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EDITORIAL National Security Advisor Brijesh Mishra has done some plain speaking as regards addressing to contentious issues between India and Pakistan. He minces no words and is quite forthright that India is ready to go 'extra mile' for bilateral resolve of all issues including Kashmir. And the sooner it happens better for the sub-continental nations as also for peace in the region. It is precisely because of this overwhelming desire and policy for peace that.....more At long last State cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has approved grant of pensionary benefits as per recommendations of 5th Pay Commission. This point has been source of heart-burns and employees have been agitating for parity of pension with Central Government employees. This decision removes one specific anamoly which will benefit retirees and also family pensioners retrospectively from January 1, 1996 i.e. efective date of implementation of 5th Pay Commission report. Now retirees will not get ...more |
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VIEW
FROM AMERICA By Melvin Durai Kashmir
beyond By R K Kokiloo The
coming challenges By Ajit Jamwal Is trifurcation of State unavoidable ? By Sain Dass Sumbria |
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EDITORIAL National Security Advisor Brijesh Mishra has done some plain speaking as regards addressing to contentious issues between India and Pakistan. He minces no words and is quite forthright that India is ready to go 'extra mile' for bilateral resolve of all issues including Kashmir. And the sooner it happens better for the sub-continental nations as also for peace in the region. It is precisely because of this overwhelming desire and policy for peace that this country announced unilateral ceasefire and stopped all combat operations against militants in Jammu & Kashmir. It is again with this desire that ceasefire has been extended twice by a month each time so that all possible avenues could be explored in an atmosphere free from the influence of guns and those who have been wielding it. But to his dismay it has remained one-sided affair and Pak response has been dubious, flimsy and mischievous. It stands duly manifested in as much as Pak sponsored mercenaries and other terrorists continue to cause blood spillage. In fact, they have vowed to persist with it until Kashmir is fully annexed and integrated with Pakistan. This is the avowed stand of Muttihida Jehad Council of all terrorist outfits based in Pakistan. This has been pushed further in as much as at least two front-line Pak based mercenary outfits namely Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaishe Mohammad have threatened attacks throughout the country. In fact, they did carry out one in Red Fort while others stood aborted with their timely detection. The tragedy gets compounded and confusion most confounded in that Pakistan disowns them and says it has no control over them. This reflects self-deceit because soonafter overthrowing popular Government General Musharaff had stated that Pakistan is against terrorists but jehadis are not terrorists. Their mission is to liberate oppressed Muslims worldwide, Kashmir included. To that extent Pak moral support is always with them because they are fighting for a cause. Now he does somersaults and says that they are out of his control. The fact remains without Pak support they can neither infiltrate into Kashmir nor carry out any dastardly act. All the arms and ammunition wielded by them bears Pak Ordinance depot marks. To be precise they have displayed such deadly weapons in the open even in Pakistan congregations. Pak Interior Minister was visibly anguished over such vulgar display of weapons which he termed unlawful and quite unbecoming of any civilised country because it soils the image of Pakistan in world esteem. Unfortunately none in the power hierarchy in Pakistan is able to reconcile the above contradictions. Another noticeable fact highlighted by Brijesh Mishra is that Pakistan appears insincere in pushing forward peace agenda initiated by this country. That explains why all-out efforts have been made by Pak sponsored ultras to sabotage the ceasefire so that peace effort is aborted in the embryo itself. True, guns are silent in LoC and IB. This does not imply total withdrawal to peacetime positions or disengagement. Reports indicate that Pakistan has utilised this ceasefire to build concrete bunkers on their side. There are also reports that training camps for ultras meant for infiltration into Kashmir have been revitalised. It is thus a situation when Pakistan repeatedly says dialogue anywhere, anytime and anyplace. But as regards reining in mercenaries and stopping their heinous acts being perpetrated by them by the day, Pakistan likes to sidetrack it by saying, ''Let us not wait for them and let us get going with the talks. They will stop their nefarious acts after dialogue gets underway. It is like putting the Damocal's sword on our head and then dictate Pak agenda. At this stage there may be a poser asto why Pakistan continues to be hostile to whatever India stands