MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE
NEW DELHI: By any stretch of imagination the last summit between our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese President Xi Jinping was singularly epochal for its multiple dimensions. No wonder comes this report from Beijing, “India China militaries to set up hotline after Modi-Xi summit”.
“Leaders of the two nations have reportedly agreed to set up a hotline between their respective military headquarters”, informed state run Global Times daily, recently. As reported earlier Modi met Xi during the last week of April, in an unprecedented two-day ‘heart to heart’ summit to ‘Solidify’ the Indo-China relationship.
The latest overtures come after Modi and Xi agreed to issue “Strategic guidance to their respective militaries to strengthen communication in order to build trust and mutual understanding and enhance predictability and effectiveness in the management of border affairs” mentions the report from Chinese capital.
This augers well for both countries, for their mutual benefits in coming days. This development is also good for the peace in the region and by extension good for the world at large.
But nearer home, playing opposition for the sake of playing the role of opposition, not only negates responsible political behaviour, but also sends negative signals of the immaturity of our political class. If Shiv sena has gone to the town to blurt “Modi skips critical issues on casual China visit’, the over hundreds years old political party, the main political opposition in the country, the Indian National Congress, had “Asks Modi to Confront China over Doklam”.
While Shiv Sena can be excused for the immaturity of its leader Uddhav Thackray, the open display of ignorance by Congress proves its decreasing sense of proportion on issue of national significance.
As was made known earlier, the last summit between these two leaders, Modi & Xi, was purely a serious high octane effort towards Confidence Building Measures (CBM) between the two countries to improve the level of trust despite long pending differences. This unprecedented meet is a reflection of the growing importance both countries give for the spirit of Co-operative Co-existence needed between competing powers for their own space under the sun. The tweet by Congress spokes person reminding Modi to keep the national interest of national security, is a reflection of its wayward childish responses not expected from the main opposition party.
Modi, has many questionable traits, personally, socially and politically. But his concern for the nation’s honour and its security is, certainly beyond question and his integrity in that respect is beyond any shadow of doubt. Hope and wish our opposition parties do not trivialize issues of national significance in their anxiety to score some petty political points.
UTTAR PRADESH: A print media report informed that 51 Muslim candidates have cleared the latest 3 stage examination of UPSC to be qualified for civil services. Congratulations for their stupendous performance.
This is the 2nd time they cleared more than 50 candidates, since their concerted efforts from 2007 to get the community members into coveted civil service positions.
Post Rajinder Sachar Committee report where it was mentioned that only 3% of the top administrative job of the country was held by Muslims and therefore attempts should be made, to inform this. Realizing the opportunity available Syed Zafar Mahmood, a former civil servant, set up Sir Syed Coaching and Guidance Centre under the parent organization, Zakat Foundation of India since 2007. They offer scholarship to 50 students annually.
This initiative by the community should serve as an eye opener for other marginalized groups to have a potshot at civil service examinations of UPSC.
However there were some interesting observations by Syed Zafar Mahmood following two statements need attention for a larger picture. He is reported to have stated “Unless Muslims get into the decision making and implementation process of various government programs, how will the face of the community change”- He has also reportedly stated “As there were 14.2% Muslims in India as per the census of 2011, the aim should be to reach a proportional representation in administrative and police services. We still have a long way to go but the growth has been remarkable since last year”.
While the empowerment of ordinary Muslims is a very welcome development, the statements of this Sayed Zafar Mahmood have to be dissected for the implications of what they meant.
It is believed the object of education is to make a person empowered to be a better and a useful human being for self and society. However this does not appear to be the goal of Sayed Zafar Mahmood.
While the level of education among most Muslims leaves much to be desired, for varieties of reasons, the purpose according to Mahmood is to get into power mode, to rule. He wants them to be part of decision making process not necessarily good human beings. He is interested in the size of the power cake not necessarily better Muslims.
Then there is this talk about proportional representation according to the size of population. Muslims were less than 10% in 1947. In 2011, it became 14.2%, surely in 2018; it is higher than 15%, while all other groups have seen declining figures. Does this growing number and the desire to control the government apparatus signal, some well placed concerns!? There are community leaders, like Asaduddin Owaisi and others, who want to Islamise India. While education is indeed the need of the day for the Muslim youth, it should not be agenda driven.
UTTAR PRADESH: For whatever reason, this Yogi Adityanath has been made the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh? Who so ever has decided or influenced the decision to hoist him on the people of UP must have had some purpose. What could be the purpose? Whatever could be the purpose, certainly maladministration is not one of them.
Some say, he has been brought in at the behest of RSS, for ensuring the construction of Shree Ram temple at Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya. It may well be so! But would anybody want a temple built at the cost of hundreds of children dying in hospital of UP either due to apathy, negligence or plain lack of administration? Or allow and fail to check rampant attacks and physical wrongs perpetrated on girls in teens by all and sundry including politicians, with police machinery being either apathetic or supportive towards the accused? Or in the name of law and order organizing ‘encounters’ to eliminate criminals including petty thieves like pick pockets, who are otherwise jobless? These alleged fake encounters have emboldened the police to such an extent; they started bargaining with possible victims to make money for themselves. And comes this news that this government of Yogi Adityanath has ordered the withdrawal of some 131 riot cases including 13 cases of murder and 11 cases of attempted murder. This is clearly bad and this can have after effects in different forms including lawlessness from a section of population. This order should be challenged in Apex court under PIL. Of course, all cases may not be genuine, since filed by earlier government. But the court can hear them all on fast track basis and be done with it, but should never be allowed to go unchallenged. Do you hearken activist advocate Prashanth Bhushan! There is a job cut out to fix governance in the biggest state of U.P. Yes Yogi Adityanath, better stop giving speeches at election rally in different states, when your own state is crying for serious attention and application.
