What is the Relevance of the Rajya Sabha

What is the Relevance of the Rajya Sabha

Major General Mrinal Suman

A cartoon making the rounds in the social media shows a father watching WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) channel and his young son querying him, “Dad, why watch WWE when Rajya Sabha is in session? It has more action, sloganeering, chaos, pandemonium and disorder. What excitement with the Chairman looking more helpless than our class teacher!”

Another cartoon shows a young boy telling his father, “Why engineer or doctor? I want to be a Rajya Sabha member. It is the most lucrative job in the world – enormous power, salaries and privileges with life time pension – only for shouting slogans for a few days in a year”.

One wonders as to how the members of Rajya Sabha viewed the said cartoons. But one thing is certain; the cartoons do reflect the feelings of the citizens of the country. It is simply disgusting to see members storming the well of the house, displaying placards, shouting slogans and even resorting to howling to prevent the house from transacting any business. A new issue is concocted everyday to disrupt the house. Worse and quite unabashedly, they seem to be enjoying themselves; joking and goading each other to shout louder. Smug smiles appear on their faces on forcing adjournment of the house.

Independent India opted for a bicameral legislature as a single directly elected chamber (Lok Sabha) was considered inadequate to meet the challenges of India’s federal system with immense diversities. The second chamber (Rajya Sabha) was meant to be the federal chamber, to be elected by the elected members of the state assemblies and the union territories.

It will be in order here to examine the powers that the Indian constitution grants to Rajya Sabha. In case of an ordinary legislation, joint sitting of both Houses can be called to resolve a deadlock between the two Houses. There is no provision for resolving a deadlock between the two Houses in regard to a constitution amendment bill. Such a Bill has to be passed by the specific majority, as prescribed under article 368 of the constitution, by both Houses. However, as regards the Money Bills, Lok Sabha enjoys pre-eminence over Rajya Sabha.

In all bicameral systems, the upper chamber acts as the conscience-keeper of the constitution and imposes caution on the ruling party which may be tempted to take hasty decisions through its sheer majority in the lower house. In other words, the upper house ensures that all legislative decisions are taken after due diligence and in conformity with the underlying spirit of the constitution. Wherever required, it provides rational counsel to the lower house. It is certainly not expected to act as a stumbling block in the governance of the country.   

India spends hundreds of crores annually to sustain Rajya Sabha and on the on the pay/allowances/upkeep of its members. What does the country get in return: spectacle of shouting and shrieking members disrupting proceedings, with total disregard to national interests? The Chairman (who is also the Vice-President of the country) is disobeyed blatantly. His repeated pleas for order are impertinently ignored. It pains to see tax-payers’ money being spent on such a non-performing institution.   

Abrogation of Peoples’ Right

An issue that is of far more criticality than the above mentioned wasteful expenditure pertains to our right as the people. India is a democracy and in this form of government the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. In other words, the constitution has mandated the ultimate power to us, the people of India.

In a democracy, the relationship between the electorate and the elected leaders is of reciprocal trust. It is based on solemn commitments. Leaders seek support on the basis of certain promises; people trust them and vote them to power. As elected leaders are expected to deliver on the promises made, people demand accountability at the end of their tenure in power. Non-performers are rejected at the next hustings.

We, the citizens of India, decided to repose our faith in the promises made by Modi at the time of the last general election. He promised to improve the lot of the common man through radical reforms to spur economic and industrial growth. His past track record as an honest, dedicated, innovative, dynamic and visionary leader helped him to establish his credentials. His missionary zeal to make India a strong and prosperous country through all inclusive policies fascinated all. We were convinced of his sincerity of purpose and elected him to power. 

 

During the last 18 months, we, the people of India, have been impressed by the untiring efforts being made by Modi for the betterment of the country in all spheres. However, most dishearteningly, we are also witnessing the sordid drama being played out by the opposition to impede all progressive steps being taken by Modi. It is apparent that the opposition leaders are desperately trying to prevent Modi from succeeding in fulfilling the promises he made to us. Yes, they want Modi to fail, even if it amounts to damaging our national interests. They dread Modi’s success and likely re-election in 2019. Survival instinct is an inalienable trait of every politician’s psyche. For survival, he can damn his country as well.

GST is indisputably a highly progressive and overdue measure. Two sessions of Rajya Sabha have been wasted without passing this constitutional amendment. Modi wants to usher in reforms to fulfil his solemn commitments but the opposition leaders in Rajya Sabha thwart him by stalling the proceedings through continuous disruptions on superfluous issues. We, the concerned citizens of the country, find Rajya Sabha’s role to be totally unjustified.

How are the members of Rajya Sabha entitled to come between the electors (people) and the elected (ruling party)? What is their locus standi to usurp peoples’ right and decide whether the promises made to the people are to be fulfilled or not? Members of Rajya Sabha do not represent the people, the ultimate repository of power in a democracy. We have not elected them. They owe their seats in Rajya Sabha to their party leaders, and not to popular support.

