MONTH IN PERSPECTIVE

UTTAR PRADESH: There was this news last month that two Italian marines who are in jail facing trial for shooting dead two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast, were received by the Italian Defence Minister at the airport near Rome. These two marines were given the permission to travel to Italy for X’mas holidays, pending disposal of their case. Of course as was the condition of travel, these marines have come back and reported back to the authorities in Thiruvanantapuram. This was a reflection of the human dignity, the western countries attach to their citizens, that the country’s Defence Minister came to the airport to receive two ordinary compatriots, who are only security guards of a ship, undergoing investigation in a foreign country. The action of the Defence Minister certainly deserves to be applauded and is indeed a model. 

But look at our own establishments, both political and defence establishments.

Reportedly Pakistani sentries sneaking from across the border in Kashmir had, in thick fog, managed to kill 2 Indian jawans, with one of the jawan being beheaded. That was indeed most barbaric on the part of Pakistani troops, a charge as usual Pakistan has denied, since denial is increasingly becoming its official stance. However, what is sad is the response of our own politicians. While Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh did visit the family of one of the killed, Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh, and had attended the last rites, there was none for the other deadly case of beheaded soldier. There is genuine feeling of let down by the family of Hemraj Singh the soldier from U.P, who was decapitated. Sushma Swaraj, who had called on the family at the village in Mathura district of U.P. had reportedly observed “As per rules Defence Minister should have himself come here, if not, a state minister for sure. Home Minister or someone from PMO could have come. Even Army from Mathura cantonment could have sent someone. But sadly none came”. However probably only after media expressed its shock that U.P. Chief Minister made some feeble attempt to be there to announce some monetary compensation. In India sadly for people at the lower end of socio political life it is enough to throw some money, to make them keep quite, with no value for human dignity. At least that is what power that be think, whether politicians or babus.

CHHATTISGARH: Replying a query from an opposition legislator, Mohd. Akbar, the government reportedly admitted, having paid Rs: 1,40,00,000/- to bollywood actress Karina Kapoor. There were reportedly 245 artistes who performed on the state’s anniversary function, the Rajyothsava 2012, and the government paid Rs: 5,21,22,500/-  in total. Thus, 244 artistes were paid the balance Rs: 3,81,22,500/-, and one celebrity alone was paid 1.40 crore.

While it is accepted that, we have to have some kind of a celebration on the formation anniversary of the state, the expenditure of Rs: 1,56,240/- per artist on an average is rather high. But the expenditure on Karina Kapoor is absolutely mind boggling. The issue is ‘was it needed to bring this lady at such an exhorbitantly high cost of Rs: 1.40 crore?’ While overdoing is part of our culture, this one is definitely the ‘height of excess’. One of the serious charges of our national misgovernance is the lack of financial discipline. Whose father’s what goes! is sadly a national trait, when it comes to money belonging to someone else, more so with government funding. Would these governments show greater concern or large heartedness when it comes to the issues involving weaker sections of our society!? Answer, as we know, is profoundly negative.

And comes another news from Lucknow. UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, may not have found time to see the family of the soldier who was beheaded by the Pakistani army, but was at hand at the opening of Hockey India league match between U.P. Wizards and Delhi WaveRiders at Dhyanchand Stadium in Lucknow. And do you know who accompanied him!? London born, Hindi film actress Katrina Kaif. Would she come for the love of the game or some big money like Chhattisgarh govt. paid to Karina Kapoor?! No marks for guessing. All our governments have no money, if they have to pay Anganwadi workers or something similar, but money shall always be available aplenty for the whims and fancies of our politicians. This is Yeh Mera India.