for. This compulsive hostility shows no sign of abatement ever since dawn of independence. The second poser that probably crosses one's mind is Kashmir really the bone of contention? Assuming this is resolved will Pakistan give up its hostility? Third poser is what Pakistan gains out of such deliberate proxy war which is now 12 year old. Fourth poser is why Pakistan has ceased firing on the LoC/IB but keeps Kashmir on the boil with proxy war. Incidentally, all these posers stem from religious-based politics and two-nation theory. Another answer is that it wants to avenge loss of eastern wing (Bangladesh) in the 1971 war. In fact, proxy war is the brain child of the then military dictator of Pakistan Zia-ul-Huq who firmly believed that Pak could never win regular war with India and that low-key proxy war could achieve the same results as it undermines Indian economy, fuels communal disharmony and helps in the exercise of balkanisation of India into small fragmented States (independent). Yet another answer is that wave of fundamentalism is now too strong and Pak rulers have lost control over them. Now the extra mile which Brijesh mentions. This extra mile in fact provides enough of cushion to Pakistan for changing its mindset vis-a-vis this country. For any lasting peace effort terrorism has to stop. You just can't talk when there is rampant bloodspillage sponsored by Pakistan. As a UN member Pak just cannot give short shrift to obligations of behaving as a civilised nation. If they kill democracy, one can ignore it as internal business of Pakistan. But if they continue to kill Indians and target vital installations. Pakistan cannot be trusted. In fact, there is ocean of experience which makes Indian approach cautious. Yet it has taken some calculated risks with the hope that sanity and wisdom would prevail over barbarity and inhumanity. India is ready with that 'extra mile' treat as soon as Pakistan recalls its Jehadis and rein in Pak-based terrorist outfits which openly profess flying green flag on Red Fort. At long last State cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has approved grant of pensionary benefits as per recommendations of 5th Pay Commission. This point has been source of heart-burns and employees have been agitating for parity of pension with Central Government employees. This decision removes one specific anamoly which will benefit retirees and also family pensioners retrospectively from January 1, 1996 i.e. efective date of implementation of 5th Pay Commission report. Now retirees will not get less than 50% of the pay last drawn in the new scale as pension. Likewise their legal dependents after the death of employee/pensioner will get not less than 30% of the pay as family pension on the basis of pay last drawn in the new scale. This proves that Government is seized of other problems also in as much as many other recommendations of the Pay Commission have not so far been implemented in full nor the arrears paid. Likewise, J&K Govt is somewhat sluggish in releasing DA instalments whenever these fall due. Another decision taken by the cabinet relates to treating Village Level Workers (VLWs) at par with Patwaris with regard to pay scale and total emoluments. This will go a long way in removing disparity and discontentment. These VLWs have done a good job in carrying out successfully various programmes of Rural Development which hold the key for rapid and uniform growth of rural India. These decisions are welcome. |
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VIEW FROM
AMERICA By Melvin Durai Feeling brave the other day, I ventured into the kitchen and attempted to cook something. That was a big mistake, because I wasn’t alone. My wife, Malathi, was watching me closely -- like an examiner at the driver’s license center -- waiting for me to do something incredibly stupid. She didn’t have to wait long. "Why are you using frozen vegetables when we have so many fresh vegetables?" "I always use frozen vegetables." "Don’t you know that fresh vegetables are more nutritious than frozen vegetables?" "I ... well ... uh ..." I felt like an accused murderer who had justbeen declared insane. Malathi: "Your honor, my husband is definitely insane. He used frozen vegetables to make a stir-fry meal. Do you need any more proof?" Judge: "No, you’ve proved your case well. It’s too bad you married a guy who’s clueless in the kitchen." Malathi: "Trust me, your honor, that’s not the only room he’s clueless in." I don’t know why Malathi brought up nutrition. Had she ever seen me snacking on bean sprouts? Had I ever eaten a cucumber for dessert ? In my world, such foods barely exist. I hurry past them in the grocery store as though they’re carrying something contagious. Needless to say, I was soon fired from my temporary job as cook, dismissed without a single paycheck. Malathi took over the cooking, tossing all sorts of fresh veggies into a hot wok and probably wishing she could toss me in there, too. The bag of frozen veggies was returned to the freezer, where it will likely remain until at least 2005, the next time I try to cook something. Let this be a warning to all men: If you live