UTTAR PRADESH: Some time truth can be stranger than fiction. Mohammed Amir, as name suggests is a Muslim faithful, associated with Aligarh Muslim University. He is reportedly doing something completely unthinkable; some of the Muslims may even boycott him or goad seminaries to issue fatwas against him. Would you believe, he is a member of RSS, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh! RSS is supposedly an organization belonging to practitioners of Hindu religion. For Mohammed Amir to be an active member of RSS, certainly there could be some justifiable attraction. Although there is a huge section of Hindus who are not members of RSS or any of its affiliates, this fact did not deter Mohammed Amir from dissuading himself from being an active RSS worker.
Consequently, he wants his co-religionists too to know more about this RSS and its activities. So on behalf of RSS, Mohammed Amir writes a letter to the Vice chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, informs a report datelined Aligarh.
In the letter he has reportedly requested the V.C Tariq Mansoor, asking permission to conduct ‘Shakhas’ of RSS in the university campus. According to Mohammed Amir, and he writes in his letter “wrong perception is being created that RSS is anti-Muslim, they are actually a nationalist organization”. “If ‘Shakhas’ are held within the campus AMU students will know what RSS is about”, he avers. Purpose, on the face of it, appeared to dispel misconception about this Hindu outfit among students of minority community.
Prima facie it is a very positive development, especially in an atmosphere of distrust and hatred. This is not to suggest that what he is doing is right, but at least there is an honest attempt by a concerned individual to have a ringside view for a larger audience especially student community, some of whom are currently embroiled in Jinnah portrait controversy.
Mohammed Amir deserves all support and accolades for his path breaking initiative, which can only bring bonhomie among us Indians in the context of larger pan Indian picture. Hope and wish he succeeds in his well intentioned effort.
MADHYA PRADESH: In the cacophony of governors’ overstepping their constitutional brief comes this news from Bhopal, the capital of M.P.
Anandiben Patel, governor of Madhya Pradesh was in the news for some controversial reasons. We all know that Anandiben was the CM of Gujarat after Narendra Modi shifted to New Delhi. After she relinquished the CMs office in Gandhinagar, she was moved to the gubernatorial office at Bhopal. We all know that the office of governor is a parking place for those who are tired but do not want to be retired. It’s a place where the powers that be, wants to say ‘thank you, and enjoy the stay’ for those who have been in the good books of powers that be, be it babudom or political office. That’s how both Vajubhai Vala and Anandiben Patel found themselves in these luxurious old age homes. Question whether poor country like India needs an office of governor at all, has been around making its round for its relevance. Yet political class did not take the call so far. This debate can be for another day and time.
Coming back to Anandiben Patel, reportedly she was addressing BJP party leaders at Satna airport, while on a visit. Talking to the Mayor of Satna:- Mamta Pandey – Ms Patel was reported to have told that Mamta Pandey must take up the cause of malnourished children herself instead of depending on government officials, since adopting poor and malnourished children helps you get votes. According to Governor Ms. Patel, government officials would do his job half heartedly since they do not need votes, but political representatives need vote.
“Eradicating malnourishment is our responsibility. Engage your councilors to achieve this. You don’t get votes just like that. You have to ensure people get what they want” she was reported to have remarked while interacting with Mayor Pandey and the accompanying BJP crowd.
No wonder, it has left a section of politicians red faced who have tweeted it to President Kovind stating Governor Patel is misusing her position.
While these politicians are partly right, the message of her statement is clear ‘deliver and get elected’ and that’s fair enough. Although getting vote should not be the only purpose of service, her stress for service is certainly pleasing to the ears of electorates.
WEST BENGAL: Whatever Lalit Modi can be accused of wrong doing in the administration of IPL, the whole concept of IPL is quite simply revolutionary. It has done whole lot of good to all stake holders. It’s indeed a win-win concept.
While it is a combination of business and entertainment for the entire crowd of cricket crazy viewership, it provided a huge platform for the display of cricket talent available within the country. That the talent available within the country is enormous, the successive IPL tournaments have left nobody in doubt about both the quantity and the quality of youngsters in their cricketing prowess. It is indeed amazing that India has such an enormous number of highly skilled cricket playing youth, some are still in their teens!
But the tragedy is many of them are not getting their formal dues, due to the vested interest of established players with right connection in the corridors of BCCI.
And comes this ‘very wise’ Ganguly, a former captain of Indian cricket team who is also the president of West Bengal Cricket Association. Sharing his views on the ongoing IPL he is reported to have remarked. ‘Time will come for Pant and Kishen’ while insisting “You can’t replace MS at the moment and Karthik also deserves a chance”. Here Pant is referred to Rishab Pant playing for Delhi Daredevils and Kishen is Ishan Kishen playing for Mumbai Indians, and MS is Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
People like Ganguly, and there are many in the Indian cricket administration who wants to EAT THE CAKE HAVE IT TOO.
‘Time and Tide wait for no man’. Our teenagers would grow into their 20’s and then 30’s and shall be lost into the wilderness and national amnesia with their wasted talent and a possible big money earning.
All these seniors have had their day in the sun, earned both glory and money, yet they are not ready to give up in favour of younger talents. And BCCI is no better, because it helps both, for the senior players and the administrators to remain in cohort in their ‘scratch back’ club, helping to serve each other’s selfish interest.
Now MS Dhoni has made a huge name, fame and fortune for himself, why doesn’t he leave the space for somebody else? And who is Ganguly to say MS Dhoni cannot be replaced at the moment? May be Karthik deserves another shot at it. He has not made fame and fortune like MS Dhoni. In fact even Kohli too should allow elbow room for others. After all the entire game of cricket is a national pie meant for all. Those who are very good, they must get their dues soon, because we have so many of them, and time is flying. They can soon grow old without testing and realizing their full potential. Under the circumstance, the apex court appointed CoA must take the call to give increasing opportunities for our abundant cricketing young talent available across the country over the counter. Hope the powers that be recognize this in the interest of India’s youth.
GUJARAT: Early this month there was this report datelined Una, “Una Dalit Victims Embrace Buddhism”. That was, by any stretch of thoughts, the most peaceful response from those who suffered physical and mental atrocities from a section of Hindus in Una.
