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EDITORIAL There has been unprecedented media hype to Vajpayee's visit to Washington. Many people wonder asto what is very special about it, more so when President Clinton is on his way out as new incumbent is slated to be elected in less than two month's time. Many tend to question the timing of the visit on this count itself. There are others who tend to see only the darker side of the scenario. One cannot blame them because pessimism and ......more The Centre's decision not to develop any more memorials for departed leaders at the expense of Government is welcome. Belatedly, it has become a habit for the successive rulers to build memorials or convert allotted Government bungalows into memorials for even inconsequential leaders. The existing samadhis of national leaders however will continue to be maintained by CPWD as hithertofore. As far as funding of various functions to mark birth or death anniversary except for Mahatma Gandhi who is ...more |
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Displaced Pandits-IV From B L Kak Diamond: From mining By Kusum Mehta Dateline Bangalore By : S Narendra Vajpayee in the United
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EDITORIAL There has been unprecedented media hype to Vajpayee's visit to Washington. Many people wonder asto what is very special about it, more so when President Clinton is on his way out as new incumbent is slated to be elected in less than two month's time. Many tend to question the timing of the visit on this count itself. There are others who tend to see only the darker side of the scenario. One cannot blame them because pessimism and criticism is a way of life for them. The success of the visit has to be viewed in its entirety because whichever way one looks it is gain for India. First, a friendly America is an instant advantage for the very simple reason that USA is the sole super power and its writ runs everywhere. It blasted Chinese embassy during NATO's aerial blitzkrieg. It gets away with that NATO attacks on sovereign country itself sets bad precedence but then none could challenge it, least of all stop it. That is on the military side. USA also happens to be the economic giant and in position to manipulate world economic order. Nothing moves without nod from Washington. Be it the Security Council or World Bank or International Monetary Fund. Most of the advanced nations to what is termed as G-8 move in tandem with America with hardly any dissent. It has the capacity and wherewithals to mould opinions. As long as that is the reality, any nation would love to be on its right side. It includes China and Russia as well. To that extent and for all one knows about USA, end of fifty year long estrangement with America is welcome. Second, even Musharraf concedes that America has moved belatedly away from Pakistan as it refuses to endorse Pak dispensation or condemn India. Even Pak press highlighted this aspect. Never before Pakistan felt so much isolated. During Musharraf's visit to New York, none that matters even thought it expedient to talk to him. Instead his aircraft had to be delayed for six hours due to bomb threat. Bangladesh Prime Minister condemned military rule and its rulers and Musharraf was compelled to cancel his meet with her. By any reckoning it has been a total diplomatic disaster as Vajpayee during his speech to the Millennium summit demolished Pak case quite assiduously. Pak had expected Washington to be more kind and receptive. It has not happened. It is surely advantage India. Third, Vajpayee has not yielded any ground to Clinton on issues that have affected our relations in the recent past. On CTBT he is quite emphatic that his Government would endeavour to develop maximum consensus within the country. He makes it amply clear that India won't sign CTBT under pressure or at the cost national security. That shall ever remain paramount. Attempts were made to arm-twist India on Kashmir when Clinton mentioned it as the core issue and central to the normalisation of relations between two nations of the sub-continent. These off-the-cuff remarks were resented and America was quick to undo the damage thus done by reiterating that it wants respect for LoC, stoppage of transborder terrorism and then alone beginning of peaceful dialogue. This volte face by America proves that American administration as a whole is in mood to keep India on its right side and say or do nothing that affects the cordiality and speed of the good relations that need to be cemented rather than weakened with any frivolous remarks. In the normal course America would not have retreated so fast. That is again advantage India. Fourth, there have been both direct and indirect moves to offer America mediation. Even American President made specific mention to the effect that he can be the facilitator to resolve Kashmir issue. Vajpayee did not fall in the trap and firmly ruled out any mediatory role for USA. In fact, he did it very adeptly by ruling out any dialogue itself when he said, "Dialogue for what? For discussing weather or family welfare". After these remarks, American leadership stopped mentioning mediatory role. This is again advantage India. Fifth, America willy - nilly accepts nuclear India despite token sanctions still in force. It could be nuclear umbrella as provided by USA to Japan and Germany to address to the security concerns of India or India itself developing is own nuclear deterrent. The country opted to be on its own with independent nuclear deterrent rather than dependent umbrella. America no more protests implying tacit acceptance. This is surely an unprecedented advantage in as much as America is prepared to go to any extent to keep India on its right side. Sixth, agreements implying aid from various American