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

Need further transparency in allotment of natural resources

The wide spread poverty and horrible living conditions in the third world countries is synonymous of the loot or illegal allotment of natural resources is the basis of enrichment of most of the corporate houses and ruling elites across the Globe. Same is the condition in India too. Natural resources namely oil, gas, coal, water and other power generating substances, land, spectrum etc. are grossly misutilized by political class and corporate houses. In India, till 2012, these natural resources were allotted to business houses in an arbitrary way. Country’s corrupt political families and business house made fortunes by the allotment of these natural resources at throw away prices.

The expose of 2G Scam led to the introduction of auction in allotment process in natural resources. The guardian of natural resources is the government and natural resources belong to the coming generations of the country. So the government of the day has to make judicious decisions in allotment of natural resources, considering the coming generations.

By cancelling the entire 2G licenses in February 2012 the apex court bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly observed for the auction of all natural resources. The angry UPA Government went for Presidential Reference against this observation. To confuse the Supreme Court, the key Ministers of UPA like Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal who are also lawyers asked many confusing questions in the Presidential Reference. Some questions were like this can water be auctioned, can land allotting for welfare of poor be put for auction, can auctions always need to be kept at rising like in the case of power generation etc.

The Reply given by the Supreme 2012 in connection with the 2G Scam is the basic formula in allotment of natural resources. The auction outcome in coal and spectrum shows how the country started benefiting. The lakhs of crores of rupees landed in state exchequer due to auction. Till mid 2010, the exchequer got pea nuts in the arbitrary allotment of natural resources like spectrum and coal.

Let us check the figures of auction of spectrum. The first auction started in April and ended in June, with daily surging prices which rocked the country. By auctioning 3G and BWA (the so called 4G), the country mopped up Rs 1.06 lakh crore. Those days, the Government expected only Rs 30,000 crore (as per Budget of 2010).

Earlier former Telecom Minister A.Raja, with the consent of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, allotted spectrum and 122 licences (highest ever allotment) for just around Rs 9,200 crore. The3G/BWA auction, by gathering Rs 1.06 lakh crore, exposed the UPA Government, leading to anti corruption movements in the country exposing the 2G scam in the public domain. The Comptroller and Auditor- General’s (CAG) Rs 1.76 lakh crore loss figure on Raja’s allotments were based on the 3G prices.

The anti-corruption movements led to a surge in popularity of the BJP, which was in a sleepy mode till mid- 2010. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was born and it tasted power with lightning speed. The ruling Congress was washed out in most elections since 2011. Public interest litigations filed by Subramanian Swamy and Prashant Bhushan led to the cancellation of licences allotted through the 2G scam and the Congress government went against the apex court order and lost in the Presidential Reference to the Supreme Court.

But the second auction directed by the Supreme Court in November 2012, was sabotaged by the Congress government and certain corporates. In a single day, the auction ended with just the issue of 19 licences. All Cabinet Ministers landed at a Press conference to blame the CAG and the courts. It was strange to see Ministers feeling happy about loss of revenue. But all hushed up the fact that, even in sabotaged auction, the country received Rs 9,400 crore from just 19 licences, that too in small circles, while Raja had given away 122 licences for Rs 9,200 crore. All the telecom companies were in connivance with Congress government to pull down the prices of the mandated auction in 2014.

Then came the March 2014 mandated auction. More than Rs 68,000 crore came to the public exchequer. The 2G auction rates crossed the 3G figures. In the March 2015 auction, the NDA Government gathered Rs 1.09 lakh crore. And in October 2016 auction, Rs.65, 789 crores landed in treasury. In this auction also telecom cartels tried to pull down the competition to limit the bench mark prices in forthcoming auction in 2018. In total, by auctioning spectrum, the exchequer got more than Rs 3.61 lakh crore from 2010-2016. Similar are the bonanza to exchequer from the Coal Auction in the long run after Supreme Court cancelled many illegal allotments.

The CAG unearthed from 1990 to 2010, the country lost more than Rs.10 lakh crore from the arbitrary coal mines allocation. The apex auditor has only calculated the loss from the value of coal. The coal mining frauds are related to the generation of power and most of the power companies were engaged in pricing frauds also in connivance with the people in power. Frauds in power pricing means, ultimately common man lost many lakhs of crores of rupees over the years.

The Capital City Delhi is the main victim of power pricing frauds and we have seen that protests strikes against the power pricing frauds were the basic reason for the acceptability of AAP led by Arvind Kejriwal. Till the end of 2013, every persons living in Delhi will vouch of the exorbitant billing in electricity, especially in the areas, where power was supplied by Anil Ambani’s Reliance. One advantage of the AAP coming to power was the rectification of electricity bills in Delhi. Anyway no action was taken against the errant power companies when Kejriwal became Chief Minister. This is how the system works in India.