HARYANA: The news that both, the Father and Son duo along with many babus and politicians have been convicted and jail terms pronounced, is a sign that judiciary is alive and kicking although rambling at its own pace. Om Prakash Chautala and son Ajay Chautala, the high profile politicians from Haryana, suddenly realised that they are just as mortal as any ordinary Haryaanvi. The story of sleaze in the appointment of teachers has been there for all the 13 years. It would have probably died in silence, but the CBI under UPA administration pursued it, partly because Chautalas are neither Congressmen nor UPA supporters. The sentence of 10 years rigorous imprisonment is harsh, but probably deserved. It may put some fear in the minds of all those who loot public money and exploit helpless victims to make fortune for themselves. So what, the main culprit was a former Chief Minister and co-conspirator his son!?

ANDHRA PRADESH: The poisonous hate speech by Andhra MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi has generated nationwide outrage. Though belated, Andhra police have acted. After a whole lot of drama, he has been put behind bar, and for the present no bail is available to him. What he had publicly stated speaking to his political audience, may be out of place to reproduce, but left no-body in doubt about the damage such utterance can cause, especially in a pluralistic context of India. There have been buzzer galore in twitter on the hate monger. “Akbaruddin Owaisi in hospital. Guess its more abt his mental than physical condition” said Rajdeep Sardesai of CNN/IBN. “Owaisi’s med report says he can’t walk long distances, in jail he won’t have to” twitted Minhaz Merchant, a senior journalist. “Owaisi supporters shouting ‘Owaisi sher hain’, arre bhai sher hain tho zoo mein rakho, sadak pe kyun choda hai?!”, stated one S.Shankara. “Book Owaisi for making violent threats” twitted Taslima Nasreen, the Bangladeshi writer. “Mr Owaisi if calling 100 crores of your country men your enemies is not waging war against the nation, then I don’t know what is” said a twitter, who called himself The Bad Doctor.

Thus, there have been massive outpouring in the media, although there have been politicians fishing as usual for their own catches.

The noose is getting tighter by the day for Kadappa M.P. Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of former CM of Andhra Pradesh Y S Rajashekar Reddy. There are many former Chief Ministers, in the country who are under dark clouds. There is Mulayam Singh, where Supreme Court has initiated proceedings. There is Maayawathi, who is under investigations for many financial wrong doings. There is Lalu Prasad Yadav, having uncleared criminal proceedings. There is Ashok Chavan, former CM of Maharashtra under few dark clouds including Adarsh scam. There is Jayalalitha who has probably the longest ongoing cases against her financial impropriety. There is B S Yediyurappa former CM of Karnataka with uncertain future hanging over him. Thus there are many so-called servants of public, the elected representatives, who only served themselves to loot the exchequer. Of course, if you are ally of the ruling party, or belong to the ruling party, then things, either do not move or moves rather slowly. Mulayam and Maaya are safe, because both saved the current dispensation at the centre, so is Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Jayalalitha and Yediyurappa, cases are going on. Ashok Chavan is a Congress man hence, no danger of investigation in the near future. Om Prakash Chautala and his son who are not with UPA are already in jail. Jagan Mohan Reddy has deserted the party of his father and therefore in deep trouble. It is true, that there is a strong case of wrong doings. There have been prima facie cases, where Reddy had to face the music. The latest to hit him was Enforcement Directorate with an order to attach property worth Rs: 143.74 crore, under Prevention of Money Laundering Act. There appears to be fool proof evidence, according to ED sources. Of course in the larger interest of justice and national benefit, such acts of commission, by enforcement and other investigation agencies, are indeed exemplary. But sadly it is happening very selectively. Cases of Maayawathi and Mulayam are some of the clear instances of crass favouritism. That is one of the sadder aspect of Mera Bharat Mahan.

GUJARAT: The news datelined New Delhi “Set back to Modi as Supreme Court upholds Lokayukta appointment” gave highly mixed signals. Of course members of the media and politicians with socio/political leanings gave it a Modi centric bias as the above news from a leading English daily of the South. Certainly Gujarat needs Lokayukta there’s no doubt. However, on the one hand, the Supreme Court bench while criticising the role of Governor Kamla Beniwal observed that Governor “has misjudged her role and has insisted that under the Lokayukta Act, council of ministers has no role to play in the appointment of the Lokayukta and she could therefore fill it in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court and the leader of the opposition such an attitude is not in conformity or in consonance with the democratic set up of government envisaged in our constitution” while adding that appointment can be made “only with the aid and advice of the council of ministers and not independently as a statutory authority”.

