Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

By Amulya Ganguli

Only the Congress could have complicated a situation which was otherwise quite simple and straightforward. And the muddying of the waters is the result of old-fashioned jealousies which have always been the basis of infighting in the party. Earlier, the veneer of ideology was used, as when Indira Gandhi opposed the "reactionaries" in the so-called ........more

Mayawati -eyes
on PM's Gaddi

By Pradeep Kapoor

Enthused by the clean sweep during recently concluded by-polls for two Lok Sabha and three assembly seats by her party, chief minister Mayawati has started preparations for next Lok Sabha polls. Chief Minister Mayawati wants fine-tuning ...more

Cheap tantrums
weaken the game

By Arun Nehru

EDITORIAL

Kandi on fire

Old timers tell us a different tale. Actually it sounds like a fairy story. According to them the Kandi belt in the Jammu region had numerous green patches before 1947. The erstwhile ruling dynasty zealously guarded them. These specially earmarked enclosures were called "rakhs" (dry scrub forests in arid plains) --- an expression which we use even today for small, thick and wild patches of woods in our vicinity. Wild animals found it convenient to prosper in such protected milieu. There were ponds and wells providing for drinking and irrigation. These days we come across a totally contrasting milieu. Every worthwhile piece of land is a cemented structure. Green lungs have been the first casualty of fast galloping human need (some call it greed). By now at least two generations have grown up that may not have seen any planned forest in the Jammu-Kathua area. What one comes across at present are seasonal streams. There are industrial units; instead of being hailed as the sure sign of development these are exposed to the charge of polluting the environment. One sight that does appear to be intriguing is of vastly scattered empty patches of land. Clearly they are unliveable. That seems to be the only plausible reason why they have escaped the attention of land mafias and encroachers so far. A boon to the territory is the Ravi-Tawi canal command system which is said to be benefiting about 70000 hectares of area. It has generated salinity at certain places but to give much importance to this negative but curable aspect will perhaps be wrong. Water is of prime significance to Kandi. There can't be two opinions about this. It is especially during this time of the year that one realises how precious this commodity is. During summer Kandi is dry as a bone and literally burns.

A major problem that the inhabitants of Kandi encounter in this weather is fires in their agricultural fields. Flames increase in numbers as the mercury shoots up. According to a report in this newspaper there have been about 35 such fires since April 28 and in 16 of them standing crop on 400 kanals of land has been destroyed in Bari Brahmana, Ramgarh, R.S.Pura, Samba, Hiranagar and Kathua. The reasons for these ghastly occurrences are the same as in the case of forest fires. Dry grass and leaves can catch fire on their own if they are in direct contact with high temperatures for long. Of course, they also fall easy prey to carelessly thrown half-burnt match-sticks. It is a grievous human error. Farmers can certainly be extremely cautious. After all, they sweat it out while cultivating their fields. Why should they let their own hard work go waste? First, they spoil their health by smoking. Then, they allow it to add to their woes. Sometimes the blazes are triggered by sparks from electricity-operated agricultural tools for which again the men behind them are responsible.

As a consequence, our report says, the Fire and Emergency Services Department is very busy. It has taken the credit for having restricted the losses through "timely and swift action". Nothing that can be done should be left undone to prevent damages to crops. Kandi deserves respite till an over-all scheme is conceived and implemented to mitigate its sufferings.

Price of anger

Looking at the current discomfiture of one of our greatest spinners Harbhajan Singh we are reminded of an old saying: "Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it stands than to anything on which it is poured." He is paying a heavy penalty for having slapped pacer S. Sreenath after the end of their Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Mumbai recently. He has been banned for 11 matches: in practical terms it means a whopping loss of Rs 3 crores for him. There may be something worse in store for him. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is conducting a separate inquiry into the episode. Unless it takes a benevolent view after the punishment already met to him "Bhajji" as Harbhajan Singh is widely known can be in serious trouble. Why did he have to lose his nerve to the extent of sending his hand across the face of Sreenath? The latter's picture shedding copious tears have been seen by the millions. He too has been warned for his tantrums on the field. That, however, has not cost him pay packet. We thus come across a unique viewpoint. Anger per se is not bad. It is only when it degenerates into physical violence it becomes unacceptable. Sometimes anger is inevitable. It is a normal human emotion. It can be energiser and drive one to achieve great deeds and heights. After all, Harbhajan himself had become angry because of the behaviour of Australian players and had responded by turning out a sound performance during India's last tour of the Land Down Under. Yuvraj Singh had gone on to hit six sixes in an over for he was angered by certain remarks made by England player Andrew Flintoff. The Indian cricketer himself had explained after his historic feat: "Flintoff charged me up for sure." England conceded that that it gained nothing from the spat between two players.

