Rape Shocker: Death or Justice?

As the chorus grows for death penalty for the perpetrators of the latest gang-rape shocker from Delhi, I decided to ponder upon the subject one more time. And, this time, in the form of a write up. I have been trying to understand and analyse the state of affairs surrounding such an act. Too many things are hitting my brains and I felt, at least a couple of times, that cranium would burst as it was impossible to bear the agony (that my nerve cells carry in perhaps millions of directions within my physiological system).

The paramedical student’s is one of the most brutal cases of rape that I have come to know about. But at the same time, I am reminded of various other cases, that might not have been as violent but certainly not less damaging either in spirit or effect. I would like to mention two such cases.

In the first case, a ten month old infant girl was raped by a mid-twenty youth while in another case an octogenarian woman was forced to go through the hell by another twenty-like youth. Both these incidents occurred in Delhi. The 23-year old student was raped several times by several people and thrashed with iron rod, which was inserted inside her body damaging the most important portions of her entrails. Even if she survives, she wouldn't be able to taste solid food ever in her bruised life.

I cannot fathom of the psychological damage that this par-animist act has brought upon the aspiring physiotherapist. But, alongside, my mind also gets back to the ten-month old infant and the 82-year old woman. There plight went unnoticed. 

Understanding Rape

For many, rape is an act of sex forced upon a woman. For media, it’s news, sensational or otherwise. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as a crime, typically committed by a man, forcing another person to have sexual intercourse with the offender against her will. Is the practical meaning of rape is just a grouping of these many words? Can you have a full stop to it like that?

Rape, actually, is violation of a woman/ person. I hope, you understand and agree. Under India’s constitutional scheme, it is a violation of the right to life as guaranteed by article 21.

Legally, rape, in India, is defined as an act of penile penetration by a man of the vagina of a woman without her (valid) consent or consent obtained under threat or allurement or by deceit. (IPC section 375, after a couple of amendments and explanations forwarded by the judiciary.) Indian laws don’t have specific provisions dealing with rape of a person, who is not a woman, non-penile penetration (penetration by an object) or non-vaginal penetration (mouth). However, the present shocker points to the need for such a specific provision. The victim was raped and forced to have unnatural sex, according to police, with one or more of the offenders.

I believe, as a society, India is yet to fully comprehend rape in order to reduce the number or eliminate it (utopia) by means of laws.

Punishment

All the rape case convicts are liable for rigorous imprisonment not less than seven years and extending upto life imprisonment for period mentioned by the court. Court can award a lesser sentence, if it feels suitable. I presume that the court wouldn't come to this conclusion in the Delhi gang rape case.

Now, the clamour is getting louder for death penalty for the rapists. People have come out in thousands demanding stringent action and severest of punishment for the rapists. But, there are a few other issues that need to be looked upon and thought about. Suppose, people’s agitation on Anna model gets the government bring out a bill in Parliament providing death penalty (which would certainly come under rarest of the rare category) for the rapists, will it serve justice? Even if the bill is enacted, given the BJP's support, will it stop or reduce rape being committing on women? Answer, probably, is NO.

Prescription

Given the pace at which our justice delivery system functions, we cannot reduce the number of crimes leave alone the heinous crimes like rape. The present case would be heard by a fast track court. So, we can expect a decision in next three to four years. Then, the matter may land up in the Delhi High Court and then possibly in the Supreme Court. No one can deny the rapists, as proven even by the trial court the right to appeal in the higher courts of law. Hence, in any case when this gang rape case sees a full stop, nothing less than half-decade would have passed and the same bunch of Anna type protesters would have forgotten the case, and the same media would then be harping on the old songs to remind us of the trauma that the girl (I hope, she survives), her friend and their families suffered. Would it be a true justice done to the case or the victim even if it is a death penalty? Would the verdict be a deterrent for would-be rapists? I doubt. Leave aside the number of girls, women and infants, who may become new victims of the old crime.

Justice delayed is justice denied, goes the old saying. It is true at least in the cases of rape. More than 900 cases of rape are being heard in the Delhi High Court itself. Think about the entire nation. It is also a reflection on police’s (in)efficiency in proving or failing to prove whether an accused is guilty. So, the earnest need of the hour is the overhauling of the judiciary and the police system. Simply put, the nation needs police and judicial reforms more than anything else. At the same time, good parenting and excellent school education, especially of boys should be given the top priority. These prescriptions may sound too mild in the surcharged anti-rape environment, but no other steps would make the daughters, the sisters, the mothers, the girlfriends and wives of ours safe in years to come in this country.

But, till then all the police forces across the nation will have to take heart and lesson from the Delhi Police as to how not to overlook the regular policing so that the rules and regulations are complied by, and also how to act fast and nab the accused after such a crime has been committed. And, also till then Anna-model agitation must continue to exert pressure on the lawmakers because it is only they, who can turn the mountains of police and judiciary into wheels of justice.

2G Auction: Think before you criticize CAG

The auction bomb of 2G spectrum for telecommunications stands practically defused now. The two-day auction of the 2G mobile phone spectrum has proved to be a flop show measured even on the government’s yardstick. Notwithstanding that the UPA government wanted the auction to be a flop show, the establishment is surprised itself with the outcome of the auction. But, it is unhappy for another reason.

The UPA government had its hopes pinned on the auction amount to meet its target of keeping the fiscal deficit at 5.3% of the GDP in 2012-13. It expected to earn Rs 40,000 crore the least from the auction of 2G spectrum, but it could not fetch even Rs 9.5 thousand crore. Nonetheless, the UPA government stands vindicated on the presumptive loss figure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore as calibrated by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in 2010. It has always maintained that the CAG’s figures were wrong.

The above paragraph explains why the government has been rather circumspect in responding to the low earning from the auction. But, the attack on CAG’s authenticity is only round the corner. It may come from either the ministers or the Congress party or pro-government media houses. However, we need to think before criticizing the CAG over the poor interest shown by the bidders in the auction of 2G spectrum licences. Too much water has flown under the bridge since 2G spectrum bomb exploded some two years ago after a CAG report.

The CAG calibrated the loss due to government’s policy for not opting bidding to allocate 2G spectrum based on the market situations and realities of 2008; and, the CAG did its calculations in 2010. But, since then, the market’s concept and preferences vis-à-vis future of mobile phone communications in India have undergone a great change. 2G spectrum is now a thing of the past and future gains cannot be big when 3G technology is already there and 4G is creating a new buzz. The same companies, which either bid at a lower price or stayed away from the auction, may (definitely) have behaved differently in 2008. And, the fierce competition would have been witnessed had the same policy been adopted in 2008, giving the same UPA government handsome amount of money to fight its ever worrying fiscal deficit.

Some people in the UPA ladder understand this conundrum genuinely. This may be the other explanation why the government has not gone out lambasting the CAG like it did in the recent past after the auction of 2G spectrum. Moreover, the low bidding prices are being attributed to perceptively high base price set for different circles in the auction.

