Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

By M Rama Rao
As sweltering heat of May begins to give way to south-west monsoon, and humidity level increases, the Vajpayee government will increasingly find itself under a sledge-hammer on the Kashmir ceasefire. Sadly for the Prime Minister nothing is going his way. The mini general elections have left red ..more

Let's fight unitedly
against militancy

By Sonal Bhushan
‘‘India is my mother land. I love her. I cannot die for any thing else in the whole world except for my motherland, ''I love her dearly and can do any thing for the betterment of my country'' says every one when asked to say ...more

Economic slowdown
belies high claims

By Janardhana Poojary
In 1947, we attained freedom from political slavery. The task of attaining freedom from the bondage was initiated within a year with a major policy resolution on industry, i.e., Industrial Policy Resolution of 1948. In the Avadi ....more

EDITORIAL

ANTI-J&K TREATY

People’s attention has, once again, been focused on the Indus Water Treaty (IWT). Over 40 years, in 1960, the IWT was signed between India and Pakistan. The three rivers, Chenab, Jhelum and Indus, that traverse the State of Jammu and Kashmir, are covered by the IWT. Hence, under it, waters of these rivers have to be used for power generation and lift irrigation only to a particular limit and to a particular extent. India or the powers-that-be in Jammu and Kashmir may have grandiose ideas or schemes vis-à-vis big reservoirs or dams in the State. But they cannot be built without the prior approval of Pakistan. In other words, Pakistan has the ‘authority’ under the Indus Water Treaty to hold the State of Jammu and Kashmir to ransom, despite the fact that the waters of the Chenab, the Jhelum and the Indus do not flow into Kashmir from Pakistan; the waters form part of the bounty of nature available in the State. Militants and foreign mercenaries, employed by Pakistan for continuing the proxy war in J&K since the early ‘90s, expect the flow of power from the barrel of the gun. But the common man in J&K, deeply frustrated by non-availability of the supply of energy from the power-generating stations more often than not in recent times, seems to know only one thing that the people’s peace of mind can be ensured to a great extent by the undisturbed supply of power to their homes, shops and other commercial and business centres and establishments. The present ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and his predecessors, including his father, Sheikh Abdullah, did commit a mistake here and a blunder there. But each one of them did nurse a genuine grievance against New Delhi’s lack of courage to egg Islamabad to review the Indus Water Treaty. The average Pakistani, practically speaking, has nothing to lose or gain if the Indus Water Treaty is abrogated. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have, for no fault of theirs, suffered a lot in the past four decades, partly because of Pakistan’s refusal to allow major power stations or reservoirs or dams to be built while using the waters of the Chenab, the Jhelum and the Indus and partly because of the alleged misuse of funds earmarked for power-generating activity as well as losses on account of unsystematic transmission and distribution of power supply. If the ‘Lion of Kashmir’ (Sheikh Abdullah) failed to have the IWT reviewed by New Delhi and Islamabad for the overall economic gains in J&K, can the ‘cub’ (Dr Farooq) egg the two countries on to have a fresh look at the 40-year-old agreement? One may differ with Dr Farooq Abdullah on several issues, but he cannot be faulted for his disenchantment with New Delhi’s far-from-convincing perception vis-à-vis the Indus Water Treaty. It is he, and not the power corridors at the Centre, who has to face the public wrath in his State against the acute power shortage. True the power shortage has been an old phenomenon, but the J&K administration has been forced, during the past four years or so, to resort to 11 to 14 hours’ load shedding. One cannot deny the fact that the Indus Water Treaty has imposed severe limitations on the use of river waters for power generation and on lift irrigation schemes. Whatever the attitude adopted by his critics towards him, there is no doubt that the Works Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ali Mohammed Sagar, is quite on the mark, in his opposition to the continuance of the Indus Water Treaty. His statement, which of course was approved by his Chief Minister before it was made public, stated the fact that the State was suffering huge losses as a result of handing over the rights of its rivers to Pakistan under the IWT. The statement, circulated at the first meeting of the Working Group of National Resources Council on May 22, threw up yet another fact: Indus Water Treaty, apart from putting restrictions on drawal of waters from the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum, also placed restrictions on the total storage capacity that can be created on these rivers. Both Dr Farooq and Sagar cannot be faulted for their identical message to the Centre, urging it to take "appropriate" measures for compensating the State for the losses it suffered as a result of the Indus Water Treaty. Perhaps, the two Kashmiri leaders are crying for the moon, if one were to take into account New Delhi’s far-from-satisfactory system or mechanism of releasing J&K-related funds. The present BJP-led NDA coalition Government at the Centre cannot be expected-obviously, it is not prepared-to open yet another front with Pakistan, namely, forcing Islamabad to surrender much of the ‘authority’ it has managed to secure under the Indus Water Treaty. The J&K Government has, for obvious reasons, made use of the expression "review", although the Chief Minister and others, in private conversations, want the IWT to be scrapped. Why? Once it is scrapped, the powers-that-be on this side of the Line of Control (LoC) can build massive reservoirs and dams for storing waters of the Jhelum and the Chenab. This water, experts point out, can be used during the lean period for power generation. Considering the State’s estimated potential of hydro power at 10,000 MW, the annual energy losses because of the Treaty restrictions come to enormous 30,000 million units valued at Rs 6,000 crores. Vajpayee, who is expected to hold talks with Pakistan’s military ruler in the near future, will, perhaps, understand the language of the BJP leaders: It is an irony of fate that India exports water to Pakistan and the latter exports terrorism to the former.

