Saturday, January 30, 2010

Keep politics away from sports

The denial to make bid for any one of 11 Pakistani cricket players by the Franchisees at IPL auction is genuinely an insult to them. It is correct that political relations between India and Pakistan is not good but it does not mean that the cricket players of Pakistan should pay price for them. It is also correct that the auction of players organised by the IPL is purely commercial and the Indian government has nothing to do with it except advising the IPL Commissioner to treat the issue of auction of Pakistani players cautiously, keeping in view the bad patches through which Indo-Pak relations are passing. It may be the commercial decision of the Franchisees not to make bid at auction of Pakistani players for the IPL-3 matches because of the legal hurdles lying in the way of permission to them for their visit to India to play the matches. But the Pakistan players, Cricket Board and the entire nation have treated their exclusion a huge insult. But every individual in both the countries must think that the sports are meant for cementing relations, and not breaking them. PCB has already cancelled the NoC to players for IPL-3 to scotch all speculations about few players that they are likely to play IPL matches in India. PCB must know that IPL is an autonomous body and government of India can not dictate them to do this and that. It is also the general impression in India in the aftermath of 26/11that Pakistan is solely responsible for it and it is also reluctant to punish LeT inspirational head Hafiz Sayeed, who is the mastermind of 26/11, and on the contrary provided him safe haven. IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi should also know that cricket diplomacy has worked in the past to bring Indo-Pak relations on track to some extent. PCB has asked its players to stay away from speaking on IPL so as to avoid confusion over their participation in the Twenty20 event. None of the 11 Pakistani cricketers were picked by any of the IPL franchises in the players auction, which created an uproar in the country leading PCB chairman Ijaz Butt to even say that the snub was ‘’an insult’’ to the players and the Board.The players and the sports management company that represents some of the players have been told by the team management to avoid making comments on the IPL. Abdul Razzaq’s particpation in this year’s IPL had also created a huge confusion after reports were floated that the all-rounder was snapped up by defending champions Hyderabad Deccan Chargers for this season.The reigning champions have, however, rubbished the reports and said they do not have a slot available to buy a foreign player. Both India and Pakistan must walk an extra mile and ensure the participation of potential Pak cricket players so that the cricket fans could not be deprived of enjoying the IPL matches.

Friday, January 29, 2010

US President's protectionist measures

US President Barack Hussain Obama’s announcement of tax breaks for those US companies outsourcing jobs to India and other South Asian country’s at the time the worldwide economic downturn has just started giving indications of recovery is unfortunate and self-defeating. Though it is his political step to strengthen his own domestic base after completing a year in office, it is to annoy temporarily his close partner India in South Asia. Indian software industries may be affected momentarily by his announcement of tax breaks but it has acquired now enough inherent strength to face any eventually boldly and would keep their momentum going. It is now no longer secret that India is not only the largest democracy but also the emerging global economy of the world. It is also natural that US is wary of fast economic growth of India and sees in it a potential challenger. President Obama is also apprehensive of India leaving the US behind in economic growth on the basis of robust growth of IT industries. The matter of the fact is that the Indian IT giant like Wipro has established its branches in US and it is giving jobs to a considerable number of US citizens. Obama must understand that India is the second most populous country of the world so there is no dearth of talented population in the country. On the basis of the talent of software personnel, India is going stronger and stronger and no country has the capicity to put hurdles in its way of forward economic journey. India’s talents can not be barred from progressing by fencing. It is not only India which is benefited by the US companies which outsource jobs but the US is also benefited. Obama’s lashing out at outsourcing of the US companies, sensing it is strengthening India economically will also have adverse impact on the bilateral relations. It is also no logic of the US President that if he ends tax break to US companies outsourcing jobs,the India’s economic stride would come to a halt. It is nothing but his misplaced thinking. No power on the earth will now be able to halt India and China rapid economic growth. Obama should also understand that atleast India in South Asia is not dependent of the US in any way and the proof of which India has already shown the world by facing sanctions against it after the nuclear explosion. India overcame them boldly and continued to progress as usual. By ending tax breaks to the US companies outsourcing jobs to India, President Obama has only shown his jealousy.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Controversy over Padma Bhushan Award