with awoman, the kitchen is dangerous territory. You’d be safer in the Australian outback, wrestling with alligators. At least when they snap at you, it won’t hurt your pride. Before you even think about cooking, ask yourself an important question: Wouldn’t you rather save yourself a lot of trouble, as well as embarrassment, by choosing a better alternative, such as starvation? Just look at all the tools and gadgets in thekitchen and admit to yourself that you have noidea what some of them do. No, the big slotted spoon isn’t used to keep knives from sliding down the drain. And the flat wooden spoon isn’t used to swat the flies. It’s used to swat the husband. Don’t even bother with all the seasonings and spices. How can men be expected to understand coriander, cumin, oregano and thyme, when we’re still trying to figure out salt and pepper? My wife has so many spices in so many bottles, I’m beginning to think she’s a collector. Some seasonings seem so similar (try saying that 50 times). We’ve got not just garlic powder, but also garlic salt, and soon we’ll be getting garlic breath. And what about the refrigerator? If you can identify everything in there, you deserve apresidential medal of honor. Aside from occasionally fishing out the ice cream, I’m afraid to look through our freezer. It has far too many UFOs (unidentified frozen objects). Some have been frozen since at least the Mesozoic Era. You see, my wife has a problem, one that more people should have. She hates to waste food. When we have leftovers, she says, "We shouldn’t waste this," and she packs it up and sticks it somewhere in the refrigerator, where it will easily be found one day by archaeologists. Well, at least they’ll know we were concerned about nutrition. |
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The coming challenges for intellectuals By Ajit Jamwal 'Intellectual, is a person who views the society as continuously evoking and changing for betterment. Probably, it means that he does not believe in the stagnation of the progress. For him perfections in the system of governance do not exist. True to his character he strives for better reforms in the various institutions of administrative, legislative and judicial functioning of the State. The concept of welfare State as enshrined in the constitution would become a living reality only if the intellegentsia realised their responsibilities towards the teeming masses of the country and improve their social and political standing. Within the ambit of the above meaning, the intellectuals would include political leaders, administrators, jurists, technocrats, academicians and progressive social thinkers. Are these elite individuals contributing enough towards the ideals for which they live and talk about. In a parliamentary democracy such as ours, the legislature has been placed at the top of the executive. The all powerful parliament makes law for the people. The implementation of the policies so framed by the legislature is the duty of the executive which is generally made of bureaucrats. Where the rule of the people comes first the power exercised by the people's representatives is coming under lot of criticism. The concept of Abraham Lincoln on, for, and by the people is fast becoming a fading legacy. Where the power given by the people is used for exploiting them the entire concept of democratic governance is undergoing a fundamental change in the Indian context. The emerging pattern of our turbulent political times is undergoing changes by the day. Power thirsty therapy of the major political parties is giving feeling of political isolation to the common voter. As agents of social reform, an intellectual can inform the people about their social, economic, and constitutional rights. Judiciary is creating the right atmosphere for people to be heard. All the acts of executive arbitariness can be challenged by means of public interest litigations. This is a speedy and comparatively inexpensive way of providing justice to the people. However, it may be remembered that only those cases where the public interest is substantially caused to be harmed are within the purview of these litigations. What can be the possible causes for the declining value of intellectuals. Is it because of too much theoritical approach and failure to attack the contemporary issues in a more direct and positive way. It is a lamentable aspect that their contribution in improving the overall social, economic condition is dwindling. To make an effort to be politically accepted they will have to pick up the guantlet against established political doctrines. The language of politics as it today stands is full of deception, hackneyed customs of dynastic culture, and power mongering. For themselves to be heard loud and clear the intellectuals would have to think and act on practical terms. The identification with the problem at the grass root level and aggressively tackling those is the immediate challenge. There is likely going to be lot of hurdling in the process because of the traditional mind set of an average politician which is averse to any change. There is so much that these golden men can do with to