Una shot into international notoriety, courtesy some thick headed cruel anti-socials among Hindus. On July 11, 2016 four men, who were into the occupation of skinning dead cows, were made naked and mercilessly thrashed by some Hindu goons, all in the name of cow-protection. Unfortunately, these self-styled cow vigilantes are roaming free without any punishment and the promise of jobs and land for the victims by the then Chief Minister Anandiben Patel is still on paper.
No wonder, these victims with their families said- ‘enough is enough. No more Hinduism’ and on their own volition they embraced Buddhism, supposedly a religion of peace. Like Hinduism, even Buddhism too does not indulge in proselytisation, either by allurement or by force. But unlike Hinduism, Buddhism is not iniquitous. It has no caste barriers or social divide, therefore universal in its appeal. Hope and wish these men and women, some 300 of them, realize their hopes and aspirations of an egalitarian co-existence.
However, it is important to mention that Gujarat, which in recent times has become socially notorious for varieties of reasons, makes an honest and sincere attempt to change its stripes to make life even handed and just for all its citizens in the larger pan- Indian context. Narendra Modi, as the former Chief Minister of Gujarat and the incumbent Prime Minister of the country has a huge responsibility in restoring the trust and faith in the large heartedness of basic Indianess. Somehow, there is an impression; enough is not being done, despite some periodic right noises, to make Indians feel easy and comfortable in an atmosphere of safety. While it is true that as the Chief Executive of the country, he is doing what best is possible for him under the circumstances, there is certainly room for a strong will to make that crucial difference to those who suffered at the hands of this so-called cow-vigilante and other anti-socials among his party affiliates. Hope, he recognizes the urgency of his own considered concerned response.
MAHARASHTRA: Have you ever heard of a contract to kill 319,400 rats in a government secretariat. According to a report in the print media, this particular contract was given by the General Administration Department of the state government. Terms of the contract were to execute it in six months. Reportedly this contract to kill 319,476 (billed) rats, can you believe it, was completed in mere seven days.
According to an RTI query, the contractor killed these 319,476 rats in the state secretariat or the Mantralaya from May 3 and May 10, 2016. This works to 45621 rats per day. And if they work for 10 hours a day its 4562 rats per hour or 76 rats per minute rats were killed. RTI also found out that the total weight of rats killed and transported out was 9126 kg which is over 9 ton. In other words, every day a truck load of rats was transported out of the state secretariat.
Interestingly, there is no explanation as to how the contract was given for a specific quantity, as if somebody had counted the rats running all over! Besides assuming a liberal space of 50,000 sq ft for the state secretariat, the density of rats per sq ft works to over 6 rats and about 64 rats per sq. mtr! The question arises how the main office premises of the state government so infested with rats left any space for the government machinery to work?!
After reading all this, it is equally interesting to note that this RTI query that disclosed these details was obtained by Eknath Khadse, the former powerful Revenue Minister of Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra, who had to leave the government under the cloud of some huge financial scam. According to him even Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) too has taken over 2 years to kill some six lakh rats in the entire city of Mumbai which sounds fairly credible. Clearly this contract to kill rodents is smelling rat.
MAHARASHTRA: We Indians are not merely poor learners; we also do not apply our head while learning. Hence becoming a possible super power will only be in the distant future.
Last monsoon, Prabhadevi in Central Mumbai was inundated with monsoon flood waters. After alighting from his vehicle, which got stuck in the flood water, Mumbai doctor Deepak Amarapurkar walking towards his residence nearby slipped into an open manhole, never to be found alive. After many days his body was found washed ashore Shivaji Park beach. Such watery grave has been a common recurrence in the past, but a famous doctor becoming a victim made the BMC think, what can be done to prevent such mishaps!
Engineers with the Storm Water Drainage Department came up with an idea of making a net and fixing it inside the manhole, so that anybody falling inside the manhole by accident can be saved in time. While this idea is good and has come after all, it is better late than never.
A report datelined Mumbai informed “No lessons learnt: Nets only for 900 manholes”. Reportedly, the island city of Mumbai and suburbs have easily some one lakh manholes. It is also true that all areas of the city and suburbs are not low lying and therefore not flood prone, and hence not all the manholes are opened for the water to flow during monsoon. But one can never say when a manhole may be opened and therefore the risk of anybody falling in cannot be foreseen. Therefore purely from the view of saving valuable life of humans and even four legged animals this provision makes lot of sense.
But to provide 900, where more than 90000 needed, is a very poor response from the department concerned.
According to the report, only the island city has been provided with these 900 nets so far with some more in the pipeline to complete for the island city only, none for the suburbs. So you have not provided even1% of the total requirement of these precautionary preventive nets! This is tragedy of governance!
Report also informs accusing the suburban ward officials of non-compliance of request for information regarding the list of areas where manholes needing the protective cover. This is rubbish. You have IAS officers, not one, may be two or three, occupying the Municipal Corporation Commissionerate. And to blame some juniors have not done their home work and hence the picture is bad, is ridiculous. This is sheer apathy.
And there is another bizarre dimension to this issue. Report informs that these protective nets are placed some 6ft below the mouth of the manhole. This is incredible. How can anybody assume that the person or the animal falling into the open manhole will be more that 6ft, so that the head is above the water?
What about school children, who are the most vulnerable for such tragic incidents, who will be anywhere from 2ft to 5ft? How you are going to save all those who are less than 6feet? What logic has gone into this fixing level? Oh, what kind of officialdom, this poor Mother India has?
MAHARASHTRA: Some weeks ago, former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, was reported to have remarked “Rising inequality among different classes cannot go on for long”, while delivering the 7th M. Vishveshvaraya Memorial Lecture at the World Trade Centre in Mumbai.
He has been making similar noises in the recent past, ever since he was made the 13th President of India, which he demitted last year.
