A legend in uniform and also out of it, Arjan Singh is an example well set and will remain an inspiration for the future generations.

Fourth generation in the defense forces, hero of seven wars, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief at a young age of 48, someone who gave away all his earnings worth Rs 2.5 crore in charity, mostly to widows of martyrs, three decades in uniform god does not make a man like Arjan Singh anymore. When he walked into the sunset at the ripe old age of 98, he was as ramrod straight as he was all those decades back when he saved the crucial town of Akhnur from the Pakistanis to give India victory in the 1965 war. Called upon to foil Pakistan’s operation Grand Slam targeting Akhnur, and asked how long we would take to provide air sup- port, he is famously said to have stated, “just give me an hour” and struck much within that time. Folklores around his flying man oeuvres are still the subject of discussion at the IAF table talks. To remain so relevant even after 48 years after retirement is a legend in itself.

Arjan Singh is one man who gave life some lessons all his own and inspired generations of our men in com- bat zones on how to be nonchalant with raw courage, a trait he sported with elan all through his myriad missions. He was a soldier’s soldier, a man with vision, propeller of team-ship and someone who was totally involved in the betterment of his juniors. During his tenure with the IAF which he joined as a tender 19-year-old from Lyallpur, he flew 60 different aircraft and has the singular distinction of having led the fly past on August 15, 1947, the day India got independence. Much of the credit of modernization of the IAF and its cache of aircraft and professional flyers goes to Singh. But even much after his retirement in 1969, this man of action but very few words lived a life well conducted. Ramrod straight till the last day, Singh was a long retired soldier who did not live just in memory but in classrooms of all the three Armed Force services as a warrior with a unique brand of bravery. Retirement saw him conducting the nation’s business as Ambassador of Switzerland, Kenya and The Vatican. As Delhi’s Lt Governor, he performed his civil duties with the gumption of a committed soldier. While Singh was a household name during the war days, it is astonishing how even 48 years after retirement he continues to be widely known and the only “Marshal of the Indian Air Force”. He matched his working distinctions with very many philanthropic activities which helped the needy. Not many may know, but he and his wife Teji who sadly passed away on his birthday six years ago, used up all their money to launch a special fund for wards of non-combatants of the IAF.

 – Dr Rahul Misra

Pakistan cuts a sorry figure at the UN as its ploy to tarnish India through a fake picture gets exposed

India exposed Pakistan at the United Nations saying it has callously exploited the picture of an injured Palestinian girl to spread falsehoods about India and divert attention from Islamabad’s role as the hub of world terrorism. Paulomi Tripathi, a First Secretary in India’s UN Mission, held up the photograph of the body of Lt. Umar Faiyaz, a young soldier from the Indian state of Kashmir who was tortured and killed by Pakistan backed terrorists, surrounded by mourners, and a picture of Paalestinian girl claiming she was Kashmiri.

Tripathi told the Assembly the photograph of Faiyaz “is a true picture” and it “reflects the real pain inflicted by the nefarious designs of Pakistan on India,” contrasting it with the fake picture used by Lodhi on Saturday while reacting to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

The picture of the injured girl that Lodhi displayed was that of Rawya Abu Jom’a taken in July 2014 and published by The New York Times in March 2015 under the caption, “Conflict, Courage and Healing in Gaza,” Tripathi pointed out. Caught using a fake picture, a Pakistani diplomat made the bizarre statement that “backing up debates with pictures has backfired” on India while responding to Tripathi.

Tipu Usman, a Counselor at the Pakistani Mission, told the Assembly, “India is seeking to hide behind a picture.”

Asked at his daily briefing if the President of the General Assembly (PGA), Miroslav Lajcak could do anything about fake pictures being used at the Assembly as was done by Lodhi, his spokesperson Brian Varma said, “I don’t think the PGA has a role, but I will look into it.”

Tripathi help up both pictures and directed attention to the photograph of the Indian soldier and said, “This is a real picture and not a fake picture of Lt. Umar Faiyaz. A young officer from the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, Umar Fiayz was kidnapped at a wedding reception. He was brutally tortured and killed by Pakistan-supported terrorists in May 2017.”

“This is a true picture,” she said. “It portrays a harsh reality. A picture of terror emanating from across our borders that the people of India, especially in the Jammu and Kashmir have to struggle with everyday.”

“This was the reality that the Permanent Representative of Pakistan sought to obfuscate,” Tripathi said.

– OE News Bureau

For decades after formal independence in 1947, Congress completely dominated the Indian political stage at the national and state levels. Until it was ousted in 1996, the party had held office continuously at the national level with the exception of two terms collectively expanding over three years. Today, the party is a shadow of its former self. Its claims to stand for the interests of the masses are in tatters and its bases of support are rapidly dwindling.

The Indian National Congress is a “sinking ship”; many of us have heard that by now. Yet it’s a bit astonishing to think how far the political party has fallen. After all, until recently the history of Congress ran almost in parallel with the history of modern India itself, to an extent where the line between these histories seemed blurred. Leaders of Congress were the leaders of India and a large part of the Indian Freedom Movement owed its existence to this “grand old party,” which was not just a political party, but an umbrella organization where different schools of thought used to co-exist together.

From Gandhi to Jinnah, from Nehru to Bose, from Tilak to Gokhale, Congress itself contained people poles apart from each other ideologically. And yet it not only remained as one party, but went on to define the political system itself in India, leading Dr. Rajani Kothari to coin the term “Congress System.” The organizational structure of Congress was so deep-rooted and entrenched that it reached to the grassroots level, to the last man, as a part of Gandhian idealism.

But Congress couldn’t uphold these ideals of working on the ground for as long as the people of India hoped it would. Much of Congress’ dominance at the centre as well as the state level was due to the fact that people voted in the name of Congress, which had won freedom for the country. People felt almost indebted to the party and continued to bring them back to power in the hope that Swarajya (self-rule) would actually be realized on the ground and the days of Ram Rajya (the idyllic rule of Rama), which Gandhi used to mention in his

speeches and writings, would come. People waited for years, but neither Swarajya nor Ram Rajya came about. Instead, the people realized, nepotism and corruption were increasing day by day in the political system. It was not Ram Rajya, but the Raaj of one family  the Gandhi family. The family alone accounts for three prime ministers, who ruled the country for around 37 years, while another 10 years of governance in the 21st century was also largely led by the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty.

Despite the challenges, Indira Gandhi, who was mockingly referred to as “Goongi Gudiya,” emerged as a strong and decisive leader, under whose leadership India won a decisive war against Pakistan in 1971. The war resulted in Congress reclaiming its place as the most dominant player in the Indian political system, so much so that its power became increasingly unchecked. In a democracy, a government with unchecked power is quite problematic.

India belatedly learned this lesson. At midnight on June 26, 1975, an emergency was proclaimed in the country by her government, thereby suspending all democratic rights of the people and concentrating all the power in the hands of Indira Gandhi. This was done to subvert the decision given against Indira Gandhi by the Allahabad High Court Bench in the case of fraudulent electoral practices in the 1971 elections. The emergency was the darkest period in India’s independent history. The government had become authoritarian; the opposition was decimated as most political opponents were put behind bars; the press was under extreme censorship.