Let us check all the beneficiaries of old illegal and arbitrary auction of spectrum and coal. Answer is simple. All the major corporate houses of this country are the beneficiaries of these grand loots of natural resources. Tata, both Reliance groups, different Birla groups, Essar, Jindals, Lanco, besides several new unknown entities from south India propped up by Congress apex leadership were the major beneficiaries of the arbitrary allotment of natural resources from Independence to mid 2010. Obviously the powerful people from politics must have got their pound of flesh on this loot of natural resources.

We have seen the KG Basin oil rigging illegalities by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance. How the governments dilly dallied in taking action on the violations in oil rigging and output declaration which ultimately affect the oil pricing. The natural resource oil is given for the whims and fancies of private companies and it ultimately resulted in power production and tariff hikes to the common man. One good thing Narendra Modi government did was the controlling of the purchase prices of oil from KG Basin. But here also no initiation of the criminal cases for gambling and misuse of natural resources by private operators and suffering public sector undertakings.

The Nira Radia tapes exposes how Tata and both Reliance groups involved in the lobbying of natural resources like coal, spectrum, and oil and power generation from natural resources. How Chief Ministers of the states were bribed for getting mining licenses and how media, supposed to be watch dogs were bribed to keep silence. Majority of the business houses always made fortunes though looting or smuggling of natural resources. These frauds only happen with the help of people in power and corrupt bureaucracy.

Now, by the Reply to Presidential Reference in 2012, the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench comprising then Chief Justice SH Kapadia, Justices DK Jain, JS Khehar, Dipak Misra and Ranjan Gogoi has set out guidelines for allotment of natural resources. What we need are now the people with integrity in power and bureaucracy to adhere to the spirit of the guidelines specified by the apex court of India. We need more transparent laws, digitalised auction in all sectors and Regulatory bodies with people having integrity to handle the allotment of natural resources. Strong Regulatory Bodies are needed to check the possible cartelisation in the auction. In Spectrum auction, we have many instances of cartelisation of operators. These things are very important because natural resources belong not only to us, but also to coming generations. So we have to utilize them properly for the benefit of the country and its coming generations also.

By J Gopikrishnan Senior Journalist with The Pioneer

When I talk to people about Manipur and my visits to our most well known northeast state, I usually see shock and awe on the faces of whoever is listening. The shock comes from the fact that I travel regularly, to a part of the country that’s known to be “so dangerous and life threatening”.The awe usually comes with a guilty confession of their ignorance “I never knew Manipur was so beautiful!”

While my words always speak happily about the land and people of Manipur, my thoughts are filled with sadness that stems from having seen some of the ground realities of the state and its people, first hand. To his or her credit, the average Manipuri studying or working outside the state, in places like Delhi and Bangalore, won’t talk to you about the terrible and seemingly hopeless problems that they and their families face back home. They’ll go about doing their whatever it is they’re doing, with a warm smile or cold aloofness, depending on their personalities.

They’re probably putting up a brave front and working very hard, to simply survive in a place that’s far from home, and supposed to be safer. Initial conversations with friends in Manipur about Manipur, were peppered with official acronyms, unofficial code words, and underlying tension all covered up with light hearted banter and jokes about the state of the people of Manipur, its periodic bandhs, the multiple UGs, and how anyone with the slightest opportunity was rushing off to work in mainland India, only to face discrimination and threats of other kinds out there.

However, as they realize that I have no political or business agenda in the State, and that I was only there to satisfy a karmic connection I seem to have with the northeast and its people, much deeper conversations happened with them. These conversations, spread over many kilometers of roads, many liters of hot and cold beverages, and even many hours sitting in a barricaded room, revealed deep scars, constant challenges, and the hopeless frustrations of almost everyone I met. Unanimously, they all blame the government and the non- government entities for the mess Manipur is in today.

So, what is the cause of the conflict in Manipur?

The core issues in the Manipur conflict, are of identity and territory; of different identities fighting for control and autonomy over the same territories.The problem started during the British rule over the subcontinent, and the Crown’s insensitive (calculated?) handling of the transition of power to the Government of India. Add to this, as the locals are quick to point out that “the insensitive and violent management of local sentiment and issues of the entire northeast region by subsequent governments in New Delhi”, didn’t help heal the wounds or solve the problems of the Manipuri people.

