MONTH IN PERSPECTIVE

KARNATAKA: A recent drubbing BJP received in the elections to Municipal Councils and Corporations is a fair indictment of the party for its failure to remain a coherent political outfit. For far too long, the bickerings within the party, corruption scandals and of course unfriendly media all contributed to the decline of the party in Karnataka. Yediyurappa factor may have influenced to some extent the outcome, since BSY and his coterie of Dhananjay Kumar & others are vengeful to settle political scores. There cannot be any comparison between BJP and KJP. KJP simply cannot replace BJP, forget about becoming a political force in Karnataka. Most people, if not all, are only there in KJP for power and its crumbs, and certainly not to serve the cause of people and democracy. While BJP has to address its internal problems to the liking of general public, if they have to improve their share of votes in the hustings. KJP should stop dreaming that they have arrived. Of course Congress got it because of the anti-incumbency factor, not because they will be better than the losing side. But there is a perception in public domain that BJP administration has been more corrupt and that outfits like Bajrang Dal has only helped it in denting its image. Hence all appears to be negative rejection rather than positive development. Hope at least the result would lead to some pro-people development. 

TAMIL NADU: For long, we at I & C had envisioned how a cycle can be modified for varieties of application, not merely for its near nil maintenance, but also for its low initial investment. We had designed a tricycle with potential for many self employment opportunities. The local educational institution, the NITK Surathkal, being a deemed university had funds available to nurture community initiatives, informs a source. But when approached, a former director simply brushed aside and appeared unhelpful in even having a talk. This was a typical bureaucratic approach. 

Now comes this news from Chennai “Where bicycle helps reap a harvest”. It was heartening to note that a marginal farmer Gopal Bhise of Jalgaon in Maharashtra could develop an inexpensive contraption to plough farms in place of bullocks or tractor. And it costs only ` 1200/- . Of course, it was case of “necessity becoming mother of invention”. Costing only ` 1200/-, it is a boon to some 200 farmers already. This innovation which won him the National Innovation Award must be nationally developed by government agencies, not only to make him better off for his invention but also to make it available across the country for all those who are in need of such help. Otherwise, how do you serve the aam aadmi? Only by talking to the galleries?

GUJARAT: We all recognise that 2002 sectarian flare-up in Gujarat, post Godhra torching of the train, is an experience we all want to put behind and go on with life. It will help nobody, least of all those who suffered, to keep the memory alive of the horrendous cruelty of man to man in the name of religion. But we are all privy to the fact that there are those, whose job is only to fish in the troubled water to keep cooking their daily meals and occasional biriyaani. Everybody is aware that there have been failures on the part of administration to prevent and stop the gory happenings. Was it planned or spontaneous or both in parts, are questions not completely answered despite effort to fix responsibility. In the meanwhile time is making its inroads to the lives of people of Gujarat to look forward with renewed hope. However, it is pertinent to note with concern, how some of the so-called social workers with their NGOs are not welcome anymore to the places of residence of those who suffered. Reportedly, residents of Gulberg society in Ahmedabad have urged police commissioner to ban the entry of NGOs and their men and women, to their residential enclave. According to society residents, the 2002 riots are used by NGOs and others who visit the enclave every year on 28th Feb to show 'solidarity' with the victims and use it for their narrow ends. It is true that some NGOs have collected huge funds from both national and international sources, ostensibly to help victims of 2002 horror, and made all kinds of promises under media glare. But residents are deeply disappointed that these NGOs only used them and did nothing at all for their welfare. Echoing deep bitterness towards this exploitation by NGOs, they have ended their letter to the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, saying “We are living peacefully and we do not want any support from these NGOs, who have done nothing for us.” Yes, somewhere along the line, all of us have to take the call, who in the ultimate analysis keep the society divided?

PUNJAB: The way Shikhar Dhawan, the latest with the test cap, announced his arrival on 16th March at Mohali with a classic 185 not out, he proved two things. One, Virendra Sehwag who was earlier dropped due to poor form, would have real difficulty in making his comeback to the Indian test side. The second is more important one, and might as well be a poor commentary on the selection committee in particular and cricket administration in general. He had earned the player of the series recognition of under 19 matches in 2004. So it took almost 10 years to make a decision on this very promising young man. There are players waiting in the wings-not one but may be a dozen-very deserving to be called to the Indian test side, but for some unexplained reasons, they are left in lurch, always hoping against hope. This brings the cricket administrators to this sorry state of affairs. If you could drop Sehwag, why is Sachin Tendulkar a holy cow? How many times he had failed and this BCCI left the decision to retire to Tendulkar himself! Ganguli left on his own, so did Dravid, so was VVS Laxman, so what is stopping Tendulkar from calling it quits? He is touching 40, the oldest in the team. If he is not going gracefully he should be asked to go. Sad part is, except, Saurav Ganguly, none had the guts to ask for his scalp, besides that of Dhoni too. 