Finally

A question that is agitating the mind of all those concerned with the well-being of the country is about the need to have Rajya Sabha. Why have an institution that costs the nation dearly but is proving detrimental to the nation’s development and progress? Rajya Sabha is doing more harm than good. Most citizens feel that it has outlived its utility and should be abolished. Unfortunately, howsoever desirable such a step may be, it is going to remain a pipe dream. Rajya Sabha will never approve such a constitutional amendment and hence India is fated to carry the load of this unnecessary institution.

Nevertheless, as has been done to the upper chambers in most of the countries, powers of Rajya Sabha should also be curtailed. A time frame should be laid down for it to consider all bills. Should it fail to adhere to it, the bill should be deemed to have its approval.

In addition, the rules of business must be amended. Any member entering the well of the house or shouting slogans or displaying placards should attract automatic suspension for the rest of the session with due deduction in pay and pension. We, the people of India, are not paying taxes to reward members of Rajya Sabha for indulging in hooliganism.  

   

When a Ghulam Nabi Azad or a Derek O'Brien or a KC Tyagi disrupts the house for irrelevant reasons, the whole country tends to lose faith in India’s political dispensation. People wonder if the framers of India’s constitution erred in opting for an upper house.

We elect leaders and give them tenure in office to fulfil the promises made to us. In turn, the elected leaders strive to prove themselves worthy of our trust by delivering. Unfortunately, Rajya Sabha stands between the electors and the elected like a wall. It impedes and stalls all progressive measures. Therefore, it is time the relevance, role and powers of Rajya Sabha are examined afresh. It cannot be allowed to hold the country to ransom for narrow political interests.*****

    

Ten Reasons Why Modi is Disliked

Ten Reasons Why Modi is Disliked

Major General Mrinal Suman

Modi became Prime Minister in May 2014. During his 18 months in office, he has earned the displeasure of many segments of the society. Here are ten reasons why he is disliked.

1.   Modi is a ‘usurper of power’. He is trying to replicate the reign of the Slave Dynasty of the thirteenth century by seizing Delhi Sultanate, an inheritance of the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty. How dare a petty tea-vendor have the audacity to gatecrash into the hallowed portals of Lutyens’ Delhi? Howsoever ill-equipped, inept and unqualified the dynasty may be, Delhi throne is its family heritage. In any case, no competence is required to plunder India. As in the past, the country can be easily ruled through a network of sycophants, stooges and dummies. It is just a question of fine-tuning the remote controls.

2.       Modi is a ‘sadist’. How dare he discard the long practiced tenet of ‘khao aur khane do’? His mantra of ‘naa khaunga, naa khane dunga’ is symptomatic of his aversion for the well-being of the ruling elite. It smacks of jealousy for the privileged.  Remember how smoothly the previous coalitions functioned. Different ministries were dished out to the partners as fiefdoms. It was left to their ingenuity to garner funds. No one interfered in Raja’s spectrum loot or in Praful Patel’s aircraft purchases. Modi must not forget that leaders and bureaucrats have families. They have to amass enough to secure the future of their progeny.

3.     Modi is a ‘workaholic’. Worse, he expects others to work equally hard. Introduction of biometric system to mark presence in government offices has been terribly painful. Earlier employees could walk in leisurely at any time and leave whenever they felt homesick. Many did private side-business during office hours.  Movement of files was never monitored. Offices were meant for rest and recreation. Long gossip sessions with colleagues in the canteen were intellectually stimulating. Group cohesion was developed during long hours spent under winter sun in the office lawns and sharing pea-nuts. All the charm of government service has disappeared. One is expected to work now. Even senior bureaucrats have been deprived of their life-style of yore – golf in the morning, relaxed hours in the office and evenings in the Gymkhana. Modi has ruined happiness of all government employees.

4.    Modi is ‘anti-media’. Eighteen months in power and not a single scandal or scam. Just not done. Media cannot be starved. Editors have no issues to embellish their headlines with. TV anchors have no hot topics for conducting high-decibel debates. They have to convert innocuous statements by some fringe elements into national controversies. No wonder media is unhappy with the present dispensation and is nostalgic about those good old days of scam-a-day. It did not have to look for topics for breaking news and evening debates. Media’s discomfort can be gauged from the fact that it has to stoop down to faulting Modi for not issuing statement on every single occurrence in the country. By depriving media of sensationalism, Modi is deliberately asphyxiating it.

5.    Modi is ‘anti-employment’. All his promises of generating jobs through economic growth are phony. In fact, he has been busy shutting down existence business. Look what he has done to the patronage industry. It had taken India decades to evolve such a fool-proof and credible patronage regime: far more reliable than the much-hyped match-fixing in cricket. Every appointment, license and contract was available for a price. Every appointment was for sale and had its MRP: it could be governorship of a state or directorship of a government bank/company or even chairmanship of the Railway Board. One could obtain a chit from PMO office and get a coal block. Full satisfaction was granted to all applicants, bureaucrats and ministers. Most unfairly, Modi has put an end to such a thriving business, thus rendering numerous people jobless.

