Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

By Ajit Jamwal
At the height of the nationalist struggle, the people of the country stood as a single entity against the ruling British. The foreign rulers tried to...more

Protection of biodiversity

By Dr K C Bhagat & Dr R D Gupta
The Bio-sphere or sphere of life is the ''envelope'' encircling our planet earth in which any form of life exists naturally. Although, it....more

Chandrasekhar Azad :
A forgotten patriot

By K K Khullar
There is a story of a widow of a freedom fighter in whose house in Lahore, in the late twenties, Chandrasekhar Azad sought...more

The Inside Truth-I
Has George Fernandes links with J&K terrorists?

From B L Kak
Having equipped himself with a variety of classified inputs till his dismissal as the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) on December 30, 1998, Admiral Vishnu ....more

EDITORIAL

EROSION OF CONFIDENCE

There is nothing right with the functioning premier stock exchanges in the country, more so Bombay Stock Exchange whose behaviour has countrywide fallout. It continues to be treated as personal property for using all types of manipulative skills to rob the small investor in particular of his precious savings. Volatility in market is acceptable provided there are some substantial factors like warlike situation in any part of the world, bad budget and/or worldwide crash in certain economy shares. The manner in which bears hammered the stock market on March 2 during the last hour of the trading session causing crash of 176 points has eroded the confidence of investors in share market. This fall was followed by another large one on the next trading day. The fall is not only unprecedented but foul smell has begun to emanate from those at the helm in the premier Bombay Stock Exchange.

At this stage one can delve into this aspect from various angles. The budget sent cheers to the investors and the nation's stock markets. BSE rose by 177 points on Feb 28. It was mentioned as an all time favourable budget for revival of capital market. Many concessions were given to industry and incentives offered. One would have expected upward momentum to sustain itself. But there was that black Friday that sent the market crashing by 176 points. As if this was not enough, on the following Friday i.e. March 9, there was another crash of 235 points largely attributed to payment crisis in Calcutta Stock Exchange. There was some recovery at fag end of the session with net loss of 175 points. This is simply ridiculous and unacceptable. Such bear hammering on two successive Fridays makes mockery of the stock exchanges and their regulatory authority i.e. SEBI which probably has no immediate answer for such tailor-made fall.

In retrospect it will be apt to mention manipulation of stock markets in 1992 by the big bull Harshad Mehta in the company of broker Parekh. Thousands of crores were lost by the small investors as also institutional investors. The big bull incidentally is back in the game; so is Parekh. The so-called enquiry remains elusive even 9 year hence It is strange that end-users of this largest ever financial scam remain elusive even today which clearly indicates hands of the bigwigs who must have got their share. It was stated by Harshad Mehta that he paid Rs one crore as gift to the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao bundled in one suit case. He had subsequently demonstrated in public how one crore worth notes could be stuffed in that particular attache case. He also relayed some tapes and the chronological record of how he reached the PM's pre-arranged place. But that episode remains confined to the burial of the scam itself. Ever since capital market remains in perpetual distress because both small investors and FIIs confidence stands shattered. They are all net sellers at throw away price with hardly any buyer. It is totally Bear's market and Bulls remain in shock-State. It is equally apt to recall that in 1998 also there was scandlous situation in BSE when its President JC Parekh was sacked by SEBI for his involvement in price manipulation. The shares thus manipulated related to Videocon, BPL and Sterilite. The last company is the same to whom BALCO shares have been sold by the Government allegedly at throwaway price. That enquiry is still incomplete by the regulatory authority namely Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Mar 9 crash stands attributed to payment crisis in Calcutta Stock Exchange where too present President is Kamal Parekh. March 2 crash also brings in Ketan Parekh, be it as a bull or bear. One really does not know whether only surname is same or there is closer kinship. One also cannot ignore rigging of Global, Trust Bank share before its final merger with the UTI Bank.