Over the years, the conflict has led to the breakdown of law, order, and governance in the state, creating further victims, who in turn have become protesters, and additional parties to the conflict. As a Manipuri friend of mine put it “There are so many groups and factions fighting in Manipur today, that we find it hard to remember who is fighting for what. We stay at home during bandhs nowadays due to fear of violence, but most of the time we don’t know who has called for it, or why”

Manipur has seen thousands killed over the decades, with atrocities committed by almost everyone involved, including State, non state, official and unofficial entities. Some of these entities operate openly in Manipur and its neighboring states, while others operate from across the border in Myanmar. Almost all of them are armed and trigger happy.

Reports as well as talk on the ground indicates that there are around 50 armed groups at play today, in the conflict over Manipur and its territories – both physical and emotional. yet, the people of Manipur are a disciplined lot, like most of the people in the northeast. They’re also friendlier and politer than mainland Indians, always quick to smile and help without expectations of anything in return. Service quality is decent in most shops and restaurants.

Imphal, when not shut by a bandh, is usually bustling with daytime activity, its streets filled with two wheeler and cycle-rickshaws and a generous sampling of Marutis, Hyundais and Boleros. Most neighborhoods comprise of low rise buildings, with the usual suspects of mobile repair shops, grocery stores, roadside eateries, multi brand home appliances stores, and roadside vends selling cheap Chinese products.

In contrast, all government buildings are fortified with barbed wires, steel doors, and armed guards all around. There is massive presence of armed forces everywhere, including the police, paramilitary forces, and the army. When you’re driving outside the city, it is quite normal to see sand bagged check posts at regular distances, road opening parties standing patiently on the roads, and armored personnel carriers of the army patrolling the highways. Topographically, Manipur is a valley filled with green fields, water bodies and small towns, surrounded by rich green hills on all sides. Imphal, with its historic Kangla Palace and Fort, rests bang in the middle of the valley and the State, and is perhaps the safest place to be, if you’re Meitei, or an outsider of unknown agenda.

The rest of the state, is no man’s land, especially if you are government, or an outsider like me. So, you don’t go there anywhere unannounced like to Senapati, Ukhrul or Chandel  if you don’t have friends there. This may sound harsh, coming from someone who says Manipur is the one of the most beautiful places on earth, but that’s the beginning of the irony that inhabits Manipur.

The uneconomical economy of Manipur

This dichotomy of Manipur is evident from the moment you check into a hotel (there are only a handful here). The two Classic hotels I stay at in Imphal, match up to the best of hotels I’ve stayed in around the country. yet there are always rooms available there, starting at 2-3 thousand rupees a night, with no hordes of business travellers or tourists landing up to indulge the hospitality.

Imphal is strategically located on Highway 39 (Now Asian Highway 1) which runs through the state and has potential to service Assam and Nagaland, as well as become the economic expressway to South East Asia, but that seems a distant dream. Most of the state’s 7,000-odd km road network is in pitiful condition, and when not closed due to some blockade or the other, it takes hours to travel distances that would take 20-30 minutes elsewhere.

Manipur is rich in Agriculture, and many essential crops and exotic fruits and vegetables grow here. yet we don’t hear anything about it, leave alone get to taste it in the rest of India. For those who love culture and nature, Manipur has some the most mesmerizing traditional dance forms I’ve seen in my life!It has some beautiful heritage sites like the Kangla Fort, and places of incredible natural beauty and wildlife, like Loktak Lake, and the world’s only floating national park, that is also home to the elusive Sanghai.

Ironically, Manipur produces some of the finest hospitality professionals in the country, and for the world, but tourism is almost non-existent here. Manipur has a literacy rate of almost 80%.Most of its citizens speak not only people doing the best they can with what’s available to them in the State.The undeniable truth is, Manipur holds untold, untapped wealth and potential not just of natural resources and tourism, but of talent that goes beyond the iconic Mary Kom. On the ground, everyone in Manipur, from the farmer to the shopkeeper, is a Mary Kom fighting some battle or the other every day, that too, with a smile.

The Manipuri narrative (it never seems like complaints) when delivered by locals to outsiders like me, is almost always delivered with a smile or a resigned chuckle, never with anger or aggression.And the narrative is always accompanied by genuine concern to ensure, that I’m well taken care of as a guest, of the people of Manipur. That says a lot for the real spirit of people of the people of Manipur, and it resounds with hope, for a state and people that deserve a lot more than what the past many decades have meted out to them.

By Mehernosh Shapoorjee Digital 5

Legendary investor George Soros has said that the Indian economy is under pressure because of rising inflation. Soros, the chairman of Soros Fund Management, “India is in a different position because India has very good domestic based growth. But inflation is a much bigger threat for India than it is for the United States and the developed world,” he said.