sources to the tune of $6 billion mostly for infrastructure sector, power in particular, reflects Uncle Sam's mood to see India emerge as the stabiliser of peace in South Asia. It is a signal to American businessmen to tap vast potential of a country that has the largest middle class of 35 crore people ready to adopt, accept and opt for anything new offered in the market. Under WTO regime it would be a two-way traffic and consumer the largest beneficiary. India agrees to open up textile sector to America but it is well recorded that Indian textile industry is on firm footing and its acceptance worldwide is duly acknowledged. In the process Vajpayee expects American direct investment of $5 billion every year for the next two years rising upto $15 billion annually in the following three years. This again is advantage India. Lastly, there is joint effort on tackling terrorism and taking initiatives for a better world order when Clinton says, "Together India and the US will change the world". This should be co-related to the largest ever dinner hosted at the White House with extravagant praises for the Indian Prime Minister. This theme of 'togetherness' and how it gets concretised will be watched keenly by our neighbours notably China and Pakistan as also Russian President Putin who pays three day visit to India during first week of October also for working 'jointly' and 'together'. This is the best ever recognition of the largest democracy that is on way to occupy its rightful place in the comity of nations. The Centre's decision not to develop any more memorials for departed leaders at the expense of Government is welcome. Belatedly, it has become a habit for the successive rulers to build memorials or convert allotted Government bungalows into memorials for even inconsequential leaders. The existing samadhis of national leaders however will continue to be maintained by CPWD as hithertofore. As far as funding of various functions to mark birth or death anniversary except for Mahatma Gandhi who is Father of the Nation, Government will not incur any expenditure. Instead, it is left to the various trusts managing the memorials. They are at liberty to organise and spend as they deem fit. One time grant and allotment of plot for any trust/society for raising memorials may be considered on merit but otherwise Government would keep aloof from such memorials and/or incurring expenditure on celebrations of their anniversaries. To a pointed reference to the memorial constructed in official bungalow in memory of Sanjay Gandhi, Union Minister for Urban Development informs that this memorial was not a recognised memorial and that eviction proceedings are in the process of being initiated. This is despite the fact that Jagmohan personally was very close to Sanjay Gandhi. |
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Displaced
Pandits-IV From B L Kak A warning has been adminis tered to the powers-that-be in Srinagar and New Delhi to ensure that no more surrender or submission to anti-national elements in Kashmir is allowed. Yielding to the demands of Pakistan-backed Jamaat-e-Islami and like-minded organisations in the Valley "will mean nothing short of making them rule the land as an Islamic State" where religious fundamentalism alone will prevail and the displaced Pandits will find it impossible to get re-settled. If this is allowed to happen, the whole country will have to witness far reaching consequences, the book written by Prof. Gopi Kishen Muju has warned. The book says that no community or corner of India can be left unaffected by "any such yielding". If such a situation is allowed to occur, the book warns, they will have to think and plan for the lakhs of Hindus and other patriotic and secular forces "facing extinction in Kashmir at the hands of terrorists, fundamentalists and anti-national elements and their supporters and abettors". The book has highlighted two issues, namely, rehabilitation and re-settlement of the displaced Hindu population and retention of Kashmir as an integral part of India. According to the book, rehabilitation and re-settlement of about two and a half lakh Kashmiri Pandit migrants has become "a very ticklish problem". The book has made a significant point, namely, the return of the Pandits to the Valley "seems to be a distant hope" in view of the unabated terrorism, continued killings, looting and destruction of properties and regular encounters between the terrorists and security forces. While cautioning the authorities against the dangers inherent in the "wait-and-watch" policy, the book says: "Delaying may be too risky and dangerous and lead to scattering and end of the Pandit community as an entity in itself". In fact, Prof. Gopi Kishen Muju is of the opinion: It should not be a problem to accommodate the migrant population of Hindus even on a quasi-permanent basis outside the Valley, till their return to the Valley is possible. Describing his community of Pandits as "highly educated", Prof. Muju has pronounced: Pandits’ presence can be "only a boon" to the land where they settle. Stating that holding Kashmir as an integral part of India has become a complex political issue, Prof. Muju says that wrong policies and criminal negligence by the circles responsible for Kashmir affairs in and outside the State have led to the present crisis. The Government, too, committed blunders from time to time, which, according to Prof. Muju, paved "a good ground for subversion and insurgency and rise of religious fundamentalism and political exploitation in the Valley, leading to present turmoil". His prescription: Hard and fast decisions and actions taken on an urgent basis are a must to curb the on-going terrorism and havoc created by Islamic fundamentalists in Kashmir. A change of policy is a must. Yet another prescription