Of all the 14 circles put on auction, mega-circles of Delhi and Mumbai attracted no bids at all. Interestingly, Delhi and Mumbai account for more than 40% of the total earning from the mobile phone communications. The base price for these two circles was Rs 14,000 crore for 5MHz of 2G spectrum. Moreover, none of the companies, which took part in bidding, bid for pan-India spectrum for which the reserve price was set at Rs 14,000 crore. It further reflects telecom companies’ mindset towards Indian mobile phone communication market.

So, before concluding that the CAG had wrongly and deliberately calibrated the loss figure (at Rs 1.76 lakh crore), must bear in mind the market realities of 2008.

Kashmir: Militants, Panchayat, Pakistan and Problem

Two incidents or coincidences pertaining to Kashmir problem have brought back the centrality of the long standing dispute between India and Pakistan, as well as among the political regime and people in the country into focus. The first set of incidents is rather disturbing as it has thrown the democratization of Kashmiri politics completely out of gear. Lashkar-e-Toiba militants have threatened the Panchayat leaders and carried out the threats by killing Sarpanches and Panchayat members in the valley forcing more than fifty resignations within a couple of days. The state government has clearly failed to infuse confidence among the elected representatives that it is equipped to deal with the militants, on one hand and that it can provide security to all including the Panchayat leaders, on the other. Fear, confusion and blame game have taken firm roots in Jammu and Kashmir.

Second incident is not at all surprising but looks part of the same strategy, ostensibly formulated across the border. While democracy takes a backseat in the Kashmir valley, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has raked up the issue of self determination by the people of Kashmir. Zardari has reiterated Pakistan’s support to Kashmir’s separatists. Incidentally, the intelligence and security agencies, and politicians have pointed fingers at the Pak-based LeT, generally supported by Pakistani establishment, for the recent killings of Panchayat members in the Kashmir valley.

These two separate looking developments throw a pattern, which many, including this author, cannot deny. This warrants rewinding tapes of time and taking a look at the origin of the K-issue.

(Hereunder, I am reproducing a piece written (by me and rejected by a reputed journalist of a very reputed news organization) long back in 2004-05. But, somehow, I find it relevant today. I agree that were I to write this again, I may improve its structure a bit.)

Kashmir  ……. whenever this word is uttered, a part of our conscience and sentiment gets stirred up. We start feeling like having been cheated. We become staunch nationalists. We get angry and confused. Ironically, we seldom have a real understanding of the problem called, Kashmir, but we feel deeply about it.

                               Whether we wish it or not, whether we like it or not, it’s a fact that in this age of global terrorism the problem of Kashmir is more like global issue. All the five so-called major powers of the world are directly or indirectly interested and to some extent involved in it. The U.S. and Russia (erstwhile U.S.S.R.) have been interested in it since the days of cold war. For that they have had their own understanding of the international milieu and hold-sharing game. Although China has never expressed anything explicitly but on every bilateral platform sharing with India or Pakistan it has shown some concern about Kashmir. As for the U.K. everyone agrees that the Kashmir problem is a legacy of British colonialism.

                            When the British withdrew from India, three states were ostensibly born: India and Pakistan on the basis of the infamous two-nation theory, and Jammu and Kashmir. The ruler of the third entity, i.e. Kashmir decided not to go along communal lines and declared his state as independent to preserve its composite culture and life-style. Or, may be, he did not want to give up his royal and princely character. Maharaja Hari Singh was willing to join neither India as he felt his majority Muslim subjects would not like joining a Hindu-majority nation, nor Pakistan, which as a Hindu he was personally averse to. On the other hand, Pakistani leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah coveted the Himalayan kingdom, while Indian leaders Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru hoped that the kingdom would join India. That is why Hari Singh thought of making Jammu and Kashmir an independent nation, and did not make his decision by August 15^th to merge with either.

Anyway, the result was the same, i.e. the birth of three different states or nations for that matter. Though, all were not admitted into the U.N.O. as separate entities. But then who knows, had the tribal invaders mixed with the Pakistani army not invaded Kashmir, it would have emerged as a separate nation. And, our nationalist feelings for Kashmir would not have developed even. But that was not to be and India fought three wars (excluding 1971-war) and hundreds of skirmishes, without getting any solution. However why the able leadership of the two countries could not reach to a solution is itself a mystery.

.

                              Take a look at history. Pakistan sponsored militia-invaded Kashmir in September 1947 under the guidance of Major General Akbar Khan of Pakistani Army. This was an unbearable shock for the King of Jammu and Kashmir, Hari Singh.  He did not have enough means to protect his state or himself. At that time, the King did not have too many options to turn to. After hurried deliberations, the King asked the Indian government to come to his rescue. Interestingly, the Indian leadership headed by Pt. Nehru and Sardar Patel did not accept the request immediately. They first asked the King to sign a treaty for merger with India saying that similar treaties had been signed by other princely states. This treaty with the King is known as the Instrument of Accession.

                                                   The Instrument of Accession was signed in October 1947.  And, only after that India took the task of protecting Kashmir, rather India. Indian forces landed on the territory of Kashmir. But by now Pakistan backed forces had occupied almost one-third of Kashmir. Here, behaviour of the Indian leadership looked quite baffling.

                                                India decided to protect the capital of Kashmir and the princely house there. It did not wish to push Pakistani forces beyond Kashmir, by now the territory of India. Considering the comparative strength of the troops, India could easily have driven out Pakistanis forces and thus nipped the Kashmir problem in the bud itself. This was a fatal blunder committed by new India. We need at first to accept this with an open and non-maligned hearts. It is difficult to ascertain that who was responsible for this decision. May be, the logic for this happening lay in the fast changing history of India then. As our leaders of the time, though were great nationalists and had brought us independence, but perhaps could not understand the meaning of Kashmir’s merger with India.

                                         This was not the only mistake that India committed. India took the matter to U.N.O. It is often said that India did so on the advice of the then viceroy Lord Mountbatten, the person most probably responsible for the decision of protecting only the capital and princely house of Kashmir. India could have resolved the matter with Pakistan in the light of the India Independence Act of 1947 whereby India’s legal position was strong in the wake of the Instrument of Accession already signed between Jammu and Kashmir and India. The Act provided that any of the princely states could join India or Pakistan by choice, the only prerequisite being the geographical continuity of the princely state with the merging nation. Thus, Kashmir had legally become an integral part of India because the King of Kashmir was the legal head of the state and his decision of merger was legal under the India Independence Act. Obviously the India Independence Act would have invalidated the Pakistani attempt of sabotaging Kashmir.

                                                     Further, even at U.N.O. India complained in a manner that was short on research and logic. Here, India filed the case under Article 37 instead of Articles 36 and 51. Simplified, Article 36 refers to the invasion of a sovereign territory by an outside power. While Article 37 refers to the invasion of a territory disputed between the two countries, one of them. Thus by filing the case under Article 37 India legally accepted the disputed status of the territory of Kashmir. This step was in a way a negation of the India Independence Act, the very Act that was the legal source of the creation of an independent and sovereign India from the British Empire. Simply put, despite Kashmir becoming an integral territory of India, the government of India admitted at the UNO that a part of it was not surely under its sovereignty.

