No consensus on Lokpal

The all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has failed to develop consensus among all parties on Lokpal. Divergent views emerged among the political parties over what should and in what form come under the ambit of Lokpal to check corruption.

The all-party meeting also clearly reflected that the views expressed by political parties outside were completely different from what they expressed inside. Almost all opposition parties had shared the dais with anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare’s token fast and protest for a day at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on December 11 and expressed in support of all most main provision that he wants to be incorporated in Lokpal. But when they participated in the all-party meeting of Prime Minister, they sang a little bit different note.

Even the big Opposition party like CPM felt that it would be very difficult to introduce the Bill in this session of Parliament due to paucity of time, though the party wants it to be introduced in this session itself. Likewise, no political party was in agreement of introducing the bill in a hurry. Considering the divergent opinions among political parties, the UPA government did not express its views nor did it commit about introduction of the Lokpal Bill in the ongoing session. It is also not inappropriate to say that to bring historical and strong Lokpal Bill require adequate time to formulate.

The various political parties also cautioned the government to not act in haste under the duress of Anna Hazare. As the government did not express its view on Lokpal nor did it commit to introduce the anti-graft bill in the ongoing session of Parliament, it now appears certain that it would bring and adopt in the next session after paying adequate time and consultations with all parties concerned into the making of strong and historical anti-graft bill.

To finalize the nitty-gritty of the bill is the responsibility and duty of the government and to hold reasoned debate and discussion on it inside the Parliament is the prerogative of parliamentarians. It is also not possible to incorporate comma and full stop of the sense of the House in its considered opinion in finality of the Lokpal Bill. The considered view of both houses of Parliament matters most on Lokpal.

All party meeting has also made it clear that Parliament is supreme authority to make any law to deal with corruption. Law is not made on the road. It will only be made in Parliament in parliamentary democracy, no matter a protester even puts his life at risk by undertaking prolonged fast and protest.

Sensing the mood of the political class that no political party is going to side with him whole-heartedly, Anna Hazare has appealed UPA defiant partner West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Bannerjee to ensure the passage of strong Lokpal Bill in the ongoing session of Parliament. He expects from her as stiff posture to bring and adopt strong Lokpal Bill in the ongoing session as her opposition led to the suspension of 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail, though on Lokpal she is in agreement with the UPA government at the Centre. Finally, the message has gone out to the public that cold shouldering of strong Lokpal Bill by all political classes has swept it under the carpet for the time being at least.

Playing down Chinese naval preparation

Playing down the Chinese President Hu Jintao’s direction to its navy to prepare for warfare amid the country’s ongoing dispute, including India is in no way a well-thought out strategy. China has already recorded its displeasure of oil exploration on the invitation of Vietnam in South China Sea by India. Besides that, its military build-up along our borders demands urgent alert of our security personnel along the borders with China to thwart any misadventure by them.

One thing is also crystal clear that China in its endeavour to establish supremacy over others in the region can not be altogether ignored. India has to be wary of any Chinese attempt to boost up their military preparation. It is also an open secret that India in Asia is the only formidable rival of China in their thinking and outlook, though India has always extended hands of friendship to China.

It is also a fact that both the countries are the biggest powers in Asia. So, the any collision between the two is bound to spell catastrophe in the region in particular and danger to world peace in general.

Though Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has assured the nation that he does see any threat from China and it would not attack India, the past experience with China says altogether a different story. It would be short-sightedness on our part to belittle the situation arising from the military preparedness of China. None other than our Army Chief has also cautioned the nation against deployment of more than four thousand PLA personnel in Pakistan who are engaged in infrastructural development along the border adjacent to India.

The lingering border dispute with China also does not bode well and it might turn into flare-up between the two any time if both sides did show sensibility and statesmanship for the cause of peace. So, we can not play down Chinese naval preparation in view of our oil exploration in South China Sea against the wishes and desires of China.

China had already played aggressor’s role in 1962 war against India. So far India is concerned, it has taken pledge not to attack first and its military preparation is meant for peace and deterrent effect.