6. Modi is a ‘pseudo-secularist’. Although he had been demonised by the self-proclaimed secularists as a communal menace for decades, Modi remains unscathed. Most worrisomely, even negative campaigns like phoney anti-Christian allegations during Delhi elections and spiteful intolerance crusade during Bihar elections have not provoked him. He is letting all the doomsday-prophets down with his inclusive policies which are well received by all sections of the society. He has said or done nothing to favour any community. If Modi is allowed to establish his credentials as a secular leader, it will be difficult to dislodge him. That cannot be permitted. Therefore, renewed attacks through cooked-up issues must be launched to dent his image. Secularism is the sole prerogative of the opposition leaders.

7.       Modi is highly ‘pretentious’. He has made a mess of India’s foreign policy. Instead of following the established diplomatic protocol, he has started establishing personal rapport with the world leaders. More shockingly, he has adopted yoga and hugs as instruments of his foreign policy. With his spontaneously warm embraces, he has befriended all world leaders. They admire him for his sincerity of purpose, clear vision and inexhaustible energy. Obama surprised all by agreeing to be the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had a selfie with Modi. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended prayers at Varanasi. By trying to practice diplomacy through hugs and yoga, he is deliberately trashing the very foundation of India’s foreign policy of laid-back indifference.

8.       Modi is ‘intolerant’. How can a Prime Minister talk of cleanliness and toilets from the ramparts of the Red Fort? Who is Modi to deprive the public of the pleasure of defecating in an open and green environment? Height of intolerance to old Indian practices. If India could live with filth for so long, who is Modi to question? It is rightly said that ‘filth is in the eyes of the beholder’ and the dynasty never saw any. Similarly, it is for the parents to decide the future of their daughters. Why is Modi forcing them to educate girls? Intolerance once again. Modi has been elected to govern the country and not to don the mantle of a social reformist. He should not exceed his brief.

9.    Modi is ‘misusing his oratory skills’. Not only has he been able to inspire the Indian Diaspora, but has also infused euphoric enthusiasm in India’s psyche. Pessimism and negativity have been replaced by optimism and positivity. He is deliberately resorting to erudite talks in Hindi and English to show Pappu and other caste leaders in poor light. It is most unsportsmanlike. While Modi impresses the people with his vision of a developed and prosperous India; Pappu can only talk of ‘suit-boot sarkar’ or target RSS. Worse, in comparison to Modi, Pappu looks like a cry-baby who had been deprived of his favourite toy. Modi must stop displaying wisdom and vision. He is giving an inferiority complex to the opposition leaders.

10.   Modi is an ‘economic maverick’. Through his missionary zeal for economic growth, Modi has been upsetting many who were benefitting from India’s poverty. Modi’s success in attracting investment in the infra-structure and industrial growth through ‘Make in India’ campaign will improve the lot of the impoverished. That is also the main worry of the caste-leaders. Economic betterment brings awareness. An aware voter is a discerning voter. He sees through the facade of secularism to fool the people. He does not get carried away by rhetoric of caste loyalties. He demands results. No wonder that all opposition leaders view economic reforms as a threat to their political relevance. Modi appears to be hell-bent on upsetting the applecart.

Finally, a footnote of caution: Modi may not be perfect, nobody is. But he is the best bet for India. Should Modi fail to deliver or is prevented from fulfilling his promises by the anti-national elements that are stalling growth, India’s future will be bleak. We will have Pappu, Mulayam Singh, Lalu Yadav or Kejriwal at the helm of affairs. Does it not send shivers down our spine?

‘Intolerance’: a Spitefully Malicious Anti-National Campaign

‘Intolerance’: a Spitefully Malicious Anti-National Campaign

Major General Mrinal Suman

Intolerance is the flavour of the season (pun intended). Feeling ignored and craving for attention, issue a public statement against intolerance or announce returning of award as a mark of protest. It is a sure recipe for instant publicity. It is also another way of reminding the world that you are a recipient of an award, a long forgotten occurrence. Interestingly, no one has returned either the medal/scroll or the prize money. Worse, they continue to enjoy all the privileges and benefits that go with such awards. Can there be a more apt example of hypocritical and duplicitous conduct?

If you are a public figure, a jibe against intolerance will get you days of media attention. When Shah Rukh Khan or Aamir Khan accuses the prevailing political environment of intolerance, a storm breaks out. Newspapers are full of diatribes against the ruling party. TV anchors scream themselves hoarse with farcical debates.   

In fact, intolerance has become the most convenient tool to beat the government with. Whatever be the personal grievance, fire the salvo under the guise of intolerance and it works. Take the case of Shah Rukh Khan. Shah Rukh Khan has been highly critical of the allegedly-growing intolerance in the country. Well, his anger is understandable. Let us recount three incidents which caused him extreme distress.

One, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) banned him for five years from entering the Wankhede Stadium for the ‘trivial misdemeanour’ of manhandling a security guard and hurling the choicest of abuses on its officials after an IPL game in May 2012. How intolerant of MCA! It should have been more broad-minded and tolerated King Khan’s gross misbehaviour in true sportsman spirit.