The 21-month emergency proved to be costly for Congress. In the 1977 elections, for the first time, a non-Congress government was formed at the centre. Though, the new government, led by Morarji Desai, couldn’t stay in power for the full five years, the period was definitely a paradigm shift in Indian politics. Both people and political par- ties started believing that there could be an alternative to the Congress. However, it took another two decades after the Janata government for a non-Congress party (this time the BJP) to come to power and stay for a full five-year term.

In 2004, Congress made a come- back again in quite an astonishing fashion by defeating the incumbent BJP in power. Congress would spend the next decade fully in control of India’s central government. This decade, especially the second half, was marred by corruption. Telecom, railways, coal, land, sports, and various other ministries saw their names tarred under charges of corruption. Popular resentment against the regime grew prevalent among the public due to the increasing corruption within the government and the party’s inability to take any affirmative action against it. Then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was largely seen as a weak leader, who couldn’t take tough action against corrupt members within his party and government.

As a result, the party lost pathetically in the 2014 general elections, where it won only 44 seats in the Lok Sabha out of the 543 up for grabs — an all-time low. Since then, the party still hasn’t settled into a new role. It has been losing election after election across many states in India. The most notable recent loss came from Uttar Pradesh, the most populated state in India, where the party got just seven seats in an assembly of 403 seats.

Most political observers are of the opinion that Congress lacks a genuine mass leader, of which it used to have in dozens in its glory days. The vice president of the party, Rahul Gandhi, has been somewhat seen as a reluctant politician due to his lack of leadership skills and his inability to win elections. To sum up, the Congress has lost its sheen and doesn’t look to be in a position to even pose a challenge to the current BJP regime in the 2019 general elections. If they manage to do so, the party would be pulling a rabbit out of a hat!

Worryingly, the demise of Congress means the demise of a balanced political system in India. Congress and the BJP, the two most dominant powers, used to balance off each other in Indian politics. With this balance lost, the earlier Congress System is being replaced by a newly emergent “BJP System.”

In the upcoming elections, Congress is not expected to make any significant gains, despite growing hostility to the NDA government’s program of economic restructuring, which has led to a widening gulf between rich and poor. The failed demonetization decision of Modi government and poor GST implementation has dented the economic growth in India. The 2% GDP is wiped out due to faulty economic policies of the government. Despite this economic debacle, according to the London- based Economist magazine, even Congress party strategists say the maximum it can achieve is around 90-105 [seats] in 2019. The party could, however, do considerably worse. It is likely to be routed in state elections this year in Himanchal Pradesh, Gujrat & Karnataka, last few Congress ruled states except Gujrat.

Now, however, Congress is desperate for partners and in last election has accepted a subordinate status in several key states. In its alliance with the Rastriya Janatha Dal (RJD) in Bihar, Congress had to be satisfied with just four of the state’s 40 seats in the national parliament far less than the 14 it had demanded. Congress has also forged alliances in Andhra Pradesh, Maharasthra and Tamil Nadu. But in the most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, Congress is on ventilator seeking external life support from either Bahujan Samaj Party or Samajwadi Party to survive. Currently, Congress only holds two of the state’s 80 seats. In West Bengal, Mamta has virtually hijacked the original Congress party leaving nothing for the grand old party. Today Congress will be approaching General Elections 2019 without any presence in U.P. ( 80 seats ) Bihar ( 40 seats ), West Bengal ( 42 seats) T.N. ( 39 seats ) & A.P. ( 27 seats ), surely with almost 50% unrepresented seats, Congress can’t do miracle in rest of the seats to win with a conversion ration of 100%.

Nothing underscores the party’s bankruptcy more than its dependence on the Nehru- Gandhi dynasty. Not only has Sonja Gandhi, the Italian-born widow of assassinated prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, been pressed into leading the party, but her two children have also been enlisted in the campaign.

Her son Rahul is standing as the Congress candidate in the Uttar Pradesh seat of Amethi since 2004, in an effort to lift the party’s standing in that state. His sister Priyanka is also campaigning prominently in the seat.

The party’s tenuous links to the leaders of the anti-colonial movement Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru are all that remain of its claims to represent the interests of the working masses of India. Congress was always a party of the Indian bourgeoisie, which ensured that the vast movement against the British rule never threatened private property and became the means for securing its own privileged position. At the same time, through its leadership of the anti-colonial opposition, Congress established deep local roots and a reputation as a party of progressive change that enabled it to dominate the political stage after the end of the British rule

Congress’s ability to maintain its increasingly tarnished image was a product of the peculiar global economic and political conditions that followed World War II. Successive Indian governments were able to maintain a highly regulated national economy, based on import substitution, and make limited concessions to workers and the oppressed masses. In the context of the Cold War, Congress leaders were able to balance between Washington and Moscow, and with the assistance of the Stalinist bureaucrats, posture as anti-imperialists. India was one of the leaders of the so- called non-aligned movement.

However, in the 1980s and 1990s, the processes of globalization undermined all forms of national economic regulation the sharpest expression being the collapse of the Soviet Union. The impact was no less profound in India where, in the early 1990s, the Congress government of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao initiated the first stage of market reforms and opened up the country’s huge reserves of cheap labor to foreign investors. While a layer of business and the middle class benefited, the economic restructuring resulted in savage attacks on the living standards of the working class and op- pressed masses. The mounting resentment was the main reason for the party’s defeat in the 1996 elections.

No alternative to the BJP: While it capitalized on the disaffection with Congress, the BJP has implemented the same programme of restructuring since 1998. Foreign investors have exploited India’s supplies of low-cost, educated, English-speaking labor to create a range of computing, research and office services, and produce a spurt of growth that has benefited layers of the Indian middle class. The BJP election campaign in 2004 has centered on a government-funded “India Shining”media blitz designed to portray the party as bringing India economic growth and international recognition.

The slick media campaign glosses over the fact that the government’s economic policies have led to a widening of the deep social divide between the rich and the vast majority of the population who remain mired in poverty. In seeking to attack the BJP’s record, Congress faces a fundamental problem: its policies are no different from those of the government. As a result, its campaign is fraught with contradictions: Congress attempts to convince big business of its ability to continue the open market agenda, while trying to dupe the masses with empty promises to improve their living standards.

– By Prakhar Prakash Misra (Political Editor, Opinion Express)

Mother Earth is facing its acutest phase of a ‘forced metamorphosis’ due to a human propelled climate change

Rains battering Mumbai and devastating lives and livelihoods have raised a local administrative quandary but also have addressed a global one too. The weather catastrophes around the world have been wreaking havoc on mankind. While category 3+ storms continue to pound the Caribbean and East coast of the US, droughts have ravaged Australia- here at home an estimated 10 million have been adversely effected by the floods and incessant rains in central and North East India and landslides devastate the hilly states of Uttarakhand, Himachal and J and K. Painful as this grim scenario is, what makes it even more excruciating is attitude of the policy makers world wide which is palpably myopic and disastrous when it comes to planning and execution. Mother Earth is facing its acutest phase of a ‘forced metamorphosis’ due to a human propelled climate change. The environment and the atmosphere have been altered critically to the point of no return and due to that the weather anomalies will continue to get severe each passing day. Mankind and all life forms will face the flak of these disruptions. The solution to this diabolical predicament has come in form of a feeble symptomatic response by mankind, which seems to be satisfactory only in digits but a disaster on ground.

