Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

By Wg Cmdr (retd) Sharad Dixit
A proposal has been put forth by the tri-service Chiefs of Staff committee (COSC) to create a Strategic Nuclear Force. If approved, this....more

Indian Muslims must
speak up!
TALES OF TRAVESTY

By: Dr Jitendra Singh
George Bernard Shaw often said, "The Englishman does not know how to speak English". That was inimmitable .....more

The grace of Pentecost

By P K Joseph Dhar
The laying on of hands is ---- the beginning of the sacrament of
confirmation which in a certain way perpetuates ....more

Demand for Koshal State gains momentum in Orissa

By Dr Bhabani Dikshit
Cutting across political barriers leaders of all political hues are seen lending their.......more

Preplexing political
policies on Kashmir

By-Prof. M.L. Raina
It is one thing to steer the ship of country, quite another to steer it clear of the dangerous rocks that lie in its way, so as to ensure a smooth sail. Again ......more

EDITORIAL

ACTIVE DAUGHTERS

The list is long. It has to be, considering the fact that quite a few included in the list are the daughters of men of consequences. Gone are the days when sons alone wanted to be in the limelight. India’s ‘bachelor boy’-Atal Behari Vajapyee, to be precise-cannot afford to incur the displeasure of his foster-daughter. She wields a lot of influence, but has acted well, unlike her husband, Rajnan Bhattacharya. Atalji’s foster-daughter has not so far become controversial, like her husband. Tradition-ridden LK Advani, too, does not have the courage to restrict his daughter’s freedom. Also active are the three daughters of Laloo Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi. The Bihari couple already created history of sorts by their ‘box office hit’, namely, producing as many as nine children. Laloo has been defeated by UP’s Jail Minister, Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan, who was blessed with a son recently after having fathered 10 daughters. One of the colleagues of Laxmi Narayan took a dig at the ‘never-say-die-spirit’ of the Jail Minister and wondered if he would spring a surprise next year by having another son, since the ‘jinx of female only’ progeny has now been finally broken. Make no mistake here, we are warned. Moon Moon Sen’s daughters, Riya and Riama, are on the prowl for, where else can you have those captivating smiles, the stunning beauty and the panache. And if you still have any doubts, do get a copy of the latest Elle where sisters get down to the bare facts of the magazine’s Swimsuit Special 2001 collection. You couldn’t have asked for more-two sultry beauties flaunting their biknies of all shapes and prints from crochet to vinyl to floral patterns. Some daughters of some Indian politicians and prominent personalities including bureaucrats have, in recent times, been found to be fond of liquor as well. But not on the pattern adopted by the daughters of the US President, George W Bush. According to latest reports from Washington, Bush’s daughters are under investigation for under-aged drinking. The manager of Chuy’s Mexican restaurant in Austin, Texas, was reported to have divulged that 19-year-old Jenna Bush and her twin Barbara tried to buy alcohol there illegally on May 29. White House spokesperson, Ari Fleischer, declined to comment on the incident, saying it was a "private family matter". White House has, on the other hand, evinced interest in reports from New Delhi in relation to Priyanka, daughter of the president of All-India Congress Committee (AICC), Sonia Gandhi. A debate is raging within the Congress on whether the charismatic daughter of Sonia should be asked to campaign for the party in the coming Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh or not. The Congress parivar is vertically split down the middle on this issue. A substantial section which is saying ‘no’ to using her gives the logic that using the ‘trump card’ in the Assembly elections may not yield the desired results as the party is at rock bottom in UP. This section, significantly, has proposed that Priyanka should be kept in ‘fixed deposit’ to be cashed in at the time of the Lok Sabha elections. This section’s warning: Exposing Priyanka at this stage may result in the ‘magic’ fizzling out without yielding the desired dividends. The other lobby which wants Priyanka to campaign says that unless the party’s fortunes begin to revive in the Assembly elections, the party cannot so well in the Lok Sabha elections. The logic this lobby gives is that unless the BJP is further dented in the Assembly elections, an early Lok Sabha poll may not materialise, which is essential if the Congress has to capitalise on the eroding image and popularity of the BJP and its allies in the wake of Tehelka and other scandals.