by Prof. Muju: The Kashmiri Pandit community has to rise and fight for its rights, even as the nefarious designs of the terrorists and communalists would like to see the end of the Hindus and other patriotic and secular forces. In his pointed reference to the prevailing conditions in the Valley, Prof. Muju says: "It appears that the struggle will be a long-drawn affair and the patriotic and nationalistic forces, especially the Kashmiri Hindus, may find it difficult to return to Kashmir soon, though tyey are very eager and impatient to go back to their places of birth and origin at any time". A few lessons Prof. Muju wants to impart to his co-religionists are, of course, in his book. Lesson number one: A Kashmiri Pandit whose rights have been violated in the "worst manner and beyond description" has to rise and fight for his cause, his survival and existence. Lesson number two: A displaced Kashmiri Hindu has to define his priorities and work out for their achievement, he has to fight on his own. Lesson number three: A Kashmiri Pandit must wake up and stop day dreaming. He must give up living on false prestige and hopes, and stop philosophising and intellectualising every incident and event. Lesson number four: He has to keep all options open before him and play his cards b y himself and not let anybody else play for him, though help, cooperation, guidance and advice cannot be denied or ignored. Lesson number five: A practical action plan-and not coffee house discussion (a dig at the all-knowing, self-centred Kashmiri Pandits !)-is need of the hour. Lesson number six: He must guard against any exploitation and misuse of his position by any quarter or vested interest in any manner in this hour of plight. And Prof. Muju’s call: "Time has come when Kashmiri Hindus must speak their voice to air their grievances and have a common action programme of their own for the community and announce such a common programme from a single platform". Lesson number seven: Kashmiri Pandits cannot afford divisions and multiple representations. And Prof. Muju’s warning: Any lack of coordination in various activities and representations can only lead to adoption of divergent lines of action which may cut across each other and lead to contradictions, misinterpretations, misunderstandings, and even confrontations which can prove very harmful for the community. Advocating the need for integrated and well-coordinated activities of the members of the displaced Pandit community, Prof. Muju has placed himself on record as saying: "Community members will have to come out of their shells and shun their shyness and egos for this coordination. Let not our petty egos or interests make us strangers to each other even at this juncture of our refugee status". (Concluded) |
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Dateline Bangalore and India's poor image By : S Narendra Among Asian cities, Bangalore has come to be counted as a city of the globalized era along with Singapore and Hong Kong. Anything happening in this cyber-city, whether it be an attack on Pizza Hut by farmers' leader Nanjundaswamy or the successful launch of an international product is news and will go around the globe. Each happening in this symbolic representative of the globalising India vitally impacts international perception about the nation. The city was toasted in the past, but later it came to be taunted for its poor transportation infrastructure, uncertain water and power supply and highly polluted air. Fortunately, non-Bangaloreans were unaware of the crime wave lurking in the city and assumed that law and order were as salubrious as its climate. The kidnapping of Rajkumar has suddenly spotlighted this less known and mostly ignored problem of the city. The kidnapping of Kannada cine-god, Rajkumar by a forest brigand Veerappan has acquired a global dimension, because all stories relating to this avoidable incident have inevitably a Bangalore dateline. For political reasons, the State Government cannot attempt to gain any mileage from publicizing the fact that the cine-god was wanting in his judgement: he built a very ostentatious bungalow in the brigand's backyard and compounded the mistake by ignoring police warning that he was a prime kidnapping target and should be on his guard. For the same set of reasons, the Government can also not refuse to negotiate with Veerappan, wanted for dozens of murders, kidnapping, poaching and smuggling. By displaying from the first hour of the crisis its desperation, helplessness and willingness to bend backward to meet the criminal's demands, the Karnataka Government has shown itself in a very poor light. If the Centre can cave in at Kandahar to international brigands, there is nothing particularly inappropriate, if a provincial Government bends to the wishes of a home-grown brigand. This fits in with the prevailing federal ethos. Rajkumar is not just anybody. Anything he does is prominent news. He was close to completing a very conspicuous house in a vulnerable environment. His desire to perform the traditional house warming ceremony must also not have been a secret. But the State intelligence establishment was content with its story of having communicated a warning about a possible kidnapping attempt several months earlier. No precautionary bundobust for the actor's safety seems to have been enforced. There is no evidence of the State Government having taken any action against such police incompetence. The federal Government in Delhi has come out as a clue-less spectator, contributing to the overall image of India as a soft State. The recurring mayhem created by militants in Jammu & Kashmir, coincident with the Karnataka imbroglio, reinforces this pitiable plight. Routine finger-pointing at Pakistan by the Prime Minister and his colleagues does not relieve