On this year Republic Day, US-based NRI Hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal’s name figured among Padma Bhushan awardees. The civilian award is given on the Republic Day to the person known for excellence and great contribution to the country in a certain field. Padma Bhushan award is given in recognition of contribution made by a person to the country. Awardees must be above all controversies. Sant Singh Chatwal is one of the biggest hoteliers and he is considered to be very close to US President Barack Hussain Obama. He is also considered to be close to Clintons and has played a vital role in bringing the US closer to India. He is also credited with contributing to the strengthening of Indo-US relations and working in this direction for the last 30 years. On the basis of this contribution, he can not be chosen for the country’s prestigeous civilian award. But at the same time CBI has a chargesheet against him for his fraudulent activities in connection with SBI in $ 9 bilion loan. As far his contribution in bringing the US closer to India is concerned, it is the job of diplomacy. For that purpose country’s diplomatic personnel are already working in this direction. So conferring Padma Bhushan Award on Sant Singh Chatwal must be based on his contribution to the country as hotelier and not on the basis that he is close to sucessive US administrations. And one more serious objection that goes against him is his involvement in fraudulent avtivities and tainted background. The awardees must not have tainted background and they must be personality of unquestionable reputation. Gopinath Munde has rightly written a letter to the government for its decision to confer Padma Bhushan on the controversial personality like Sant Singh Chatwal. It is the Union Home Ministry which recommends the names of awardees after thorough debate and discussion. Congress has already washed its hands off the controversy over Chatwal and rightly said that it is for the government’s spokesperson to explain the position. Government is required to come clean over the recommendation of Chatwal’s name for Padm Bhushan award. Conferring the award on controversial individual is belittling its importance . Among the Padma Bhushan awardees this year are noted NRI hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, eminent neurosurgeon Satya Paul Agarwal and eminent cardiac surgeon Ramakant Panda. All the Padma Bhushan awardees except Sant Singh Chatwal have impeccable record of excellence in their respective fields and court no controversy. The Padma Bhushan award must be conferred on only those who have made great contribution to society in their respective fields of specialisation. As award is associated with the prestige of the country, it must not be mired in controversy.

Monday, January 25, 2010

60th year of India's Republic

Today we are celebrating 60th year of Republic. This is the day of appraisal of our performance and finding out deficiency. On this day in 1950 our Constitution was introduced and India became Republic. At 60th year of Republic, we are going stronger and stronger. But a lot more needs to be achieved. This is the need of the hour that at 60th year of our Republic, we must pledge first to wipe out tears from every eye. To eradicatic poverty is still our biggest challenge that we have still not been able to overcome. Still, a little less than half of our population is living in abject poverty. Despite lauching several programmes to remove poverty, we have not been able to get success. Our leadership of the nation has to look seriously into the causes that retard our progress and move to eradicate poverty. The main hurdle in eradicating poverty is the growing corruptuion in all these 60 years of our Republic. This has to be checked in first.Though we have recorded remarkable progress in Science and Technology, Education, Economy and Industry, lot more still to be achieved to emerge as super power of the world. We have everything talent, resources and manpower to achieve our desired goal. But we lack in application of all these qualitilies into making a super power of the world. Gandhiji, Father of the Nation, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr.Ambedkar, Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad have given a shape of development to our country. We have to keep that shape of development in our mind and must try to take forward their dream to fulfill. The hard won Republic requires upon us to work harder and harder to make it meaningful. As we have made long stride in every field , progressed remarkably and strengthened our democracy. In a sovereign democratic republic, the people are all powerful and ultimate power vests in them. People elect their representatives and they are accountable to them. India got Independence in 19947 and became Republic in 1950 with the introduction of its Constitution. It is the Constitution according to which our political leaders have to rule the country. As we have the largest democracy of the world, we have to set a standard by strengthening the root of Republic. The true meaning of Republic is building society free of all vices and acheiving all round development of the country. We have luminaries in every field who have contributed immensely to the development of the country in their respective field in the last 60 years of our Republic. Today while celebrating 60th Republic, we must take a pledge to take the country ahead of all in the world.

Friday, January 22, 2010

US re -affirming close relations

With the completition of Obama’s administration’s first year in office, it has pledged to deepen further the relation with India , which it describes as critical and very important. Obama administration is carrying forward its close relation with India which was established by his predecessor. It is undoubtedly US and India are natural allies. One is the champion of democracy and other is the largest democracy of the world. Both have firm belief in pluralism and personal liberty of the individual. The US is the sole superpower of this unilateral world and India is the emerging global economic power. There are several crucial issues like energy, climate change, economy and peace on which both can work together for the benefit of the world. Obama administration has entered the second year office and the President is expected to visit India this year. The bonhomie which President Obama showed during the visit of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh by giving him the first dinner party is the testimony to the fact that how great importance he attaches to relations with India. When the US considers its relation with India very important and critical, it is expected to treat India on equal footing and should not expect to be pressurised it on vital international issues. India will always go on its own and it can not tolerate any outside pressure to change its stated policy on international issues. India being the largest democracy and vibrant one, it has to take into account its domestic opinion on any international issues. Establishing peace all over the world and fighting terrorism to finish are the two very important issues before the international community. US has formed international coalition to fight against terrorism but its logic of making Pakistan, which is the breeding ground of terrorism, a frontline ally has proved illogical. Because terrorism is the intrument of Pak state policy. It can never be expected to take on terrorism because it has its strength in it. As the US has been the mentor of Pakistan since its inception and India has been hard hit by Pak-sponsored terrorism since then, now it is the responsibility of US when it considers its relation with India critical and very important to rein in Pakistan and pressurise it to stop sponsoring terrorism against India. Pakistan has never been serious to act against terrorism. It is still treating the chief consiprator of 26/11 J-u-D boss Hafiz Sayeed as its state guest and other accused terrorists who are Pakistani nationals as innocent. As terrorism is the biggest issue in the world and India is one of its worst victims, the US must act firmly and without any bias against the scourge of humanity. It must act against Pakistan on the issue of terrorism in a neutral way. This will only re-affirm its cosy relations with India.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Dangerous tendency

