MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE

New Delhi:The mild tremor in the BJP headquarters, post Bihar election result, has to be taken seriously for the general well being of BJP. Just because, elders in the family are not contributing to the family kitty, they are not thrown out. This is Indian culture. Hence, if L.K Advani & company have asked for accountability of the Bihar debacle, it has to be addressed. The party in its own interest should have a brain-storming session. Or else, the erosion that has set in, will eventually impact the party nationally. It is an open secret that there is an unspoken discussion within the leadership so also rank & file of BJP on the way, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his chosen party president, treat their party leaders and functionaries. If the 2014 victory has gone into the head of Modi; as invincible, the Delhi defeat has not made him humble. Now that Bihar exploded almost on his face, it should have made him and his party president- chastened.

Starting with sidelining the senior leaders of the party, on the ground they are beyond 75, and concentrating all powers with the PMO, with hardly any freedom allowed to even cabinet ministers, only because, you think you are bigger than party, the irrelevance of the party has begun. Modi functions like Indira Gandhi, domineering and dictatorial. If then, it was 'Indira is India', for Modi its 'Modi is BJP.' This attitude has to change. If a party has to maintain its growth momentum, it has to be the baby of all party members, not just an individual or two or the coterie. 

It is very rare, rather never happened, that a PWD project in Delhi, Azadpur-Prembari flyover in Delhi was completed before time and within the budget. Reportedly, the project cost was budgeted at Rs 247 crores but was completed using only Rs 143 crores, thus saving about 40%. It is very normal that all government projects are awarded to the lowest bidder. The lowest bidder, for varieties of ‘force majeure’, ask for extension of time for the completion and then slowly introduces the inflation clause, keeps demanding more and more money, of course, taking all concerned on board, which generally means sharing the booty.

Under such a situation to complete the job of some Rs 250/- crores well before time and also saving for the government some Rs 100/- crores, is definitely a wonder of wonders. The ministry and the minister, along with all concerned technical and support staff need to be publicity honoured for their efficiency and cost consciousness. After all it is public money. Most of the government money goes for these public projects and saving can only help in additional spending in social sector.

Reportedly, both central government concerned with Delhi infrastructure and Delhi PWD co-operated between them to see that the job went on smoothly. Since both governments are concerned with corruption free governance, this is a sterling example, what co-operation between center and state can achieve. Two cheers to both NDA government in the centre and AAP government in Delhi. Yeh Dil Maange more!

The invocation “prestigious award should be cherished and valued by recipients’”, by the first citizen of the country, President Pranab Mukarjee did not come a day a too early. In an atmosphere of one-up manship of ‘Tu Tu Mai Mai’, it was pleasant to listen to the measured wisdom from the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. Addressing a function organized by Press Council of India, to mark the National Press Day, president is reported to have remarked “Emotions should not over run reason and disagreement should be expressed through debate and discussion”. He was generally commenting on the ‘award waapsi’ programme started and continued, since over a month, by writers, artists, scientists, actors etc.

India is a country of 1275 million people, with diversity that is mind boggling, be it culture, be it languages, be it tradition and religious practices. The exasperating differences that are visible and invisible makes India a very fascinating land in the world of homosapians. By any stretch of imagination, there is no country comparable to India. Therefore it is absolutely unreasonable to expect the country to function like a synchronized clock. Like anywhere in the world, we too have in India, our share of idiots, and they are there in all sections of our society, from Kohima to Kutch, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. But despite such huge and diverse population, these idiotic abbarations, they are so few and far between, but-for-the 21st century 24X7 electronic media, it wouldn’t have been known to the wide world. In Mangalooru, we are all privy to the infamous ‘Amnesia Pub Attack’, by some lumpen extortionist hoodlums, but in matter of hours the whole connected world knew about the, what was termed by our ebullient former central minister Renuka Chaudhary ‘the talibanisation of Mangalooru’.