Soros said that the pressure on commodities continued to be strong but discounted projections that pegged crude oil price touching $200 per barrel in the short term. Soros said that rising commodity prices is likely to affect emerging economies like China and India. “China is in danger of running into wage price spiral because the authorities seem to have lost control of the situation,” he said, adding that there will be pressure on the Indian stock markets too. Soros attributed the high food inflation in many emerging markets to global warming. “I think that the pressure on food prices is a consequence of global warming. And that of course is a great danger for the world. And not enough … not enough is being done about stopping global warming. And that is to me … one of the most disturbing issues,” he said. Soros said that China’s growth had been been phenomenal but there might be worries in the short term. “India has started growing significantly faster than it used,” he said, but the growth needs to be inclusive. “I actually think that both developments are very real. But particularly for China which is growing so rapidly it is so easy for it to get off the rails. And I think there is a danger…China is not a democracy. And therefore if things get off the rail …they could get off the rail very far … be- cause they don’t have a mechanism for … to … for changing the Government … or changing the leadership. So it is something to worry about. But so far it has been absolutely phenomenal growth. And I think India also has started growing significantly faster than it used. So those are I think positive developments … not without some shadows… in terms of income distribution … differences be- tween rich and poor … and so on. But on the whole I think positive,” he said.

Soros was more confident about the global economy though. He said, “You have had a big boom in commodities and as a result of which the deflationary pressures (in US and Europe) have disappeared. This is very welcome news for the United States because you still have quantitative easing going on. So actually a result you have negative real interest rates. That is very good for the stock market and that is what you have seen in the strength of the stock market.”

Soros said that the rising commodity prices will not get out of hand because “as soon as the quantitative easing (in the US) ends, interest rates are going to go up quite sharply in the developed world. And that is going to choke off the recovery. So it is a rather temporary movement now that you have this. So I am not so sure about inflation really becoming that serious a threat be- cause it will choke off the global recovery.”

Soros said that the Euro had emerged as a source of disruption in Europe and is likely to give rise to anti-European sentiments. “The Euro was supposed to bring about convergence among the European countries. It actually worked the other way. We have divergence. You know Germany doing very well typically. Spain in a financial collapse and there is unemployment. So you now have two speed Europe. And if that is allowed to continue for a number of years it inevitably will create tensions and anti-European sentiment. So I see a political danger but not all immediate … I am not talking about tomorrow. I am talking in terms of three to five years but that … it should not be allowed to continue like that for that long because it could eventually cause a lot of damage,” he said.

 – OE News Bureau

Mayawati, the most authentic leader of the Dalits of Uttar Pradesh, has thrown a political bombshell by asking for splitting the state. This announcement has set the cat among the pigeons and all her political opponents are confused, even politically paralyzed, because they are not sure about the direction of public opinion on the issue of a four-fold division of Uttar Pradesh.

The real difficulty is faced by all India parties like the Congress and the BJP because every specific demand for the creation of a new state like Telangana cannot be treated as an ‘isolated’ demand since regionalists and sub regionalist political formations in every state can also launch movements for such division of states to satisfy political ambitions of powerful local groups.

The Congress cannot open this Pandora’s box because it will find it impossible to handle the conflicting demands of various segments demanding a state for themselves. But the point is that reorganisation of states is an integral part of the ongoing democratic process of India, even though regionalists and subregionalists are fighting for their ‘little empires’ and only the Hindutva forces are ideologically committed to completely redrawing India’s map, with the RSS’ idea of ‘Hindu, Hindi, Hindustan’, and reduce cultural and language-based diverse states to the level of mere ‘administrative units’.

There is a need for close scrutiny of the functioning of ‘new small states’ like Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh out of the reorganisation of united Punjab or states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand or the small states of Goa or Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura in north- east India. The ‘new small states’ present a very mixed picture on the basis of their performance and actual governance. The six small states of north-east India are dependent on the central government for funding their developmental programmes due to their limited availability of resources. The central government has been continuously involved in resolving inter-state and intrastate disputes and social conflicts that have plagued these states.

The smaller size and minuscule political representation in the Lok Sabha makes these states develop a feeling of neglect and alienation from the main- stream. The idea of small states is, in practice, full of problems as revealed by these six states of the north east. Further, within the state assemblies of these states, floor-crossing and defections are quite common. Thus, ‘limited representation’ of small states in the Lok Sabha acts as a handicap for them at the centre of power, and within the state assembly, with a smaller number of MLAs, governments can be destabilised easily. The BJP, on its part, has to answer about the actual functioning of three new states created in 2008 because the mining mafia in Jharkhand has been patronised by leaders of new states like Shibu Soren or the Mundas. The small states have not at all been models of good governance and their performance is comparable to the ‘mother states’ from which they were separated.