                               Later on, Indian leaders realized the blunder but by then the problem had born. The UN Resolution was passed. It asked for the appointment of two neutral observers by the U.N.O., and holding a plebiscite in Kashmir to determine the democratic will of the resident population. But, it also clamped two conditions. One, that Pakistan should withdraw its troops from Kashmir and second, having seen that India should do the same before actual plebiscite could be held. Since, Pakistan never thought of going back, so India was not bound to either withdraw or hold plebiscite. Though, India has been holding parliamentary and state elections there and it is forwarded as a sort of plebiscite by the Indian think tank. But, technically nothing could be done on the U.N. Resolution.

                                  Perhaps all the politicians at the helm of affairs have clearly understood this technical complexity of the issue and hence most of them have just played with the issue and people’s sentiment for Kashmir. They first sensitized the issue by projecting it as the symbol of national prestige and honour. Although they have generally overlooked the similar problem of Aksai Chin. The reason is simple, that Kashmir could be easily related to the psyche of the two- nation theory.

                                                            Before going for any concluding thought it would be better to have a look at one integral part of the same problem, i.e. the Siachin issue. It takes us back to the U.N. Resolution of 1949. It provided for a Line of Control, a position held by the two countries when they accepted the ceasefire as per the resolution. The LOC is a demarcated line up to a point in the Karakoram Mountains called NJ-9842. Demarcation could not be carried out beyond this line because of the geographical adversity of the territory. The UN Accord says that beyond NJ-9842 the line of control would follow the crest line of the Saltotras and Siachin ranges towards northeast up to the border of China. But, the tangle here is that the crest of these ranges does not go along northeast direction. Rather, it takes a backward turn to north and a bit northwest. Here Pakistan is stuck at northeast direction while India favours crest line demarcation. But the problem had not been realized here till 1984.

          In 1984 a French mountaineering group applied with the Indian government for a research tour of the Siachin but the government of India turned down the request. The same group approached the Pakistani government, which permitted them to do so. India thought it as an incursion on Indian Territory from the Pakistani side. So, the Operation Meghdoot was carried and the Indian army occupied the crest line there. Here, India is in advantageous position after having occupied the crest line physically but the cost is enormous. There is one more chink here. Pakistan has gifted about 10,000 sq. km. of area in the Karakoram region to China for developmental purposes. The land, obviously, is claimed by India. The strategic importance of the gift is more than the physical one if seen in the light of Chinese occupation of Aksai Chin.

                                            Obviously, the complexities involving Kashmir are not easy to comprehend and resolve. To add, Pakistan has created the headache of sponsored terrorism. In fact, terrorism has given a new dimension and publicity to the Kashmir problem. It has forced all the concerned powers to look at the problem afresh. Its devastating and negative nature has also convinced the world of India’s stand on it and has unmasked intention of Pakistan, which has now allowed terrorism to move from institutional framework to individual mode. The latest killings of Sarpananches and elected Panchayat members by LeT sponsored militants make this point amply clear. The governments of India and Pakistan must look forward to resolve the issue for the mankind on the sub-continet.. Though, it is highly improbable to predict any amicable solution, and that only the brains of an Aristotle or a Chanakya can do so. 

Understanding FDI in Retail in India

The decisions taken by the Manmohan Singh government in last cabinet meeting have evoked sharp and varied reactions from different quarters. One of the long debated and perhaps equally awaited decisions has been relaxing the norms for FDI in retail, both single brand and multi-brand. The voice of dissent seems louder than the assenting one. The market, however, has responded positively with stock market beginning to fly north. But, the two contrasting behaviour or reactions to the decisions taken by the UPA government apparently killing the bug of policy paralysis have left ordinary people confounded. Confusion is over the nature of the FDI in retail and its impending impact on Indian economy and employment scenario.

Let’s first understand the nature of FDI in retail. The foreign capital can come into India either in collaboration with a home player or via single handed investment by a global player. The government has relaxed the norms for both. It has allowed FDI in multi-brand retail upto 51% and single brand retail 100%, albeit with certain conditions.

Retail is a lucrative business in India as the industry is valued at over USD 450 billion. Interestingly, 90% of it is controlled by unorganized small and medium scale traders. They fear that the big organized corporate retailers would ruin the prospects of the age old profit making gallawallas. However, the government argues that the entire scheme will benefit bot the producers, that is, farmers and the consumers, that is, the aam aadmi. It also says that the move will create more employment in comparison to the job creation by traditional retailers. Moreover, the government allays the fear of elimination of traditional retailers.

The initial reactions from the economic experts are somewhat positive. But, many believe that in the long run neither the aam aadmi nor the farmers will be benefitted. The argument here is this; the global retail giants would have their monopoly in the Indian market in few years from now and then they would manipulate procurement price while dealing with the farmers and selling price while selling the articles to the consumers, the aam aadmi.The answer lies in the realm of future.

The union cabinet has put certain significant conditions for the FDI in retail. It says that only those players will be allowed to operate in India, who will invest a minimum capital of USD 100. Secondly, retail outlets by foreign players can only be opened in the million-plus cities. It effectively means that only 35-40 cities would be entitled to have an FDI-based retail outlet. The state governments can, however, make some amendments to make ineligible cities eligible. Thirdly, the states are not compelled by the centre to give licence to such stores under their respective shops and establishment acts. So, if a state government does not want to have a Walmart store or a Best Buy store, it won’t have one.

However, this argument of the centre that the latest decision is only an enabling policy and the states will have the final authority in this matter looks misleading. If states decide not to issue licence to any such player, it will be in direct conflict with the government of India’s commitment of ‘national treatment’ to investing countries. India has signed the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPAs) with 83 nations. 72 such agreements have already come into force and according to the information available with the official websites of the government, remaining are in the process of being implemented. This commitment of national treatment means that if one store is allowed in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat can not say ‘NO’ to that store if it applies for a licence there. One such instance has happened in Kerala where the matter was decided by the court in retail chain’s favour.

The government has argued repeatedly that inviting foreign capital was the last but the most required resort lest India slipped into deeper economic crisis comparable only to Eurozone crisis and the balance of payment crisis of our own in 1991. Moreover, it also says that adequate protection has been given to small traders. The global retailers will have to bring at least USD 100 million to be able to open a store in India with 30 percent of the capital going into creating basic infrastructure. And, such stores can only be opened in a million plus cities, numbering just over 35.

But, here government has failed to satisfy the people as it has shied away from coming up with figures suggesting as to how many jobs will be created annually should global retailers come over here while giving a comparison as to how many local retailers and their employees would lose their jobs.

The opponents of the FDI in retail policy fear that the global players will change the contour of Indian markets and make it skewed rendering many jobless and wealthless. The age old truth is that the markets have been the chief source of wealth generation and livelihood for many. Millions of retailers, traders and vendors make a living off the markets in India. And, this is precisely the reason which will attract global retail capital to India, and obviously they will work towards creating their own wealth. They will analyze before investing as to whether there will be net gain in wealth should they come to India, which may be the net loser in that case. If and when this happens, the local markets would end up serving the interests of a few multinationals. There is also possibility that the multinational retailers would restrict farmers/ producers access to market on one hand and manipulate prices of commodities on the other.