We need a paradigm shift in our concept of development a migration from the current anthropocentric model to an all encompassing and holistic one which treats the Earth and nature as living entities. Secondly Eco sensitive zones should be identified across the globe and recognized as international heritages, and a no tolerance for human interruption policy should be followed in this zone. For example the higher zones of Himalayas, which are not only a magnet for the monsoon and thus control the weather of the entire subcontinent, but also are the fountain head of the rivers that nourish close to 1 billion people should be declared a zone for no massive constructions. Thirdly a joint Eco task force for the protection of the environment should be established by all nations, with more teeth to this force than what the current conventions on climate change impart, because as per experts by 2025 the world would have more than a billion climate refugees.

Lastly and most importantly a holistic environment education should be made compulsory in the schools, where the value of interconnections present in the web of life and how to protect and preserve it must be taught to the future generations .

 – By Deana Uppal ((Writer is an Indo- British Model & Entrepreneur))

India remains Pakistan’s primary target

Today, India is ringed by turbulent states – Pakistan (land boundary with India 3,310 km in the north west), Nepal (land boundary with India 1,751 km in the north), Bangladesh (land boundary with India 4,095 km in the south- east) and Myanmar (land boundary with India 1,463 km in the north east).

Turbulence has percolated through India’s porous borders in the form of arms and narcotics to finance insurgents, militants, terrorists and religious fundamentalists.

India remains Pakistan’s primary target and operating ground for Islamic fundamentalists and terrorist groups who infiltrate through Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Nepal and Bangladesh and carry out anti-Indian activities with impunity.

Nepal is vulnerable to China’s influence. Its extremists have linkages with the People’s War Group in India. In its bid to expand its influence, the PWG has carved a corridor ringing the states of Andhra Pradesh-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh-Orissa- West Bengal-Jharkhand-Bihar.

This endless internal turbulence in India is also inter-linked with external factors. To the north, India shares a 3,440-km long border with China, which can pose the entire spectrum of conventional, nuclear and missile threats. It can also influence and use as proxy India’s neighbors to weigh India down in every possible way.

In short, India’s 14,058-km long land frontier is impacted by a perpetually hostile or semi-hostile environment. Indian security stands threatened by demographic assault, arms and drug smuggling, and the safe havens that the insurgents have in  Fundamentalist-religious groups in Bangladesh under Pakistani tutelage, West Asian finance and China’s patronage have synergized sufficiently to add to India?s security headache. The grim reality is that the unending turbulence will continue to afflict our land and sea frontiers and airspace.

AVERAGE INDIAN IS HIGHLY INDIVIDUALISTIC

By nature, the average Indian is highly individualistic and an entrepreneur. In every endeavor, his calculation is simply based on, “What’s in it for me?” He does not have the time or the inclination to actively get involved with the intricacies of the nation’s security.

This kind of entrepreneurial society requires a steel frame of military, naval and air power to ensure that India’s accommodative temperament and societal characteristic of gentleness remains protected from the turbulent violence that as- Field Marshal Wavell who was India’s British Viceroy in 1946, was prophetic when he said “… the stability of the Indian Army may perhaps be a deciding factor in the future of India.”

MANPOWER SHORTAGE MUST BE REMOVED SPEEDILY

For a number of reasons, and despite considerable efforts, the armed forces remain short of the manpower they need. It is imperative that this manpower shortage be removed speedily before the system buckles under the ageing profile of its leadership.

There is only one viable strategy to attract the kind of talent that is needed and that is to assure military personnel of assured lateral induction into the paramilitary and police forces, the intelligence services and the civil administration.

Unfortunately, a consensus has not been achieved that “lateral induction” is the best way to attract India’s young but savvy population to the tough profession of arms where risk to faults the values of our democratic polity.

INDIA’S ARMED FORCES

On attaining Independence in 1947, India inherited possibly the best instrument of war in Asia a fine battle ready military machine with a formidable reputation of winning wars in distant lands. Britain had employed it skillfully for over a century to sustain her empire and treasured it as the jewel in its crown.

In the years after Independence, India’s Army has been unending deployed for internal policing tasks to cope with the complex security situation. This deployment has kept the Union of India physically intact. But it is sad that 60 years after Independence, the stability of India still depends directly on the stability of the Indian Army.

life is an everyday affair. Major benefits will accrue from lateral induction. First, the transfer of highly disciplined, trained and skilled manpower to the civil setup will contribute towards the creation of a ‘discipline culture’ the country. Second, the superior training standards of lateral inductees will aid civil and paramilitary forces in combating terrorism and internal violence. However, placing a large segment of a young Army on the land borders cannot entirely ensure security of India. There are two aspects to it.

First, if a football team defends only its half of the field, it is certain that an adversary determined to create mischief, short of going to war, will create opportunities for its irregular forces (jihadis) to score goals through infiltration, smuggling and creeping invasion. The hostile environment that impacts India’s long frontiers re- quires that the role of military power to defend strategic frontiers must be firmly embedded in India’s foreign policy. The second aspect is the need for political will to project the power of Armed Forces beyond the Indian subcontinent to se- cure the sea-lanes for external trade and ensure the security of imported energy supplies.

INDIA NEEDS A RUTHLESS WINNING ATTITUDE

India’s geostrategic location with its 7,500 km-long peninsular coastline jutting into the Indian Ocean makes India a continental as well as a maritime power.?India impacts directly on East, West and Central Asia. As a rising economic power dependent almost entirely on foreign energy supplies, a time may come when India has to project its military power to protect and preserve the energy resources from Central and West Asia, and Africa.

For India, with its pacifist temperament, this may sound imperial. But without a ruthless winning attitude, India’s multi-religious and multi-cultural society cannot survive endless undermining by disaffected elements. The world has already recognized that with its democratic institutions, its liberal philosophy and its unique strategic location, India’s influence will extend beyond South Asia and directly affect Asia’s well being.

DOVETAILING FOREIGN-ECONOMIC- MILITARY OBJECTIVES?

A Nations foreign policy is dependent primarily on the strength of its economic and military power. The ability and the will to wield military power ruthlessly, to defend and advance national interests, when combined with the capacity and resolve to create wealth, constitute the proven route for every aspirant seeking recognition as an eminent power.

India has the potential and the prerequisites of becoming a great power within the next few decades, provided it can dovetail its foreign, economic and military objectives and mainstream its military power. The crucial question is whether India will be a surrogate power or be a ‘great power’?

INDIA’S FREE MEDIA CAN BE INTELLIGENTLY HARNESSED

Ostensibly our national objectives are to have a peaceful neighborhood. What should be the strategy to achieve it? Statements like a “stable and secure neighbors are in India’s interest” are well meant. The fundamental question, however, is – “Will India’s neighbors ever be stable and secure?” Appeasement of neighbors cannot constitute a strategy for any country.

India’s larger objective in Asia is to emerge as a geoeconomic hub that can integrate and influence its extended neighborhood through mutually beneficial economic linkages and military relationships. As a benevolent power that has no external territorial interests, India is uniquely located — geographically and culturally to play this role effectively. India’s free media can be intelligently harnessed to further these national objectives and develop the complementarities that influence Asia.

