Govt’s farcical move

After mishandling the serious accident like Bhopal Gas tragedy, now when the verdict, which is nominal in the light of the magnitude of the tragedy, delivered after 26 years, both the governments at the Centre and in the state shades cocodile tears over the mass murder by leakage of pesticides from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal. The industrial disaster occurred due to the total negligence, callousness and underminig of the thousands of lives by staff and Chief Executive Officer Warren Anderson of Union Carbide Plant. The pain of the tragedy that the victims suffered was aggravated by the then Congress government of Arjun Singh in Madhya Pradesh at the time of occurrence of the industrial accident when it acted reportedly pressure from someone from above to bail out Warren Anderson and release him in few hours after completeting the legal paraphernalia at Union Carbide Guest House in MP.Now when the public outcry over the verdict of the local court is getting louder and louder all over the country, every action of the then government, favouring the prime accused of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Warren Anderson. He was reportedly provided state government plane to fly out of Bhopal. The nation has every right to know why Anderson was given kid glove treatment when he is primarily accused in the mass muder.With the verdict in the case coming under all round attack, the Central government has also reconstituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to go into a range of issues including the relief and rehabilitation of victims and their families. The Congress party, whose governments at the Centre and in Madhya Pradesh have come under attack at the time of gas leak and later, sought to fob off criticism and demanded that government should take quick steps for Anderson’s extradition. Union Carbide Corporation of the US had set up Union Carbide India Limited in Bhopal and their Chief Executive Officer US national Warren Anderson. The treatment the MP government of Arjun Singh meted to him was no less than a state guest. He was only arrested for a few hours and bailed out by Judicial Magistrate reportedly at the instruction from above by carrying out legal formalities at the Union Carbide guest house and a state government plane was arranged for him by the state head of the civil aviation. Why all these favours were done for Anderson. Was the Central government at that time under pressure from the US not to touch Anderson at the cost of thousands of innocent Indians? In 1984,when the Bhopal Gas Tragedy took place, there were Congress Governments at the Centre as well as in the state of MP. Therefore, the Congress party must make clear why the government buckled under pressure and did not pursue legal action against the prime accused Warren Anderson.

International community must delare decisive war against terrorism

Terrorism is the burning problem of the world today. But due to petty politics at the international level, that is dominated by the western powers, it goes from strength to strength and devours human lives and damages property on large scale. It is not that only India that is the worst victim of terror but also the entire world community has been victimised more or less. World’s sole super power the US has also suffered heavily and faced the largest terror attack, but only once. Even the country which is breeding ground of terrorism as descibed by US itself too is facing growing indigenous terror. The regretable thing is that even having been suffered the worst type of terror attack, which has its origin in US’ blue-eyed country and India’s neighbour Pakistan, it has not acted against it and always shown leniency towards it. The terrorism is the scourge of humanity and the time has come for the international community to take decisive action against it. Though India has rightly observed that terrorism poses the most serious threat to the world and pressed for decisive action by the international community to dismantle the infrastructure of terror groups and end the menace at a Summit of 22 Asian countries in Istanbul.Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has represented India at the summit of 22 Asian countries and rightly emphasised the need for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) which has been pending with the United Nations for long.The view that terrorism continues to be the most serious security threat confronting the international community was expressed by Sharma said at the 3rd Summit of Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building in Aisa (CICA).All countries should act decisively to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism and to effectively deal with terror groups that have chosen to perpetrate acts of indiscriminate violence.The importance of conference on CICA can be judged from the fact that it was attended attended by world leaders, including Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.The world is facing non-military threats or non-traditional security challenges such as international terrorism, maritime security, piracy and clandestine proliferation.The CICA needs to have the ability to adapt to the rapidly changing nature of security challenges. India views CICA as an important player in the development of a cooperative and pluralistic security order in Asia, based on mutual understanding, trust and sovereign equality. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh while addressing the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington in April, had already voiced concern on possible nuclear terrorism.Prime Minister had asked the world community to join hands to eliminate the risk of sensitive and valuable materials and technologies falling into the hands of terrorists.CICA is a multi-national forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. India is part of CICA process since its inception in 1992. As India has been the worst victim of terrorism, it has always stood in the forefront to fight against terrorism. It is only the powerful western powers under the leadership of the US play petty political games to have strong feet in Asia. That is why they do not act decisively against an Asian country, which is in the neighbourhood of India, from where the terror flows in the entire world.

