MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE
PUNJAB: The Amritsar grenade blast which killed three and left some 20 injured is a handiwork of terrorists within the country. Sikh militancy has not died. Its revival in different places at different times have been ongoing. Be it India, UK or Canada or even Pakistan, is fairly known. These terrorists are fighting against the state and therefore cannot succeed. But it does not seem to get into their thick head.
This time round, they were joined hands by the Pakistani ISI cadres. Reportedly the grenade used in the blast were the ones being manufactured by Pak Army Ordinance Factory, informs Capt. Amarinder Singh, the Punjab CM.
It is very unfortunate that Pakistani army and its apparatus do not seem to learn lessons. To spite India they joined hands with China and there was this blast in Chinese consulate in Karachi and there will be more such things happening. Now again to hurt India, they joined hands with Khalistanis. Khalistan may never happen, but Khalistanis can create problem for Pakistan as well.
Khalistan will one day demand unification of West Punjab with the Indian side of Punjab and probably have similar blast there using Indian made stolen grenades from Indian army barracks.
Pakistan must realize this and therefore refrain from joining hands with Khalistanis. It is in the interest of Pakistan to develop friendly and meaningful relation with India to see the welfare of its people. Pakistan will never succeed in its design of hurting India.
NEW DELHI: Former Chief Selector Syed Kirmani has reportedly commented that the present selection team led by M. S. K. Prasad has no guts to question Kohli & Shastri. There is no doubt that Kohli calls the shot in the corridors of BCCI and Shastri has to get his pay cheque of Rs.6 crores as chief coach, tag along Kohli. That Kohli is an arrogant cricketer is well known beyond the Indian dressing room. The issue was the unceremonious rejection of Karun Nair, in the team that played West Indies. Nair had warmed the benches to serve water to players for all the 5 tests India played against England, thanks to Kohli’s shenanigans. That Kohli is a self centered man is also well known. Long ago, when he was made the test captain for the first time against Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe, he made Pervez Rasool of J&K, warm the seat for all 5 tests. Even when, India had 4 nil win against Zimbabwe, he didn’t play Pervez, the lone player from J&K. His idea was to win 5 nil against the hapless Zimbabwe. But as a sportsman, he could have given just one chance to Pervez, the memory of which he would have taken home as a trophy. But Kohli being Kohli was not large hearted. Similar thing has happened to Karun Nair, the Karnataka player. Maybe he wanted to rub another Karnataka senior, Anil Kumble!, the former India chief coach, whom Kohli hates.
Coming to Kirmani calling MSK Prasad names, it could be like sour grapes. While, it is true that MSK’s credentials are nothing much to sing a song about, Kirmani himself is not that great, that he was made the chief selector in the past.
But, what are the criteria to be in the selection team? There are no known names in the India selection panel. Selection team should be consisting of former captains and vice captains and there are any numbers. Sourav Ganguli, Dravid, Kumble, Tendulkar, Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Dhoni, VVS Laxman and some others, who can be truly inspiring as selectors. But why they are not being brought in as selectors? Strange are the ways of BCCI. They want to control the Indian cricket scene on their own terms. It is sad Supreme Court intervention has not brought about the desired change for the benefit of all talented Indian cricketers.
NEW DELHI:There were three news reports in the print media some weeks ago. One was about the removal of Major General BC Khanduri as the Chairman of Standing Committee on Defence. Another was the unceremonious transfer of former DGP of Kashmir by the new governor Satya Pal Malik as Transport Commissioner. Third was Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s usual criticism of PM Modi’s silence on the rape of a 19 year old student in Haryana.
Major General BCK as Standing Committee Chairman on Defence matters has been giving discouraging report on the armaments available with the Defence forces and how it could affect its preparedness. The latest report submitted some months ago even remarked that close to 70% of the equipment with the armed forces were of vintage variety. That was rather very critical. There was absolutely no reason for BCK to give a report which is away from truth. The question is why is it difficult for PMO to face the truth head on, and instead you shoot the messenger. In the first place this is a critical and sensitive report, hence, should not have been allowed in the public domain and BCK could have been taken into confidence with a meeting of chiefs of armed forces and Defence Minister with PMO in attendance, to truly take stock of the situation. Instead you ask him to go home. That’s bad and sad.
Similar was the case of DGP-S.P Vaid of J&K. You ask him for a report and he submits a report, you didn’t like it. As a police officer he has his ears on the ground and surely, the report recommending to the Union Home Ministry not to hold election immediately should have been given a hearing for whatever it was worth. If the idea of having standing committees or to seek report on important issues like election to Urban bodies and Panchayat in J&K is to have only what your ears want to hear, then the whole purpose of the exercise is lost. Then you will not get sincere and honest opinions from very responsible officers and functionaries. This is not a positive reflection on PM Modi & his government.
Coming to Haryana, its CM Khattar is known to be not as competent as expected of a Chief Minister. There have been any number of violent incidents involving dalits in the state. This Khattar is the handpicked CM by PM Modi, but not even once he commented or reprimanded Khattar for the state of things in Haryana. The latest issue of gang rape of a 19 year old girl student too did not elicit any response from Prime Minister Modi. This is indeed sad.
NEW DELHI:For far too long in recent times, the latest sensation #Me Too took the centre stage in the print media. But frankly, the issue is as long as the beginning of co-working environment or the situation of men and women started working together. It zoomed to its zenith with the exit of Union Minister Mobashir Jawed Akbar or MJ Akbar as he is known.
That MJ Akbar was treated as pariah by the media is rather strange. The entire media is infested with this malaise, if one wants to call it so. In fact, this issue should have exploded when Tarun Tejpal, who is not Tarun anymore, but was caught with his underpant down inside an elevator forcing himself on a junior who was a classmate of his daughter.
Or go back to film industry, where it first started. Raj Kapoor & his women, whether it was Nargis or many other women he was involved with. In fact Hema Malini refused to comment on her days of acting with Raj Kapoor every time she was asked questions in media interactions.
The fact is, some took it as a professional hazard and went on with life. Some took it and lived for another day to progress in their career. Some even enjoyed as a perk of job in question and felt no pangs about it.
Of course this is not to suggest that all were or are in the same or similar boat. There were and there are many who did not mix things. Kept the distance, from tasting the forbidden fruit. So it takes all sorts to make the whole.
Of course, the credit for the latest movement in India goes to Priya Ramani, one of the many ‘victims’ of MJ Akbar.
Most men by nature are predators. Some do it with finesse and manage to remain unscathed and some are in hurry and even brash showing off their position to impress a junior.
Then there are women, matured enough not to react instantly. They either quit the job or try their management skill to remain unscathed. There are also those who succumb to the trauma and wait for the opportunity to assert themselves. Of course career progression is an important dimension, which takes its toll in the growing tower of silence.
For Priya Ramani, who is the current staple of inspiration to many who would like to pay it back must have suffered at the hands of the accused and the avalanche of accusations that followed only make the case so much stronger. Indeed it may well be true that proving the guilt may be Herculean after such a long gap. Because of the lapse of time, the law cannot be blind to the plethora of complaints against the man. MJ Akbar must be cursing his luck as he has been singled out to suffer in public, while there could be millions of such cases in a country of 1.3 billion people.
But it will have its positive spin off. It will surely make women far more bolder and men may have to control themselves and their urges. But man being monkey first and then grown up natured man later, the adage, ‘Bandar Kitna bhi bhooda ho, Gulati maarna nahee bhultha’. Man will remain monkey forever, if not all, most men. That’s the reality.
UTTAR PRADESH: ‘Haste is waste’, is a time tested idiom. Hurry-burry can get us buried. There is also another saying ‘slow and steady wins the race’ which too is relevant.
BJP as a political party of mostly Hindus from hundreds of castes of India needs to have a clear vision as to what it wants for Indians, socially, economically and politically. Rightly or wrongly, it has its non-political paratroopers and foot soldiers in RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal. All these have their strengths and short comings. Among these, RSS is probably the most organized and behaves in a more responsible way. The noises, its leaders make at times are quite sensible, but at times in complete variance. Although VHP and Bajrang Dal do not have the same level of support as RSS, it keeps issuing statements, normally leading to disquiet.