To attain eminence in Asia, India needs to move simultaneously on three axes. These are India-West Asia, India-Southeast Asia and India-Central Asia. Of these, the critical one is the India- Afghanistan-Iran-Russia axis. Today, Russia is reacting firmly to intruders into its neighborhood. Her economic and military resurgence presents an opportunity for a relationship which would lend stability to the region. Moreover, as the second largest consumer of oil and gas in Asia, the assurance of uninterrupted energy supplies is a vital factor in India’s security calculus. By 2010, a substantial amount of oil and gas will be sourced from Central Asia

INDIA’S ‘NEAR ABROAD’ IS UNDER TURMOIL

This resource-rich region will succumb to fundamentalist-religious Talibanisation if India and like- minded countries do not preempt it. In such an eventuality, American oil corporations will be expelled, particularly with the Chinese gaining ground and occupying positions that could dictate the future agenda in Central Asia. It is therefore timely for American capitalists to join hands with Indian counterparts in joint ventures.

CREATE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCES         

India’s ‘near abroad’ is under unprecedented turmoil. Pakistan is almost split into two states. The Pakistan Army controls one par t and the other it ceded to Radical Islam. Pakistan Army appears to be under retreat. In Bangladesh the war between Pakistan backed radical Islam threatens to undermine the present regime. Maoists in Nepal look up to China. Beijing successfully out manoeuvred New Delhi’s influence in latter’s back- yard. These regimes being authoritarian in one way or the other have more in common amongst themselves than a multi-cultural democratic India.

They are also technology deficit regressive states. Therefore, to preserve its values, India needs to create an international alliance with like minded technologically surplus ‘far abroad’ to out manoeuver the inimical intentions of the ‘near abroad’.?The international community, including Russia in near future, will be compelled to wage the next Great War against forces of Radical Islam threatening the world at large. As the core of jihad is located in a State wielding nuclear weapons, the evolving scenario appears to be more threatening than witnessed during Nazi Germany. New Delhi’s support in the looming next Great War will be a critical element for swift victory for democracies and others. India’s strategy must be to strengthen existing friendly relationships while decisively cementing mutually advantageous new relationships in the favorable geopolitical scenario now emerging.

– Bharat Verma  (The columnist is the Editor of the Indian Defense Review )

Pushed out from their country, Rohingyas’ arrival put India in a dilemma

On a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his official visit to Myanmar, human rights organisation Amnesty International urged him to push the country’s leadership to provide assistance to Rohingyas in the violence-hit Rakhine state. The rights body also said the Modi government should “reaffirm” its commitment to protect Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers in India instead of “threatening” them with deportation.

“Prime Minister Modi must also use his visit to push the Myanmar authorities to allow full and unfettered humanitarian assistance to people in need. Nothing can justify denying life-saving aid to desperate people,” Aakar Patel, Executive Director at Amnesty International India, said.

The Amnesty’s plea came on a day Union Minister Kiren Rijiju asserted that Rohingyas who have crossed over to India are illegal immigrants and stand to be deported. He also said that nobody should preach India on the is- sue as the country has absorbed the maximum number of refugees in the world. Around 40,000 Rohingyas are said to be staying illegally in India. Modi reached Nay Pyi Taw today on a three- day visit and called on Myanmar President Htin Kyaw.

The prime minister’s visit to Myanmar comes amid a spike in ethnic violence with Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine state. The number of Rohingya refugees that have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar, which flared up late last month, has touched 1,23,000, according to the UN refugee agency. The Amnesty observed that despite being home to thousands of refugees, India is not a state party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, and does not have a domestic legal refugee protection framework.

 – OE News Bureau

The 72 day standoff in Doklam is finally over. Showing an unprecedented grit and deft diplomacy, India has managed to confound the dragon. Now, she must show the same maturity to bolster its stand in border disputes with the powerful neighbor

Writing in the fifth century BC, the ancient Chinese thinker Sun Tzu gives in his all time classic on war strategy  The Art of War a fundamental principle:

“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”

The way the Chinese government conducted itself during the recent 72 day long Doklam stand-off it would appear that they were following this advice to the letter. There were empty threats, psychological war in the media, videos of military drills, intemperate statements by official spokespersons, reminders of India’s 1962 defeat and aggressive bluster.

On the contrary, both the Indian government and media showed a far more mature response by emphasizing that the solution lay not in a call to arms but on the negotiating table. Maintaining diplomatic dignity, MEA’s statement on 28th September announcing the agreement to pull out did not in any way show the Chinese down; on the contrary, as was widely observed, India gave China plenty of face-saving room. The Chinese statement by comparison was shrill emphasizing that it was the “trespassing” Indian troops that withdrew first and that Chinese troops shall in future continue to patrol the area. There was only a muted reference to making necessary adjustments in their troop deployments. This probably force the MEA to come out with a second statement clarifying that disengagement border personnel had been almost completed under verification from both the sides. It was clarified that both troops and road building equipment had been removed by China from the face-off point, implying the PLA’s construction of the road towards Jompelri wherein the genesis of the crisis lay, had been put off. Two days later MEA announced that Prime Minister Modi would be visiting China for the up- coming BRICS Summit during 3-9 September.

What are we to make out of this in hindsight? The full details of what transpired on the negotiating table shall never be known; there are many information gaps left in the statements put out by the MEA. Has there been any commitment by China not to try building the road in the future? If the area is disputed has insisted all along by the Indian side, and of course Bhutan, why has China been allowed to emphasize that its troops shall continue to patrol the area? Why was there not a corresponding assertion from the Indian or Bhutanese side that the latter’s troops shall also patrol the area under dispute?

From the haze of diplomatic jargon some clear aspects of the issue emerge. Militarily, for most of the 4000 km long LAC, India has the advantage of holding the higher ground; such was the case in the Doklam area also. In case of an armed conflict China would have needed to vastly outnumber Indian forces, according to some experts by a ratio of 9 to 1 to push back Indian troops. And with snowfall expected in September it would have been difficult for the Chinese despite their superior roads and infrastructure to hold their ground.

China had some domestic compulsions too. In the crucial national conference of Communist Party of China in mid-October, Xi Jinping is expected to be given a second five year term at the helm and a continuing, unresolved military face-off with India would have been seen to be a mishandling of the situation and the show weakness against the country that most Chinese believe to be significantly inferior in terms of military or economic prowess.

Internationally, China would have lost face in the event of India raising the issue on behalf of Bhutan in the BRICS Summit or alternatively, sending a low level representative delegation instead of personal attendance by the Indian Prime Minister. In fact, both India and Bhutan had absented themselves from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) meeting in May 2017 much to China’s annoyance. In fact some observers had even linked that to the Doklam standoff.

Diplomatically, there have been reports that there was Russian pressure on both China and India to resolve the issue. Overtly however the rest of the world stayed away from the imbroglio with only Japan openly supporting India on the issue. Notwithstanding the US-China tensions over North Korea there was no mention of the issue by American authorities; it could have been logically expected by India that there would be some support from US considering Chinese entities/individuals have been placed under sanctions by the Trump Administration over the North Korean issue. Also, US has been supportive of India’s role while formulating its Afghan policy.