Two, an illegal ramp constructed by Shah Rukh outside his house ‘Mannat’ to park his vanity van was objected to by the neighbours as it hindered smooth flow of traffic. Displaying gross intolerance towards the superstar’s unauthorised construction, they had been demanding demolition by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for long. All was well for years as a tolerant BMC continued to ignore all pleas. However, BJP MP Poonam Mahajan showed a distinct lack of tolerance and sought its removal. The ramp was finally demolished in February this year. Naturally, King Khan was furious at the environment of intolerance in the country.

Three, imagine the degree of intolerance of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in calling Khan to explain the sale of shares of the Knight Riders Sports and alleging forex violations of around Rs 90-100 crore. ED noted that the share transfers had taken place at par while the fair value was 8-9 times more. For King Khan, it was indeed a matter of gross sacrilege that a person of his stature had been doubted by the lowly officials of ED – visible signs of growing intolerance in the country. 

Similarly, Aamir Khan may be having his own grouses against the environment and his right to migrate to a ‘safer country’ must be respected by all Indians. But, does he honestly feel that India has become highly intolerant? His movie PK was a block-buster. In which country can one ridicule a god of the majority community by showing him hiding behind a commode? Could he have taken such liberties with any other religion, including his own? Riots would have broken out. Yet, he had the audacity to fault the country for intolerance.

With a single imprudent statement, Aamir has undone all the good work carried out by him over the years as an ambassador of 'Incredible India' campaign to promote tourism. Now, he has told all foreign tourists not to visit an ‘Intolerant India’. Although he supported return of awards as ‘one way of getting your point across’, Aamir opted not to return his Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards. Surprising indeed!

Everyone has a right to express one’s opinion and draw attention to the grievances, both real and perceived. There can be no dispute on that issue. However, two points must be kept in mind.

One, if something goes wrong in a family, every member has a responsibility to correct matters rather than choose the easier option of abandoning it. Similarly, it is a sign of cowardice to consider leaving one’s own country instead of setting things right. Whatever be the rationale, no loyal citizen ever maligns his own country to play politics and garner publicity. It is rightly said that loyalty is a trait of – either a person has it in him or does not have it.

Two, it is only fair that all grievances are first projected to the concerned authorities and a reasonable opportunity given to the government for redressal. If not satisfied with the response in a reasonable time-frame, the aggrieved person is justified in going public. It is the right course to follow for all citizens – more so for the public figures as their allegations get huge publicity.

Both Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan are matinee idols with mammoth fan following. Both have access to the top leadership of the country. Aamir Khan has met Modi on a number of occasions. One wonders if both of them approached their state Chief Minister, Central Home Minister and the Prime Minister with their anxieties and apprehensions before going public. In case they failed to do that, their allegations can be considered to be malevolent in intent and politically motivated.

When Tharoor declares, "It's safer to be a cow than a Muslim in India today," he puts the whole country to shame. The world media flashes such headlines with sinister pleasure. India’s image takes a terrible beating. Just to score a brownie point against the government, Tharoor presented a convenient propaganda handle to the forces inimical to our progress. How low can a leader stoop!

It will not be inappropriate to recall an old story here. An entrepreneur used to export frogs from India in lidless containers. When quizzed, he replied, “These are Indian frogs. When any frog attempts to rise and get out, others pull him down. So why waste money on lids?”

The above is equally true of most Indian leaders and the intelligentsia. They have no scruples and can go to any extent to further their selfish agenda, including harming the interests of the country. They cannot digest the fact that Modi has been highly successful in kick-starting developmental revolution in a short period of 18 months. Therefore, they have resorted to the highly slanderous intolerance crusade to undermine his efforts. They want to undercut his ‘Make in India’ mission with their spiteful ‘Hate in India’ campaign, a la Indian frogs. 

In view of the above, it can be said with certainty that the well-orchestrated campaign of intolerance is malicious in intent. The sole objective is to stall all progressive reforms by tarnishing the image of the government. When Modi is visiting other countries and trying his best to attract investments to improve the quality of life of India’s masses, the self-proclaimed champions of tolerance are busy dissuading foreign investors through treacherously detrimental utterances. How else can anti-nationalism be defined?***** 

‘How to Lose Supporters and Alienate People’ – a la BJP

‘How to Lose Supporters and Alienate People’ – a la BJP

Major General Mrinal Suman

Dale Carnegie wrote ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ in 1936 and the book continues to guide generations to date.

Going by its track record of the last eighteen months, BJP appears to be working overtime to perfect the art of ‘losing supporters and alienating people’.

BJP seems to be suffering from acute self-delusion syndrome. It continues to convince itself that caste equations are solely to blame for its trouncing in Bihar elections, whereas the truth is that people wanted to teach it a lesson. How else can the victory of 27 Congress candidates be explained? Why has the electorate preferred a leader convicted of corruption charges to BJP’s much-trumpeted development agenda?

BJP needs to do honest introspection. Rarely has one witnessed a ruling party lose so much of goodwill in such a short time. Arrogance of the leadership, coupled with proclivity for personal glorification, makes BJP short-sighted and egocentric. When the leaders start considering themselves infallible, they start entertaining inflated ideas of their own competence and treat people as nit-wits. The Modi government suffers from the same affliction.

