Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

By Sushma Thapliyal

Which way will Jammu go ?
TALES OF TRAVESTY

By Dr. Jitendra Singh

Which way will Jammu go if State Assembly elections were to be held today or at their scheduled time next year ? This , ...more.

Safeguarding
consumer rights

By Nantoo Banerjee

Gujarat elections

By Kalyani Shankar

The Congress and the BJP are playing for high stakes in the Gujarat Assembly elections. The results will have a crucial bearing on the future of the two big parties leading the UPA and the .....more

EDITORIAL

Do the right

If it appears to be a brainteaser it is not our fault. We can spend this Sunday thinking over it. Why do we say: "Do what is right and trust God for the rest?" Why should we drag God in essentially a matter involving our own conduct? Perhaps it is meant to ensure that we stick to the path of righteousness without bothering about the outcome. A couplet sums up this view to some extent: "Trust no party, trust no faction; trust no leaders in the fight; but in every word and action trust in God and do the right." This does not, however, answer the question why we should not behave properly in the normal course. Why should our actions be guided by the fear or prospect of invisible divine intervention? Why as human beings should we not develop mutual trust and respect to sort out our conflicts? How can we do the right thing by fighting each other on the earth and looking towards the sky for peace? There seems to be an assumption that human beings can't do anything correct. Does it not fly in the face of facts? Indeed, some of us have set the highest standards of morality in thoughts and actions. Buddha, Guru Nanak and most recently Mahatma Gandhi are among those shining examples. Since the majority of us are nowhere near their exceptional qualities of head and heart we simply elevate them to the status of Gods. What an easy way have we found to get rid of our inferiority complex? Why don't we instead strive to follow in their steps? Why do we undermine our existence? Have not Gods felt tempted to assume human forms and walk through our territory from birth to death like us? This only proves that we as normal beings enjoy a privileged way of life. We should make the most of it. Let's keep Gods above over petty controversies. Late United States President Theodore Roosevelt has a view in the matter which is relevant. Before that we ought to know that "In God We Trust" is the national motto of the US. It is inscribed on the American coinage and currency. This is what Theodore has disapproved: "My own feeling in the matter is due to my very firm conviction that to put such a motto on coins, or to use it any kindred manner, not only does no good but does positive harm, and is in effect irreverence, which comes dangerously close to sacrilege…it seems to me eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen it by use on postage stamps, or in advertisements." Theodore is not around any more. One, therefore, will never know his reaction to the US move to engrave portraits of its deceased presidents on coins. Perhaps he would have been happy. Mundane things are better left to lesser mortals. Actually there has been an opinion that the motto is religious and runs contrary to the US 's secular character. The American judiciary does not agree with it. Its observation is: "Its use is of patriotic or ceremonial character and bears no true resemblance to a governmental sponsorship of a religious exercise."

Having faith in God is a matter of personal conviction. If any respect is induced by the dread of some unseen force it implies the lack of it. The lesson for us, therefore, is that we should discharge our functions honestly regardless of what God may think. In no event we would ever know His response.

Pakistan at cross roads

By Sushma Thapliyal

The return of Nawaz Sharif on November 25 to Pakistan and Gen. Musharraf giving up his position as Chief of Army Staff on November 28 can be considered as another twist to the on going political drama in that country. According to reports coming from Islamabad, Nawaz Sharifs return was largely due to the intervention of Saudi Arabia's king Abdullah. It is reported that King Abdullah took strong exception to Benazir Bhutto alone being allowed to return to the country and participate in the forth coming elections. Even though Gen. Musharraf rushed to Jeddah to pacify King Abdullah, things seems to have not worked according to the plan. In this context one can not ignore the friendship between King Abdullah and Nawaz Sharif dating back to early 1980s.

What is the final deal that has been struck between Gen. Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif and King Abdullah is not known as yet. But it became clear now that along with the United States who sponsored Benazir Bhutto and clemency to her by Gen. Musharraf, all seems to have lost the initiative. With Nawz Sharif publicly declaring that he will not serve under Gen. Musharaf, things seems to be heading for a possible show down between the two parties. With Nawaz Sharif filing his nominations for the January 8 elections with a rider that hewill not contest elections under emergency the picture that is emerging in Pakistan seems to be quiet hazy.