Though the Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has backtracked on his government’s decision under pressure that knowledge of Marathi and domicile of Maharashtra for at least 15 years is necessary to be eligible for licenses to taxi drivers by adding Hindi and Gujarati languages to the eligible criteria to apply for licences to drive taxi in Mumbai, it is a development of dangerous trend that mars the cosmopolitan character of Mumbai. He moved MNS boss Raj Thackeray’s style who was in the forefront of anti-migrant campaign in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra last year. There are about two lakh taxi drivers in Mumbai and most of them are migrants from Bihar, UP and Uttarakhand. There are 4000 licenses issued in Mumbai every year. With the civic elections in 2012, Congress-NCP government has tried to go on parochial politics to counter the rising popularity of Raj Thackeray among the youths of Maharashtra because of his divisive politics. Ashok Chavan is leading the Congress-NCP coalition government. Both the parties stand for national cause and pledge for unity and integrity of the nation. There is no place for divisive, sectarian and parochial politics in their ideologies. They have national outlook and perspective. Ashok Chavan by taking the path of narrow and divisive politics to counter the opponent Raj Thackeray, who is criticised for his narrow and separatist politics, must be taken seriously by the Congress highcommand. First of all, Mumbai is the commercial capital of India and it has cosmopolitan character. No Indian can be discrimunated on the basis of caste, creed, religion and language in Mumbai and elsewhere in the country. Chief Minister must know that his way of narrow politics has no taker in the country and it brings disgrace for the Congress party, which has an impeccable record of all India presence. Chavan should also know that by playing the politics of hate, he can not counteract his opponent by espousing hate against outsiders in Mumbai. Mumbai is for all India and it will remain be so. CM chavan should also realise that the role of outsiders in the development of Mumbai has also been very vital and that can not be ignored. For merely gettings votes of locals, CM Chavan must not play the politics of discrimination and hate. Though Congress has downplayed his move, the party must take the issue seriously. Otherwise, it will have to pay a great price for Chavan’s misplaced belief. Congress rules at the Centre so it has the prime responsibility of keeping the national unity and integrity intact. And if it is damaged by its own chief minister, it will prove to be suicidal for it.By promoting the kind of politics of parochialism being played by none other than the Congress Chief Minister for the sake of getting local votes is the development of very dangerous trend. The Congress party must act swiftly to rein in its Maharashtra CM and ask him to improve his administration rather than embarking on new issue, plunging the party into great embarrassment. He must be stopped to play the politics of regionalism.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

No takers for Pakistani players

Cricket fans will miss the presence of Pakistani cricket players in the IPL-3 because there were no takers for them at the auction organised by IPL. No franchisee made bid for any Pakistani players, though they are Twenty 20 reigning world champion. Even the prolific batsman and captain of Pakistani Twenty20 team Shahid Afridi did not sale at the IPL auction. The IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi ascribed the reason behind not making any bid for Pakistani players by the Franchisee was the uncertainty over their availability and the proprietor of Rajashthan Royals also showed their inability to bid for Pakistani Players was their uncertainty over availability. But the Pakistani captain of the reigning world champion Shahid Afridi and his other teammates see more into their discard at the auction and holds the view that because of the pressure of the Indian government on franchisee to not bid for Pakistani players, the they refrained from making any bid for them. IPL is being run by the franchisees who have their business interest in it. They are only guided by their business interest.The franchisees want easy availability of the players and they like to avoid any risk to damage their business. They are no more ready to spend USD seven or eight million for someone who would not be available for the tournament. It not only exhausts their purse but also wastes slots.Franchisees want only those players who would be available for the tournament. They are spending money and they want to get the results.As far as the chill persisting in the Indo-Pak relation is concerned, it also can not be overlooked altogether.In all, eleven Pakistani players, including Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved and Imran Nazir, who were part of the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL), were in the auction list. The fiery West Indies allrounder Pollard has proved to be the costliest player at the auction of IPL-3. He has also happened to be drawing the highest bid so far in the history of IPL. The question here arises that if the franchisees have shown no interest in bidding for any one of the 11 Pakistani cricket players, what government can do. They have their business interest and they can not afford to involve themselves in the paraphernalia of Visas for the players with the government. But as far as the likening of the cricket fans is concerned, it will be decided when the matches during IPL-3 get underway. The cricket fans will be the best judge to decide whether the move of Franchisees were proper or not. The Pakistani Cricket Control Board and the cricket players should not take it as their prestige issue. Because franchisees are free to purchase players who could attract huge crowd ,play well and yield maximum money for them.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