A recent research by researchers at IIM-Ahmedabad suggests that the globalization of retailers has not succeeded. “A study of top 250 global retailers reveals that 110 of them operate in single local home country. 175 retailers operate in less than 5 countries, mainly neighboring countries. Only 50 retailers operate in more than 10 countries. Only 36 of them have entered into China since the opening up of retail sector in late 1990s. Out of these, 17 retailers are already present in India. Therefore the scope for entry of global retailer entry into India is limited,” says the research.

So, the FDI in retail in India is still an inconclusive matter and most of its aspects can only be understood in future.

Ramdev Shows Why Anna Failed

While Anna Hazare and his disbanded team worked day and night to ensure that their fight against corruption could keep its sanctity intact, they failed miserably. And, one year since August 16 last year is not too short a period to write off Anna and his defunct team, given the fact that they are in tatters now. In my private discourse, I have been comparing Anna's movement/agitation with a rather completely contrasting in both degree and nature phenomenon of Revolt of 1857. Both proved great headache to the ruling dispensation at their very outset, but ultimately vanquished by the government's strategy. And, both prepared a mindset in the nation for a greater fight. The massive movements failed because they lacked organization and a clear strategy.

This strategy makes a clear distinction between Ramdev's movement and Anna's agitation. This explains why Anna and his erstwhile team failed to preserve the mass support and pouring that they got at the Ramlila Ground following the Independence Day celebrations last year. On his part, Ramdev has a better organization and a discreet but seemingly clear strategy to counter the government. Emotion can make people join a mass movement, but only an organization can keep them moving along the movement. This is where Ramdev is an improved Anna.

After last year's midnight swoop on sleeping protesters and supporters of Ramdev, who showed an utter cowardice while dealing with state action, the saffron leader looks wiser. He is drawing crowds, through his well established network throughout the country, close on the heels of a flop show by Team Anna. With latest act, Ramdev has somewhat salvage his lost pride. This may give some sleepless nights to the already weary UPA government, but if Ramdev supporters remain peaceful and do not misinterpret the yoga teacher's call for revolution, the anti-black money movement augurs well for India's democracy.

Anna: From Movement To Agitation

(Reproducing the article that I wrote for Merinews yesterday)

The British ruled over India for about 190 years during which they sustained what they believed the biggest jolt to their rule in the form of Revolt of 1857. Historians, now, say that the revolt of 1857 failed to live upto its promise because of its inherent weaknesses, biggest being internal dissensions. And, the British continued to rule for another 90 years. There seem to be a parallel in Anna’s movement for Lokpal Bill which is evidently directed against the present UPA government.

It was only last year, when the entire nation made beeline behind an old man, who finds Gandhism thrust upon him. Anna Hazare has tried to emulate the Mahatma, but despite his personal integrity and grit, his movement has all the signs of frittering away and waning. People of the country are no longer moved by his call for fight against corruption. The government prepares for his call for fast, agitation and mass gathering, but somewhere within, it knows that Anna is more like a spent force now.

There are three important components of the Anna Movement, Anna, himself, his Team and people. Anna, first. The supposed Gandhian leader took up the cause floated by India Against Corruption and championed it and on the way to mercurial popularity he expanded his arena of fight from Maharashtra to cover entire India. He was clearly swayed by the volumes of support that he got from the people of this country, who felt that a new Gandhi had emerged to take on the might of the government, which had been disconnected from the people it governed. People’s anger found a genuine expression in Anna’s call to stand against corruption. Similar emotion had already been experimented successfully in Bollywood through films like Lage Raho Munna Bhai, where people clapped when an old man, a retired school teacher embarrasses a government official to secure his pension.

People are fed up with the all pervasive corruption for long now and Gandhianised Anna gave hope to them. But, somehow, Anna Hazare failed to keep that mass support intact. One has to accept this as Anna’s inherent weakness. He is no Gandhi. People failed to realize this and their expectations of Anna remained so high that he could not have lived upto. He lacks the organizational skill and the understanding of public mood of the Mahatma. Also, Anna Hazare has not been consistent in his speeches and actions over past one and a half-year, which is so un-Gandhian. This drifted the masses away from him and his movement.

Anna’s team is, at its best, pulling in different directions. Allegations of nepotism and dictatorial attitude have been the biggest obstacle in accomplishing the task that the team has taken unto itself. Chief architect of the Team Anna, Arvind Kejriwal has, somehow, alienated all colleagues but a few. Even Anna Hazare does not seem to be in sync with his team all the time. This has exposed an organized bunch of activists to the ruthlessness of the government. Also, the allegations against Kiran Bedi of malpractices and of having communal tinge against the team have not done any good for it. The inevitable result has been loss of credibility of Team Anna among the masses.

On their part, people have also behaved in an intriguing manner. All of a sudden, when the middle was rising, the masses in India rallied behind Anna Hazare, giving hope to the old wise man. Anna mistook this momentary exuberance of people as their readiness for a long drawn battle against the government. This was not. The hope of Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, the political capital dashed in the Azad Maidan in Mumbai, the commercial capital. It also served the Team Anna a clear message that people cannot sacrifice their economic/commercial interests for some wayward political gains. This is precisely why and how Anna’s anti-graft movement became a pro-lokpal agitation. The coming days, beginning today, are likely to follow the same pattern.

Manmohan Under Attack, Why?

Suddenly, Indian government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have come under sharp attack of international community. Recently, the Time of the US, the Independent of the UK and US President Barak Obama have criticized Manmohan Singh in no uncertain terms. Each of them chose to lash out at the UPA II government and Singh for their failure to push economic reforms in India. This trend of taking on a ‘proclaimed world leader’ and eminent economist is, somehow, baffling and it smacks of some other inherent designs.

Let’s first see the case of the Time magazine, which carried out a cover story on Manmohan Singh dubbing him as an underachiever and concluding that India’s economic software had crashed and needed to reboot. The magazine wants India to reboot itself. But, for whom? India or the crashing hardware of the US and Europe’s economy? Surely, the Time is not so generous to think of India exclusively. It didn’t think of any such reboot while India was going through a worse phase and the US and the European Union were in sound economic health.

The Independent, a daily in the UK took cue from the Time, but went far ahead in castigating Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It termed the Prime Minister as Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s Poodle, a breed of dogs.  How audacious this daily is! And, why for? If Indian economy is in tatters, if we accept the west’s parochial definition of the economy slowdown and policy paralysis in India, why should a newspaper of the UK be so worried and anguished that it resorts to profanity against the Prime Minister?

While the dust caused in motion had not settled yet that the US President Barak Obama found fault with India’s economic policies, thus attacking economist Manmohan Singh. Obama found Manmohanomics obstructive in nature and that it did not allow foreign direct investments in many sectors in India. He practically went ahead to blame India for economic downturn in the EU and the US.

Thankfully, this time around the Indian politicians stood by the government while lashing out at Obama for targeting India and infringing upon its sovereign (albeit, hugely diluted) right to choose its economic course. It was nice to see BJP leader and former Yashwant Sinha come out and take on Obama and the US’ hegemonistic tactic in exhorting India to expand reforms. India cannot and should not be dictated by the US or any other country or bloc.

