Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

State of the State

Jammu as hideout

One need not fear reorganization of J&K

By Daya Sagar

World after Saddam's capture

By Sanjeev Pathania

India's central Asian ''forward

By A B Mahapatra

Russia has apprised India that terrorism in Afghanistan is taking a new turn and it is satisfied to note that New Delhi is evolving a .....more

EDITORIAL

State of the State

If anything, the Jammu and Kashmir State Development report, which was released by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman K.C. Pant in the national capital on Monday, should be seen as an opportunity to have a wider look at the economy of the State. This merely will be stating a fact that the State is way behind in terms of development. This is a bitter truth. Doubtless, there is justification for the lack of activity during the last 15 years. Leave alone any government or private enterprise, terrorism has seriously affected all spheres of life during this turbulent period. Nevertheless, it has to be conceded that even in the best of times, before the eruption of proxy war, the State had not achieved any breakthrough, major or small, in terms of industrial progress or collective entrepreneurship. Somehow there had been a tendency to confine oneself to traditional practices regardless of the fast changing scenario in the country in which the emphasis was on combining tradition with modernity. In such an uninspiring milieu, one can only pay tribute to the artisans in the Valley, in particular, and a few other places like Basohali and Leh, as well as the farmers in the basmati belt of Ranbirsinghpura to have kept their flags flying on their own steam. If one takes into account their tireless individual efforts, it sometimes appears strange that the State is exposed to the charge of absence of any worthwhile initiative. The charge sticks, however. There are a variety of reasons for such negative feeling. One main determining factor of the progress of any State is its overall development and the job opportunities it provides for the educated youth. If Punjab was the No. 1 developed State in the country at one time, it was because it had struck a fine balance both on industrial and agricultural fronts. And, if now Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are surging ahead, it is because that they are trying to keep pace with the information technology revolution in the world, while taking care not to suddenly break with their past. In our State, unfortunately, such vision has been missing so far. As a result, the government has become the single biggest employer straining the available financial resources. At a time when the educated young persons in the rest of the world are seeking greener pastures, leaving aside the lazy temptation of assured salary and perks, they are still struggling to come out of such closed mindset in the State.

With this background in view, it should not surprise anyone that the progress report of the State is alarming. The disturbed law and order situation as a result of which it has not been easy to collect user charges and sales tax can explain increasing fiscal deficit. Statistics in this regard tell their own tale. There was a whopping increase in the fiscal deficit by 40 per cent to Rs 1873 crores in 2000-01 from Rs 1338 crores during the previous year. Again, 2000-01 had closed with a revenue deficit of Rs 961 crores showing a hike of 77 per cent over the deficit in the preceding year. The State’s failure to generate revenue from its own resources has led to excessive dependence on the Central Government. Of late, there has been some progress in this matter of collecting the user charges, as in the case of electricity, but the final results would be known only at the end of the current financial year. It is absolutely necessary to reverse the negative trend of the past. Therefore, this would be a better idea to follow some of the suggestions made in the development report of the Planning Commission. For instance, it is a sound advice that the State Government should get rid of moribund public sector organisations and earns ‘good money’ from the sale of their assets for investment in development activities. JAKFED and JKTDC are among the organisations mentioned in this context. An extremely worthwhile suggestion is that a university should be developed in the State to promote information technology. One may add that it would also be an excellent idea to make use of the Valley’s favourable weather for developing software industry in a big way. The report’s emphasis on development of horticulture, handloom, handicrafts, tourism and sericulture might appear to be hackneyed in view of the State’s potential in these areas. It should, nevertheless, be taken as a reminder that a lot more needs to be done. There are certain other spheres like power sector reforms, the completion of on-going rail project, improvement in rural telephone technology, setting up export promotion zones for fruits and vegetables and a biotechnology park that would require the active involvement of the Central Government. Steps should be taken in this direction as well.

