GROW UP INDIA!!! Stop this Arson

What a tragic day this has been. Right from the morning started pouring in the screamers on the news channels about the riots that started in few district of Punjab and parts of Haryana because of Vienna incident where head of Dera Sach Khand, Sant Ram Nand was shot at in an assault by members of a rival group.

Its very sad that people who claim themselves as supporters of Dera Sach Khand had no idea why they were destroying the public property. I mean what will be result of this arson which has started here and where is this heading towards? Analyst are saying this violence could have its roots in community conflict between Jat Sikhs and Dalit Sikhs. I think that would be like politicizing the topic beyond extent.

I personally feel the urban poverty in cities of Punjab could be the fundamental reason for such heinous acts. People are too free to indulge in these riots because after 62 years of independence still there is a fight for employment, basic amenities and still the majority of people are under the below poverty line.

I was completely depressed by the role of media. Instead of helping the administration in coping up with the situation, they were showing footages of police charging at the peole to dispel the mob which in turn will instigate more people towards such incendiarism. I mean what you expect the police to do in such situation and this is one of the reason for police inefficiency. And when they fail, call Army – the only plausible option left. Its high time for media to be responsible and the administration should take all the possible steps to bring the situation under control.

NAVEEN PATNAIK - Man of the moment

NAVEEN PATNAIK’S story is a tale of guts and gumption. It was always a risk to ditch the BJP and take on the Congress. He took the risk and succeeded handsomely. Proving political analysts and his critics wrong, he scored a hat-trick in the Orissa Assembly elections. Congress Chief Ministers have won election for three times in a row but, possibly, no opposition Chief Minister has performed the feat. Leading his regional party — Biju Janata Dal— Naveen has done it . He emerged as the main anti-Congress pole in Orissa and also contained the threat of the BJP.

Ten years back when Naveen Panaik became Orissa’s Chief Minister, he was new to politics, considered immature and suffered from a handicap; he could not converse in Oriya. But he picked up the ropes fast, matured politically and proved smarter than the BJP leaders, his ally for the last 11 years. He dropped a bombshell when an emissary of L.K. Advani met him in March and was tersely told that BJD could not offer more than 31 Assembly and five Lok Sabha seats to the BJP.

Naveen did not lose his composure even for a moment while telling Advani’s emissary that the alliance with the BJP was over. The BJP leaders, who thought Naveen to be their most dependable ally, were shocked and changed their tunes, calling him a “serial killer” and “betrayer”. The BJP’s harsh words notwithstanding, there is a grudging admiration for the BJD Chief in the BJP circles. He is seen as a smarter politician compared with much senior ones in the BJP. More important, people see him as a clean politician, who is striving to end corruption.

What brought the BJD and the BJP together in 1998 was their common enemy, the Congress. But in an alliance one party grows at the cost of the other. The BJP was never comfortable with a situation that demanded that it permanently remain a junior partner. It was a matter of time before the opportunistic alliance ended in divorce and it did.

Naveen has aristocratic upbringing and his pursuit since he graduated from the Delhi University has been history and literature. He also evinced keen interest in Ayurveda and wrote a well researched book on the healing properties of various plants grown in the sub-continent. Having been brought up and educated in Delhi and sojourned in the United States for years, Naveen hardly looks an Oriya in conversation or appearance. His performance as the Union Minister for Steel had been better than many of his colleagues. He created a record having won three successive Lok Sabha elections.

His illustrious father, Biju Patnaik, had a domineering personality and strode the political scene like a colossal but Naveen is timid and remained a bachelor. His elder brother is an industrialist and the sister, Gita Mehta, a well known writer. Naveen, like his sister, has a literary bent. Among his many friends abroad was Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and in India they included erstwhile Rajas and Maharajas.
Jacqueline was Editor of A Second Paradise, written by Naveen, depicting the courtly life in India from 1590 to 1947. The book was, apparently, produced to mark the Festival of India in Washington in 1985 and to coincide with Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to the US.

The Patnaiks were quite close to the Nehru-Gandhi family. Biju was a friend of Indira Gandhi though they later moved apart politically. Naveen was a friend of both Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi. Mrs Gandhi would send her two sons to Biju’s house to keep company with Naveen who later moved to the Doon School.