Clearly, the pressure that is being applied on the Indian establishment led by Manmohan Singh is an attempt by the west to seek more ground for their big corporations, which are rapidly going bankrupt putting enormous socialistic burden on the capitalist governments. India and China can easily provide them the required space as these countries have big areas, resources and markets/ population.

While China has improved its technology and has socialistic capital to take on both the capitalist capital and market, India is an easy hunting ground for the US and the EU. They hope that if India opens up more sectors for their corporate money, it would help them revive their markets and sentiments. This explains why there has been an entire gamut of sustained efforts through leadership, diplomacy and press to put question the credibility of Manmohan Singh his UPA II government.

This is where Manmohan Singh government’s policy paralysis is working in India’s favour. If the much criticized policy paralysis is a conscious effort by this government, it is praiseworthy. There is no reason as to why should India be used as a growth engine for the EU and the US.

Prices, People and Politics

Home Minister P Chidambaram makes sense when he laments consumers’ behaviour pattern vis-à-vis inflation and economic growth in the country. It is now a known thing and also a submission from the government that it suffers from policy paralysis, and that it is waiting for Congress’s next generation leader, Rahul Gandhi to stop playing cameos but to lead from the front. In short, the UPA led by the Congress admits that the hour has come, but the man is yet to arrive. This would a unique situation when time, which is known to have waited for none, is waiting for Congress’s saviour.

In the meanwhile, the UPA continues to battle its own agonies complicated by people’s frustration owing various factors albeit dominated by the almost ever rising prices of all commodities of daily purchase, and the leaders of UPA continue to throw some light on the reasons for this hapless condition prevailing in the country. For most of the things going wrong, the UPA blames not itself but some other element, many a time irrationally, though. But, on Tuesday, P Chidamaram seemed to make a valid point when he pointed finger at people’s spending pattern. He quipped that while people are ready to spend Rs 15 for a 300ml cold drink bottle and Rs 20 for an ice-cream cone, they are outraged at spending Re 1 extra on rice or wheat if it means some cushion to millions of farmers across the country.

There are three definite aspects of inflation-people-government axis. Let’s first take the case of prices. Prices are on the rise for past few years. In fact, when UPA went into 2004 general elections, rising inflation was one of the prime election issues. But, people defeated that issue and made price-rise a non-election issue. However, political tempers on price rise kept rising. Prices are rising due to simple reasons, both external and internal. To begin with government’s argument, which reflected in P Chidambaram’s latest statement as well, that procurement prices for most of the food-grains have been increased pushing the prices at consumers’ end higher. But, procurement prices were increased not for the concern for the farmers but to score some political brownie points. Whatever may the case be, it resulted in some relief to farmers, but some additional burden on the consumers.

Another important reason for price rise is, manipulation by medium and big market players. Hoarding is still rampant across the country. Sadly, gone are the days when even Bollywood films produced angry young men fighting against hoarding and kalabazari. This makes a cabbage or a cauliflower available throughout the year, but at an elevated price, which does not fall even during its flowering season. But, none seems to spare a thought for this aspect of price rise.

Third important reason for rising inflation is gloomy world economy complimented by the fluctuating but rising crude oil prices. This has put a huge burden on the macro-economics of the government of India which is much concerned with managing fiscal deficit and keeping good vertical growth figures. In the nutshell, the situation has come to the point where the governance is a failure under the UPA regime. Policy paralysis is both now the cause and result of this hapless situation.

Second aspect of the axis is people’s behaviour. People, rather voters, have shown in past few years that price rise is not an issue for them. We may deny, but can’t denounce this evidence of India’s democracy. Here comes the relevance of P Chidambaram’s statement on consumers’ behaviour pattern. His astonishment is valid when he wonders why people are ready to pay Rs 15-20 on something that is not going to affect quality of his life. This shows that those who have are not really bothered about spending money on things of their choice. But, somehow a mindset has emerged on the national scene which demands and argues that all the life sustaining essentials should be almost free of cost. Buying a kg of potatoes with Rs 15 looks a costly purchase but spending Rs 35-75 on a burger is nothing. This leads us to the third aspect of the inflation-people-government axis, politics.

Prices are here to stay. The last decade has proven this beyond any iota of doubt. In fact, the increased prices are the new bases for family expenditure. But, politicians think it fit to keep the anti-price psyche in the top-most quarters of priorities. This is coupled with news-starved news media, which harps on flying prices. Somehow things have come to such a passe that everyone the same tune but none is listening, not even the singer.

Rains, Monsoon, Economy and Manmohan

Finally monsoon has showered some raindrops on the national capital bringing relief to its residents. TV news channels, though, made people believe as if entire India is now covered by this very erratic monsoon. This is one of the negative fall-outs of almost all the major news channels being based in New Delhi. Anyways, Delhi needed rains, it has got the first spell of monsoon spray. Nice. It has brought the soaring temperature down making weather unusually pleasant for Delhi. It becomes overwhelming here. But, monsoon this year does not present a rosy picture. Till now only 49 percent monsoon rains has been reported by the IMD, whose forecasts and estimates are hardly ever taken seriously by aam aadmi. People are already talking of drought in regions, which are crucial for foodgrains' production.

A drought in Delhi won't affect our kitchens and stomachs much but a similar situation in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and others would throw not only our individual family lives but the economy of the nation completely out of gear. Already, four farmers have ended their lives (in past 48 hours) in Vidarbh as monsoon kept them waiting. The vagaries of monsoon and the possibility of a drought this year are going to aggravate the splitting headache for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has just taken over the mantle of finance ministry. He is already losing his sleep over a slowing economy, falling rupee, rising food inflation and escalating fiscal deficit. On the top of it, the government has got the inertia of policy paralysis.

Many believe that a deficient rainfall this monsoon will further paralyze this UPA government and the simmering of an impending economic reforms would be kept under the wraps for some more time. The first issue that plagues the Manmohan Singh government is diesel pricing. The economists suggest the UPA government to decontrol it and/or, thereby raise the diesel prices. But, this will be another bolt from the blue for the farmers, who are a key voting bloc for the Congress and its allies as they will have to use diesel in the absence of monsoonal rains to run pumps for irrigation.

The use of more diesel would be a big worry for the government. Diesel accounts for more than 40 per cent of nation's oil demand. Farmers can increase the demand for diesel substantially if monsoon does not improve vastly and quickly. Then, keeping diesel prices at the present level will make it difficult for the government to keep fiscal deficit at the projected 5.1 percent of the GDP.

This means we are gearing up for another bad fiscal year. The first three months of the current financial year have already seen economy slumping to its lowest in almost a decade. Most of the credit rating agencies have cut down India's credit outlook making foreign investment difficult. Obviously, Manmohan Singh, the economist, has a daunting task to accomplish.
Weak monsoon makes a dent into farm based incomes, loosely, rural India's incomes. This, in turn, will hit adversely the markets of almost everything--- from chips and cold drinks to TV and motor vehicles, and from gold to computers.