Having noted this, it needs to be admitted that much in the State would depend on the security situation. It is easier said, for instance, than to achieve the active participation of private players. In normal times, there would have been rush of buyers for any tourist body should it be up for sale. These days the Government would have to struggle to find one. Hopefully, with the situation improving, the task would be smooth in the days to come. In line with the privatisation being followed as a matter of policy elsewhere in the country, it would be perfectly in order for the State Government to get rid of loss-making units the soonest possible. Although Jammu has been a railhead for quite some time and it has a comparatively better security scenario, it is to be regretted that the big industrialists have not risen to the challenge to extend their reach to the region despite certain tax concessions. Quite a few of them often complain of corruption prevailing in the State. Some of them have said that the promises made to them have not been fulfilled. They have obtained stay orders from the courts to keep themselves in the business. There is the need, therefore, to accept the advice given in the report that there ought to be ‘sound policy and good governance for a faster development’.

Jammu as hideout

It is not the first time that one has come across a report of 79 Bangladeshis having been arrested in Jammu. The only difference may be that on this occasion they were caught while trying to cross over into Pakistan. Off and on in the past, there have been reports of their trying to force their way into the State from Pakistan. Although their illegal immigration in this part is not as alarming as it is said to be in north-eastern states, official agencies should sit up and take notice of this development. It is incomprehensible the way these immigrants seem to travel. On one hand, they come all the way from the east and enter Pakistan before seeking to find their way into the State. On the other hand, they manage to travel up to Jammu, as is established by the latest instance, and then make an attempt to move across. In both the cases, it is clear that they succeed in hoodwinking the initial and supposedly stronger security barriers. In the present incident, it has not been, evidently, possible to detect them after their arrival in Jammu. The concerned authorities should take this lapse seriously. A sensitive border town like Jammu can’t be allowed to become the hideout of the unauthorised citizens of another country, howsoever innocent or needy they may be.

One need not fear reorganization of J&K

By Daya Sagar

Yes, elite from Kashmir valley have reasons to fear that reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir State will end the rule of Kashmir. The services will be limited. The offices will not move to Jammu in winter and exploitation will be limited to locals only and they could be exposed for the mismanagement before the local common innocent Kashmiri so far kept in the dark as well as misinformed, one could say even ill informed.

Reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir State like we had in other Indian States like Punjab, UP, Bihar, MP would not be bad. A common Kashmiri Muslim has no objection to reorganization, rather the elite Kashmiri leadership has done enough to misguide them in the name of Kashmiriat. Resistance is only from those who are trading the wealth and sentiments of common subjects of Valley.

The Valley Leaders had exploited the Government of India sufficiently till 1990. And Government of India has also for unknown reasons and justifications has all these years only talked of Kashmiri and have done enough to please those from Kashmir valley by all means. All sorts of praise have been showered on the majority community of the Valley. The praises have continued even after 1990 since when all the Kashmiri Hindus have left the Kashmir valley, rather fled from Kashmir valley, and many of them who could have some settlement outside Kashmir valley have sold their houses and property back home to Kashmiri Muslims.

What matters is the intention:

The prime leaders from Kashmir valley still claim that the ruling Kashmiri leaders are not Communal and those from Jammu Region who talk of carving out a separate State extending over the Jammu Province of Maharaja's times comprising Districts of Doda, Udhampur, Kathua, Rajouri, Jammu and Poonch are communal.

Fearing from the outcome of the movement for Regional Council for Jammu Region, if at all it succeeded, the Kashmiri leadership in their efforts to extend the tentacles of communalism over Jammu Region, played the dirtiest game and appointed a Regional Autonomy Committee with Balraj Puri as the working Chairperson and ultimately attempted to cut the people of Jammu Region on communal lines by throwing the proposal for establishment of three Regional Councils in Jammu Region by separating the people of Rajouri & Poonch from the people of Jammu & Kathua as also the people of Parts of Udhampur & Doda.

It does not matter what names the regions are given by the committee and how the minor regional lines are drawn, what matters is the intention.

What ever name the committee attempted to give to the regional councils, it was surely an attempt to divide on communal lines to weaken the people of Jammu Region as against the Kashmir Region.