Indeed, as Dr. N.Vinay Hegde, the Chancellor of Nitte University, who inaugurated the recently held Mangalooru Lit fest, remarked, India belonged to 130 crores Indians of all hues, not just Hindus. This, BJP as a political party should understand, if it wants to remain relevant and vibrant in the Indian political landscape.
“Hindu fundamentalism, long the thrust of a section of the middle class has never got much response in India whose population is 80% Hindu. It needs to be pointed out that India remains a secular state not because 1/5th of its population is Muslim, Sikh or Christian and therefore has a vested interest in a secular constitution but because 9 out 10 Hindus do not believe in violence against minorities” wrote MJ Akbar in 1985 in his book ‘INDIA:THE SIEGE WITHIN’. Then he was a Congress MP and part of Rajiv Gandhi inner circle. It is another matter that he joined BJP later and even became a junior minister in Narendra Modi government only to leave under cloud. Right enough BJP had only 2 seats in 1984/85, it became a largest opposition party, formed government for over 6 years and then one day in 2014, made it on its own with 282 seats in the Loksabha. That was the time the party had embraced “TOILET MORE IMPORTANT THAN TEMPLE”. But after having won absolute majority, amnesia made its inroads to overtake promises it made and all elections that have followed has affected its performance.
Therefore, in fitness of things, if the Supreme Court has deferred to hear the Ayodhya imbroglio, BJP should display the maturity to wait with patience. It should not resort to short term measures like ordinance only to please a section of Hindus. Any ordinance especially when the issue is in Supreme Court can be counterproductive.
Hope wisdom prevails among BJP law makers to exercise restraint.
UTTAR PRADESH:In social media platforms there is so much senseless, including profane, being posted and circulated, but there was no time for anybody to shed a tear and show some remorse when, G.D Agarwal died almost unsung.
On 11th October 2018 Prof Agarwal aka Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand died of heart attack after 112 days of fast that began on June 22. It’s a shame that he died for the very same cause, for which Narendra Modi, before he got elected to the Loksabha for the first time had come calling to Varanasi, “Maa GangaMujhe bulaa rahee hai”. Surely Maa Ganga must have wept bitterly when Prof Agarwal succumbed to the strain of fasting at a ripe age of 86, only to save Ganga from being defiled and slowly being contaminated by the lack of human sensitivity and a sense of responsibility as a citizen of this great country.
But who is this G.D Agarwal? Born into a farming family in Kandhla Muzaffarnagar in UP in 1932, grew up to become a Professor and Head of the Deptt of Civil & Environmental Engineering in IIT Kanpur. He was a PhD in Environmental Engineering from University of California in Berkley.
He was an environmental activist from his academic days and continued until his last breath. This activism catapulted him to the position of Member Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board. The fast that ultimately brought the curtain down on his mortal existence wasn’t the first that he undertook to force the hands of the government. He had undertaken several fasts in the past.
They resulted in the establishment of National Ganga River Basin Authority. Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone was also created after one of his fasts, besides bringing about awareness on concepts like ecological flow or the water level to remain in river at all times, especially while planning Hydro-electric projects.
Reportedly, the trigger for the last fast this year was the unfulfilled promises by Narendra Modi before being elected and after becoming the Prime Minister, that the government would do everything to make Ganga clean. But sadly, it was only after his death that, Union Minister Gadkari, went to town to announce some 227 projects for ‘Nirmal Ganga’ and hopefully to complete most of them before 2019.
If only these announcements were made when Prof. Agarwal was still alive, maybe he could have been very useful in its execution and he too could have had a sense of fulfillment. It could be that this government led by Narendra Modi did not want to be seen as succumbing to pressure. But this obduracy of Modi government has only caused a completely avoidable time over-run and possible cost over-run. Hence condolence message “Saddened by the demise of Shri G.D Agarwalji. His passion towards learning, education, saving the environment particularly Ganga cleaning will always be remembered. My condolences” by Prime Minister Modi has lost its meaning and sincerity. This act of ignoring a selfless sacrifice of a genuine activist can cost NDA dearly.
GUJARAT: There have been flurry of write-ups on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, ever since the decision to erect his huge statue on the banks of Narmada. Of course, on Sardar Patel, per se, articles have been always positive from different writers with different ideological background. But it is the statue politics that has generated lot of heat, some may be right and some may not be right. In India statue has become a subject of politics in a deeply polarized political atmosphere. There is absolutely no doubt that Vallabhbhai Patel has been an architect of modern India, just as Mahatma Gandhi & Nehru. In fact his role as unifier of India has no equal. He deserved a better portrayal in the text books of free India, so also in public space. If there is an accusation that Congress as a political party did not do justice to Sardar Patel it is not misplaced. If the present government thought of doing justice to his memory it is alright, to right a perceived wrong. But statue politics is entirely different.
On 31st October 2018, touted as the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel, at 182 metres, was inaugurated as Statue of Unity, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a tribute to the man who United India. No doubt it is a landmark. But a statue as tall as 182 metres plus 58 metres base makes it 240 metres from ground, with over 3000 crores spent, was it needed! A memorial for sure but there are far more urgent requirements that need money than a statue. May be it is the Gujarati pride, that also drove the pace of the job, to have been completed in less than 48 months. No wonder the footfalls to witness this mega structure have been in thousands every day. People from across the state have been queuing up to witness the wonder. Indeed, it is not always bread & butter that makes people happy there are emotional issues as well. This seems to have worked.
MAHARASHTRA: There was this news datelined Mumbai “Cops suspended for ‘extra care’ of Dawood’s brother”. Oh! What is new in this! It is as old as Dawood became a fugitive, or rather as old as any moneyed man or woman was imprisoned. Whether it was stamp paper accused Abdul Karim Telgi, or Jayalalitha’s friend and roommate Sasikala and there are any numbers of such financially influential jail birds, who call shots with police.
Indian police all over the country are weak kneed when money speaks. Like LK Advani had famously observed during emergency. “They were only asked to bend but they crawled”. But this police bend backward to please these powerful money bags inside the four walls of jail.
The report informs “Five policemen, including a sub inspector were suspended by Thane police commissioner for giving special treatment to underworld fugitive Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Iqbal Kaskar”.
This was after police commissioner, Madhukar Pandey saw the video, which had gone viral. In the video, reportedly, this Kaskar ‘thaskar’ was being served with ‘Biryani’ inside a police van. He was also seen smoking inside the van in the presence of policemen. The police van was bringing the criminal to and from court. Thus clearly it was during on duty hours that these policemen were entertaining the criminal.
There was a time, when policemen, like other government servants were paid low salaries, which is not anymore. In fact people prefer to join government services for better pay and less work these days. Therefore it is very disappointing that policemen fall prey for this temporary passing attraction of money from criminals.
Now not only, these policemen have lost their self respect, and their place in society is deeply lowered, besides there is even a prospect of losing the job. So, the stake is very high. It surely pays to be honest. In the long run it gives rich dividends to remain honest to one’s duty and profession.
MAHARASHTRA: There was this report some weeks ago in the print media that ‘Amitabh Bachchan will pay off loans of over 850 UP farmers. If true this is truly path breaking. Those who can help others, should extend their reach out initiatives wherever possible to those who are in need of help.
It is indeed the vicissitudes of life, that all of us are not endowed with enough means to make a difference. But then what is enough is never defined. Lot of people has enough and more but do not do enough to share their wealth with those who are in need of succour.
Thus, this gesture of Big B, to reach out to over 850 UP farmers to pay off their loans is indeed heartwarming. Reportedly he has identified with the help of banking and other agencies, and has prepared a list of the possible beneficiaries. This act of kindness shall cost Big B some Rs.5.5 crores, informs the report. Once the disbursal is over and their loan a/c gets closed with bank giving them clean chit, this has to be publicized in the media for it to reach to all those who have means to do similar acts of kindness.
If this culture of sharing and caring spreads among us Indians it will greatly help address the scourge of suffering of those helpless farmers who have suffered due to happenings beyond their control.