A strategic nuclear force for India

By Wg Cmdr (retd) Sharad Dixit

A proposal has been put forth by the tri-service Chiefs of Staff committee (COSC) to create a Strategic Nuclear Force. If approved, this would constitute the fourth Armed (or Defence) Force of the country. The reportage has attempted to link the proposal with various other issues like its subordination to the Chief of Defence staff, the amalgamation of the service headquarters with the Ministry of Defence and establishment of the Defence Procurement and Maintenance Board. This raises questions not merely as to the role and organisation of this 'Strategic Force', but also its probable efficacy.

Nuclear 'Power' is much more than weapon delivery capability with its associated functions. It has a role somewhat different from that performed by conventional forces. The magnitude of the force projected, the contingencies in which it is to be projected and the manner in which it is to be projected, distinguish it from conventional military power. The problems arising from the maintenance of a nuclear force are also distinct, albeit in type and degree, from those relevant to a conventional force.

Nuclearisation impinges both on the domestic and international scenarios, as was evidenced in the wake of the 'Shakti' tests and the promulgation of the nuclear doctrine. The immediate disapprobation expressed by many countries, the sanctions faced and the revision necessary to erstwhile stands on several issues, exemplified the international ramifications. Internal issues ranged from the political and the ideological to the economic, industrial, environmental and the security related factors. A synergetic approach is thus necessary to optimise policy formulation and implementation. This would inevitably lead to jockeying for pre-eminence amongst those involved.

The inter-services dominance of various disciplines in the context of integrated national policy depends on their relative impact on matters of 'Vital' interest. These would constitute areas that would impinge on our 'being', such as territorial integrity, constitutional independence or physical security. They could further extend to 'Fundamental interests' and to matters of lesser criticality. In the UK for example, strategic policy would be foreign policy led.

This is because no immediate threat to the homeland is envisaged and major interests lie overseas. India on the contrary is not yet a major international player and is subject to serious external threats.

It therefore needs to develop the elements of power, essentially economic and military. Diplomatic clout could follow. The primancy of security and internal concerns, thus, demands the limitation of externally oriented strategic inputs to the extent that they affect the former. Similar analyses should progressively and dynamically determine the forces's position in the hierarchy, its organisation and its structure.

The implication of the foregoing is that the proposed force must have a very high degree of autonomy. Its development and evaluation must not be hampered by bureaucratic snuffs. Its peace and wartime operation must be free of ambiguities. There must be a single linear chain of command with minimum 'advisory' links that bypass the chain. This would be impossible if the force is subordinated either to a single service or the CDS. The defence services have been politicised to a great extent, even internally. Operations have become secondary to administrative, logistical and other concerns. Such subordination would extend the malaise, adversely affecting the nascent force.

Once the skeletal form has been established, intensive studies would be necessary to determine the force structure. The inputs required would range from the general to the specific, extending from doctrinal concepts to identified targets. The types and numbers of weapon systems desired, their platforms, the deployment patterns and other operational imperatives would need to be conveyed to the scientists for the focusing of their efforts.

The need for the safety and security of the ingredients that would contribute to this force cannot be overstated. Consequently, foolproof (as far as possible) controls must be exercised over the development, production and handling of the systems and their components. Responsibility and accountability must be clearly defined. Minimum room for error or evasion must be allowed and the repercussions made serve enough to all, but rule out mishaps-accidental or engineered.

Signalling of intent is a vital component of deterrence. This is accomplished through several means. The first of course is demonstration of capability. A prototype does not constitute such demonstration. An arsenal is being, should be backed by technology. It requires an infrastructure and the execution of training and maintenance schedules to lend it credibility.