All the above episode are shocking because they have made it impossible for the small or institutional investors to repose their confidence in nation's bourses. Capital market instead of getting revived suffers jolt after jolt which looks like totally manipulated affair defying all logic. Yashwant Sinha for a change gropes in the dark. He says there are no payment crisis in bourses. In fact, there are indeed such crisis as manifested by volatality in Calcutta Stock Exchange which affected BSE also materially. The million dollar question is where the small investor goes and where does he invest his hard-earned money? You have reduced interests rates in post office schemes by a hefty 1.5%. One of the reasons for slashing interest rates was to distract investors from small savings to capital market either through Mutual Funds or direct buying. The reports indicate that fresh deposits during the current month in post offices are very less. Obviously, investors are looking for greener pastures. It is a cul-de-suc at the stock markets as well with crash after crash. Institutional investors who also make their buy of shares have too suffered due to this unprecedented crash on two successive Fridays. One begins to feel that there are forces out to destabilise Indian market in which BSE has played pivotal role. True, its President Anand Rathi has resigned for allegedly leaking out vital information to select brokers that caused convulsions and high volatility in BSE. Enquiry is ordered. But neither the 1992 nor 1998 enquiry is complete. One begins to wonder how strong is the hand that makes these enquiries virtually infructuous. There is indeed much more to it than meets the eye. Thorough overall of country's bourse is long overdue. Perhaps, they can be reshaped to conform to National Stock Exchange pattern. Finance Minister must tell the investors where they should put their hard earned money. Revival of economy is directly related to revival of capital market. Capital market will never revive unless the shattered confidence of small investors and the FIIs is restored through series of legislative and other measures.

WOMEN'S DAY

One really does not know what International Women's Day mean to the feminity of this country. But a wonderful idea given concrete shape by the bachelor Prime Minister has done wonders. He invited all the gliteratti among women of Delhi, the national capital. From fashion designers like Ritu Beri to women pilots it was a wonderful treat for the feminity with menu prepared by the Maurya's and served by the girl-trainees in Hotel Management. It must have been calculated excercise as those who made it to the teaparty indicate good preparation for identifying women-achievers and that too who were present in Delhi. The First Lady Usha Narayan, Second Lady Suman Krishan Kant, Mohini Giri, the former Chairman of National Commission for Women, the politicians who are in the reckoning like Sonia Gandhi, Sushma Swaraj and Sheilla Dixit all were the honoured guests of the Prime Minister. And there were those small time achievers like Flying Officer Karishma Bhalla and Lieutenant Meetu Mathur who have entered the hitherto exclusive male bastions. Prime Minister says 'yes' to Women Reservation Bill but perhaps reminds the 'achievers' that they have done it even otherwise in virtually all fields. This message is inferred when he says, ''There will be no reservation within reservation. The bill have to be passed in its present form''. He knows it will not happen that way. But this gathering of women, the achievers', will not forget the memorable tea-party, the first ever face-to-face encounter with such large number of women-achievers by any Prime Minister since independnece. When specifically questioned how he felt amongst so many women, Vajpayee just smiled off the question with that grin of the seasoned politician.

Secularism and communal violence

By Ajit Jamwal

At the height of the nationalist struggle, the people of the country stood as a single entity against the ruling British. The foreign rulers tried to poison the minds of the people by using the policy of divide and rule. In 1905, the ruling administrators partitioned Bengal to break the Hindu-Muslim unity. Similarly, the communal award announced in 1932 during the second round table conference gave separate seats to the backward castes on caste basis. The foreign rulers failed to realise that India existed as a unified political entity for centuries because of nature of social fabric of the country. A religion called secularism has been the bedrock of communal brotherhood in the country. This religion believes in mutual respect of all faiths and the principal of brotherhood based on peaceful co-existence.

This concept of mutuality of all religions existing in the country received a setback when the freedom movement got communalised. The outcome of such politics was the partition of the country which was based on Jinah's two nation theory. Since independence we had to witness many separatists movements.

All these violent agitations are beginning to have a impact on the traditional bonds of brotherhood existing in the country. The strained relations between various communities is giving rise to feelings of animosity between the people. Terrorism in Punjab had a temporary effect on the peaceful relations between Hindu-Sikh unity. Selective killings carried out by militants were creating feelings of alienation among the people who had been living as one single family. One of the main factors which was responsible for the return of peace in Punjab was when the people realised the evil intention of the separatist movement which was aimed at destablising the peaceful relations prevailing between the various communities. Many people were killed by the terrorists to fulfill their designs but in the end the resolve of people to live in communal harmony had the final answer. The violent movement thus ended in a complete failure.

The turmoil in Kashmir valley which has so far claimed eighty thousand lives is showing no signs of receding. As was the case of Punjab, the terrorists are following the strategy of dividing the people on communal lines for purposes of projecting their cause. As a part of their plan, they first targeted the Kashmiri Pandits and now the increasing tension on account of fresh violence. The violence is at the behest of countries inimical to India's growing status of a global power. Till date, political manoeuvering has not been able to solve the present problem satisfactorily. Had killings of innocent people solved the problem, all the questions would have been settled by now. We are paying a heavy price in terms of human life to maintain our valued traditions of peace.

