In June 2015, a lion was found dead on the outskirts of the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe; while it is common even for the 'King of the Jungle' to sometimes fall prey to competitors including other lions, packs of hyenas and wild dogs, the carcass revealed another gruesome story. The lion had been mercilessly shot, then skinned, beheaded and its majestic head with that distinct blackish mane had been taken as a trophy, clearly suggesting that the culprit was that disgusting creature we know as 'Man'. Unfortunately for the hunter - a Minnesota based dentist Walter Palmer, the beast he had shot down was no ordinary lion, it was the magnificent Cecil, the most famous attraction of the Hwange National Park, a favorite with the tourists which was being studied by researchers at the Oxford University to understand big cat behavior for some years now. As the news of the lion's brutal death spread and gory details regarding the hunt emerged, netizens across the world condemned the heinous act with many flooding Walter's social media pages with thousands of 'hate' messages. In fact, the fight was taken right up to the doctor's doorsteps as protesters left placards and flowers in memory of the slain animal outside his clinic. The hunter's weak apology and assurance to co-operate with the investigating agencies found no takers with a 1,00,000 strong petition urging the US authorities to extradite the 'poacher' to Zimbabwe to face the law.
All along, the dentist has maintained that he had followed the due process and relied on local hunting experts in bringing down the big cat. In fact, in several African nations, it is legal to kill even the most endangered animals if the necessary permissions have been obtained from the concerned authorities. In most of these countries, there is a stringent screening process to evaluate the animal before the nod is given to hunt it. With Cecil being still in his prime and jointly leading a pride, it did not meet this 'criteria' for elimination for sure. In fact, it is being alleged that Parker and his accomplice - professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst lured the beast out of the park limits where it was hunted with an arrow on the property of one Honest Ndlovu. The poor creature was tracked down 40 hours later and then shot dead with a rifle. It now emerges that both Bronkhorst and Ndlovu did not have the necessary permits for lions. The Zimbabwean authorities have started proceedings against the two whereas a demand has been made to extradite the dentist to atone his sins.
The murder of Cecil has put the spot light on legal hunting with many across the world appealing to governments in various African nations to ban it altogether. As per reports, hundreds of lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, rhinos and antelopes fall prey to hunters each year. At a time when many of these species are staring at the brink of extinction, the death of even a few individuals could deliver a serious blow towards conservationist efforts. Then again, there is this other side of the story. Legal hunting ends up generating millions of dollars in revenue for these African nations and this money is apparently used in wildlife conservation as well as improving the lives of the local populace. This was precisely the reason that the move by some major airlines to ban the transfer of animal trophies was condemned by officials in South Africa and Nigeria. Here is where the support from the more developed nations or the United Nations in terms of monetary funds to more poorer African nations could help and the reliance on this 'ghastly' practice could be reduced over a period of time.
The biggest positive to emerge out of the whole episode is the massive outpouring of grief by thousands of people across the world who used social media as a tool to voice their opinion in favor of wildlife conservation. With the ever increasing human population and technological advancement putting an unprecedented pressure on the environment, the future of many species looks gloomy. Habitat destruction, hunting, poaching, introduction of invasive species and pollution is threatening to wipe off a large number of animals from the face of the Earth which could seriously damage the ecology and threaten our own existence. At this time, the unity displayed by people all around shows that there are many who still care for the wildlife. It is sad that Cecil has perished; ironically though, his death has furthered the cause of wildlife conservation.
ANNA HAZARE'S CONSTANT FLIP FLOPS WILL ONLY DAMAGE HIS CREDENTIALS
Source: India Today
It was August 2011. As the seventy-four year old Gandhian and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare gave a clarion call to the country to unite for the passage of the Lokpal Bill, thousands came out in his support. In Bangalore as hundreds of IT professionals came out on the streets to form a human chain to show their solidarity to the cause, I and my friends joined the agitation too. As the government finally buckled under pressure, Anna became the toast of the nation. His fast-unto-death had awakened the consciousness of a nation that seemed to be drifting from the path that our founding fathers wanted us to follow while on its quest to become a super power. It was just a matter of time before one realized that the social activist had been betrayed by the politicians who knew that their powers would be curbed if the Jan Lokpal Bill, as formulated by Anna and his aides was to pass through the Parliament. Over the last two years, Hazare has raised the issue of corruption several times. However, he has never been able to get the kind of support that one witnessed in the winter of 2011. One of the reasons for this, at least in my opinion has been the fact that his credibility has taken a massive beating. After hobnobbing with several political parties and then 'ditching' them, you cannot expect the masses to still rally behind you.