There has to be an open debate on this, both in the media and on public platform. Tendulkar is making himself very cheap, and BCCI is playing with the future of many talented youth by their inaction and indecisiveness. It is a truth staring at them.

MAHARASHTRA: The clamour among cine artistes, including Jaya Bachchan an MP and wife of Amitab Bachchan, for clemency for Sanjay Dutt is really amusing. The apex court, although after 20 years, has awarded him a mere 5 years in prison, has gone into the entire gamut of his crime. Infact, even if they had included him under TADA, which was again, justifiable according to some legal eagles, it could have been pretty serious. Arguments put forth by all and sundry, makes it a clear case of preferential application of law for only some. It is only because Sanjay Dutt is a film star with parents who were both film stars and members of parliament, that the film fraternity has come rushing to make a case. Of course, for PCI chairman to appeal to Maharashtra Governor is highly misplaced. Prima facie, he shouldn’t get involved in such things at all. There are enough and more to take up issues on behalf of film stars. As soon as he jumped in, there were many ministers too joined the chorus with only agenda in their mind. Or else, there are thousands of under trials and convicts in the jails across the country many of whom are having far more deserving case than this Sanjay Dutt, and no-body is feeling bad about them. If anything, people like Katju, should take up their case, than asking TV anchor to provide details of prisoners with deserving case, so that he can take up their causes too. In recent past he has been walking in and out of controversies at regular intervals which truly affect the dignity of his office. He must try to control his impulsive nature in the interest of his current office and of his former position as Supreme Court Justice.

It is universally felt and probably even experienced that more often than not it is women themselves who are against women than men. Here it is the case of a lady who suffered sexual harassment in a multinational company and hence helpless fighting the money bag. A Mumbai date lined report “NCW throws out sexual harassment victims plea for help”, has informed that, since the case is in court, NCW cannot interfere. This is patently unfair to a lady fighting a hugely powerful adversary. The case is on since early 2011, and the victim had approached NCW seeking only help in her battle with the MNC. But it slept over it for some 18 months and recently, reportedly closed the file, informing the victim that it is subjudice. These government agencies manned by influence peddlers, getting huge payments from tax payers money, are there, mostly to warm chairs. There has to be accountability for these commissions to justify their useful existence. 'If the protectors of women’s rights become a mute spectator, where will women like me, who show courage to battle against injustice go? Is there nobody who can be held accountable to ensure that women’s interest are protected?' asks the victim. They are good questions and government must answer them.

A Mumbai date lined report informed “RBI rejects money laundering charges against three Pvt. Banks”. Reportedly, one of the deputy governors of RBI, KC Chakrabarthy was reacting to the sting operation conducted by a private TV channel, Head Lines To-day, stating 'there has been no transaction'. Under-cover journos of this channel had met some managers of these banks, HDFC, ICICI & AXIS Bank, with the possibility of cash deposits of some 50 lakhs or so. Apparently they had bitten the bait and had agreed to go along, despite KYC norms being in place. That no transaction took place is no defence at all, since Rs: 50 lakh is not a small amount, which can be organised like pocket money. But the fact that the officials of the bank were ready to play along is enough to establish the intention to act. In fact, the very move by the named banks offering to go into the allegation was good enough to indicate, where the wind was blowing.

Besides, the allegation by Senior Supreme Court Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, which he claims as fool proof, against Veer Bhadra Singh,  a senior politician, of having deposited Rs: 6 crores in Punjab National Bank, a public sector Bank, is a case strangely even media did not follow up. According to Bhushan 12  monthly payments of  ` 50 lakhs were made into the bank. When caught by the I.T., he was allowed to file a new I.T. return to pay tax and declared the money as income from his orchards. Not only nobody made any issue of this allegation, he was made the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. What do we call this? So for RBI to come to the defence of pvt banks is case of acting in haste, which normally lead to repent at leisure.