BJP’s handling of the issues pertaining to the military community is symptomatic of the brazenness of its duplicitous and hypocritical mindset. En-block support extended by 50 lakh strong military community and their family members was a major factor in BJP’s unprecedented victory. Soldiers expected Modi to deliver on his promises – construction of a befitting War Memorial, establishment of a Veterans’ Commission and grant of OROP.

However, once in power, it started treating veterans with indifference. Even a chameleon takes longer to change its colours. Although the promises were explicit with no ambiguity of any nature whatsoever, Modi claimed that the promises were made to soldiers without knowing the complexities involved. Worse, veterans were advised to ‘lower their expectations’ and treated with loathsome homilies like ‘election jhumlas’. Some effrontery!

A look at BJP's conduct while in power exposes it as a two-faced party. The War Memorial continues to remain a paper proposal with no work done on ground. Veterans’ Commission has been a total non-starter. The government does not even talk about it. Finally, the government has offered a sham-OROP after gracelessly prolonged dithering.

Fulfilment of all the three promises is well within the government’s executive powers. Unlike the issue of black money, no foreign country is involved. What is more, no fresh legislation is required as the Parliament has already endorsed them on more than one occasion. Apparently, the government lacks sincerity of purpose. How else can one explain the failure of the Prime Minister (with 56 inches proverbial chest) to fulfil his promises made publically to millions of veterans?

Disdain for the Soldiers

One wonders as to what makes nations great. Why has India succumbed to foreign rule so often? Why is the US an undisputed world power? Why has Britain remained undefeated for centuries? The answer has been provided by a British army veteran, “A grateful nation’s recognition of its soldiers’ contribution to national security is the key difference”. It is India’s gross misfortune that its leadership has failed to appreciate this basic fact. 

While addressing veterans at the Phoenix Convention Center on 17 August 2009, President Obama said, “You have done your duty – to your fallen comrades, to your communities, to your country. You have always fulfilled your responsibilities to America. And so long as I am President of the United States, America will always fulfil its responsibilities to you”. He termed America's commitment to its veterans as sacred bonds and a sacred trust Americans are honour-bound to uphold.

Contrast the above pledge and assurance with the treatment meted out to the ex-servicemen in India. Despite repeated requests, the Prime Minister has not been able to spare a few minutes to meet the veterans during the last 18 months – maybe he considers it to be a waste of time. On the other hand, he appears ready to meet people from all other walks of life, even attend marriage of cricketers.

The way a government cares for its ex-servicemen has a profound effect on the psyche of the serving soldiers. Shabby and apathetic treatment meted out to ex-servicemen by an ungrateful government can never reassure a soldier as he sees himself as an ex-serviceman of the future. He starts entertaining doubts about government’s sincerity in fulfilling its commitments to him after superannuation.

Modi has been spending a few hours with the troops on every Diwali, in the mistaken belief that the troops can be impressed by such hollow gestures. Agreed that soldiers are sentimental and trusting humans by nature. But, they are not stupid and it will be a dreadful blunder for BJP to take them for granted. Soldiers regard solemn commitments to be sacrosanct and reneging on them is considered to be an act of betrayal. A leader who goes back on his word is considered unworthy of their trust.

Through its short-sighted approach, BJP has frittered away the goodwill of the entire soldiering community, its staunchest support group. Even the die-hard opponents of BJP had never expected such a short honeymoon. BJP is certainly going to pay for it dearly. Rarely has one seen a ruling party adopt such a ruinous self-destruct mode.

Finally, the Adieu

India will start getting into the election mode after another two years. Voters will need to be wooed. One wonders as to how BJP will muster courage to ask soldiers and ex-soldiers to vote for it. Who will trust such an insincere and arrogant party? That is the time BJP will rue its betrayal of the veterans and the shoddy treatment that it meted out to them.

Pictures of ill-mannered policemen manhandling aged veterans, who had spent their whole life in defending the country, will come to haunt BJP. Soldiers will not forget the appalling sight of an unruly policeman tearing a veteran’s shirt that displayed the gallantry medals won by him through sweat and blood.

Modi must realise that hugs from Obama and Hollande may be good for ego and photo-shoots. For re-election, he will need votes. Through his arrogance and disdain for the soldier community, he has managed to alienate them all – not a single serving or retired soldier is going to vote for BJP in the next election. Why should they vote for a man who considered it to be below his dignity to talk to veterans despite repeated requests?

Farsighted political leaders recognise the fact that they must strive to increase their acceptance across a larger section of the voter population to ensure re-election. To achieve that, they assiduously follow the time-tested mantra – ‘consolidate the support base, convince the fence sitters and cultivate the opponents’. Instead of expanding its base, BJP has been busy alienating its supporters, while the whole opposition has been uniting against it. 

More disheartening than Modi’s failure to fulfill the commitments is his refusal to interact with the veterans to understand their grievances. Worse, at Faridabad, he derided the military community by asserting that OROP would be at the cost of poor of India. Some arrogance and disdain for the soldiers! He will never be pardoned for such a snide remark – most unbecoming of a Prime Minister. BJP can write off states that have massive soldiering fraternity like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. 