Belated and scanty verdict

The verdict of a local court on Bhopal Gas Tragedy after 26 years is belated
and scanty. Justice delayed is justice denied. That is absolutely true of victims .
There has also been deliberate indifference of the government of India to
pursue the case strongly against Chairman Warren Anderson of Union Carbide.
CBI probe has proved to be a farce. With the growing need of US help in a
number of areas, the successive Indian governments connived with the cause of
victims. They miserably failed to put any pressure on US to ensure adequate
compensation and justice to the victims of Bhopal Gas tragedy. Union Cabide Plant at Bhopal was is the offshoot of the US. It was its
pesticide producing induatrial unit in India. Warren Anderson was its
Chairman. As Bhopal Gas tragedy is the worst industrial disaster or accident due to the
total lack of safety measures by the Union Carbide India Limited that killed
more than 15000 persons and made fully handicapped physical lakhs of
persons on the night of 2-3 December, 1984. The responsibility must be fixed why the leak of poisonous Methyl Isocynate
gas from Union Carbide India Limited Bhopal plant occurred and whose
carelessness caused the world’s worst industrial disaster. The death of more
than 15000 persons in sleep presents a horrendous sight before the eyes. The law court should have given deterrent punishment to the officials
concerned and Union Carbide Chairman Warren Anderson so that no industrial
disaster of such magnitude could dare repeated in future anywhere in the world. The local court has held eight people of Union Carbide India Limited guilty
but its boss Warren Anderson was left free. He was arrested and bailed out
immediately long back. The government of India has also shown favour towards the US in Bhopal Gas
tragedy case to keep it in good humour. Anderson was easily allowed to leave
India and he sold his Union Carbide to Dow Chemicals. A quarter century after the world’s worst industrial disaster that killed over
15,000 people, the local court convicted former Union Carbide India
Chairman Keshub Mahindra and seven others in the case and awarded them a
maximum of two years imprisonment. However, 89-year-old Warren Anderson, the then Chairman of Union Carbide
Corporation of USA, who lives in the United States, appeared to have gone scot
free for the present as he is still an absconder and did not subject himself to
trial.The US has already rejected taking any action against the Union Carbide
company for the world’s worst industrial disaster but hoped this issue would
not come in the way of its relations with India. Though the government of
India has pledged to pursue the case strongly against Anderson, it would need
to muster courage to ask the US to punish him adequately.

Army should act with discretion in J&K

The presence of army in the strife-torn state of Jammu and Kashmir to keep proper vigil on infiltration of terrorists from across the border but at the same time they must not act overenthusiastically to win laurels by killing the innocent persons in fake encounters and after labelling them as terrorists. After all, army is doing commendable job in J & K.The reports about fake encounters by the army personnel appeare frequently and people’s anger in dialy newspapers against the atrcities of security forces. By resorting to fake encounters, the army personnel are doing more harm than fighting Pak-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. On the eve of a two-day visit of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in Jammu and Kashmir to start peace initiatives with separatist groups, the army swung into action by removing the accused Colonel and Major of involvement in Michail fake encounter in the Kupwara district. An Army Major has been suspended and a Colonel removed from his command for their alleged involvement in the killing of three youths in a fake encounter of April 30 in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. An inquiry has been ordered by the army. The two high ranking army officers were named as main accused by the Jammu and Kashmir police in April 30 Machil encounter case. The action against the accused officers came after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met senior officials of the Army and police at a high-level meeting. Mr. Abdullah has made a strong pitch for amending the Armed Forces Special Powers Act to make it more transparent. He is expected to raise this issue during the two-day visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. This is the second time that the Army has removed a serving officer from a command. Earlier, Colonel Gloria of 33 Rashtriya Rifles was removed for allegedly killing three boys who were playing cricket in a playground in Dudipora-Handwara in February 2006, three months after he had taken over the reins of the counter-insurgency unit.CM Omar Abdullah has made a strong pitch for amending the Armed Forces Special Powers Act to make it more transparent. He is expected to raise this issue during the two-day visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.The need of the hour in Jammu and Kashmir is transparency in the functioning of the Army, Police and Bureaucracy to win the confidence of the people. As far as AFSPA is concerned, the need to combat terrorism in the state and for that it being functional there is prime necessity. Undoubtedly, the army is doing great job in halting the terrorist violences in the state in the recent past. The army must create an atmosphere of trust and fearless among the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is visiting Jammu and Kashmir to start peace initiatives afresh. He has assured the people of acting against the human violations. His main aim to visit the state is to start peace initiatives by holding talks to different separatist outfits.The government of India must not make any changes in AFSPA despite the strong pitch being made by even CM Omar Abdullah. It is AFSA that has kept the level of insurgency down. The attempt to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists from across the border is still being made as in the past. So, the govt. must think twice before making any modifications in AFSPA.