UTTAR PRADESH: One year into the governance, the Samajwadi Party is in no mood to celebrate, thanks to the logjam of scandals of all kinds. Having come back to power, defeating BSP, promising better Law and Order situation, the government of young Akhilesh Yadav is nowhere near the promised betterment. If any, it has worsened. In fact it lost power on previous occasion to BSP was on deterioration of Law & Order and BSP has also been sent packing on the same issue. So the problem with U.P. perse is law and order, probably, a section of people with money and muscle power have always held the state to ransom, and police have only extended this to their benefits many a time.

Take for instance the case of the brazen killings of DSP Zia-ul-Haque by the goons of the notorious Raghuraj Pratap Singh urf Raja Bhaiya. Although CM Akhilesh Yadav intends better governance, his father Mulayam Singh and his coterie of Azam Khan, Shivpal Yadav & others have managed to hijack the administration. The Chief Minister is only going in circles and has been reduced to be a puppet of these criminal elements. As it appears, the honey moon may be over. BSP may still call the shots, since they had large % of votes despite losing the power, should the election come by.

NEW DELHI: Ravindranath Tagore, is a venerated name not just in Bengal but all over India for the iconic influence he had on the Indian psyche, as a thinker and poet of international repute. He had won Nobel Prize for his anthology of poems ‘Geetanjali’ in 1913. His works are translated into all major global languages. But somehow, it remained to be translated to our very own Urdu language, spoken and read by a section of the Indian society, so also by Pakistan.

It is indeed very strange, that proponents of this language took hundred years to appreciate the value of Tagore’s writing. If a far off place like Sweden could smell the flavour of Ravindra Sangeetha, it is a sad commentary on the politics within the ‘family’ in India. After all, Urdu is an Indian language, used in Mughal Darbar and other assorted kingdoms.

While no explanations may be needed, it is important to realise that these manmade mental barriers can really create walls of suspicion and linger to widen the chasm within the social fabric of India. We all need to break such barriers in the larger national interest. Tagore was an universal humanist and therefore welcomed universally. Hence it is little wonder that Bangladesh has made his poem “Amar Sonar Bangla”, as its national anthem.

The latest translation effort shall, hopefully, build bridges within the Indian social mosaic.

Doesn’t this appear little funny! You have a guy, who was in the centre of a major controversy involving huge pay off or something similar. Then he is investigated and sent to jail. Repeatedly he was denied bail, and then one fine day, claiming a precedence, he manages to convince the court and gets bail. So he is a free man, although with dos and donts. He walks upto the inquiry committee of the same controversy and offers to appear before the committee to throw some brighter light to the clouded dark sides of the controversy. In all fairness and therefore logic, it could be a win-win situation to both, if it helps to know at least some truth if not the whole truth.

But, believe it or not, he is not welcome to this inquiry committee. Committee is probably even uncomfortable with the whole idea.

No wonder a newspaper even called JPC, Joint Parliamentary Cover-up, for the reluctance this JPC is showing in allowing A. Raja, the former Telecommunication Minister to present his side of the story.

Reportedly A. Raja, has written to the Lok Sabha Speaker offering to appear before the JPC probing the 2G Scam. But there is a possibility, according to the media, that Raja’s wish may, after all, be denied. The logic or the explanation given, is, he is likely to put the onus of his actions, while as Telecom Minister, on the then Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram and the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Besides, if Raja is coming to JPC to depose, the deposition by both FM and PM cannot be denied, as demanded by non-Congress members in the JPC. So is it a catch 22 situation for the chairman of JPC-PC Chacko?!  In any case, JPC will be making a great disservice to the country, if they do not give an opportunity to A. Raja to make a clean breast of himself, or is the Joint Parliamentary Committee is an effort at cover-ups to protect holy cows of the party in power?!

Isn’t it funny that somebody who ‘loves life’ is being accused of committing suicide. And if committing suicide is the only intention, would it take over 12 years to do that, and is still living?

But that is exactly what the government of India is trying to prove. Irom Sharmila, is on fast unto death since 2nd Nov. 2000. So the fast is on its 13th year. She is on fast demanding that Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) be repealed. It was around the same time that Assam Rifle had shot dead some 10 civilians waiting at a bus stop at Malom, Manipur. Application of AFSPA in disturbed areas has been dealing with insurgency. For varieties of reason, AFSPA has not helped solve the problem, instead it has only fanned desalination between the governor and the governed. There is a deep seated sense of helplessness at the arbitrary nature of army personnel’s actions. Unfortunately no government has honestly tried to bridge the growing gulf. Therefore Sharmila’s hunger strike, the most non-violent way of protest against the violence of army and the insensitivity of govt. apparatus, has to be seen. Of course, she has been kept alive by the govt. by force feeding her through nasal tube for over a decade.