The new states have been created in regions where a strong cultural or linguistic bond did not exist among the majority of inhabitants of that state. Dravidian cultural ties are a uniting factor among Tamilians or Kannadigas; cultural affinity among the people of Karnataka or the Malayali cultural reference point for Kerala keeps them united and the demand for separation has not been raised by any powerful section in these three states. The Punjabi language and culture is a cementing factor in keeping Punjab united but Hindi has lost its cultural vigour and people of the Hindi states do not consider language based culture a uniting factor. Hence, strong cultural and linguistic affinity acts as a brake against separatist demands.

It is appropriate to conclude with a reference to the seminal work of Robert Dahl, Democracy and Size, in which he conclusively proves that development, democracy and good governance are ‘size neutral’, and big or small hardly make a difference. This important argument is valid for all societies. A functional system of governance in every country should reflect the specific social realities. Therefore, India’s requirements can be met only if a political system is able to harmonise and accommodate the needs and aspirations of multiple diverse cultural communities.

The unifying democratic, secular and federal central government is needed to keep such a diverse society united, and a balance or an equilibrium can be achieved by creating federal units not because ‘small parties have demanded small states’, but by evolving a political mechanism of arriving at a consensus on the need for a new small state. Leaders of small parties like Nitish Kumar or Ajit Singh have welcomed Mayawati’s announcement, but such demands are reflective of the desire of small party leaders to hold on to power in their areas of influence.

 – OE News Bureau

Rahul Gandhi is a known face of Indian politics. He is virtually heading India’s largest political outfit now. We are regularly debating Rahul effect in Indian polity on national and regional media. But he has never opened up his mind to people at large. Rahul’s politics has been stuck in this gear for a long time. He chose for himself the job of the Congress’ big picture man shortly after his electoral debut in 2004, working on long term strategic goals for the party, even as his mother, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, looked after its day-to-day affairs. The imminent change at the helm of the Congress promises the beginning of a cultural transformation in the Grand Old Party. Away from the public glare, Rahul Gandhi has set in motion a silent revolution in the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and National Students Union of India (NSUI) by holding free and fair elections a first for any political party.

A few months ago, he surprised his party colleagues by suggesting elections to the Congress Working Committee (CWC). But entrenched interests and party chief Sonia Gandhi’s desire to make the CWC inclusive to balance regional, religious and caste demands stymied the proposal. The party’s youth and student wings, which had acquired the tag of notoriety during Sanjay Gandhi’s stewardship (a legacy they hadn’t been able to shake off), are being shaped into a decent and sensitive cadre. Youth Congress members, in fact, are said to be so disciplined consultant to its full-time leader. Will Rahul be able to swap his much vaunted grassroots level rejuvenation vision for a bit of medium term political pragmatism and the ability to manage crises on an almost daily basis?

Rahul has an experience of professional training in strategy consulting combined with a cautious, hesitant, and risk-averse temperament meant that he shunned short to medium term challenges, such as a stint in the Union government, for long term projects such as rejuvenation of the Congress’ youth and student wings, reviving the party in Uttar Pradesh were the Congress has been reduced to a fringe player, and brand-building aimed at projecting himself as a mascot of the poor. This orien where he launched the Congress’ 2012 Uttar Pradesh poll campaign, Rahul has shown the willingness to make the transition from the Congress’ political strats now that they are scared even of talking to the media to tom tom their achievements.

Rahul is rewriting the political lexicon of the Congress in his own way. In a revolutionary decision, he engaged the Foundation for Advanced Management of Elections (FAME), led by former election commissioners J. M. Lyngdoh and K. J. Rao, to conduct the polls in the youth and student wings. “Rahul has ensured criminals do not enter politics,” says Rao. Rahul has proved himself as the practitioner of a new brand of politics not foulmouthing opponents, ignoring jibes and barbs, and choosing a civilised engagement with detractors as well as his seniors in politics.

But on a broader platform, he is unwillingness to put himself in the line of fire. With the Congress confirming his ascent to a role of greater importance, Rahul’s approach to politics requires a serious change of course, and very quickly. After the election rally in Phulpurtation in his thinking showed up as a refusal to get into burning issues.

For instance, when he was asked whether he would personally intervene to resolve the Kashmir agitation of 2010 that witnessed unprecedented stone throwing protests in the valley, he responded, “My focus is on bringing youngsters into politics and I think that’s a very important thing for the future of this country. I genuinely don’t like to, sort of, move from one problem to another. I like to settle down, understand a problem in detail and then work on that problem. Solving Kashmir is not a part time problem. It is a full time problem.”

Rahul’s standard response to tricky questions whether it has been about inflation or political alliances had always been that his job is limited to being the Congress general secretary for the Indian Youth Congress and National Students’ Union of India. He then had the luxury of picking and choosing his canvas. It is a completely different picture now, to put it mildly. Other than electioneering in Uttar Pradesh and taking the Congress to a respectable tally in the upcoming assembly elections there, he has to pull the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance government, which it heads at the Center, out a series of crises.