Before analyzing these and other related events of the past few weeks in Pakistan, three factors need to be noted. First, the much publicised home coming of Benazir Bhutto seems to be much ado about nothing. The proposed massive rally from Lahore to Islamabad never took off. She is, more or less confined to house and not participating in any rallies. Even though the security of Benazir by suicide bombers is being given as an explanation for her confinement to the house, observers feel that she is waiting for the elections to give her certain amount of legitimacy to form the Government. In the present circumstances whether the elections will take place as scheduled on January 08, 2008 or not is not clear. In these circumstances Benazir's future seems to be full of uncertainties and how she will respond to the events in the forth coming weeks is to be seen.

Second, with Nawaz Sharif announcing that he is not willing to serve under Gen. Musharraf, the political life in Pakistan took a new turn. If Nawaz Sharif is elected in the forth coming polls he will be targeting Gen. Musharaf as Precedent. This can lead to a political chaos.

At another level other political parties like Imran Khan's Tehrek-e-Insaf have already announced that they will not participate in the elections. At the end of the day one is not clear who all will participate in the elections and who will stay out of it.

Lastly, the traditional rivalry between Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Benazir's Pakistan's People's Party, is well known. Already, Benazir and Nawaz Sharif have started in a slanging match for the past few days. For instance, Benazir claims that Nawaz Sharif is back under the reconciliation ordinance and the credit for it goes to PPP. On the other hand, Nawaz Sharif took a swipe at Benazir saying his party had to "defeat those who were making deals and bowing their head before a dictator". All this may help the radical Islamic groups to stage a come back much to the surprise of every other political party. This has already happen in 2002 elections in Baluchistan and NWFP. Some observers feel that this time if the elections take place the radical groups may sweep Punjab and Sind.

In such a situation both United States and Saudi's may find it too hard to accept such a verdict.

In this back drop the statements emanating from Nawaz Sharif and Benazir camps acquires an added significance. Nawaz Sharif said Gen. Musharaf would not gain legitimacy by steping down as Army chief. "Taking off his uniform does not mean he is a legitimate President of the country. He would have been the legitimate President if the earlier judiciary was allowed to give its judgment in his favour. If the judgment went in his favour we would have accepted that. Any decision by this judiciary means nothing," he said.

Similarly Benazir Bhutto too expressed identical sentiments. The All Parties Democratic Movement, an opposition grouping led by Mr. Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (N) but not including the PPP, said on it would boycott the elections unless Gen. Musharraf lifts the emergency, restores the Constitution and reinstates the judiciary.

To add further confusion the attorney-general Malik Qayyum said Sharif could be barred from standing in the polls. "As the election law stands today, it is highly doubtful that Nawaz Sharif can contest elections," he told Dawn News channel. Sharif is likely to be barred because he had been sentenced to life imprisonment before he went into exile in 2000, Qayyum said. The prison term was awarded to him following his conviction on charges of corruption and attempting to turn back a plane that was carrying Musharaf back to Pakistan from a foreign trip in 1999.

All the trends emerging in Pakistan indicate that the country is on the verge of political turmoil. The worst case scenario could be the sub-nationalist groups that are active for the past few years may pull the country in different direction. On the other hand, if the radical Islamic groups gain an upper hand, if the elections are held, may not be palatable to either Nawaz Sharif or Benazir Bhutto. Neither of them is willing to accept an electoral defeat.

In these circumstances Pakistani Armed Forces appears to be the only source which can control the divisive forces and bring in an order. Will such a development be acceptable to the US or Saudi Arabia who seems to have developed stakes in Pakistan. With so much of uncertainty how Pakistan will pull itself together is to be seen.

The mandarins in South Block may have to assess the emerging scene in Pakistan and think in terms of options available to it under various scenarios. India may not like to get involve in any fashion in the on going uncertainty in Pakistan. But it would like to look forward to keep the momentum of people to people diplomacy between the two countries. -CNF.

Which way will Jammu go ?