And separate Regional Council for Kargil too has been slated in Ladakh Region. It has been alleged by some that it has been an attempt to identify the Muslim majority district of Kargil distinctly from Buddhist majority Leh district. We should see more at the likely improvements in the local administration and the welfare of remotely placed common man there.

To day Doda also appears dear to Kashmiri leadership:

To day Doda appears dear to Kashmiri leadership but there has been all around backwardness and neglect for last nearly six decades in this hilly district. So logically recommended (by Wazir Commission) creation of a new District Administrative unit of Kishtwar has been neglected by those who ruled and had otherwise created two districts (Badgam and Srinagar) even out of comparably much smaller district of Srinagar.

No fruit industry, no cottage industry, no exploitation of the tourism potential even in Badherwah (some call it mini Kashmir), the plight of Rajouri and Poonch is horrible, even after 13 years of slogan making of Tourism in Jammu Region one can not venture to visit even Mansar, Saruinsar, Sanasar, Mantalai and Sudh Mahadev what to talk of distant tourist spots.

One must accept that the Kashmiri leadership having neglected the Muslims of Jammu Region all these years in Business, services, tourism education and other fields, the Kashmiri leadership after having felt weak and exposed have attempted to exploit the innocent Muslims of Jammu Region in the name of religion to secure their support and weaken the slogan for Jammu State and UT for Ladakh.

Save socio-communal fabric of the Jammu Region.....

It is so unfortunate that on the one hand the Pakistan is exploiting the sentiments of innocent and simple local Kashmiri Muslims of Kashmir valley and on the other hand the elite Kashmiri class after exploiting the sentiments of the innocent common Muslims in the Valley are now out to damage the socio-communal fabric even in the Jammu Region.

No doubt some confusions have been created. Some innocent minds have polluted. Some voice of separation has been raised in Rajouri/Poonch and hard efforts are being made in Doda also by the Valley leaders to save their crown. But confusions when cleared, Valley leadership will look for corners.

After sensing dooms day, the Kashmiri leaders are attempting to hug the Jammu Muslims, particularly the innocent backward from Rajouri, Poonch and Doda whom they have been neglecting all these years.

They too rolled only in the Valley:

Regionally, geographically and culturally the Jammu Region does not have much similarity with Kashmir Region. The texture of even the Muslim leadership of Maharaja's Jammu Province of J&K was no where near to that of the Kashmir province. Unfortunately the Kashmiri leaders have been able to influence even many journalists in India who too without knowing any thing about J&K have so easily joined with Kashmiri leaders in calling the demand for reorganization of J&K in Jammu State (extending over six districts out of which districts of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Udhampur have large portion of Muslim population and Jammu & Kathua Districts too have enough Muslims), Kashmir valley State (six Districts of Srinagar, Badgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla and Kupwara) and Union Territory of Ladakh (two Districts of Kargil and Ladakh) as communal demand.

The leadership from other Indian States too needs to know more about J&K since they have so far been only rolling in the company of Kashmiri leaders and it is only after about more than three decades of murmurs of Statehood for Jammu Region that some discussions have started at the National level.

Social and not the physical loss should matter:

Insurgency and militancy that had hit Kashmir valley in late eighties of 20th Century has to day nearly engulfed the whole of J&K. Physical material loss the people of J&K have suffered may appear dwarf before the social and communal divides that appear imminent on the agenda of some eminent people of the day.

Reconstruction of social matrix:

It is not militancy that should only concern those who are sincere to the people of J&K. The reconstruction of social matrix is rather more important and worrying now. Reorganisation of J&K (administratively and politically) will rather check further fracturing of Social Matrix of the people belonging to Jammu & Kashmir). Inter regional divides too are emerging in J&K and there is utmost need to remedy the local doubts and grievances lest such issues gather as much disturbing stress and strains as the anti India insurgency has surely done till this day.