A matter of diplomatic concern for India was that after its initial response rebutting China’s claim over Doklam, Bhutan and assiduously maintained a discreet silence throughout the face off only expressing its hope that the matter would be resolved peacefully. In fact Bhutan’s lukewarm attitude nudged Sushma Swaraj into clarifying in the Indian Parliament that apart from the dispute that Bhutan had with China and in which India was treaty bound to help the former, there were Indian security interests also which made it necessary for India to intercede in the area.

It made economic sense for China given its trade and investment imperatives vis-a-vis India’s huge market not to aggravate the crisis militarily and have a diplomatic resolution without losing face. In fact during the ongoing crisis there were some faint murmurings on the part of the Indian government proposing changes in the criteria for foreign suppliers of power plant equipment which would hit Chinese manufacturers badly. In fact, the trade imbalance is heavily tilted towards China so India can leverage on this fact to push for course correction. China can ill afford to disturb the vast market like India that offers massive market to Chinese consumer durable and infra companies. Make in India program of Modi government will push Chinese manufacturing sector to limits in the years to come, and it will offer stiff competition to Chinese manufacturing companies soon.

 – Dr Pradeep Bajpai prad.bajpai@gmail.com 

As it is diplomatically said: “There are no clear winner or loser in our language”. The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday announced “expeditious disengagement of border personnel” at Doklam, signalling that the months-long standoff at the disputed India-China-Bhutan trijunction has come to an end. In response to queries on Doklam disengagement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “India has always maintained that it is only through diplomatic channels such matters can be addressed. Our principled position is that agreements and understandings reached on boundary issues must be scrupulously respected”.

India’s official statement is in contrast to the what the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Doklam, insisting that India has withdrawn troops from Doklam while Chinese troops will “remain in the region” and exercise their “sovereignty over the region”. This difference in the stand on Doklam between India and China is also reflected by the global media which has reported extensively on the border dispute.

BBC: The BBC, in its report titled ‘China claims victory over India in Himalayan border row’, says that “China says India has withdrawn troops from a disputed Himalayan border area, ending a tense stand off lasting weeks”. The BBC report says that India’s foreign ministry confirmed troops were “disengaging” at Doklam after agreement between the two countries.   The report quotes China’s official Xinhua news agency as saying that India had withdrawn its personnel and equipment “that had crossed the border back to the Indian side”.

The CNN report titled ‘India, China agree to ‘expeditious disengagement’ of Doklam border dispute’ says the standoff was “sparked after Bhutan accused China of constructing a road inside its territory in ‘direct violation’ of treaty obligations. China, which does not have formal diplomatic relations with Bhutan, denied the accusation, contending that Doklam is part of Chinese territory”.

– Prakhar Prakash Misra (Political Editor, OE)

The dramatic political victories of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India and President Donald Trump in USA led to consolidation of right wing ideologies in respective countries. The events were unpredictable and so fast that it impacted global political situation leading to a new world order. The USA leadership is willing to work with Russia and India is extremely close to USA today, both were unthinkable about two decades ago. China is extremely vulnerable with the rise of India because it will pose economic, political, diplomatic and military challenge. The current situation on the border is an attempt by China to disturb India’s ambition to be a dominant international player. China is pushing Pakistan to disturb India indirectly since many years but the India, USA, Russia tactical alliance is a bad news for China. China is protecting North Korea and there is a direct conflict brewing up between USA and North Korea, the Americans are consolidating navy fleet in south of Malacca, crucial to Chinese trade and commerce. To avoid international focus on North Korea, China has pushed troops to India border to make new international headlines.

The latest row erupted in mid June when India opposed China’s attempt to extend a border road through a plateau known as Doklam in India and Dong- lang in China. The plateau, which lies at a junction between China, the north- eastern Indian state of Sikkim and the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, is currently disputed between Beijing and Bhutan. India supports Bhutan’s claim over it. India is concerned that if the road is completed, it will give China greater access to India’s strategically vulnerable “chicken’s neck”, a 20km (12 mile) wide corridor that links the seven north-eastern states to the Indian mainland. And since this stand-off began, each side has reinforced its troops and called on the other to back down. There is a dreadful sense of dejavu about the way the stand-off appears to be escalating.

This is not the first time the two neighbors who share a rocky relationship have faced off on the ill-defined border, where minor incursions by troops have been common. The region saw armed clashes between China and India in 1967, and a prolonged stand off and build-up of troops along the border in Arunachal Pradesh in 1986-87.

‘Not a bluff’

Indian analysts believe China’s warnings cannot be ignored. “In general, the Chinese pattern of use of force has been to prepare the ground with adequate statements and warnings. Hence, I think we should not take them lightly or see it as a bluff,” a China expert told me.

In 1962, the state-run news agency Xinhua warned well in advance that India should “pull back from the brink of war”. During the Korean War in 1950 which pitted the US and its allies against the USSR, North Korea and communist China, the Chinese warned the US through India that if they crossed the yalu River the Chinese would be forced to enter the war. To be true, this doesn’t mean that China is girding up for war. As things stand, both sides can share some blame for the stand-off in what is a strategically important area.

In 2012, India and China agreed that the tri junction boundaries with Bhutan and Myanmar (also called Burma) would be finally decided in consultation with these countries. Until then, the status quo would prevail. India believes China violated the status quo by building the road. Indian troops were sent to resist their Chinese counterparts in the area only after Bhutan, which has close ties with India, requested India to help. China insists Indian troops invaded Doklam/Donglang to help Bhutan, and it was a violation of international law. Mr Lu says India should not “take trespass as a policy tool to reach or realize their political targets”.

Some analysts say India possibly made a mistake by openly conflating the building of the road with talk of potential “serious security implications for India”. “I agree that there were security concerns, but it was wrong for India to voice them strongly. We could have just said that China had breached the status quo. By overplaying the security angle, we may have scored an own goal, and the Chinese are exploiting it,” an analyst told me.

Tricky situation

He has a point. Long Xingchun, an analyst at a Chinese think-tank, says “a third country’s” army could enter the disputed region of Kashmir at Pakistan’s request, using the “same logic” the Indian army has used to stop the Chinese troops from building the road in Doklam/Donglang. “Even if India were requested to defend Bhutan’s territory, this could only be limited to its established territory, not the disputed area.”

Clearly, for the stand-off to end, all three sides need an agreeable solution without losing face. As China hardens its position, many believe that finding a “three-way, face saving solution” would be tricky and time consuming. Relations between the two countries are also at their lowest ebb in many years. Both sides possibly passed up an opportunity to resolve the crisis earlier this month when a potential meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Ham- burg did not happen. India said a meeting with Mr Xi had never been on Mr Modi’s agenda; and China’s foreign ministry had said the atmosphere was not right for a meeting.

India’s influential National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visit to Beijing for a meeting of Brics nations turned to be success. Doval, who is also the special representative for the India- China border, met his Chinese counterpart yang Jiechi. Both sides have made it a prestige issue. But diplomacy is all about keeping things going in difficult circumstances,” a former diplomat says. Despite the deteriorating relationship, a war is unlikely to break out.