Hindu-Muslim unity has been the foundation of our social fabric. This was manifested in the form of sufism which represented the cultural synthesis of Indo-Islamic unity during the medieval period. However, when politics is mixed with religion, the essence of cultural unity is lost. This is what has happened with Mandir-Masjid issue. The vexed dispute is proving to be a stumbling block in the communal harmony of the nation. As the issue is beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals, and so it was prudent to leave it for the courts. The explosive mix of religion and communalism is leaving little room for compromising postures. People of our country have shown feelings of undiluted nationalistic spirit during times of crisis. Be it in the face of external threat or natural disasters we have endorsed our united stand to fight against any emergency situation arising. The Cancer of communal hatred is more dangerous than anything one can imagine. It attacks the roots of integrity of the nation. Under trying circumstances we have stood as a unifying force to defeat the evil designs as innumberable instances of sacrifices of people for the cause of unity prove this. To fight the enemy of communal hate requires the yearning for living in peace and prosperity.

Everyone of us has a responsibility to the above cause. Political leaders would be doing a great favour to us by sparing religion from politics. They have to rise above the level of petty politics and fight the menace of communalisation. The heavy politicising of a recently held religious festival is showing that the trend is irreversible. Political parties displaying communal agendas have so far not been able to achieve total dominance. Even traditionally known secular parties are known to be picking the thread of communal politics. The whole process of communalisation of political activity in the country is slowly going to affect the vitals of our concept of secular co-existence. A similar situation prevailed during the partition days. At all costs we cannot allow the situation to drift and become another cause of division. Pessimism is going to take us no where and we are left with the only alternative of fighting the trend with compassion and benevolence. Answering violence with violence is only deepening the crisis. It's only when the enemy realises that it is impossible to break our brotherhood bond that they will give up their desires. At that instance victory shall be ours.

In no way tolerance should be taken as a sign of cowardice. Tolerance has to be viewed from the spirit of accommodation, it generates. Religion has no place in the polity of our nation.

This was the spirit of the founding fathers of the constitution. Any move to disgress from the basic tenets of the constitution would have serious repercusions on the communal harmony of the country.

Protection of biodiversity

By Dr K C Bhagat & Dr R D Gupta

The Bio-sphere or sphere of life is the ''envelope'' encircling our planet earth in which any form of life exists naturally. Although, it extends from deep in the lithosphere i.e. occurring in the trenches below 13,200 ft. and suspended high in the atmosphere about 3300 ft. to over 20800 ft. in Himalayas and several life forms have been reported from the fields of Anarcitca, it is still relatively thin and fragile. The resources of the bio-sphere can be both inorganic (air, water, soil mineral etc) or organic (plants animals and microbes) and all these together sustain man, woman and child, in some way or the other. In the lap of Mother Earth Biodiversity.

The terms bio-diversity encompasses all species of plants, animals and microbes as well as the ecosystem of which they are integral part, Biological diversity is an umbrella of terms for natural variety-genes, species and eco-system. An ecosystem is a self sustaining habitat in which living organisms and the physiochemical environment interact in exchange of energy and matter to form a continuing cycle whereas ecology was defined by German Naturalist, Hacekel about 130 years age as science of relationship of living organism living in an area to their physical environment. The protection/conservation of bio-logical diversity is the sustainable use of its components and the equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies.

Extinction of species

Extinction has always been a part of biodiversity? It is the part of process of natural selection, the engine evolution. Over 99% of the species which have ever lived or now extinct. Yet these extinct have almost always occurred. A species become extinct when better adopted competitors rise to displace it. Once an animal and plant species disappear from the planet, it has gone for ever. Extinction is for ever, if it so then why should we care about threats to biological diversity now in recent years ? Because human destruction of habitat has resulted in loss of species unmatched 60 million years. Some experts believe that upto 25 percent of the species now living will become extinct within single human life time. A report by National Science Foundation of USA says that ''The rate of extinction over the next four decades is likely to rise to atleast 1000 times, the normal rate of extinction''. Therefore, the purpose of protection of biodiversity is to delay the process of destruction of diversity in space and time.