De-recognise underserving universities immediately

The standard of education reflects the status of a country or society. Its standard must not be compromised at any cost. If any government compromises with standard of education to increase its political clout in democracy, it means it is playing with the future of the students and the future of the country. The students are the future of the country. If they are not taught properly in colleges and universities, their future becomes bleak. The Union ministry of Human Resources Development is rightly planning to dereognised 44 deemed universities in the country. Though successive union Human Rsources Ministries have doled out deemed status to universities, overlooking deliberately the essential criteria to be given deemed tag to them. 44 deemed universities to be de-recognised were reportedly given deemed status during the last UPA government when Arjun Singh was Human Resources Development Minister and during the NDA regime when Murli Manohar Joshi was the HRD minister. Underserving deemed universities must be decognised immediately but the future of the students who are enrolled with them must not be affected. It is good step that the government has provided the facility to the students to continue with their study under the parent body of the deemed university in the state. The government has also rightly announced that by decognising the deemed universities, the student enrolled with them will not be affected. But by de-recognising these 44 deemed universities, the malaise set in the education system in the country can not be removed. At the ground level in every state of the university, there is a very strong nexus between education mafia and politicians. Education has become a great source of making money for them. Untill and unless the nexus between education mafia and politicians is not broken, underseving deemed universities will continue to grow. As long as the ruling politicians will continue to rain favour on education mafiosi to strengthen their political base without caring for the future of the students, the standard of education will continue to deteriorate. Although the present dispensation of UPA led by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi appear to be serious of getting rid of the rot set in education, it is very serious that there are few deemed universities run by a minister of state in the UPA government. The minister allegedly running the deemed universities lacking in infratructure, teacher must be asked to explain his conduct and how did he get deemed status for his universities. This is the slur on the UPA government. It must act immediately to de-recognise the 44 deemed universities.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Legendary Marxist passes away

In the death of Jyoti Basu, the nation has lost a great patriot and statesman.Jyoti Basu was the longest serving Chief Minister of West Bengal. He was the tallest leader of communist in the country. In his death, the country has lost a great leader and communists have lost their patriarch. He was a visionary leader who tried all his life to give communist movement a new direction in the fast changing situation. He was a charishmatic leader who was well-connected with the people.Jyoti Basu would have made a history by becoming the first democratic elected Marxist as Prime Minister of India in 1996 if his own party had agreed to the proposal. He was a learned man and worked relentlessly for spreading communism through democratic means and a great advocate of secularism.Jyoti Basu was one of the few leaders in the country who commanded wide respect across the political parties. His views on national issues were taken very seriously. Apart from unchallenging leadership in West Bengal, he was held in the highest esteem by all political parties on national scene. Leading Bengal for 23 years as Chief Minister from 1977 to 2000, the communist bastion got stronger and stronger. He chose his protege Buddhadev Battacharya as his successor in 2000 and reliquished the post of Chief Ministership of Bengal in his favour on health ground.Jyoti Basu was a visionary leader who gave a new vision to communists, though his Marxist fellow leaders remained dogmatic and stuck to hardline communism and that had come as hurdle in the way of his becoming PM, which he described later as historic blunder. Jyoti Basu was also the champion of coalition politics which he showed by leading the Left Front government for 23 years without any murmer among his Left partners. Jyoti Basu was a mass leader who all his life fought for the cause of the poor and downtrodden. Apart from a communist patriarch, he was the champion of secularism. He had always his hands on the pulse of the masses. His every step was in the interest of the people. That is why he was a people’s leader. He was a symbol of communism and always advocated for achieving the goal of communism in true sense of the term by protecting the cause of labourers, factory workers, poor and downtrodden. His death has created a vacuum which will be very difficult to fill. His death is an end of an ear. Because he was not only the leader of communists but also of secular forces in the country. He was a great son of India and always rose above party affiliation in the interest of nation. His death has plunged not only West Bengal into gloom but also the entire nation. The chief characteristic of the politics of Jyoti Basu was that he was always in favour of moving forward with all like-minded political parties. He decided on any issue keeping the interest of the people uppermost and always stuck to communism and secularism.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Give boost to Indo-Nepal relations

Nepal is our next door neighbour. It is a small country and before the end of monarchy, it was the single country in the world which was based on Hindu-religion. As Hindus are in majority in the population of India, there has always been bonhomie with Himalayan kingdom. India has always been helpful to Nepal in its all round development and treated the country as privileged one the evidence of which is the Friendship Treaty with Nepal in 50s under which Nepalese were given priority in study in different fields in India. But in the recent years with the weakening of monarchy and ascendancy of Maoists, Nepal started drifting towards China and this development started taking place after the enthoning of King Gyanendra, who is also responsible for driving the last nail in the coffin of Monarchy. Gyanendra contratry to the policy of his predecessors found inclined towards China. He preferred China to the time-tested friend India. China got the opportunity of intervening in the internal affairs of Nepal that also gave enough support to the rebellious Maoists to throw out Monarchy of the country. Finding India sidelined, Pak-trained terror elements and anti-India Maoist forces set their feet firmly on the soil of Nepal. The Indian airways plane IC814 was hijacked by Pak-based hijackers from Kathmandu. And finally with the Maoists coming to power in Nepal, India’s viewpoints there deliberately ingnored. Nepal virtually became the safe place for Anti-India elements from where they operated terror and fake currency to damage India.But now the government of Nepal is headed by Madhav Kumar Nepal, who is a veteran Leftist and true democrat . So India being the bigger country in all respects must give support in the development of Nepal to strengthen bilateral relations with it. Indian Foreign Minister Mr. S M Krishna’s visit to Nepal is expected to give boost to the bilateral relations. India also must act to remove the impression of being a big brother in South Asia.India has rightly decided to give Rs 830 crore to Nepal for developmental projects It has signed four pacts with Nepal under which it will undertake developmental activities worth over Rs 830 crore in the Himalayan nation to give boost to the bilateral ties. Nepal and India have always been on good terms. India must help Nepal in every field and always keep it in good humour so that the forces enimical to India could not use the soil of Nepal against India.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Belated attention