This observation, prima facie, nullifies the appointment of Lokayukta by Governor. It is unconstitutional and therefore can be termed ultra-virus. Yet apex Court due to some predilictions decided to let go the governor’s action and validated it. This is very strange. In fact some of the print media newspapers termed it “Apex Court gets it wrong”. One paper even called it as “pronouncing someone a thief and then allowing the latter to keep the loot”. It was indeed mutually contradictory. However, what is indeed questionable is, there are many states where Lokayukta is not there at all, and nobody including Apex Court taking any stand. But the same court questioned the delay in Gujarat. Is it the selective wakefulness of the questioning authorities?!

WEST BENGAL: It is getting increasingly a ‘writing on the wall’ for Mamata Bannerji. She is slowly but steadily losing the ground swell, which brought name and fame for both for Mamata and her Trinamool Congress. Of all the people, it was Mahaswetha Devi, the Jnanpeeth Awardee, and a mentor to Mamata, who decried the breakdown of law and order in Kolkata and across West Bengal. Saying she has lost hope in the West Bengal government, she resigned as the president of Bangla Academy, the regulatory body of Bengali language in the state.

Unfortunately for Ms. Bannerji, it was not just her mentor, who is unhappy with her. Many intellectuals, who were part of her campaign to oust Left Front, are all disenchanted with her style of functioning as well as the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Besides, the backward areas of Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore, who were deprived of all basic amenities under the Left government, continues live in same miserable state without any change, feels Mahasweta Devi. One more area where most people are disappointed with the government, is the politicisation of police. It is a well known fact that Trinamool Congress workers are generally treated leniently by the police, and that has contributed to great deal of lawlessness in the state. So the dream run which brought her to the Writer’s Building is waking her up to the reality of rudely broken sleep from a beautiful slumber. Can it be another La Mayawathi saga?

MAHARASHTRA: Sachin does not give up his cricket career, he becomes a news. He gives up one dayers, he is news. Now he is playing, of all the cricket leagues, Ranji Trophy. A fellow, who has been hogging the limelight, for right reasons and wrong reasons, is also becoming news for irrelevant issues.

“Sachin Hits form in Ranji Trophy” was the print media news, the other day. I really wonder how this becomes a news. News should have been, “Sachin once again denies a place for a budding youngster”, by grabbing a place which was not his at all, in the first place. Why can’t the media cry hoarse for this brazen act of selfishness of a cricketer who had it too much for too long, by any stretch of debate. This is another of the Indian dimension of extreme. If cricket is the passion for Sachin Tendulkar, he would do well to start a cricket academy to train boys from under privileged section of the society. Surely, Maharashtra govt. would be more than willing to help with land etc.

RAJASTHAN: The Chintan Shibir of Congress at Jaipur turned out a bit of Chinta Shibir when a Home Minister of the country called RSS and BJP as promoters of Hindu terrorism. While there is no doubt that RSS is a proponent of Hindu nation theory and BJP is the political wing of RSS, to brand them as promoters of Hindu terrorism is blatantly wrong and is with communal overtone. The statement was primarily intended to please somebody. Right enough it instantly echoed across the border with, characters like Hafeez Said ‘congratulating’ Sushil Kumar Shinde, the Indian Home Minister, for having said it. Of course there are any number of Congressmen who jumped to the back of Shinde to stand by him, while his party distanced itself from Shinde’s statement. Initially Congress too kept quite, but sensing the mood of people, including media, and of course to save itself from any political fallout, issued a belated official stand. While BJP will certainly exploit it politically, with right means and wrong means, it can dent the prospect of Home Minister’s party politically. In our body politic, nobody is straight and plays only for short term gains.