This kind of initiative can also be taken up by political parties, which can not only bring down level of misery among the farmers but will also bring rich dividends in terms of support to these political parties. After all why these political parties have come about? To serve the people and the nation, isn’t it!
Report also informed that earlier Big B had identified through government agencies some 44 families of martyrs, who had died in action, and distributed cash to them. That’s indeed deeply appreciated. We can only pray may his tribe increase!
KARNATAKA:Why is there a government? Government is there to primarily govern the state, to basically serve its people. All activities of the government, like economic, industrial, social including educational and health, infrastructure etc. are driven with a single purpose for the benefit of its people.
But are these governments doing its role of governance with all sincerity? The answer is a big NO.
There were two news reports in recent days in the print media. One said, the government in Bengalooru shall have this year also TIPU JAYANTHI. Last year under a cloud of great deal of controversy this JAYANTHI was celebrated by the government and some of the vested interest groups against all public opposition.
According to our history books, TIPU was ruling Mysore. He is also referred to as TIGER OF MYSORE. But Mysore was a kingdom that belonged to Wadeyars, until it was merged with India after British left India. Somehow, this aspect is not highlighted but Tipu has been glorified by some political parties for their own political survival. Majority of the people are against this TIPU JAYANTHI. But the government of the day in Bengalooru wants to observe this jayanthi. This is clearly not for the benefit of the people.
Another issue is the proposed setting up of an Urdu University in Kalaburagi. There is one Hyderabad Karnataka Muslim Jagrithi Samithi, which is demanding such a university, and reportedly former CM Siddaramaiah was inclined towards setting up such a university.
But the ground condition is, existing state run universities are struggling to sustain due to lack of infrastructure. According to Karnataka State Council for Higher Education, the data provided by various varsities shows that there is no demand for Urdu courses both at undergraduate level and postgraduate level. And funnily this state government is still considering setting up an Urdu university.
This is clearly a case of barking up the wrong tree. There is no need and just to pamper a communal outfit such a proposal to spend hundreds of crores of rupees is being floated. Clearly, this is not in public interest. But then this is how good part of the government functions, always working for group dynamics, not for general welfare. In other words, it is clearly vote bank politics.
KARNATAKA: The Tipu Jayanthi, the brainchild of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is in tatters. The architect himself is missing. Nowhere in media his name was mentioned for having attended the function. Siddaramaiah conceived the idea of having this Jayanthi as a tribute to this fake sultan purely as an act of appeasement with vote bank in view. It had to die a natural death, although BJP tried its best without much success to derail the state government sponsored event.
Reports coming from Bengalooru, clearly informs, how the Chief Minister Kumaraswamy himself -a JD(S) man-gave it a miss by declaring himself as ‘unwell’. His deputy Parameshwara of Congress too escaped being seen in the function, by suddenly being in Singapore, clearly exposing the very idea being in doldrums.
But then politics being, what it is, some of them had to be there for at least party’s sake. That Parameshwar would ditch his former boss was unthinkable. Probably he has not forgotten that Siddaramaiah had denied him deputy CM post in the previous government despite concerted attempts. It looks he has not forgiven either, hence took a strategic decision to absent himself with some ‘valid’ reason.
Media reported mixed responses from across the state especially in coastal districts. Congress MLC D’Souza and one Prof. Jayaprakash Shetty eulogized Tipu as the one who fought against British without knowing that he was only defending his interest, that is Mysore, which truly belonged to Wodeyars. Mysore was usurped by Hyder Ali who was only a Dalwai in the Wodeyars’ army and passed it on to Tipu who crowned himself as Sultan. History books, that are provided to students in Karnataka and elsewhere, has to be changed to incorporate this truth and expose all those who were using it as a vote bank.
ANDHRA PRADESH: Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and former Union Minister Veerappa Moili is a known bhakt of Congress first family. Long ago, eulogizing the so-called positive role of Congress in addressing the issue of Kashmir, he had praised Sonia Gandhi’s leadership when he was looking for some opening in the Union cabinet.
Now comes this news datelined Hyderabad, “Rahul is the best PM Material:Veerappa Moili". It sounded little funny, unless he is looking for a bigger job in post 2019 election scenario. There are any numbers of competent people in the Congress, who are spinelessly endorsing the leadership of Rahul Gandhi as a possible PM candidate, should the united opposition combine make it, at the hustings
In the interest of the country and Congress, Rahul Gandhi should remain Congress President and allow others in the Congress to take on the mantle of PM, if need arises. Even among opposition regional parties there are persons keen on Prime ministership.
But for Moili to say that “Rahul is the best PM material” is sycophancy of highest order. He is clearly looking for an MP seat for his son or something bigger.
In the eyes of average Congressman from Karnataka, or even Kannadigas he has lowered his position as an opportunist. Hope wisdom prevails and he makes more responsible and sensible statements which can do good for Congress and the country.
KERALA: The grant of bail to disgraced Bishop of Jalandhar diocese Franco Mulakkal is shocking to say the least. On an earlier occasion he was denied bail for obvious reasons. The high court judge Raja Vijayaraghavan has clearly side stepped the gravity of the issue. It is true that he has granted conditional bail, which includes no entry to Kerala and reporting to police once every two weeks, etc.
However the issue here is his clout within the clergy as a bishop. Surely he has travelled long enough to become a bishop in far away Jalandhar, being a Malayalee. Hence his knowledge of people and issues within the portal of church has to be enormous. This, he is likely to use to his advantage once he is out on bail. This gravity couldn’t have escaped the knowledge of the learned judge. Yet he grants bail.
The social media is full of comments and reactions, on seeing the kind of welcome this defrocked bishop received. He was in his bishop attire and he was welcomed by a horde of nuns including senior mothers in the church hierarchy with flower bouquets and all smiles. This betrays the power this disgraced bishop wields within the Jalandhar diocese.
The whole scene tells the story. These nuns welcomed him with lot of visible warmth, which means, they are with him and not with the suffering nun, who endured his lecherous pressure, 14 times over a 2 years period. Exploitation of nuns or getting physical with mutual consent is a fairly known dimension of the church. If this Franco Mulakkal had a fascination for the particular nun from Kuravilangad it can well be guessed that he wouldn’t have practiced celibacy while in Jalandhar. Being head of the diocese his reach in all respect is complete and hence, if there is acceptance of all his demands, then there is no problem.
This is the most important and serious dimension of the issue. He is clearly in a position to influence the course of justice. Way things appear in Jalandhar, he can clearly get a clean certificate from Jalandhar clergy and may be even laity. This is the most disturbing aspect in the issue of bail granted to this Franco Mulakkal. He can easily influence witness, who can influence the course of justice. Hope the police in Kerala make an air tight and water tight case against this lecherous man in robe. He should not go scot-free, despite this help from Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan. He must suffer the consequences of his deeds and misdeeds.
KERALA: Sabarimala imbroglio is on expected lines, post Supreme Court ruling. In a 4:1 majority verdict the apex court has overturned an 800 year old tradition at the famed Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimalai. By hindsight, the lone dissenting voice of Justice Indu Malhotra is proving to be right.
All four judges who carried the majority are males and Indu Malhotra is the only lady on the bench, wasn’t she concerned about the rights of women?!
“Practice of age restrictions on women entry to Sabarimala temple cannot be treated as an essential religious practice. It is not for court to interfere in religious practice even if it appears discriminatory. Notions of rationality cannot be brought into matters of religion”. Justice Indu Malhotra had remarked, while adding “Permitting PIL in religious matters would open the floodgates to interlopers to question religious beliefs and practice, even if the petitioner is not a believer of a particular religion or a worshipper of a particular shrine”. Interloper also means intruder, vagabond or those who interfere in others affairs for some benefit.
Justice Indu Malhotra is a lady, yet, she was not carried away by the gender bias. And she was abundantly proved right, when thousands of women across Kerala congregated at Sabarimalai to protest the Supreme Court judgement. They clearly felt it was injustice in the name of justice. The Supreme Court bench was disposing of PIL filed in 2006, by a group of female lawyers called Young Lawyers Association, seeking to ensure entry of women of all ages. There was this centuries old practice of women in the age group of 10 to 50 not allowed into the temple. It had gone on for over 800 years without any serious challenge.