GAME & SHAME

The report is no less shocking than the eruption of the match-fixing scandal in the ‘gentleman’s game’ of cricket. The vice of match-fixing came to light on a lower scale earlier, but in a big way two years ago, when the Delhi Police blew the led on it, sending shock waves through the entire cricketing world. And the scandal has refused to die down since then, claiming the playing careers of many a cricketer in various countries, including India, Pakistan and South Africa, and putting a blot on the game which will take a long time to wipe out. In fact, efforts were still on to wipe out that blot, and restore cricket to its old glory, when the Paul Condon report came out two the other day. While reactions ranged from dismay to disbelief to shock and in some cases an outright rejection, the fact remains that the report has opened another Pandora’s box in cricket. The report of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit is, to put it mildly, extremely damaging. If the report is to be believed, the world of cricket is still rife with the menace of match-fixing and the operators behind this evil could resort to murder, kidnap and threats to keep the lid on the sport’s greatest scandal. The 75-page report contained startling revelations about match-fixing. And Sir Paul Condon, the author of the report, described a climate of "silence, apathy, ignorance and fear" in the sport. The report goes on to link corruption with serious criminal offences, including allegations of murder, kidnap and drug use. What perhaps compounds the shame of the game is the finding in the report that officials and players knew the game was corrupt, but few people were willing to come forward to testify because they felt their lives could be in danger. Some have criticised the findings as exaggerated, and in any case difficult to corroborate in the absence of any names in the report. Well, frankly, one would think that identifying individuals players was the task of the police, and punishing them that of the respective country’s cricket board. The commission seems to have done a thorough job in exposing a deep-rooted nexus that shows that no amount of action, be it life bans or temporary suspension or fine, will help unless drastic steps are taken to rid the game of the vice itself. And that, considering the enormity of the problem, cannot be left to one commission or the police or board of one country to do. What is clearly required is close coordination between the governing bodies of all the cricketing nations to find ways and means of tackling the problem.

Hurriyat's Kashmiryat under cloud

By M Rama Rao

As sweltering heat of May begins to give way to south-west monsoon, and humidity level increases, the Vajpayee government will increasingly find itself under a sledge-hammer on the Kashmir ceasefire. Sadly for the Prime Minister nothing is going his way. The mini general elections have left red faces all around his BJP, and the NDA coalition he heads has been badly mauled. Can he afford to keep the Kashmir issue on the back burner for a while by buying more time? True, there have been new players and some new action but substance is lacking to the effort. To borrow a Bollywood cliche, the performance was not meaty.

Apparently, the Vajpayee government banked on the Hurriyat conference right from the word go despite the unpredictable Farooq factor and his equally unpredictably autonomy plank. In the corridors of power here on the Raisina. Hill, there is a palpable feeling of being let down by the Hurriyat. Undoubtedly, the multi-party conglomerate breathing under the shadow of militants doesn't buy New Delhi contention.

But the fact of the matter is the All Party Hurriyat Conference was virtually given the stamp of official spokesman for the valley in the initial stages of ceasefire. It is only now with the advent of KC Pant as the government's interface that others have begun to receive equal, if not more, importance in what is perceived by an influential section as the revival of time- tested old Delhi line on Kashmir honed by the dirty tricks departments, whose numbers have swelled in recent years. That Pant has an IB hand as his advisor while the just retired RAW boss guides Brajesh Mishra the Principal aide to the Prime Minister have not gone unnoticed.