In India 10 rice varieties will soon occupy three quarters of an area where once over 3000 different varieties were grown. In Europe half of the animals breeds that existed at the beginning of 20th century are now extinct. Such unprecedented losses pose a serious threat we to global agriculture and consequently to humanity. With the loss of natural diversity miss forever genetic variability. We need it to bred and evolve new adoptable and varied strains to sustain humanity.

Biodiversity feeds people

The facts is that humanity cannot survive without the contribution of plant, animal and microbial kingdoms of the earth. Thousand of different generically unique varieties of crops and animal breeds existing today are the outcome of 3000 million years of natural biological evolution and careful selection and nurturing by our farming ancestors during 12000 years of agriculture.

Crops and live stock

A large varieties of edible plants are available in Nature of which only few hundred are consumed as human diet. Only nine plants - rice, wheat, barley, maize sorghum/ millet, Potato, sweet Potato/Yam, Soyabean and sugar cane provide three quarters of the plant kingdom's paramount contribution to human energy.

According to FAO estimates that approximately 75 percent genetic diversity of agriculture crops has been lost already during the last nine decades. The reduction in crop gene pool accelerated since the 1950s coinciding with green Revolution and introducing intensive agriculture in vast areas of developing countries. Such area harvested traditional diversity of crop varieties and they have now given way to high yielding monocultures which require irrigation, massive application of fertilizers and pesticides. The varieties being 'lost may carry genes vital for crop breeders. Biotechnologists could have utilized such treasures to develop better productive varieties tolerant to environmental stresses including the invasion of insect, pests and diseases.

Biodiversity Conservation for Sustainable development

Today, the world is confronted with shrinking resources and arable land and fresh water. Stresses on biological diversity are increasing at a very fast rate. The conservation and survival of species can ensure us means for new and improved foods, drug, medicines and new raw materials for the industrial growth.

Role of NGOs in Conservation

If the benefits of the biological resources are to reach the ural masses for their livelihood needs, we shall have to link ecological economics for sustainable development. Attempts to create awareness regarding conservation problems by the government media sometimes don't have desired impact as unfortunately humans don't react to environmental programme in sample way. They might have the message but their responses are determined by their culture. Therefore, voluntary organisations can emerge here as cost effective and highly impressive partners of the government in sensitising people towards environmental issues, motivating them towards participation in environmental activities. Thus the successful implementation of the programme would involve the following actions.

* Make an inventory of microlevel data for ecosystem based planning.

* Encourage village Panchayats to take care of nature's conservation aspects.

* Need for integrating research in the field of conservation of biology, social sciences and economies to strengthen economic value of biodiversity.

Human resource development is a prerequisite to biodiversity conservation. There is a need for reciprocal exchange of knowledge between common man and environment specialist. We need the following actions.

* Train school teachers to assess the local biodiversity and traditional conservation practices. This reach the beneficiaries in the local languages.

* School teachers in turn should locate interested students and impact education on the assets of nature and their economic value and ecological importance.

* Subsequently, the students should be encouraged to act as guardian of the protected areas. They should also be trained to realise the importance of ecologically valuable local species which play a part in their day-to-day life.

* Such studies should be sustained at the university level leading to biodiversity awareness. Training should be imported to students in conservation of biodiversity.

* There is urgent need to make urban women aware about the forest resources which are used to sustain their lives Rural women should be encouraged to maintain minor forest products and medicinal plants'.

* The decision makers including the members of Legislative Assemblies and Parliament should take a lead convince their voters about the economic value of natural heritage in their electorate.

* The local press can play a vital role in spreading the message of conservation practices for the benefit of rural and urban communities.

With the advancement of Science and Technology, the life style of rural committees has change drastically. They have started migrating to urban centres, basing their sustenance on readymade products, thereby they are isolated from their traditional biodiversity dependence. To overcome this situation, incentives should be provided to rural communities to take care of their biological and cultural diversity, their traditional knowledge on local resources needs to be harnessed with substantial financial incentives and provide alternate employment opportunities in small scale cottage industries. This shall definitely check migration trend from rural areas to urban centres of India.

It is, therefore, important that public at large be informed about the relationship between ecology and economics and need for sustainable development and give a collective voice to their concerns and priorities. A strong network of committed. Non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) voluntary organisations and Charitable groups, needs to be strengthened and with the sincere support from the Government to link rural communities to carry out conservation action plans. This will also help greatly in eradicating environmental illiteracy among the peoples

Chandrasekhar Azad : A forgotten patriot

By K K Khullar

There is a story of a widow of a freedom fighter in whose house in Lahore, in the late twenties, Chandrasekhar Azad sought asylum on the night when Bhagat Singh killed Saunders.