Failing agriculture in India would also make agricultural produce in international markets costlier much to the discomfort of many poor countries of Africa and Asia. The recent example of this phenomenon was witnessed in 2009, when a severe drought in India's sugarcane producing states forced it to lift large quantity of the sweetener not only from its biggest producer, Brazil but also from other markets making benchmark New York futures climb to a three-decade high.

Monsoon is not a local geographical phenomenon now, it is all pervasive with global economic implications. Let's join Mr Manmohan Singh in his pray to Lord Indra so that He sends normal rain-bearing monsoon clouds over India's foodgrain producing states;it doesn't matter if Delhi does not get rains overflowing its drains.

CK Jaffer Sharief: Graft Trial for Rs 7 Lakh

While the dust is yet to settle down on scams that stagger with their statistics hovering in thousands and lakhs of crores of rupees, one former powerful leader is in dock and would be facing trial for a 'paltry' amount of Rs 7 lakh spent on his officers on a foreign trip. This news may sound meaningless in the wake of humongous amount being projected in various graft cases, but this proves that graft has always been in the draft. 

Former railways minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief will have to face trial in a corruption case of 1995. It is linked to his visit to London for treatment.  Sharief had gone to London for his treatment. he is accused of taking along four of his staffers without authorization. This unauthorized act of the then railways minister caused a loss of Rs.7 lakh to the state exchequer. 

The CBI registered an FIR against him in 1998 and later filed a charge-sheet. But, in 2005 the CBI filed a closure report in the court due to refusal of sanction by the government to prosecute Sharief. However, the court decided to proceed with the case. Sharief's appeal to stay criminal proceedings was dismissed by the Supreme Court of India on May 10. Only after the apex court's decision, the CBI moved fast and on Tuesday a Special CBI court found sufficient prima facie evidence and framed charges against the former railway minister. CBI Judge N.K. Kaushik has fixed August 21 as the date to begin the trial against him.

Sharief may rue the fact that while other less powerful ministers of today are getting away with cases involving graft of unimaginable amount of money, he is to face trial for an amount as small as Rs 7 lakh and that too was spent on his officers. He may ask whether a minister enjoys the discretion of spending a mere Rs 7 Lakh or not in the wake of recent discretionary spending by most of the ministers? But, then, he will have to answer why should a minister have the discretion to spend people's hard earned money without being subjected to accountability? And, also, can two wrongs make one right?

Cartoons: After Ambedkar, Nehru-Gandhi Removed

Are we increasingly becoming intolerant as a nation, as a society? Are we losing out our plurality of thoughts and of our social realities? Are we just a nation that cares for retaining or maintaining power? Are we stifling the basic idea of human's spirit of inquiry (about our past)? Are we all becoming a bunch of nincompoops or just over-sensitive bunch mob? 

The answer to all these questions is definitely Yes, if we go by what followed after NCERT cartoon controversy boiled over. We all know it started with a cartoon wherein JL Nehru was about to whip a snail (personifying our constitution-in-the-making) which was saddled by BR Ambedkar armed with a lash. Two theories were put forth. One, Nehru was depicted as flogging dalit messiah Ambedkar and that this was an insult to the entire dalit community. In politically aroused India, the term dalit does not need to be defined separately, though it has acquired an altogether different meaning over the years. This was said that the cartoonist Shankar meant an elite Nehru flogged a dalit Ambedkar! Everyone buried the fact that the two leaders respected each other immensely. 

Theory number two. That Nehru was upset with the pace at which constitution was being prepared and was angry with the entire process, which was moving at a slow pace. So, Nehru, holding Drafting Committee chairman, Ambedkar responsible for the delay wanted to whip the entire committee so that it can speed up the most crucial process of the time. 

It's true that Pt Nehru was upset and there has never been any doubt about it. He wanted to see the constitution making process to get over soon. So did Rajendra Prasad, the chairman of the constituent assembly. But, Nehru being the most influential leader of the age got more space in news media and public debate. So, his anguish also got more depiction among the cartoonists. Nehru was no casteist. And, Shankar, as they all say, was no naive cartoon journalist. He could not have shown Nehru supposedly whipping snail-rider Ambedkar, had any of the two leaders was a casteist. Moreover, the cartoon was published while the two leaders were very active in politics and interestingly, none of them objected to it. Further, Nehru wrote to Shankar suggesting that the cartoon could have been depicted the other way as well. 

But, much water has flown under the political bridge in India and decades later neo-sensitive dalit activists and politicians find the same things unacceptable. This is a classic example of a wedge being built between Ambedkar and his followers. Ambedkar, purportedly at the receiving end in the cartoon, respected Shankar's fundamental right to expression. But, his followers forgot that Ambedkar vowed to protect right to freedom of expression with his life. And, I would like to make it clear that these neo-activists are not true followers of Ambedkar but political opportunists, who want to stake their claim on Ambekarism and thereby emerge as dalit leaders. What followed when the NCERT cartoon was discovered six years after it was re-published in 2006 was a result of this race to emerge as champion of Ambedakrism. 

But, spare a thought. If Nehru 'whipped' Ambedkar for whatever reason, why should it be not taught to the students? If an eminent cartoon journalist felt that Nehru was responsible for expediting the already lengthy process of constitution making and Ambedkar was the centre of his ire, why should this generation be not taught about that? If Nehru had a casteist agenda in mind, why should it be not taught to young minds so that they have a proper understanding of the modern makers of India? And,  if an eminent cartoonist, who was appreciated by the likes of Nehru and Ambedkar was a casteist or anti-dalit, why should the students be not told about that?

However, Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and his team think the other way. The latest proof of this mindset is the report submitted by the NCERT committee that examined cartoons in school textbooks after the aforesaid controversy. The committee, headed by Sukhadeo Thorat, chairperson of the Indian Council of Social Science Research, has recommended that the cartoons and caricatures bearing 'negative' references to politicians and bureaucrats should be removed from the text books. The only relief for me has been the remark by the six-member panel which was set up following the row over Dr B R Ambedkar's cartoon in the political science textbook that cartoons are good learning tools and that they should not be discarded away with completely. 

The panel has recommended removal or modification of 36 of the 176 cartoons in textbooks for classes 9-12. Interestingly, it has also sought removal of some of the cartoons of the Nehru-Gandhi family observing that such cartoons are too many in number. in the textbooks and has sought their removal. Another good thing about the report is a dissent by one of its members. Professor Pandian has objected to the conclusions of the report arguing that an unnecessary controversy has been created over harmless cartoons. He has argued that these cartoons need not be removed. But, his attempt to live true to Ambedkarism may not go down well with neo-activists aka anti-Ambedkarism protagonists.

Pranab: No. 2 To Numero Uno

Always number two, eternal challenger to the prime ministerial candidate of the grand old party, but never got the coveted and well-deserved post. But, now, Congress's Man Friday Pranab Mukherjee is all set to become the primus among (non-) equals. Mukherjee has quit as the finance minister of the country to contest the presidential poll scheduled for July 19. He is only the second serving union cabinet minister to have been nominated as a candidate for the presidential poll. 