Viewed against this backdrop the rejection of Pant entreaties for talks by the Hurriyat doesn't come as a surprise. Had they jumped at the invitation that would have surely raised the hackles of many in the valley and outside too. The April 25 fulminations of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Jamaat-i-Islami Kashmir leader were to form. After all, he was denied a passport to travel to Pakistan in a Hurriyat delegation as North and South Blocks' are worried about the ''potential of the damage he could inflict to Indian cause while on Pakistan soil''.

Certainly, Geelani won no new friends in the Indian establishment by turning to be his provocative best at a meeting of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in the Ghalib Academy Hall near the mausoleum of Nizamuddin Aulia under the watchful gaze of the poet's portraits. The hawks should have squirmed in their seats as his words sank in, and the ''sitrup'' told them that Geelani had a breakfast meeting with Pakistani ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi just a day before Hurriyat executive met in Srinagar to reject the Pant ''sham'' offer for talks.

By now the vibes Jelani generates in Delhi are well known. So is the snub that can be expected from All Parties Hurriyat Conference to any offer for talks without Pakistan's participation. Who said rigidity is a one-way street?

The point is, as articulated by Maulvi Abbas Ansari, Hurriyat executive member, the Pant mission has not taken off to a flying start. ''Pant's letter (inviting Hurriyat for talks) suggests that the Kashmir issue is one of law and order and not a political dispute involving the will of the Kashmiri people. I do not believe that Pant would have seriously expected us to accept such a silly idea. ''Naturally therefore the Hurriyat leadership has begun see the offer of talks also as an attempt to marginalize them, whether it's the intention of Delhi or not.

Many in the corridors that matter in the imposing red stone building that dot official Delhi donot share the view. Understandably. Because, their brief is clear though clothed in bureaucraste and diplomatic mambo jumbo with an eve on the doemstic scene no to tripartite talks straightway but that doesn't mean we are slamming the doors on Pakistan. New Delhi--Islamabad and Delhi-Srinagar are different strands of the dialogue.

That Abdul Ghani Bhatt, the Hurriyat chief, is not convinced is clear from his continued insistence on the old line-- ''It is tripartite talks that can solve the Kashmir problem and restore peace in the whole subcontinent. Our Pakistan visit will set the tune for the peace process. We will speak to the Pakistan government and various militant leaders. The Government is promisebound to allow the APHC to visit Pakistan. We don't want to board a train going nowhere. We want to board a train with a destination.''

The cold logic behind the professor's argument is difficult to brush aside the though it is time to turn around and ask whether the Hurriyat has created confidence that it is reading the yawning of the people for peace and whether the conglomeration can be expected to speak in one voice at home and abroad. Let us take the second question first.

There are differences within the Hurriyat depending on the strength and orientation of the constituents is a matter of public knowledge. Also public knowledge is their approach to men and matters.

There can be no better contrast in style and substance than that between Abdul Ghani Lone and Sheikh Aziz, the former for marriage in the family and the other on a political mission. There was a media build up preceding their visits to Pakistan-interest kicked up the matrimonial alliance between two leading families on either side of the border in the case of Lone: a fully-length documentary on his life on the PTV hours before he was due in Lahore on a private visit in the case of Sheikh Aziz. Interestingly, Aziz's month long visit to Pakistan is to attend the marriage of his younger brother, though the marriage has not received any focus till now.

Frankly, Lone's was a voice of moderation, given to understatement and a quite of dignity, not an effort to score debating points. His demeanour throughout his stay in Pakistan despite the glare of official TV cameras and the welcome to all doors that have had an official stemp was of a person who knew his moorings, and of a person determined not to slip up but foster the forces of peace by remaining true to the harsh realities on either side of the border, one area of Sufi tradition where democracy allowed to blossom despite the hiccups and the other where fundamentalism is fostered, amidst myth-reality shadow play on democracy.

By contrast, Hurriyat executive member Aziz is clear from the word go of his 'political' mission''. Though I am on private visit, I am open to talks with the Pakistani leadership and other organizations,'' he declared on arrival in Lahore and called for accession of Kashmir to Pakistan, as ''this is the desire of the majority of the people living in the occupied Valley''.