Of course, the killing of Kannada rationalist writer Kalburgi, Dadri lynching of a beef eater were most dastardly. But the government, in Karnataka and U.P, should have acted with alacrity and purpose. If U.P government could get back all stolen buffalos of Azam Khan in 48 hours, I see no reason, why such efficiency was not shown in catching the Dadri killer?

These ladies and gentlemen who returned their awards were, kind of, suffering from a mental block. In India, there are 3 kinds of peoples. One who like, admire & love Modi, then there are who dislike, detest and hate. Third categories are those, who admire him for what he is, but also criticize him for what he is not. Unfortunately, all these awardees, who returned their awards, belong to the second category. Rationalist among them failed to rationalize the persona of Modi. That Modi is all plus and no minus, is nobody’s case. He is like all humans a bundle of pride, prejudices so also positive emotions. These awardees, instead of returning the awards, can all meet and make a representation to the Prime Minister with their points of view, and suggest what they consider as the good of society. Post President Mukarjee’s wise counsel, hope these awardees are wise enough to remember what Mahatma had said “Eashwar Allah Tero Naam, Sabko Sanmathi Dey Bhaghwan.” 

Professionalism is to admire even your adversary, some one you would rather love to hate. But it is not always the cup of everybody to accept somebody as better than you, whom you pathological dislike. 

There was this report on a survey by World Economic Forum (WEF) listing world’s most admired personality. Interestingly, it had given, the Congress beite noire, Narendra Modi No: 10, where likes of Putin of Russia or Angela Merkel of Germany did not find a place.

Those nine before Modi, were Nelson Mandela at No:1, followed by Pope Francis & Elon Musk of Tesla Motors. While Mahatma Gandhi was named at 4, followed by Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Richard Branson of Virgin Group, Steve Job and Nobel Laureate Mohd. Younus of Bangladesh at No: 9.

Congress, miffed at this gradation called it a ‘good joke’. Very unhappy with the ranking, Congress even questioned the legitimacy of WEF to decide these rankings. WEF is an organization, which provides forums to global personalities in its interaction on global socio/economic thoughts. When he came in 2014, Narendra Modi came as a breath of fresh air on the Indian public space, like nobody else before him. 

Surely, he has made enough enemies since then & even before, in the public space, for varieties of reasons. He recently lost election in Bihar, to his uncharitable attacks on his opponents was one of the reason for the debacle. Still, despite his disappointment, he gave a speech to the standing ovation of British Parliamentarians, only a few days later, which an opposition politician and former chief minister of J & K, Omar Abdulla, had the decency to praise Modi, asking “why can’t we take pride in the excellent speech made by Modi”. That was indeed very exemplary politics. This is the positive politics we Indians need to appreciate and practice for the larger good.  

             

BIHAR: The biggest news of 2015, has been the victory of Grand Alliance in Bihar, consisting of JD (U) of Nitish Kumar, RJD of Lalu & Congress led by Sonia Gandhi. It was entirely unexpected and unprecedented. But then, this is how election works in a democracy.

The people power, had to find its expression, whatever political parties say, or media speculate. 

Post result, always some kind of analysis are made to find reasons and scapegoats for what happened and what has not happened.

Quoting Misa Bharti, daughter of Lalu Prasad Yadav, a report informed “Bhagwat’s statement on reservation made campaign easier”. Many in the media had speculated that remark by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, that ‘Reservation has to be reviewed’ was interpreted as ‘RSS is opposed to reservation and therefore BJP, if voted to power, may scrap reservation’. That indeed seems to have worked against BJP and NDA. What Misa Bharti is reported to have remarked seem to confirm it.

Reservation and the politics around it, for all these 68 years has been there.  How reservation has helped the targeted group is a study that was never seriously done. How reservation has hurt others also is a study that needs to be done. Bhagwat was only echoing what even Congress had earlier called for a comprehensive review. But the opponents, including Congress in the election battle, twisted it completely to its advantage, . But the fact remains that Reservation as a policy is the most misused legislation that indeed needs a comprehensive review as demanded by Congress for the built in unfairness in the legislation & its execution.Will Indians listen?