Agitating the wills:

Corruption, mal-administration, regional discrimination, neglect and communal distrust appear to have started agitating the wills against Indian Government even of those subjects of J&K who never reared any anti India or pro Pakistan ideas inspite of their having the grievance that national leadership in modern India has been all along more accommodating even those from Kashmir valley who at occasions still talked of doubts in 1947 accession and even advocated Kashmiriat over Indian nationality. Hence bad economic order could be used by anti-forces as a tool to mislead the needy and unemployed educated youth of even Jammu Region.

From regional councils to reorganization of J&K:

Question of regional councils has been carried to demand for reorganization of J&K State in to regions terminating into separate States or Union territories in the Indian Dominion. How far and practical is the demand of those who are asking for reorganization of J&K State as has been done for Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh must be seen from the civil and administrative points of view rather than looking it from the religious or communal angles.

A fair and honest trial could be done by looking at the civil and administrative structure of the Princely State of J&K as it was administered by Maharaja Hari Singh Jee immediately before Maharaja acceded to Indian Dominion.

World after Saddam's capture

By Sanjeev Pathania

After all speculations and Co-ordination work, Mr Saddam Hussein is in the clinch of US forces- something anti-US, elements all over the world never wanted. But so is the case. The man who refused to bend, the man who was known for giving the world's strongest nation a stiff challenge has given himself over to fate. And what is his fate-death or life sentence? Well, the decision over Saddam's fate is still in the balance. The runners of the US administration, the leaders of the current Government in Iraq and anti-Saddam people in Iraq, if any, would certainly wish Saddam to be hanged. But have they ever thought of its consequence? Certainly no, probably yes.

Today, all over the world, there is unrest and a feeling of revenge among the Muslim community against the US and its allies. And this feeling of revenge has been all the more intensified since September 11 and the consequent US attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq. The Muslim community since then has been askanced at. A common Muslim, be it our neighbour or friend, is often asked; what you have done, as if he is one who is responsible for the wrong doings of a few. It instantly associate the good with the bad.

What is the basic purpose of the US for ensuing a global war, as it is named, against terrorism. Is the war really started with a bona-fide intention? Is it really to clear the world of terrorism and restore peace and harmony instead. There are doubts being raised over global war against terrorism by the US. Many think this anti-terrorism war is indeed nothing but to show the world the might of the US and its force. Oil, no doubt is another factor. War begins in the minds of men and it is in their minds that peace harmony and non-violence are to be built. But the white are psychological champions, and who is to convince them about this. Probably, a thorough study of Mahatama Gandhi and his struggle for freedom.

The world, including the UN has witnessed world unconsensus over US attack on Iraq. Afghanistan, no doubt was a breeding ground for terrorism. But is it really applicable to Iraq also? Saddam Hussein may face death penalty, but will it put an end to terrorism Osama bin Laden might be hunted out sooner or later, but will his capture stop terrorism. The psychological champions need to learn that this will only act as a catalyst to anti US activities. This abominable anti-human feeling can't be stemmed through massive military action. Its basic cause should be found out. If Saddam is awarded death penalty, it would lead to a chain of 11 September. what about the US presence in Iraq? Is the world community convinced that the US forces would leave Iraq as soon as Saddam is hanged. Is there any deadline to the presence of US forces in Iraq? Today the US and its allies speak of Iraq development and monetary aid for this purpose. But will they care to tell the world where the crude oil being taken out from Iraq and money earned therefrom, is going. If nothing but that money alone is invested in developmental activites in Iraq, the nation would need no extraneous help. But the psychological champions think otherwise.

The supremacy of the US and its forces, which is further established by capturing of Saddam Hussain poses a serious problem to the world in general and anti US nations in particular. Iran, North Korea, Libya and other nations termed as ''axis of evil'' will be on defensive now. They will intensify their activities of hoarding more nuclear weapons, as one of them might be the next US target. The US silence on Pakistan could be worrisome to India also. The US might being accepted the world over now, will lead many countries to turn to it for purchasing new weapons. So far the US has not been selling its weapons to Pakistan. But how long they will stick to this policy ? How the US will make up for millions of dollars that are being put in this global war against terrorism. India might also feel insecure and run for more modern military equipments, which means more expenditure and more burden on poor people. One might argue that in this hostile environment, where nations are living in constant dread of each other, the race for nuclear weapons and other modern military equipments will increase. And if the US thinks that it will remain unharmed when the neighbours are burning, then it thinks wrongly.