KASHMIR: There is this news coming from United States that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) pledging to enforce Islamic law in Kashmir and then in India. This news appeared in a Mumbai based English news paper datelined Washington. On the face of it, there was no news value, since India is a constitutional republic, there is no question of Sharia taking over the judicial precedence, whether in Kashmir or other parts of India. Even to think, for this Wali-Ur-Rehman, supposedly a top leader of TTP, is a wishful thinking of wildest imagination. Reportedly U.S. has announced $ 5 million reward on his head for his alleged involvement in the murder of seven CIA officials of Afghanistan. However what is pertinent in the, otherwise bizarre, statement of this TTP leader, is his observation that “Jihad launched by Pakistani government inside Kashmir has failed to yield any desired result, hence TTP would launch its own Jihad in the valley by sending its own forces into the valley”. The above statement has two sides, one fully exposes and confirms the complicity of Pakistan in fomenting insurgency in Kashmir and causing trouble. As usual Pakistan had always denied such an involvement. The second is the failure of Pak Jehadi in Kashmir and hence the newer jihad by TTP. Here this Wali-Ur-Rehman (WUR) should be told in no uncertain terms that he is having day dreams which can never happen. Yeh Mushkil hi nahee, naa mumkin hai. WUR, take a walk. It is a better way of saying than asking him to 'f... off'.

KARNATAKA: A Bangalore datelined report, attributing to National Security Advisor (NSA) Shivshankar Menon, “Arms dealers trying to contact Maoists” is a reflection of the bankruptcy of Maoists, their ideologues and arms lobby. If true, and there is every reason to believe NSA, it is very clear that fomenting trouble, and to keep India on boil is the sole purpose of these Maoists and their ideologue friends. The government is not only capable of handling any such development, but should send unmistakable sign that government means to take these trouble makers by horn, head on. There should be a publicity campaign to expose the diabolic design of these anti-national groups and hit them hard where it hurts them. Plans of army to tackle these insurgency groups have been on the drawing table and they should be acted upon without delay. Being democracy there will always be nay sayers. However the government at the centre and even in states, where these groups are causing trouble and mayhem, should chalk out steps to snuff these groups and put them out of business. That has to be a priority.

NEW DELHI: It is very unfortunate, after valiant efforts, by all involved in saving, Delhi’s gangrape victim, breathed her last. Ever since, there have been vociferous demand from all and sundry that punishment for the accused should be of a kind that would deter any prospective perpetrator to commit the crime. From, chemical castration to death sentences to stoning to death etc have been talked about. Govt. appears to be at least thinking on those lines. For once, the system seems to have shaken itself to bring about some changes in criminal justice system relating to attack on women’s persona. A newer aspect has been the involvement of those who are below 18 years, who are currently being treated as juveniles. One of the Delhi rape accused, who is slightly less than 18 years, by a few months, is being bandied about as a case in point. Reportedly he was the worst offender with most cruelty. By any sense of proportion he should be given the harshest punishment deserving his crime. Unlike the children of yesteryears, these children of to-day are far more informed and exposed to the wide world of media aberrations and public life. Thus are fully aware of what they are doing and have traits which can make any sensible sensitive adult sick. Such depravity should deserve no leniency at all. The judiciary must necessarily take the call, to set right the issue. Like Jug Suraiyya a senior columnist has stated, “adult crime deserves adult punishment” period. Justice Verma Panel should take note of it.

The amount of rabble raising and sabre rattling was only expected, post, the barbaric treatment of beheading the dead, by intruding Pakistani soldiers. But the sharpest yet the most sober response came from Sonia Gandhi, the Congress President. Her observation that ‘it is not possible to deal with an uncivilized country’ conveyed it all, to likes of Mani Shankar Iyers and to Pakistani leadership of course. Of course it has chastened even the ‘quite as cucumber’ Prime Minister Dr Singh and his foreign minister Salman Khurshid. Yes, for once all engagement should come to a standstill, to take stock of the situation and to review our whole approach to this western neighbour. Of course the cost of war is certainly beyond factoring, it is no option at all. There are subtler ways, and the government must take the opposition too, in its collective response. It should be seen as a national reaction. The recalcitrant behaviour of Pakistan is discussed in the Focus, where we have taken up the habitual denial mode of Pakistan, even when the country was found with their pants down. After all it was American government of Bill Clinton, called Pakistan ‘an international migraine’. It was not for nothing, that Madeline Albright, the then Secretary of state, had openly stated thus.