To begin with, he has to find ways to arrest the sense of drift that seems to have become the UPA government’s leitmotif and salvage the remaining two and a half years of its term. He has to develop a working relationship with the Congress’ allies from the veteran M Karunanidhi to the tempestuous Mamata Banerjee. Then he has to battle the perception of the government having completely been overtaken by corruption scandals with neither the 2G scam nor Anna Hazare and his cohorts likely to fade from the scene quickly.

Then there are pressing issues such as the demand for a separate Telangana, which has been on the boil for far too long and is now waiting to explode. On the economic front, he has to find a way to put the reform process back on track if India has to make it through the looming global economic crisis. Whether it is in foreign direct investment in key sectors such as retail, disinvestment, or labour reforms, the government is waiting for the political go ahead. Then there is the Opposition, which will be ever on the lookout for any slip-up on his part to bolster their charge about him being naive and callow.

In the few instances that he has grappled with real-time problems in the past, rather than being sequestered in the comfort zone of long-term thinking, he has stumbled. His performance during the Anna Hazare agitation proved that he had a long way to go as far as reacting instinctively to tricky situations goes. His speech in Parliament, in which he propounded what he described as the “game changing” idea of making the Lokpal a constitutional body, did not help in diffusing the crisis at hand.

In fact, it made him sound completely off-key and unable to connect with the rising sentiment against corruption in urban India. He managed to bungle his Bhatta Parsaul initiative in Uttar Pradesh by insinuating murder of villagers in the backdrop of clashes between the state police and farmers over land acquisition a charge that could not be proved conclusively.

One big difference between his earlier position and the one he finds himself now in is his own willingness to play a larger role in the Congress’ affairs. Maybe he has no choice, given the reports about his mother’s failing health. He is taking on much wider responsibilities as far electioneering for the coming round of polls in Uttarakhand and Punjab go. He has taken on full responsibility of the Congress’ 2012 UP bid, which saw him launch the party’s campaign from his great grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru’s old constituency, leaving little doubt of the kind of role the Congress has in mind for him. Rahul requires experienced hands to guide him through the sharp bends that lie ahead. However, until now, his relationship with Congress elders has been indifferent at best and confrontational at worst.

He has not hidden his wider discomfort with the nature of politics in the Congress that revolves around entitlement and dynasty, despite his own acceptance of the dynastic mantle as the next Nehru Gandhi heir. Now, he may have no choice but to put his pet ideas of professionalizing and modernizing the Congress on the back-burner and turn to his mother’s advisors.

While his own team of non-political advisors such as Kanishka Singh and Sachin Rao are as untested as he is, there are some senior leaders such as Jairam Ramesh and Digvijay Singh who have worked with him on issues such as land acquisition and UP respectively. They may play a bigger part in the days to come. The most precious advice will, however, come from his mother and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Rahul looks set to continue with the left of centre economic position that has become his mother’s calling card, at least in the short term. In his speeches he has hinted that the Congress can fight the negative fall out of corruption and inflation in middle class India with UPA government’s welfare schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the proposed food security bill, and the Unique Identification number scheme which he sees as a key empowering contribution of the government towards improving the efficiency of the public delivery system.

The Rahul Gandhi era in the Congress promises to forge continuity with the present rather than usher in a new era in politics that his father’s initial years in power held promise of but never delivered. Ironically, Rahul has always maintained that one of the key factors that led him into politics was the urge to pick up from where his father left off. But the key question is that Congress is riding on the brand Manmohan right wing ideology with a great electorate success and Rahul is endorsing his policy on all major issues that contradicts his family Nehruvian policy. Similarly, his views on foreign policy, internal security, defense policy are ambiguous. Rahul Gandhi needs to clarify stand to the nation, earlier the better.

 – Prakhar Prakash Mishra

Once again, Anna and Lokpal bill – V.S. Sardesai

Since Anna Hazare’s current movement on corruption started from April 2011 to be precise, I was always baffled, confused and puzzled on two issues viz. Anna himself and Lokpal and I had expressed my doubts on every occasion I had written on the above subjects ; in the article ‘The Myth of Lokpal’, I have said that if one studies coolly the sequence of the events, one will find that the movement is nothing but a very well and carefully planned strategy to divert the attention of the people from the main issues that they are facing today and which the top icons want to avoid at any cost if possible because of the personal losses they would be suffering otherwise and that Anna even though may be the main actor in the drama may not be responsible in formulating the strategy though he may be a willing partner to the same; I had however decided to close the subject so far as I am concerned as the matter was discussed many times; but the recent disclosures on the subject made me change my decision.