Aziz was as candid as one expect of him. ''The basic objective of both APHC and the Mujahideen'', he told an inquisitive questioner of the media, ''is to liberate Kashmir from the Indian occupation. The Mujahideen cannot be termed ''terrorists''. He made a fervent appeal to the Muslim countries to ''exert pressure on the Indian government to stop brutalities being perpetrated on innocent Kashmiris by the occupation forces''

From all accounts, Aziz loved every minute of his audience with Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar, Chief Executive Gen Musharraf and other top leaders. He had a tete-tete with political officer, Geoffrey Hawkins at the Islamabad's US embassy too.

To put it mildly, Aziz speak in Pakistan raises question marks on Hurriyatism at a time the yawning for peace is felt more pronouncedly.

What are the political contours of the Hurriyat thinking and how does it intend to go about the task. If indeed Aziz is representing the official Hurriyat mood, then certainly, he may not be unaware, despite all the rhetoric, that Hurriyat is not Kashmir.

Admittedly, starting point for a dialogue and the final goal can be different but in the case of this Hurriyat leader it doesn't appear to be the case. Also there are voices opposed to Aziz speak in the Hurriyat itself's.

Is it not time for them to speak out even as the Hurriyat as an outfit tries to put its act together in a more elegant fashion in the manner expected of them by the people, whose voice has found an articulation in the survey conducted by New Hope on peace sweepstakes?
---Syndicate Features

Let's fight unitedly against militancy

By Sonal Bhushan

‘‘India is my mother land. I love her. I cannot die for any thing else in the whole world except for my motherland, ''I love her dearly and can do any thing for the betterment of my country'' says every one when asked to say something about '' what do you feel about your country''. But only the feelings can not help. We have to be practical.

In 1947 when India became free from Britishers they made another country out of India and named it as Pakistan on the demand of Muslim League. Then onward these two brothers are fighting with each other on a small part of land which is called the Paradise on Earth i.e. Kashmir.

Previously, when we used to think about Kashmir, its beautiful Dal Lake, Shalimar & Nishat Gardens used to come in front of our eyes. We used to think about Shikaras on Dal Lake. The whole world used to visit this beautiful place. But now when we think about Kashmir, instead of Dal lake and its gardens, a dreadful scene of Bomb blast, killing of innocent people and militancy comes in front of our eyes and we get frightened. Eleven years have passed away and the situation is deteriorating day by day. A paradise where children used to have beautiful dreams glowing in their eyes, smile on their face, have got fear and trauma in their eyes. Fear from militants, roaring sound of bombs & bullets fear from Army which is there to protect them from militancy have become a regular feature of their life. These children also deserve the atmosphere of peace & happiness/joy which have been snatched from them long back. But these militants are a kind of wall between happiness and children.

General masses of Pakistan also want the same sigh of relief as we people want in our country. This is what has been observed by a long team of invitees from our State who recently attended a much publicized marriage party in Pakistan. But the politicians of both the countries don't want us to be together for their own personal purposes. The politicians are holding these peace talks only to show that they care for us and they are leaders of the masses, but the reality is that they do this for their betterment and not for the betterment of their country and for the welfare of their people.

Years have passed and militants have kept their guns on the heads of the innocent public of Kashmir to persuade or to blackmail the ministers to get Kashmir. And our government is sitting with their mouth shut and doing nothing except the ceasefires versus fires. Militants are taking advantage of this and are chopping off the heads of innocent people for their own benefit. Both the politicians and the militants are fighting but ultimately, it is public of Kashmir which is trapped. These militant groups such as Jamat-e-Islami, Hizb-ul-Munjahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Harkat-ul-Ansar are making innocent people as their target on the name of Jehad. Our neighbouring country is helping them to collect the funds on the name of Jehad (holy war) from the people of Pakistan.

These militants kidnap the young children and mislead them and take to POK(Pakistan occupied Kashmir) for giving them training to become militants. In recent months our security forces have caught hold of some militants and saved these young children from becoming militants. Previously these militants used Kashmiri Pandits as their targets. Slowly these KPs migrated from the valley to other parts of the country. Now these militants are making Sikhs their target so that Kashmir can become totally a Muslim State. They are killing right minded Muslims also. They are killing these innocent people on the name of Islam/Jehad. But Muslims in India know that Islam does not teach killing of innocent people. Indian Muslims are with India and will remain as Indians. Pakistani rulers forget that population of Muslims in India is far more than the total population of Pakistan.

Pakistan must know that it is not easy to divide India on the basis of religion. Indians irrespective of their cast creed & colour are united and no power on the Earth can divide us.

This militancy has created so many problems for the people of Kashmir that they are now fed up of militancy.