this impression of India as being an inept third world country. Until Rajkumar's abduction, the perception was that large-scale violence, kidnapping, massive unchecked crime and general neglect of governance were largely the attributes of the States above the Vindhyas. However, the manner in which the Centre and the two relevant States have so far dealt with the kidnapping and the media coverage Veerappan is receiving would go to promote a 'balanced, unified' image of India- a State ruled by a weak political system having a strong nexus with the underworld. No policy-maker has yet noticed the importance of the Bangalore dateline and its implications for India's globalisation itinerary. And Kashmir Valley and India's Silicon Valley have been allowed to slip into the same basket. This despite the fact that the Prime Minister of Japan, during his visit to Bangalore, went out of the way to eulogise the city and the State of Karnataka for its contribution to not only IT but for the entire field of science and desired a partnership with his country. Perhaps people have forgotten that only five years ago France pulled out of its collaboration with the semiconductor plant at Chandigarh, because of militancy in Punjab and neither Indians nor foreigners wanted to invest in that State. Controlling crime and enforcing the rule of law is more basic than roads, airports, ports or any other infrastructure for both investment and development. Governments must not only rule but also appear to be in the business of ruling well. In Image Marketing, often image is the reality. If India aspires to be an information superpower and an emerging economic power, no amount of delicensing and privatizing will give her the opportunities, if she is seen to be acceding to ransom demands of lawless elements. Take a look at the former Soviet Union or Russia. There is no governance worth the name and private armies roam and hold trade and business to ransom at every point. It is seen as a weak and insecure State. International supplies of goods mark up their price, if they are required to transport goods over land as they have to pay heavy private tolls. Nearer home, this practice prevails in the North-East States, but gets less noticed. West Bengal is another case in print. The State is haunted by its image and few investors are walking into its wide opened doors. Investors began to migrate to south in the wake of Bangladesh war. Bangalore attracted their attention, because historically it had a strong industrial base and technological shine. In the 1980s and 1990s it grew up into an electronic and digital capital. It was the first city in India to get wired to the digital world abroad and drew envious headlines. It was Prime Minister Vajpayee who gave the slogan from here- Let more Bangalores bloom. Every time an Indian spacecraft goes into orbit, inevitably the proud story is anchored in Bangalore. Some datelines in the world draw more attention than many others and Bangalore dateline has acquired an international flavour. Therefore, the deal that is being struck by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu with Veerappan cannot be looked upon as a private or regional affair. India cannot let down this city because of the brigand's political nexus. Nor can the expected temporary political fallout from the outcome of this farce be allowed to weigh heavily on the line of action to be taken. India as a global player has a stake in the resolution of this farce. Both Central and State leaders must keep in front this important factor, while working for a way out- CNF |
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Vajpayee in the United
States Naturally, extensive cover age has been given by the Indian press and media to the ongoing visit of the Prime Minister to the United States. Mr. Vajpayee reciprocated the visit of President Clinton made in winter last. As usual, political analysts are making a various speculations on Indo-US bilateral relations. More euphoric among them call it the opening of a ‘new chapter’. More smart correspondents link it to what they consider cooling of relations between Washington and Islamabad. Very few are able to maintain reasoned balance. In the first place, Presidents and Prime Ministers in democracies like the two in question seldom influence the course of events and established bilateral and multi-lateral policies in a very big way. The gregarious animal called the state bureaucracy moves very seldom and very slowly. Pakistan is a classical example of imperialist and colonialist policy of divide and rule. This is what Pakistani rulers in plain clothes or in olive green know and need no convincing. The imperialists had extraordinary good and realistic understanding of the psyche of Muslims of the subcontinent. Over the years, neither that psyche nor that understanding changed; rather developed into strong mindset In the imperialist chemistry, Islamic super-sensitivity remained an .important ideological lever in countering the rising crescendo of communist culture. It was most effectively used in Afghan war in recent years. In the case of Pakistan, this sensitivity is promoted as an antidote to the emerging secular-democratic Goliath in south Asia called Indian Union. Foreign policy of the two antagonistic countries of the subcontinent is oriented along. Point – counter Point maneuvering. Who has scored a point and who has lost it, is a subjective question and also a moot question. Naturally, the unscrupulous press in both the countries craves for the pound of flesh, which it often has. The base line of Washington’s policy towards the two countries has to be something like this. As for Pakistan, the emergence of religious extremist organizations with a definite and rather impulsive jehadi agenda is all right as long as its