At last the UPA government appears to have woken up to the soaring prices of edibles and essential commodities. Unchecked rise in food inflation has made the essential commodities out of the reach of common men all over the country. In the last six months the prices have gone sky-high without any check. The prices of rice, wheat, edible oils and sugar have run away and have recorded highest in the decade. The back of the poor has broken under the burden of unchecked price rise of edibles. It has become very difficult to make the arrangement of bread and even salt for them. The entire country has been into into unbearable situation due to price rise. On the one hand entire country is facing the brunt of sky-rocketing price of sugar and edibles,including vegetables, the UPA government is sleeping. At last, when the situation became very volatile over the price-rise issue, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh called the meeting of his Cabinet Committe on Prices in which Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar faced the ire of his Cabinet colleagues and allies on the issue. It is only because of Pawar's utter failure to handle the agriculture ministry. How carelessly and callously the Union Agriculture Minister takes the issue of soaring prices of sugar was reflected in his reply to a query to newsman that he is not an astrologer to tell when will the price come down. The minister should know that astrology has nothing to do with the determination of sugar prices. It is his faulty policies and lack of foresightedness on his party that have resulted in the soaring prices of sugar. The drum that Congress is beating for the Aam Admi is proving to be a mere gimmic in view of the sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities. When the government is purported to be of Aam Admi, its policies must be made to benefit them. It is also correct to say that most of the states governments fail to lift up its quota of wheat and rice in time that caused scarcity in the market. The Public Distribution system is also run by the state governments where they also have failed misreably. It is also the administrative responsibility of state governments to act sternly against black marketeers, profiteers and hoarders so that they could not create artficial shortages of essential commodities. Keeping in view the alarming price rise,Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is going to meet CMs to ask them to take appropriate measures to bring it down. Now Agriculture Minister has promised to bring down prices of essential commodities and sugar in 8 to days. It is to be seen how he delivers his promise. Undoubtedly drought this year has also contributed in the rise of prices of edibiles but it is a natural phenomenon for which the government should have made policies in advance to fight it. In Democracy, the primary duty of the government is to take public welfare-measures first and then act for the growth of market economy to compete in international arena in this age of globalisation. Market should decide the price of sugar but the regulatory power must be in the hand of the government because it is ultimately the government which is solely accountable to the public.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Rekindling Indo-Bangla relations

Bangladesh is our helpful and friendly neighbour. We should attach great importance to our bilateral relations with it. In the age of economic globalisation, we should provide all possible help in the all round development of our closest neighbour Bangladesh. In reciprocation of our friendly and helpful gesture to Bangladesh, it has been also very co-operative under the regime of Sheikh Hashina. Sheikh Hashina Wajed as the prime minister of Bangladesh, India has found a helpful neighbour. As India had disturbing signals from the previous regime of hardliners led former PM Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh, the return of democracy and plutralism under the leadership of Sheikh Hashina has made the relation between the two neighbours cosier. It is in the recognition of Bangladesh prime minister’s commitment to democracy and pluralism and her primacy to India, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has rightly announced 1billion line of credit to Bangladesh for their development. India greatly requires the friendly and helpful neighbour like Bangladesh in times of its fight against terrorism, which is being constantly exported by its another neighbour. Though the credit of the creation of Bangladesh solely goes to India, its path of democracy and pluralism sometimes misdirected under the regime of hardliners. Shekh Hashina is on visit of India and she is expected to sign several agreements of co-operation in diverse fields and in that way, India will be of great help to Bangladesh. India is required to extend all round support to Bangladesh to strengthen democracy and pluralism alongwith economic development of Bangladesh. Sheikh Hashina has returned to power in December 2008 and with her ascention,the development of Bangladesh has begun very fast. Under her leadership, the roots of democracy, pluralism and economic development are sure to strengthen. India only expect that Bangladesh will not be allowed now under Hashina to be the safe haven for anti-India forces. It is also the credit of Prime minister Sheikh Hashina that the ULFA Chairman Anbinda Rajkhowa was arrested and brought to India.Under the hadline leadership of Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh had become the safe haven of anti-India forces and the militants who were Pak-based had also found safe haven for themselves and they started operation against India from there under the guidance of ISI of Pakistan. India was very much perturbed over the encouragement of militancy against India in Bangladesh under Khaleda Zia’s regime. As Khaleda was leading the coalition government with the support of hardliners, there was much scope of development of Islamic religious fanaticism, which detrimental to India. But with the return of power of Awami League under the leadership of democratic and secular leader Sheikh Hashina Wajed,India exepects that now Banladesh will come closer to India.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Troops must stay

