Thursday, May 19, 2016

Setback for Congress

The election results of the five states clearly reflect that the grand old party Congress' bad days that started with the worst-ever defeat in the last Lok Sabha two years back in 2014 are yet to over. Its political space is shrinking year by year since May 2014. The results for the five state assemblies are a great setback for the party. It has badly lost Assam and Kerala where it was ruling. These defeats also reflect that the Congress party did not think how to remove the mess set in its functioning in the last two years. These defeats of the Congress show that the party has no plan to retrieve its pre-imminent position in the country. If this shrinking trends continue for one or two more years, Congress party may be nowhere in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Congress lost power in Assam and Kerala. Congress had been ruling in Assam for the last 15 years. Anti-incumbency factor might have gone against it, but what the party did to neutralize it to win for the fourth consecutive time to create history. It has been the tradition in Kerala politics that after every five years, the govt. changes. As United Democratic Front led by Congress was ruling in the state for the last five years, Left Democratic Front LDF would rule for the coming five years with its victory in these assembly elections. In Assam, Congress has been badly defeated by the BJP. And for the first time, BJP would form the government in Assam. It would open a window for it in the north-eastern states as Karnataka did for it in the south. Except Assam, ruling BJP has not done anything spectacular in other states according to its national stature. It is through polarizing of votes that it won Assam. Chief Minister Mamta Bannerji has recorded spectacular victory for the second consecutive time in West Bengal. Her Trinamul Congresss pulverized Left-Congress coalition. She has emerged as one of the tallest regional leaders of the country. Despite allegation of corruption against her govt., her party has recorded massive victory. Mamta's TMC has won more number of seats in these assembly elections than what it had won in 2011. Though BJP has expanded its space in West Bengal, it is still at the fourth place. Mamta also showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the people of Bengal would not be carried away by his tall talks in the electioneering. In Tamil Nadu, AIADM supremo and Chief Minister Jayalaliththa got back to power for the second time in row by defeating the DMK-Congress alliance comfortably. The emergence of two women Mamta and Jaya as strong regional leaders clearly reflect that no national leader of any national party has guts to challenge them in their states Left is getting weaker and weaker with its position slipping to the third in West Bengal where it had ruled for 34 years. Mamta Bannerji has emerged as the lioness of Bengal. She has decimated the Left in the state. The time has come for the Congress to introspect that why once ruling all over India is finding dificult to retain power even in a few states. Except Karnataka, no big state of the nation is under its rule. The root cause of its continuing defeat is its organizational weakness. The party has no leader in the state who could lead it to victory. All leaders and workers are dependent on Party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi. But neither Sonia nor Rahul is a charishmatic leader like Pt. Nehru, Indiara Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. The Congress party organization in states has become so weak that it can not fight elections on its own in most of the politically important states. While it is a fact that Congress party sympathisers and followers can be found in every village of the country. Congress organizational set up from the village to state level need to be overhauled to retrieve party's pre-imminent position.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

APP and Cong upbeat over MCD victory

Despite the ruling Aam Aadmi Party fighting Municipal by-elections for the first time, it kept its winning streak continuing, though not in the way it had recorded in the last assembly elections. AAP won five seats out of 13 MCD seats in which by - elections were held. Though MCD by-poll result is a setback for the ruling BJP, it has proved to be a great moral booster for the Congress party, which won 4 seats. BJP won only three seats. With five seats in MCD by-polls, the APP has anyhow maintained its top political rating in Delhi. But with the winning independent councillor joining Congrerss Party after victory, it raised its number to five too. Congress Party impressively improved its position in the MCD by-polls with more than 24 per cent of votes. Though BJP got many more percents of votes than APP and Congress, it won only 3 in terms of seats. BJP has been ruling at the Centre. It is also considered to be strong in Delhi. Despite that, its performance has not been up to mark. It is also a wake-up call for Narendra Modi-led NDA govt at the Centre that if it continued to pass time only by talking tall since it came to power, fall in its popularity graph is bound to set in. Delhi shows the mirror to all governments if they failed to deliver the promises made to the people. Two years of Narendra Modi govt. at the Centre is about to pass. It is going to complete its 2nd year in power on May 26, 2016. No perceptible change for betterment on the ground in any field is felt. Rather, the price rise shot up,industrial production fell, no new job created and economic slowed down. When stomach is empty, no one is prepared to listen to grandstanding speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. So, MCD by poll result is a warning for the ruling BJP at the Centre to work and translate all programmes and policies into action on the ground. Though AAP has won five seats, its popularity graph is also falling. If it had maintained its massive victory spree of assembly elections, it would have won all the seats that went to by-polls. It is time for Congress to rejoice over its victory in MCD by-polls after being wiped out from the city in the last assembly elections. It has lot more to do to retrieve its pre-imminent position in Delhi, which it ruled for 15 years in a row. The youthful leadership of Ajay Maken in Delhi has helped the Congress party to revive. He also needs to have more activities to improve party's position. Municipal corporation is the smallest unit of administration in the city. As far as transparency and efficiency in MCD are concerned, BJP has ruled it in the worst way. The 13 wards, which went to the by-polls on Sunday are Quamruddin Nagar, Shalimar Bagh (North), Ballimaran, Nawada, Vikas Nagar, Matiala, Nanakpura, Munirka, Bhati, Tehkhand, Khichripur, Jhilmil and Wazirpur. The by-elections were necessitated as 13 Councillors got elected to the Delhi Assembly in 2015.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Conserve water for life