long arm does not really hurt the interests of the Americans. As long as terrorism springing from these organizations subsists on narcotic booty, it is reasonably tolerable for them. The US policy planners, taking cognizance of the reality of narcotic money power, have set a limit to the clandestine import of drugs into the US. Once that limit is crossed -- and the Afghan-Pak narcotic barons know they will not cross it – the US administration will retaliate. It did once in the recent past. For the US, full dependence of Pak-Afghan sponsored theo-fascism on drug money is a good riddance. Otherwise, the CIA had to open its coffers. For the US, divergence of Pak-Afghan Osamites, Masudites, Fazlullahies and other theo-fascists to Kashmir front is a welcome development because it lowers tension and the intensity of strife on Israel-Palestine scene. When the US State Department declared Harakatul Ansar a terrorist organization, it was not to oblige India where the outfit was very active in Kashmir. Washington had her own threat perceptions and compulsions. The murder of American diplomatic personnel in Karachi and the adventure of Aimal Kansi in gunning down a CIA official in front of his office in the US provoked Washington into action against the outfit. Yet when it changed its name and reinforced its agenda of terrorism in India, Washington kept silent. The much-trumpeted exercise of the Indo-US Working Group on Terrorism has to be seen in the light of this basic policy of the US vis-à-vis transnational terrorism. The US interests in Central Asia, after the implosion of the Soviet State, have increased manifold. Afghanistan and Pakistan are geo-politically crucial to these interests. The outlets of Central Asian gas and oil via Russia or the Caspian region or Iran are all fraught with dangers and uncertainties. The only viable and dependable outlet, according to the American perception, has to be through Herat in Afghanistan to Kabul and then to Karachi port in Pakistan. This is the reason why Unocal and the BP tried their best to strike a deal with the Taliban whose delegation was taken all the way to Texas for negotiations. Ultimately, Afghan imbroglio has to come to an end. Washington sees a redeeming factor in Taliban – Northern Allies ongoing conflict. There is nothing surprising in that. If they fight to finish, then a famished Afghan polity with extensively weakened military muscle would be an ideal situation for the laying of gas pipeline from Daulatabad gas field in Turkmenistan to Karachi via Herat and Kabul. It would also open the prospect for the transport of Tengiz oil in Kazakhstan. This, therefore, is the new geopolitical importance of Pakistan and Afghanistan for the Americans and her allies. Undoubtedly, the Pakistan of today is of much more political significance to the Americans than the Pakistan of cold war days. Central Asian energy sources apart, American interests in the region have many new dimensions. Russia is still struggling hard for survival and re-emergence after having met with the trauma of disintegration as a leading socialist state. A less encumbered and committed Russia could have the potential of becoming a strong Eurasian power under liberalised political and economic conditions if her economy gets stabilized. If left to fend for itself and saved of distractions and divisive forces, Russia would emerge a formidable force to be reckoned with in the new Great Game in Central Asia. We should not forget that Russia has lately announced resumption of normal air communication with Iraq. Russia continues to be the biggest arms supplier to India and many Asian and African countries and retains an advanced missile system. Pakistani theocratic regime and its theo-fascist groups are needed for pinning down Russia in Chechnya. The Islamic legions might be needed in Tataristan, Crimea, Ingushetia, and at other Muslim centres in the Russian Federation to carry the green crescent. How then can the US ignore Pakistan? On the side of Indo-US relations, Washington has no doubts about India’s past camaraderie with the Russians. She has taken it for granted. If Washington has stopped blackmailing New Delhi on CTBT issue; it is because the US Congress has not voted in favour of CTBT. But Washington will not relent despite her domestic resistance to CTBT. On Kashmir issue, Washington first tried Sheikh Abdullah to declare himself a Sultan with Kashmir as his Sultanate. Let us recollect Sheikh – Adlai Stevenson meets in Srinagar in early 1950. Thereafter, American stand on Kashmir is that it is a disputed territory, an assertion that endorses Pakistani stand. American has been overtly and covertly offering to mediate; she does it now as well. A number of plans for solution of Kashmir emanated from the American or pro-American intellectuals. More recently, Clinton says that Kashmir is the core issue in Indo-Pak bilateral animosity. India, a country with such a large middle class is an obvious attraction for American multinationals. Unfortunately the BJP government at the Centre thinks that Washington will become her trusted and close ally in eliminating militancy in Kashmir and the subcontinent. It forgets that Kashmir militancy could never happen without the blessings of American agencies. Nor could it continue for eleven years without their consent. The Saudis, who, in turn, act on the behest of Washington friends, finance Kashmir insurgency. Wahhabism sustains Saudi monarchy and Islamic fundamentalism is the other name of Wahhabism. New Delhi should understand that it is not faced just with militancy in Kashmir. The Islamic extremists have a larger agenda up their sleeves for India and the recent Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) should be an eye-opener. |
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