To break the psychological logjam vis-à-vis the Bihar election result, the central government led by Modi shall do well to start acting on the Rs 1.25 lakh crore development funding promise Modi has made before the beginning of election. This one single act of pragmatism by the Modi government shall make both Lalu and Congress keep quiet and win him a friend in Nitish. This will also help send the signal that election or no election, development has to go on; and blunt the political rhetorics of opposition parties. To start with Modi must call Bihar Chief Minister Nitish and ask for his suggestions on the pattern & schedule of finding. This can open up a regular channel of communication for the overall improvement of bonhomie.

The news that the global group GE of U.S and French company Alstom are likely to be awarded with contracts worth Rs 40000/- crores for setting up diesel and electric locomotive factories is a very welcome one. And they are going to be set up in Marhora and Madhepura in Bihar.

 Dubbed as the first major project under the Make-in-India initiative to come under Railways, letters of contract acceptance likely to be issued shortly, the report informs. The projects are for a period of 11 years, to manufacture 1000 diesel locomotives by GE, and 800 electric locomotives by Alstom, with 100 units and 5 units respectively being initially imported and rest of the 900 units & 795 units to be manufactured in India. This, when started, is likely to have multiplier effect, and lead to large scale employment opportunities both direct and indirect in down stream industries & services.

Thus, some visions of Prime Minister Modi shall come about to realize the on ground visions of Nitish Kumar for Bihar. It shall be win-win for both.

This will without any doubt usher better states and central relations. 

Hope Modi keeps his promise to not only kick start development in Bihar, but it can also give long term dividend besides a political friend in Nitish Kumar.

Maharashtra: For whom this Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Maharashtra, its Mumbai unit, works? All its staff is getting paid fat government salary. How much they produce in terms of work they are supposed to do?

Reportedly ACB, Mumbai unit received some 7232 complaints on graft and instances of disproportionate assets cases against Maharashtra government staff during the period of Jan 2012 to Sept 2015, covering   some 45 months.

According to the reply received by RTI activist Jeetendra Ghagde, the bureau could look into only 671 complaints which worked at less than 9.3%, which meant more than 90% were left unattended, for whatever reasons, and not taken up. Of the 671 cases, which ACB decided to open and enquire, 322 cases, almost 50%, were closed without taking any action. Of the remaining 50% cases, comprising of 349 complaints, which were opened and inquired into, only 7 cases reached the stage of FIR and the balance were in different stages of enquiry.

So, not even 0.1% of complaints were converted into FIR. Frankly, why this ACB is existing? For whose benefits it is there? For whom these persons manning the ACB are accountable to? In Maharashtra, there is Modi’s government, his effect has not yet percolated into the corridors of Sachivalaya. Are you listening Mr. Devendra Fadanavis, the chief minister!?

      

“Nitish is the new Super Hero say’s Shiv Sena” was the news report datelined Mumbai, post Bihar election result. Of course, they had to say that to rub salt into the gash, not just wound, that its local beite noire cum coalition partner BJP had suffered in the hands of the Grand Alliance in of Bihar. Hence, fireworks was not in Pakistan but in Matoshri the ShivSena head quarters. Surely there is no love lost between Nitish Kumar and ShivSena, wasn’t it the same ShivSena and its cousin Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena who had attacked Biharis in Mumbai not so long ago?

ShivSena is in politics only to serve its local socio/political agenda. Its leader Uddhav Thackray has no national vision.

Earlier it had attacked South Indians, then Biharis, then Gujarathis and now Pakistanis only to extend its political space without any special love for India. Love of India, or patriotism is only a bogie & is an attempt to sustain itself politically. This ShivSena, which is talking about Indian Jawans suffering at the border due to unprovoked Pakistani attacks, should try to send a ShivSena team of Jawans to fight along with our regular Jawans, then their talk about patriotism can be taken little more seriously.