What does this establish if not that anger is an ideal instrument if it manifests itself as controlled aggression. We can get into fits of rage and settle scores with big bullies. One precaution that we ought to take is not to allow hot tempers to get the better of us. In no event we should apply physical force or brandish a weapon. If we restrict our anger to ourselves it can steel our determination. There is a lot of advice in this regard from sages, poets and industrialists. None of them finds fault with anger. Instead, they emphasise the necessity of managing it properly. One of them has remarked: "In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plough your anger and your energy into something positive." Our sages and Western intellectuals think alike on this issue. According to American poet Audre Lorde "anger is loaded with information and energy." A Hindu saint has said: "Anger is a great force. If you control it, it can be transmuted into a power which can move the whole world." Anger has been compared with passion for ushering in better and lasting change. In the past "Bhajji" has got angry and won acclaim. This time he has paid a price for ignoring that even anger has a ceiling.

Reforms under veiled attack

By Amulya Ganguli

Thus, we see the extraordinary spectacle of the prime minister's position being undermined, in tandem with opposition leaders like L.K. Advani, by Manmohan Singh's own party men. Not surprisingly, the charge against him is led by Arjun Singh, who has evidently never reconciled himself to being sidelined as a mere human resource development minister despite his demonstrations over long periods of obeisance to the first family.

However, since he lacks the guts to launch a frontal attack, he has indulged in the typically subservient trick of proposing Rahul Gandhi's name for the prime minister's post. To the credit of Sonia Gandhi, this transparent act of sycophancy was described as such by party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan to discourage any such devious attempts to belittle Manmohan Singh. To make her point clear, Natarajan also paid a compliment to the "magnificent" achievements of Manmohan Singh and his team.

But so ingrained is the habit of obsequiousness among Congressmen that even the direct snub did not deter another stalwart from Madhya Pradesh, Digvijay Singh, to say that a "seasoned" leader like Arjun Singh's plea for the heir apparent cannot be described as sycophancy. It is also not impossible that given the encouragement which such acts of servility has received since Indira Gandhi's time, Congressmen find it difficult to believe that Natarajan meant what she said and was not merely criticizing sycophancy for the sake of form.

After Sonia Gandhi let her views known through Natarajan, Rahul Gandhi has now praised Manmohan Singh for his competence and effectiveness, thereby suggesting that the first family does not immediately visualize any change in the leadership of the government in the event of the party returning to power. However, Arjun Singh, Digvijay Singh and, for some strange reason even the normally astute and circumspect Pranab Mukherjee, have already done their bit to weaken Manmohan Singh's position.

In the process, they may have damaged the prospects of their own party, for doubts have been sown about the possibility of the Congress's and the UPA's prime ministerial candidate after the general election. While the BJP and the NDA have settled much of the speculation in this regard with Advani's anointment as the shadow P.M. despite the preference expressed earlier by Bal Thackeray for Sharad Pawar, the Congress will be entering the electoral battle with a question mark hanging over Manmohan Singh's future.

Since he once called himself an "accidental" prime minister, the gentle Sikh may not be too perturbed by the uncertainty about his role. Besides, as he said in the context of the nuclear deal, one has to accept disappointments in life. He is also not unaware of the twisted mentality of his party men with the organization's pervasive crab culture (in the words of the veteran Vasant Sathe) where rivals pull down anyone not belonging to the dynasty rising to the top.