India must push vigorously for a seat in UNSC

The reform of UNSC is long-pending. In the fast changing world scenario, it is urgently required on UN to reform in both categories - Non-permanent and permanent. India needs only to push strongly for a permanent seat in UNSC . It is also the need of the hour for India to launch vigorous diplomatic campaign to get the seat that it deserves on the international platform.To get a permanent berth in the UN Security Council, it has rightly said that expansion of only non-permanent seats does not constitute reform of the world body and demanded that the membership be increased in both categories. Likewise, expansion only in the non-permanent category or any of its other variants does not constitute reform and is merely the perpetuation of the current inefficiency by the same ineffective means in vogue since 1963. India along with Japan, Germany, South Africa and Brazil is seeking permanent membership of the Security Council. In 2009, member states of the UN had finally abandoned the ‘Open Ended Working Group’ (OEWG) on the issue that had dragged on for 15 years without yielding any substantive results. In March last year, the old talks were replaced by the new inter-governmental negotiations.At the meeting in the UN headquarters, India rightly underlined the need for equitable geographical distribution.India supports a Charter-based distribution of seats that addresses the lack of representation of African, Latin American and Caribbean countries and the lack of adequate representation of Asian countries in the permanent membership.This year, India is also running for a non-permanent seat of the Council for which elections will be held in October.UN is the only international body to look after the weak and underdeveloped countries’ interest at least in issuing statements, though it has ceased to be a puppet in the hands of world’s sole superpower the US. India deserves a UNSC seat on the basis of becoming the largest democracy in the world and a responsible nuclear power. Not only that, it has always in the forefront against the injustices and anti-democratic activities anywhere in the world. It has always stood on the side of the deprived, exploited class of society. Democracy is vibrant and getting from strength to strength in India. It has the support of major non-permanent members for a seat in UNSC in permanent category. India’s inclusion in UNSC will give strong support to the lone functional international body. A vast majority of countries are in favour of expanding the current size of the world body’s top organ from 15 to the mid-20s.There cannot be any reform without expansion in both the categories of membership.India needs the support of 128 countries to get a permanent seat in UNSC. That is why it must send its veteran diplomats all over the world to convass for supports among countries.