Water is life. Without water, life is impossible and future is doomed. With this, it can be easily imagined how happy Latur residents would be to hear about a train reaching them with six lakh litres of water. Latur is facing worst ever drought. It is not only human beings but also the domestic animals are facing the acute scarcity of water. Their grazing ground has also parched. A terrible crisis for all living beings exists there. It is joy and happiness for the people and also commendable on the part of state and Central governments that train with six lakh litres of water has reached the parching and drying Latur district of Maharashtra. The scarcity of water in the district has been its perennial problem. The people living in urban and rural areas has been facing acute problem of water scarcity. It becomes more aggravating in summer. The ground water level is going deeper and deeper because water is drawn from under the ground water on large scale for irrigation purposes. The water mafia also draws underground water illegally. That is why the scarcity of ground water is acute in Latur. Men, women and children have to walk four to five kilometers to bring water. It is not a day's development, but illegal water trade has been going on without any check. Water gives life. No life is possible. So, govt. and social organization must launch vigorous campaign of awareness about conserving water. At the same time the govt. of India must learn from Israel how to conserve water for drinking. Every human being has right to access to drinking water. Govt. of the day must ensure the availability of drinking water to one and all. Merely blaming the previous govt. for the acute scarcity of water can not serve the purpose. Water is invaluable. With train reaching Latur district, every resident beamed with happiness and joy. It is also necessary to launch awareness against misuse of water. Today's water is tomorrow's life. So if humanity is to exist, water must be there. There is a prime necessity of drinking water drought hit areas in other parts of the country also. Water must be made available by the govt. at all cost. Whether the govt. manages to supply drinking water through taps or by trains with abundance of water to the people, it is accountable to them to do. The entire Latur district is full of joy and happiness to see the train with eight wagons of drinking water. It is better if the state and the Central governments tried to evolve permanent solutions to the drinking water problems. Two to three years of deficient rains have made the situation of crisis grimmer and grimmer. It is because of climate change that what people are witnessing is erratic monsoon for the last few consecutive years. Many states have experienced draught condition and very scanty rains. It is good that Maharashtra government has lifted section 144 of CrPC in Latur, now people have started co-operating and the fights over water have stopped. Latur has been facing a severe water shortage this year. ‘water train’ with 10 wagons carrying water for parched Latur in Marathwada region, which is battling the worst drought ever, on Monday left from Miraj in western Maharashtra. With the city needing 20 mullion litres of water each day, the railways and the state government have big task at hand.

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Clear reflection of hostility