TALES OF TRAVESTY

By Dr. Jitendra Singh

Which way will Jammu go if State Assembly elections were to be held today or at their scheduled time next year ? This is a question none of the political analysts bothers to ask even as they spend hours of electronic time and columns of print space to discuss emerging political trends in Kashmir Valley. While the socalled Jammu protagonists may attribute this also to what they vociferously describe as discrimination against Jammu, the fact of the matter is that Jammu attracts little discussion because it enjoys the reputation of invariably rallying behind the prospective ruling party without making much difference to the final outcome determined by the seats-tally scored by Kashmir-centric political groups or parties.

As the election momentum catch up.... a little too early perhaps... and mainstream parties particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC) engage in a fierce war of wits in demonstrating their concern for the Kashmiri populace, there is a virtual vacuum of leadership in Jammu as a result of which the people of Jammu flock around anybody or everybody who claims to be a leader by virtue of his apparent proximity to the Kashmir leadership.

One does not grudge the political parties and leaders of different hues training political guns at each other for all this forms the essence of democracy. Jammu is known for its hospitality in hosting public rallies but what is bothersome is the inconvenience caused to general masses by choking all the roads leading to the venue. Since these rallies are used as means for show of strength, to ensure maximum participation of people, the latter are brought to the venue herded in buses, metadors, etc from distant places by party activists who resort to all sorts of enticement to ensure a sizeable crowd. In the process, all political parties follow the same modus operandi. And, on this account, the people constituting the audience at these rallies deserve all praise for their perseverance to withstand the hardship of waiting long hours to hear from their leaders the same old monotonous rhetoric of sham promises and hypocritic declarations.

Coming back to the subject of Jammu's electoral preferences during the next Assembly elections, it my be too early to predict which way Jammu will go. But, one thing for which the people of Jammu can be trusted going by the past experience is that they may allow themselves to be swayed in favour of any party.... be it PDP or NC or Congress.. that succeeds in projecting itself as the incoming ruling party. As for the Jammu based parties like BJP are concerned, these hold little promise of forming a government in the State and hence little chance of cutting ice with the Jammu electorate more so, when the local BJP leadership has itself failed to present itself as a serious contender. In the ensuing confusion, however, Bahujan Samaj Part (BSP) has the potential to emerge as the underdog with a visibly improved tally in the next Assembly thus capable of striking an effective bargain in any future ministry formation.

Which way will Jammu go could be carrying some relevance for the politicians engaged in power struggle to capture the seat of governance. For the common man, however, it makes little difference in the sense that whichever party finally succeeds in forming the Government, Jammu is unlikely to be rewarded with a place of honour because its leaders have already mortgaged their honour. Poet speaks on Umapathy's behalf ‘‘Jo Tha Gairat Se Bekhabar, Rahnuma Usko Bana Liya Humne!’’

Safeguarding consumer rights

By Nantoo Banerjee

If it is socially undesirable and physically harmful for kids to use cell phones, why are the cellular mobile phone operators and their ad agencies being allowed to use children to market their network? If the cigarette and liquor ads are banned under the law, how is it that the makers of both these harmful consumer products are allowed to use their popular brand names to market other products on the sly and advertise them freely in order to retain the image of the original tobacco and liquor brands in the minds of the consumers? Aren't such practices, known as surrogate ads, killing the very purpose of banning the liquor and cigarette advertisements? Why are the cosmetics manufacturers allowed to indiscriminately market skin fairness creams without the certification of registered dermatologists' associations or the drug control administration of the Government? Why are the so-called health drinks manufacturers allowed to make atrocious claims of invigorating impact of such drinks on children's growth and energy? Why is the drug control administration silent on the tall claims being made by the manufacturers of certain over-the-counter drugs, especially those for cough and cold, fever and headache?