His candidature has not been free from controversies, with many saying that the government and the party are not on the same page. And, perhaps to clear the cloud Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided to be one of the two proposers for Mukherjee for filing his nomination on Thursday for the election to President's office.

The Prime Minister's decision is a marked departure from the normal practice, which itself indicates that there were some differences of opinion on doing away with UPA's go-to man in past 8 years. But, then Mamata Banerjee and Mulayam Singh Yadav had left Congress with no other option.

On Pranab Mukherjee's part, he is someone, who has always been in the thick of things for over four decades, his nomination for the presidential polls indicate that his retirement from active electoral/ministerial politics is not really a retirement from politics. The office of the President is very much political. But, what remains to be seen and what would be a litmus test for Pranab, the person-politician is whether he adheres to Congress's philosophy or follows an independent political philosophy.

Pranab Mukherjee has vacated the finance ministry at a time, when the country is passing through a very rough economic phase. Industrial production is down, services hit badly, agriculture is partly good and mood is gloomy on the back of Eurozone crisis. But, given the policy paralysis that has afflicted this government especially the finance ministry for three years now, many view Pranab's timely elevation as relief rather than a problem.

Pranab's apparent attempt to seek solution of capitalist economy's problem through socialist approach was not going down well with the India Inc, which had started feeling that under his supervision, the economy was again drifting into the hands of bureaucrats. So, the reformists are happy that Pranab Mukherjee will now behold an office that does not interfere with Indian economy. 

Earlier in the day, Pranab's much anticipated bold measures had given a hope to the markets. But, his promised investors' confidence booster turned out to be a thud as he held out just a few small tweaks on his last day as the finance minister. However, a rational analysis would suggest that the economic slump was not his fault. Though, he must share his part of blame as the finance minister. Notwithstanding, Mukherjee remains a stalwart of Indian politics and the most loved and trusted politician of the time.

Still, he may rue that he was widely acknowledged as the superb all rounder, who could never wear a captain's hat. But, becoming the first citizent of the country must make up more than the loss incurred by him during his political career.

National Interest: Justice For Aarushi, Hemraj

A chirpy girl, presumably innocent (that is, she perhaps did not do anything to be 'punished' by death), was killed after someone slit her throat with 'clinical precision' around mid-night; the next day 'prime suspect' was found dead on the terrace of the same flat. The second murder took place the same night and around the same time. Police's inquiry rejected the possibility of forced entry into the house. Aggrieved parents became prime suspects, at least, in the eyes of sensation crazy TV watching public and now, they have been formally charged with murder, destruction of evidence and one of the two with misleading the police under various sections of the IPC. This has been the tell-a-tale of Aarushi-Hemraj murder case of 2008.

Now, in 2012, I firmly believe that the logical course of judicial process to search for justice for the deceased girl and a domestic servant has set rolling. This could have started much earlier save the efforts by, now accused, parents to delay the entire process by moving various court at various levels of the judicial process. The case has become multi-layered with some of the processes going on in the trial court and some others in the higher courts. While the Ghaziabad trial court has framed charges against Nupur and Rajesh Talwar, the dentist couple has again given hint of further delaying the process by deciding to challenge framing of charges in the High Court.

Though, it is extremely painful for parents to be tried for the murder of their daughter, but then, the world is brutal so, the judicial process should not be mild. If they are the accused and if they feel that they are innocent, they should assist the court in finishing the trial fast so that their guilt or absence of it can be proved in the court of law faster. There is no point delaying it. Again, it's tough on parents to prove that they are innocent given the circumstantial evidence that rule out presence of a fifth person at the time of the commission of twin murders. If Talwars are innocent and if police probe is accurate then, there is just one possibility that Hemraj killed Aarushi and then slit his throat with the same clinical precision and while dying tried to escape towards the terrace. And, that either Nupur or Rajesh Talwar bolted and locked the door leading to the terrace. You can believe this theory and buy this argument, I can't. 

Either police are going wrong in their investigation or the Talwars are lying. Both can't be true. This is also why, I, like many others want to see judicial process complete at a faster pace. It should not have Tareekh Pe Tareekh and this is what Talwars are exactly trying to do or at least this is what it seems like. 

I don't consider the case of Aarushi-Hemraj murder case as one of the thousands of murders that take place across the length and breadth of the country. It is case, which has posed the greatest challenge to our investigation system and tools and techniques used by it. It is also about murder of faith and relationship. It is also about faith of people in our police and judiciary. The basic question that torments people even in far flung areas, where Aarushi should not have been a topic of discussion by any stretch of imagination, is that can an influential couple be let off the hook without testing by fire when they seem to be the prime and only suspects in the case? This question has far reaching ramifications. If this case goes unsettled and justice is not delivered in the case, people's belief in our institutions will only dwindle.

For the sake of India, this case needs to be given the top priority by all agencies concerned. And, for Talwars? They will be doing a great service to the nation if they assist dutifully and wholeheartedly the court in unraveling the double murder mystery, as they call it, irrespective of whether they emerge as guilty or innocent.

News From India

Plane crashes in Nepal, 12 Indians among 21 onboard

A plane carrying 21 people has crashed in the mountains of North Nepal. 21 people including 12 Indians were onboard. The plane crashed while attempting to land at the Jomsom Airport, a gateway to a popular tourist and trekking area. The aircraft belonged to a local airline company Agri Air. 

Tax evasion at par with money laundering

Tax evader may have to face a stricter administration as the centre is mulling to place tax crimes at a par with money laundering. The offence will now have severe criminal and financial implications. The changes in the laws would make way for easier prosecution, rigorous imprisonment, fines and shifting onus on the accused to prove he is not guilty. 

Maharaja grounded, passengers $ govt stranded

 The Air India pilots’ strike has entered its seventh day. The pilots’ agitation has forced the national carrier to cancel as many as fourteen of its international flights on Monday causing great inconvenience to hundreds of passengers. The pilots are on strike since last Tuesday and are not ready to relent. They are dead against the pilots of erstwhile Indian Airlines being imparted similar training as imparted to Air India pilots. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has admitted that merger of Air India and Indian Airlines five years ago has not worked out well. Interestingly, AI and IA were making cash profits till 2006-07, when they were merged. But, both are running in loss thereafter.

News From India

 More trouble for Narendra Modi

Amicus curiae Raju Ramachandran has nailed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his controversial role in 2002 communal riots. Raju Ramachandran has said in his report on the 2002 Gujarat riots that the role of Narendra Modi needs to be investigated under various sections of IPC. He has found "circumstantial evidence available requiring further probe" against Modi.

 CBI names Congress baiter Jaganmohan as prime accused in assets case

The Central Bureau of Investigation has named Congress baiter and Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy as the prime accused in the assets case. The central probe agency, which has been accused by the YSR president to be acting at the behest of Congress masters, filed its third chargesheet in the case in the special CBI court on Monday. The CBI chargesheet focuses on the favours doled out to Ramky Group of Industries by Jaganmohan's father and once Congress' illustrious leader and former Andhra chief minister, Y S Rajashekhar Reddy as a quid pro quo to the investments made by the group in Jagan's business empire.