The arrest warrant issued by a special NIA court against JeM Chief Massod Azhar and three others in connection with terror attack on Pathankot airbase is meaningless in view of the statement issued by Pakistan High Commissioner in Delhi Abdul Basit that Pak JIT visit to India to probe it was not based on reciprocity. A special NIA court in Mohali has issued an arrest warrant against Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar and three others in connection with Pathankot terror attack. The three others are Masood’s brother Abdul Rauf and handlers of the terrorists who attacked the air base in Pathankot, Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif. In a statement issued after comments by Abdul Basit, External Affairs ministry has made it clear that on 26th March, 2016, before the visit of the JIT, the Indian High Commission formally conveyed to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry that the Terms of Reference are broadly agreed to with the proviso that these would be on the basis of reciprocity and followed in accordance with extant legal provisions. The govt has also rightly said that the statement of Pak High commissioner was ill timed and out of sync with the accepted terms between the two countries. In the given situation it will be naive on the part of India to believe that Pak would execute arrest warrant against its most wanted terrorist Masood Azhar. Though Pak foreign ministry downplayed Basit’s statement, it clearly reflects that Pak is no longer interested in starting any peace process with India. India’s main concern is terrorism while Pak keeps the issue of Kashmir on top of its agenda for any talk between the two countries. It is not the sudden development because of which Pakistan raises the issue of Kashmir very strongly. Since the inception of Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir has been the bone of contention between the two countries. Pakistan has been sponsoring terrorism in J&K to disintegrate India. Jammu and Kashmir is the integral part of India and it will remain so. The result of any talk can only be possible when Pak accepts India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir. India has also legitimate claim on Pak-occupied Kashmir. It is for Pakistan to vacate it. Pak uses terror as the instrument of state policy. Its military has strong say in any decision that Pak takes in regard to India. It also gives support to notorious ISI, which manages all types of support to Pak-based terror outfits with sole intention of inflicting India as much as possible. Democratically elected govt. of Nawaz Sharif is a puppet in the hands of military and ISI. If that was not so, PM Modi’s stopover in Lahore to wish Sharif on his birthday would not have been reciprocated by terror attack on Pathankot airbase just after eight days. This is not the first time that Pak has reciprocated India’s good will gesture by inflicting wound to it. Lahore bus ride of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was reciprocated by attack on Kargil. At that time, it was none else but Nawaz Sharif was the Prime Minister of Pakistan. So, to expect anything positive from Sharif in starting talk process with India is nothing but foolishness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must take firm stand on issues with Pakistan. As history repeats itself, Pak can never be dependable and positive on the issue of establishing good neighbourly relations with India.

Friday, April 8, 2016

Growth amidst adverse global economic slowdown

Statistically, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely may be correct that the country has been able to grow despite global economic headwinds not being supportive, but the impact of economic growth is altogether different on the ground. Inflation rate may have fallen on paper; the price of essential commodities is rising without any check. The price of all food items is also rising. The pulse is the only food item from which the poor are getting protein but it is being sold at more than Rs. 150 a kilo. How can the poor people afford to purchase pulse? There has been no creation of jobs. There prevails an atmosphere of disillusionment among the youth because of growing unemployment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured the youth as BJP PM candidate during the last Lok Sabha elections' campaign that with his coming to power, he would create two crore jobs. But the situation is just opposite to what he claimed at that time. Rather job rate is falling since Narendra Modi-led NDA govt came to power. Farmer suicide is rising day by day. All its claim of economic growth is only on the paper. Export has also fallen down. Merely by opening Bank accounts people can not fill their stomach. The ground reality is that the rising prices are breaking the back of the poor. Modi govt. should have created opportunities of earning for the poor. When there would be flow of money, the poor could have opened bank accounts under Dhan Jan Yojna to deposit it. Empty bank account has no meaning. Undoubtedly, govt. is beating drums about their achievement of economic high growth rate despite global economic slump. This economic growth has no meaning for the poor. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. The gulf between the poor and the rich is getting deeper and deeper, which is also perceptible. The common people have got no relief in the last two years of Modi govt. It has not yet come to people’s high expectation. People had voted overwhelmingly for Modi govt. only in the hope that it would provide relief and remove an atmosphere of disillusionment that had set everywhere in the last phase of the regime of the previous UPA govt. This is for the first time in the last 25 years that a single political party (BJP) got a two-third majority in the Lok Sabha. Unless and until Modi-led NDA govt. translates its claim of economic growth into reality on the ground, the people can not believe its claim. The burning problem among the youth is unemployment. Almost two years of Modi govt. have elapsed. And if it continued to make tall claims on paper and speech in public only, it is bound to face the same fate in the elections as the previous UPA govt. faced. We all know that ours is a resilient economy at a time when the global economy is not doing so well. Foreign investors find India a good investment destination. But they would invest in India only when the govt. would do away with bureaucratic hurdles and the license raj in letter and spirit. It is true that India is able to grow at 7 to 7.5 % at a time of global economic turbulence. But where is the result. The sharp fall in crude oil price has also contributed to the govt. claim of economic growth but benefits have not filtered down to the people of the lowest strata of society.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Anti-national activities intolerable