Or else, they too are: fake patriots for some media space only.

‘Police is a permanent defiance of nature’, remarked a Victorian Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, long ago. While what he said was in relation to the curtailment of social freedom in his days, perhaps he had no idea how bad police can be, especially in third world countries including India.

Police anywhere in India is known to be a terrible lot for a good part, if not entirely. There are any numbers of cases of brutality in uniform, with or without reasons. When general public take the law in to its hand, law takes care of them. But when police take the law into their hands, law, many times, goes limping. One of the great contribution of smart phones has been its instant utility of recording the event happening before you. It is because of these smart phones video recording and its circulation in social media exposes the nakedness of authorities perpetrating cruelty on hapless helpless victims, many times. And it becomes extremely difficult to escape the public scrutiny.

Same thing happened to the police at the Mumbai suburb Andheri police station, where cops had picked up a young couple arguing loudly between themselves. It was an entirely private affair, and police should have advised them to talk softly and let go. Instead they were taken into the police station, were beaten and locked up for a whole night. Fortunately, the smart phones of a citizen who had come to station on some work, became handy, and it went viral on the social media. After the usual dodging by the police higher ups, the police commissioner, taking a suo moto cognizance of the incident, ordered an inquiry. The public outcry led to an FIR against those unlawful constables. This is not an isolated incident, involving Mumbai police. There have been many even in the recent past. Alert public must expose police whenever it is possible. Only then police can become accountable, and forced to behave as law protector rather than the law breaker.

Some year ago, when Metro was started in Bangalore, an ignorant journalist wrote a story, that passenger utilization of Metro is not encouraging and may not serve the purpose. It was only a month or less, since the Metro had started. This journalist simply had no idea about the metro utilization and unfortunately, the newspaper too carried the story without applying its head.

Of course, those who planned it, and those who spent the money to create it have spent years projecting its ultimate success. Hence, the success of Metro, especially in urban pockets is guaranteed over a period. Every thing takes time, our mode of transport, especially those who are used to two wheelers and 4 wheelers take some time to change over to mass transit mediums like metro.

Metro is a clean, efficient and smart way of travelling in cities. Hence, its no wonder, that a report datelined Mumbai says “Mumbai Metro see rise in passengers & fare revenue”.

Responding to an RTI query, Mumbai Metro One Pvt. Ltd stated that, there is continuous increase in the utilization of metro services, so also the increase in the revenues. This is a development which is expected. Indians of all hues shall be better off using metro, which is environmentally clean, efficient, and smart. Users of metro shall remain fresh for a much longer time, less tired mentally and physically, and more likely to remain healthy without the ailments like, cough, cold, nasal infections, lung  infection, breathing problem etc.

Even in Bangalore things have greatly improved in terms of passenger utilization, so also revenue generation despite journalistic indiscretion.

Hence government everywhere must try to enlarge Metro connectivity. Larger metro network will mean lesser use of automobiles and therefore lesser use of hydrocarbon which will result in lesser fuel import, less pollution and more saving of foreign exchange. 

We have four Khans in the Hindi film world. They are Saif Ali Khan, Amir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. All of them have made name, fame and fortune, courtesy Indians of all hues. India consists of over 80% of Hindus, although a recent survey has shown it at less than 79%.

Of the above 4 Khans, two have not joined the chorus of so called ‘intolerance’ talk. Saif Ali Khan, probably a mother’s son, has not yet spoken either with the chorus or against it. Salman Khan, a loose cannon anyway, has kept a studied silence, may be due to his father’s advice. Of the remaining two, Shah Rukh Khan is known to be in love with both India and Pakistan. He wants to have all the freedom that the atmosphere in India offers while keeping his Pakistani friends in good humour, a bit like Mani Shankar Aiyar. Amir Khan was better than Shah Rukh in his India equation. Now it looks, he too is set to compete. His wife wanted to leave the country, so he said. Should Indians thank her for staying put!