Pranab Mukherjee has been a ringside witness, to the socio-economic & political evolution of India, from close quarters, for over five decades. He was part and parcel of the Congress party which ruled India close to 55 years. He was part of the coterie which decided the economic policies, which sided the rich, but was part of the political class that officially, cried with the poor. The inequity had to be there. Of course there have been attempts at redistribution of the national pie through five year development plans. Garibee Hatao scheme was a Congress brain child where Mukherjee was an active participant. It has a history of close to 40 years. But Garibee has not gone. Now he is telling business leaders at WTC that 50% of Indians own only 4.77% assets, while the 61.51% assets are owned by 10% Indians. This is stark but true. He has seen this from close quarters as Industries Minister, as Finance Minister, as Chairman of Planning Commission. But never ever mentioned or admitted publicly during his years with the Congress when Congress was in power and remained politically correct by his silence. Now he is admitting that ‘trickledown theory has failed and huge inequality is the proof’.
Inequity in society cannot go, unless each one of us, who can, make personal sacrifices, of whatever degree possible. We Indians, at least most of us, including Pranab Mukherjee are selfish. When he gave up his parliamentary seat on becoming the president, he made his son a Member of Parliament and tried his luck with his daughter to be an MLA in Delhi, but she couldn’t get elected. So those who had it good want to perpetuate the good times at the cost of the nation.
Yes, those who enjoyed the state largesse, all their life and continued enjoying it and ensuring their progeny inherit this largesse at the cost of the exchequer has no right to talk about ‘Rising Inequality’. Indeed, all of us have contributed to this state of our socio-economic scene, more so likes of Pranab Mukherjee and his friends in business and industry whom he actively helped as a government functionary for all his years in the corridors of power. It is all very well to sound like a ‘Statesman’ today as he walks towards his twilight years. No, he is not a model politician!
MAHARASHTRA: Releasing criminals on technical grounds is passé. They keep happening fairly often. While laws are there for interpreting and enforcing where needed, courts, as the custodian of justice, must see the veracity of the charge, intention and the seriousness of the crime. But more often courts end up giving the benefit to those who can employ expensive lawyers displaying their lung power, legal acumen and the reach.
Here is the case of one Kavitha Manikkar, an executive assistant to bank fraudster Nirav Modi. She had the power of attorney as authorized signatory to sign bank documents. Reportedly she had signed applications for the issuance of allegedly fraudulent Letter’s of Understanding (LOU) from Punjab National Bank, the biggest victim of Nirav Modi fraud. Clearly there is a prima facie case against Manikkar and therefore CBI was within its power to arrest her. The technical reason of not to arrest after sunset is to avoid harassment of a woman. Why should this protection available to a lady executive who is acting on behalf of a fraudster? If Bombay High Court and its judge Bharati Dangre think she deserve the application of this technical ground since she is a female, they could certainly have made an exception, since it was under exceptional circumstances that this Kavitha Manikkar was arrested at 10 pm on 20th February 2018. They could have given a token relief, of let her go and ask CBI to get her rearrested the next day during day time.
Their imposition of the fine of Rs.50,000/- for this so-called laps on the part of CBI is seriously debatable. At the end of the day what is important is the spirit of the law that should prevail not its letters.
KARNATAKA: Former Indian cricket captain is an anti national. He was caught and punished for the crime of Match Fixing in 2000 along with Hansie Cronje and others. He is a disgraced cricketer, banned by ICC. Even BCCI had banned him in the past. But BCCI being BCCI lifted the ban without any justification. He had even raised the bogie of minority, when the case of match fixing was established, forgetting that he was made the captain of Indian cricket team inspite of his minority status. This was the opportunism of the worst kind.
Congress in its wisdom decided to rehabilitate this discredited Azharuddin for its vote bank politics in a Muslim dominated area of UP. As luck would have it, he won and lost subsequently. Now suddenly he was in the news.
He has been around Bengalooru campaigning for Congress in the recent election to the Karnataka Assembly. He made some relevant remarks for whatever it was worth.
Addressing the press, he was reported to have stated. “It is unfortunate that the BJP and their uncontrolled fringe groups want to control what the young will wear, whom they will love, what they will eat, what they can see where they can go, what they should celebrate and every facet of independent exercise of youthful aspirations. Rather than shaping the future, the BJP is strangulating the voices and caging the aspirations of the youth”.
Indeed all that he said made some sense. BJP as a political party should have its goal of giving clean governance in all places where it is in government. Instead they get involved in social matters, which police can better handle, with the help of their party cadres. Of course there is police inaction and over-action, which too can be managed with imaginative approaches rather than allowing fringe elements to create muck all around.
It is true Mohammad Azharuddin is not somebody to be taken very seriously. But for a change, what he said in Bengalooru was something worth pondering for BJP. Hope BJP takes note of his barb.
KARNATAKA: So the result of Karnataka election was on expected lines. It's hung assembly. Machinations expert that BJP leadership is known for, was thought to be the coalition partners with JD (S). But suddenly Congress being on the receiving end of BJP tricks, acted fast and have joined hands with JDS to form government in Bengalooru. With all earlier protestations of no coalition Gowdas had no problem acceptingthe offer with alacrity. After all the stakes were high with all government in hands of Gowda family. Congress had no choice. It was an unconditional submission. Sadly this was not the day, the Congress should have seen. But then its politics. However, now that the ball is in the court of governor, who is a BJP card holder, it is difficult to think straight. Constitutionally he is duty bound to call the party with the highest number of seats. But then in Goa Congress had 17 and BJP had 12 and they formed the government with coalition partners. They acted fast to leave Congress dazed. In Bengalooru reverse is the case. So it's wait & see, a possible enactment of AayaRaams & GayaaRaams! Coming to the election results, as usual BJP leadership has gone to town to harp ' Its victory of politics of development '. This has been the standard reaction. But in coastal Karnataka, which is far more developed unlike other parts of Karnataka, it was the social divide that spoke at the hustings. Of the 16 seats BJP won 13, some of them with doubtful competence. Loss of Pramod Madhwaraj, a truly development man, was entirely unexpected. Explanation was, it was the perceived wrong to Hindu sentiments, when there were killings in the name of religion and the government in Bengalooru failed to give justice. Coming to the possible coalition of Congress with 78 seats and JDS with 38 seats, it should have worked under normal circumstances. But here, it is the junior partner who is in the driver's seat and is expected to exploit it to the hilt. So will it work is a huge question. So it's wait & see. All eyes at Rajbhavan in Bengalooru.