The news that “Leading Pharma companies owe the central government Rs: 2577 crores” is not a happy one. Report informs that Cipla is the biggest defaulter with Rs: 1700 crores due, followed by Ranbaxy, Rs: 650 crores and some others. All are privy to the fact that pharma industry is the most exploitative industry. They give huge cuts to the distributors, hospitals and practicing doctors, who store medicines. They hold medical seminars and conferences, for doctors, all paid for, in 5 star hotels. Besides all those working for the industry, are the best paid. All because they overcharge the consumers with their MRP. So, if government has, in its wisdom, allowed them to overcharge and wait for the good sense of these pharma companies to pay it to the government a portion of what they overcharge, that’s the most stupid thing to happen. How would these companies pay back which is already in their pocket? They will try every trick, not to pay or at worst delay as much as possible to pay as little as possible. With our legal redressal system, delay will be guaranteed without you asking for it. With private lobby in place as P.R. professionals, influencing politician and babus is a time tested tool. One more way how aam aadmi can be tricked.

Post gangrape episode in Delhi, there have been some ‘gems’ of observation from different sources. From RSS, Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Bharath & India barb to MP Minister's Lakshman Rekha to Asaram Bapu’s Brother Sister syndrome, there have been quite a few ‘smart’ repartees. In public life, the golden rule should be, if you cannot add to the debate with some sense in what you say, best is to avoid adding any nonsense.

Going back to Mohan Bhagwath’s observation, we are reminded of a guy who wanted to marry a village lass, because, she is supposedly virgin, it is believed. But while on a honey money the groom learns that the village bride, the supposedly the virgin one, had all experience of physical contact which the urban groom did not have. So the point is there are n number of cases where the Bharath, or the villages are as bad as the urban India when it comes to violence against women. Of course, the public outcry against both MP Minister and Asaram Baapu has been vitriolic to say the least. Surely these observations have had only nuisance value and added only heat to the ongoing debate. In the best interest of victim, these intelligent men in power should just leave it to the law to take its course firmly and quickly.

The Central Teacher’s Eligibility Test – (CTET) held recently has exposed the open secret about the competence of our school teachers. The New Delhi datelined report in the print media “99% applicants failed Teachers Test”, has conveyed it all. The result of the CTET held in Dec. 2012, was recently out. Of the 7. 95 lakh applicants only 4849 have cleared either both or one of the two question papers. This is not merely shocking but appalling that someone, who is basically a graduate and a B.Ed to boot, could fail so badly is beyond comprehension. Something is apparently very wrong with our teaching and those who want to be teachers. Teaching has not become a passion, it has remained just a job for most. Even the governmental intervention in improving the quality of the education has apparently failed to empower the students with knowledge. In the absence of CTET, earlier there was no way of knowing the quality of these aspiring teachers. These teachers who are not properly equipped to handle subjects of teachings have failed in really enabling students to equip themselves to greater or higher demands of learning. Now these students who have just managed to pass their degree by just mugging to pass the examinations, are those who are in this 7.95 lakh applicants. It is not surprising that they are still not ready for the eligibility let alone teaching. Of course, after 65 years, it is indeed a sad reflection of how our government has failed. This is clearly an indication of the quality of huge number of government servants all over India. How can governance be better if the quality of education is what it is. If the governance has failed for all these 65 years, the quality of the education and therefore of our graduate assistants in these government departments, has lot to do with this failure. Would somebody up there recognise this truth?