Intolerance in some form has always been there in India, and so in the rest of the world of homosapians. It is the done thing. West, East, Mid-East, Africa, Asia and all areas where humans are living, a certain level of intolerance is always found. Examples are far too many. But, is there a country, as exasperating in its diversity as India, in the entire world?! India is not a country, its a continent. Hence logically there should have been intolerance on a big scale. But is there!?

Look at our western neighbour Pakistan. What is the status of tolerance in that country? Is that country a model of tolerance?

Dr Khalil Ahmed from Hyderabad is the President of Karnataka Zakaath & Charitable Trust. This trust distributes crores of rupees in scholarship to needy Muslim students.

While speaking in Mangalore, a few years ago, he is reported to have stated “There is no country which is as free as India. Whole of west, including U.S, and after travelling Arab nations, you get an idea of those countries and understand the real meaning of Indian democracy. Even in our neighbor Pakistan, the state of minorities is very pitiable.”

As socially committed individual, Dr Khalil Ahmed, is better qualified than the Khan duo, to pass value judgment on a country, where tolerance is a way of life.

The very fact, that all these ladies and gentlemen have expressed their ‘intolerance’ on the other’s ‘intolerance’, without any problem from anybody, is a good enough reason to acknowledge that there is tolerance in India.

All these alleged acts of intolerance, like killing of Dhabolkar or Pansare or Kalburgi or Dadri Linching, or those small Dalit children in Haryana, could very well have been taken as law and order problem and dealt with alacrity. But, instead, it was allowed to fan restlessness of social divide, media joined the melee. Khan duo has only added to the ‘intolerant’ confusion, despite the wise counsel of President Pranab Mukherjee, the other day.

All these so-called intellectuals and actors who think they are opinion makers, could have called on, as group, on those who are accused to be intolerant, like the central government (read Modi), BJP, RSS and others, if any. These interactions, if it had taken place, instead of so much misplaced hype, atmosphere could have been far better. We as Indians owe it to this great country, to protect its fair name as the most tolerant country in the world.

Andhra Pradesh: The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Chandra Babu Naidu is busy constructing Amaravathi, in line with legendary Amaravathi, to have a state of the art capital for his truncated state. Thousands of crores are being spent, with thousands of people involved with the concept, creation and construction of the ‘best capital city’ among Indian States.

But, hold your breath, Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has come out with some startling facts on the serious dearth of toilets and appalling condition of toilets, where it is available, in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. CAG verified some 84 schools and they found 40 of them do not have toilet for girls. Of the remaining, where toilets are available 19 are in dilapidated state and 12 are without water. In fact the report informs that most of 84 toilets verified were in a state of collapse and non-maintenance.

According to report, non-utilization of funds already allocated by the centre for the upkeep and construction of toilets is a sad state of affairs. The project officer of Rajiv Vidya Mission was placed with some Rs.25 lakhs in May 2009, remained unspent and was refunded a year later. Even the toilets which are there were without roof and door and are, according to Ayahs of Anganwadis, not baby friendly, and the Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu is obsessed with promoting world class capital for Andhra and Telangana Chief Minister is busy promoting his sons and cronies. That’s indeed a sad spectacle for country craving to be super power.

    

Karnataka: Sometime in October or early Nov 2015, the government of Siddaramayya in Bangalore had decided to celebrate the birth anniversary of Tippu, a former king of Mysore on 10th November. Tippu’s rule in Mysore and his kingdom had a record of controversies. So why the state government wanted to celebrate the birth anniversary of Tippu was not clear. Was it some kind of a agenda driven, since Tippu was a Muslim ruler?

Although it was hoisted by the state government as culture vulture issue, it was reportedly handled by Ministry of Minority Affairs, instead of Ministry of Culture & Kannada. Thus, the undergarments appeared to be visible. 

