While PM plays communal card

Saswat Panigrahi

"We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development. They must have the first claim on resources."

The lines albeit seems to be a part of the pre-election speech of a vote hungry politician. But surprisingly and sarcastically Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh hurled this bombshell while addressing the National Development Council meeting.

The remark raised a turmoil in the national political scene. The issue raised a storm in both houses during the winter session of the parliament. In a major political uproar the opposition BJP accused the PM of espousing the time-tested policy of "minority appeasement" for political gains.

"… What is this if not rank communal appeasement," Leader of opposition LK Advani said in the floor of the house.

"UPA Government was doing to appease Muslims for the sake of votes would put even the divisive and communal agenda of the Muslim League to shame," BJP deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Vijay Kumar Malhotra said referring to the PM's statement.

However, the Prime Minister rushed to blame the media which faithfully reported his speech. The media has been accused by the PM of "deliberate and mischievous misinterpretation" of his speech.

Well, it's not for the first time that the Congress party is playing a communal politics to garner its vote bank. While we turn over the pages of political history of India the communal politics of Congress comes under scrutiny. And this time, one who has paced the deck of communal politics of Congress party and its UPA Government is none other then Dr Manmohan Sigh. A man, who was once known as the father of Economic reforms. He was believed as the instrumental for changing the way India's economy moved. A man at once was termed as a strong advocate of mixed economy model and referred to as a reformer with a human face.

Dr Sigh's role as the Finance Minister during nineties is different as that of a Prime Minister. As the Finance Minister he was credited for slashing red tape, simplifying tax systems, removing stiffing controls and regulations and creating an atmosphere conducive for business.

As the Prime Minister Dr Singh in a crude attempt at Muslim appeasement formed Sachar Committee 20 months ago, which perhaps set the ball rolling of his policy of communal appeasement. In the mean time the committee headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar has come out with its report. In the pretext of going into the social, economic and educational status of Muslims, the notorious report by its very genesis has been exposed of disseminating such irresponsible propaganda.

And in the backdrop of Sachar Commission report and clamor by the Congress and its pseudo secular allies for reservation to the minorities, Dr Manmohan Singh's "Muslim first" assertion is being seen as a ploy to taste political water before slicing away nation's resources on a divisive line.

This is not to dispute that a vast section of Muslims are reeling from poverty and illiteracy. But the reality can't be separated from the fact that the Congress has ruled the country for six decades. Election comes and goes. Nurturing vote bank politics Congress rides to power. And for the congress party the plight of the indigent muslim never cease to make the rounds. As soon as the poll ends, it put in the cold storage to be used in the future election.

With Assembly election around the corner in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttaranchal, Manmohan has rightly played the communal vote bank politics of Congress Party and his UPA Government to the gallery in a certain urgency.

Being busy in polarizing votes in a poll hue the Dr Singh in the august post has forgotten the truth that there are crores of people in the country living in miserable conditions. The first claim on resourses should be of those section.

These poverty stricken people can't be divided in communal lines for the shake of votes. Muslim's issue can't be excluded from the development process. And by separating muslim issue from the rest and using muslim as a voting fodder PM has nurtured a communal divide.

The Prime Minister is expected to preside over the country's governance and guide policy to achieve overall development. He is not in office to promote one community over another and thus incite communal sentiments which distort the national spirit.

By appointing Sachar Committee, accepting its obnoxious proposals and demanding that Muslims must get precedence over others, Dr Singh has sarcastically compounded his mistakes.

Well, the congress party may term Manmohan's new role an act of gandhigiri . But to any responsible citizen the truth is not crystal clear. The Congress led UPA is playing a divide and rule policy. And in a bid to raise the spectre of a divided India , canny politicians like Dr Singh is in a spree in playing a political ace.

In a nutshell Dr Manmohan Singh's "Muslim First" policy reek communalism and hence pillories the nationalist sentiments. It's a distortion of the secular fabric of the country.

Killed unborn in the womb

Saswat Panigrahi

Nearly 40 million girls are missing from the Indian population. According to the data compiled by the Registrar General of India, the country's child sex ratio is 927 females per 1,000 males as per the 2001 Census. The ratio was 945:1000 in 1991. That figure, too, had dropped significantly from 976:1000 in 1961. In some parts of the country, the sex ratio has dropped to less than 800:1000.