Peacetime efficiency, the communication set up, surveillance and warning systems and the speed of response of the command chain are other factors.

The survivability of the command structure, particularly of the National Command Post (NCP) is vital to the force. The corollary is that the delegation chain must also be clearly delineated at the outset. The US for example has identified seventeen steps in the ladder. Adequate attention must also be paid to the geographical separation of possible incumbents to enhance survivability through a first strike.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the functions related to a 'Strategic Force' are to be performed by several reverse agencies. Some of these would perforce need to be integral to the force, just as some must be independent. The accountability however must be unwaveringly uniform. The plethora of separate rules, terms of service, disciplining criteria and work ethics that plague us, particularly as we approach the higher formations, cannot be permitted.

A new act covering the service, its personnel (including those functioning outside its direct purview) shall have to be legislated. The tenet to be remembered is that a force is NOT a democracy. Seniority is NOT the main criteria for career progression or delegation of authority. Merit MUST supersede mediocrity. Unionism is NOT permissible. All are problems currently facing the services.

The 'Ship of State' it is said, is the only ship that leaks from the top. The doctrine promulgated vests nuclear power in the person of the Prime Minister. The President on the other hand is the Supreme Commander of the forces. A bifurcation of loyalties has been created. The responsibility for decision-making lies with the PM. Orders to the forces are passed in the name of the Present. Expediency and time have diluted this have diluted this procedure so that both the President and the Forces have been devalued. The strategic force would be a specialist one with functions largely district from those of conventional forces. A direct chain of command originating from the PM could therefore be considered.

The bottom line is that a force well conceived must not be neutralised at the inception by ill-considered decisions or vested interests. It does not comprise goodies for distribution to keep all happy. Financial constraints could dictate economies of scale, not of character. The force must be objective oriented and so structured. The suggestions being mooted presently do not bode well either for the nation or for the Force. PTI Feature.

Indian Muslims must speak up!
TALES OF TRAVESTY

By: Dr Jitendra Singh

George Bernard Shaw often said, "The Englishman does not know how to speak English". That was inimmitable Shaw's unique way to express that the English race had still much to learn to follow a civilised way of living which also included making a civilised conversation. One wonders what expression Bernard Shaw would have used in response to the most unbelievably uncivilised ways of Afghanistan's Taliban regime.

The entire world community is shocked by the barbaric Taliban's latest edict requiring Hindus to carry yellow stickers to distinguish them from the rest of Afghanistan's largely Muslim population. At a time when much of the West ---- led by an influential section of American opinion --- is trying to portray Islam as a threat to world peace because of its allegedly fanatical and intolerant postures, the Taliban's latest decree only serves to reinforce this accusation. There is also a section of American foreign experts who believe that the only parallel for the Taliban's barbarism is with the Nazi Germany of the 1930s and warn that throughout the 1930s the United States ignored evidence that Hitler's treatment of Jews would lead to a holocaust and eventually the price had to be paid in the form of a world war. This time around, the world must not wait till it is too late.

From the India's point of view, what is however a matter of immediate concern is the ambiguous response of the intellectual and religious leaders from the Indian Muslim community. There has not been a single outright condemnation of the ruthless anti-Hindu Taliban edict from any influential forum of Indian Muslims. This can raise serious questions about the secular credentials of the Indian Muslim leadership which has, on its part, always vociferously asserted its right to enjoy all impunities and safeguards against slightest anti-Muslim utterance or act by any Hindu organisation. Besides this, the Hindus living in Afghanistan are primarily of Indian origin and if they are found to wear yellow stickers as a mark of identification, it is infact an affront to the entire Indian citizenry and therefore by denouncing it the Indian Muslims will also have an opportunity to rebuff the accusation that they think of themselves only as Muslims and not as Indians.