Naveen’s another book, The Garden of Life, is on an altogether different subject. It deals with the healing plants in India used for preparation of Ayurvedic medicines. How Naveen got interested in herbs, having medicinal value, is shrouded in mystery.

WAKE UP CALL - My election compendium

My last few days were almost similar to most politicians as they and me both were entagled in understanding the intricacies involved around the uncertainity in politics. But finally India is able to feel a sense of stability. Definitely the expectations are on a high but this is something which Manmohan Singh has been facing right from the beginning when he took the charge in 2004. Since continuing the legacy of excellent work done by our great prime minister A.B. Vajpayee was a big encumbrance on his shoulder but trust me, not many men would have been able to uphold the responsibility with such grace and steadfastness. Surely somehow I am getting into the books these days having finished three books in almost same amount of time but this explicate my curiosity and anxiety for Hindu Nationalism. Yes, I am talking about that face of the history which has been deliberately tried to be wiped out, reason being what I call as Congresswaad in our country that has prevailed for a long time.

Well not talking about the past, even the future looks dismay. There is no structured forum where people of broadly similar views and concerns can state their views bluntly about BJP. The BJP certainly offers no platform for free and frank discussion--the National Executive meetings have become an occasion for leaders to deliver speeches. I have not censored anything, including the uncharitable comments on leaders, in the belief that BJP functionaries should gauge what the party's supporters truly feel.
I do recognize that a dialogue on internet conducted in English (and also involving non-residents whose concerns and perspectives are a little distant) is a very limited exercise. Still, it is a modest start.
I want to emphasize the importance of a candid discussion in the light of the BJP's reluctance to dissect the debacle. Having re-anointed Advani as Leader of Opposition, the party leadership has retreated into a shell.

DIVIDED OPINION

It is clear from the responses that there is a sharp division on many counts:

• Some people say Hindutva is the soul of the party and without Hindutva the BJP becomes another Congress. Others feel that aggressive Hindutva is the road to political oblivion.
• Modi, as usual, evokes controversy. He is somehow associated with hard Hindutva. Those who feel that the BJP should become more centrist feel that Modi isn't nationally acceptable. The pro-Hindutva lot think ideology overrides the importance of individuals.

POINTS OF AGREEMENT

There are three main areas of agreement:
• The BJP must seriously take up work in states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra and West Bengal where its presence is nominal.
• There is implicit agreement of the fact that the BJP will have to fight its battles alone, without the benefit of alliances.
• There is agreement that the media, particularly the English-language media, is viscerally hostile. Most of those who commented felt that alternative media space should be probed.

MY CONCLUSIONS

• I think that strident Hindutva of the early-1990s variety is looked upon with disfavour by large sections of the population. The BJP must take steps to distance itself from extremist elements. Most important, it must be seen to be doing so.

• Development is the main concern of people. The BJP governments have a good track record of development but it is weak in the articulation of economic issues. But economics has to be the priority in the coming years. The BJP has to be totally focused on economic issues.

• The BJP must champion social reform, particularly women empowerment.

• What will distinguish the BJP from the Congress is an uncompromising adherence to ethical politics. Unfortunately, this is one area where the party has faltered. The Congress has stolen a march by inducting bright, young, idealistic people. This has helped it overcome the complications of dynasty.

• The RSS is increasingly being regarded as an impediment to change in the BJP. It is replacing its old moral leadership with organisational control.

• The party leadership looks and appears tired. The present leadership lacks combativeness. Modi, despite his flaws, is the only leader with energy and an inspirational quotient. I believe that pressure from below will catapult Modi to the national leadership.

• Modi must project himself as an aggressive moderniser. He must take care to shed frivolity and acquire more gravitas.

We have just about begun the process of discussion. I hope it continues.

NAINITAL ODYSSEY !!!

Well it all started with a small fracas with my parents. Stating the reason for this would be hard for me because usually these affrays are pointless and issueless, but most of them ending in me being provoked after my parents tease me to teach me a lesson for my academic blunders in the past. The end results is oftenly the same as I sequestered myself in my room and started thinking about my fault to stay at home even though I could have remained in Delhi and continued our bacchanalia in Delhi University. In between the quest for peace that was going in my mind , an idea strucked my mind and next morning to the disliking of my parents I was out of the home flowing away from the world of misery(my home) on my vehicle. Soon after my departure I picked up my friend (Vikas Dhanda) from Panipat ( the historical town).