A look at the events in the last two years shows that the Gandhian has done business with outfits across India's political landscape and later abandoned them. During the height of the 2011 agitations, as thousands of BJP and RSS workers lent their support to the erstwhile 'Team Anna', the activist was all praise for Gujarat CM Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. Anna, who himself has done a lot in the field of rural development in his home state of Maharashtra had asked other CMs in the country to emulate their work in this regards. His kind words for Modi, whose role in the 2002 Gujarat riots is under the scanner had not gone well even with some of his ardent supporters. However, in a visit to Gujarat in 2013, he lambasted the BJP's PM nominee for his failure to appoint a Lokayukta in the state. Though he had targeted the Congress during his earlier rallies, accusing them of not being tough against graft, he did a complete volte-face as he wrote a letter to party Vice President Rahul Gandhi for his role in passing the Lokpal and the Lokayukta Bills in the Parliament. This even as the legislations were different from the ones draft by Hazare and his team two years ago. As if these U-turns were not enough, he publicly endorsed Mamata Bannerjee's candidature for the post of the country's next PM a few weeks back, hailing her as the only leader capable of tackling corruption. He even made an appearance in Trinamool's TV advertisements, asking people to vote for the Bengal CM. Buoyed by this the TMC chief decided to give wings to her national dreams by holding joint rallies with the Gandhian, first in Delhi and another in Ahmedabad. However, hours before the Delhi rally, the septuagenarian ditched Didi. In an interview to media when he was quizzed about his absence, he accused the organizers of failing to get the crowds. Moreover, he declared that he only supported Mamata and not her party. Of course, the question arises as to why he appeared in TMC ads if he never supported the party. And finally, his numerous outbursts against his former right hand man Arvind Kejriwal are well known.
While I am unhappy with Anna's flip-flops, it does not take away from all the good work that he has done in the past. After leaving the army in the 1960s, he came back to his village of Ralegan Siddhi and set out transforming it. Over the years, he helped in the upliftment of this and several nearby villages. His work in rural development with the active participation of local communities was appreciated and won him the Padma Bhushan in 1992. Besides, it was his indefinite hunger strike that brought the issue of corruption in the limelight, thereby pressuring our Netas and Babus. Moreover, Anna's role model - Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation too was known for 'changing his mind' on issues throughout his life. The point I want to emphasize is that thanks to his myriad U-turns, Anna's credibility has certainly taken a hit owing to his short lived 'associations' with various political parties. By changing his stance on politicians in such short time spans, he is damaging his own image. We all know that history can be extremely cruel. It may only remember Anna as a man of contradictions who could never stick to his words. Of course, having done so much social service in his life, he certainly deserves more respect than this. It is up to him. The anti-corruption crusader will have to choose his words rightly and follow it up with actions too.
IMAGES
(1) Source: India Today Original: Anna Hazare denies praising Modi, say BJP's agenda is communal (Link)
European power house Germany has shown the way for wildlife conversation by donating a whopping 20 million Euros for the cause of conversation of Tigers. The funds were given to the five year Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme - a scheme run by the International Union of Nature Conversation (IUCN) via the KfW Development Bank. The money will go to the protection of the stripped cats in their wild habitat in countries which were present at the St. Petersberg Tiger Summit in 2010. These include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal and Viet Nam; with our country accounting for more than half of the population of the largest felines, it is expected that a huge chunk of this amount will come here. The major objectives of the scheme are to improvement the management of tiger territories, improve anti-poaching efforts and most importantly, make the local people stakeholders in conservation of the beautiful species. The key takeaway from this are as follows:
(1) Developed countries have to play a bigger role: Like Germany other financial power houses of the world like the US, the UK and France have to do more to protect environment in general and wildlife in particular. Majority of the endangered fauna and flora of the world is found in the continents of Asia, Africa and South America, all of which are densely populated. As such, to reduce the pressure on wildlife and promote its well being, these countries here need more funds. However, most of these nations are developing and are already facing several other issues like social and economic parities which take precedence over animal conservation. It is here that the developed economies can pitch in. Besides, they can use their political influence to force these nations to adopt ways which are less harmful to the environment.
(2) China, you must do more: China should take a lesson from Germany's book. It is well known that the Communist giant is the largest market for tiger products - their bones are used in traditional medicine whereas the skin, canines and nails are status symbols in Tibet. For long, China was not a part of the international efforts to save the tigers. Even today, many felines are bred in farms across the country to fulfill demands of the lucrative trade in tiger parts. It is believed that there are around 1000 big cats in Chinese farms. This needs to be stopped with immediate effect and the animals there need to be rehabilitated.
(3) Lesson for the States back home: Not only China, several Indian states can learn a lot from this episode. Look at the issue regarding the relocation of Asiatic Lion from Gir into other areas of the country. With over 400 lions, the Gir sanctuary is over crowded; besides, the threat of disease is hanging like a sword of Damocles which can drive the species to extinction. As such, there are plans to translocate some of the big cats from here to the Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. However, a section of Gujaratis have opposed it saying that these creatures are a heritage of their state. While it is good to love animals, people do have to realize that it is the Asiatic Lion and its survival that is important. Like Germany, states in India too have to rise above regional sentiments and help conserve our endangered wildlife.
IMAGES
(1) Courtesy: WWF-India
WWF-India's work for the Tiger (Link)
India has begun the new year on a positive note. The political arena is heating up and there is little doubt that this years's Lok Sabha polls are going to be one of the most important elections in the history of the country. Unlike previous occasions when parties used religion and caste to gain power, our netas today are taking about issues that really affect us - Narendra Modi is talking about economic development, Arvind Kejriwal is leading the crusade against corruption whereas Rahul Gandhi is concentrating on social issues. With so much media coverage around the national mandate, it is easy to forget the success stories that are coming from other fields. Here is a look at two such events that happened in the last fortnight, two positive news items that make us all proud to be Indian.