The tactics adopted for the marketing and advertising of products and services, including non-consumer items, are increasingly bordering on lies and fraud. Millions of innocent consumers are falling prey to these advertisements and unethical marketing practices mostly by well-known multinational corporations and their local rivals taking undue advantage of the current deregulation regimen. The disease is spreading in the other spheres of business as well, selling variety of products and services ranging from housing apartments, building materials such as cement and steel, water purifiers, white and brown goods, automobile, education, healthcare, banking and insurance products and tours and travels. It seems the concept of the free market economy has arrived in its worst form in India. The newly freed India Inc. seems be concerned only with its top line and bottom line. The concept of value has been replaced by volume. The talks of business ethics and corporate morality exist only in B-School curriculum. On ground, the volume pushers call the shots with the help of a bunch of unscrupulous marketing and advertising professionals, playing more with the passion, emotion and sentiments of consumers than the intrinsic value of the products and services. So much is said about the sinful exploitation of poor children working as carpet weavers, tea stall workers or domestic help. But, no one seems to be bothered about the reckless use of rich and middle-class children in advertising campaigns - to catch subscribers for a particular cell-phone network to market edible oil, detergents, motor car, housing and even insurance and public issue of shares - and shamelessly exploit the sentiments of consumers. In Western countries, the home of these MNCs and their ad agencies, the use of children in ad campaigns for unrelated products and services is strictly banned.

The latest judicial verdict in Delhi's Uphaar cinema tragedy, in which scores of people watching a film were burnt alive in an accidental fire in the absence of an otherwise mandatory fire escape system in the building, let the promoters of the theatre escape unhurt with only a two-year jail sentence or nominal fines or both because of the inadequacy of the existing law to offer more deterrent punishment to such violators of building construction rules. The builders, the Ansal group, are among the largest in the country. In another case, one of the largest construction groups of eastern India, linked with a giant cement manufacturing company, lured investors to own apartments in a luxury housing complex promoted by it in Kolkata through a sustained ad and marketing campaign for months which proved to be a lie. The company collected huge amounts from the apartment owners as one-time maintenance fee for life. Not only the company failed to keep its promise after collecting all the advance maintenance deposits, but it even changed the building plans midway in contravention of the original offer document or brochure. There are any number of such unlawful acts being carried out with impunity by even well-know builders in the absence of a strong regulatory body for the housing promotion industry in aid of the consumers, who are forced to spend time and money for legal recourse often with frustrating results as in the Uphaar killing case.

To make the economic reforms work for the benefit of the common man, it is high time the Government take an immediate initiative to help set up industry-wise regulatory bodies with strong teeth to penalize the offenders more as a deterrent to fresh offences than an ex post facto measure after the harm has already been committed and the consumers have suffered. Some industries like the advertising and market promotion, which is at the core of misleading consumer communication, have self-regulatory mechanism to deal with consumer and industry complaints against ads that are considered as false, misleading, indecent, illegal, leading to unsafe practices, unfair to competition and consequently in contravention of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) code for self-regulation in advertising. Unfortunately, such self-regulatory bodies perform merely a recommendatory function and soft towards big and influential members. It deals more with industry complaints than with consumer grievances. To get a flavour of the types of companies against which ASCI's consumer complaints council (CCC) upheld complaints during the first quarter of 2007 include such big names as Coca-Cola India, Dabur India, Cadila Healthcare, Kellog India, Cadbury India, LG Electronics, General Motors, Inox Leisure and Lux Hosiery. The nature of complaints suggests that they came from their rival companies rather than genuine consumers. The complaints concerned mostly with misleading claims by the manufactures in media ads about their products which affected their rivals in terms of sales volume.

The longer the Government takes to put strong regulatory authorities in place for all those deregulated sectors touching the every day life of the common man, the more it will benefit the unscrupulous, the volume pushers and the profiteers at the cost of the consumers. It is a matter of shame that the Government took nearly 20 years to decide on the need for a regulatory authority for the tobacco industry. According to the Union Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss, himself a physician, "40 per cent of all health problems in India is due to tobacco use." India is the world's third largest tobacco consumer and producer, 550 million kilos annually. The country earns nearly $ 9 million from tobacco exports per year. Almost one million people die in India every year owing to tobacco-aggravated causes. The Union Government alone spends nearly Rs. 360 million a year for treatment of tobacco-related diseases. Even then the Government failed to regulate the industry, a big source of its excise revenue, because of a strong pro-tobacco lobby within itself. It would appear that the country's experiment with the free market economy has left its governance with a bunch of business lobbyists without scruple. (IPA Service)

Gujarat elections

By Kalyani Shankar

The Congress and the BJP are playing for high stakes in the Gujarat Assembly elections. The results will have a crucial bearing on the future of the two big parties leading the UPA and the NDA respectively. Both are using all the tricks in their bags to win the elections. A win in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat would take the BJP to new heights. For the Congress, it would be a turning point if it manages to win Gujarat after 12 years. Political pundits see the Gujarat outcome as a precursor to the Lok Sabha polls.