Print media, on the 7th November had carried report datelined Mangalore, that United Christian Association (UCA) staged a protest in front of the DC office Mangalooru opposing the move to hold Tippu Jayanti.

Report also informed that UCA called Tippu a Goonda and that he had killed over 60000 Christians in coastal region. Attributing to UCA member Robert Rosario, the report noted “Several churches in these districts were destroyed by him. He had converted thousands of Christians and Hindus to Islam.”

This report has not been contested by anybody in the media. Therefore it is reasonable to believe it.

Of course, most Indians are aware of the accusation of Hindu organizations that “Tippu was a religious fanatic and history tells us that numerous Hindus were converted to Islam by him and those who opposed were killed”. But then when any Hindu organization accuses, it is normally taken by the media with a fistful of salt not just a pinch, since there are only a few who see reason in their arguments or accusations, rightly or wrongly.

But the fact of the matter is, the government went ahead with the first ever birth anniversary of this Tippu, despite the opposition from Christians and Hindus. What was that ‘great’ purpose behind it was very unclear? However interestingly, the Christian organizations which protested outside DC office on 6th November, and called Tippu a goonda, did not join Hindu organizations who protested vociferously, accusing the government of indulging in vote bank politics. Is it because Bangalore Archbishop Bernard Moras advised these organizations not to protest, lest Christians be seen, as against the Congress government in Karnataka?! So, if these Hindu organizations are being branded by vested interests as being ‘communal’, so be it. I am sorry, my Christian brethren! This is a clear case of opportunism and implies sinister political design, where truth appears to be a casualty. Unfortunately our ‘ever alert’ media had no comment to offer. Indeed, very disappointing.

Bommanagi Government Higher primary school in Bagalkot district was in news, for an extremely sorry reason. Some 38 students took ill after worms were found in the mid-day meal provided by the school kitchen.

Reportedly 4 cooks have been suspended. But nobody asked how did the worms infected upma was supplied to the school? Is it because the suppliers are friends of the department with their tentacle spread far & wide. After all who suffered? Poor children of poor parents, who have little wherewithal to make noise!

Siddaramayya, the champion of backward class, where is he? Busy politicking as usual!

Reportedly, of the 38 students condition of 18 worsened even after initial treatment, and were shifted to district hospital in Bagalkot.

If the voiceless students have suffered, equally voiceless cooks are made to pay for it, which is in all probability was the casualness of cooks and crassness of the supplier cum department vested interest.

Yes, in India, this is how it works. Those who can’t fight suffer unjustly, and those who can pull strings get away with murder. What if this food poisoning becomes fatal!

Tamil Nadu: There was this report in the print media “In Polaris sale, some national pride gets eroded”.

Chennai based Polaris Consulting & Services, sold its controlling 53% interest to a U.S based, Nasdaq-listed Virtusa Corp in a Rs.2300 crore deal. It was bought by a Srilankan, Kris Canakaratne, Chairman & CEO of Virtusa, based in U.S. The report also informed about another Indian company, iflex solution floated by one Rajesh Hukku, had sold its 61% to Oracle in an $1.5 billion deal, sometime in 2005.

Both Polaris & iflex were fully Indian owned companies and sold its controlling interest to U.S based companies. Only successful ventures attract investors, and therefore it was very evident that, unlike big names like TCS, Infosys, Wipro & others, these one man outfits too quietly went about doing things and succeeded. Surely it was a success story and was making money and therefore U.S companies bought controlling interest.

The report was raising the question of national pride, if these entities were not sold to outsiders, only to make some quick money, there could have been options like, raising capital from Indian market and sell shares to Indian and keep the outfit as Indian. In the long run it could have made as much money or even more money, but could have retained its Indian identity. But then all cannot be Abdul Kalam. He had rejected a highly paid job offer from United Arab Emirates, only to serve India and to see India become a strong country on its own terms. Didn’t he say “A country is greater than an individual!”