The secessionist activity by local Kashmiri students on the Campus of NIT, Srinagar, is an anti-national act and it must be dealt with a heavy hand. There have been disturbances in the academic environment of NIT Srinagar due to the raising of voices against the nation on the campus by local Kashmiri students. It becomes more so deplorable when they get support from some of the faculty members. The way local students rejoiced at the victory of West Indies team in the semi final match of T20 World Cup on March 31 over India clearly shows anti-India feeling among the local Kashmiri students. Local Kashmiri students not only celebrated the victory of West Indies but also humiliated, demoralized and beat the students from other states studying in the Engineering College. The tension on the campus had been brewing since March 31, the day of semifinal match. To protest the highhandedness of local students with backing from some of the faculty members, outstation students decided to meet the media to tell the nation and the govt. how they are treated and behaved at Srinagar NIT. To stop the students from coming out of the Campus, Srinagar police entered and lathi charged mercilessly. Hands and legs of several students were broken and some of them also suffered grievous injuries. First of all, police must not be allowed to enter academic institution, especially of Srinagar NIT standard. The head of the institutions and faculty members should have mollified the bruised feeling of outstation students. It is also their responsibility not to allow any Kashmiri students to vent their anti-India feeling on the college campus. The action of Srinagar police is unjustified and uncalled for. It is also the responsibility of the state govt. to keep law and order under control. Jammu and Kashmir is already a trouble-torn state of the nation. Pakistan has been sponsoring terrorism in the state for several decades. So, any lapses on the part of state and central govts to curb the anti-national feeling, which has started growing on campus of NIT, cost dearly for the nation. It is good that Union HRD ministry has taken prompt step by sending two-member team, which is in NIT Campus in Srinagar, talks to the students after tension erupted at the NIT campus in Srinagar on the 31st March when local students clashed with outstation students. Those students who are willing to appear for exams later, will be given a chance later.HRD Minister Smriti Irani is to visit Srinagar on April 13. There are 31 NITs all over the nation and the NIT of Srinagar is one of the oldest ones. Students from all over the nation come to pursue their study in NIT, Srinagar. It is the responsibility of Central and state govt. to maintain its academic standard and reputation. Because reports have appeared in the media that outstation students are threatened by none other than some of the faculties with destroying their academic career. So, HRD ministry team must also probe this aspect of the allegation made by outstation students against the faculty members. The Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has also assured the central govt. of giving serious consideration to the matter followed by swift action. The Centre is keeping close tabs on the situation in Srinagar following the police lathi charge on the National Institute of Technology students in Jammu and Kashmir capital.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Take stringent steps against fraud and money laundering

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rightly ordered for a probe into allegation of fraud and money laundering against Indian named in the infamous paper leaks as revealed by revelations made by Panama Papers. The Panama Papers have brought to light the shadowy world of offshore companies and how the rich and the famous hide their wealth from public view, with its first list of names including heads of state, celebrities, prominent businessmen and football stars. Spearheaded by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), and worked on by over 100 media organizations through the world, the leaks place a Panama-based law firm, Mossack Fonseca, at the centre of the tangled web of shell companies and paper trails. The promptness in ordering probe by the PM shows that he is serious about unearthing corrupt practices being carried out allegedly by Indians anywhere. But at the same time, he has to ensure that the probe into fraud and money laundering allegation against the Indians whose names have figured in the Panama papers leaks should not meet the same fate as his promise of bringing black money stashed in foreign banks allegedly by some Indians. PM had made this promise during the electioneering of the last Lok Sabha. Though he took the decision of constituting Special Investigation Team in his first Cabinet meeting to pave the way for bringing back black money after taking oath as PM, but what result it has yielded is all before us. Whichever names of Indians have figured in Panama paper leaks for alleged forgery and money laundering must be exposed and brought to book after thorough investigation. Though Panama papers have also faced severe criticism because there is no US name on the list of persons who have stashed money to hide it from public view, the figuring of Russian President Vladimir Putin is also seen as a conspiracy of the western powers. It is good for the nation that PM has taken tough stand in view of the leaks by Panama papers. The need of the hour for Narendra Modi govt. is to pursue expeditious investigation so that the Indians whose names have figured in Panama paper leaks should come out before the people. Mere ordering for probe can not serve the purpose. But at the same time the govt. should also not do anything only with a view to defaming its political opponents. A huge leak of confidential documents has revealed how the rich and powerful use tax havens to hide their wealth. Eleven million documents were leaked from one of the world's most secretive companies, Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. Its first fallout was seen here in India. Government has declared that action will be taken against "unlawful" accounts held abroad by Indians and constituted a multi­agency group to continuously monitor information. In the context of the commitment of the Central Government to bring out undisclosed it says that money both from abroad and from within the country, that information brought out by any investigative journalism is welcome.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Pray for brave Hanamanthappa's speedy recovery