But the fact remains, it has been absolutely non-violent. For the government to arrest her on attempted suicide makes a joke of the whole exercise and exposes the tentativeness of the govt.

If the government has to redeem itself, there has to be soul searching in its use of laws, to curb differences among its diverse population. Of course dealing with a kind of population mix India has, it can be an extremely trying exercise, but that is no reason for gross violation of people’s human rights. There has to be a sea change in the way we deal with the disaffection among our people. We must take all on board to bring about an inclusive society. That’s the clarion call.

Former Supreme Court Justice and current PCI Chairman is in the news these days, far too frequently. But, unfortunately, for all wrong reasons. Latest being that of his diktats on educational qualifications to budding journalists. While, it is OK for him to give his impressions, since, as free people, we are entitled to our opinions, to insist and to harp on it, is certainly very unbecoming of his quasi-judicial status. He has certainly belittled both the position.

It may not be appropriate to call Justice Katju as a megalomaniac, he is bit of a nut case, trying only to hog limelight by making controversial statements. Ever since he took over as chairman of PCI he has been making one statement or another, inconsistent with his quasi-judicial position.

His remarks and the so-called fact finding report on Bihar has understandably irked Nitish Kumar, the Bihar CM. He accused Katju of ‘brazenly violating’ his constitutional post and that he has crossed the lines of dignity, that behoves his position. “The incumbent PCI chief has no business to indulge in making biased, motivated, ill-tempered & political comments against other constitutional persons. The PCI chairman must be mindful of facts and must respect the democratic and constitutional institutions all the time”. Nitish Kumar had blasted Katju.

Of course, the most talked about issue was his article on Narendra Modi, attacking him for his alleged 2002 post Godhra riot in Gujarat and his alleged prime ministerial ambition, and then following it up with publishing in a Pakistani news paper Express Tribune. While as PCI Chairman, to write about political figures holding constitutional position, should be a ‘no-no’, his duplicating it in Pak media, only to spite BJP, shows his political meanness. It is absolutely in bad taste. If BJP has asked the president to sack him, it is not an unfair demand. They are only echoing what Nitish Kumar had said.

In independent India, it’s a long held view, that, our official policy has always been to “cry with the poor and side the rich”. This thought crossed the mind when media reported “Anubhuti ticket to cost more than 1st AC in Shatabdi”. The term ‘Anubhuti’ is a Sanskrit connotation describing a situation of higher level of pleasure or enjoyment or can be called peak of happiness. Surely every higher level of pleasure or enjoyment has to have a higher payment of price, hence the title “Anubhuti ticket to cost more than 1st A.C Shatabdi”. Here it is important to note that Shatabdi is a fully A.C. train without general compartment. It has 1st class A.C compartments, AC-2 and AC-3. It is a luxary train, and luxary is differentiated as AC:3, the lowest, with 8 passengers per bay and AC:2 with 6 passengers per bay and only 4 passengers per bay in AC 1st class. These classes have fare tags accordingly. Thus if ‘Anubhuti is going to be more expensive than AC 1st class in Shatabdi, then the issue is very clear, you are targeting only the rich class. Pawan Kumar Bansal, the new Railway Minister in his maiden budget had suggested only 1 coach per train, so that it remains exclusive. You are already having 1st class AC for the rich why this super luxury coach? For minister himself and his entourage? Other important and influential ministers and their families? For senior babus with political connection? Or else, from revenue point, how much will it really help the railway bottom line? So, the system will work for the powerful, influential and the rich. It has always worked that way all these years. But this is a newer way to higher pleasure. Kya baath hai! And we are serving aam aadmi, isn’t it! Yeh Mera India.

Dependent on free lance political outfits like Samajawaadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, the UPA has done the most unthinkable. It appointed the outgoing director of CBI Ashwin Kumar, as Governor of Nagaland. It is well known that the gubernatorial posts are given to the ruling party’s old war horses and its friends in the administration, including high profile babus, as a reward for the so-called good work for the party or the government in power. By this logic, Ashwin Kumar is a friend and well wisher of UPA. Since he was the director of ‘Congress’ Bureau of Investigation, the reward has come about.