many problems facing the nation which continue to defy solutions. These problems can be related to political unrest followed by massive violent struggles which the country is witnessing. Before coming to any sort of solutions put forward it is worthwhile to remember that political dissent is a healthy sign of democracy such as ours. Moreover, due to multireligious nature of our society where opinion of everybody is to be accommodated viewed from the constitutional guarantees. By nature the calm approach of an intellectual is proving to be his biggest drawback. The muddle created in the system has to be looked from the macro prespective by these men. It is the social ethos which is under a question mark of average intellectuals. Materialistic accomplishments will only help in clogging the everflowing contribution which these people can make. Most of them are satisfied with Mundane existence after years of service in their respective departments. Purely text book solutions to the problems is not the need of the hour. Leading from the front is what these men will have to accomplish. For gaining widespread public acceptiability they will have to tone down their brainy sermons and bring it down to the common level. The path is uphill and there is likely going to be heavy resistance from those quarters which believe in the status quo approach to the maladies which have seeped into the functioning of the State. Their struggle is the proverbial case of king Bruce and the spider. To oil the prevailing rusted system of the State and make it smooth is what is going to make a big difference to the status of intellectuals in the eyes of the people. |
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Is trifurcation of State unavoidable ? By Sain Dass Sumbria The day, the people of the Jammu and Kashmir achieved'' ''Independence'' from the Autocratic Rule in October, 1947, the Indian Sub-Continent had already been devided into ''Two sovereign and Independant Republics of India and Pakistan'' on the basis of ''Two Nation Theory'' propagated by some communal and fundamental organisation from past few decades. There was complete confusion and choas at administrative level in both the countries and the respective Governments had lost complete grip over the law and order machinery, which had totally collapsed. In both the countries, the innocent people of the minority community (Men, Women and Children) were subjected to the wrath of the communalists and mercilessly killed, their property looted, and the modesty of the women folk mauled indiscriminately simply because they belonged to the other religion. Taking refuge of this type of surcharged atmosphere, (full of communal hatered) the forces both within and outside the State, particularly those averse to the changed political scenario, being part of the fuedal system, or also to the establishment, suddenly appeared on the political horizons of the State and and started ''fanning communalism, and exploit the regional aspirations of the people'' to achieve their sole objective of Division of the State. Encouraged by the announcement of ''the infamous Dixon ''Plan'', these forces worked relentlessly for the acceptance and implementation of the Dixon plan proposals in a planned and systematic way which called for trifurcation of the J&K State, namely Hindu majority Jammu Division and Buddhist dominated Ladakh Region be merged with India, Pak held Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) and Muslim Majority areas of Jammu to be merged with Pakistan and carrying out of Kashmir as Independent state. They have however failed to achieve their objectives sofar because of resolute opposition of the overwhelming majority of the people, of the Jammu and Kashmir State. The demand for trifurcation of the J&K State is thus not new for the people of the State and had also been raised in the past in one form or other. This demand was once raised by Dr Karan Singh, the heir apparent of the erstwhile ruler of the State Late Maharaja Hari Singh, a prominent Congress leader and former Union Minister in Indira Gandhi Government at the Centre, of course in a different forms. He had demanded ''seperate Statehood for Jammu Regions'' and its merger with the State of Himachal Pradesh, which, according to him, culturally, socially and linguistically was/is much closer to the region, Union territory status for Ladakh region, and an automonous State of Kashmir valley. This proposal, however did not find favour either with the people of Himachal Pradesh, or with the majority of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and thus did not take off. These forces however did never give in but continued to strive, relentlessly, for the fulfillment of their objective ''Trifurcation of the J&K State (a step-forward towards the implementation of'' infamous Dixon plan'') in a planned manner. They did never miss any chance even of the slightest magnitude that was related to the disproportionate allotment of development funds or diversion thereof from one Division to another, proportion of revenue collection on regional basis, (whatever be the circumstances for shortfall) regional