Of course, as is the norm, there were a few, who tried in the past to get past the prohibition unsuccessfully; they were few and far between. Here the question was, if the vast majority of the worshipping women folks were comfortable with the idea of not entering the shrine due to menstruation issues, law has to take that into account, not those who are only filing PIL for its sensation quotient. It was exposed that all those who tried to visit the shrine under police protection, despite opposition from the ladies and men congregated outside the shrine, turned out to be mostly non-Hindus. Majority were reportedly Christian and a lone Muslim female activist proving right the ‘interloper’ adjective used by Justice Indu Malhotra. Here it is important to refer to the statement of Sitaram Yachuri of CPI, that issue of triple talaq and this entry of women of all ages into Sabarimalai shrine is same. This is the reflection of the bankruptcy of CPI. Like the present government in Kerala, likes of Yachuri too are fishing in the troubled water to cause social tension.
WORLD: Problem of differences between Central Bank of a country and its ruling dispensations is an ongoing subject of debate the world over. In recent days we have seen reports in most print media how governments all over the world have been trying their best to get the central banks in their respective countries to fall in line with the thoughts of the government of the day.
While, it is to be agreed unconditionally that central banks should have complete autonomy on its operation, it should keep ajar its window for exchange of thoughts and may be even accept some proposal from the government, where government thinks, these changes are for larger social good. It has to be a ‘conversation without confrontation'.
Indians are privy to the truth of the exit of former governor of RBI Raghuram Rajan. He had, reportedly, an unexpressed desire to continue for another term as head of RBI. But things didn’t work in his favour. But as a professional, he should have let ‘bygone be bygone’. But that didn’t happen. Although he is pursuing his career in the U.S at the moment, he seems to take active participative interest, in everything Indian. That’s how it should be. But being nasty, using strong words, smacks of being vengeful and indicative of ‘settling score’.
Speaking at an event in the University of California in Berkeley, U.S, Raghuram Rajan gave an uncalled for dressing down to the Indian government. He reportedly remarked “Two successive shocks of demonetization and GST had a serious impact on growth in India, especially when the global economic growth has been peaking”.
Indians are privy to the happening after both these important events. We are not wiser by what Rajan stated. But being what he was as RBI governor, it matters. It rakes up issues, like Rahul Gandhi would do, only to throw muck at the central government. This could have been avoided.
WORLD:Long ago Madeline Albright a former US Secretary of State had described Pakistan as “International Migraine”. Surely, its not for nothing that she has used this special adjective for Pakistan.
Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) and Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict (CRIC) at Oxford University, reportedly released a report in Brussels recently. The 104 page report is titled “Humanity at Risk-Global Terror Threat Indicant”. It had members, Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle, Grand Mufti Emeritus of Bosnia Mustafa Ceric, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Suraya Dalil and Ben Pugaley from the EU Counter Terrorism Office.
Consolidated United Nation’s Security Council Sanctions List includes 31 terrorist groups proscribed by the UN. According to print media datelined Brussels, there is a Global Terror Threat Indicant (GTTI) chart which is based on the number of active combatants or armed members in these groups.
In this GTTI chart, reportedly Pakistan ranks the highest with 70.5%, followed by Afghanistan at 40% and Syria at 22%.
The report is a result of extensive analysis, discussions including a round table meet attended by the brightest minds in counter terrorism worldwide, informs the president of SFG.
The idea was to prepare sustainable integrated and long term approach to combat terror, he avers. According to him, relationship between state and terror groups in Pakistan has grown to be interdependent over the years and therefore there is every danger that nuclear weapons can fall into the hands of these terror groups. Therefore there is a great need to demolish the entire infrastructure developed by these terror outfits within Pakistan. The country happens to be our western neighbor.
Thus, clearly, India is dealing with the most dangerous country in the world, a fact all should recognize.
WORLD:There was this report in the media some weeks ago that Aleema Khanum, one of the sisters of incumbent Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, owns a benami property in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). No big deal, not surprising either. Surely there are any numbers of sub-continental politicians and bureaucrats who own property in UAE without the world knowing it.
But what is to be noted is, the Supreme Court in Pakistan took some interest in this wayward development in the Pakistani high-end society. Court asked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), to come up with its findings on the murky side of the Pakistan’s well heeled society indulging in illegal money transfer from Pakistan to foreign countries.
FIA, reportedly has come up with the list of some 44 prominent political and government figures owning benami properties in UAE and submitted it to a 3 member Supreme Court Bench in Islamabad.
List reportedly includes many high and mighty of Pakistani society including Mumtaz Ahmed Muslim, a Tehreek-e-Insaf leader, the party of Imran Khan. She reportedly has some 16 properties belonging to her in different names.
So, clearly these Pakistanis, who shared the same home and hearth some 70 years ago, are no different from their Indian cousins.
Supreme Court of Pakistan needs to be commended for this suo moto initiative and exposing the corruption in high places, when our courts are busy with Sabarimalai entry of women, Ayodhya Temple imbroglio and those cases of Freedom of Speech, Freedom of choices, adultery etc.
Without any shadow of doubt, there must be hundreds of cases of Indians owning benami properties the world over, not just in UAE. And most of them are sitting pretty with the knowledge nothing is going to happen to them and their belongings in the near future. This is Yeh Mera India.
WORLD:Making money and more money is the basic objective of all business enterprises. But some of them do have ethical practices that regulate their chase for profit at all cost. Unfortunately most business entities compromise on money aspects of quality and services only to bolster their bottom line.
And comes this news datelined Beijing, about the cheap tricks by major international chain of hotels. Reportedly, Park Hyatt in Beijing, Waldorf Astoria in Shanghai, Sheraton in Guiyang and Shangri La Hotel in Fuzhou were the culprits. Reportedly some investigative journalists using hidden camera had recorded cleaners of these hotels wiping cups and sinks with dirty towels and sponges and some even used the same towels to wipe the toilet seats. Obviously videography of these practices is intended to expose these hotel managements, and therefore have made it to the public domain via social media.
Embarrassed by the video exposure, reportedly, all these hotel managements have issued statements of apology in the public space to ostensibly to set things right. But surely damage was done. How much these hotels could have saved by these small and insignificant cost cuttings, which have seriously damaged its reputation!?
It is a done thing to compromise wherever it’s possible, but these compromises when left unchecked can lead to dangerous situations leading to disasters. When it comes to health and hygiene of clients and staff, any compromise in quality of services can lead to devastating results. What you saved could be peanuts, but what you lost could be in millions! Therefore, it pays to be honest. The adage honesty is the best policy does not need repetition. But we humans, ever the victim of avarice, always look for short cuts. That’s the sad reality.
WORLD:‘Attack on China consulate in Karachi kills seven’ was a headline in the print media. Surely, for those who have been following the sub-continental news after the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) started its activities some years ago, it has come as no surprise.
In fact it was in August 2017. I&C has highlighted such a possibility not just in Baluchistan but elsewhere as well. The whole CPEC is meant to enslave Pakistan economically and to make Pakistan helplessly become a Chinese Satellite.
Termed as a game changer, this CPEC is indeed already proving a game changer for both China and Pakistan. China has already spent most of its budgeted $ 50 billion, and cannot retrieve it back, and Pakistan is already in the grip of China, with additional funding after the visit of new PM Imran Khan, India’s western neighbor is getting increasingly into debt-trap.
But the intransigence that is prevailing within Pakistan, is going to be a hot potato for both Pakistani authorities as well as China. China will learn it the very hard way, it does not pay to befriend an enemy of India, because China thinks India to be its adversary. The arrogance of massive growing surplus, used to fund the sensitive politico/economic issues of the sub-continent, just to spite India, will not and cannot earn it dividend. It can only increase its problems. For China, it shall pay in the long run to be friendly with India.