CBI, which normally means Criminal Bureau of Investigation is supposedly an independent body, but only supposedly. In reality it played the ball for ruling party. Its record is well known as a hand maiden of the government in power. Most problems in the country and why they sustain and proliferate is only because of this unwritten, but unfortunately accepted, subservience of CBI to the party in power. The Anna Kejriwal combine with media help has continuously crusaded against this blatant subjugation of the agency. But the appointment of Ashwin Kumar has only confirmed this long held view.

The month of International Women’s Day would be over by March end, to be knocking around 12 months later. Lots must have been spoken about. But the kitchen and the women folks who man  this most important part of the household was not spoken about at all.

The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation of the University of Washington, had initiated the collation of Global Burden of Disease (GRD) data. This GRD data reportedly had demonstrated, household air pollution as major killer.

In the India specific analysis, it was found that, burning of solid fuel in stoves inside a poorly ventilated kitchen is a major cause of death. This threw two aspects. One is the use of alternative fuel and then having windows in kitchen area of the house. While alternative fuel has different factors influencing its availability, what can be done easily and fast is the opening of cross ventilation windows in the kitchen. It was conclusively found by Chest Research Foundation of Pune that more than smokers, lung infections had affected those with poor ventilation in kitchen leading to accumulation of invisible soot particles getting embedded in lungs leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

While poor people who are used to this kind of health status, may not complain, the Ministery of Health can take the call to address the issue, more as a preventive measure than as a curative approach, which is the general norm. As we approach the Millennium Development Goal (M.D.G.) in 2015, it may be worth an attempt.

Strange are the ways laws are interpreted, acted upon and probably enforced only as per the convenience. In a democracy, this was not expected. But that is exactly what is happening.

Election related laws are funny. Last month centre told Supreme Court that convicted MPs and MLAs cannot be disqualified. According to the explanation by Ministry of Law & Justice any forfeiture of membership would reduce the strength of the house and would accordingly decrease the numbers of members of the political party concerned. It would lead to ‘deleterious’ effect on the functioning of the govt. surviving on razor thin majority.

To know this logic, you don’t need a Law Ministry. But how can the court take it? And now comes the news of MPs or MLAs caught in the excess expenditure tangle. When Election commission receives complaint of excess expenditures the concerned MP/MLA is called upon to explain, but found that the MP/MLA in question has truly exceeded the limit, he cannot be disqualified. So says the affidavit filed by the government on behalf of Ashok Chawan. That is rather very strange. So, why do we have these laws after all?

WORLD: Italians have done what France has done earlier. They are only saying ‘you are third world, you cannot brow beat us into submitting to your laws’. Like France did it, Italians are being ‘smarter’ now, by not returning their two marine security guards facing murder charge in India. These two guards had gone to Italy, ostensibly to vote in the Feb. 24-25 elections. But mandarins in MEA and also the urbane, ‘articulative’ minister didn’t realise that they had just gone to Italy for X’mas and returned and therefore they could vote in their embassy premises, like their embassy staff all over the world, wherever they have their chanceries. It is a practice in vogue. This move could have saved the currently ‘tu-tu-mai-mai’ unpleasant situation. It is true that the government has come out very strongly at the betrayal of the Italian government to honour their commitment to the Supreme Court. Despite diplomatic conventions, there could be force-majeure clause in every international covenant.  Hence the detention of Italian Ambassador, may be the done thing under the circumstances.

Taking Q from J & K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah calling the 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru as Afzal Saab, Pakistanis decided to go little further. For long Pakistan is known to be a state sponsoring terrorism. On 14th March, it confirmed that status, by honouring a terrorist, who was a part of the conspiracy to attack the Indian Parliament. 

Pakistani parliament passed a resolution moved by a fundamentalist political party member, while eulogising Afzal it condemned his hanging, besides, asking the international community to interfere.

Prima facie, it is an act of interference in the affairs of another country. Afzal Guru is an Indian by birth and nationality. His act of being a co-conspirator of attack on parliament is an anti-national terrorist act. He has been tried by all competent legal process. There was no room for any doubt on his diabolic role. He deserved to be punished. The civil society debate was only whether, it should be death penalty or life sentence. Now that the death sentence was awarded and carried out, all this acrimony. The unanimous resolution by the Pakistani senate exposes the political bankruptcy of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Against India, with its Hindu majority, Pakistan would do anything in the name of religion. Only this issue unites the whole nation of Pakistan. After 65 years, they could not get out of this retrograde mind set, and that is sad.
J. Shriyan