‘The Indian Army should stand firm’ – Lieutenant General Dr D B Shekatkar (retd), PvSM, AvSM, AvSM, was in charge of the entire China front in Arunachal Pradesh during the Kargil War. The general, who served extensively in the North East, also compelled a record number (1,267) of terrorists in Kashmir, trained in Afghanistan and Pakistan to give up terrorism. General Shekatkar spoke to Rediff.com’s Archana Masih on the India-China standoff in the Sikkim sector.

Why a plateau in Bhutan is important for India:

I know the Dokalam area in Bhutan since 1992 where the Chinese are exerting their claim. It is at the tri junction of Sikkim, Bhutan and China. It is legally important for us because in mountain warfare, even a 10 feet high ground is of importance.

Over the years, the Chinese came during the grazing season, stayed for a few days with yaks and went away. They used to tell the Bhutanese that this is our area. For the last two years, the Chinese came in strength and started building roads on the Doklam plateau. It is also strategically located near the Siliguri corridor. Assuming it is occupied and deployed with guns and heavy armament, it is such a narrow patch that anyone who controls it will also controls the entry and exit from the North East. It can cut off the entire North East.

There are 2 to 3 hydel projects coming up in this area where India has in- vested heavily. One project is Jaldhaka (on the Indian side of the India-Bhutan border). The Chinese have entered the Doklam plateau because it overlooks the Chumbi valley which is Chinese territory. This is the military reason why China is keen on the Bhutanese territory. When sensitive territory goes into the hands of your enemy or adversary, he becomes more powerful in military terms.

Assuming the Chinese take over that area (the doklam Plateau) they will not stop at that. they will keep pushing further. It will be easier for them to further expand their territory.

The reason for the current India- China stand-off:

Linked to this is that Bhutan is a small country. It is a sovereign country, but there is a small training detachment of the Indian Army to train the Bhutanese forces. It is located at Thimpu and a place called Ha in the Chumbi valley. The Indian Army has been in Ha for decades, which is a training establishment. The Doklam Plateau is at close proximity to this place.

When training the Bhutanese army on operational parameters, the Chinese troops entered the area and because the Indian Army was present there, they were told to go back. That is how the Indian Army got involved and China claims that Indian Army has entered the Doklam area. The Chinese in the past come and go, but this time the Chinese were trying to bulldoze their way through the Bhutanese army into the Doklam Plateau.

On China asking the Indian Army to withdraw and India’s refusal to stand down:

China has no business to tell the Indian Army to withdraw because that is Bhutanese territory. If at all, somebody should ask the Indian Army to vacate, it is Bhutan. The Chinese are telling the world that the Indian Army has ingresses into their area. The Indian Army should stand firm. I feel the Chinese will vacate that area in two months after it begins to snow.

In Kargil also, both the Indian Army and Pakistan army used to withdraw, but in 1999, we found they did not, which led to the Kargil War. This time, I don’t think the Bhutanese army will vacate that area lest the Chinese continue during the winter. Then there will be open war. Therefore, the Bhutanese army will now have to stay there. The Indian Army should continue to remain there to support the Bhutanese army.

The Indian army will not fight anybody else’s war, but they should be there and be prepared. Once the Chinese retreat, India will also go back and leave the area for Bhutan. The Indian Army can be positioned 3 km or so behind the Bhutanese army on the Doklam Plateau.

On the Chinese stance in the present tension:

As per Chinese strategy they will continue to harp that this area belongs to them. According to the 1890 and 1914 treaty that area doesn’t belong to them. They will try and show that the Indian Army has ingresses into their territory. The Indian Army cannot ingress into China through another country. If the army had crossed over from Sikkim it would have been a totally different thing, so that stand doesn’t hold good.

Why India needs to build world opinion on China:

As strategic framework, India should now build world opinion on China on the following issues:

1. China is the only nation in the world which officially protects two rogue nations Pakistan and North Korea. When a member of the United Nations Security Council protects two rogue nations does it qualify to be a member?
   Should not the world body take up this issue in the UN General Assembly to remove China from membership of the Security Council and take away its veto power?
2. China’s military strength is based on its economic strength.Economic strength depends on industrial strength. If China’s economy is affected, its military will get impacted. We should not sustain the Chinese economy and look at it as economic warfare.
3. India should engage China on the seas so that China’s influence does not increase in the South China Sea. Our strategy should be to engage with the Philippines, vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan.
   India should be able to engage China in the Indian Ocean ring, starting from the Straits of Malacca to the Straits of Hormuz Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, Gwadar. India should take world leaders into confidence and engage China. That should be the grand strategy. India should let it be known to China that they have been helping terrorists operating in India  the Naxalites, insurgents in the North East. If India does even 2% of what the Chinese are doing, they will not know how to handle the Tibetans and the people in Xinjiang.

Political Editor Prakhar Prakash Mishra comprehensively studied the international and national press on India China border standoff and he has compiled a report taking out best of reports, coverage, interviews  to highlight the perception and the reality of the current buildup. Inputs from CNN, BBC and prominent Indian media are incorporated to offer a broader prospective.

Post Independence, India is blessed by great leaders both at national and regional level wherein they have impacted the road map for the country. The leaders have followed democratic values and collectively pushed the growth of the country. It is easy to be critical according to individual’s preference but there is no doubt that every one of them has a major contribution in the national building. Over the course of its magnificent history, India has been led by the most charismatic of leaders who have guided this country’s people and served as an inspiration for all of us. Let us pay tribute to 22 of them:

1. Pt. jawaharlal Nehru

The first prime Minister of India ruled a chaotic newborn country right from its independence in 1947 until his death in 1964. Nehru’s legacy is that of an extremely liberal, socialist and secular leader, who under the apprenticeship of Mahatma Gandhi, firmly put India on the course in which it runs to day. Nehru was a man of letters and is also credited with creating the Planning Commission of India. He brought scientific flare in the governance by establishing several technologically superior public sector units for comprehensive growth of the country.

2. B. R. Ambedkar

One of the greatest personalities ever born in India, Ambedkar was a jurist, political leader, philosopher, anthropologist, historian, revolutionary, writer and much more. He was a revolutionary leader and held forth on his views even if they went against the popular grain. He also revived Buddhism in India, a legacy still seen in Dalit communities, who’s cause Ambedkar championed throughout his life. Ambedkar is also known as the Father of the Indian Constitution, on behalf of which the nation celebrated Republic Day.

3. Atal Behari Vajpayee

The recipient of the Bharat Ratna & Padma vibhushan, he is one of the most respected political leaders in India’s history. He remains the only prime minister to serve a full term outside the Congress Party, the record likely to be broken by current PM of India. vajpayee was known to be a liberal within the BJP, a party with extreme right views. He fearlessly led the nuclear tests to establish India a powerful nation and focused on building state of art infrastructure to facilitate rapid economic growth.

4. Lal Bahadur Shastri

Filling the boots of Jawaharlal Nehru was never going to be an easy task, but Lal Bahadur Shastri did just that, and with elan. He gave India a slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisaan’ and worked extensively for farmer sector in India in continuation of Nehru’s socialist policies. India’s decisive victory in the war against Pakistan in 1965 while he was Prime Minister elevated the country’s mood after its defeat to China earlier and turned him into a hero to cherish forever.