Courtesy: Business Standard
The Indigenous Cryogenic Engine: On 5th January earlier this year, scientists at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) at Sriharikota successfully launched the GSLV - D5 Rocket which put the GSAT 8 satellite in orbit. While this is no big deal for our space scientists who have achieved this feat time and again, the fact was, with this launch India entered an elite club of nations (USA, Russia, France, China and Japan) who have mastered the use of cryogenic engines. What makes this achievement so special is that like our nuclear technology, the complete development of this rocket engine which works at extremely low temperatures was done within the country. While we are experts in the field of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV), having set several records including one in February last year when we launched ten satellites in a row, our performance in the field of Geo Stationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV) has been below average. However, there are indications to suggest that this is soon going to be a thing of the past.
India's tryst with cryogenic engines began in the early 1990s when we were suppose to buy this technology from the the Russians for Rs 235 crores. However under pressure from the Americans who thought that we would use it for military purposes, PM Boris Yelstin refused; instead a new agreement was signed between the two nations and Moscow gave us seven such engines for use. In 1994, when we came close to developing such liquid based fuels, the ISRO spying scandal emerged in which the then Head of Cryogenics Nambi Narayanan was falsely accused of passing on highly confidential data to two Maldivian women. The case was later squashed by the Supreme Court but the damage was already done, not only were the names of the innocent men like Narayanan and D Sasikumaran, it also delayed our march in the sphere of GSLV. In 2010, our first attempt to use the cryogenic-based fuel engine was a complete failure and three years later, the second test was called off at the last minute following a leak in the fuel tank. As such, the launch of the new GSAT with the help of the latest technology has brought cheer to the entire space community. The Moon prober (Chandrayaan), the unmanned Mars voyager (Mangalyaan) and now the success of the GSLV has reaffirmed ISRO's position as one of the top space organizations in the world, apart from making our nation one of the most advanced in the race to space. However, there is so much more to do. In the next two years, we need to launch more satellites using these new engines so that we can perfect it. While the start has been made, achieving the level of perfection in this sphere, similar to that we presently have in PSLV might take some time. The value add that cryogenic engine provides us are many. Some of these are as follows:
(1) More fire power for further space exploration: The PSLV puts a restriction on the weight of the payload that it can fire; in fact, it is good to launch satellites weighing between 1000 to 17000 kg. However, the GSATs are much heavier, some measuring up to five tonnes. In such scenarios, the cryogenic engines come handy. Moreover, with the success of Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan, we have started exploring other heavenly bodies; considering that these missions have several devices and instruments, each providing valuable information to scientists back on the Earth, their net weight is enormous; another reason why the new engines are important. And finally, when we are ready to send our premiere manned mission to the Moon, the space shuttle will for sure be powered by a GSLV working on cryogenic technology.
(2) Money Matters: Not many may know, but launching satellites and other space shuttles is a big business, involving vast sums of money. Earlier we used to generally launch our Geostationary Information Satellites - GSATs from French Guiana. Not so surprisingly, we had to shell out big money to the French authorities. The success of the indigenous cryogenic engine will change this scenario, saving millions which can be later diverted to other space programmes. At the same time, we should concentrate on developing more engines of this kind and install them in different parts of the country. In a few years, when we have achieved perfection in this, we can offer these services to nations which lack such technology for launching their own satellites. Considering that ISRO is one of the most respected space organization in the world, I guess many countries will be ready to pay for launching their heavy satellites, earning us dollars and more importantly goodwill.
(3) Matter of Pride: Space is the ultimate challenge for mankind; even the smallest of breakthrough in space technology is considered as a great feat and hence, exploring the universe is a matter of great pride for nations and its people. Nothing summarizes this more than the Space Race that took place between the US and Soviets during the Cold War. Apart from launching several satellites, our missions to the Moon and Mars have received a lot of acclaim around the world. The use of the cryogenic engine is another feather in our cap. Truly, ISRO and the numerous scientists working there who have made this happen are a source of inspiration to us all. They have truly made us proud.
Courtesy: Government of India (Archives)
India to declared polio free by the WHO: Yes! The dreaded viral disease that affected millions of our countrymen over the years is all but eradicated from India. While we are fast growing as an important destination for medical tourism, this news is particularly important because the virus was particularly widespread in rural areas and our record in rural health is bad to say the least. Once regarded as the Polio capital of the world, the last recorded case of polio in the country was from Bengal in January 2010. With no new cases detected for the past three years, the World Health Organization (WHO) is all set to declare India as a polio-free country in the next month, provided all samples pending with various laboratories are negative. As of now, there are only three other countries in the world who are affected by this virus namely Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. In the coming years, when these countries are able to curb Polio, it will be the third disease to be eradicated by humans after Small Pox (1980) and Rinderpest (2011). We have a lot to cheer about here. India has spent over 2 billion US dollars to curb this disease. The Pulse Polio programme which was launched in 1995-96 is probably one of the biggest and most effective health initiatives in the world. Under this scheme, the government planned to immunize all children below the age of five. The challenges were many - poverty, inaccessibility, the huge man power and superstitions to name a few. With the help of celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan were roped in to convince people to get their newborns and infants to the nearest pulse polio camps. And the result is there to see. At the same time we cannot afford to drop guard. The virus may well make a comeback and it is wise to continue the immunization scheme for some more years. The government on its part is playing safe; earlier this week President Pranab Da launched the Pulse Polio 2014 scheme at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The victory in the fight against Polio is proof that if we have the ability and the resolve to tackle any issue that we are plagued with. Jai Hind!