Even then, the prime minister's frustration over not being able to have his way has been evident more than once, as when he asked the Left to take-it-or-leave-it in the context of the nuclear deal and, more recently, when he asked the Congress's friends and foes not to politicize the issue of inflation.

He must also be aware that the Left will not like him to be prime minister for yet another term despite Prakash Karat's praise for him as a man of integrity. It is possible that the Left was taken by surprise (like everyone else) by Sonia Gandhi's decision not to be the prime minister and was not overjoyed with her choice of a man who initiated the economic reforms in 1991 as the finance minister in Narasimha Rao's cabinet.

The Left was evidently even more upset when Manmohan Singh decided to carry on from where he had left off in 1996 and chose P. Chidambaram and Montek Singh Ahluwalia (the "World Bank man", as Jyoti Basu called him) to be important members of his team. Since then, there has been a constant tussle between the reformist instincts of the prime minister and the "socialistic" inclinations of the comrades. That there is little love lost between the two was evident from Chidambaram's recent observations against those who oppose growth and want to distribute poverty.

It is not impossible, therefore, that it is not the sycophancy of the Congressmen alone which is responsible for the floating of Rahul Gandhi's name, but also discreet pressure from the Left which prefers Sonia Gandhi. Since the political equations are unlikely to change dramatically in the next general election, it is on the cards that there will be a repeat of the UPA-Congress-Left arrangement at the centre, with the Samajwadi Party being a part of the alliance instead of the BSP. The only change which the communists will like is to have a new prime minister.

It is a million-dollar question whether Sonia Gandhi will go along with this preference or will wait till, say, 2010-11 before Rahul takes the reins in his hands. If she takes the second option, the reason will be the assessment that Manmohan Singh is still a favourite of the upper and middle classes and of the mainstream media, and any move to marginalize him at the behest of old fogys like Arjun Singh will not be appreciated. Hence, the certificates which both mother and son have given to the prime minister. (IPA Service)

Mayawati -eyes on PM's Gaddi

By Pradeep Kapoor

Mayawati has set the target of getting at least 60 seats from UP which could help in fulfilling her dream to become Prime Minister of the country in a hung House. If not PM, then Mayawati wants to play the role of king maker. Mayawati, who would complete one year in the office in May, has been asking her voters to give her mandate in such a manner that she should become the prime minister. She took the advantage of her government in UP and extensively toured the entire nation and addressed huge rallies in major towns to mobilize public opinion in her favour.

Recently she held the review meeting of her government and she called all top secretaries, commissioners and DMs and SPs. Mayawati expressed her dissatisfaction over the performance in general administration and law and order situation and warned the officials that they should be on alert or she would punish them. Chief Minister said her government was functioning on the policy of Sarvjan Hitai and Sarvjan Sukhai and benefit of her government should reach to all sections of society. At the same time, she said that FIR should be lodged and poor persons should be given preference as her government represented the downtrodden.

To safeguards the interest of her traditional voters, Mayawati said Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Act should be properly implemented. Significantly she asked the police officers to observe "thana diwas" all over the state on every Saturday where grievances of people should be heard in the presence of revenue officials. Mayawati had received complaints that thanas have become centre for corruption and FIRs were not being lodged. She also asked for holding tehsild divwas on every Tuesday.

Similarly Mayawati also held the meting of her party leaders including ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and district presidents and coordinators and thanked them for their support during recently concluded by-polls. Much significance is being attached to this meeting which was first of its kind and that too 15 days before Mayawati completes first year in the office. The marathon meetings with party workers continued for more than 10 hours during which Mayawati gave call to party workers to prepare for Lok Sabha polls.

BSP supremo met party leaders in groups and individually and listened to their suggestions to improve the party organization at grass root level. She also asked the officers of her secretariat to dispose of the list of work recommended by the party workers in their areas.