With this terror attack on its chancery in Karachi, no guarantee is possible at the safety and well being of Chinese lives and properties in Pakistan. Whatever Pakistan government tries to do to please the Chinese leadership, China will ask for more. This is a fact staring at Pak leadership, take it or leave it.
J. Shriyan
This time round, they were joined hands by the Pakistani ISI cadres. Reportedly the grenade used in the blast were the ones being manufactured by Pak Army Ordinance Factory, informs Capt. Amarinder Singh, the Punjab CM.
It is very unfortunate that Pakistani army and its apparatus do not seem to learn lessons. To spite India they joined hands with China and there was this blast in Chinese consulate in Karachi and there will be more such things happening. Now again to hurt India, they joined hands with Khalistanis. Khalistan may never happen, but Khalistanis can create problem for Pakistan as well.
Khalistan will one day demand unification of West Punjab with the Indian side of Punjab and probably have similar blast there using Indian made stolen grenades from Indian army barracks.
Pakistan must realize this and therefore refrain from joining hands with Khalistanis. It is in the interest of Pakistan to develop friendly and meaningful relation with India to see the welfare of its people. Pakistan will never succeed in its design of hurting India.
NEW DELHI: Former Chief Selector Syed Kirmani has reportedly commented that the present selection team led by M. S. K. Prasad has no guts to question Kohli & Shastri. There is no doubt that Kohli calls the shot in the corridors of BCCI and Shastri has to get his pay cheque of Rs.6 crores as chief coach, tag along Kohli. That Kohli is an arrogant cricketer is well known beyond the Indian dressing room. The issue was the unceremonious rejection of Karun Nair, in the team that played West Indies. Nair had warmed the benches to serve water to players for all the 5 tests India played against England, thanks to Kohli’s shenanigans. That Kohli is a self centered man is also well known. Long ago, when he was made the test captain for the first time against Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe, he made Pervez Rasool of J&K, warm the seat for all 5 tests. Even when, India had 4 nil win against Zimbabwe, he didn’t play Pervez, the lone player from J&K. His idea was to win 5 nil against the hapless Zimbabwe. But as a sportsman, he could have given just one chance to Pervez, the memory of which he would have taken home as a trophy. But Kohli being Kohli was not large hearted. Similar thing has happened to Karun Nair, the Karnataka player. Maybe he wanted to rub another Karnataka senior, Anil Kumble!, the former India chief coach, whom Kohli hates.
Coming to Kirmani calling MSK Prasad names, it could be like sour grapes. While, it is true that MSK’s credentials are nothing much to sing a song about, Kirmani himself is not that great, that he was made the chief selector in the past.
But, what are the criteria to be in the selection team? There are no known names in the India selection panel. Selection team should be consisting of former captains and vice captains and there are any numbers. Sourav Ganguli, Dravid, Kumble, Tendulkar, Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Dhoni, VVS Laxman and some others, who can be truly inspiring as selectors. But why they are not being brought in as selectors? Strange are the ways of BCCI. They want to control the Indian cricket scene on their own terms. It is sad Supreme Court intervention has not brought about the desired change for the benefit of all talented Indian cricketers.
NEW DELHI:There were three news reports in the print media some weeks ago. One was about the removal of Major General BC Khanduri as the Chairman of Standing Committee on Defence. Another was the unceremonious transfer of former DGP of Kashmir by the new governor Satya Pal Malik as Transport Commissioner. Third was Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s usual criticism of PM Modi’s silence on the rape of a 19 year old student in Haryana.
Major General BCK as Standing Committee Chairman on Defence matters has been giving discouraging report on the armaments available with the Defence forces and how it could affect its preparedness. The latest report submitted some months ago even remarked that close to 70% of the equipment with the armed forces were of vintage variety. That was rather very critical. There was absolutely no reason for BCK to give a report which is away from truth. The question is why is it difficult for PMO to face the truth head on, and instead you shoot the messenger. In the first place this is a critical and sensitive report, hence, should not have been allowed in the public domain and BCK could have been taken into confidence with a meeting of chiefs of armed forces and Defence Minister with PMO in attendance, to truly take stock of the situation. Instead you ask him to go home. That’s bad and sad.
Similar was the case of DGP-S.P Vaid of J&K. You ask him for a report and he submits a report, you didn’t like it. As a police officer he has his ears on the ground and surely, the report recommending to the Union Home Ministry not to hold election immediately should have been given a hearing for whatever it was worth. If the idea of having standing committees or to seek report on important issues like election to Urban bodies and Panchayat in J&K is to have only what your ears want to hear, then the whole purpose of the exercise is lost. Then you will not get sincere and honest opinions from very responsible officers and functionaries. This is not a positive reflection on PM Modi & his government.
Coming to Haryana, its CM Khattar is known to be not as competent as expected of a Chief Minister. There have been any number of violent incidents involving dalits in the state. This Khattar is the handpicked CM by PM Modi, but not even once he commented or reprimanded Khattar for the state of things in Haryana. The latest issue of gang rape of a 19 year old girl student too did not elicit any response from Prime Minister Modi. This is indeed sad.
NEW DELHI:For far too long in recent times, the latest sensation #Me Too took the centre stage in the print media. But frankly, the issue is as long as the beginning of co-working environment or the situation of men and women started working together. It zoomed to its zenith with the exit of Union Minister Mobashir Jawed Akbar or MJ Akbar as he is known.
That MJ Akbar was treated as pariah by the media is rather strange. The entire media is infested with this malaise, if one wants to call it so. In fact, this issue should have exploded when Tarun Tejpal, who is not Tarun anymore, but was caught with his underpant down inside an elevator forcing himself on a junior who was a classmate of his daughter.
Or go back to film industry, where it first started. Raj Kapoor & his women, whether it was Nargis or many other women he was involved with. In fact Hema Malini refused to comment on her days of acting with Raj Kapoor every time she was asked questions in media interactions.
The fact is, some took it as a professional hazard and went on with life. Some took it and lived for another day to progress in their career. Some even enjoyed as a perk of job in question and felt no pangs about it.
Of course this is not to suggest that all were or are in the same or similar boat. There were and there are many who did not mix things. Kept the distance, from tasting the forbidden fruit. So it takes all sorts to make the whole.
Of course, the credit for the latest movement in India goes to Priya Ramani, one of the many ‘victims’ of MJ Akbar.
Most men by nature are predators. Some do it with finesse and manage to remain unscathed and some are in hurry and even brash showing off their position to impress a junior.
Then there are women, matured enough not to react instantly. They either quit the job or try their management skill to remain unscathed. There are also those who succumb to the trauma and wait for the opportunity to assert themselves. Of course career progression is an important dimension, which takes its toll in the growing tower of silence.
For Priya Ramani, who is the current staple of inspiration to many who would like to pay it back must have suffered at the hands of the accused and the avalanche of accusations that followed only make the case so much stronger. Indeed it may well be true that proving the guilt may be Herculean after such a long gap. Because of the lapse of time, the law cannot be blind to the plethora of complaints against the man. MJ Akbar must be cursing his luck as he has been singled out to suffer in public, while there could be millions of such cases in a country of 1.3 billion people.
But it will have its positive spin off. It will surely make women far more bolder and men may have to control themselves and their urges. But man being monkey first and then grown up natured man later, the adage, ‘Bandar Kitna bhi bhooda ho, Gulati maarna nahee bhultha’. Man will remain monkey forever, if not all, most men. That’s the reality.
UTTAR PRADESH: ‘Haste is waste’, is a time tested idiom. Hurry-burry can get us buried. There is also another saying ‘slow and steady wins the race’ which too is relevant.
BJP as a political party of mostly Hindus from hundreds of castes of India needs to have a clear vision as to what it wants for Indians, socially, economically and politically. Rightly or wrongly, it has its non-political paratroopers and foot soldiers in RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal. All these have their strengths and short comings. Among these, RSS is probably the most organized and behaves in a more responsible way. The noises, its leaders make at times are quite sensible, but at times in complete variance. Although VHP and Bajrang Dal do not have the same level of support as RSS, it keeps issuing statements, normally leading to disquiet.