IMAGES
(1) Courtesy: Business Standard
Source: GSLV-D5 launch outs India in 'cryo club' (Link)
(2) Courtesy: Government of India (Archives)
Source: Spotlight - Pulse Polio (Link)
MLAs PLAN A FOREIGN TOUR AS DROUGHT HITS KARNATAKA
While the British government has tried to correct a mistake from the past by granting a royal pardon to the great Alan Turing (Link), it seems that the netas back home have not learnt their lessons. It was in 2012, that a group of MLAs from Karnataka were caught by the media 'holidaying' in Argentina while on a supposed 'study tour' to the South American country even as large parts of the state were reeling under drought. The plea by the then CM Jagdish Shettar to his colleagues in the Vidhan Sabha to refrain from the foreign visit fell on deaf ears as legislators spanning across political parties shamelessly enjoyed their vacation in Latin America, neglecting the duties towards the people who they had sworn to serve. Although it has been just over an year after that infamous incident came into the limelight, a period that witnessed a change of regime in Bengaluru, there has not been much change in the mindset of our politicians who think they can do whatever they want and then get away with it. Earlier this week, it was reported that a contingent of 18 MLAs were planning a junket to the same destination and the itinerary is said to include a tour of the Amazonian forests, shopping in Rio, watching samba and tango and the icing on the cake - a desert safari in Dubai on the way back. Considering that over 25 per cent of the talukas in the state are facing acute shortage of water, there has been an outrage over the trip. Though CM Siddaramiah has tried to wash his hands off the matter and the Opposition has asked its members to opt out, the audacity of our elected representatives in justifying the spending of tax payers hard earned money on such 'useless' outings is an insult to the people of the largest democracy in the world.
It is indeed deeply saddening that a country that produced stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi, Subash Chandra Bose and Vinoba Bhave is today governed by crooks who seem to have forgotten all their responsibilities towards the electorate. While corruption has spread like cancer, we are fast becoming a morally deficient nation. The justification given by Congress MLA Mallikaiah Guttedar who also heads the Legislative Committee that planned this trip is shocking to say the least. While 'complaining' that MLAs get to go on a foreign tour only once unlike MPs who get this privilege several times in their tenure, Guttedar said that spending a few lakhs on this junket out of the state budget of 1.21 lakh crore is not a big deal. Speaking to reporters, he explained that the reason for the tour was to study the water falls system of Amazon and sporting activity. He also said that he had learned a lot of things from his earlier tour to the US. And finally like all politicians, he believed that it was a conspiracy that such incidents are only reported from Karnataka whereas trips are undertaken by legislators in all other states. Wow!!! At a time when there is paucity of water both for people and cattle in the state, common sense tells us that it will be better if our babus can think of ideas to solve this problem. In fact, the same money can be used for fruitful purposes like compensating farmers whose crops have failed or for implementing measures like improving irrigation and promoting rain water harvesting. Desert safari can also be done in Thar; not only will this turn out to be cheaper, it will be a fillip to domestic tourism. And finally, our MLAs should concentrate on their constituencies and improve the lives of the people who voted them to power rather than undertaking tours to foreign nations.
I am tempted to view this entire episode against the backdrop of the coming to power of the Aam Admi Party (AAP) government in Delhi. Barely one year after he flouted a new outfit with the aim of cleansing the entire system, former IRS officer and Anna lieutenant Arvind Kejriwal beat three time Delhi CM Sheila Dixit by a margin of over 27,000 votes as the AAP bagged a whopping 28 seats in the recently concluded Delhi assembly elections. Though the BJP finished as the single largest party in the new legislature, its failure to go past the majority mark on its own in spite of the numerous scams that hit the incumbent government in the last few years is something that its leaders have to retrospect upon. The people of the national capital have made a clear choice and more importantly sent a strong message - they do not mind handling the reins of the government to first timers if they feel they are honest. And after coming to power, Kejriwal has started delivering almost immediately - doing away with red beacons for ministers and fulfilling the pre-poll promise of providing free water to private homes. Not only the AAP, voters do not mind re-electing their leaders who are known for good governance as it happened in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh some time back. The verdict of the final leg of the state elections should be a warning bell for petty MLAs like Guttedar & Co. If they believe that their actions will not affect their poll prospects then they are wrong. Today's voter is highly aware of the thing that happen around him and it is in their interest if our political parties and their members don't take them for granted. If they do so, then the people will teach them a lesson.