Gujarat Assembly elections in 2007 are different from the 2002 polls in many ways. Five years ago, the NDA was ruling at the Centre. The Sangh Parivar was fully backing Modi. Godhra was fresh in the minds of the people of the state as well as the country. The BJP allies were not too enthusiastic to campaign for Modi. Pollsters predicted doom for Narendra Modi.

Despite all this, Modi was able to connect with the people and won the state with a handsome majority. Modi was the main campaigner then and Modi is the main campaigner now. But who was his target? He did not talk of Godhra, or the Muslims or Hindutva. He was concentrating on Musharraf bashing. The Congress was unable to match his oratory or the electoral management by BJP leader Arun Jaitley. Above all, the Hindu-Muslim polarisation went against the Congress.

In 2007, things are different. The NDA lost power in 2004 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress-led UPA is ruling at the Centre for the past three and a half years. Modi's arrogant style of functioning has alienated him from the Sangh parivar. Modi's popularity is on the wane within his own party. He has much to fear from his own party leaders like Keshubhai Patel. The BJP is facing a leadership crisis at the national level. Vajpayee is more or less out of the scene. Advani wants to be the prime ministerial candidate. BJP president Rajnath Singh has not proved himself so far. The second generation leaders, including Modi, are waiting for the generational change.

On the plus side, Modi has remained chief minister for full five years. There has been no communal clashes since Godhra. His election speeches today are on development and not on Musharraf. Modi is seeking votes for his performance. He is popular among the urban middle class. If Modi wins the state for the BJP even with a smaller majority, he is bound to become the icon of the BJP and also may move to national politics. Retaining Gujarat will give him enormous clout within the party and also outside. The party would get a morale boost after its recent humiliation in U.P Assembly polls. The cadres will get enthused and work better for the next Lok Sabha elections. The allies too will remain if the Gujarat result goes in BLP's favour. It will set the trend for the Lok Sabha polls. The pollsters are now predicting that he may win with a reduced majority.

If Modi loses, his enemies within the party and outside would be happy. While his personal loss is understandable, the party too would suffer. It would be doubly so if the BJP does not gain in the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.

What about the Congress? The party, which has remained out of power for the last 12 years in Gujarat, needs to do better. Congress strategists are hoping for a re-run of the anti-Modi campaign in 2004 Lok Sabha elections which saw the BJP lose strongholds like Amreli. The BJP won just 14 out of 26 Lok Sabha seats. The allies like the NCP are with the Congress. Congress strategists are also hoping to gain from the internal rebellion against Modi. It is hoping for a better showing in the tribal belt. The Congress is also trying to woo two large support groups of Modi- the Kohlis and Leuva Patels who have moved away from him. Above all, the anti- incumbency factor may go in favour of the Congress.

One of the reasons why left parties are exercising restraint against the Congress is Gujarat polls. They do not want to weaken the Congress in Gujarat by pulling out of the UPA government before the polls. They are keen to get Modi defeated. That is why the left parties have softened their stand.

The Congress, like the BJP, has concentrated on Gujarat polls for quite some time and has stationed observers in each district. Money and manpower are being utilised to its full extent. The Congress strategists have even accommodated rebel BJP candidates which may or may not help the party. The biggest advantage for the Congress is vigorous campaigning by Congress president and son, Rahul Gandhi.

Sonia is practical and knows that it is not easy to win the state. But victory would be a big morale-booster not only for her but also for the party; The Congress is still licking its wounds from the humiliating defeat in the U.P. polls despite the good public meetings and road shows by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. It will be a test for newly appointed AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to show that he can be a crowd puller as well as a vote-catcher.

Many in the party think that the Congress can become bolder in dealing with its allies after a good showing in Gujarat and may call the bluff of the Left patties. There could even be mid-term polls if things go the Congress way.

Gujarat elections are bound to change the course of national politics whichever way the voters decide. (IPA Service)