The sex ratio in India has altered in favour of boys since the beginning of the 20th century. Its effect has been most visible in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. In Delhi, the statistics are more shocking. In the posh localities south and west of the city, the female child constitution in the ratio is a shocking 762 and 784 respectively, as was reported by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in 2004.

The Government appears to have failed to prevent large-scale female infanticide and foeticide, according to a UN report. As a result, says the UN's World Population Fund, India has one of the highest sex imbalances in the world. The WPF says that the low status of women in Indian society is mainly to blame for this grim scenario.

Not surprisingly, demographers warn that there will be a shortage of brides in the next 20 years because of the adverse juvenile sex ratio, combined with an overall decline in fertility. Between 1981 and 1991, one crore males were in need of females. Currently, 37 million males are looking for partners. According to media reports, girls from Assam and West Bengal are kidnapped and sold in Haryana.

India has a long history of infanticide. However, technology has changed the methods of getting rid of a girl child. Female infanticide has taken the form of female foeticide. This includes the detection of the unborn baby in the womb of the mother and its consequent abortion. Female foeticide violates the right to life of the unborn child, besides being a strong manifestation of violence against women.

Campaigns have been launched to highlight the importance of a girl child in society. What can one attribute this abysmal state of affairs to? The brick and mortar system of addressing sex inequality? Excuses about shortage of manpower and lack of expertise? Not a single case of sex determination has apparently been charged and punished. And the reason is lack of circumstantial evidence.

-- Published in the Edit page, The Pioneer on December 15, 2006

Tragic end to a cheerful life

Saswat Panigrahi

From the small village of Ambajogai in Maharastra to the corridors of power in Indian Politics, Pramod Mahajan traveled a long way. He was instrumental in giving a new colour, a new shape, a new style and a new dimension to the Indian politics. Mahajan redefined Indian politics in his own style. Very obviously he had succeeded in carving out a larger then life image of his own in the National political scene.

For him politics was a choice, and a full time vocation. He had a strong belief that politics was not a profession, but a platform to raise issues, a means to solve the problems of the common man and ultimately a tool to set the speed for the development of the nation. For him politics was a convergence of political situation, economic spectrum, corporate arena, technological advancement, media vehicle, and the list goes on. With that thinking Mahajan left some foot prints for the generation-next politicians to emulate.

Representing a new India and playing a crucial role in nation-building, Mahajan proved himself as a creative politician. Young at heart, dynamic in his work, pragmatic in his outlook, Pramod Mahajan had always been an inspiration for youth power of the nation.

Mahajan was often referred as the Mr. Possible of Indian politics, a Lakshman of the Bharatiya Janata Party and even a rainmaker in Indian Political scene. He blended modern political thoughts with the traditional Sangh Parivar values. He was a bridge between the old and new generation politicians. From Hindutva to laptop politics, the techno-savvy General Secretary of the cadre-based Bharatiya Janata party indeed emerged as a sophisticated mascot for nation-building.

He was a politician’s politician. The master strategist was instrumental in moving the BJP from the pre-rath yatra era to a party in power. Yes, under his managerial skill, the party had grown leaps and bounds. He was never bothered about the controversies that cropped up around him.

As a leader, he rightly observed the whole gamut of Indian politics. He had a mastery over understanding the statistics and speculations of the political lingua franca. From Maharastra to the national capital Delhi, from Assam to Rajastan, from Orissa to Karnataka, he mastered over understanding politics of different parts of the country. To understand the issues and to raise them at the right time was another facet of his political profile. From grassroots to the State corridors, from State politics to national political scene, from national politics to international politics, he read, understood and mastered the language of politics. And for him, perhaps, that was a political right.

Mahajan was also popular for his capacity of networking. He was known for his brilliant oration skill. As a speaker he captured the audiences’ imagination and brought a number of important issues to the public gallery. A master strategist, a leader in many roles, Mahajan was always was willing to take on the ladder. His was a meteoric rise in the country’s political landscape. A great survivor in the saffron politics, Mahajan climbed different ladders and hierarchy with quite an ease, beginning with Vidyarthi Parishad, RSS, passing through Jan Sangh and later Bharatiya janata Party. From a teacher to a pracharak, from the Editorial Desk of Tarun Bharat to the office of Communication Minister, from the Parliament to the organisational responsibility, a nirala andaaz of Mahajan was painted every where.