The lady welcomed Azad and gave him shelter. Azad during his short stay came to know that the woman could not arrange the dowry for her daughter's marriage.

With eyes moist and head down, Chandra Sekhar Azad, who carried Rs 10,000 on his head, said, ''Sister, get this money and arrange the girl's marriage.''

There was anger on the widow's lips, fire in her eyes. She refused point-blank and said, ''This is what you think of me. My daughter will remain un-married but the freedom struggle must succeed. You are destined to do heroic deeds.''

It is not know how Azad brought a bundle of notes and from where but the legend has it that before he left early morning there was an envelop containing Rs 10,000 on the table of the widow's house.

Once again he had given a slip to the British police. As a child he had taken two pledges, that he would die from a British bullet and second he would not languish in a British jail.

History is a witness that he kept both the pledges. The story of the life of Chandrasekhar Azad reads like a thriller. In 1920 when he was dragged to the court of a British magistrate in Varanasi, hand-cuffed and chained, he was a student of Sanskrit Pathshala. He was only 14. He had jumped into freedom movement on the clarion-call given by Mahatma Gandhi.

When the magistrate asked him what was his name, Azad replied defiantly: ''My name is Azad''. The magistrate was infuriated. Angrily he looked at the boy in chains. The hand-cuffs were too big for his wrists.

'Father's name': magistrate shouted in his imperial snobbery.

'Swadhin': the boy replied.

'Residence' : magistrate almost lost his balance.

'Prison' : was the one-word reply of the revolutionary-in-making.

The magistrate ordered 15 cane-strokes. He was tied to the flogging triangle. A lash after lash tore his tender skin. With each lash he shouted: 'Bande Mataram': 'Mahatma Gandhi Ki Jai'. The crowd shouted after him. He was publicly honoured as 'Azad'. The name struck thereafter. That was Chandrasekhar who died a martyr at 24, with revolvers in both hands, in Alfred Park, Allahabad, on February 27, 1931.

Alas, in the next-books of history today he is just a foot-note. In any situation, he should have been a toast to the 50-years of our Republic.

Born in a bamboo hut on July 23, 1906 at village Bhaora in district Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh. His father, Pandit Sitaram Tiwari was a watchman in the royal gardens of Alirajpur State. Chandrasekhar received his early education in a village school where he played among the Bhil boys and learnt archery. Soon he became an excellent shot. After completing his elementary schooling, he went to Varanasi and took admission in Sanskrit Pathshala.

Here he came under the influence of a local revolutionary, Shiv Prasad Gupta. The wounds of Jallianwalla Bagh were fresh in the minds of the people. Chandrasekhar plunged into the freedom struggle. In no time his courage brought him into the forefront and he was arrested. The courage he showed during the 'lashing' made a hero of him. Once the flame of freedom was stirred, there was no going back. Through Manmathnath Gupta he joined the revolutionary movement in which he played a prominent part.

The most daring exploit of the revolutionaries was the Kakori train hold-up on August 9, 1925. The train was stopped, the railway guard held at pistol point and treasury chest taken away. The Government called it decoity. The other Kakori heroes were Ramprasad Bismal, Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajinder Nath Lahiri and Roshan Singh. All were hanged but Chandrasekhar escaped and eluded the police. ''I want the downfall of the British empire' were the last words of Ramprasad Bismal. Ashfaqullah declared on the gallows : I tried to make India free and the attempt will not end with my life.''

On September 8, 1928, Chandrasekhar attended the famous meeting of the revolutionaries at Ferozeshah Kotla grounds in Delhi. It was here that Chandrasekhar was appointed the 'Commander of the military Division of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army' whose sole aim was to free India from the British through on organised armed struggle.

To avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, he organised with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru the shooting of JA Scott, the Superintendent of Police, Lahore. Although Scott escaped but J P Saunders, Assistant Superintendent of Police was killed.

ChandraSekhar then planned the bomb explosion in the Central Legislative Assembly on April 8, 1929. Red leaflets on which Party manifesto was inscribed were scattered all over the Assembly. It was entitled: 'Explosion Necessary to make the Deaf Hear'. In a statement issued later he said : 'The Bomb was necessary to awaken England from her dreams. We dropped the bomb on the floor of the Assembly Chamber to register our protest on behalf of those who had no other means to give expression to their heart-rending agony. Our sole purpose was to make the deaf hear.''