Nation prays for its brave son Hanamanthappa's speedy recovery. It is his bravery that he snatched life from the claws of death. The guts, grit, determination, courage and zeal to fight against all odds in the service of the nation have helped Lance Naik Hanaman-thappa survive the Avalanche at 2000 ft high on Siachen glacier after being put under 35 ft of snow at the day temperature of minus 30 degrees Celsius and night below minus 55 degrees. He was under the 30-35ft snow for five days. It is miracle that he survived after being hit by avalanche of this magnitude. There were 10 army men along with Hanamanthappa who were hit by the avalanche and immediately put under 35 ft of snow at Siachen glacier. All but Hanamathappa died. Siachen is not only India's but also the world's most difficult terrain where the brave Jawans and officers of Indian army at the cost of their lives keep the national flying. In the most inclement weather condition where all around only the snow cover is seen, it is not possible for the general people to face the cold of this type as prevails on Siachen. The weather is so inclement and adverse for habitation that more than thousand Army personnel, including 33 officers have died on duty so far there due to the prevailing adverse weather condition. Siachen is a large tract of hilly terrain covered with snow at the height of 2000ft. It was lying unclaimed before 1984, but it was very important strategically for India from security point of view. First, Siachen attracted the attention of Pak Army General Zia-ur-Rahman of Pakistan. Realizing the bone melting cold condition at Siachen, he ordered for the purchase of uniform from European country to be worn by his soldiers. When India got scent of it, alarm bell rang in the government establishment and it was decided to depute the personnel of Indian army at Siachen to keep it under its control at all costs. Since then it is in India's possession and the Indian army keeps constant vigil on Siachen glacier to thwart any attempt of the hostile neighbours to grab it. Siachen is highly important for the security reasons for the nation. That is why despite the excessively cold environment on it, army personnel deputed their never distract their attention even for a second. They are deputed there at Siachen glacier in rotation. One regiment of the army is given three months of patrolling. The condition of Lance Naik Hanaman-thappa continues to remain very critical and he is still ventilator dependent. But the valiant effort that he made to defeat even the death is not only praise worthy but also memorable for others. The entire nation prays for the speedy recovery of its brave son. Hananmanthappa’s rigorous training strengthened him so much so that he acclimatized himself to the most adverse weather condition for five days under 35ft snow. It was the god sent air bag that kept him alive. Hanamanthappa was also a Yoga trainer for the jawans of his regiment. He had demonstrated and provided Yoga training at Siachen glacier on the international Yoga Day. It is the grace of almighty God that Hanamathappa was found alive even after being stuck under 35 ft of snow for days. He is undergoing treatment at the Army's Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi. All of us wish him get well speedily.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Reservation is nothing, but a political weapon