Indeed, as Dr. N.Vinay Hegde, the Chancellor of Nitte University, who inaugurated the recently held Mangalooru Lit fest, remarked, India belonged to 130 crores Indians of all hues, not just Hindus. This, BJP as a political party should understand, if it wants to remain relevant and vibrant in the Indian political landscape.
“Hindu fundamentalism, long the thrust of a section of the middle class has never got much response in India whose population is 80% Hindu. It needs to be pointed out that India remains a secular state not because 1/5th of its population is Muslim, Sikh or Christian and therefore has a vested interest in a secular constitution but because 9 out 10 Hindus do not believe in violence against minorities” wrote MJ Akbar in 1985 in his book ‘INDIA:THE SIEGE WITHIN’. Then he was a Congress MP and part of Rajiv Gandhi inner circle. It is another matter that he joined BJP later and even became a junior minister in Narendra Modi government only to leave under cloud. Right enough BJP had only 2 seats in 1984/85, it became a largest opposition party, formed government for over 6 years and then one day in 2014, made it on its own with 282 seats in the Loksabha. That was the time the party had embraced “TOILET MORE IMPORTANT THAN TEMPLE”. But after having won absolute majority, amnesia made its inroads to overtake promises it made and all elections that have followed has affected its performance.
Therefore, in fitness of things, if the Supreme Court has deferred to hear the Ayodhya imbroglio, BJP should display the maturity to wait with patience. It should not resort to short term measures like ordinance only to please a section of Hindus. Any ordinance especially when the issue is in Supreme Court can be counterproductive.
Hope wisdom prevails among BJP law makers to exercise restraint.
UTTAR PRADESH:In social media platforms there is so much senseless, including profane, being posted and circulated, but there was no time for anybody to shed a tear and show some remorse when, G.D Agarwal died almost unsung.
On 11th October 2018 Prof Agarwal aka Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand died of heart attack after 112 days of fast that began on June 22. It’s a shame that he died for the very same cause, for which Narendra Modi, before he got elected to the Loksabha for the first time had come calling to Varanasi, “Maa GangaMujhe bulaa rahee hai”. Surely Maa Ganga must have wept bitterly when Prof Agarwal succumbed to the strain of fasting at a ripe age of 86, only to save Ganga from being defiled and slowly being contaminated by the lack of human sensitivity and a sense of responsibility as a citizen of this great country.
But who is this G.D Agarwal? Born into a farming family in Kandhla Muzaffarnagar in UP in 1932, grew up to become a Professor and Head of the Deptt of Civil & Environmental Engineering in IIT Kanpur. He was a PhD in Environmental Engineering from University of California in Berkley.
He was an environmental activist from his academic days and continued until his last breath. This activism catapulted him to the position of Member Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board. The fast that ultimately brought the curtain down on his mortal existence wasn’t the first that he undertook to force the hands of the government. He had undertaken several fasts in the past.
They resulted in the establishment of National Ganga River Basin Authority. Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone was also created after one of his fasts, besides bringing about awareness on concepts like ecological flow or the water level to remain in river at all times, especially while planning Hydro-electric projects.
Reportedly, the trigger for the last fast this year was the unfulfilled promises by Narendra Modi before being elected and after becoming the Prime Minister, that the government would do everything to make Ganga clean. But sadly, it was only after his death that, Union Minister Gadkari, went to town to announce some 227 projects for ‘Nirmal Ganga’ and hopefully to complete most of them before 2019.
If only these announcements were made when Prof. Agarwal was still alive, maybe he could have been very useful in its execution and he too could have had a sense of fulfillment. It could be that this government led by Narendra Modi did not want to be seen as succumbing to pressure. But this obduracy of Modi government has only caused a completely avoidable time over-run and possible cost over-run. Hence condolence message “Saddened by the demise of Shri G.D Agarwalji. His passion towards learning, education, saving the environment particularly Ganga cleaning will always be remembered. My condolences” by Prime Minister Modi has lost its meaning and sincerity. This act of ignoring a selfless sacrifice of a genuine activist can cost NDA dearly.
GUJARAT: There have been flurry of write-ups on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, ever since the decision to erect his huge statue on the banks of Narmada. Of course, on Sardar Patel, per se, articles have been always positive from different writers with different ideological background. But it is the statue politics that has generated lot of heat, some may be right and some may not be right. In India statue has become a subject of politics in a deeply polarized political atmosphere. There is absolutely no doubt that Vallabhbhai Patel has been an architect of modern India, just as Mahatma Gandhi & Nehru. In fact his role as unifier of India has no equal. He deserved a better portrayal in the text books of free India, so also in public space. If there is an accusation that Congress as a political party did not do justice to Sardar Patel it is not misplaced. If the present government thought of doing justice to his memory it is alright, to right a perceived wrong. But statue politics is entirely different.
On 31st October 2018, touted as the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel, at 182 metres, was inaugurated as Statue of Unity, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a tribute to the man who United India. No doubt it is a landmark. But a statue as tall as 182 metres plus 58 metres base makes it 240 metres from ground, with over 3000 crores spent, was it needed! A memorial for sure but there are far more urgent requirements that need money than a statue. May be it is the Gujarati pride, that also drove the pace of the job, to have been completed in less than 48 months. No wonder the footfalls to witness this mega structure have been in thousands every day. People from across the state have been queuing up to witness the wonder. Indeed, it is not always bread & butter that makes people happy there are emotional issues as well. This seems to have worked.
MAHARASHTRA: There was this news datelined Mumbai “Cops suspended for ‘extra care’ of Dawood’s brother”. Oh! What is new in this! It is as old as Dawood became a fugitive, or rather as old as any moneyed man or woman was imprisoned. Whether it was stamp paper accused Abdul Karim Telgi, or Jayalalitha’s friend and roommate Sasikala and there are any numbers of such financially influential jail birds, who call shots with police.
Indian police all over the country are weak kneed when money speaks. Like LK Advani had famously observed during emergency. “They were only asked to bend but they crawled”. But this police bend backward to please these powerful money bags inside the four walls of jail.
The report informs “Five policemen, including a sub inspector were suspended by Thane police commissioner for giving special treatment to underworld fugitive Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Iqbal Kaskar”.
This was after police commissioner, Madhukar Pandey saw the video, which had gone viral. In the video, reportedly, this Kaskar ‘thaskar’ was being served with ‘Biryani’ inside a police van. He was also seen smoking inside the van in the presence of policemen. The police van was bringing the criminal to and from court. Thus clearly it was during on duty hours that these policemen were entertaining the criminal.
There was a time, when policemen, like other government servants were paid low salaries, which is not anymore. In fact people prefer to join government services for better pay and less work these days. Therefore it is very disappointing that policemen fall prey for this temporary passing attraction of money from criminals.
Now not only, these policemen have lost their self respect, and their place in society is deeply lowered, besides there is even a prospect of losing the job. So, the stake is very high. It surely pays to be honest. In the long run it gives rich dividends to remain honest to one’s duty and profession.
MAHARASHTRA: There was this report some weeks ago in the print media that ‘Amitabh Bachchan will pay off loans of over 850 UP farmers. If true this is truly path breaking. Those who can help others, should extend their reach out initiatives wherever possible to those who are in need of help.
It is indeed the vicissitudes of life, that all of us are not endowed with enough means to make a difference. But then what is enough is never defined. Lot of people has enough and more but do not do enough to share their wealth with those who are in need of succour.
Thus, this gesture of Big B, to reach out to over 850 UP farmers to pay off their loans is indeed heartwarming. Reportedly he has identified with the help of banking and other agencies, and has prepared a list of the possible beneficiaries. This act of kindness shall cost Big B some Rs.5.5 crores, informs the report. Once the disbursal is over and their loan a/c gets closed with bank giving them clean chit, this has to be publicized in the media for it to reach to all those who have means to do similar acts of kindness.
If this culture of sharing and caring spreads among us Indians it will greatly help address the scourge of suffering of those helpless farmers who have suffered due to happenings beyond their control.
This kind of initiative can also be taken up by political parties, which can not only bring down level of misery among the farmers but will also bring rich dividends in terms of support to these political parties. After all why these political parties have come about? To serve the people and the nation, isn’t it!