Just ahead of the 2014 General Elections, a group of parties from the North-east have come together to form the North East Regional Political Front (NERPF) with the novel aim of 'safeguarding the interest of the people of the region'. Earlier this week, representatives from 11 regional outfits came together in Guwahati to announce this new alliance which is expected to be a significant player in the run up to the big polls. While former CM of Assam and AGP chief Prafulla Kumar Mahanta was appointed as the chief adviser of this new front, other advisers include Paban Kumar Chamling - the Chief Minister of Sikkim, former CMs Donkupar Royof Meghalaya and Joram Thanga of Mizoram. Serving Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio of the NPP who won a second consecutive term earlier this year beating the Congress was named as the chief convener of the NERPF. The leaders of the new coalition which includes the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the Naga People's Front (NPF), the United Democratic Party (UDP), the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP), the Manipur People's Party (MPP), the Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP), the Manipur People's Democratic Front (MPDP), the Mizo National Party (MNP), the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) , the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and the Indigenous People's Front of Twipra (IPFT) has left its doors open for other regional players to join them. In fact, this news has created a flutter in political circles. Former Punjab CM Surjit Singh Barnawala of the Akali Dal was present on the occasion to express his support and even TDP chief Chandra Babu Naidu is said to be in touch with its leaders.
The NERPF seems to be making the right kind of noise at least for the time being. Belonging to a part of the country that has largely been ignored by the political establishment in New Delhi, the front has taken the cause of the North east, promising to work for the region that has never got its due, either politically or economically. It has been critical of China's claims over the state Arunachal, asking for measures against Chinese incursion into Indian territory. Battered by years of neglect and insurgency, the region lags behind the rest of the country in terms of development. The NERPF has called for Beijing to stop work on all dams in the upper stages of the Brahmaputra which is the lifeline of the region, with immediate effect. On similar lines, it has taken a strong stand against Bangladesh, asking the government not to go ahead with the proposed the enclave swapping deal with our eastern neighbor. Besides, it has called for the deportation of illegal migrants who have crossed over to our side. The alliance has asked the Centre to withdraw the Arms Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) - an emotive issue, especially in the troubled state of Manipur, from all of the North-east. Like all regional players, it has promised to provide reservation in Central government jobs for the people of the region, the rebuilding of the Slitwell Road and implementation of the Look East policy which seems to have lost its steam over the years. Lastly, the NERPF has asked for the scrapping of the Concurrent list and transferring all the subjects in it to the State List - the eternal dream of all federalists.
While the leaders may claim to be working in the interests of the region, there is more to it than than just that. In spite of all the hype over the Third Front, the reality on the ground is that regional parties in the smaller states, except for the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab, the SDF in Sikkim and the NPF in Nagaland are in the decline. In the North-east, these outfits are losing ground to the Congress which has made the region one of its strong holds across the nation. The party under the leadership of Tarun Gogoi won a third straight term in 2011 assembly elections, winning 79 of the 126 seats as the AGP was reduced to single digit. In alliance with the BJP, the party won a single seat in the 2009 Lok Sabha. Earlier this year, the HSPDP and the UDP could only win 12 seats in total in Meghalaya as the IPFT drew a blank in Tripura where the Red fever was on a high. The MNP has just 5 MLAs in the Mizoram legislature, as opposed to the ruling INC which won 32 seats on its own; the PPA has only 4 seats in Arunachal and the MSCP has 5 MLAs in Manipur. Considering the dismal state that majority of the constituents find themselves in, the move will send across the right message to the electorate while helping to consolidate the anti-Congress votes. In a place like north-eastern India where the political space is fragmented amongst smaller parties, all catering to a section of the society, the united front will give a big boost to the regional players who are keen to win back their lost space. However, other than the Congress, the North-East Front will have to fight out with a lot of other regional outfits who may end up defeating the purpose of this move.
Probably, the biggest challenge that this group posses is to the Congress. Presently the party is ruling in six of the eight states and in each of these legislatures, it has above sixty percent of the seats. In the 2009 polls, the party, on its own won 13 out of the 25 Lok Sabha seats from th North-east. Even its ally in the UPA - the Nationalist Congress Party has a substantial support base here. However, with the formation of the front, the anti-Congress vote will not get split, at least to a big extent, like it used to in the past. In an election wherein the INC is facing issues like anti-incumbency, corruption and inflation, the NERPF is emerging as its main nemesis in the region. With pundits predicting that the Congress may struggle in 2014, losing even a few seats to the opposition will cost the UPA, especially in case of a hung assembly. The NDA and the BJP on the other hand seem to be quite happy with this development. In fact, the presence of the former Punjab CM on the eve of the announcement of this grand alliance is seen as NDA's support to it. BJP's only ally from here is the former Speaker of the Lower House - P A Sangma, whose candidature was supported by the Opposition camp for Presidency. However, his party's disastrous debut in the 2013 Meghalaya elections has proved that he has lost all his influence even in his native Garo Hills. As such, the NDA has no other option but to cos up to the NERPF before the polls. In coming days, it is expected that the Left parties may try to woo this coalition also. Meanwhile, keeping their cards close to their chest, the group has said that it will maintain 'equi-closeness' to both the UPA and the NDA ahead of the big polls.
