress minister Veerappa Moili, who is always good at denial, saying, nothing wrong has taken place in Coal Block allocation. So, it’s a funny situation. Like one Shiv Aroor tweets in twitter “The Congress is a party with bad ideas. The BJP is a party with no ideas. This truly is a land of options”. But unfortunately we have a huge population who need to come out of their mental poverty to convert these options into opportunities, which they don’t.  

The Bill for reservation in promotion in government jobs for reserved constituency of OBC, SC/ST etc. is patently very unfair and completely opportunistic. For any political party to support such a bill shall be only to satisfy its vote bank. For the UPA to bring about this bill in the midst of Coal Gate imbroglio is not only to deflect the issue of coal allocation being bandied about by the opposition, but also to score a political point. By getting the bill cleared by the cabinet and to send to the parliament for passing is to create a piquant situation for the main opposition, the BJP. On the face of it no party shall be wanting to be seen as opposing it.

But no government worth its salt should legislate such a piece of legislation which will dump summarily the efficiency and competent factor that is so fundamental for any promotion. Besides it has the potential to divide the entire government staff and can institutionalise bitterness, also it can promote prejudicial conduct. 

Here it is important to recollect that on 28th April this year Apex Court had struck down the Uttar Pradesh Government Servants Seniority Rules. This rule had similarly introduced reservation in promotions. Supreme Court had termed it “unconstitutional and done without any sufficient data.”

How can union government ignore taking cognisance of the apex court ruling, which specifically says no to reservation in promotion. 

In short what the government is trying to give this reserved class, is to give promotion without being eligible. In the words of B R Muthu Kumar, a former IFS, diplomat, “This would disturb the order of precedence, disrupt the rationale of hierarchy and interrupt the chain of command and lastly the current level of functional efficiency will give way to systemic dysfunction.”

Then can the system survive?

It is internationally believed that if a nation has to be taken seriously it must keep on acquiring strength and makes it known discretely what it has. A nation commands respect on the basis of its innate strength. If there are neighbours who are trying to browbeat you or trying to be one up, then it is necessary that one has to give a good a/c of oneself without causing eyebrows to raise.

It is very well known that, although the relation between India and China is not like that of ‘Eye ball to Eye ball’, it is not very comforting for many reasons. In the past we have seen how China has been active in different parts of our border areas and with other neighbouring countries, like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, working with a pattern to raise India’s concerns. Keeping that in view a Prime Minister chaired Cabinet Committee had cleared the creation of Mountain Strike Corps (MSC). This MSC consisting of 60,000 troops was part of a plan to deploy along the border with China.

Ministry of Defence had worked towards this end, especially after Indian Army top brass convinced the need for such a strike force due to Chinese upgradation of their military accessibility.

When all was getting geared for MSC to happen, reportedly Prime Minister has vetoed it. The reason, not to tinker with the bullying neighbour, since PMO thinks there has not been increased activity by the Chinese along its 4500km border with India. Now, how this intelligence to PMO has come about, is not clear. But clearly PM is not comfortable to assert India’s right for eternal vigilance. Of course, there may be a huge outlay for the creation of MSC, but aren’t we allowing a bullying neighbour a free run?

Another media savvy bureaucrat writer turned politician opinion maker Shashi Tharoor has come up with his own take on majority minority debate. Whether it was needed for him to say what he said need to be asked. But he could have gone on, how interest of the minorities in the Indian context is being protected or not, and what needed to be done. He was reportedly speaking at the fifth Annual Lecture of National Minority Commission. 

In the public domain, there are differing opinions of different sections, of how minorities in India are living. At one end there are ones saying ‘India is a paradise for minorities’ and there are any number of people who will rip that statement apart. But the fact is, while the first statement is not untrue, those who challenge it are also not entirely wrong. Which means both are partly true. In a talk on behalf of the Minority Commission, what could have been discussed, was their overall welfare and what is being done and what is needed to be done, should have been the central topic. But for Shashi Taroor to say that Hindus cannot claim majority in India was to invite a ready hackle and avoidable heat in the atmosphere. All that he said about Indians, especially Hindus having hundreds of castes, and languages and dialect is not a discovery. Whole world knows about it. Unless there is some purpose to make such a statement. 