If the recent militant attacks at Lal Chowk in Srinagar and Pulwama in Kashmir respectively are anything to indicate, Jammu and Kashmir remains vulnerable to militant attacks. And militants' talk with their handlers outside make the Union government to think twice before taking any decision to cut the number of troops in Jammu and Kashmir.Though the security personnel have done commendable job by killing the militants in both the encounters at Lal Chowk and Pulwama, it is a reflection on the coming days about the increasing militant attacks in Kashmir. The militant violence has no doubt lessened considerably in 2009 but it may be militants’ strategy to lie low for the time being and again start their blood-letting activities in Kashmir. The LeT militants who holed up at a Lal Chowk hotel and started firing indiscrinately from there in encounter with the security forces lengthened up to 22 hours because the security forces had to keep colateral damage to the minimum and flush out civilians from the hotel safely. It is only because of the hard work of our security forces that at last militants were gunned down and the siege of the hotel ended. The most dangerous thing is that the militants holed up at Lal Chowk hotels were in constant touch with their handlers sitting across the border. It clearly reflects that Pakistan has completely failed in dismantling the terror outfits on its soil and they are freely operating from its soil against India. It is still sending the merchant of death into Jammu and Kashmir without any break, though steadily. The band of militants are reported to be lying in wait to cross over the border into Jammu and Kashmir immediately after freezing of ice with the onset of summer season. Lal Chowk and Pulwama militant attacks recently amply clarifies that the time is not ripe for cutting the number of troops in Jammu and Kashmir. The troops are not there only against external aggression but also against internal aggression, which is being carried out by the militants hiding there. So troops have also the responsibility to provide protection to the civilian population of Jammu and Kashmir. Though troop pull-out is politically desirable to move forward with the peace process, the best judge on the matter should be military commanders who know the best about the ground situation. It can not be decided by sitting in air-conditioned room in New Delhi.TheGovernment has also rightly said the country, especially Jammu and Kashmir, remains vulnerable to militant attacks sponsored by forces from across the border. CRPF has done commendable job by successfully eliminating militants who were in communication with their handlers outside the country.This shows the gravity of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Welcome court directive

In a relief for the homeless at Pusa Road in North Delhi, the Delhi HC has rightly directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to temporarily restore a shelter for them. The civic body had demolished the shelter during a beautification drive ahead of Commonwealth Games. Taking suo moto cognigance of the newspaper report about the demolition of night shelter meant for refuge in this chilly winter, Delhi HC Bench headed by the Chief Justice has rightly expressed unhappiness and directed MCD to make arrangement of the night shelter for them. This action of the court shows why judiciary is the most important wing of the democratic government. Though primarily it is the responsibility of the executive to take care of the homeless people in Delhi and stop MCD’s inhuman execise in the name of beatifying Delhi in view of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in October 20010 in the city, the law court had to take cognizance of MCD's inhuman act. The court has rightly asked the MCD that it can not throw out the people in the name of beautifying Delhi. Commonwealth Game is still 10 months away, if the better sense prevailed on MCD, it must make alternate night shelter immediately for the homeless people. MCD is entrusted with the task of providing civic amenities to Delhiites, but it has failed completely in its primary duty. Because not even a drain in the city is cleansed and the dirty water does not smoothly flows through it. Dirt is piled up here and there in the city. MCD takes little care in removing the dirt in the name of beatifying the city in view of the Commonwealth Games. But as is the saying that even God connives with the weak and helpless, so is doing the MCD by demolishing the night shelter used by the homeless in this chilly winter. The life of the poor people in Delhi is not more important than holding Commonwealth Games with pomp and show. The Delhi government must also take note of the fact that only laying the net of overbridges and introducing Metro rail line in Delhi can not beatify it if the poor people living here will be forced to be homeless. It must make arrangement of providing roof over the head of roofless people in the city. It be aware that what impression will the foreign tourists have by observing the people living in abject poverty when will descend on the city during Commonwealth Games. If the honourable court had not taken suo moto cognigance of MCD’s inhuman act, the homeless will have been left to die in this chilly winter.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Amar Singh on way to leave SP