WORLD: When Barack Obama was fighting his return election to the White House, there were those who thought, he couldn’t or didn’t do what he wanted to do in his first term. It was thought, at least, by I & C that, his return shall be a game changer. Especially his continued unhappiness with the Israeli regime in Tel Aviv, he appeared stymied with the age old Pro-Israeli stance of the U.S. He gives an impression of being a fair man. And comes the news, in matter of less than two months, since his repeat election to the world’s most powerful address. A Jerusalem datelined news by the Daily Telegraph quoted Obama as saying “Netanyahu is a political coward bent on isolating Israel”. According to the papers, Obama has privately spoken, that Israeli Prime Minister’s policies pose greater threat to Israel’s existence than Iran’s nuclear programme. Obama is apparently very upset with the recent announcement of building Jewish settlements in areas previously considered off limits, on land the Palestinians want for a future state. He appears to have come to terms with the view that “Netanyahu’s behaviour is self defeating and that every new settlement announcement only driving Israel towards near total international isolation.” This was probably the harshest ever observation by any U.S. President, of its long time ally, Israel. So far Israel dared to cock-a-snook at all and sundry with the U.S. administration standing by it. But right now there is a U.S. President who would not take it any longer the high handed, in-human, unreasonable behaviour from the Israelis. This was certainly well calibrated, just after weeks of condemnatory statements by some of the EU nations. Reportedly London and Paris are already considering withdrawing their ambassadors from Tel Aviv. 

As against this development, there are characters in Palestine who breast beat, saying, that they will never recognise Israel. Speaking in Gaza at the 25th anniversary of the founding of Hamas, the militant wing of Palestinians, its leader Khalid Meshaal has reportedly stated “we will never recognise the legitimacy of the Israeli occupation and therefore there is no legitimacy for Israel, no matter how long it will take”. So it is matching in extremes on either side of the divide. The days of both Netanyahu and Meshaal is over. Day may be of liberals, who shall take the peace process forward for both Israel and Palestine to co-exist in peace and harmony. Hope Obama does it before he calls it off 4 years down the line.

If on Tuesday, the 15th January, reportedly Supreme Court of Pakistan orders the arrest of Prime Minister of Pakistan, Raja Parvez Ashraf, on 17th January, comes the report from Islamabad that the Chief of the country’s anti-graft agency, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Fasih Bokhari admitted that investigators had not uncovered enough evidence to arrest Ashraf. In other words, Bokhari evidently lacked evidence to make the arrest of the Prime Minister, but Iftikhar Chaudhary, the Chief Justice at Supreme Court of Pakistan, was in great hurry to fix Raza Pervez Ashraf, the PM. This situation is rather funny, and clearly inexplicable. There are lot of stories going round. There is this story making its rounds in Islamabad, “Pak capital rife with conspiracy theories”. The discussion is the timing of the arrival in Pakistan, of one Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, a politician turned cleric and the pronouncement of the judgement of the Supreme Court headed by Ifthikhar Chaudhary. Dr Qadri is an old politician who left Pakistan to live in Canada for a decade or so, and returned to the Pakistani capital possibly with an agenda, ostensibly to give the country a cleaner administration. Election is shortly due in Pakistan and therefore he is in great hurry. The case against Raza Parvez Ashraf is in the court since some time, probably since his appointment as Prime Minister. But Supreme Court of Ifthikhar Chaudhary wanted to suddenly act. It acted in haste, and its order to arrest couldn’t be executed, since the NAB, the watchdog has incomplete paperwork, and therefore not enough evidence to pin the Prime Minister, of wrong doing, if any. There may be a case but not a fool proof case. Is it embarrassing for Ifthikhar Chaudhary and therefore to judiciary in Pakistan? But funnily, same people and the same system, Pak judiciary and Pak executive, could not act on the whole lot of dossiers containing all kinds of evidence on Hafiz Said’s role on 26/11 Mumbai attack. Either they cannot act or are not willing to act. Isn’t it very strange! May be there are no compelling reasons to act. That is Pakistan for you.