or religious disparity in Government Services, or selection to the professional courses, population growth etc. and exploited each occasion to the optimum level to the best of their capability and capacity and succeeded in keeping this issue alive. An objective indepth study of the issue would reveal that the vary basis of the demand of the ''Trifurcation of the State i.e. (i) Statehood Status to the Hindu dominated Jammu Region (ii) Union territory Status, the Buddhist majority of Ladakh region; and (iii) an autonomous status to Kashmir Region in the present scenario, when almost entire Hindu population of Kashmir Division has migrated to Jammu or other parts of country, due to turmoil in valley, is definitely a step forward towards the implementation of ''infamous Dixon Plan'' aimed at dividing the J&K State on communal lines. The propaganda campaign let loose by the BJP on changing the communal demography of the State in particular direction and the counter propaganda carried out by the politicians of the Kashmir valley including leaders of ''the National Conference'' are the series of events of the Plan outlined for creating the favourable grounds for the Division of the State, or acceptance of Dixon Plan, which trends are certainly dangerous and call for a passive and dispassionate view of the whole issue in its right perspective. It will not be wise in any way to ignore the sharp re-action on the Trifurcation issue by the 'Jammu Muslim Federation' and opposition to the move of Trifurcation by the ''State unity Forum'', who have expressed their displeasure to the ''Trifurcation of the State'' and even in mild tone indicated their intention for making out a demand of merger of Muslim Majority areas of Jammu Division with the Kashmir valley in case the demand of Trifurcation is further pressed and got practical shape. The bond of relationship between the people of three regions of the State of J&K i.e, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are centuries old and during all these 150 years, despite different beliefs, cultural heritage, language, historical back-ground and geographical conditions, these bonds of mutual relationship, trust and amity stood fast even in most difficult conditions and times. It is an admitted fact that at the time, the entire Indian Sub-Continent was burning in the flames of communal violence and thousands of people (men women and children) were subjected to the untold sufferings, the entire State of J&K, excepting few pocket directly affected by the ''Qabali Raid'' or where the fundamental communalists succeeded to arouse communal passion, was suite and calm and quoted an example of religious harmony, and for upholding the secular fabrics of Indian heritage. Even in the last one decade of turmoil, these forces have failed to break/wreck the bonds of this relationship or draw a line of wedge between the two major communities of the State despite their best efforts. The bonds of this relationship have rather further strengthened. It may be true that different ethnic groups, religious entities, small Nationalities and communities inhabiting the State of J&K with diverse cultural heritage, religion, language, etc. might have nursed an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust against one and another during the past 50 years '' due to the anti-people policies of the central and State Governments'' and the exploitation of the situation by the forces akin to the trifurcation of the State'' and such feeling do exist new amongst the people of one community against other but equally the sense of deprivation and step motherly treatment do also exist in different areas of the same region i.e. Districts. Tehsil and Block level, and this fact can in no way be ignored. There is a historical back-ground to this scenario. The trifurcation is no answer to this type of people discontent, which is bound to remain even after the Division of the State nor any solution to this problem. The position will further aggravate with the passage of time till the present system of governance based on disparities, injustice, favouritism, corruption, and all other kinds of exploitation etc. persists. There are other alternate solutions, also which included an indepth study of the reasons of discontent not only, at regional level but also block, Tehsil and village level, as also atmosphere of suspicious crept in during the last 50 years rule of the successive Govts and find out such a transparent system, which may satisfy all sections of the people. Strangely enough, the people who repeatedly complain of the disparity, injustice and regional imbalance and advocate the Trifurcation of the State never in the past or even now, insisted upon the Government for the restoration of Panchayats, Local Bodies and other such institution in the State, which have been defunct from several years nor the legislature of any political outfit have voiced their concern on the issue, persumably because they are fully aware of that in that event these members of such institution shall also share power with them, which they do not want. |
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