J. Shriyan
“Leaders of the two nations have reportedly agreed to set up a hotline between their respective military headquarters”, informed state run Global Times daily, recently. As reported earlier Modi met Xi during the last week of April, in an unprecedented two-day ‘heart to heart’ summit to ‘Solidify’ the Indo-China relationship.
The latest overtures come after Modi and Xi agreed to issue “Strategic guidance to their respective militaries to strengthen communication in order to build trust and mutual understanding and enhance predictability and effectiveness in the management of border affairs” mentions the report from Chinese capital.
This augers well for both countries, for their mutual benefits in coming days. This development is also good for the peace in the region and by extension good for the world at large.
But nearer home, playing opposition for the sake of playing the role of opposition, not only negates responsible political behaviour, but also sends negative signals of the immaturity of our political class. If Shiv sena has gone to the town to blurt “Modi skips critical issues on casual China visit’, the over hundreds years old political party, the main political opposition in the country, the Indian National Congress, had “Asks Modi to Confront China over Doklam”.
While Shiv Sena can be excused for the immaturity of its leader Uddhav Thackray, the open display of ignorance by Congress proves its decreasing sense of proportion on issue of national significance.
As was made known earlier, the last summit between these two leaders, Modi & Xi, was purely a serious high octane effort towards Confidence Building Measures (CBM) between the two countries to improve the level of trust despite long pending differences. This unprecedented meet is a reflection of the growing importance both countries give for the spirit of Co-operative Co-existence needed between competing powers for their own space under the sun. The tweet by Congress spokes person reminding Modi to keep the national interest of national security, is a reflection of its wayward childish responses not expected from the main opposition party.
Modi, has many questionable traits, personally, socially and politically. But his concern for the nation’s honour and its security is, certainly beyond question and his integrity in that respect is beyond any shadow of doubt. Hope and wish our opposition parties do not trivialize issues of national significance in their anxiety to score some petty political points.
UTTAR PRADESH: A print media report informed that 51 Muslim candidates have cleared the latest 3 stage examination of UPSC to be qualified for civil services. Congratulations for their stupendous performance.
This is the 2nd time they cleared more than 50 candidates, since their concerted efforts from 2007 to get the community members into coveted civil service positions.
Post Rajinder Sachar Committee report where it was mentioned that only 3% of the top administrative job of the country was held by Muslims and therefore attempts should be made, to inform this. Realizing the opportunity available Syed Zafar Mahmood, a former civil servant, set up Sir Syed Coaching and Guidance Centre under the parent organization, Zakat Foundation of India since 2007. They offer scholarship to 50 students annually.
This initiative by the community should serve as an eye opener for other marginalized groups to have a potshot at civil service examinations of UPSC.
However there were some interesting observations by Syed Zafar Mahmood following two statements need attention for a larger picture. He is reported to have stated “Unless Muslims get into the decision making and implementation process of various government programs, how will the face of the community change”- He has also reportedly stated “As there were 14.2% Muslims in India as per the census of 2011, the aim should be to reach a proportional representation in administrative and police services. We still have a long way to go but the growth has been remarkable since last year”.
While the empowerment of ordinary Muslims is a very welcome development, the statements of this Sayed Zafar Mahmood have to be dissected for the implications of what they meant.
It is believed the object of education is to make a person empowered to be a better and a useful human being for self and society. However this does not appear to be the goal of Sayed Zafar Mahmood.
While the level of education among most Muslims leaves much to be desired, for varieties of reasons, the purpose according to Mahmood is to get into power mode, to rule. He wants them to be part of decision making process not necessarily good human beings. He is interested in the size of the power cake not necessarily better Muslims.
Then there is this talk about proportional representation according to the size of population. Muslims were less than 10% in 1947. In 2011, it became 14.2%, surely in 2018; it is higher than 15%, while all other groups have seen declining figures. Does this growing number and the desire to control the government apparatus signal, some well placed concerns!? There are community leaders, like Asaduddin Owaisi and others, who want to Islamise India. While education is indeed the need of the day for the Muslim youth, it should not be agenda driven.
UTTAR PRADESH: For whatever reason, this Yogi Adityanath has been made the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh? Who so ever has decided or influenced the decision to hoist him on the people of UP must have had some purpose. What could be the purpose? Whatever could be the purpose, certainly maladministration is not one of them.
Some say, he has been brought in at the behest of RSS, for ensuring the construction of Shree Ram temple at Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya. It may well be so! But would anybody want a temple built at the cost of hundreds of children dying in hospital of UP either due to apathy, negligence or plain lack of administration? Or allow and fail to check rampant attacks and physical wrongs perpetrated on girls in teens by all and sundry including politicians, with police machinery being either apathetic or supportive towards the accused? Or in the name of law and order organizing ‘encounters’ to eliminate criminals including petty thieves like pick pockets, who are otherwise jobless? These alleged fake encounters have emboldened the police to such an extent; they started bargaining with possible victims to make money for themselves. And comes this news that this government of Yogi Adityanath has ordered the withdrawal of some 131 riot cases including 13 cases of murder and 11 cases of attempted murder. This is clearly bad and this can have after effects in different forms including lawlessness from a section of population. This order should be challenged in Apex court under PIL. Of course, all cases may not be genuine, since filed by earlier government. But the court can hear them all on fast track basis and be done with it, but should never be allowed to go unchallenged. Do you hearken activist advocate Prashanth Bhushan! There is a job cut out to fix governance in the biggest state of U.P. Yes Yogi Adityanath, better stop giving speeches at election rally in different states, when your own state is crying for serious attention and application.
UTTAR PRADESH: Some time truth can be stranger than fiction. Mohammed Amir, as name suggests is a Muslim faithful, associated with Aligarh Muslim University. He is reportedly doing something completely unthinkable; some of the Muslims may even boycott him or goad seminaries to issue fatwas against him. Would you believe, he is a member of RSS, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh! RSS is supposedly an organization belonging to practitioners of Hindu religion. For Mohammed Amir to be an active member of RSS, certainly there could be some justifiable attraction. Although there is a huge section of Hindus who are not members of RSS or any of its affiliates, this fact did not deter Mohammed Amir from dissuading himself from being an active RSS worker.