FDI in the multi-brand retail, has once again made its reappearance and UPA made a 100mtr dash in an attempt to prove the American perception of “Indecisive Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh”, wrong. Media went to the market saying “FDI in Multibrand retail and airlines cleared to counter the policy paralysis charge”. Of course, in its haste to prove itself, the UPA II also cleared the partial disinvestment in four PSUs to raise funds for development projects. Right enough American press hailed the decision to open FDI in Multi Brand Retail.

While allowing the private players a roll in PSU, is good for its own sake, and for mopping up additional resources, and opening up of the not-so-healthy airlines to FDI are positive developments, it is the FDI in multibrand retail which has badly hit the road block. Of course there are very good reasons for opposition to opening up multi-brand retail for foreign players. It is true that vested interest within the traders lobby and allegedly the party of traders, the BJP, have their own compulsions to oppose the UPA move. But the problems that a free run to Multi National Companies can create, may be of a far serious nature, than that of the Indian lobby’s resistance. 

Here it is important to quote a UPA government minister himself who had reportedly stated “FDI in retail can harm Indian workers”. Jyothiradithya Scindia, the state minister for Commerce and Industry had informed the Rajya Sabha earlier in the month that “Without adequate safeguards FDI in multi-brand retail will lead to wide spread displacement and poor treatment of Indian workers in logistics, agriculture and manufacturing sector”. He was reportedly quoting from a paper presented by Switzerland based UNI Global Union. The paper was titled as “Walmart’s Global Track Record and the Implication for FDI in Multi Brand Retail”. Of course it is another matter that this was the stand of the Minister in August, a month earlier, to the 100 mtr-dash of UPA II to go rushing for FDI clearance by its cabinet. This is how the politics of India is, like it or not, opportunistic to the core.

Union Home Minister, like many ministers in the UPA II has the habit of saying things that would land them in royal soup. As usual these ministers, after the gaffe tries to escape, blaming media twisting or as quoting out of context. To say that “people will soon forget the coal controversy just as they have forgotten Bofors” and then for Sushil Kumar Shinde to say that ‘I was saying it jokingly’ is rather very clumsy. Firstly a minister is not entitled to joke, especially, if he is talking to the media. That is exactly where the media will catch you in your underpants. A minister’s joke has to be intelligent for the media to applaud him, not to fix him. In the event, it was a rude reminder to the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and his political bosses that Bofors indeed impacted their political future for ever. 

From 400+ seats won by Rajeev Gandhi, on sympathy wave of his mother's assassination, was completely frittered away and Congress became the principal opposition party in the following general election, post Bofors scandal exposure. The purported joke of Shinde, can bring a bit of worry in the UPA II camp, would Coal Gate become its nemesis, a le Bofors ghost ! in the election due less than 2 years down the line ?!

All good things have to come to an end, so said a wag. There is this book 'The Prize' by Irwing Wallace, the master story teller. This was the story of Nobel Prize winners having the other life. How those who have reached the pinnacle of success in the eyes of the world by winning the Nobel Prize were still humans with their own brand of failings. One of the Nobel Laureate, a scientist, had an affair with a glamour girl ‘the other lady’ from Hollywood. He was a married man, to another scientist. Of course, like most such affairs this too came to an end. Recounting the break, the ‘other lady’ reminisces “I know one day it had to come to an end. But my joy was I did not know when”.

Thus, the bonhomie among the members of India Against Corruption too came to an end. Of course all relationships have a human and divine dimensions to it. If failings are to be called human, they are found more than divine dimension, which accommodate the other, perceived to be less selfless or one who lacks a broader and wider vision. In the entire team, there were two ring leaders, Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal. While Anna Hazare’s life has been an open book, post army days. Arvind Kejriwal came into limelight much later. But ever since he appeared in the public domain, he has been transparent as transparent  one can be.

All his actions and utterings are in the public domain. Not withstanding Digvijay Singhs and Manish Tiwari’s both Anna & Kejriwal can be taken on face value. Difference in perception of what is better for the country is a matter of debate.