Let us all, the youth of Kashmir, unite together to fight against this militancy. For this we need love in our heart for each other and not the hate. We know it will be very difficult for us because Politicians are there to exploit our religious feelings but if we remain united nobody can harm us. People of Kashmir (Hindu Muslim Sikh or Christian) should come out and say with one voice that they want peace. We should always be ready to face any type of difficult situation. Many obstacles will come in our way but we should be determined to curb this militancy if we want to see the smiling face of children in Kashmir, if we want fresh beautiful flowers once again in Kashmir, if we want peace in Kashmir. If we think in this way and be practical, I am sure that day is not far away when a new sun will rise for the people of Kashmir and Kashmir people will see and breathe the fresh air of love and peace. We have to fight against this militancy created by the Politicians of both, India & Pakistan.

I am writing this article to make young people aware that those people who misguide them by expressing their love from outside are their enemies. And they talk about azadi of Kashmir. It is we young minds to decide what freedom of Kashmir. It is we young minds to decide what freedom of Kashmir really means. For me 'azadi' of Kashmir is 'azadi' from poverty, hunger, sadness, and moreover from this militancy. They are our brothers who have taken a wrong path.

Can we think of a baby parting from his or her mother. Similarly this Kashmir is a lovely and pretty baby of our motherland 'India' and she will not survive without Kashmir because it is her Crown.

Economic slowdown belies high claims

By Janardhana Poojary

In 1947, we attained freedom from political slavery. The task of attaining freedom from the bondage was initiated within a year with a major policy resolution on industry, i.e., Industrial Policy Resolution of 1948. In the Avadi session of the Congress in 1952, we went one step forward and committed ourselves to socialism. Subsequently in 1969, in the Bangalore AICC session, the Congress resolved to develop a vibrant and self-reliant economy whose objective would be growth with social justice.

Self-reliance cannot be attained by writing slogans on the wall. It can be achieved only through a strategy of planned economy. Those days are gone when the Indian Finance Minister presented a budget which was less than the budget of the Municipal Corporation of New York. In today's budget the tax element is more than Rs. 1,63031 crores, total Revenue Receipts are Rs. 3,35523 crores and the total expenture Rs. 3,75,223 crores in one year. In a massive investment of Rs. 375,223 crores, the foreign assistance component (bilateral and multilateral assistance from World Bank, IMF, etc.,) is less than 7%. Is it not a self-reliant economy?

On the eve of a non-Congress Government coming to power, the rate of investment was 26.8% and the rate of domestic saving was 25.1%, i.e, we depended on foreign investment only to extent of 1.7% of our economy. If we take a hypothetical position that all the countries of the world decide not to give any technoloy to us, not to offer any cooperation (financial, technical or in any form), India would still be in a position to stand on its own legs.

We are in a position to produce 209 million tonnes of foodgrains and about 322 million tonnes of coal and lignite, about 28 million tonnes of steel and 1,730 million tonnes of manmade fibre and yarn and 301 million tonnes of sugarcane. India has become one of the largest producers of sugar, which is estimated at 182 lakh tonnes, and is a position to produce 102.2 million tonnes cement. The 9th Five-Year Plan with a massive outlay of Rs. 8,59,200 crores is an indicator of self-reliance.

Over the years we built a strong public sector and in the total capital formation, the share of the public sector was more than 72%. The total capital employed in 235 central public sector undertakings was Rs. 2,73,700 crores and the gross profit was Rs. 97,700 crores during the year 1998-99. The gross profit to the capital employed in percentage terms was 14.5%.

In 1999-2000, the Department of Public Enterprises had evaluated the annual performance of 108 public sector undertakings. Out of these, 48 were rated as excellent, 28 were rated as very good, 9 as good and 17 as fair and only 4 as poor (Economic Survey 2000-2001).

Its is said that some small countries have gone ahead a little more than India. But, if half a dozen MNCs decide to withdraw their investments from these countries, they will collapse like pack of cards. That is the difference between self-reliance and dependence on borrowed resources.

Notwithstanding these facts, the NDA Government at the Centre is bent upon undoing and destroying all that was done by the Congress for the development of the Indian economy, particularly aimed at the upliftment of the poorer sections of society associated with the SSI and agricultural sectors. Nothing highlights the anti-poor and anti-labour attitude of the NDA Government more strikingly than the recent budget presented to Parliament.