Report also informed that earlier Big B had identified through government agencies some 44 families of martyrs, who had died in action, and distributed cash to them. That’s indeed deeply appreciated. We can only pray may his tribe increase!
KARNATAKA:Why is there a government? Government is there to primarily govern the state, to basically serve its people. All activities of the government, like economic, industrial, social including educational and health, infrastructure etc. are driven with a single purpose for the benefit of its people.
But are these governments doing its role of governance with all sincerity? The answer is a big NO.
There were two news reports in recent days in the print media. One said, the government in Bengalooru shall have this year also TIPU JAYANTHI. Last year under a cloud of great deal of controversy this JAYANTHI was celebrated by the government and some of the vested interest groups against all public opposition.
According to our history books, TIPU was ruling Mysore. He is also referred to as TIGER OF MYSORE. But Mysore was a kingdom that belonged to Wadeyars, until it was merged with India after British left India. Somehow, this aspect is not highlighted but Tipu has been glorified by some political parties for their own political survival. Majority of the people are against this TIPU JAYANTHI. But the government of the day in Bengalooru wants to observe this jayanthi. This is clearly not for the benefit of the people.
Another issue is the proposed setting up of an Urdu University in Kalaburagi. There is one Hyderabad Karnataka Muslim Jagrithi Samithi, which is demanding such a university, and reportedly former CM Siddaramaiah was inclined towards setting up such a university.
But the ground condition is, existing state run universities are struggling to sustain due to lack of infrastructure. According to Karnataka State Council for Higher Education, the data provided by various varsities shows that there is no demand for Urdu courses both at undergraduate level and postgraduate level. And funnily this state government is still considering setting up an Urdu university.
This is clearly a case of barking up the wrong tree. There is no need and just to pamper a communal outfit such a proposal to spend hundreds of crores of rupees is being floated. Clearly, this is not in public interest. But then this is how good part of the government functions, always working for group dynamics, not for general welfare. In other words, it is clearly vote bank politics.
KARNATAKA: The Tipu Jayanthi, the brainchild of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is in tatters. The architect himself is missing. Nowhere in media his name was mentioned for having attended the function. Siddaramaiah conceived the idea of having this Jayanthi as a tribute to this fake sultan purely as an act of appeasement with vote bank in view. It had to die a natural death, although BJP tried its best without much success to derail the state government sponsored event.
Reports coming from Bengalooru, clearly informs, how the Chief Minister Kumaraswamy himself -a JD(S) man-gave it a miss by declaring himself as ‘unwell’. His deputy Parameshwara of Congress too escaped being seen in the function, by suddenly being in Singapore, clearly exposing the very idea being in doldrums.
But then politics being, what it is, some of them had to be there for at least party’s sake. That Parameshwar would ditch his former boss was unthinkable. Probably he has not forgotten that Siddaramaiah had denied him deputy CM post in the previous government despite concerted attempts. It looks he has not forgiven either, hence took a strategic decision to absent himself with some ‘valid’ reason.
Media reported mixed responses from across the state especially in coastal districts. Congress MLC D’Souza and one Prof. Jayaprakash Shetty eulogized Tipu as the one who fought against British without knowing that he was only defending his interest, that is Mysore, which truly belonged to Wodeyars. Mysore was usurped by Hyder Ali who was only a Dalwai in the Wodeyars’ army and passed it on to Tipu who crowned himself as Sultan. History books, that are provided to students in Karnataka and elsewhere, has to be changed to incorporate this truth and expose all those who were using it as a vote bank.
ANDHRA PRADESH: Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and former Union Minister Veerappa Moili is a known bhakt of Congress first family. Long ago, eulogizing the so-called positive role of Congress in addressing the issue of Kashmir, he had praised Sonia Gandhi’s leadership when he was looking for some opening in the Union cabinet.
Now comes this news datelined Hyderabad, “Rahul is the best PM Material:Veerappa Moili". It sounded little funny, unless he is looking for a bigger job in post 2019 election scenario. There are any numbers of competent people in the Congress, who are spinelessly endorsing the leadership of Rahul Gandhi as a possible PM candidate, should the united opposition combine make it, at the hustings
In the interest of the country and Congress, Rahul Gandhi should remain Congress President and allow others in the Congress to take on the mantle of PM, if need arises. Even among opposition regional parties there are persons keen on Prime ministership.
But for Moili to say that “Rahul is the best PM material” is sycophancy of highest order. He is clearly looking for an MP seat for his son or something bigger.
In the eyes of average Congressman from Karnataka, or even Kannadigas he has lowered his position as an opportunist. Hope wisdom prevails and he makes more responsible and sensible statements which can do good for Congress and the country.
KERALA: The grant of bail to disgraced Bishop of Jalandhar diocese Franco Mulakkal is shocking to say the least. On an earlier occasion he was denied bail for obvious reasons. The high court judge Raja Vijayaraghavan has clearly side stepped the gravity of the issue. It is true that he has granted conditional bail, which includes no entry to Kerala and reporting to police once every two weeks, etc.
However the issue here is his clout within the clergy as a bishop. Surely he has travelled long enough to become a bishop in far away Jalandhar, being a Malayalee. Hence his knowledge of people and issues within the portal of church has to be enormous. This, he is likely to use to his advantage once he is out on bail. This gravity couldn’t have escaped the knowledge of the learned judge. Yet he grants bail.
The social media is full of comments and reactions, on seeing the kind of welcome this defrocked bishop received. He was in his bishop attire and he was welcomed by a horde of nuns including senior mothers in the church hierarchy with flower bouquets and all smiles. This betrays the power this disgraced bishop wields within the Jalandhar diocese.
The whole scene tells the story. These nuns welcomed him with lot of visible warmth, which means, they are with him and not with the suffering nun, who endured his lecherous pressure, 14 times over a 2 years period. Exploitation of nuns or getting physical with mutual consent is a fairly known dimension of the church. If this Franco Mulakkal had a fascination for the particular nun from Kuravilangad it can well be guessed that he wouldn’t have practiced celibacy while in Jalandhar. Being head of the diocese his reach in all respect is complete and hence, if there is acceptance of all his demands, then there is no problem.
This is the most important and serious dimension of the issue. He is clearly in a position to influence the course of justice. Way things appear in Jalandhar, he can clearly get a clean certificate from Jalandhar clergy and may be even laity. This is the most disturbing aspect in the issue of bail granted to this Franco Mulakkal. He can easily influence witness, who can influence the course of justice. Hope the police in Kerala make an air tight and water tight case against this lecherous man in robe. He should not go scot-free, despite this help from Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan. He must suffer the consequences of his deeds and misdeeds.
KERALA: Sabarimala imbroglio is on expected lines, post Supreme Court ruling. In a 4:1 majority verdict the apex court has overturned an 800 year old tradition at the famed Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimalai. By hindsight, the lone dissenting voice of Justice Indu Malhotra is proving to be right.
All four judges who carried the majority are males and Indu Malhotra is the only lady on the bench, wasn’t she concerned about the rights of women?!
“Practice of age restrictions on women entry to Sabarimala temple cannot be treated as an essential religious practice. It is not for court to interfere in religious practice even if it appears discriminatory. Notions of rationality cannot be brought into matters of religion”. Justice Indu Malhotra had remarked, while adding “Permitting PIL in religious matters would open the floodgates to interlopers to question religious beliefs and practice, even if the petitioner is not a believer of a particular religion or a worshipper of a particular shrine”. Interloper also means intruder, vagabond or those who interfere in others affairs for some benefit.
Justice Indu Malhotra is a lady, yet, she was not carried away by the gender bias. And she was abundantly proved right, when thousands of women across Kerala congregated at Sabarimalai to protest the Supreme Court judgement. They clearly felt it was injustice in the name of justice. The Supreme Court bench was disposing of PIL filed in 2006, by a group of female lawyers called Young Lawyers Association, seeking to ensure entry of women of all ages. There was this centuries old practice of women in the age group of 10 to 50 not allowed into the temple. It had gone on for over 800 years without any serious challenge.