5. Indira gandhi

Indira Gandhi served as a Prime Minister for 11 years and is credited for initiating the Green Revolution in India. The only child of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira wielded a lot of influence in the Congress Party and the sentiments of the public. She was known to be ruthless during her term as Prime Minister that lifted India out of a policy quagmire and firmly placed the development of the country on the fast track. A controversial figure because of the Emergency and subsequent assassination in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star, Indira was named as India’s greatest Prime Minister at the turn of the century.

6. Sardar vallabhbhai Patel

India was not inherited as a whole piece of land upon In- dependence. It was divided into princely states whose leaders demanded uncontrolled privileges or sought to remain as neutral territories. Dealing with each of them sternly and firmly earned Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel the sobriquet of India’s Iron Man. He also established the civil services division in Indian administration.

7. Subhash Chandra Bose

Though he served as a member of the Indian National Congress only for a small duration, he had a great impact on the country’s armed forces. One of the few leaders who supported armed revolt to overthrow British rule in India, Bose even formed an army that reported to him called Indian National Army and sought the support of Japan to defeat Britishers in the country. Although his Army failed to directly drive out the British, former Britain PM Clement Atlee conceded that Bose’s activities played a major role in the withdrawal of Britain from India.

8. Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Rajendra Prasad was the first President of independent India. He is also considered to be one of the architects of India’s Republic and also served as the president of India’s Constituent Assembly. Prasad is credited with being bipartisan and acting on merit. He is still the only President to have been elected for the President’s position twice.

9. APJ Abdul kalam

The man with the frizzy hair and India’s favorite grandpa, APJ Abdul Kalam was one of the most proactive President of recent times. He is also known as People’s President and India’s Missile Man for advancing India’s ballistic missile programs. Known for championing youth causes’, Kalam also launched the “What Can I Give movement in 2011” to defeat corruption and realize his life goal of turning India into a developed country by 2020.

10. N.T.rama rao

N.T. Rama Rao, popularly known as NTR, served as CM of Andhra Pradesh for three terms riding on the back of his immensely successful films, in which he mostly played deities Rama and Krishna. His portrayal of mythological characters translated into record wins from audiences when he decided to turn into a politician by founding the Telugu Desam Party. NTR was known to be passionate about the Andhra cause, equal rights for women and introduced many populist schemes for his state. He was an astute politician and was also involved in forming the National Front that ruled the country from 1989 to 1991 under which the Mandal Commission’s recommendation of implementing 27 per cent reservations for OBCs was implemented.

11. dadabhai Naoroji

One of the earliest political leaders of India, he was also involved in business like cotton trading. He was also one of India’s early educationists and sought to clear concepts of Zoroastrianism amongst the local populace in Bombay. Naoroji was also a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons between 1892 and 1895 in the UK, becoming the first Asian to be a British MP.

12. jyoti Basu

Jyoti Basu holds the record for serving as the longest chief minister of any state in India after holding that post in power from 1977 to 2000 in West Bengal as a CPI(M) politician. He was also one of India’s most well-known atheists. Basu designed the land reform plan in India and initiated panchayati raj for farmers in West Bengal. Never one to follow Communism by the book, Basu made it his mission to give the lower strata of society its due and always upheld communal harmony.

13. M. G. Ramachandran

M. G. Ramachandran, or MGR for his fans, was one of the most influential politicians in Tamil Nadu. MGR was a superstar actor in Tamil films and joined the Congress party after being influenced by Gandhian values. He later joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and became as popular in the party as he was among his film fans. In 1972 he formed his own party called Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and riding on his popularity emerged as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu in 1977 and remained so until his death in 1987. He was known for his focus on education and the earliest proponents of midday meals that incentivized children to attend schools. MGR was also known for his philanthropic activities. The frenzy and looting that followed his death remains unparalleled to this day and is a testament to his popularity.

14. Rajiv gandhi

One of the most dashing leaders the country has ever seen, Rajiv was the man behind diminishing the License Raj, gave a push to science and technology and also introduced the telecommunication revolution in India. He took office as Prime Minister of India at the age of 40 after his mother Indira was assassinated in 1984. In the elections held immediately thereafter, the Congress party won an unprecedented 411 seats out of 542 across the country. Known to be a patron of arts, Rajiv also introduced INTACH in 1984 to preserve India’s rich heritage.

15. Manmohan Singh

Manmohan Singh may be a much reviled figure today but no one deny his contribution in lifting the country out of an economic morass in 1991 by opening up the economy. The transformation from socialism and capitalism was a long time coming and Manmohan ensured that the transition went off smoothly. Under his leadership, India achieved the US $ 1 trillion economy milestone. The strong growth recorded by the country over the past few years must go to Manmohan and team.

16. Zakir Hussain

Dr Zakir Hussain was the first Muslim President of India and the founder of Jamia Milia Islamia, one of India’s most recognized university. His dedication to education and efforts to keep Jamia Milia Islamia running even under dire circumstances earned him praise from unexpected quarters, including arch rival Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

17. P. V. Narasimha rao

Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister when Manmohan Singh opened up the economy in 1991, a role for which he is known as the Father of Indian Economic Reforms. He also introduced computer based trading system of the National Stock Exchange in 1994 and encouraged FDI inflows into the country to revive its flagging economy. He also took important decisions that strengthened the internal security of the country. An astute politician, he passed several important laws through a mixture of cunning and guile even though he headed a minority government.

18. Morarji desai

India’s first non Congress Prime Minister, Morarji Desai was the architect of India’s nuclear program. A strict follower of Gandhi’s non-violence movement, his peace overtures were so successful that Desai remains the only politician to have received Pakistan’s highest civilian award Nishan-e-Pakistan from President Ghulam Ishaq Khan. Desai is also credited with promoting social, health and administrative reforms in the country.

19. Narendra Modi

Narendra Modi has the power to divide opinions into two polar opposites. If you see him as the force behind the 2002 riots in Gujarat then you will have to turn a willful blind eye to the economic prosperity and sense of pride he has infused in his community. His supporters call him a tightfisted leader while his detractors call him a mild dictator. Whichever way you look at it, Modi’s legacy in politics is here to stay. Post historic victory in the GE2014, Narendra Modi has gone strength to strength. The international community has embraced Modi globally and he is the most popular political figure in India. Modi’s clean image and commitment to work has made him an exception in a messy political climate of India.

210 jayaprakash Narayan

Jayaprakash Narayan has been an important leader who first came into prominence for opposing Indira Gandhi at the height of her powers. In 1974, he called for a peaceful Total Revolution after leading a students’ movement in Bihar. Although he never became a force to reckon with within politics, Narayan was the first leader who commanded huge crowds for his political stands, a position that was taken over by Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwalrecently.

21. Nitish kumar

One of the cleanest ministers to emerge out of Bihar in recent times, Nitish Kumar, a protégé of Jayaprakash Narayan, is also known as an efficient taskmaster. Under his rule, the state recovered from massive economic collapse and powerful corruption. Kumar fast tracked development projects, appointed over lakh teachers to improve education standards and most importantly, brought crime under control in Bihar, a state long known for its lawlessness. Bihar is slowly turning a corner with migrants from the state eager to take part in the success story created under Kumar’s rule.