The Finance Minister has claimed that his reform measures have changed the economic face of the country. It is not true. The GDP has come down from 6.4% in 1999. 2000 60 to in 2000-200. In order to cut down deficit, the NDA Government has resorted to pruning the Central Plan outlay to the extent of Rs. 8347 crores, thereby starving many important Central development projects of funds. In the name of reforms, about 27 PSUs, including some blue chip companies, are being sold out. Whatever the excuse, it is a sign of bankruptcy of the Government.

This is reminiscent of the ignominious period under Chandrashekhar's regime. When the country's major stock of gold was sold and hypothecated in a foreign country. If the public sector undertakings are privatised, then the backward areas and rural India will remain backward forever and without job opportunities, as no private company or a multinational company will set up its venture in such areas.

Food production has fallen from 209 million tonnes. The Government is unable to contain the spiraling inflation which today stands at 6.5% up against 3.6% during the corresponding period last year. Value of Indian rupee has tumbled to a low of Rs. 45.51 against the dollar. The trade deficit increased from US $7.6 billion in April-September, 1999 to US$ 9.2 billion in April-September, 2000. The Government is anti-labour. Labour laws are proposed to be amended to remove the protection given by the Congress Government to the working class.

The NDA Government has cut the interest rate on savings and also on General Provident Fund. It has also removed perks given to the salaries class. Middle class is affected badly. Stock market is collapsing due to scandals and the policies of the Government. The hard earned money of the middle class and poor people has gone down the drain. They are cheated.

The budget presents a rosy picture. But when studied carefully, one realises the pitfalls therein. Under the NDA Government, the economy is ruderless and is in a shambles. Economic reforms are no good unless there is economic growth. There should be an all-round increase in incomes leading to improvement in the quality of life.

It we start with 1992-93 as the base year for the reform period, the average post-reforms economic growth rate works out to be at 6.4% a year. If we go back to the period form 1950-1980, the average economic growth rate (GDP) was 3.5% a year. Between 1980-90, the growth rate rose sharply from 3.5% to 5.8% , an increase of 68% over the period 1950-1980.

When compared with this, the average growth rate of 6.4% during 1990-2000 indicated by the Finance Minister is a mere 10% increase over the average increase of 5.8% recorded during the period 1980-90. The 68% increase in economic growth rate was recorded when economic reform measures were not adopted. But under the NDA Goverment, with reforms during 1999-2000 the growth rate was only 10%, which is woefully short of the mark achieved by the Congress Government.

This is inspite of the indiscriminatse opening up of the Indian economy to the determinent of the country's commercial and industrial interests, particularly the rural and agricultural sectors. Hundreds and thousands of students are passing out each year from the formal and technical educational institutions only to face unemployment as employment generations avenues are closed. The purchasing power of the people has come down drastically.

The import and export policy of the NDA Government has killed the Indian economy. While our agricultural produce is piling up and rotting and agricultural labourers are rendered jobless, over 10,500 agricultural and industrial products were earlier permitted to be imported freely. The Quantitative Restrictions on the remaining 715 items were removed on 1.4.2000. Everyday one hears of farmers committing suicde in desperation A meagre 100% increase of customs duty on improved agriculture products will not improve the farmers' condition, since the prices of the domestic agriculture products is continuously on the decline. The customs duty on imported agricultural products must be levied at not less than 300% for any meaningful benefit to our farmers.

'Reforms' today is a catchy and fashionable term. In the name of reforms, foreign companies are allowed unbridled entry into almost area of our economy, which is ruinous and is ruining, particularly our agricultural sector. What is the benefit of such a reform, if it fails to provide employment to our educated youth and living incomes to our farmers.

This is not suggest that economic reforms are not required. In the present scenario of globalisation all around, India cannot afford to be left behind, if it wants to keep pace with development. However, looking global we should not lose sight of national needs. The economic reforms should be resorted to in a disciplined manner and in line with the national interest.

That is what China has done. Its growth rate is whopping 14% compared to India's growth rate of 6.4% proudly proclaimed by the Finance Minister. China succeeded in nearly doubling its saving rate from 25% to 50%. India's performance in this area has been dismal.

The primary concern of all MNCs is to make a fast buck and dump their substandard goods. Our social reforms are alien and of no concern to them. To pursue their profit motive, they subvert and maniplate our system. China is not in a hurry to enter WTO. Turkey, Brazil and Argentina, which were more aggressive reformers than India, collapsed in recent months and approached the IMF for emergency bail-out because of domestic convulsions and erosion of investors confidence. CNF