Till he started the movement sometimes in April 2011, Anna was known mostly in Maharashtra as an honest and sincere social worker and leader and his field of work was mostly confined within Maharashtra. In his career until then, he has never entered into the national scene leave aside international. But as soon he started this movement against corruption by undertaking fast unto death he became not only a national leader but also got international fame. He was not only hailed as second or modern Gandhi by the media but also American government asked our government not to take any action against him. The media started giving him extraordinary exposure and publicity all 24×7 hours a day. In fact he had also started a new venture in 1991 called ‘Bhrastachar Virodhi Jan Andolan’ BVJN- (Public Movement against Corruption) and had undertaken fasts also; but at that time no such publicity was given to him. This was one thing which puzzled me. Why should a foreign government take so much interest in the internal matter and take cognizance of such events? In fact undertaking fasts is not a new thing for India and for Anna; and why should the media give so much extraordinary exposure and publicity to him only this time calling him second Gandhi? Is it an impartial reporting by the media or there is some purpose or design behind it and if so who is behind all this? If we consider the sequence of events, it will be found that virtually within one day he jumped from a regional social worker to national leader and got international fame; I don’t think there is anyone else who metamorphosed so fast from regional to national scene getting international fame. What is the secret?

Second thing which puzzled me is that even though Anna had started the new venture against corruption( BVJN ) in 1991 and the Lokpal Bill is pending in the Parliament since 1968 that is much earlier than the starting of his venture he never even for once has taken up the matter of Lokpal bill during the last twenty years even though he had undertaken fasts earlier against corruption and now only all of a sudden he not only has taken up the matter of Lokpal but agitated to get it passed immediately and goes on fast. If it was so urgent why did he not agitate to get it passed for all the twenty years since he started the new venture against corruption? And that is why I had always expressed my reservations and was skeptic about the real intentions and purposes of the Team Anna’s this movement and agitation against corruption. The very fact that he did not agitate for passing of the Lokpal Bill earlier for the last twenty years or so, even though he had started his movement against the corruption in 1991 i.e. after more than twenty years since the Lokpal Bill was first introduced in the Parliament, clearly shows that he never knew anything about lokpal or about the Lokpal Bill as a means to remove corruption till someone briefed him about it. The question therefore is when did he first came to know about Lokpal and how? Surely at that time there was no Team Anna. The question is why such an issue which was sidetracked for more than forty years became so important and urgent all of a sudden just like Anna Hazare becoming a national leader with international fame from a regional social worker virtually within a day? Is there any relation or connection between the two? I had given my interpretation in my earlier articles especially in “The Myth of Lokpal”, The Anna Phenomenon” etc, purely based on the sequence of events and logic. However the recent disclosures made by Raju Parulekar, ex blogger of Hazare and Shambhu Dutt, the 94 years Gandhian proved my fears to be correct.

Raju Parulekar has accused the Anna team calling them ‘the gang of four’ of using Hazare as demi God to further their interest and holding the government to ransom; so also he says that this gang of four has misguided the people to believe that Jan Lokpal Bill if passed will remove the corruption. I think they have misguided not only the people but also Anna in believing that Jan Lokpal Bill is the answer to corruption. In fact Parulekar’s clarifications have solved many of my doubts. Firstly it explains the mystery of the extraordinary publicity and exposure given to Anna by the media day and night making him second mahatma and a national leader within a day giving international fame or making him a demi-God in Parulekar’s words. Secondly how they chose Lokpal Bill as an issue for the agitation was solved by Shanbhu Dutt who was fasting for implementation of Lokpal Bill and who broke his fast at the request of Team Anna promising him to take up the matter themselves. Many questions however have remained unanswered. Firstly when did Anna came to know about Lokpal Bill and how or who briefed Anna about the Lokpal Bill and why? Secondly when did the team meet Anna for the first time and why? Why should the team take so much interest in removal of corruption only now? I hope we will get the answers to these questions also in the due course. In the mean time we can only guess.