With the General Elections just about eight months away, there is a lot that the NERPF and its constituents have to do to put on a formidable show. Firstly, many of the parties here have to build their organization at the grass root level and rejuvenate the cadre. Secondly, the Front should work towards getting other important players in the region like the All India United Democratic Front and the Bodoland People's Front into its fold so as to garner more support and votes. Also, seat sharing is expected to get murkier in the coming days and a few parties may even walk out. In an area like the North-east with complex issues, where solving one issue can lead to protests from several other groups, keeping the folk together, both before and after the polls may even become a nightmare. The big question will be how many seats the NERPF win in 2014. At present, it highly unlikely that the alliance will win more than 7 seats. However, to make sure that it has political influence in the process of formation of the next government in New Delhi, it has to win at least 10 to 15 seats in the next Parliament. In the situation where both the UPA and NDA fall short of the magic figure, this group will be one of the most sought after in the post-poll scenario. Whatever be the fate of this confederacy, I hope that the next Union government gives India's North-east the attention that it truly deserves and helps it to march on the path of progress, healing the scars of decades of insurgency and maladministration.
With all attempts of the government to overrule the judgment of the Supreme Court pertaining to convicted politicians biting the dust, following mass public anger and of course ‘timely’ intervention by Rahul Gandhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav – the chief of the RJD and the former CM of Bihar became the first politician to be disqualified from the Parliament after being found guilty in the Fodder Scam. With this political heavyweight behind the bars for four years and unable to contest elections for the next six years (unless he gets relief from a higher court), it seems that it is the end of the road, both for the former Bihar strongman and his party. Lalu was hoping to rebuild his declining political fortunes after the break-up of the 17 year old alliance between the JD(U) and the BJP which had made him virtually irrelevant, first in state politics and then significantly reduced his influence at the Centre. In fact, the stunning victory of his candidate over the ruling combine’s nominee in the Maharajganj by poll by a margin of over one lakh votes was seen by many as the beginning of the RJD resurgence. However, with Yadav now languishing in the Birsa Munda in Jharkhand and Nitish breaking off all ties the NDA, the race for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state is heating up.
A product of the protest against Emergency, Lalu is believed to have been close to JP. You see, even great leaders make blunders. In 1990, he burst into the limelight when he was made the CM of the state as a consensus candidate after disagreement between two factions of the Janata Party. A leader of the Yadav caste, he won the support of the Muslims after he arrested Lal Krishan Advani on route to Ayodhya during the Babri Masjid movement. With the backing of this MY (Muslim Yadav) support base, he emerged as a key player in the murky politics of New Delhi in the mid and late 90s. In fact, when he was sent in association with the Fodder Scam in 1998, he broke away from the Janata Dal to launch his own party – the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). As he was sent to jail, he audaciously made his wife Rabri the CM, remote controlling the affairs of Bihar from behind the bars. In 2000, in spite of the odds, he romped home to victory in Patna, with the help of the Left and the Congress. In 2004, he won 24 seats in the Lok Sabha, emerging as the second largest constituent member of the Congress led UPA. Yadav was made the Railway Minister; under him the department made profits for the first time in years without raising the prices. This was the highest point of his political career.
It seems that at around this time, power started going into his head. Taking the people for granted, no worthwhile development was recorded in Bihar in the Lalu era. Poverty continued to remain high, no jobs were created; crime rate was high whereas literacy was quite low. In the February 2005 state polls, as the public delivered a fractured mandate, the RJD and its allies fell well short of the majority. In the re-poll held some months later, Lalu was crushed as he ended up as on the third spot. The JD(U) and the BJP formed a coalition government under the leadership of Lalu’s bête noire Nitish Kumar. With Kumar delivering on fronts where Yadav failed in his regime, Bihar began recording significant growth. As the state marched ahead, Lalu was left far behind. After talks with Congress about seat sharing in the 2009 parliamentary elections failed, he joined hands with his rival Mulayum and another political joker – LJP’s Paswan to form the Fourth Front. The move backfired as his outfit bagged just 4 seats whereas the UPA came back to power with ease. After losing on his home turf, this embarrassing loss reduced his influence in Delhi. 2010 brought more bad news, the JD(U)-BJP combine won with more than three fourth of the seats, reducing the RJD to mere 22 with Rabri losing both the seats she contested. Many believed that the infamous split in the NDA could just be the opportunity that Lalu needed to re-invent himself in Bihar. However, with the jail sentence, it seems that it is a rather gloomy and a fitting end to an otherwise colourful career, based on caste based politics.
The end of Lalu and break-up of the JD(U) and the BJP has opened up the game. In Bihar which sends as many as 40 MPs to Lok Sabha - the third highest amongst the states, the fight is heating up and one can expect key political developments to take place in the run up to 2014 General Elections. The Nitish led JD(U) which broke all relations with the BJP is aiming to get the support of the Muslims. With several Congress leaders, including Rahul praising Kumar for his secular credentials, an alliance between the two cannot be ruled out. Reports suggest that UPA may have sacrificed Lalu to win the favour of the Bihar CM. The problem here could be the other JD(U) stalwart Sharad Yadav whose politics has been based on the anti-Congress plank. Meanwhile, in case neither the NDA nor the UPA are in a position to form the next government in New Delhi, the outfit will emerge as one of the architects of the Third Front and Nitish may well be the next PM of the country. The BJP is another strong player here; while enjoying the support of the Thakurs, it is also woo the Yadavs hard. After RaGa’s dream of a Congress revival in Bihar in 2010 ended in a disaster, the INC on its own is not in a position to pose any challenge. However, if it joins hand with the JD(U), things will be dramatically different. Allying with the RJD might be suicidal and LJP is in dire straits. Ram Vilas Paswan is virtually out of the race and it will be a miracle if he manages to get more than one seat.