The Red Leaflet was more expressive. It was signed by Balraj (assumed name of Azad) in his capacity as the Commander--Chief of the Hindustan Republican Army (The Auxiliary Wing). The leaflet read :

''In these extreme provocative circumstances, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, In all seriousness, realising their full responsibility, has decided and ordered its Army to do this particular action, so that a stop be put to this humiliating force and to let the alien bureaucratic exploiters do what they wish, but they must be made to come before the public eye in their naked form. Let the representatives of the people return to their constituencies and prepare the masses for the coming revolution, and let the Government know that while protesting against the public Safety and Trade Dis-utes Bills and the callous murder of Lala Lajpat Rai, on behalf of the helpless Indian masses, we want to emphasise the lesson often repeated by history, that it easy to kill individuals but you cannot kill the ideas. Great empires crumbled while ideas survived. We are sorry to admit that we who attach so great a sanctity to human life, we who dream of a galorious future, when man will be enjoying perfect peace and full liberty, have been forced to shed human blood. But the sacrifices of individuals at the altar of 'Great Revolution' that will bring freedom to all, rendering the exploitation of man by man impossible, is inevitable.''

For the next two years Chandrasekhar successfully evaded arrest. Government announced a reward of Rs 30,000 on him, dead or alive. He went underground and from there he planned an armed revolution and for this purpose he secured Rs 14.000 by an armed 'robbery' on a Delhi firm on July 6, 1930. It is in the course of the investigation of this case that the police got hold of information of Chandrasekhar's secret plot. The police also discovered a bomb factory in Delhi with a stock of chemicals enough to make explosives to fill about 6,000 bombs.

Chandrasekhar now fled to Punjab and intensified his revolutionary activities there. On December 23, 1930, Hari Kishan, who belonged to Mardan in the NWFP and had earlier taken part in Naujwan Bharat Sabha started by Bhagat Singh, shot at the Punjab Governor, Sir Geoffrey de Montemorrency, at the annual convocation of Punjab University at Lahore. It is believed that Hari Kishan got the inspiration from Azad. The police also concluded that Chandrasekhar must be hiding in Punjab.

In the meantime, the Lahore Conspiracy Case gave a severe blow to the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. Almost all its leaders were arrested. ChandraSekhar made a desperate attempt to rally a few workers who were still at large. For this purpose he went to Allahabad to meet an old companion, in Alfred Park, on February 27, 1931. One of those who knew about this meeting leaked the information to the police. A big police party in plain clothes encircled him in the park.

Chandrasekhar fought alone against huge numbers, with revolvers in both hands. He killed several policemen and wounded the British police Superintendent, Nott Bower and an Indian police officer, Bisheshwar Singh. His arm and leg had been riddled with bullets. He fought like a lion.

He also died like a lion. In the words of K G Ghosh, the author of 'Roll Call of Honour'. 'There were two wounds on the lower part of his right leg, one of which fractured the tibia. Another bullet was extracted from the right thigh. The fatal wound appeared to be on the right side of the head and another in the chest. The body was sent to Rasulabad Ghat for cremation which was performed under strict police guard. Thus a blazing meteor illumined that dark firmament of political subjection with its own brilliance during the short duration of its course moving towards total extinction in the limitless womb of eternity having a name that would adorn the pages of history. On February 28, 1931, from the post-mortem Report it was known that four bullets and a fragment of the fifth had been extracted from the body.'

That was Chandrasekhar Azad with his earthy existence of 24 years, 7 months and 4 days. Death makes no conquest of this conquerer for now he lives in eternal fame for which history has very few parallels.
PTI Feature

The Inside Truth-I
Has George Fernandes links with J&K terrorists?

From B L Kak

Having equipped himself with a variety of classified inputs till his dismissal as the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) on December 30, 1998, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat has come out with a printed document, which is loaded with explosive material against the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, and his cronies within and outside the Ministry of Defence.

Clearly, Admiral Bhagwat has revived the controversy over the role and performance of Mr George Fernandes. Admiral Bhagwat’s just-released document is in the form of a 416-page book titled ‘Betrayal of the Defence Forces: The Inside Truth’.