Finally, borrowing a phrase from India’s freedom struggle (lathi-charge on Lala Lajpat Rai in 1928) and at the cost of sounding ominous, it can be stated bluntly that BJP’s neglect and contempt for the soldiering community will act as ‘the final nail in the coffin’ of its aspirations for the second term in power. And, when the chickens come home to roost, it will have no one to blame except its own supercilious leadership.*****  

Indo-Pak Relations: it is ‘War’ and not ‘Politics’

Indo-Pak Relations: it is ‘War’ and not ‘Politics’

http://www.sify.com/news/indo-pak-relations-are-war-not-politics-imagegallery-0-features-plfxlPejdbjeb.html

Major General Mrinal Suman

Indian apologists of Pakistan are often heard delivering sermons that Indo-Pak cultural/sports ties should not be held hostage to politics. It is a perverse argument. They deliberately ignore the fact that it is the ongoing war, and not quiescent politics, which has been the overriding feature of the relations between the two neighbors.

Politics is the art or science of government, especially the governance of a political entity (such as a nation); and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs. On the other hand, war is a state or period of armed hostility or active military operations (both declared and undeclared) between two nation states. 

In pursuit of its avowed objective of Bhutto’s ‘1000 year war’ and Zia’s ‘bleeding India by 1000 cuts’, it has been resorting to unconventional warfare relentlessly. India has lost more lives due to Pak-sponsored terrorist activities than all the armed conflicts fought after the Independence. If it is not war, pray what is it? Yes, Pakistan is at war with India.

While not endorsing the act of blackening the face of the Indian host, Shiv Sena cannot be faulted for opposing the visit of Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri to Mumbai to promote his book. Certainly, Shiv Sena could have staged the protest in a more democratic manner. Therefore, criticism by the Indian media is understandable.

However, what is more shocking is the fact that no one has bothered to question the credentials of Kasuri and his audacity to lecture India on the need for good neighborly relations. He was treated as a peace loving and moderate leader; and a well-wisher of India. One TV anchor went to the extent of eulogizing him as a beacon of peace for the sub-continent.

A few facts need to be recalled here for objective appraisal of Kasuri’s profile and to judge his sincerity of purpose. It was a matter of common knowledge that Musharraf was the prime architect of the Kargil aggression that wrecked the peace–process initiated by Vajpayee’s bus-diplomacy. Yet, Kasuri had no qualms in joining his cabinet as the Foreign Minister from 2002 to 2007.

Let us look at his track record. One, export of terrorism is a declared instrument of Pak’s foreign policy and Kasuri pursued it as steadfastly as his predecessors. He never tried to veer Pak away from the path of fomenting trouble in India. Two, his anti-India tirades at the UN and other world forums were always full of hostile enmity.  He never uttered a word against the Kargil misadventure.

Three, he was fully aware of anti-India venom being spewed openly by the fanatic leaders in public meetings. Such diatribes were regularly reported in Pak print and electronic media. Did he ever advise his government to reign in such elements? No.

Four, he never asked his government to hand-over to India terrorists accused of mass murders. It was no secret that Pakistan was sheltering them. When quizzed, he had the temerity to pretend ignorance - “How would I know whether Dawood was in Pakistan or not at that time.” He wants India to believe him. Some temerity!

Five, India has been repeatedly asking Pakistan to return 54 prisoners of war (POW) languishing in Pakistani jails. Did Kasuri get even one of them returned to India? Similarly, did Kasuri seek action against the Pak soldiers who tortured and mutilated the bodies of young Lt Saurabh Kalia and five other soldiers? Despite being a signatory to the Geneva Conventions, the Pakistanis had inflicted burn injuries on them with cigarettes, pierced their ears with hot rods, removed their eyes before puncturing them, and chopped off various limbs and private organs. They were shot dead after 22 days of unimaginable physical and mental torture.

In short, Kasuri did not take a single step during his five year stint as the Foreign Minister to address Indian concerns. Not one. He was as hostile to India as all other Pak politicians.

Since he was in India to sell his book, one is not surprised at Kasuri’s effrontery to claim to be a friend and messiah of peace. However, what hurts every Indian the most is the red-carpet laid out for such a duplicitous politician by the unscrupulous Indian hosts. It was repugnant to see leaders embracing, felicitating and fawning over him.

Instead of castigating him for his failure as the Foreign Minister to stop terrorist training camps and infiltration of jehadies into India, the media was seen groveling before him. It was nauseating, to say the least.

To be honest, one should not have been surprised. Indians has been overly indulgent towards the Pak dignitaries earlier as well. Remember the way Imran Khan was extolled in India. He produced equally friendly homilies. Yet, the moment he returned to Pakistan, he reverted back to India-bashing.

Shiv Sena’s opposition to Ghulam Ali is equally justified. To claim that music has no boundaries and should not be mixed with politics is all rubbish. Shah Rukh Khan’s recent statement that ‘politics between the two countries should be handled by the politicians.....creative people have nothing to do with it’ is outlandish. It amounts to asserting that artists are least concerned about the loss of Indian lives due to Pak hostilities, and that, they should be allowed to continue to make money under the euphemism of cultural ties. Does Shah Rukh Khan know the pain of losing a dear one in bomb attacks?