Consequently, he wants his co-religionists too to know more about this RSS and its activities. So on behalf of RSS, Mohammed Amir writes a letter to the Vice chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, informs a report datelined Aligarh.
In the letter he has reportedly requested the V.C Tariq Mansoor, asking permission to conduct ‘Shakhas’ of RSS in the university campus. According to Mohammed Amir, and he writes in his letter “wrong perception is being created that RSS is anti-Muslim, they are actually a nationalist organization”. “If ‘Shakhas’ are held within the campus AMU students will know what RSS is about”, he avers. Purpose, on the face of it, appeared to dispel misconception about this Hindu outfit among students of minority community.
Prima facie it is a very positive development, especially in an atmosphere of distrust and hatred. This is not to suggest that what he is doing is right, but at least there is an honest attempt by a concerned individual to have a ringside view for a larger audience especially student community, some of whom are currently embroiled in Jinnah portrait controversy.
Mohammed Amir deserves all support and accolades for his path breaking initiative, which can only bring bonhomie among us Indians in the context of larger pan Indian picture. Hope and wish he succeeds in his well intentioned effort.
MADHYA PRADESH: In the cacophony of governors’ overstepping their constitutional brief comes this news from Bhopal, the capital of M.P.
Anandiben Patel, governor of Madhya Pradesh was in the news for some controversial reasons. We all know that Anandiben was the CM of Gujarat after Narendra Modi shifted to New Delhi. After she relinquished the CMs office in Gandhinagar, she was moved to the gubernatorial office at Bhopal. We all know that the office of governor is a parking place for those who are tired but do not want to be retired. It’s a place where the powers that be, wants to say ‘thank you, and enjoy the stay’ for those who have been in the good books of powers that be, be it babudom or political office. That’s how both Vajubhai Vala and Anandiben Patel found themselves in these luxurious old age homes. Question whether poor country like India needs an office of governor at all, has been around making its round for its relevance. Yet political class did not take the call so far. This debate can be for another day and time.
Coming back to Anandiben Patel, reportedly she was addressing BJP party leaders at Satna airport, while on a visit. Talking to the Mayor of Satna:- Mamta Pandey – Ms Patel was reported to have told that Mamta Pandey must take up the cause of malnourished children herself instead of depending on government officials, since adopting poor and malnourished children helps you get votes. According to Governor Ms. Patel, government officials would do his job half heartedly since they do not need votes, but political representatives need vote.
“Eradicating malnourishment is our responsibility. Engage your councilors to achieve this. You don’t get votes just like that. You have to ensure people get what they want” she was reported to have remarked while interacting with Mayor Pandey and the accompanying BJP crowd.
No wonder, it has left a section of politicians red faced who have tweeted it to President Kovind stating Governor Patel is misusing her position.
While these politicians are partly right, the message of her statement is clear ‘deliver and get elected’ and that’s fair enough. Although getting vote should not be the only purpose of service, her stress for service is certainly pleasing to the ears of electorates.
WEST BENGAL: Whatever Lalit Modi can be accused of wrong doing in the administration of IPL, the whole concept of IPL is quite simply revolutionary. It has done whole lot of good to all stake holders. It’s indeed a win-win concept.
While it is a combination of business and entertainment for the entire crowd of cricket crazy viewership, it provided a huge platform for the display of cricket talent available within the country. That the talent available within the country is enormous, the successive IPL tournaments have left nobody in doubt about both the quantity and the quality of youngsters in their cricketing prowess. It is indeed amazing that India has such an enormous number of highly skilled cricket playing youth, some are still in their teens!
But the tragedy is many of them are not getting their formal dues, due to the vested interest of established players with right connection in the corridors of BCCI.
And comes this ‘very wise’ Ganguly, a former captain of Indian cricket team who is also the president of West Bengal Cricket Association. Sharing his views on the ongoing IPL he is reported to have remarked. ‘Time will come for Pant and Kishen’ while insisting “You can’t replace MS at the moment and Karthik also deserves a chance”. Here Pant is referred to Rishab Pant playing for Delhi Daredevils and Kishen is Ishan Kishen playing for Mumbai Indians, and MS is Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
People like Ganguly, and there are many in the Indian cricket administration who wants to EAT THE CAKE HAVE IT TOO.
‘Time and Tide wait for no man’. Our teenagers would grow into their 20’s and then 30’s and shall be lost into the wilderness and national amnesia with their wasted talent and a possible big money earning.
All these seniors have had their day in the sun, earned both glory and money, yet they are not ready to give up in favour of younger talents. And BCCI is no better, because it helps both, for the senior players and the administrators to remain in cohort in their ‘scratch back’ club, helping to serve each other’s selfish interest.
Now MS Dhoni has made a huge name, fame and fortune for himself, why doesn’t he leave the space for somebody else? And who is Ganguly to say MS Dhoni cannot be replaced at the moment? May be Karthik deserves another shot at it. He has not made fame and fortune like MS Dhoni. In fact even Kohli too should allow elbow room for others. After all the entire game of cricket is a national pie meant for all. Those who are very good, they must get their dues soon, because we have so many of them, and time is flying. They can soon grow old without testing and realizing their full potential. Under the circumstance, the apex court appointed CoA must take the call to give increasing opportunities for our abundant cricketing young talent available across the country over the counter. Hope the powers that be recognize this in the interest of India’s youth.
GUJARAT: Early this month there was this report datelined Una, “Una Dalit Victims Embrace Buddhism”. That was, by any stretch of thoughts, the most peaceful response from those who suffered physical and mental atrocities from a section of Hindus in Una.
Una shot into international notoriety, courtesy some thick headed cruel anti-socials among Hindus. On July 11, 2016 four men, who were into the occupation of skinning dead cows, were made naked and mercilessly thrashed by some Hindu goons, all in the name of cow-protection. Unfortunately, these self-styled cow vigilantes are roaming free without any punishment and the promise of jobs and land for the victims by the then Chief Minister Anandiben Patel is still on paper.