Reservation has been used in our country as an instrument of politics by the political parties. They have supported caste-based reservation for nothing but to create a vote bank for themselves. They have no concern for their development. If they were concerned, they would have spoken of economic criterion as basis for reservation. The main motive of reservation is to strengthen the people economically. That is why whoever is economically weak must be given reservation in govt. job. Almost all political parties except the Left have used the issue of reservation as an instrument of politics whenever they got opportunity. Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had promised the Kapu community to include it in backward caste category, but he failed to deliver. That is why the people of Kapu community protested violently to demand for their inclusion in backward caste category. Before this, Jat and Gujjar castes have already launched agitation for their inclusion in backward caste category to avail the benefit of reservation in government job and admission in all educational institutions. No political party in the country has so far opposed the agitation for reservation by the people of any caste and community. Neither any political party has opposed it nor advocated for reservation to be based only on the weak economic position of the people. The caste has been accepted as the sole criterion of reservation in our Constitution since it was implemented. There is also a constitutional provision to make appraisal of reservation provided to weaker section (SC/ST), socially and educationally backward castes every ten years. But since it was brought into force, no appraisal has been made as yet. Reservation was granted originally to SC/ST to bring them on equal footing with the people of upper strata of society. They were considered for reservation because they were economically weak, socially and educationally backward. But it has never been known whether reservation has benefited them on the ground or not. The ground reality of reservation is that the people among the reserved category who really deserves did not get it because of poverty. They could not go to school, college or university because of poverty. Without having educational qualification, it was impossible for them to get reservation. Instead, the rich among the reserved categories have availed all its benefits. In this way the people for whom reservation was introduced remained deprived of its benefit in society. So, the poor among them became poorer and the rich became richer. The reservation did not serve any purpose. If the criterion of reservation had been economic, the rich among any section or caste of the society could be excluded automatically. Whoever is poor irrespective of caste, creed and community deserves reservation. It is not that only SC/STs or OBCs are economically weak, socially and educationally backward but also the majority of upper castes is economically weak. Economic backwardness is the biggest bane. And unemployment is its main cause. Weaker section among upper caste also needs reservation in govt. job and for admission in educational institutions as much as SC/ST or OBCs do. It is no matter whether the people are from upper or backward caste if they are economically weak, they must be granted reservation.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Don't crush opposition voice in democracy

The police brutality on JNU students, who had gathered outside the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) office in Delhi to demand justice for Rohith Vemula, caught on camera and played on all the TV news channels has shocked the nation. Rohith Vemula was a Dalit scholar of Hyderabad University, who committed suicide because of the alleged caste discrimination there. Delhi police personnel charged lathis on the innocent and unarmed students-boys and girls- mercilessly. It appears as if it were a police raj. All the norms of democracy have flouted openly. Govt. is bent on stifling the voice of student with their police force. Delhi police is under the direct control and command of the BJP-led Narendra Modi-led NDA govt. at the Centre. So, it may be possible that Delhi police would have acted one-sided against the protesting students at the behest of Central govt. But it is a matter of investigation to know what the truth is. It is necessary for the police to know that protesting, opposing and demonstrating are the most important ingredients of democracy. These are the essence of democracy. All have right to protest. To protest, oppose and demonstrate is the essence of democracy. Without the voice of opposition, the democracy is meaningless. It is in no way justifiable for the police to act in such an inhumanly way as they did with the protesting students in national capital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to intervene immediately to douse the fire that is smoldering against his government in the form of student agitation. Police personnel are there to ensure that no law and order problem could arise. The main duty of the police is to protect and serve the people. Police personnel deputed outside the RSS office to ensure that students' protest passes off peacefully. Central govt. is required to set up an enquiry commission to go into the details of the circumstances leading to brutal police lathi charge. The protesting students were not creating any law and order problem for the police that they became so enraged to beat them mercilessly. The video of lathi charge shared by students shows how mercilessly they were beaten by the police. No lady police was there; and even the girls students were beaten by the male police without any compunction. It was not only police personnel but there were some others in plain clothe who too beat the students along with police. As the students were protesting outside the RSS office, there may be the people from inside who would be there to beat them. It is duty of the police to investigate who these plain-clothed people were. Undoubtedly, the students were protesting against the alleged highhandedness and involvement of some BJP leaders and ministers in vitiating the atmosphere inside the Hyderabad University that led Rohith Vemula to commit suicide. RSS is also directly or indirectly has link with the ruling BJP at the Centre. BJP student wing ABVP had allegedly played a role in promoting caste bias and discrimination with full support from the University authorities on the campus. Delhi Police has received two summonses by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and another from the office of Lieutenant Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung. While the women’s panel summoned police commissioner BS Bassi for not submitting data on crimes against women in the Capital, Jung’s office asked the department to explain the manhandling of students protesting the alleged suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula by its personnel.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Gloomy scenario all around us