Similarly, it is repulsive to see people demanding restoration of Indo-Pak cricketing ties. Their logic defies logic; they do not want sports to be mixed with politics. The same argument is put forward by the enthusiasts of Track-II diplomacy and initiatives like ‘Aman Ki Asha’. They also desire that cultural ties should not be mixed with politics. Instead of talking of non-existent politics, they should introspect whether to have sports/cultural ties with a country that is waging a war against India.

One wonders if the organizers of Ghulam Ali’s concerts would have been equally enthusiastic had they lost their family men in Pak’s terrorist activities or if their relatives were rotting as POW in Pak jails. Would they have claimed that music has no boundaries if their own son had been subjected to inhuman torture like Kalia? How selfish can one get?

A legendry cricketer has also expressed his support for Indo-Pak matches. Apparently, he wants to earn money as a commentator even if Pakistan keeps killing Indian soldiers and citizens. Would he have been equally keen, had his son become a casualty in a terrorist strike? Has shamelessness no limit?

Peace is a two-way process. Both parties have to desire it. India cannot be friends unilaterally while Pakistan pursues a path of vicious hostility. It will be naïve to expect a rogue nation like Pakistan to shed its ‘cloak and dagger’ strategy. One may not fully agree with former Australian Test umpire Darrell Hair’s description of the Pakistani cricketers as ‘cheats, frauds and liars’. But the fact is that the whole world considers Pakistan to be an untrustworthy and deceitful nation. 

Affable statements made by a few retired Pak politicians, cricketers and singers are of no import. Their masquerading as ambassadors of friendship is a façade to make money while Pakistan continues to train hundreds of terrorists and infiltrating them into India without any let-up, to kill and maim Indian soldiers and citizens. General Musharraf’s recent TV interview should open the eyes of all Pak-supporters.

Pakistan was born on anti-India plank and that is its only identity. A nation born out of hatred needs hatred to feed itself on for continued sustenance and to justify its existence. Shedding of anti-India posture would amount to questioning the very logic of its creation. For that reason, Pakistan can never be India’s friend. It is time India accepts this bitter truth.

To start with, it must be acknowledged by all that Pakistan is an enemy state. Playing cricket with an enemy state amounts to betrayal of national allegiance. Similarly, cultural exchanges border on high treason. Any Indian who hosts Pak celebrities (political leader, singer or cricketer) should be censured for acting against our national interests and shamed.

  

More importantly, India should pursue a proactive policy. It has suffered enough. Following the example of the successful boycott of apartheid South Africa, India should leverage its enormous clout with the world cricket body to have Pakistan expelled from the cricketing world for its sponsorship of terrorism the world over. It must be isolated internationally and embarrassed. It will hit Pakistan hard.

Finally, eating biryani, sharing stage or playing cricket with a country whose avowed aim is to destroy India can never be justified. Not only is it an insult to the memory of the thousands of Indians killed by Pakistan, but an anti-national act of serious proportions.*****  

Bihar elections: Media should go beyond caste

Bihar elections: Media should go beyond caste

(http://www.sify.com/news/bihar-elections-media-should-go-beyond-caste-imagegallery-features-pk5i0Weaabdjd.html)

Major General Mrinal Suman

Bihar is experiencing intense elections fever these days. Media coverage is exhaustive and every facet of the election campaign is being analysed threadbare. There is nothing wrong in it. However, it is obnoxious to see the overriding importance being assigned to the caste, creed, communal and regional factors. Caste-politics are being played out unabashedly under the disingenuous taxonomy of ‘social engineering’. 

All newspapers are running articles highlighting caste-wise configuration of every constituency to make their predictions. “In Arrah and Vaishali districts, saffron candidates seem to be have drawn support from EBCs and Dalits. This can help them build upon the solid backing saffron challengers are getting from upper castes, Vaishyas, Paswans and Musahars,” proclaims a report appearing in India’s leading daily of 29 Oct 2015.

The role being played by the electronic media is far worse. Focus of every survey and panel discussion is on the caste percentages and likely equations. It is sickening to hear anchors and panellists making divisive statements like – “All Yadavs will vote for Party A”; “Muslims will not vote for Party B”; “All Dalits are with Party C”; “”Kurmis will vote for Party D”; “Brahmins will remain loyal to Party E”; “Mahadalits are with Party F”; “Banias continue to support Party G”; and so on. Pray who will vote as an Indian?

Unlike BBC and Doordarshan, most TV channels lack resources to provide wider coverage across the nation and the world. For them, hosting of panel discussion during the prime-time is the most cost-effective, and perhaps the only option. Call a few aggressive spokespersons and initiate a free-for-all slanging match by throwing in an emotive and contentious issue. What can arouse passions more viciously than caste/religion? Every party plays the caste card shamelessly and yet has the temerity to paint others as communal. There cannot be a more disgraceful display of caste-politics.