Anna and Kejriwal have broken on the issue of going political to reach their goal of corruption free India. Corruption is a cancer to any society which has to be fought, and we are all victims of it, both as sufferers and as perpetrators. Of course in different forms and contents. But here we have the financial corruption which has fleeced the developmental resources of the nation and contributed to the national poverty. These financial wrong doings are happening in government and in the process of governmental decision making so also the discretionary powers of the political functionaries. Thus politician’s involvement is core to the whole problem of corruption. Which means we must have better and cleaner politicians. While Lokpals, Lokayuktas and CVCs are certainly needed to control the menace, we also need to have better person to occupy political position which in ultimate analysis are the real arbiter in the entire system. Hence a political party committed to clean politics is the national imperative, which Anna & Company has to realize. Anna must trust Arvind Kejriwal for his commitment, intention and ability to bring about change. In the larger interest of the nation they should remain united. Hence it is an appeal to Anna not to rock the boat of Arvind Kejriwal’s movement, instead join him in the larger national interest. Rest of the issues like funding etc are only nitty gritty.

WORLD: As usual, the west is stretching its obsession with so-called Free Speech rather too far. The latest film by an Egyptian Coptic Christian, probably with an Israeli passport, based in the US, “Innocence of Muslims” caused the international eruption of violent protest. Libya, where the protest hit the road first, turned absolutely violent. The violent protesters marched into US embassy and killed US Ambassador and three of the embassy staff. Of course this killing is absolutely reprehensible and US administration is unlikely to take it kindly and in all probability make Libya accountable for this ferocity of the protest. The protest all over the Muslim world has been there, ever since the release of the film on internet in the US and still there is no let up. Latest is the destruction of Buddhist Temple in Bangladesh. While the violence by Muslim all over the world is not a solution to the issue of alleged denigration of Islam or the Prophet, western concept of freedom has to undergo radical change. The report informing about the arrest of the producer of the film, if true, is welcome sign. Of course, if the west goes to stupid extent in its expression of free speech, the Muslim world should seriously debate the issue of its uncontrolled anger which leads only to greater problem, like it or not. Both have their roles cut out. Hope in an ever evolving world, mutual acceptance and therefore tolerance is the only way to resolve our civilisational differences.

J.Shriyan

EDITOR'S COLUMN

Friends
One and a half a century later, we do feel more than ever that our continued useful and vibrant existence is ensured. At least the crowd that gathered at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College in Udupi while releasing the 150th edition of ISSUES & CONCERNS by former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, did help us to look at the future with more confidence.
Yes, there have been lots of good souls who congratulated I & C on reaching the 150th milestone. One called it “story of pluck and determination”, the other saluted the “indomitable spirit and courage of conviction.” The third one called it “A meaningful development”. Thus patrons were unanimous in their approbation. It did make us immensely happy and nudged as to commit ourselves to the goal “Towards a purposeful regimen,” and like our guru Padmabhushan MV Kamath  has suggested “time has come to broaden its base”. We do hope to measure up to the expectation of our Guru, all patrons and well wishers.
All three Guests of Honour, Justice Santosh Hegde, Mr. Gautham Pai, the Manipal Media moghul, so also Mr. Ronald Fernandes, a gentle face of media in Mangalore have generously complimented our efforts.
Continuing our serious deliberation on issues that concerns all of us, we decided to Focus, on late former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, a true Gandhian, born on the same day as Mahatma. 2nd Oct. is a national holiday, which probably kept the memory of Mahatma alive, in the national pshyche, which otherwise  suffers from selective amnesia. Also of relevance is the bout of amnesia intelligentia is going through in this country in completely forgetting inclusion of Lal Bahadur Shastri in the list of probables of “Greatest Indian after Mahatma”. We have tried to tell the world, that late Prime Minister Shastri is indeed one of the very few who deserved to be in the list, but for the intellectual impoverishment of our ‘elites’. Hope we have done a semblance of justice to the everlasting memory of this great son of India. Do revert with your inputs. We do value them.