No wonder, these victims with their families said- ‘enough is enough. No more Hinduism’ and on their own volition they embraced Buddhism, supposedly a religion of peace. Like Hinduism, even Buddhism too does not indulge in proselytisation, either by allurement or by force. But unlike Hinduism, Buddhism is not iniquitous. It has no caste barriers or social divide, therefore universal in its appeal. Hope and wish these men and women, some 300 of them, realize their hopes and aspirations of an egalitarian co-existence.
However, it is important to mention that Gujarat, which in recent times has become socially notorious for varieties of reasons, makes an honest and sincere attempt to change its stripes to make life even handed and just for all its citizens in the larger pan- Indian context. Narendra Modi, as the former Chief Minister of Gujarat and the incumbent Prime Minister of the country has a huge responsibility in restoring the trust and faith in the large heartedness of basic Indianess. Somehow, there is an impression; enough is not being done, despite some periodic right noises, to make Indians feel easy and comfortable in an atmosphere of safety. While it is true that as the Chief Executive of the country, he is doing what best is possible for him under the circumstances, there is certainly room for a strong will to make that crucial difference to those who suffered at the hands of this so-called cow-vigilante and other anti-socials among his party affiliates. Hope, he recognizes the urgency of his own considered concerned response.
MAHARASHTRA: Have you ever heard of a contract to kill 319,400 rats in a government secretariat. According to a report in the print media, this particular contract was given by the General Administration Department of the state government. Terms of the contract were to execute it in six months. Reportedly this contract to kill 319,476 (billed) rats, can you believe it, was completed in mere seven days.
According to an RTI query, the contractor killed these 319,476 rats in the state secretariat or the Mantralaya from May 3 and May 10, 2016. This works to 45621 rats per day. And if they work for 10 hours a day its 4562 rats per hour or 76 rats per minute rats were killed. RTI also found out that the total weight of rats killed and transported out was 9126 kg which is over 9 ton. In other words, every day a truck load of rats was transported out of the state secretariat.
Interestingly, there is no explanation as to how the contract was given for a specific quantity, as if somebody had counted the rats running all over! Besides assuming a liberal space of 50,000 sq ft for the state secretariat, the density of rats per sq ft works to over 6 rats and about 64 rats per sq. mtr! The question arises how the main office premises of the state government so infested with rats left any space for the government machinery to work?!
After reading all this, it is equally interesting to note that this RTI query that disclosed these details was obtained by Eknath Khadse, the former powerful Revenue Minister of Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra, who had to leave the government under the cloud of some huge financial scam. According to him even Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) too has taken over 2 years to kill some six lakh rats in the entire city of Mumbai which sounds fairly credible. Clearly this contract to kill rodents is smelling rat.
MAHARASHTRA: We Indians are not merely poor learners; we also do not apply our head while learning. Hence becoming a possible super power will only be in the distant future.
Last monsoon, Prabhadevi in Central Mumbai was inundated with monsoon flood waters. After alighting from his vehicle, which got stuck in the flood water, Mumbai doctor Deepak Amarapurkar walking towards his residence nearby slipped into an open manhole, never to be found alive. After many days his body was found washed ashore Shivaji Park beach. Such watery grave has been a common recurrence in the past, but a famous doctor becoming a victim made the BMC think, what can be done to prevent such mishaps!
Engineers with the Storm Water Drainage Department came up with an idea of making a net and fixing it inside the manhole, so that anybody falling inside the manhole by accident can be saved in time. While this idea is good and has come after all, it is better late than never.
A report datelined Mumbai informed “No lessons learnt: Nets only for 900 manholes”. Reportedly, the island city of Mumbai and suburbs have easily some one lakh manholes. It is also true that all areas of the city and suburbs are not low lying and therefore not flood prone, and hence not all the manholes are opened for the water to flow during monsoon. But one can never say when a manhole may be opened and therefore the risk of anybody falling in cannot be foreseen. Therefore purely from the view of saving valuable life of humans and even four legged animals this provision makes lot of sense.
But to provide 900, where more than 90000 needed, is a very poor response from the department concerned.
According to the report, only the island city has been provided with these 900 nets so far with some more in the pipeline to complete for the island city only, none for the suburbs. So you have not provided even1% of the total requirement of these precautionary preventive nets! This is tragedy of governance!
Report also informs accusing the suburban ward officials of non-compliance of request for information regarding the list of areas where manholes needing the protective cover. This is rubbish. You have IAS officers, not one, may be two or three, occupying the Municipal Corporation Commissionerate. And to blame some juniors have not done their home work and hence the picture is bad, is ridiculous. This is sheer apathy.
And there is another bizarre dimension to this issue. Report informs that these protective nets are placed some 6ft below the mouth of the manhole. This is incredible. How can anybody assume that the person or the animal falling into the open manhole will be more that 6ft, so that the head is above the water?
What about school children, who are the most vulnerable for such tragic incidents, who will be anywhere from 2ft to 5ft? How you are going to save all those who are less than 6feet? What logic has gone into this fixing level? Oh, what kind of officialdom, this poor Mother India has?
MAHARASHTRA: Some weeks ago, former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, was reported to have remarked “Rising inequality among different classes cannot go on for long”, while delivering the 7th M. Vishveshvaraya Memorial Lecture at the World Trade Centre in Mumbai.
He has been making similar noises in the recent past, ever since he was made the 13th President of India, which he demitted last year.
Pranab Mukherjee has been a ringside witness, to the socio-economic & political evolution of India, from close quarters, for over five decades. He was part and parcel of the Congress party which ruled India close to 55 years. He was part of the coterie which decided the economic policies, which sided the rich, but was part of the political class that officially, cried with the poor. The inequity had to be there. Of course there have been attempts at redistribution of the national pie through five year development plans. Garibee Hatao scheme was a Congress brain child where Mukherjee was an active participant. It has a history of close to 40 years. But Garibee has not gone. Now he is telling business leaders at WTC that 50% of Indians own only 4.77% assets, while the 61.51% assets are owned by 10% Indians. This is stark but true. He has seen this from close quarters as Industries Minister, as Finance Minister, as Chairman of Planning Commission. But never ever mentioned or admitted publicly during his years with the Congress when Congress was in power and remained politically correct by his silence. Now he is admitting that ‘trickledown theory has failed and huge inequality is the proof’.