It is good that peace and tranquility continues between the two neighbours and both should always remain as great neighbours. But at the same time India’s experience with its neighbours like Pakistan and China must not be lost sight of. Because the bitterness they caused between our relations can not be forgotten by their behaviour in the current prevailing situation. India must always be alive to Chinese military build-up adjacent to its borders.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has described India and China as great neighbours and rejected the contention that China was preparing to attack India. He has said the reports to this effect are false. The government does not share the view that China will attack India. The PM has also acknowledged in Parliament that not much progress has been made on the border dispute ever since the two counties agreed on political parameters to resolve the row. He has assured the House that officials at highest level in China had assured him on maintaining peace and tranquility with India.

Cong’s shrewd political move

The note of dissent given by three Congress MPs to Lokpal draft, which is under the examination of Standing Committee of Parliament, is aimed giving out the message that it is as much serious to fight corruption as any other else in the country. But the way ruling Congress party is acting on the anti-corruption mechanism amply reflects that it is not serious.

Corruption is the most serious issue that Dr. Manmohan Singh Government is facing. To fight the corruption out, Gandhian and social activist Anna Hazare had held a 12-day fast and protest at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi in the month of August this year. He galvanized the entire country, especially the youths against corruption.

The public mood was so intense against corruption during the 12-day protest and fast of Anna that the Government and the Parliament together had to respect and give assurance of conceding to incorporate three main demands in Lokpal bill. He was also assured by the government that it would be introduced in the ongoing winter session of Parliament. Political class became so nervous that all political parties had to pass a sense of the House to bring the Lokpal Bill in the winter session of Parliament.

The Lokpal Bill is going to be given the final touch by the Standing Committee of Parliament. It is to be introduced in Parliament on December 19 in all likelihood. The main demand of Team Anna is the inclusion group C and D employees under the ambit of Lokpal as the common people face first hurdle of corruption in getting any work done at these two levels. If any one has to make driving license, he is not required to go to Regional Transport Officer but to the level of group C and D level employees.

But according to the sources, they have been kept out of Lokpal. Hazare and his team members rightly say that the general people face these employees from where they start corrupt practices. If the group C and D employees are left out of anti-graft mechanism, there is no sense in bringing and adopting Lokpall.

Prime Minister to be kept or not under Lokpall has been left to be decided by the Parliament. CBI is also going to be out of the Lokpall. The role of ruling Congress party has been perceived as negative by Anna Hazare and his team. They have sent out the message among the public that Congress is not interested in fighting corruption. That is why the ruling party is reluctant to accede to all his demands.

To counter the loss of image in public, the Congress MPs close to party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi have given notes of dissent. They are in Standing Committee from the Congress party. It is a shrewd political move of Congress to show the public how serious their young MPs are in fighting corruption and that is why they want strong Lokpal.

Attempt to muzzle the free expression

Union Telecom and HRD minister Kapil Sibal’s move to direct the social sites like Face Book, Twitter and other main internet service providers to pre-screen the contents before uploading them. According to the minister, several religiously offensive contents and disfigured picture of religious heads and big politicians are uploaded that may spark off clash and communal clash.

First of all, these social sites are guided by the law of their own countries and they are nothing to do what expression is liked or disliked by Indian Government. They have their in-built laws according to which they go by only. Google has very clearly and stated that until and unless the contents go against the law, it does not delete them. It does not delete contents only because they are controversial. The social sites have taken the right stand by not abiding by the Indian govt.’s ill-conceived idea to muzzle the freedom of expression.

In democracy, every one has got right to freedom of expression. People have got a very spacious platform in the form of social sites to expression their opinion and view without any hurdle and share with friends and others across the world. This is the essence of democracy. And any attempt to temper with it would have far reaching reactions.

The move of the UPA government to direct the social sites’ officials to pre-screen the contents manually, which is quite impossible in view of the crore of users who upload their views, opinions and pictures of their choice daily, is nothing but an indirect attempt to control the media.

Govt. appear to be scared of main stream media and social sites like Face Book, Twitter, Google, Yahoo and others if there their objective role is anything to go by during the Anna’s fast protest. UPA Govt was badly shaken and had to commit before Anna to bring and adopt the Lokpall Bill in the winter session of Parliament.