I feel the answers lie and the mystery will be solved if we study the past events. The key lies in the Baba Ramdevji’s relentless efforts and movement of bringing back the illegal and black moneys deposited by some shameless Indians in foreign banks especially in Swiss banks and declaring it as national wealth and exposing the names of such traitors and the Swiss government’s declaration to disclose the names of such depositors if requested by the concerned government; I think this made such depositors panicky and they started thinking of finding a way out to scuffle the movement and divert the attention of the people from the main issues; and Anna’s fast and the Jan Lokpal Bill appears to be its result. How it happened, we can only guess. Either these depositors some of whom are very influential and holding topmost positions in the government and the ruling parties approached the team members who are NGO’s directly or through their foreign donors to implement a strategy formulated by them or requested them to formulate such strategy to find a way out. In either case it resulted in formulating a strategy to hijack the movement of Ramdevji and divert the attention of the masses from its main issues of bringing back the moneys from the foreign banks and disclosing the names of such depositors. For this, the team required two things; one, a person commanding respect and faith of the people and who can convince the people and whom the people will follow blindly and secondly an equally or more attractive and important issue as that is being preached by Ramdevji. They found the person in Anna Hazare; the difficulty however was that Anna was only a regional social worker; they got over the difficulty by giving him extraordinary publicity through media day and night making him a second Gandhi that Anna became a household name within a day. The difficulty of issue was also solved by adopting the other issue of Ramdevji viz. corruption which was preferable to disclosing the names of the foreign banks account holders; but the question was that corruption being an abstract issue ultimately would not stand against the concrete issue of bringing back the moneys from foreign banks. They wanted something to show that concrete steps are being immediately taken to end the corruption; they chose Lokpal Bill which was pending in Parliament for more than forty years. They amended it to fool the people that they are making it strong calling it as Jan Lokpal Bill. But to their dismay they found that one Shambhu Dutt, an old Gandhian of 94 years has already started a fast for its passing and implementation even though there was no publicity for him in the media. Not to be discouraged they approach Dutt requesting him to withdraw his fast, promising to get the bill passed and this is how the whole melodrama on corruption started.

They must have approached Hazare with their plan of agitating against corruption by getting the new Lokpal Bill as drafted by them which they called as Jan Lokpal Bill passed in Parliament and which, they must have told him, will remove corruption, may be without dis- closing their real intention or purpose. They must have also exploited his weakness for fame and Hazare must have agreed believing them and what they have said as corruption was also an issue which was dear to him without going through the bill as drafted by them or trying to find out whether what they say is true or not. He must also felt very happy as he would become a national leader from regional social worker and for being called second Gandhi.

But the difficulty is that every human being has got certain limitations and becomes successful only if he works within his limits and knowing his limitation; if he crosses his limits for any reason whatsoever he gets exposed; the same thing happened with Hazare; it seems that he is carried away by the propaganda made by his team making him in the words of Parulekar a demi God and started thinking high of himself without understanding his limitation with the result that he is slowly getting exposed. It now appears that Dutt is regretting for having handing over the baton to Anna team may be because he might be feeling lack of sincerity of purpose.

The way they made Anna a national leader and a Mahatma and giving publicity to him every day, in the same way they made the of Lokpal Bill which was pending in the Parliament for more than forty years and which was drafted on the basis of recommendation Santhanam Committee for administrative reforms for removing maladministration and mismanagement in the government, as if it was drafted for ending corruption in the society or at least reducing corruption to more than sixty per cent. They further dramatized the situation by drafting another bill, calling it as Jan Lokpal Bill in place of the one drafted by the government by giving the Lokpal draconian powers saying that the Lokpal as drafted by the government was toothless lion forgetting the fact that in India giving more powers can be a source of further corruption and in spite of making provisions, it will be difficult to remove a person once appointed especially to a high post. They ignored or rather overlooked the fact that the creation of Lokpal was recommended especially to prevent corruption by Legislators and ministers as it was difficult to prosecute them if they indulged in corruption and that Lokpal is only a prosecutor to prosecute a corrupt government servant or official specially when the act does not make any changes in the anti corruption laws under which such officials are ultimately to be prosecuted in a court of law and still they misguide the people saying that if Jan Lokpal Bill is passed , it will remove at least 60% of the corruption from the society as if corruption is there in the society only because there is no such Jan Lokpal Act passed.

Many a time people ask me when I ridicule the Jan Lokpal Bill, to suggest other ways if passing of Lokpal Bill is not the answer to Corruption. The fact is that corruption is a social problem and like other social problems such as farmers’ suicides or communal riots it cannot be solved only by making laws such as for example Prevention of Suicide Act or Communal Violence Act. It should be solved by studying the problem in depth, finding out the cause and the appropriate remedy. In case of corruption people would not like to pay bribe for the fun of it. They would like to get their work in time and not waste their time unnecessarily. And when it is not done they pay the bribe to get the work done in time. This can be avoided by fixing responsibility and accountability for not doing the work within a certain time. Of course there is Right of Information Act to find out discrimination. If this is done most of the complaints will be solved. I don’t think that any social worker will be so naïve as not to know this unless he is motivated by some other consideration. I think Anna has failed miserably to see the real intentions of his team or this gang of four and blindly following their advice, happy to see his name and photo everyday in the news papers and media; I only feel sorry for him.

 – OE News Bureau