The gloomy scenario prevails in every area of concern in the country. Whether it is economy, social, political, educational or terror issue, there is despondency everywhere. The mood of the people is not upbeat. Despondency and disillusionment prevail all around us. The economic slowdown prevails all over the world. Apart from American economy, China is passing from severe economic slowdown, which affects and contributes to the downturn in the economy of most of the countries. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely, who is in Washington to take part in Davos Economic Forum meeting, has also said that India can not be untouched by the worldwide economic scenario. Due to the downturn in Chinese economy, export of several countries has been badly affected. The sharp fall in the price of crude oil may cause the economic slowdown world over. The value of rupee has fallen to an all time low 68 against a dollar. The countries, which were exporting to feed the industries in China, are faced economic crunch. Industrial output in India is also falling. Creation of job has come to a standstill. Farmers still continue to commit suicide because of the increasing burden of loans from the money lenders on them. The price of essential commodities, including food items, is sky-rocketing. It is breaking the back of the poor. Caste and community violence is growing without any check. Terrorist violence has also increased. In addition to all that, agricultural prospects in the country are also not very bright. So, we feel gloomy scenario all around us. Despite India being the fastest growing economy, its benefit is not filtered down to ground level. Because of this, the gulf between the rich and the poor has been widening day by day. People have not felt any relaxation in any field even after the Narendra Modi govt. came to power with strong majority. They are still disillusioned with the government in the same measure as they were during the previous regime. It has also been experienced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi keeps silent on the burning issue or important incident of the day. The indifferent approach adopted by PM Modi to the day to day activities in the nation has also disillusioned the people with his govt. in a very short span of time. The people, especially, the youth of the country had high expectation from the Narendra Modi govt. The unemployment among youth is rising very sharply and no activity of job creating effort is being made by the govt. Foreign investment is not coming on large scale. Industries and factories are not set-up all over the country to bolster up our economy. There is no bright spot in the country. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are becoming richer.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Confusion over Masood's arrest and FS level talk

The confusion still persists on the foreign secretary level talks between India and Pakistan , which was scheduled to be held on Jan 15 in Islamabad and the arrest of Jaish-e-Mohammad Chief Masood Azhar in Pak in the light of attack on Pathankot air base after the evidence was submitted by India about his being its mastermind . According to the Pak media report JeM Chief Masood Azhar, his brother Mohammad Rouf and ten other militants of the outfit apprehended for their involvement in Pathankot air base attack, though it is yet to be confirmed by Pak govt. Though the govt. of India spoke in different voices, the ministry of foreign affairs issued statement saying clearly that to start the foreign secretary level talks, Pakistan has to take decisive and prompt action against all those who are involved in the Pathankot attack and their handlers , who operated from its soil. It also appears altogether baffling that despite the arrest of Masood Azjhar and 10 others and sealing of his outfits in different cities of Pakistan, no confirmation has been given to India. Pakistan media are circulating the news of arrest, but govt. is silent on it. Now it appears clear that the foreign secretary level talk, where was to be held on Jan 15, is to be deferred and it would be rescheduled later. The prompt and sincere action shown by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif against India's most wanted terrorist based in Pakistan for masterminding the Pathankot air base attack itself reflects the working of international pressure on Pak to act against the perpetrators of Pathankot attack. It also goes to the credit of Sharif that he brought Army and ISI Chiefs on the same page against the militants involved in the attack. The developing atmosphere all around the world is against terrorism. The international pressure, especially of America, is on Pakistan to act against the militants and their handlers operating from its soil in the attack on Pathankot air base. This is also not for the first time that Masood Azhar has been detained. After the attack on Parliament in 2001, he was also taken into custody, though the case against him did not stand in law court and he was freed very quickly. Ajhar Masood was first arrested in 1994 in Jammu and Kashmir, but had to be released from jail in 1998 in exchange for the freedom of the passengers of IC 814, which was hijacked from Kathmandu and taken to Kandhar in Afghanistan. So, it is difficult for India to have faith in the Pak media report that Masood Azhar was arrested. And it is because of the confusion that India with mutual consent reportedly decided to reschedule the foreign secretary level talk. The foreign office has said that India and Pakistan are in contact to decide on the dates for the meeting of the two foreign secretaries. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the spokesperson of Pakistan's foreign ministry said this issue was discussed in a high level meet. Refusing to confirm the arrest of Maulana Masood Azhar, Pakistan Foreign office spokesperson also said that he was not aware of the arrest of the leader of the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed.A series of meetings were held between Prime Minister Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar in New Delhi late on Wednesday evening. These discussions will be taken forward, and official word is expected later today after National security advisor Ajit Doval and other senior officials brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the developments so far.The briefing is expected at around 4 pm.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Tighten noose around criminals' neck