These days, the people express themselves freely about any issue on social sites and share them with their friends worldwide. The issues may be related to governance, personalities and any other activities taking place around the world. Social sites are the fastest in connecting the people with one another’s view at the click of the mouse. As the UPA govt. is facing several charges of corruption these day, people express their views freely against the government. That it does not. It is absolutely not possible for any one to express after taking permission from others. All are independent and have freedom to expression and wherever it is violated, law is already in place to act and punish. We have also cyber laws. If the contents are found to be offensive, cyber laws are already in place which must be implemented. This is the deliberate move to gag the free speech.

Govt. must attempt to muzzle the voice of the people in democracy. It must develop the habit to take its criticism to correct its lapse. Otherwise, government would be compelled to face the same consequences as it faced in the Lok Sabha elections after lifting Emergency in 1977. Press censorship was also imposed during the Emergency. And now it is an indirect attempt of UPA government to impose censorship on freedom of expression.

Govt bends before Mamta

The UPA government of Dr. Manmohan Singh had to put the Cabinet decision of 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail and 100 per cent 100 FDI in single brand on hold because of the fierce opposition by all opposition parties unitedly and intense pressure from two of its important allies- TMC of Mamta Bannerjee and DMK of Karunanidhi. But West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Bannerjee was more vocal of the two allies. She bluntly asked the Government to rollback FDI decision in retail. It is because of stern opposition of West Bengal CM that no minister from the TMC quota participated in the Cabinet meeting in which the FDI decision was taken.

Though the message has gone out about the weakness of the government due to coalition compulsion, it must be lesson to it not to take any vital policy decision without taking into all its alliance partners in confidence and the nation as well. It would not have to bite the dust if it had done wider consultation with its alliance partners and opposition parties before taking the FDI decision.

TMC had already made clear to its opposition to FDI in retail in her election manifesto that was known to Congress. The entire opposition was already against it without knowing for certain whether it was beneficial for the economy of the nation.

More than two weeks of Parliament’s precious time was wasted because the entire opposition stood firm not to run it until and unless the FDI decision of Cabinet was withdrawn. In view of the opposition within the government, Congress party and alliance partners, government dared not face the debate under the articles that entailed voting in Parliament and landed itself in embarrassing situation. Pushed back to the wall from all corners, UPA’s chief trouble shooter Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee flew to Kolkata to assuage the most important ally TMC boss and WB CM Mamta Bannerjee by assuring her that FDI decision would be put on hold until unanimity evolved on the issue in Cabinet. Mamta disclosed Mukherjee’s assurance about putting the FDI decision in retail on hold.

The nation has taken a sigh of relief the at the end of boxing between government and opposition. And in between them public exchequer worth of crores of rupees was drained down the drain by stalling the Parliament without any rhyme or reason. Important bill like Lokpal is in line to be introduced in Parliament and several other important bills and business transactions had to be carried out. When the Congress-led UPA government knew it well that it was not a single party rule and it had to take its alliance partners into confidence before taking important policy decision, it was bound to be let down by the opposition and its argument in favour of its decision failed to reach the public due to stalling of Parliament.

Government says FDI in retail is beneficial for employment, farmers, consumers and developing infrastructure in the form of cold storage to protect 40 per cent wastage of vegetables and fruits rotting. In opposition to claims, the opposition describe FDI in retail as anti-people and anti-poor. Now, the Government must call all-party meeting to evolve consensus on the issue of FDI in retail if it is advantageous of the economy of the nation. Opposition parties are also required to play constructive and positive role.

China is posing as big brother

China has always been posing itself as big brother in Asia. It also tries to impose its way in the region on the basis of its large status in every field. It treats India as its rival because of its fast development and economic growth.

India’s progress and emergence on the international stage is an eye-sore to China. But India in all realities does not challenge China unless and until it is deliberately poked and provoked. From the very beginning, China has been instigating India’s neighbour to create problem with it so that its fast development and progress could face trouble. It instigates Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar against India by creating the impression among them that it is trying to establish its hegemony and behave like big brother in the region.