We started planning for a trip to some hill station as mountains are the best place to vegetate after the mental strain I was feeling at home. Plan was to pick our friend Ashish from Delhi and drive away to panoramic view of lushing mountains. We started at night around 10 pm from Delhi and as usual Ashish who is one of the best and tireless driver I have ever come across was the speeder of our Maruti Swift. I was sitting at the back so enjoyed sleep during the night and after about 300 km we reached Nainital but plan suddenly changed and we headed towards Almora which is another 50 kms from Nainital. Believe me it was the most captivating view I have ever seen in my life. The valleys were ravishing and we were quite quite enticed by them. We all being very adventurous were delighted to find a forest nearby named Binsar forest.

Binsar is a part of Corbett National park but separted from it. We completed the circuit of Binsar reserve but could not find much of wild life since most of the part of reserve was under scourge of fire. Desperate for a glimpse of wildlife animals particularly Tiger, we finally decided to get out of the car and start an unarmed and unprepared expedition into the forest open area. Riskiness of such a so called stroll was being hedged by the delight we were about to get after a glimpse of a tiger but such a thing never happened and we went back.

After Almora we headed towards Ranikhet which is an army base and quite popular due to the liplock of Aamir and Karishma in Raja Hindustani. You can find a beautiful and well maintained Golf course and War Museum in there which is worth a see. By afternoon we headed towards Nainital to see the speciality of the renowned hill stations of north i.e the mall road where you can always find tempting and attractive girls. We enjoyed the sunset at mall road and had a voracious dinner since we were quite hungry. Finally next day we moved from Nainital and went to Corbett park and enjoyed the wild safari. We also traveled to Sitavani, a forest area and a temple of Sitaji. We could see some wildlife along the way. Finally after 2 days of eventful journey and relaxation we cruised back home since Ashish had to go back to work. I also returned home and now spending some quality time with my family.

Can AfPak policy stop Talibanisation?

It was only recently that President Obama’s emerging Afghanistan-Pakistan (AfPak) policy was based on the assumption that the key to solving the Afghanistan problem was a stable and cooperative Pakistan. It is a measure of the rapidly changing dynamics of this region that overnight it has become Pakistan that is the primary focus of both US and international concern. Predictions of it becoming a failed state are no more in the realm of speculative exercises.

The situation is quite perilous. In February, the Pakistan government struck a peace deal with the Taliban, acceding to the latter’s demand for the imposition of Sharia throughout the Malakand agency that includes both Swat and Buner.

Emboldened, the Taliban declared their intention to enforce Sharia in the whole of Pakistan claiming that Western-type democracy was alien to the Islamic way of life.The Taliban then occupied the district of Buner, a mere hundred kilometres from Islamabad. This set the alarm bells ringing in Washington.

Strong statements emerged from Washington. Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, talked of events moving closer to the tipping point of a militant takeover of Pakistan.

General Patraeus told administration officials that Pakistan had run out of excuses and the next two weeks would determine whether it would survive. The White House asked the Pakistan and Afghanistan Presidents to be in Washington for a trilateral summit with US President.

This sustained diplomatic pressure and the approaching summit had the desired effect and the Pakistan military which thus far had been a mute spectator sprung into action. Their operations were perfectly timed to soften the reception that the Pakistan President and his party, including the ISI chief, would receive in Washington.

Then, on the eve of the summit, came the news of a major offensive launched by the Pakistan Army inflicting heavy casualties on the Taliban. Pakistan was repeating what it does best — running with the hare and hunting with the hound!

Within two days, the mood in Washington had softened and the strong statements verging on panic moderated. With the Presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan by his side, the US President declared, “We meet today as three sovereign nations joined by a common goal: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al-Qaeda and its extremist allies in Pakistan and Afghanistan and to prevent their ability to operate in either country in the future.”

I am completely surprised as this statement emphasised terrorist activities only within these three nations. I have also felt that the US has always been somewhat ambivalent about expanding the definition of its war on terror to include Pakistani-abetted terrorism against India since it desperately needs Pakistan for its war in Afghanistan.

Clearly, President Zardari and the Pakistan Army had played their parts in this charade well. Pakistan was rewarded with good words and a cheque for $400 million.What smart fellows they are! They will even beat Shakuni Mama(Mahabharat) in the astuteness.