Mamata's next target is Writers' Building

The day Mamata Banerjee formed her own political outfit Trinamool Congress in West Bengal after breaking away with the Congress party, a political leader who could challenge CPI (M) in its own bastion was born. She defected from her parent party the Congress because she felt that it was functioning as the B team of CPI(M)-led Left Front in Bengal. As Mamata is a lone fighter and maverick politician, the beginning of her Trinamool Congress was not stormy and Left, Congress both did not took her seriously. But her relentless service to the people of Bengal showed its impact first in 2009 Lok Sabha elections and the subsequent by elections to the state assemly in which she trounced Left Front very badly and finally in civic polls she demolished their citadel single handly. Mamata proved to be stormy who swept the Left Front off the feet single-handedly. Though she is Union Railway Minister in Dr. Manmohan Singh UPA government at the Centre as her party is its alliance patner, her party's marriage with Congress in the just concluded Municipal elections broke and she very successfully fought without alliance partner. West Bengal civic body polls, undoubtedly, reflect that the strong wind of change has started blowing under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and the countdown to drive the last nail in the coffin of CPI (M) regime of 34 years has begun. The assembly elections in West Bengal are due to be held next year and Left Front wipe out from the state is certain if the civic polls are anything to go by. The Left were not only defeated badly in urban areas but also the rural ones and the entire state is in unrest for the change of government. The CPI (M) has urgent need to introspect why their popularity among the people has declined so sharply. Civic poll results show clearly that the people of West Begal are badly disillusioned with the CPI (M) leadership. Its workers too found themselves directionless and its entire organisational bodies are in mess because the leadership has failed to grasp the ground reality of Bengal. The mishandling of Singur and Nandigram issues by the Buddhadeb Bhattacharya government, and Mamata Banerjee standing with dispossed and deprived exposed the Left’s so-called soft corner for the poor. All things were already reflected in the parliamentary and civic elections. Mamata Banerjee is set to sit in Wrters’ Building after the assembly elections and the Left should starting packing their bags. She has inflicted a crushing blow to the ruling Left front in the civic polls by capturing the prestigious Kolkata Municipal Corporation(KMC) and bagging 36 other municipalities. She is sure to emerge as a giant killer in the coming assembly elections next year in West Bengal. But she also must not under estimate the strength of her alliance partner the Congress party in UPA at the Centre because it would be very beneficial for her political outfit to go to assembly election with it.

Central rule - A right option in Jharkhand

When no option was left with all major political parties to form the new government in Jharkhand, Governor within the parameters of constitution sent report to the Union Cabinet to recommend for imposition of President rule there to end the month-long political certainties.The Union Cabinet promptly recommended the Governor's report to the President Pratibha Patil to give her assent. She promptly gave her assent and the President's rule was imposed in Jharkhand. The political coalition formed of power seekers and most undependable entities is sure to meet their political nemesis in Jharkhand way. With the imposition of President’s rule , the month-long political uncertainty, which had paralysed the state administration, has ended. The inordinate delay by the BJP and the JMM in Jharkhand to sort out the issue of new government formation had brought the state to a halt.There had been no sign of governance since the BJP announced to withdraw its support to Shibu Soren Government in the aftermath of voting on cut motions against the UPA Government in Lok Sabha in which the party ally Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren in the capacity of Lok Sabha member violated the principle of coalition by voting in favour of the UPA government on the issue. Instantly, the BJP’s lust for power was reflected when its coalition partner JMM offered chief ministership, requesting it to review its decision of withdrawing support to the government. It put its withdrawal decision on hold and started the exercise of choosing the right man from among the state party for the post of Chief Minister.Again, its internal differences came to the fore when it failed to do so. It has been reported that the BJP had agreed to JMM formula but now it was too late. The tribal dominated state of Jharkhand was created out of Bihar 9 years ago but it never saw the stable government.Since the state of Jharkhand was created, it neither saw stability nor development. It was created for speedy development but it went down very low as far as the issue of development is concerned. The state suffered from the perenial disease of instability. It has 7 chief ministers in its 10 years of existence. The main motive of the politicians in the state has been to exploit its mineral resources as it is very rich in minerals. Jharkhand has been made a money minting machine by the state leaders.Therefore, the President rule for atleast two years in Jharkhand is the urgent need to bring it back on the rail of development. The Congress has rightly indicated that it might seek President’s rule if the standstill over government formation continued there without any solution. All the activities of the government had come to a halt since the uncertainty about the formation of the new government. This had come to an end.That is why the President’s rule was the last option to save Jharkhand any more anarchy. BJP and JMM should have given a government, rising above vested political interests as soon as possible for the benefit of the poor tribal people. In the given anarchic situation, the use of Constitutional powers of imposing President’s rule was the only option left with the Centre. By imposing President’s Rule in the state, the Centre has taken the right step to save Jharkhand from further administrative collapse. Since it was too long a period of uncertainty in the state over formation of an alternative government, any further delay by the Centre to recommend for the President’s rule would make the situation worsening in the state. BJP and JMM could not reach an agreement to form an alternative government as both the partners had excessive lust for power .Keeping their pressure on, four of the 18 JMM MLAs had already demanded continuation of party President Shibu Soren as Jharkhand Chief Minister for first 28 months before handing over the baton to the BJP. This arrangement was not agreeable to BJP. It withdrew the support to Govt, resulting in the resignation.