Opinion polls and surveys are also carried out on similar lines. The questions are loaded with parochialism – “Has the Muslims vote got divided” or “Are mahadalits angry with Party X” or “Are Yadavs still with Party Y”? Thereafter, the findings are collated caste-wise, translated into vote-shares and debated at length in the studios to incite partisan emotions. Reprehensible indeed!

In a mature democracy, basis of electoral surveys should be economic progress, developmental matters, employment opportunities, educational facilities, health services and other welfare measures. What do the farmers, labourers and the office-goers feel? What are the aspirations of the youth? How to bridge the increasing urban-rural divide? Sadly, all issues that impact the well-being of the nation are ignored; only caste and communal loyalties matter.

 

If after 68 years of Independence we are sinking deeper into the morass of parochialism, elections are the root cause of the malady. Media acts a catalyst to spread the virus. Resultantly, the whole environment gets so vitiated that caste equations rule supreme with five highly devastating effects on the body-politic and unity of the country.

One, instead of making the voters rise above narrow parochial mindsets, they are repeatedly reminded of their caste and exhorted to stay faithful to it.

Two, the electorate is brainwashed not to seek accountability from their caste leaders but follow them blindly; even though most of them have acquired enormous wealth and done little for their followers in the past. Worse, many have either been convicted or are under investigation for serious crimes.

Three, assured of continuous support of their caste-based vote-banks, most politicians have converted their parties into family enterprises. They thrive by appealing to the insular instincts of their factions.

Four, stranglehold of caste-politics is so all-pervading that even the parties that want to break free are forced to look for winning candidates as per the caste mathematics of each constituency.

Finally and most unfortunately, merit, competence and honesty of the candidates have ceased to be any consideration. Only the caste matters. Some well-meaning citizens did try to fight elections to serve the nation, but tasted defeat at the hands of parochial leaders. Resultantly, the country is saddled with leaders of questionable character and quality.

The Way Forward

Under Art 324 of the Constitution, responsibility for the ‘superintendence, direction and control of elections’ is vested in the Election Commission. It is the guardian of free and fair elections.

However, the rule making authority under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (preparation and revision of electoral rolls) and the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (all aspects of conduct of elections and post election disputes) lies with the Central Government. Despite repeated requests by the Election Commission that the rule making powers be transferred to it, albeit to be exercised in consultations with the Central Government, the proposal has not been accepted so far.

The above constraint notwithstanding, the Supreme Court of India has given far-reaching powers to the Election Commission by ruling that where the enacted laws are silent or make insufficient provision to deal with a given situation in the conduct of elections, the Election Commission has the residuary powers under the Constitution to act in an appropriate manner.

The Commission has done India proud by introducing many radical reforms to ensure free and fair elections. Since 1971, a Model Code of Conduct is issued for all elections. Observers are appointed to oversee its compliance. The Code lays down guidelines for the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections. Though lacking statutory sanction, the Code has been immensely successful in exerting moral pressure on all participants.

To curb the use of money power, the Commission has started laying down the maximum amount that a candidate can spend during the election campaign; the campaign period has been reduced from 21 to 14 days; and submission of expenditure returns within 30 days of the declaration of results has been made mandatory.

To help the voters in taking an informed decision, all candidates are required to declare their assets on affidavit. They have to reveal their criminal record as well. The Commission has also imposed restrictions on the publication and dissemination of opinion and exit polls to preclude undue influencing of the electorate.

From the above, it is amply clear that the Election Commission has enough powers to rid Indian elections of the divisive vote-bank politics. To achieve that, a two-pronged drive will be required.

  

First, any political party that does not swear by the integrity of the country and promotes hatred amongst various segments of Indian society on any grounds whatsoever must be proscribed. Communal parties which disallow membership to the followers of other religions should have no place in a secular country.

Secondly and more importantly, after the issuance of notification for elections, there should be a total ban on public surveys, opinion polls and discussions on caste composition of the electorate. No article should be allowed to appear in the print media spelling out proportions of different castes in a constituency and predicting their voting preferences. No TV channel should be allowed to dissect ‘social engineering’ of every constituency to forecast results. No politician should be allowed to invoke caste loyalties in his election campaign. In other words, there should be a blanket ban on public discussion of caste-based politics.

Finally

Undoubtedly, the politicians are the fountainhead of all fissiparous tendencies. They thrive by keeping the electorate embroiled in internal dissentions based on region, religion, caste and sub-caste considerations. Unfortunately, they cannot be expected to change as they believe in the ends and not the means employed. Their brand of vote-bank politics precludes letting the countrymen stay united and vote as free-thinking citizens. Therefore, only the threat of exemplary punishment can deter them from playing the caste card. The erring politicians must be made to understand that any misdemeanour will result in their debarment from standing in elections, thereby sealing their political careers.

If India continues to exist as a nation, credit is due to three institutions – the armed forces, the higher judiciary and the Election Commission. They are also India’s only hope. If India has to survive and prosper as a cohesive nation, the elections must be made issue and performance based.

The Election Commission is the only agency that has the potential and the power to pull India out of the quagmire of caste-based elections. It is a challenge that it must undertake with due urgency. It cannot waver, as delay will prove perilous for the unity of the country.*****