Meanwhile, Tejaswi Yadav, the younger son of the RJD supremo is speculated to take over the party in 2014. Rabri has already said that she and her son will ‘manage’ the party, like ‘Sonia and Rahul’. Didn’t anybody tell her that INC was in a mess? The duo will try to leverage the sympathy factor to their advantage. And in a country like ours, it might work well. However, Tejaswi is new to politics. After warming the benches of the IPL side Delhi Daredevils for several seasons, this cricket enthusiast will find it difficult to make a mark for him, at a time when his family is well past its prime. Rabri’s dual defeats in the last election polls have signaled an end to her political ambitions. One should not be surprised in case, several leaders of the RJD, shift their allegiance to other outfits. However, the wily fox that he is, Lalu can never be written off. Remember his famous line ‘Jab tak hain Samose mein aloo, tab tak rahega Bihar mein Lalu’. In case, he comes out of jail before the elections, the wounded tiger will be stronger and more determined to do well. Even otherwise, while it may not be a force to reckon with in the absence of Yadav, the RJD is not history, at least not yet.
IMAGES
(1) Courtesy: India Today Original: India Today - Fodder Scam Verdict likely to put abrupt full stop to Lalu's illustrious career (Link)
WILL THE TWO HISTORIC JUDGMENTS USHER IN ELECTORAL REFORMS?
In 1950, as our founding fathers choose a democratic form of government, many observers in the West were skeptical of this decision; they believed that a nation as diverse as ours which had been drained of its wealth by colonist for over four centuries and had not yet recovered from the scars of a bloody partition, would fall apart in case a strong, centralized regime is not put into place. Sixty three years down the line, with a population of over 1.2 billion, we are the biggest democracy in the world. More importantly, unlike several other Afro-Asian countries which got their freedom post the Second World War, we have always decided who our leaders will be; so what if many of our elected netas have gone back on their promises or used their power for personal gains. Although the manner in which we have stuck to our federal democratic principles even in testing times is truly appreciable, there are still several lacunae in our style of functioning. In recent time, widespread corruption and dearth of moral values amongst our leaders, right from the Panchayat level to the corridors of power in New Delhi has led to the public losing its faith in the political establishment. Any attempt to curtail their powers or reform the existing system has been thwarted with politicians cutting across party lines, refusing to budge and ignoring the sentiments of the very electorate that voted them to power. However, the apex court of the court seems to have taken notice of this. In the last month, two historic verdicts of the Supreme Court has given a big blow to political parties, thereby sparking off a massive debate; the calls for a revamp of our entire electoral system (which has been long overdue) are getting louder.
On 11 th July, a bench consisting of judges Patnaik and Mukhopadhaya delivered a judgement that came as a shock for our babus. The Section 8(4) of Representation of People's Act which allowed convicted MPs/MLAs up to three months time to file appeal in higher courts and thus prevent disqualification of their membership, was struck down as 'unconstitutional'. Hence forth, any member of the Parliament or the State Legislatures who has been found guilty of a crime which attracts a punishment of two years or more will not only be disqualified but will also be debarred from contesting elections for the next six years. Of course, the government, under pressure form parties across the political spectrum did file a review petition which, not so surprisingly, was dismissed on September 4. The Manmohan regime tried to bring in an ordinance to bail out its friends - the Lalus and the Mulayums. Unfortunately, this too was struck down - not after BJP's protests or Rahul Baba's drama but after public opinion started growing against it. The implication of this verdict is massive, considering that over 30 per cent of our elected politicians are having pending criminal cases against them. In a number game that our Rajneeti has been reduced to in recent times, parties decide their candidates based on win-ability, even if it means that they have to give to tickets to people with criminal background. And may a times, they tainted nominees make the cut using money and flexing their muscles. However, after the land mark judgement, things will definitely change. In fact, within days of this verdict, Lalu Yadav - the once powerful CM of Bihar who was slowly sinking into the oblivion in both state and national politics, became the first politician to lose his membership of Parliament after being indicted in the Fodder scam. It is expected that all parties will think twice before choosing a criminal to contest as it will only lead to embarrassment once the judiciary finally nails them.
The second judgment which was delivered by a three member bench headed by Chief Justice S Sathasivam on the 27 th of last month, has given the voter the right to negative voting. With the Election Commission agreeing to implement this at the earliest, from now on, every Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) will have a None of the Above as a last option. As such, if one doesn't find any candidate in the fray, whether contesting independently or representing a party, good enough to represent him or her, then he or she can press this option. While there is no clarity over what happens if majority in a constituency select this option, like in the first case, we can expect this verdict to have far reaching affects on our electoral processes in the future. Firstly, in the past, many of us have refrained from exercising our biggest fundamental right because we feel those in the fray are not worthy to lead us. Now that the 'No vote' option is given to the public, people who think this way will also come out and vote. As such participation will increase, thereby further strengthening our democracy. Thus, it gives the masses an opportunity to register their protest while making sure that they do not end up supporting any of the undeserving candidates. Secondly, it will put tremendous pressure on political parties as they have to choose 'good people' to fight elections under their banner. It is no secret that large amount of money is traded and lots of lobbying goes on before any political outfit decides on its nominee. Now that the people have the power to reject all candidates, they will have to be sure that they place good options before the electorate.