He had a mastery over coalition politics. He knew very well that tomorrow is an era of alliance. He successfully nurtured the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharastra in 1995. His art of building alliance was not just confined to Sena and Maharastra, but he was widely credited for building up the alliance with Jaylalithaa, Karunanidhi and George Fernandis. His alliance mantra was a catalyst for BJP to run a complete five-year term of non-Congress Government, comprising of as much as 24 parties, for the first time ever in the history of Indian politics.

Mahajan was very popular among the oppositions. Rising above to party line, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee proposed his name for best parliamentarian. At times, while speaking in the parliament he left the opposition with no choice but to accept his schools of thought. He had close friends in almost all the parties.

His tenure as a Communication Minister ushered in a new era in technological advancement. Under his tenure, number of telephonic service in the rural area witnessed a quantum leap. He was also credited for piloting the Information Technology Bill in 2000.

A key members of second generation of BJP and one of the dynamic leaders the party had ever had, Mahajan was an inspiration for the party cadres across the country. He was always considered as a sankat mochak (crisis alleviator) of the saffron party.

Mahajan’s skills in linking the masses with the party, raising funds, and managing elections for the party were indeed commendable. A leader with a vision and a calculated thinking power, he wanted to see BJP as a moderate party. Carrying a dimensional facet, he showcased a very offbeat modus operandi to manage and run the party. The leader who was considered as a king-maker of BJP once said, “I do not want to be the captain. I will always be a player in BJP.”

Life, they say, is like a bubble. It takes seconds to change a situation. Something similar happened to Mahajan also. After twelve days of battle with life and death, in Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai, he succumbed to his three fatal bullet injuries, after he was shot point blank by his own younger brother.

Mahajan was cremated with full state honour at 42 Sivaji Park crematoria, amid the chants of Vedic-mantras. Thousands of mourners bid a tearful adieu to one of the country’s promising politicians amid the slogans “Pramod Mahajan Amar Rahe” and “Jab Tak Sooraj Chand Rahega, Promod Ji ka Naam Rahega.” An era came to an end!

Mahajan’s career as a politician had witnessed many ups and downs. He joined the Rastriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) as a child. It was during his college days when Mahajan was actively involved with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of Sang Parivar. A Bachelor in both Physics and Journalism, and a Masters in Political Science, Mahajan started his career as a Sub-editor in Tarun Bharat, a Marathi RSS mouthpiece in the early 1970s. For some years he also worked as a school teacher. In 1974, he left teachership to join as a RSS pracharak. He was jailed during the emergency. In those days, Mahajan was actively involved with Jana Sangh. Soon after, Atal Bihari Vajpayee noticed his oratorial skills at a rally in 1977, his political rise had begun. His national break came in 1983 when he made his mark as a remarkably successful “media manager”. Doing justice with his job, he stared arguing eloquently that the BJP was the party of the future. After serving as the BJP’s Maharashtra unit General Secretary from 1978 to 1983, he contested the 1984 Lok Sabha elections and lost. He was made president of the All India Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in 1986. It was during the Ram rath yatra of 1990, that his tremendous organisational skills were noticed. Five years later, Mahajan’s managerial skills won the BJP an alliance with the Shiv Sena, and an election victory in Maharashtra. In 1996, he became the country’s Defence Minister, albeit for 16 days. In 1998, he was appointed advisor to Prime Minister Vajpayee. In the same year he was re-elected to Rajya Sabha. He successfully handled important cabinet ministries. He had served as Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Information Technology and Communications. In the year 2003, he was dropped from the Union cabinet and appointed as the BJP general secretary. He was also widely credited with building a consensus for Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s candidacy for the country’s presidency. The 2004 General Elections were a huge thumb-down as BJP performed unexpectedly poorly. Candid and moderately, Mahajan, the key poll manager of the BJP, personally accepted responsibility for the defeat. In the reshuffle of the party ranks, Mahajan was acknowledged as the future leader of the party, who was capable of playing many roles.