Mayawati also announced that her decision to dissolve all the 71 district units in 18 divisions. The party leader said new units would be set up in view of new delimitation in the state and emerging caste equations. New units would find representation from different castes to make units more balanced. (IPA)

Cheap tantrums weaken the game

By Arun Nehru

Security issues both on the Western border and in the East are of great relevance and the situation in Pakistan is a little confused as things have still not settled down between Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif on one side and the Pakistan Army and President Mussaraf [very much in control] and the 'judges' issue may well destabilize a fragile agreement brokered by the USA. We are silent spectators but there is very little we can do in the circumstances except to remain vigilant on our borders in J&K. The situation in the East is clear with the Maoist victory and the abolition of the Monarchy and it is difficult to understand the statement given by security agencies before the elections. The Maoists have won a electoral verdict in a democratic manner and I think we should have few problems in dealing with them taking into account the current political reality. We have a issue with leakage of hostile elements from bordering states and this will no doubt form a important point for discussion with the current government.

Politics as we know rarely takes a 'vacation' but the distractions provided by the highly successful IPL series, the cheer leaders controversy [successfully resolved by a change of attire],the disgraceful episode involving Harbhajan Singh and a 'weeping' Sreesanth, the changes in the ICC board and a end of the 'Colonial' era in cricket keep our attention and even the exit of KPS Gill from the IHF is largely ignored by the limited response in the media. IPL gives a new meaning to cricket and is a game of the future and we in India have had the good fortune to see the World's best talent performing at several cities in the country and the motivation this will provide great opportunities for the future and we may well see a new generation of record breaking cricketers. A few cynics point out that money and power are influencing the sport and they are right as this happens in every field and the task before the new administration in the ICC is to ensure fairness and a end to 'racial' preferences in appointments and decision making. We have seen the sad events on our tour of Australia where we were cheated out of a 'win' and it is technology and the media along with public support which forced a very reluctant ICC to take action. The IPL tournament is innovative and gives a great opportunity for cricketers to earn substantial amounts of money [same as football, basketball or baseball] and the viewing public happily provides the resources for this level of excellence. Incidents like Harbhajan Singh [slapping] and Sree Santh [tantrums and weeping] will be condemned by all and deserve to be punished and are a poor example to future generations and the BCCI will have to act firmly as the IPL have done and clearly indicate their displeasure on this unacceptable behavior.

Governments globally battle to bring order into the system and initiate controls for the future and I do not see a prolonged 'gloom or doom' situation in the future. Market forces and the law of supply demand prevail and boom profits are being generated by a handful at the expense of billions cutting across the developed and the developing economies and these distortions bring about change in thinking and governance patterns. We are looking at a change in consumption patterns as the USA and many countries in Europe go through a average of 1-2% GDP growth and the BRIC countries go through a 7-9% GDP output and many a 'change' is taking place on the Political and Economic front and these will bring new challenges and initiatives in the future. We in India have benefited greatly from the global community and the key to further success has to be increased reforms both external and internal. I see that our greatest challenge will come from 'internal' reforms as we have a archaic set of laws and few if any are interested in Judicial reforms and accountability principals both for the political fraternity and the judicial system. This is becoming our 'biggest' negative as we expect the private sector to continue to perform miracles at the expense of relative poor governance at the Center and in the States. The long term prospects are good but the issue is the 'short term' and food prices and issues relating to farmers [loan waivers not a major positive] are very relevant as we go into elections in Karnataka and four other states towards the end of the year. Food production and procurement are at record levels and the figures given by the FM to Parliament today give the reality of the situation and the issue really is how we manage our resources and for the Center and the States to ensure that hoarding and price cartels do not form at any level.

The Congress will have the advantage of the anti incumbency vote in MP, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh and will suffer in Delhi where CM Shiela Dixit is in her second term [very creditable]. Delhi is traditionally a two party race and despite the presence of the BSP it will still be a Congress/BJP battle and if we go by past trends the winning party gets 45-50 seats and the loser 20 odd seats. The BSP will hurt the Congress and I believe that 40 out of 70 candidates have already been selected and clearly Mayawati and the BSP mean business. There are still six months to elections and we will have the Karnataka results and the Andhra Pradesh by election results in May and these along with the inflation and price rise issue determine public response in the next few months. Political accidents can happen at any time and in election year with Coalition politics and the importance of 'numbers' we will witness very complex political gymnastics by parties and individuals as fight for political longevity and relevance.