Of course, as is the norm, there were a few, who tried in the past to get past the prohibition unsuccessfully; they were few and far between. Here the question was, if the vast majority of the worshipping women folks were comfortable with the idea of not entering the shrine due to menstruation issues, law has to take that into account, not those who are only filing PIL for its sensation quotient. It was exposed that all those who tried to visit the shrine under police protection, despite opposition from the ladies and men congregated outside the shrine, turned out to be mostly non-Hindus. Majority were reportedly Christian and a lone Muslim female activist proving right the ‘interloper’ adjective used by Justice Indu Malhotra. Here it is important to refer to the statement of Sitaram Yachuri of CPI, that issue of triple talaq and this entry of women of all ages into Sabarimalai shrine is same. This is the reflection of the bankruptcy of CPI. Like the present government in Kerala, likes of Yachuri too are fishing in the troubled water to cause social tension.
WORLD: Problem of differences between Central Bank of a country and its ruling dispensations is an ongoing subject of debate the world over. In recent days we have seen reports in most print media how governments all over the world have been trying their best to get the central banks in their respective countries to fall in line with the thoughts of the government of the day.
While, it is to be agreed unconditionally that central banks should have complete autonomy on its operation, it should keep ajar its window for exchange of thoughts and may be even accept some proposal from the government, where government thinks, these changes are for larger social good. It has to be a ‘conversation without confrontation'.
Indians are privy to the truth of the exit of former governor of RBI Raghuram Rajan. He had, reportedly, an unexpressed desire to continue for another term as head of RBI. But things didn’t work in his favour. But as a professional, he should have let ‘bygone be bygone’. But that didn’t happen. Although he is pursuing his career in the U.S at the moment, he seems to take active participative interest, in everything Indian. That’s how it should be. But being nasty, using strong words, smacks of being vengeful and indicative of ‘settling score’.
Speaking at an event in the University of California in Berkeley, U.S, Raghuram Rajan gave an uncalled for dressing down to the Indian government. He reportedly remarked “Two successive shocks of demonetization and GST had a serious impact on growth in India, especially when the global economic growth has been peaking”.
Indians are privy to the happening after both these important events. We are not wiser by what Rajan stated. But being what he was as RBI governor, it matters. It rakes up issues, like Rahul Gandhi would do, only to throw muck at the central government. This could have been avoided.
WORLD:Long ago Madeline Albright a former US Secretary of State had described Pakistan as “International Migraine”. Surely, its not for nothing that she has used this special adjective for Pakistan.
Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) and Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict (CRIC) at Oxford University, reportedly released a report in Brussels recently. The 104 page report is titled “Humanity at Risk-Global Terror Threat Indicant”. It had members, Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle, Grand Mufti Emeritus of Bosnia Mustafa Ceric, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Suraya Dalil and Ben Pugaley from the EU Counter Terrorism Office.
Consolidated United Nation’s Security Council Sanctions List includes 31 terrorist groups proscribed by the UN. According to print media datelined Brussels, there is a Global Terror Threat Indicant (GTTI) chart which is based on the number of active combatants or armed members in these groups.
In this GTTI chart, reportedly Pakistan ranks the highest with 70.5%, followed by Afghanistan at 40% and Syria at 22%.
The report is a result of extensive analysis, discussions including a round table meet attended by the brightest minds in counter terrorism worldwide, informs the president of SFG.
The idea was to prepare sustainable integrated and long term approach to combat terror, he avers. According to him, relationship between state and terror groups in Pakistan has grown to be interdependent over the years and therefore there is every danger that nuclear weapons can fall into the hands of these terror groups. Therefore there is a great need to demolish the entire infrastructure developed by these terror outfits within Pakistan. The country happens to be our western neighbor.
Thus, clearly, India is dealing with the most dangerous country in the world, a fact all should recognize.
WORLD:There was this report in the media some weeks ago that Aleema Khanum, one of the sisters of incumbent Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, owns a benami property in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). No big deal, not surprising either. Surely there are any numbers of sub-continental politicians and bureaucrats who own property in UAE without the world knowing it.
But what is to be noted is, the Supreme Court in Pakistan took some interest in this wayward development in the Pakistani high-end society. Court asked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), to come up with its findings on the murky side of the Pakistan’s well heeled society indulging in illegal money transfer from Pakistan to foreign countries.
FIA, reportedly has come up with the list of some 44 prominent political and government figures owning benami properties in UAE and submitted it to a 3 member Supreme Court Bench in Islamabad.
List reportedly includes many high and mighty of Pakistani society including Mumtaz Ahmed Muslim, a Tehreek-e-Insaf leader, the party of Imran Khan. She reportedly has some 16 properties belonging to her in different names.
So, clearly these Pakistanis, who shared the same home and hearth some 70 years ago, are no different from their Indian cousins.
Supreme Court of Pakistan needs to be commended for this suo moto initiative and exposing the corruption in high places, when our courts are busy with Sabarimalai entry of women, Ayodhya Temple imbroglio and those cases of Freedom of Speech, Freedom of choices, adultery etc.
Without any shadow of doubt, there must be hundreds of cases of Indians owning benami properties the world over, not just in UAE. And most of them are sitting pretty with the knowledge nothing is going to happen to them and their belongings in the near future. This is Yeh Mera India.
WORLD:Making money and more money is the basic objective of all business enterprises. But some of them do have ethical practices that regulate their chase for profit at all cost. Unfortunately most business entities compromise on money aspects of quality and services only to bolster their bottom line.
And comes this news datelined Beijing, about the cheap tricks by major international chain of hotels. Reportedly, Park Hyatt in Beijing, Waldorf Astoria in Shanghai, Sheraton in Guiyang and Shangri La Hotel in Fuzhou were the culprits. Reportedly some investigative journalists using hidden camera had recorded cleaners of these hotels wiping cups and sinks with dirty towels and sponges and some even used the same towels to wipe the toilet seats. Obviously videography of these practices is intended to expose these hotel managements, and therefore have made it to the public domain via social media.
Embarrassed by the video exposure, reportedly, all these hotel managements have issued statements of apology in the public space to ostensibly to set things right. But surely damage was done. How much these hotels could have saved by these small and insignificant cost cuttings, which have seriously damaged its reputation!?
It is a done thing to compromise wherever it’s possible, but these compromises when left unchecked can lead to dangerous situations leading to disasters. When it comes to health and hygiene of clients and staff, any compromise in quality of services can lead to devastating results. What you saved could be peanuts, but what you lost could be in millions! Therefore, it pays to be honest. The adage honesty is the best policy does not need repetition. But we humans, ever the victim of avarice, always look for short cuts. That’s the sad reality.
WORLD:‘Attack on China consulate in Karachi kills seven’ was a headline in the print media. Surely, for those who have been following the sub-continental news after the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) started its activities some years ago, it has come as no surprise.
In fact it was in August 2017. I&C has highlighted such a possibility not just in Baluchistan but elsewhere as well. The whole CPEC is meant to enslave Pakistan economically and to make Pakistan helplessly become a Chinese Satellite.
Termed as a game changer, this CPEC is indeed already proving a game changer for both China and Pakistan. China has already spent most of its budgeted $ 50 billion, and cannot retrieve it back, and Pakistan is already in the grip of China, with additional funding after the visit of new PM Imran Khan, India’s western neighbor is getting increasingly into debt-trap.
But the intransigence that is prevailing within Pakistan, is going to be a hot potato for both Pakistani authorities as well as China. China will learn it the very hard way, it does not pay to befriend an enemy of India, because China thinks India to be its adversary. The arrogance of massive growing surplus, used to fund the sensitive politico/economic issues of the sub-continent, just to spite India, will not and cannot earn it dividend. It can only increase its problems. For China, it shall pay in the long run to be friendly with India.
With this terror attack on its chancery in Karachi, no guarantee is possible at the safety and well being of Chinese lives and properties in Pakistan. Whatever Pakistan government tries to do to please the Chinese leadership, China will ask for more. This is a fact staring at Pak leadership, take it or leave it.
J. Shriyan
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