By the way, where are those irrepressible Muslim protagonists who suspect a communal design in everything that a Shiv Sena, or a Bajrang Dal does? Why should they not learn to first condemn the communalists within their own community? And, where are those socalled liberal - secular intellectuals of the Kuldip Nayar or Tarkunde brand? Is their secularism confined only to writing, speaking and protesting against an alleged Hindu attack on Ayodhya's disputed Babri Masjid?

Be that as it may, the stakes are highest not for the self-professed Muslim leaders but for the common Muslim masses of India because while the leaders' vision is limited to their immediate political interests, it is the masses which pay the ultimate price. The right thinking people among the common Muslim populace will have to decide what kind of future they wish for their children and their successive generations. Do they wish their childen to be bogged down by retrogressive and non-progressive culture perpetrated by the Islam upholders of the Taliban brand or do they whish their children to enjoy the fruits of incredible new vistas of vocation and revolutionary Information Technology available to the children of their non-Muslim colleagues and counterparts?

The average Indian Muslim must speak up against this lest the common man in the community should face the consequences. In Islam, nothing is more un-Islamic than to bow down before demi-gods who use the name of Islam to sustain their authority. Umapathy prays for pardon on behalf of his counterparts who bow their heads in such unholy obeisance, "Khuda Maaf Kare Hum Gunaah - gaaron Ko, Buton Ke Saamne Sar Ko Jhuka Liya Humne!"

The grace of Pentecost

By P K Joseph Dhar

The laying on of hands is ---- the beginning of the sacrament of
confirmation which in a certain way perpetuates the grace of pentecost in the church."

That sentence is a very significant teaching about the role of the Holy spirit in our lives. It was written by the Holy father Pope Paul VI in his apostolic constitution on the sacrament of confirmation issued in 1971 when the rite of confirmation was revised.

What is this "Grace of Pentecost" that the Holy father speaks about? Let we find out by looking at the scriptures.

On the day of the Pentecost the Holy spirit came to the Apostles, filling them with spiritual power and boldness, enabling them to go out and build the church of Jesus Christ. Virgin Mother Mary received the same kind of grace at the Annunciation, she was filled with the Holy spirit and the son of God came into the world.

Lord Jesus Christ received the Grace of Pentecost when the Holy spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove at his baptism in the Jordan. Immediately after this event the Lord sent out to proclaim that his is the time of fulfillment. The reign of God is at hand" (Mark 1:15).

For catholic believers today the sacrament of confirmation has a similar effect. When we are confirmed the the Grace of the Pentecost enters our lives because the Holy spirit comes to us.

Those of us who have been baptized in the Holy spirit through our involvement in the charismatic renewal know what we received at confirmation. For most of us, nothing too profound happened during or immediately after the confirmation ceremony. But when we were baptized in the Holy spirit we experienced new power in prayer, in loving God, and in service.

What is the difference between the two? Confirmation is like being given title to a car. It does not mean you know how to use it, but it means that the car belongs to you. Without being irreverent I think, we can say that being baptized in the Holy spirit is like getting drivers training. It is God's way of teaching us how to use the vehicle that we are given initially in baptism and more fully in confirmation.

If we are fully to incorporate what God has given us in this Grace of Pentecost, we need to learn how to respect the Holy spirit as a person we are accustomed to relating to Jesus Christ as a person, and many of us relate intimately to God our father as well. But often we do not approach the Holy spirit in the same person. None of us would intentionally disdain the Holy spirit but often we do so by failing to relate personally to Him. Through out the ages wise Christians have called upon the Holy spirit and He has come to their aid. If we do not do as much, a great source of spiritual power is lost.

How do we relate personally to the Holy spirit? Why pray personally to Him when we can pray directly to the father in the name of Jesus Christ?

Our Lord and Savierue Jesus Christ Himself answered this question during His last super discourse. Jesus told the apostles that He would send the Holy spirit, the Paraclete, to lead them in all truth. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you (John 16:14).