All powerful Samajwadi Party leader and its face among corporate world Amar Singh has resigned from all party posts citing health reason and family responsibility. Though it is not the first time that he has tendered his resignation as weapon of blackmailing SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, this time it may prove to be his miscalculation . The real reason behind Amar Singh’s resignation is his marginalisation within the party just after the humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. The main cause of SP’s dwindling strength is also Amar Singh. He took SP away from its grassroot connection and propelled it into the limelight on TV news channels and newspapers by connecting it with Corporate world and Bollywood. But SP’s strength lies in rural India from which it got away and forgot the real meaning of socialism. Mulayam Singh Yadav started his political career as a socialist and initially before associating with Amar Singh he was known as the beckon light of socialist forces and a champion of secularism. But with Amar Singh joining SP bandwagon, he changed its philosophy at the cost of its rural social base. The old Samajwadis started feeling ignored within the party and corporates and Bollywood actors and actress got prominence over them, resulting in the desertion of its original votebanks. It is due to Amar Singh style of politics that Mulayam’s lieutenant Raj Babbar and Samajwadi Party’s Muslim face Azam Khan resigned from the party. The humiliating defeat of SP candidate Dimple Yadav in Ferozabad at the hands of Mulayam’s ex-lieutenant Congress candidate Raj Babbar brought the difference between Mulayam and Amar Singh to the fore. The ascendency of Mulayam’s son Akhilesh Yadav and his other family members in the party also did not go well with Amar Singh. He finally realised that his marginalisation process within the party has started when no party functionary visited Singapore to see him when he was under going transplantation of Kidney there. Amar Singh may not have any grassroot political base but he is credited with managing financial requirements of the party and maintaining excellent rapport with other likeminded political parties and leaders. As Mulayam Singh Yadav has himself said that this is not the first time that Amar Singh has sent resignation letter from all party posts, it will also not be easy for him to accept it this time. But he must realise that socialistic brand of politics can not go a long way on the line Amar Singh has brought SP. To retrieve the lost ground of the party , Mulayam has to go back on the old turf of socialism.Amar Singh may not have any base among the people but his connection with corporate world and bollywood is his strength.He is not as much beneficial politically to the regional party like SP as he damages its vote bank base. His way of politics is completely opposed to the principle of socialism. So it will be better for Mulayam Singh Yadav in the interest of his political interest to sever ties with leader like Amar Singh.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Bihar’s remarkable economic turnaround

Bihar, which had been thrown into chaos, lawlessness and mismanagement during the 15 years of Lalu-Rabri duo regime, was taken out of morass after Nitish Kumar government took charge of the state. During the 15 years of misrule of Lalu-Rabri duo from 1990 to 2005, the economy was in the worst shape in Bihar. But now under Nitish-led government, the state is poised for getting number one position on the national stage in the developmental index by recording 11.03 per cent growth rate and has become the second fastest economic growth rate. Bihar is only second to Gyjarat in economic growth. This is nothing but the result of good governance of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Bihar. All ridiculed the administrative system of the state during those 15 years of Lalu-Rabri regime because it was run by whims of few individuals. The governance in the period was synonymous with Jungle raj and it was described like this by none other than the court of law because kidnapping, murder and snatching had become the hallmark of the state.The situation had become so alarming that the teachers stopped coming to schools and colleges and doctors kept themselves absented from the primary health centres in the state. Students had started leaving the state for study outside. Everything was in mess. Nitish inherited this type of Bihar, which was the best administered state in 50s and 60s. Nitish Kumar started his work very systematically and overhauled the administrative system and police machinery in the state. Law and order situation started improving and schools and colleges started running systematically. Developmental work was undertaken with great interest and health and education sector started picking up. The atmosphere in the state changed miraculously. The situation of roads and electricity also improved considerably and that has brought remarkable turnaround in the economic growth of the state. Bihar under Nitish Kumar has recorded 11.03 percent growth rate and it has become the second fastest growing economy of the country in only fours years from 2004-2005 to 2008-2009. Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister of Bihar has done remarkable job to empower women by giving them 50 per cent reservation in Panchayats and Urban local bodies. The participation of women in local administration has resulted in the all round development of the state. Bihar is the first state to have introduced 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayats and Urban local bodies. Now other states of the country follow it. That is why it is aptly said what Bihar does today nation thinks it tomorrow. With the improvement of law and order situation, Bihar attracts investment from outside. Good law and order situation is the most essential factor in achieving development. Nitish Kumar first of all improved law and situation and recorded economic growth of 11.03 percent, which is even above the national average of 8.49 percent.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Adopt tough posture over racial attacks in Australia

The racial attacks on Indian students in Australia have been going on unabated for many months. In a slew of racial attacks the Indian student Nitin Garg is the first who died of stabbing in Melbourne. 21 years old Nitin was an Accounting graduate. On the heels of his murder, a partially burnt body of an Indian has also been found by South Australian police.A second incident of a possible fatal attack on an Indian came to light with a body found in southern Australia last week identified as that of an Indian, even as officials from both countries prepare to meet to defuse the tension following the murder of a migrant in Melbourne. Australian Prime Minister during his visit to India few months ago had assured of safety and security to Indian students reading in Australia. Though the Australian authorities have condemened the murder of Nitin and apoliged, they have always denied that it was a racial attack. Indian Foreign Minister S M Krishna has issued a strong statement over the murder of Indian student in Australia and also warned of its adverse impact on bilateral relations between New Delhi and Canberra. But if the experience of the past is anything to go by, merely issuing tough statement will do no purpose and racial attacks will continue to take place. India must first send a warning saying that if the racial attacks on the Indian students are not stopped immediately, it will ask all its students to get back to their own country. If that happens, there will will be a huge financial loss to Australia and then raise the issue of racialism that is being practised by Australia on international stage. Practising racialism is a grave offence and attracts sanctions by international community.Because even the assurances about the safety and security of Indian student by none other than Australian PM have not delivered. The impression must go now that India is no longer a soft state and its citizens will not tolerate anymore humilation and physical attacks in western countries. It is also an open secret that the citizens of western countries consider themselves of superior race and let down Indians and Asians frequently. It is also very surprising that how Indian Embassy is reported to be unco-operative with the Indians who are victims of racial attacks in Australia nor the officials at the Embassy take up the issue seriously with their counterparts in Australia. They must know that Australians understand only the language of tit for tat. Because now enough is enough and the anger over the continued racial attacks on Indian students in Australia is boiling in India and at any point of time, it can come to the surface. So, the Government of India and Australia must take the issue of racial attacks seriously so that there might not be any reprisals against the citizens of the western countries in India.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Serious lapses of Delhi police