It is China's strategy to antagonize the neighbours of India against it. China is helping India’s traditional hostile neighbour Pakistan with military training and weapons. China has provided n-tech and has recently been reported that over Chinese 4000 military personnel have been deputed in Pakistan in the name of help building its infrastructural development in different fields.

China has itself committed border violation with India, and to make the matter worse it puts its claims on territory in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim time to time. This is really a cause of concern for India. India has a border dispute with China. India always desires to solve border dispute with China amicably. But China has altogether a different design of over lordship on India. That is impossible and China also must not be in any illusion that it can re-enact 1962 war with India in the given scenario.

On the invitation of Viatnam, India has sent its contingent of personnel for oil exploration in South China Sea. This has taken by China as serious matter because it has not good neighbourly relation with it. It has lodged its displeasure with India at Bali Asean summit in Indonesia.

So, China deserves to be treated on equal footing. India too should befriend China’s neighbours considered to be displeased with it because of its high-handed behaviour. India is committed to peace and amity and forging friendship with all its neighbours but if its ego is hurt without any rhyme or reason, it must retaliate in the same measure either diplomatically or through expression in words.

In which capacity Chinese consulate asked India to ensure the Governor and Chief Minister West Bengal not to attend the function in which Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama was to deliver his speech. Why India would cancel the Buddhist congregation in New Delhi on the desire of China. India has given asylum to Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. He is free here for his spiritual activities. India has neither instigated him ever to promote anti-china activity nor have ever urged China to free Tibet, which has been kept under Chinese control on the ground of its military strength. It is the use of force against the Tibetans for the liberation of Tibet that forced Dalai Lama to cross over to India and seek asylum in 1959. India has done right by rebuffing China and going ahead with Buddhist congregation.

No rationale behind stalemate

Why the most important business of Parliament should be wasted because of the opposition to the govt. move to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail and 100 per cent in single brand retail. If the opposition parties together oppose FDI in retail, they have every right to move the motion against it and put it to voting. Should the Dr. Manmohan Singh fails to get the support of MPs require to run the govt., it will automatically fall. There will be mid-term poll on the issue and the ultimate master, the people, will be the final arbiter whether FDI is wrong or right. The nation can not develop in isolation. Despite opposition to economic liberalization in Europe and America, they have not spurned it. India is comparatively new entrant on the stage of economic reforms. It can not roll back mid-day. It has to take it to its logical end.

There is no sense in holding the Parliament to ransom since the winter session began last week. Today’s opposition will be tomorrow’s treasury bench and if it becomes the tradition in Parliamentary democracy, it is very difficult to run Parliament because of opposition to certain government’s decision. Finally, the democracy will be in jeopardy.

Dr. Manmohan Singh-led UPA govt. says that the 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail will benefit farmers, consumers, generate one crore jobs and help build infrastructure like cold storage and agricultural research. It will also give birth to competition. FDI in multi-brand has not been allowed without conditions. Super market giants like Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carefour can only open their multi-brand retail outlets in the city of above 10 lakh population. They will also have to take permission from the state governments to open their outlets. They will also have to purchase 30 per cent goods from domestic market. There are several states run by opposition parties who are opposed to FDI in retail. Presently, there are 53 cities of above 10 lakh population. 28 out of 53 cities are in the states ruled by opposition parties. It means even if Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carrefour are allowed to open their outlets, they can open in only 25 cities of the country. Opposition says that with the coming of multi-brand retail giants of the world in our country, they will destroy our 4 crore small retail shops as they will not stand up to them in competition. But one thing is to be considered seriously that when computer was introduced in our country, was there no opposition? At that time also, it was apprehended by the opposition camp that it would render crores of people jobless. That did not happen and on contrary to apprehension of job loss, it increased the job many-fold. There is no doubt that the livelihood of 20 crore people is dependent on our small retail shops. They will continue to run as usual. Here are malls and Reliance retail outlets and just in front of them, there are small tea shops at roadside, green grocer and small fruit vendors who are running their business comfortably.

So, if the Parliament was allowed to run and a thoughtful and reasoned debate would have taken place from opposition as well as treasury benches, the people would have been benefited much. They would have understood better as to which side has given the sound reasoning in support or against the FDI in retail. There is no sense in stalling the Parliament.