The word Paraclete is the key. When Bibles were first translated into English the translators had some trouble finding a word to convey all that the Greek word Paraclete meant. Wycliffe rendered it "Comforter". But that was 200 years ago when comforter meant "Strengthener". Today "Comforter" means something more like "Soother". It tells us little about the nature of the Holy spirit.

Others have translated paraclete as "Spirit of Truth" or "Advocate". These words do describe elements of what the Greeks meant by paraclete, but the full picture is not conveyed by any single word. To understand the word paraclete as the apostle understood it when Jesus taught them is to grasp five related functions of a paraclete. The five functions all have to do with invoking the Holy spirit.

We invoke the Holy spirit when we need assistance

This implies our recognition of our weakness. We know we need help.

I find that it takes a long time to overcome the old habit of turning to the Holy spirit last instead of first. Many of us like to think we can do things pretty well on our own, and so we are slow to recognise the times we need to call on the Holy spirit to come to our aid. But when we learn this important truth and practice it in every day life the Holy spirit responds. Weakness becomes an opportunity and like saint Paul we can even boast of our weakness (2 cornthians 12:19).

We invoke the Holy spirit to enable us

The stress and struggle of life puts us in many situations that seem impossible for us to handle, but the Holy spirit is God's enablement for us to go through these situations as victors.

We know that the stress and strain of life often stretch us beyond our breaking point, but with the help of the Holy spirit we do not break.

We invoke the Holy spirit in times of confusions

The appropriate words in this regard are "advocate" and "spirit of truth". The Holy spirit is our advocate who leads us to truth. The catholic Church teaches us about the seven gifts of the Holy spirit. Four of these are the spirit's help in time of confusions. He gives us wisdom, understandings, knowledge, and right judgement.

We invoke the Holy Spirit when we struggle with evil

It is proper in times of temptation, and most especially in times struggle with evil power that we invoke the Holy spirit. In these times the spirit's work is to make Jesus present to us. This makes sense because Jesus came to overcome evil and establish the kingdom of God.

We invoke the Holy spirit in times of fear:

The Greeks used to call on a paraclete to stir up the troops before a battle. His job was to help them overcome their fear of enemy and to all upon their own great strength so that they could march into battle full of vigour.

Today, I believe, one of the most Parlay - sizing power is the power of fear. Even very good people are afraid of what others will think of them if they make a mistake. We must learn to invoke the Holy spirit inorder to overcome fear so that we can step out in boldness and receive the power of the Lord to proclaim His kingdom and extend His reign.

In conclusion I may say that if we follow the life and words of Holy father Pope John Paul II closely we will see that the relates to the Holy spirit most closely as the spirit of truth. Let the Holy spirit guide us always.

Demand for Koshal State gains momentum in Orissa

By Dr Bhabani Dikshit

Cutting across political barriers leaders of all political hues are seen lending their wholehearted support to the formation of a new Koshal state comprising of backward districts of western Orissa. Since independence, the tribal-dominated hinterland of Orissa has remained neglected, inspite of its vast mineral and forest resources.

The first hydel project of independent India, the Hirakud Dam was constructed near Sambalpur as a model of multi-purpose development project, but the manner in which the dam was built has caused widespread resentment among the local inhabitants as it entailed large scale evacuation effecting thousands of families. The people who were uprooted were treated as animals and were forcibly evacuated without paying them their rightful compensation.

The construction of the dam was meant to generate electricity, supply water for irrigation, and control floods. Though irrigation and electricity are two main benefits that flowed from the dam, it was perceived by the people of western Orrisa that the project was aimed mainly at controlling floods in the coastal areas of Orissa. Hence, the seed of discontent between the people of western Orrisa and the leaders of Orissa who mainly belonged to the eastern part, grew day by day. The belief that the dam is not in the interest of the people of west Orissa, keeps simmering all along in their minds even today. It is known to everybody that thousands of acres of fertile land was drowned during the construction of the dam in the western part of the state.