With the third consecutive victory in assembly elections, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has established his stamp of approval of his good governance in the state. His JD (U) may not have emerged as the largest political party in state or among the Mahagathbandhan, but one thing was crystal clear that it was his face that the grand alliance romp home with massive mandate. Not among the grand alliance, but also in the state across the political party matched his stature and track record as the CM of Bihar especially so far as the development of the state is concerned. The people of Bihar reposed faith in him to provide good governance in the state. He is also known as providing good and clean govt. to the state. Although Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal may have emerged as the largest political party after the result of the assembly elections in the state, it was Nitish Kumar who was in forefront that people voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Nitish Kumar led Mahagathbandhan of JD(U), RJD and Congress in the state. But it was apprehended that if the grand alliance won with major share by Lalu's RJD, he would like to play a dominating role in the Nitish Kumar govt. It was also expected that in the scenario of Maha agathbandhan coming to power with dominating role of RJD, the Jungle Raj might revisit. With the spurt in crimes in the state in the new regime of Nitish Kumar, a fear is noticed among the people of criminals and extortionists. The way two engineers have been reportedly killed by gangsters in Darbhanga has sent shock waves throughout the state. The reports are also pouring in from all over the state that extortion rackets have resurfaced and started flourishing all around. Undoubtedly, CM Nitish Kumar is a man of action and he acted to bring the perpetrators of crime in the state to book. He must act against criminals, mafia and anti-social elements with heavy hands to give the message in the state that rule of law has to be in place immediately and at all costs. Law and order and all round development have been the hallmark of Nitish Govt. in the state. So, he must act tough against all those who break the law irrespective of their political affiliations to be up to his reputation. There was total collapse of law and order in the 15 years of Lalu-Rabri duo regime, and it is Nitish Kumar who had brought the state on track. So, CM Nitish Kumar must stand to his reputation. If law and order deteriorates, there would neither be any investment nor any development in the state. He must enforce law and order to carry forward the unfinished task for the development of Bihar. The people of Bihar have expectation from Nitish Kumar. And he has to deliver the promises made to the people. It is Nitish Kumar who has a brought about an awakening among the girls that they were in no way inferior to boys in any respect.

Monday, January 4, 2016

Challenge to peace

Talk and terror can not go together. But talk is inevitable to deal with terror. The attack on Pathankot air base by JeM militants after a week of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise landing in Lahore to wish his Pak counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday as overture of friendship has shocked India. The number of casualties on Indian side in Pathankot gun battle between Pak-sent militants and Indian security guards is yet to be finally known. It is not the first time that the Pak-based militants attacked Indian establishments before the beginning of a peace process. The Pathankot air base attack was also reportedly expected. But Indian security establishments failed to thwart it. The kidnapping of a high Punjab police official 24 hours before the attack on air base by the JeM militants in military uniform and their telephonic talks, which were intercepted by Indian intelligence agency, with handlers sitting in Pakistan and family were clear indications of what was going to take place. But Indian security and intelligence agencies failed to properly analyze the incident. Despite the alert all around Pathankot, it is very baffling how the extremists infiltrate from across the border and sneaked into the airbase compound, which houses Mig-21, MI-25, 35 and other several warplanes. Their target was to destroy all these war planes, which have capacity to attack deep in Pakistan. The telephonic conversation between the handlers and militants clearly reflected this. It was the valour, bravery, courage, guts and commitment to the nation by all those Indian air force personnel and officers that the militants failed in carrying out their nefarious design on India. We salute all Air Force personnel who sacrificed their lives for the nation. The time has come for India to first make its own preparedness full proof to thwart any attempt of Pak-based militants to attack it. Though it is well known that Pak army, its notorious Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) are opposed to any peace talk with India, our intelligence and security agencies need to be a little more tightened to ensure that no terror attack could be carried against us. The Pathankot air base attack also clearly shows that either the democratically elected Nawaz Sharif is helpless before Army or he himself is not interested in carrying forward any peace process with India. It is also well known that the elected government of Pakistan can not dare defy its Army's dictate as it has not been in favour of peace talks with India since its inception. Pak Army and ISI always promoted, aided and abetted militants to create mayhem in India with full knowledge of the elected govt. So, India should not stop talking with Pakistan but it must make clear to Pak govt. that if it wants peace and friendship with India, it has to act stringently against the militants operating from its soil against us.