Antony clears Rahul Gandhi of UP debacle

No nepotism in distributing tickets, declaring candidates almost a year before polls, easy accessibility of the CM, PCC chief and CLP leaders to party workers and strict enforcement of discipline are some of the recommendations of the Congress committee that went into party's debacle in Uttar Pradesh.
The report of the three-member committee, headed by AK Antony, was submitted to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. It carries five pages of recommendations to revive Congress citing lack of connect with the voters.

Resume work or face action: Minister to Air India Pilots


The Air India management has warned the striking pilots to return to work by 6pm or face action. Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has termed the strike by Air India pilots as illegal. He said the management of the national carrier would take appropriate action against the agitating pilots.


Supreme Court strikes down Haj Subsidy, slams Centre


In a major setback to the Centre, the Supreme Court has turned down its policy of giving government subsidy to Muslims going on annual Haj pilgrimage. The apex court slammed the Centre for politicising the issue of annual Haj pilgrimage. It maintained that the proposal of giving subsidy on pilgrimages to religious shrines is inappropriate and aimed at wooing minorities. The apex court also directed the Centre to eliminate the policy of Haj subsidies over a period of ten years.


Race for Raisina Hill, Sinha bats for Pranab

With race for Rashtrapati Bhawan hotting up day-by-day, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has got support from former finance minister Yashwant Sinha. Mukherjee’s popularity is gaining momentum with Sinha terming him a suitable candidate for next President of India. 

Top Headlines, News From India

Hard decisions need to be taken for NCTC, says P Chidambaram

Feud in Rajasthan BJP intensifies further. At least, 43 MLAs loyal to sulking leader Vasundhara Raje have offered to quit.


RJD chief Lalu Prasad has questioned the secular credentials of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Lalu was reacting to Nitish's exchange of pleasantries and handshake with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi during a meet on NCTC in New Delhi.


Human rights abuse taint on Army again. As many as 129 Army personnel have been found guilty of human rights violations mostly in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast in the last two decades.


Train derails in Haryana, several injured. At least 26 passengers were injured as eight bogies of the Delhi-bound Firozpur-Mumbai Punjab Mail derailed in Rohtak district of Haryana today.

National Shame: Hunger Floors India

National Shame! This phrase seems to have turned into a fad with every
intellectual debate in the country. To some, humiliating defeat of
Team India is matter of national shame, to some others, corruption
(backed by 2G, CWG, NRHM, Adarsh and other scams) is the real national
shame and if Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is be believed, hunger or
malnutrition of children is the national shame. But then, there is a
general feeling that the prime minister's view on hunger is not taken
seriously in the government. Some even suggest that given his current
focus on bookish economics, the prime minister does not seem to be
attaching much significance to his own observation himself.

While the defeat of Indian cricket team in Australia rankles in the
eyes of cricket's nationalistic fans, but that debacle is a debacle of
opulence and does not fit to be called a national shame. The 2G and
other scams are like hills in the island of corruption that emanates
from the rich and powerful. And, at a certain level it lacks 'national
appeal'. But, as per Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's own admission 42
percent of children are malnourished and hence, hunger affected. It
means that almost every second child in the country is a victim of
hunger. Obviously, the cloud of hunger and malnutrition looms large
over the entire nation.

This is a mind-boggling figure even to think of especially in the
backdrop of the fact that India has a population in excess of 121
crore and that we are adding more than a crore to the core population
every year. This means that the nation is adding more than 42 lakh to
the existing bunch of hunger affected children every year. And,
according to yet to be finalised data of 2011 Census, there are 16
crore children aged 6 or below. If we add to this figure the
population aged upto 14, the entire figure comes upto more than 35 %
of 121 crore Indians. So here, we have the third most populous
‘nation’ in India that is dominated by hunger and hence, underweight.
This is the story, when we think of Indians below 14 years of age,
leaving aside their elderly cousins, who are also in millions. This
contradicts the very growth theory of an emerging India. May be, India
is progressing in regression.

The Prime Minister was quoting the first ever report on hunger and
malnutrition (HUNGaMA) in the country. The report is based on a survey
conducted by the Naadi Foundation in 112 districts, predominantly
rural across nine states. It should also be borne in mind that the
survey studied approximately 73, 000 households (only). A bigger
survey may throw bigger shock. It goes without saying that we are
producing a feeble generation in a nearby future.

It has been observed the world over all through the period of recorded
social history that weak breeds more in his effort to become strong
(unity is strength). For poor, more children are like life insurance
policies. India has thrown, perhaps, the best example of this
demographic trend, outside Africa. Despite being the first nation in
the world to introduce a family planning scheme under (educated, rich
and aware) Prime Minister JL Nehru in 1951, the nation registered the
most voluminous rise in its population decade after decade. The family
planning centres got converted into a family expansion centres as
saving life of people is always to preferred to prevent a life taking
form. Poor people have been the largest contributor to population,
ignorance, poverty and resultant hunger.

HUNGaMA REPORT
. 42% children are underweight
. 93.7% mothers can’t give required nutrition to their newborns
. 51% newborns don’t get colostrum
. 66% mothers did not go to schools
. Only 11% wash hands before meals
. Only 19% use soap after using toilet
. India’s malnourished children exceed entire population of the US

The HUNGaMA report itself says, that 93.7% of some 74,000 mothers
surveyed said that they could not feed their children with more
non-cereal nutrition for they could not afford it. Incidentally, more
than 66% of the mothers did not go to schools. So, there is a definite
connection between poverty, education and hunger. The report itself
gives some notable examples. To quote just two would be enough here.
One, nearly 98.5% of the surveyed family had access to soap, but less
than 11% knew that washing their hands before meal can improve their
health; only 19% used soap for cleaning after using the toilet.
Second, 51% of newborn babies were denied mother's first milk,
colostrum as mothers did not consider it good for the newly born
children. This is nothing but lack of education (not literacy that the
government's figures flash every now and then) and awareness.

There are plethora of schemes being run by the government aimed at
improving nutrition and health of disadvantaged groups devoid of
employment, education and access to basic needs of a civic life. One
such scheme that found mention in prime minister’s ‘national shame’
speech was Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme. The
ICDS was launched in 1975. If the prime minister has to declare
malnutrition and hunger among children as national shame, is it only a
failure of the ICDS and other such schemes. Isn’t it a failure of
governance, which could not provide basic health to the nation in last
almost 65 years in general and 37 years in particular? And, isn’t this
a national shame for a prime minister?

The primary cause of hunger and malnutrition is poverty caused by
various kinds of unemployment or under-employment due to lesser number
of jobs in comparison to work force, lack of opportunity to work or
lack of competence (including education and training) on part of the
workers to get access to the limited options to work. Whatever may be
the reason, the result haunts the nation collectively. Poverty breeds
hunger, and hunger keeps victim population uneducated and ignorant,
which again lead to unemployment, poverty and hunger. The cycle is
complete and remains in motion for eternity. The prime ministers come
and go, but the national shame will be there to greet every incumbent,
if a course correction is not done, right now.