The people of western Orissa, due to economic exploitation and injustice meted out to them, are forcing theirs leaders to plead for bifurcation of the state and formation of a new tribal dominated state like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. In almost all the districts of west Orissa, one finds popular upsurge among the people towards formation of Koshal under the banner of Koshali Ekta Manch, Koshal Party, Orissa Sanskrutika Samaj, Koshal Rajya Sangharsha Samiti, Hirakhanda Mukti Morcha, Koshal Mukti Morcha, Veer Surendra Sai Manch and All Koshal Students Union.

Sensing the mood of the people, former Primer Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao had announced during an election meeting in 1995 at Bargarh that a Western Orissa Development Council (WODC) would be formed which did not take shape for a long time. During J. B. Patnaik's tenure as Chief Minister, the government officially announced the formation of the WODC. But it was Giridhar Gamang's government that constituted the long-awaited WODC under the chairmanship of Narasingha Mishra.

But when Naveen Patnaik became the Chief Minister, he dismantled the WODC at the first instance and took a very long time in its reconstitution. To the surprise of all, he discovered virtue in Ainthu Sahoo, who was in political wilderness for the last so many years, by making him the chairman of the council while keeping out many of his close and potential confidants from the race. Announcement of the new chairman's name for the WODC has also caused expected heartburning and bickering among the BJD and BJP hopefuls belonging to west Orissa. Though revised, the WODC document, by and large has been rejected by the people of the region on the ground that it was not an autonomous body and lacked a true representative character.

As the WODC is a nominated body, it is bound to remain a wing of the government machinery like a puppet at its command. Hence, the leaders of a separate Koshal movement have rejected the WODC outright. On the other, they prefer to concentrate more on mass movements involving participation of more people for the creation of the new state of Koshal.

Sandwiched between the two newly created states of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, this proposed Koshal region craves for liberation from the clutches of exploitation and injustice within the framework of the Constitution of India, so that its vast trival populace no longer faces discrimination and step-motherly treatment at the hands of the so-called political lords of coastal Orissa. Poverty, backwardness unemployment, migration and discrimination are the main grounds for demanding statehood.

Though major industries are located in this region, the benefits arising out of these are snatched away. The youths do not find any opportunity in terms of employment in these projects. The frustration among youth in these regions is coming to the forefront. They are much more assertive today, to the extent of calling vehemently for bifurcation of the state original for the last one decade and more, Orissa Day, which is the ceremonial day to observe formation of Orissa as a state, is boycotted in most of west Orissa on April 1 and observed as a Black Day a as mark of protest.

It is significant that the Sambalpur Municipal Council and the District Bar Association, Sambalpur, have passed unanimous resolutions for the formation of Koshal state a few months ago. The recent bandhs observed in Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Brajarajnagar, Kuchinda and many other places are eye-opening events that symbolize public support for the cause of Koshal.

As it seems there is growing solidarity among different factions in the Koshal movement. A large number of municipalities, panchayats, and gram sabhas of west Orissa have passed unanimous resolutions by demanding a Koshal state, thereby lending legitimacy to the ongoing movement. But it is unfortunate that the media at the national level is not taking cognizance of such a popular upsurge, as the mainstream news-flow originates from Bhubaneswar-the bastion of coastal Orissa. Suppression of news not only strangulates free flow of information but also lowers the standards and ethics of journalism.

Bhagabata Nanda, a lending intellectual spearheading the movement, while talking to this writer, said that as the movement was a product of the people, its outcome was bound to be successful as it happened in the case of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand. Whenever there has been a struggle against oppression and exploitation, the sufferers have won in the end. This is the lesson of history that we have learnt, he says.

It is remarkable that a large number of western Orissa have enlisted their mother tongue as Koshali-speaking or Sambalpuri-speaking in the last census enumeration to the utter shock of many pan-Oriya nationalists of Orissa.