The book contains a number of sensational revelations vis-à-vis Mr George Fernandes and his factotums in official, political and media circles. No wonder, the book, printed and published by New Delhi’s Manas Publications, has, in the past several days, triggered animated whispers and discussions even in various foreign missions based in the Indian capital.

Revelation number one: Links of Mr George Fernandes with the terrorists extended even to the Kashmir Valley. Admiral Bhagwat has let it be known that Mr Fernandes had been a frequent visitor to the Valley, which he explained away as having been Minister for Kashmir affairs in the Government of Mr VP Singh.

Admiral Bhagwat has stated: "It is well-known that he (Mr Fernandes) could meet terrorists of all groups operating in the Valley without any fear of harm to his person. It is said that those who desired to give up a life of militancy and had expressed their intention to the Minister that they desired to return to the path of peace were found to be eliminated soon after. Even as Minister of Defence, Mr Fernandes attempted to make incognito visits to meet leaders of the terrorist organisations. In one case he was prevented from doing so, on the pretext that the road leading to the rendezvous was heavily mined".

Revelation number two: Army Intelligence, better known as MI, was, to quote the former Chief of Naval Staff, aware of Mr George Fernandes’ activities and associations in India’s North-East region with the leaders of insurgent groups and their factions on both sides of the border. Army Intelligence had written out a comprehensive report on Mr Fernandes and his activities in 1997.

Revelation number three: Ms Jaya Jaitly often accompanied Mr George Fernandes. His friends included the leaders of the Kuki National Army (KNA). His home in Delhi was already famous for harbouring Burmese students; a practice he continued when he became the Defence Minister, until it hit the press and Parliament. According to Admiral Bhagcwat, sometimes these students were involved in the narcotics trade and propaganda against the Government of Burma.

Revelation number four: The first thing Mr George Fernandes did after becoming the Defence Minister was to go to Moreh. Mr Fernandes spread the word that the Army would be told to go soft and that he would rein in the Army. After receiving the letter from the Foreign Minister of the Arakan Independence Army, Mr Fernandes assured them that he would institute an inquiry into Leach-II and henceforth no operations would be undertaken by the three services of India.

Admiral Bhagwat has recorded in his book that while Mr Fernandes was shown all the arms captured during Leach-II at the Brigade Headquarters in Port Blair in May 1998, he was clearly told by the Brigade Commander of the consequences, if these arms had reached the North-East as they would have tied down a division of the Army for a whole year apart from jeopardizing the electoral and democratic process about which a warning has been issued by the former Prime Minister, Mr VP Singh.

Revelation number five: Mr George Fernandes tried and turned the tables on Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat even as the latter, the book asserted, had nothing to do with the publication of a media report on the passage of the letter which the Defence Minister had received from the self-styled Foreign Minister of Arakan Independence Army.

Soon after his taking over as the Navy Chief, Admiral Bhagwat was "requested" by the then Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. Shanker Roy Choudhary, if the Navy could mount anti-gun running operations to prevent the smuggling of arms reaching the insurgents in the North-East from the sea routes or from Thai ports and islands. According to Admiral Bhagwat, all the intelligence inputs necesdsary to mount an operational mission on a tri-service basis, enabled the Services Headquarters, under the overall direction of the Chiefs of Staffs Committee (COSC), to initiate Leach-II.

While the operation was a complete success, it upset one of the Indian intelligence agencies that, to quote Admiral Bhagwat, "gave us an input diametrically opposite to the one we had received from the Military Intelligence". He has recorded: "If we had fallen for it, it would have resulted in a wild goose chase. There were lots of red faces in that organisation and they tried to insinuate that the services were playing their own game and even indulging in cruelty".

Revelation number six: Mr George Fernandes directed the Defence Secretary to issue a note dated July 27, 1998 to the three Chiefs directing that no such operations were to be undertaken without the approval of the Ministry. The note was issued with the express approval of the Defence Minister and it said so.

Former Navy Chief has an interesting example to question Mr Fernandes’ logic behind the note: "After all a policeman on the beat does not ring up the Police Commissioner, when he sights a robber, dacoit or a murderer and it is only after he has apprehended or taken action does he inform his superiors. Additionally, the United Nations Convention on the laws of the seas 1982 clearly stipulates that it is the duty of law enforcement agencies and the naval forces of a country to prevent the shipment of arms, to overthrow or carry out armed insurrection against another member state of the United Nations".

(To be continued)