The three Pakistani terrorists, who were arrested in 2000 for their involvement in bomb blasts near the Red Fort and several other places in Jammu and Kashmir and were under the custody of Foreign Regional Registration Office, gave the police a slip and fled away. They were taken to an eye check-up at Guru Nanak Eye Centre in Delhi . After that they took meal at a hotel and from there they fled away. The most surprising thing is that the three were dreaded terrorists and only one sub-inspector rank unarmed officer were deputed to guard them. The question here arises that why the Delhi police took so lightly to take vigil on those dreaded terror convicts who could carry out mayhem anytime in Delhi. They went out of the clutches of police in the afternoon on Friday and a day after FIR was lodged with the Delhi police and Monday is the third day of their escape and still the police are clueless. Though the red alert has been issued countrywide and Delhi Lt Governor Tejindra Khanna has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the escape of three Pakistani terrorists from the custody of the police, it is the shameful act of the police who claim to be most professional and smart in the country. As the Delhi police is under Union Home Ministry, it has also rightly taken a serious note of the serious lapses on the part of Delhi police. The incident of fleeing away of the dreaded terrorists from the clutches of police is the mockery of the security arrangement in the national capital Delhi. The terrorists on the run can carry out bomblasts anytime in Delhi. The question also here arises that how could it be possible that the three dreaded terrorists suffered eye ailments at the same time. And if all the three were not suffering eye ailments, why were they taken together with only unarmed policeman to look after them. Now the Delhi police has announced a prize of Rs. 50,000 for the information about these convicted terrorists. This lapse of Delhi police will have demorlising impact on those policemen who had arrested these terrorists in 2000. The trio was arrested by the Delhi Police along with five other Pakistani terrorists in 2000 for carrying out blasts near Red Fort. Crime Branch which had arrested the three had also recovered 17 kilograms of RDX and 50 kilograms of heroin from their custody. Investigators had also claimed that the trio had also planned to blow up a railway line. The continued threats of terror attacks should keep the police forces always in readiness to thwart them. In the given atmosphere, the fleeing of dreaded terrorists from the clutches of police in national capital Delhi is very worrysome for the nation. The Union Home ministry must cognigence of the serious lapses committed by the Delhi police and must get the investigated from all angles and assure the country that this type of lapse is not repeated. Delhi being the national capital, all security arrangements here must be fullproof and nothing should be left to chance. There must not be any complacency in nabbing the terrorists who are on run.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

A bloody start in Pak

The blood letting act that Taliban have started in Pakistan is going to be bloodier if the wanton killing of 95 persons and injuring 80 by suicide bomber at the Volleyball playground in the north-east of Pakistan is anything to indicate. A suicide bomber drove his explosives-laden vehicle into a crowded volleyball playground , killing at least 95 people and injuring over 80 others, marking a bloody start to the new year. The attack might have been in retaliation for efforts by residents of Shah Hasankhel to keep the Taliban out of the area. It is said that the village was a stronghold of militants and the local people set up a militia and expelled militants from the area. The attack seems to be a reaction by militants.The Pak Taliban have given signal by greeting the nation on new year’s day with the bloody scene. Though it is making of Pakistan itself, the US is not to escape blame for nurturing the Taliban when both Pak and US were need of Taliban’s help to drive out Russian troops from Afghanistan. Only condemning the bloody acts of Taliban in Pakistan by the US is not enough and it can not dampen the killers. Now the time has come for international community to pay attention towards the deteriorating condition in Pakistan. And for this the US has to take lead. US has also borne the brunt of terror of 9/11 but after its ruthless step by invading Afghanistan to drive out the Taliban and throw out its out-lawed regime to keep itself safe only did not deter them. Taliban sneaked into Pakistan and when they found that Pakistan was set to kow-tow the US line against them, they too started carrying out violence on large scale. As the civilian regime is too weak to handle the strong military establishment which is known to back and provide help to Taliban, it is helpless in controlling and fighting them out. This is the main reason of intervening in Pakistan by the international community to establish peace there. Otherwise the increasing violence there on daily basis will spread outside its border and can pose a great challenge to its neighbouring countries also. Among the neighbouring countries, India will be first to hit by Taliban violence. So, it must urgently beef up its own security to thwart any danger from across the border and then call up on the US to act against Taliban in Pakistan. Because now it is very clear that Pakistan under the present weak dispensation can not fight with Taliban and it needs some outside help .