Last month during the Assembly session, due to utterances of a west Orissa BJP legislator, Balgopal Mishra, there was an uproar inside the House. Minister for finance Ramakrushna Patnaik snubbed his BJP ally-member Mishra by branding him as a traitor and a mad person, which sparked off huge protests in the whole of western Orissa. On the Balgopal issue, there has been conflicting opinions. Many important leaders belonging to both the B JP and the BJD disapprove of his stand on Koshal, but interestingly the state leadership of BJP is unable to take any action against him as the party has many stakes in western Orissa in terms of vote bank that it does not want to sacrifice at any cost.

Presently, the BJP leaders of Sambalpur region are openly challenging their state leadership on the question of Koshal. There is a clear-cut division in the Orissa unit of BJP on this question of. The ruling BJD also is in a quandary on the ticklish issue of Koshal. The majority of rank and file of the Congress party of western Orissa also has come out openly in favour a Koshal state by participating actively in the protest rallies and bandhs in various towns and rural pockets.

Many Congressmen are eagerly waiting for the report of the Pranab Mukherjee Committee on the sensitive issue of creation of smaller states. It would be better for the congress party to take stock of the situtation prevailing all over the country and go for legitimizing popular movements in favour of smaller states that is going on in areas of Koshal, Telangana and Vidarbha.-CNF

Preplexing political policies on Kashmir

By-Prof. M.L. Raina

It is one thing to steer the ship of country, quite another to steer it clear of the dangerous rocks that lie in its way, so as to ensure a smooth sail. Again it is one thing to adopt a policy, quite another to adopt such a one as is result oriented. No such policy is in evidence so far as Kashmir is concerned. The ever changing political stances, over the years by the political masters, vis-a-vis Kashmir imbroglio have made the confusion worse confounded. The disastrous drifts born of indecisiveness and lack of political will to nip the evil at the right time have proved extremely harmful. What is more, the wilful obduracy not to place dangerous situations, arising from time to time, in their proper perspective, assess them adequately and control them effectively has resulted in the obtaining chaotic conditions in Kashmir which have had their negative fall our on almost all parts of the country. All political parties are equally to blame for such a sorry scheme of things. They have, all through this period of militancy, pulled in different directions for their political ends, throwing in jeopardy the security of the country as a whole.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the seemingly intractable Kashmir tangle has been allowed to snowball into its present formidable shape and size, and it looms large, threatening the country's solidarity and stability. Want of political sagacity and imagination have led to hasty and wrong decisions which in their turn, have caused havoc in every sense of the term. A disease that does not get proper and timely treatment or is not much in the same way any seditious uprising which is the nature of a disease, afflicting the health of a nation, if not treated (read crushed) effectively and in time, assumes a chronic status, and defies all treatments. Kashmir problem has become chronic and has, thus far, rejected all solutions.

The cause of this disease, the Kashmir problem has taken deep roots now can be traced easily to the initial indifference and compulsive sloth exhibited by the political doctors in diagnosing the disease (which has been ever the years, eating into the vitals or the Indian society as a whole) in its early stage and treating it efficaciously. More than a decade ago, the monster of insurgency raised its head in the valley which in the absence of any resistance, went on the rampage, feverishly and with all the monstrous energy at its command.

The then central Government, misled by the State Government, refused to give cognizance to the important inputs that flowed through different intelligence channels regarding the diabolical designs of the armed militants who had been trained on the soil of Pakistan. The then Prime Minister, in his flamboyant attitude pooh-poohed these intelligence reports and thus unwillingly gave a free hand to the militants who went on a killing spree throughout the state. The streets of Kashmir were ago with the deafening noise of bombshells and gun fire. Hundreds (to start with) of innocent people were done to death. Hell was let loose on the paradise on earth. The State Government of the day seemed to have gone on a holiday as there was obsolutely no attempt made by the law and order machinery to put stop to this madness. Amazingly the central Governent adopted the policy of "speak no evil, hear no evil, and see no evil". This was sheer political madness which carried with it the seeds of future destruction. Immense and irreversible damage had been done when there was change of guards at the state and central level. A hotchpotch government at the centre was now holding the reins of power. Situation which had gone out of control deteriorate further under the new dispensable. At one state when the turmoil had reached its zenith, the then Government was called to Delhi by the Home Minister (from Kashmir) for important 'consultations' and the former was obliged to remain away from the 'inferno' for day together. And that was the time when the militants were given a long rope to act as suited them the most. The monster of terrorism dug its paws deeper and still deeper into the soil of Kashmir. This was the time of complete drift referred to earlier. The leaders of the parties which had thrown up the 'Khichri' Government practised unrealistic and unpatriotic policies, and played to the gallery to create vote banks.