As soon as the news of Mahajan’s death broke, BJP put its flag half mast to pay its homage to its favourite leader who represented a generational change within BJP. The most shining star of BJP was lost in the remote horizon. It was indeed a painful sunset for the party. The sense of loss is palpable. The truth is that the void which has been created by Mahajan’s demise can never be filled up. Mahajan’s tragic and untimely death has thrown the party in the hands of endless chunautis (perils). But there are hopes in the air; someone else would step in to fill the void.

The nation bid adieu to the promising leader with drops of tears. It is not just a loss for the BJP, but a grave loss for the country. The country perhaps would not be able to create a second Pramod Mahajan.

-- Appeared as an obituary in May 01, 2006 issue of Day After newsmagazine

A deal at last

Saswat Panigrahi

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said it would have a net gain for the non-proliferation regime. French President Jacques Chirac said the deal marks the progress both for nuclear non-proliferation controls and for efforts to curb global warming. China reacted cautiously to the deal clinched. And Pakistan sought a similar deal. Well, time to jump the gun, it was the nuclear between India and US, which was accorded during the recent zippy visit of US President George W Bush to India.

After a series of initiatives the nuclear deal between India and US bear fruit. With that there came an end to all the debates, discussions and speculations.

Though an anti Bush and anti American campaign spilled around during the ‘momentous’ visit of the American President, it was President Bush, who was explicitly charmed by the unprecedented honour and for that he thanked the people of the largest democracy for the warmth of the reception and the generosity of the hospitality.

The visit was special in many angles. It enhanced co-operation between the two countries in security, economic, energy and nuclear matters.

It was at 1200 hrs on March 2 in Hyderabad House lawns, history was written in a very vivid form. In that very hour the President of the world’s greatest democracy and the Prime Minister of the world’s largest democracy signed the nuclear deal.

India gave a list of civilian nuclear installations. US guaranteed the supply of nuclear fuel for Indian reactors. Now India is to decide the status of all future reactors whether civilian or military. All civilian reactors of India are now under permanent safeguards, but in return guaranteed lifetime fuel supply.

“We have made history today,” a few words of PM Dr Manmohan Singh sums of the entire development.

“What this agreement says is things change, times change, that leadership can make a difference…It’s not an easy job for the Prime Minister to achieve this agreement, I understand. It’s not easy for the American President to achieve this agreement, but it’s a necessary agreement.” These were the spontaneous words from the visibly pleased American President George W Bush.

With these words the Indo-US relationship promised to usher a new era. The words which were fluttered with the waves of US and India flags underscored the warm relation between the two countries and indeed yet another visible demonstration of the desire of both the countries to build an increasingly important relationship. Moreover, this bunch of golden words is just a full fledged proof that the world’s largest democracy and the world’s greatest democracy have much in common.

In the Indo-Us joint statement the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and the American President George W Bush expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the two great democracies in advancing the strategic partnership to meet the global challenges of the 21st century.

“Both our countries are linked by a deep commitment to freedom and democracy; a celebration of national diversity, human creativity and innovation; a quest to expand prosperity and economic opportunity worldwide; and a desire to increase mutual security against the common threats posed by intolerance, terrorism, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. The successful transformation of the US-India relationship will have a decisive and positive influence on the future international system as it evolves in this new century,” the Indo-US joint statement says.

The Indian Prime Minister and the American President reaffirmed their commitment to expand even further the growing ties between the two countries. And going with this avowed objective the two leaders made a candid effort to highlight the areas of deep concern, which includes economic prosperity and trade, energy security and a clean environment, innovation and the knowledge economy, global safety and security, deepening democracy and meeting international challenges.

It reminds us the very genesis of the nuclear deal -- two important initiatives by two efficient Prime Ministers of our nation at different periods of world history.

It was Atal Bihari Vajpayee who included ‘nuclear energy’ as the first item for cooperation with the United States under the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP). The steps are moving forward.

It was during the visit of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to US months ago, there unfolded yet another surprise. For the first time in history, an Indian leader addressed a joint meeting of US Congress, an honor shared by only a handful of world leaders. It was during Dr Singh’s nuclear visit, US vowed to cooperate with India to develop its civilian nuclear power program. In return, the India promised to adhere to global agreements aimed at curbing arms proliferation, and would work with the International Atomic Energy Agency to put safeguards in place. And now an agreement on a new dialogue on civil nuclear technology, which involves the sharing of civilian nuclear information has been materialised on record. And with that India and the US have reached an understanding on the implementation of the civil nuclear cooperation.