India's central Asian ''forward

By A B Mahapatra

Russia has apprised India that terrorism in Afghanistan is taking a new turn and it is satisfied to note that New Delhi is evolving a forward role in central Asia which may upset strategic interests of some neighboring countries that want to push their vested interests in the region.

During Prime Minister A B Vajpayee’s to Moscow and subsequent consultations with Russians leaders it is now clear that central Asia would remain top priority of Indian diplomacy for coming years and that will witness strategic advantage for India’s national security and economic interests in the region.

According to a top central Asian diplomat here, India’s recent proposal to some Central Asian States (CAS) to upgrade their military capability to fight terrorism and sharing of timely information with their security agencies has created a flutter among countries like Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

Though American presence in central Asia is a worry for Russia, Moscow finds it comfortable with the Indian initiative.

Besides, India has proposed to set up a base in Ayni near Dushanbe, Tajikistan, which will be jointly manned by Tajik forces and Indian military on a rotation basis to supervise the long-term threat and tactical movement of terrorists along the Tajik-Afghan border.

Similarly, India has already established joint security cooperation with both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in the recent past to monitor terrorist activities in the region and take note of regional developments.

Moreover, India has working relationship with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine under bilateral agreements and special ties.

"The recent Indian move in CAS region has sent a strong feeler that New Delhi is serious about its strategic interests in substance not just in words as it used to be in the past under socialist type agreements and terminology," remarked a diplomat.

The core of India’s ongoing move is protect its national security interest from the backyards of CAS and Afghanistan and forge a long term economic interest with such nations who can rely about New Delhi’s seriousness to play a meaningful role.

All the CAS members have put forward a long list of their demands to India and are eagerly looking for a positive response in return of their strategic partnership with New Delhi.

This has particularly set alarm bells ringing in Pakistan and China who perceive Indian move as a strategic move to play great games in their backyards.

However, experts rule out any immediate gain for India whether it is oil pipeline or normal trade. India’s geo-political locations are quite at a disadvantage for any such move. Yet it is a smart move, they say.

On the other hand Russians have been suggesting to India for the last two years -- ever since the Taliban was rooted out from Afghanistan -- that both countries should do something more substantial in the region.

But New Delhi was unwilling to enter into the region without a proper strategy in place and witnessing substantial gains for its economic interests. Central Asian diplomats based in Delhi say India was unable to find a starting point and unsure of dealings with CAS members who do not maintain consistency in policy implementation.

That made India’s entry into the region as a late comer but better than never, remarked a diplomat.

In the meantime, China, which has been working with CAS members since the break-up of Soviet Union for over a decade, is slowly losing out to others. It has failed to create a pro-China central Asia due to overemphasis on economic relationship. In fact, China is going too fast in building economic relationship whereas it is going too slow politically.

Nevertheless, it has cornered India by way of keeping New Delhi out of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and now India is coming from the rear by forging bilateral relationship with CAS members which will be more stable and substantial in its dealings, the diplomats say.

Privately, Chinese diplomats admit that Beijing has ensured that India should be out of the SCO bloc till it subsides major issues with Beijing on trade and border issues. At the same time it has advocated Pakistan’s entry into the SCO as a counter-balance for any Russian initiatives in favor of India.

However, Russia has urged India to take more initiatives for opening up of a land route with CAS members so that trade can be multiplied and a more working relationship on economic front could be established.

India is working with Iran and Afghanistan for building a highway and a sea port connection from Iranian side as a trade option to the land-locked region the hydro-carbon potentiality of which has drawn attention of the world community and new players are eyeing it seriously.

Pakistan and China are also working together to defeat the Indian move in central Asia. But India should exploit good leads it has got from the Prime Minister’s visit to the region as quickly as possible. (ADNI)