Where does this leave India? Judging by the tranquillity being displayed by the Indian security establishment amidst some of the most ominous security developments in the region, one can only conclude that the Indian foreign policy and security establishments are still basking in the glory of the Indo-US civilian nuclear cooperation deal and the anticipated strategic embrace that would propel India into world power status!

We are now faced with stark choices. A Talibanised or failed Pakistan is not in our security interests. Yet this is a possibility and in an environment where even friends and allies are putting their national interests first, we cannot be doing otherwise.

Describing India’s response to the Mumbai terrorist attacks as remarkable, Mrs Hillary Clinton told the House panel that both the Obama and Bush administrations had worked hard to prevent India from reacting to the Mumbai attacks and predicted that the perpetrators would not cease their attacks, in India, because they were looking precisely for the reaction that the US wished to prevent.

Clearly, the message to the soft Indian establishment is that while there may be more attacks, India must be patient and not provoke Pakistan, because that would hurt US and Western interests in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As far as the US and its allies are concerned, terrorism in Kashmir and the rest of India is a byproduct of India-Pakistan relations, and solutions lie in improving them. In short, the West’s war on terror is different from that of India.

Taking a cue, it is time for India to jettison the mindset that others will help propel it to great power status. It must make its resolve clearly known that its status will come from its inner strength and that it has the will to safeguard its sovereignty.

STABILITY IS PEOPLE'S VERDICT

The high decibel babel of Indian elections is over. Finally the electorate of biggest democracy has given its mandate in the form of stunning win for UPA alliance. It is all set to cross the magical mark of 272 to form the next ' STABLE' government, I repeat stable government. The reason I emphasised on 'stable' was the lessons this elections have teached the political bigwigs of the country that we dont want windbag politicians in our country, we want persons who can do some substantial work for the people and take country to the next level of development. Its a common feeling among masses that success defined by commitment to act will launch India into the next superpower orbit

Once again poll pundits, exit polls and arm chair analysist have been proved wrong by the mandate of the people. Some people are saying that this is the unpredictable side of Indian electorate which have proved wrong the notions of hung parliament prior to 15th Lok sabha elections but I feel Indian electorate has become more smarter and more mature which can be proved by the verdict clearly stating a stable government at the centre. What I could infer is that the verdict is influenced by three major factors:

1. National Issues are very important and cannot be neglected.
2. Power of Youth has to be counted upon and the next line of leadership should be present in the party willing to succeed.(Rahul Gandhi's factor which remarks the ressurgence of Congress in Uttar Pradesh by increasing its tally to 21 from 9)
3. Regional factors and good governance at state level also contribute largely to success.(Nitish Kumar, Sheila Dikhshit, Narendra Modi showing exemplifying success in their respective regions)
And the most important thing is to keep up to the promises made to the people.

I think these elections have completely shunned Communalism and Casteism that why parties like BSP have flunked in the all important exam of elections getting only 20 odd seats in the political Kurukshetra of Uttar Pradesh.
Another think worth mentioning is the targeting of PM Manmohan Singh as a weak prime minister completely backfired for NDA and even Mr Advani's demand for presidential style debate could not prevent him from sitting in the opposition. I feel that in the course of about 20 years from being the finance minister to the leader of the ruling party, he has changed from being a technocrat to a consummate neta. The transition was evident from the stand he took during the Indo-US nuclear deal but still calling him an astute politician will be far fetched. Well anyways the Singh has once again become the King and is going to rule for next five years.

But this verdict also inflict more responsibilities on the Government. Caught in the Vortex of a global slowdown that has derailed growth and terrorism in the neighbourhood, India no longer has the luxury of navel gazing. The exigency is the fallout of wasted years. I have always felt that two sentiments are prevailing in larger parts of the world i.e anti - americanism and islamophobia but thankfully none of them has still affected this hub in south east Asia which has second largest numbers of muslims in the world and this has been completely supported by the verdict of the people.
India is no longer just any Third World economy, it is a trillion - dollar entity getting notice at global high tables. An inadequate response, inability to decouple national interest from party politics and sloth may just stall its migration to First World. For too long, national interest has been subservient to political interest. Circumstance preludes hierarchy of choice. India must define and act in National interest and must respect the people's verdict because dont't forget...Democracy is for the people, by the people and of the people.