Perhaps, the most significant initiatives taken by the two great democracies of the world to move the world from the era of nuclear threats and confrontation to an age of peaceful, fruitful and constructive partnership in peaceful usages of nuclear power.

But the question which is still doing rounds is that how the deal is going to impact on the national security. The answer is very crisp and clear. With the coming into effect of the deal, there is an end of an era -- the era of nuclear isolation. The emergence of the new era paves a way to meet the energy crisis of the country. There will certainly be an enhancement of nuclear power availability in the country. And with that our country can gain access to the most economical, the most environmental friendly and the most reliable form of energy. And it ultimately results in enhancing national security since it helps the economy to grow.

Though the deal is simply described with the word ‘historic’ or ‘momentous’ or ‘landmark,’ it is still being mired in controversy amid animated debates and discussions both in India and US. According to reports non-proliferation specialists in Washington are making a baseless claim that the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal will lead to New Delhi expanding its weapons production with implications on Pakistan and China. And now the American President is likely to face the guns of a hostile non-proliferation lobby, a group of skeptical Congressional leaders in both the US Senate and in the House of Representatives and a divided nuclear suppliers group. In India Dr Manmohan Singh is facing a top task amid the stiff resistance of left parties and muslim groups.

Well amid the fiascos the two countries recognised nuclear power, a part of the non-proliferation order. Both the sides accepted each other as strong strategic partners.

Hours before the American President left for Pakistan, he explained what has driven him to change an entrenched international order for India.

“India in the 21st century is a natural partner of the US because we are brothers in the cause of human liberty.”

“By applying the most advanced technology and international standards to India’s civilian nuclear program, we will increase safety and reduce the risk of proliferation. And by helping India meet its energy needs, we will take the pressure off the price of fossil fuels for consumers in India and America and around the world. We’ll help India be good stewards of our environment, and we will strengthen the bonds of trust between our great nations.”

“The world has benefited from the example of India’s democracy, and now the world needs India’s leadership in Freedom’s cause.”

These words of the American President speak volumes that he is charmed with an incredible India.

A very crucial point which clearly emerges from the strong partnership of India and US showcases an aggressive promotion of democracy worldwide. There is now a growing and clearer understanding between the two sides on the converging strategic interests and mutual respect for each others priorities.

According to reports Wahington’s Defence establishment assured in a candid statement guarantees of nuclear fuel supply in return for perpetual safeguards on its civilian nuclear reactors. The statement confirmed that the US has offered both F-16 and F- 18 aircraft to India.

The US has already launched a major Global Nuclear Energy Partnership along with Russia, Japan, France, Germany and UK to introduce plutonium burning reactors. Now India is likely to join the group of nations.

Here a point needs to be pondered over. The great Indian culture and heritage, its expanding economy and its expertise on Science and Technology are the factors which attracts the US to boost a symbiosis with India.

The move of enhancement Indo-US relationship will certainly lead to an increased interaction of India with other major powers. In the process India is going to play a larger and more effective role in international economy and politics.

“The integrity of our Nuclear Doctrine and our ability to sustain a minimum credible nuclear deterrent is adequately protected,” Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said in the floor of the Parliament.

The enhancement of India-US relationship is a catalyst, which ultimately helps both the countries to face the new international security environment. The political fundamentalists who oppose the deal perhaps have not understood the brevity of the international relations, the growing importance of a global security environment. They are ignorant about the politics of balance of power system and hence are unable to adjust themselves with the changing currents of time.

The world is heading towards an energy crunch. A dynamic balance of power system involving competition among nations calls for a growth in International symbiosis. In such a specter the Indo-US deal will certainly be a boon for India.

However, it is a dramatic shift from the situation in 1998, when India conducted a nuclear weapons test. The dream of “attempts for peace,” seen to be becoming a reality after all. Well, it is not only India’s gain in nuclear and energy sector, which is on the eye ball to many a political analysts across the world, but the rising position of India as an emerging world leader. However it remains to be seen how the US supports India’s bid for a veto power and a permanent member of the Security Council. Let’s wait, watch and wonder.

-- Appeared as a Cover story in March 15, 2006 issue of Day After news magazine