Many of them were excited, because they had tasted power either after a long time or for the first time. The intoxication of power blurred their vision and they could not see clearly what was happening in Kashmir or elsewhere. Kashmir was burning and wrong policies added fuel to the raging hell flames. The extremely grave situation was taken very casually and the outcome was for all to see.

The policies of the present Government on the complex problem of Kashmir are no different from the ones tried before. These differ only in content and style. However, a new dimension has been added to them and that is political idealism. The Vajpayee led government has been carrying out experiments which have a ring of idealism about them. The first came in the shape of the historic Bus Journey to Lahore. Vajpayee was the Chief passanger cum-messanger, carrying with him strand of love, peace and friendship. His address to a special gathering on the Pakistani Soil was surcharged with emotions and sentimentality. The Lahore Declaration which stressed friendship and peace was signed by the heads of Government of India and Pakistan. But this whole painstaking effort, or call it experiment on the part of Mr. Vajpayee ended in a fiasco, because the Lahore declaration (which later events proved was one sided) coincided almost with Kargil war foisted by Pakistan on India, exposing the former's hypocrisy and bizarre diplomacy. Then came the other idealistic experiment, the ceasefire which proved counter productive as there was spurt in terrorist activities, including attacks on army camps which had not occurred previously. So this experiment also proved to be an exercise in futility. It was abandoned only after it had done a large scale damage. Political idealism does not fit the present scheme of things. It comes into clash with political realism.The only thing we can say about Mr. Vajpayee is that "he is an ineffective angel beating his luminous wing in the void in vain". What do you do when you offer bouquets and get bullets, you offer peace and get war, you offer a hand of friendship and get bellicosity ? You can't afford to speak flowers when the otherside speaks fire and brimstone.

The Government has to come to grips with the hard political realities. Sentiments have no place in politics, especially when we are faced with an unpredictable enemy.

To assert on the on hand that Kashmir is an integral part of India and to invite Pakistan for talks is a contradiction in terms when Pakistan Government has made it clear that Kashmir is the core issue to be discussed. Why this selft deception ?

If Kashmir is an inalienable part of India, the government should take the proxy war as an evert act of aggression on this country and take the strongest possible measure to get it vacated. But has the government the much desired will power and spine is a million dollar question.

The Vajpayee led government like previous governments has given wrong signals to the enemy. Invitation to Mr. Musharraf for talks without any condition is a case in point. Mr. Vajpayee said repeatedly that there would be no parleys with Pakistan until transborder terrorism was stopped. This condition has been dropped. Mr. Jaswant Singh is simply explaining away things by saying that shelling on the borders has considerably decreased. Mr. Musharraf is talking his own time in sending a reply to the invitation. Why ? He feels victorious because the condition of transborder terrorism has been dropped at long last.

The latest experiment of government is the offer of talks for peace. Mr. Pant is on the job. He has already met Mr. Shabir Shah.

Nothing positive has come out Mr. Pant's parleys with Shabir Shah. It may be noted here that Shabir Shah has stressed the fact that Kashmir is a disputed territory wheras Mr. Pant has asserted that Kashmir is an integral part of India. Where is the meeting ground ? This experiment is also destined to fail, but all the same we wish the government's interlocutor all sucess.