22. Subramanium Swamy

Dr Swamy is an economist, mathematician and politician who served as a Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha. He was President of the Janta Party until it merged with BJP. Swamy has served as member of the planning commission of India and was a cabinet minister in the Chandra Shekhar government. Earlier in Nov 1978, Swamy was member of the Group of Eminent persons and was called to Geneva Switzerland to prepare a report of the United Nations on Economic Cooperation between developing countries. In 1994, Swamy was appointed as Chairman of the Commission on Labor standards and international trade by former Prime Minister of India P.V. Narsimha Rao. He has written on foreign affairs largely on People Republic of China, Pakistan and Israel. In the recent past, Swamy has taken a new avatar of anti corruption crusader wherein he is fighting mega scams namely 2G, Coalgate, National herald case, Jayalaitha case, Nataraja Temple case, Ayodhya temple case: his role is applauded by all Indians and NRI community abroad.

(Compiled by Opinion Express News Services through internet poll conducted by our online team)

As the threats to innocent people increase across the World, timely pure intelligence and precise solutions are paramount in decreasing the risks to life, environment as well as protecting a country’s education/legal/immigration controls systems. The World Homeland Security/Smartechno (WHS) Group of Companies has now developed and designed a new critical factors C8 IND Modules package specifically for India/Indian businesses as CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) will certainly stunt the growth of India internally as well as on a Global level on many fronts.

India’s political and increasing trade support for the UK (Especially Britain) now after the Brexit will further isolate India from good strong European Countries who have a strong ethics culture and products portfolio that can make India more successful/peaceful without breaking any international laws unlike the British politicians who continue supporting/funding illegal wars in the middle East and now siding with the New USA Government’s policy in encouraging further bombings of innocent people in Syria. The Middle East terrorist problems (plus India and Pakistan clashes) have been created by the British politicians and the many dumb people who voted for their British political parties. The plain facts of the upheaval in the Middle East are as follows:

THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE:

The Ottoman Empire was on the losing side of WW1, Britain and France divided up the land. Both the countries then decided without any vote by the general public living in those countries the following: France took control of Lebanon and Syria; the British took control of Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Jordan. The Problems created by this land division are still present in the Middle East today. India and Pakistan continue clashing due to the western/British political games of “Divide and Rule” and support/supply of weapons to both Countries. CPEC is a major game changer as now China stands with Pakistan as does Russia.

India must side or remain neutral with the peaceful law abiding countries or it faces more internal terrorism turmoil because of the Indian Muslims who will be further disillusioned that India is siding with Britain, a country that is killing innocent Muslim men, women and children in the Middle East. The UK is finished in many ways now after Brexit. There is nothing United about United Kingdom and Scotland is going to cut its ties with Britain as have many in Ireland. This leaves Britain and Wales who have absolutely nothing that is manufactured and of value to export to the rest of the World. These are more facts that cannot be denied: English tea?? England does not grow tea, sugar, not made in the UK, Coffee, not made in the UK. English education, utterly irrelevant as it has created more mass murderers, lying war mongering politicians, corrupt bankers and shyster lawyers who twist the truths towards lies that free the guilty criminals/terrorists.

CPEC: what China gets from the Project?

On the economic front, China is the biggest beneficiary as the project gives it a shortcut to Indian Ocean, bypassing the Strait of Malacca. It can access the Western part of the Indian Ocean in the most politically easiest way because of its friendly and strategic relationship with Pakistan.

At present, China transports 80% of its oil through the Strait of Malacca. This can be deviated through the Pak route. On the political front, a decisive advantage for China is that Pakistan historically shows willingness to play the role of satellite state to major powers including the US. Because of the India factor, Pakistan will remain an ally of China even by surrendering several rights to Chinese economic and strategic interests. This means that among all the OROB associate country, Pakistan offers more strategic value to China. There is a future option for Beijing to retain a significant army in Pakistan in the pretext of providing security to the CPEC.

What the project means for Pakistan?

The project is described as a ‘game changer’ for Pakistan’s economic future, which otherwise has only meagre prospects to develop its economy. Pakistan’s economy can get rejuvenation due to Chinese investment. If Pakistan is able to overcome its security problems, the CPEC can be a game changer. At the same time, the benefit it can get from being a transit country for Chinese goods depends upon its ability to change itself by achieve industrial progress.

The word game changer is to be carefully read along with the past great game played between US, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on the one side and Russia, Iran and India on the other side to establish a land route to Central Asia. Pakistan’s effort to be the entry point into Central Asia foiled because the opposite side tried hard to retain their control over Afghanistan. Now, with Chinese help, Pakistan can get a chance to become at least one of the transit points.

Pakistan can get an opportunity to develop its infrastructure especially energy. Bulk of the CPEC is aimed to develop Pakistan’s energy sector including the construction of the largest solar energy plant in the world. China will help Pakistan to develop its resource based industries so that they can be exported to China.

Another advantage of the project is that with the potential economic decline of the Gulf States, Pakistan as a natural resource exporter can sell its commodities to the lucrative Chinese markets through the CPEC transit route.

What the project means for India?

India is the third party on which the CPEC impacts a lot of intangible and indirect effects. Given the political synergy between China and Pakistan, the CPEC will be a disguised political disturbance  for India. Its strategic content is high and capable of restricting New Delhi’s manoeuvrability in the region. In an extreme scenario, Pakistan may act as a ‘rented house’ for Chinese Military.

The project goes through the disputed Pak occupied Kashmir (Gilgit Baltistan) is a nuisance for India. Already, CPEC is getting lot of attention because of the direct involvement of the Pakistani military at the insistence of the Chinese leadership. So far, the quick progress in Gwadar Kazhgar project has compelled an otherwise slow New Delhi to get an agreement with Iran to construct a port at Chabahar. In future also, the India-Iran alliance for a geographic connectivity with Central Asia partnering Afghanistan will continue; but without hurting both Beijing and Islamabad.

Our C8 IND Modules Software computerized formulas have precisely calculated that UK (Especially Britain) now after Brexit is a high risks investment Country and debt ridden for another 15 years. “Stopping all further investments into Britain/British companies and selling your existing investments in the UK will save you from further losses. India/ Indian Companies should strengthen trade/investment ties with Good European Countries who are not involved in illegal wars and India should maintain good relations with China, Russia, Canada and selected South American Countries/USA Companies. We at the World Homeland Security/Smartechno Group of Companies support only those who abide the International laws, the innocent people irrespective of their Culture, Country or Religious Beliefs and those who wish to increase peaceful profits. Many NRIs (Non resident Indians) living in the UK Continue singing the high praises of the UK /Britain as they (The NRIs) continue taking the British pound and selling their souls/ selling out India to the British as well as eroding their ethics disrespecting their forefathers and Motherland..India! We will continue to catch these types of traitors and administer our own brands of justice which is in the confines of International laws but more precisely harsher. With Our Best for the Current Indian Government that is led by a fearless Lion, Mr Narendra Modi, we will continue making India Invincible as It is not hard to make decisions once you know what your values are”

 – Joginder (Jo) Singh Birring (The Global Chairman/Group President of The World Homeland Security/Smartechno Group Of  companies)  www.worldhomelandsecurity.one