Inequity in society cannot go, unless each one of us, who can, make personal sacrifices, of whatever degree possible. We Indians, at least most of us, including Pranab Mukherjee are selfish. When he gave up his parliamentary seat on becoming the president, he made his son a Member of Parliament and tried his luck with his daughter to be an MLA in Delhi, but she couldn’t get elected. So those who had it good want to perpetuate the good times at the cost of the nation.
Yes, those who enjoyed the state largesse, all their life and continued enjoying it and ensuring their progeny inherit this largesse at the cost of the exchequer has no right to talk about ‘Rising Inequality’. Indeed, all of us have contributed to this state of our socio-economic scene, more so likes of Pranab Mukherjee and his friends in business and industry whom he actively helped as a government functionary for all his years in the corridors of power. It is all very well to sound like a ‘Statesman’ today as he walks towards his twilight years. No, he is not a model politician!
MAHARASHTRA: Releasing criminals on technical grounds is passé. They keep happening fairly often. While laws are there for interpreting and enforcing where needed, courts, as the custodian of justice, must see the veracity of the charge, intention and the seriousness of the crime. But more often courts end up giving the benefit to those who can employ expensive lawyers displaying their lung power, legal acumen and the reach.
Here is the case of one Kavitha Manikkar, an executive assistant to bank fraudster Nirav Modi. She had the power of attorney as authorized signatory to sign bank documents. Reportedly she had signed applications for the issuance of allegedly fraudulent Letter’s of Understanding (LOU) from Punjab National Bank, the biggest victim of Nirav Modi fraud. Clearly there is a prima facie case against Manikkar and therefore CBI was within its power to arrest her. The technical reason of not to arrest after sunset is to avoid harassment of a woman. Why should this protection available to a lady executive who is acting on behalf of a fraudster? If Bombay High Court and its judge Bharati Dangre think she deserve the application of this technical ground since she is a female, they could certainly have made an exception, since it was under exceptional circumstances that this Kavitha Manikkar was arrested at 10 pm on 20th February 2018. They could have given a token relief, of let her go and ask CBI to get her rearrested the next day during day time.
Their imposition of the fine of Rs.50,000/- for this so-called laps on the part of CBI is seriously debatable. At the end of the day what is important is the spirit of the law that should prevail not its letters.
KARNATAKA: Former Indian cricket captain is an anti national. He was caught and punished for the crime of Match Fixing in 2000 along with Hansie Cronje and others. He is a disgraced cricketer, banned by ICC. Even BCCI had banned him in the past. But BCCI being BCCI lifted the ban without any justification. He had even raised the bogie of minority, when the case of match fixing was established, forgetting that he was made the captain of Indian cricket team inspite of his minority status. This was the opportunism of the worst kind.
Congress in its wisdom decided to rehabilitate this discredited Azharuddin for its vote bank politics in a Muslim dominated area of UP. As luck would have it, he won and lost subsequently. Now suddenly he was in the news.
He has been around Bengalooru campaigning for Congress in the recent election to the Karnataka Assembly. He made some relevant remarks for whatever it was worth.
Addressing the press, he was reported to have stated. “It is unfortunate that the BJP and their uncontrolled fringe groups want to control what the young will wear, whom they will love, what they will eat, what they can see where they can go, what they should celebrate and every facet of independent exercise of youthful aspirations. Rather than shaping the future, the BJP is strangulating the voices and caging the aspirations of the youth”.
Indeed all that he said made some sense. BJP as a political party should have its goal of giving clean governance in all places where it is in government. Instead they get involved in social matters, which police can better handle, with the help of their party cadres. Of course there is police inaction and over-action, which too can be managed with imaginative approaches rather than allowing fringe elements to create muck all around.
It is true Mohammad Azharuddin is not somebody to be taken very seriously. But for a change, what he said in Bengalooru was something worth pondering for BJP. Hope BJP takes note of his barb.
KARNATAKA: So the result of Karnataka election was on expected lines. It's hung assembly. Machinations expert that BJP leadership is known for, was thought to be the coalition partners with JD (S). But suddenly Congress being on the receiving end of BJP tricks, acted fast and have joined hands with JDS to form government in Bengalooru. With all earlier protestations of no coalition Gowdas had no problem acceptingthe offer with alacrity. After all the stakes were high with all government in hands of Gowda family. Congress had no choice. It was an unconditional submission. Sadly this was not the day, the Congress should have seen. But then its politics. However, now that the ball is in the court of governor, who is a BJP card holder, it is difficult to think straight. Constitutionally he is duty bound to call the party with the highest number of seats. But then in Goa Congress had 17 and BJP had 12 and they formed the government with coalition partners. They acted fast to leave Congress dazed. In Bengalooru reverse is the case. So it's wait & see, a possible enactment of AayaRaams & GayaaRaams! Coming to the election results, as usual BJP leadership has gone to town to harp ' Its victory of politics of development '. This has been the standard reaction. But in coastal Karnataka, which is far more developed unlike other parts of Karnataka, it was the social divide that spoke at the hustings. Of the 16 seats BJP won 13, some of them with doubtful competence. Loss of Pramod Madhwaraj, a truly development man, was entirely unexpected. Explanation was, it was the perceived wrong to Hindu sentiments, when there were killings in the name of religion and the government in Bengalooru failed to give justice. Coming to the possible coalition of Congress with 78 seats and JDS with 38 seats, it should have worked under normal circumstances. But here, it is the junior partner who is in the driver's seat and is expected to exploit it to the hilt. So will it work is a huge question. So it's wait & see. All eyes at Rajbhavan in Bengalooru.
J. Shriyan
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