The two historic verdicts that have come out of the Supreme Court an year before the big 2014 General Elections is great news for we Indians. Over the years, politicians and parties had used the many loopholes in our system to their advantage. The two judgments have raised hopes that things will start changing very soon. While the parties are trying to keep themselves out of the RTI ambit by bringing in an Amendment and over ruling an earlier court judgment in this regard, they will at least have to think twice before finalizing their candidates in the upcoming elections. There is a two-layered fire wall to prevent crooks and thugs from entering the House of Representatives now. If parties put up bad candidates, then the we have the power to reject them and in case criminals do make the cut, then they will be disqualified immediately on conviction. There is still a long way to go. The right to recall and strict monitoring of funds spent in election campaigning are probably the next steps. I hope that key reforms are ushered in at the earliest, not only in the electoral system but also in other areas like judiciary and police where too they are long pending.
SOURCES
(1) The Hindu: MPs, MLAs to be disqualified on the date of conviction (Link)
(2) Zee News: SC stands by its order on disqualifying convicted MPs, MLAs (Link)
(3) DNA: Voter has a right to negative voting: Supreme Court (Link)
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar - arguably the greatest Indian to be born in the post independence period is approaching yet another milestone. After having dominated world cricket for around twenty-five years, having claimed all the top records and more importantly, having carried the hopes of over a billion people in a cricket crazy country, the Little Master is today, the top most sporting icon in our nation's history and is counted amongst the best sports persons in the world. For the boy from Mumbai who first burst into the international scene at the tender age of 16 against arch rivals Pakistan in 1989, Sachin has indeed come a long away. Today, at the twilight of his glorious career, he has left behind his other illustrious contemporaries - stylish south paw BrianLara, three time World Cup champion RickyPonting and the classy JacquesKallis and is undoubtedly, the greatest man ever to wield the willow since SirDon Bradman. Apart from scaling new heights on the pitch, the respect that he commands among his rivals, the cricketing fraternity and the people all over the world only adds to the aura around him.
However, Indian cricket has always found itself at the center of one controversy or another and at times, even Sachin's name has been unnecessarily dragged into it. Take this for example. With Tendlya all set to play his 200th Test match in the upcoming home series against the West Indies in November, a war of sorts has broken amongst cricket associations as to which stadium in the country will get this ultimate honour of hosting the God of Indian Cricket as he achieves yet another milestone. The Wankhede stadium in Mumbai where Tendulkar played in his youth, the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the Chepauk in Chennai where Sachin averages in the nineties and finally the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad and the Chinnaswamy ground in Bengaluru which are next in line to host a five day match according to BCCI's rotation policy are said to be the possible venues for the second match of the series wherein the batting wizard will become the first and possibly the last person (considering the lack of interest in this format today) to complete this unique feat. It is easy to understand why such a fuss is being made about a trivial issue. While we have produced some remarkable cricketers like the legendary Maharaja Ranjit Singhji who captivated the minds of the English audience in the early twentieth century, 1983 World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev, batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid who personified perfection, Sachin occupies the highest position in the pantheon of Indian cricket. His records are unparalleled, his popularity cuts across all differences - caste, creed, region and religion and most importantly, the manner in which he carries himself on and off the field has made him an ambassador of both, the country and cricket. No wonder, it will be a matter of great pride for any city to host the second match as India's favourite cricketing son scores a double ton of another kind. Besides pride, one also has to remember the financial aspect involved. After all, the BCCI and the state associations can go to any extent to rake in the moolah. The excitement amongst the public ahead of the series is high and the revenues generated during the match, in terms of ticket sales as well as advertisements will be huge. It should not be a surprise then that different stadiums are battling it out for the right to host this historic test.
Now coming to the likely contenders, it seems like Sachin's home ground - the Wankhede is leading the race. Those in favour of Mumbai are playing the regional card for their advantage. They say that it is only logical that Sachin completes his feat in front of his 'home crowd', at the very place where about 27 years ago, he served as a ball boy. To be frank, I do not buy this argument at all. On numerous occasions, Tendulkar has made it clear that he is an Indian first and then a Maharashtrian. When he scores run, the whole of India and not only the Mumbaikars, cheer for him. He is a national hero and I think, all cricket lovers in different parts of the country, who have loved and adored him for all these years have an equal right to witness their icon reach this landmark. Another strong contender is said to be the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The third largest cricket stadium in the world with respect to seating capacity is said to have the backing of the BCCI Interim President Jagmohan Dalmia. The point being made is that the large crowds - approximately 66,000 and the illustrious history will provide the perfect setting for the match. Again, if this argument is taken into account, then every important cricket match held in the country should be played only in Kolkata. This is unfair to other stadiums who themselves have a rich cricketing legacy in their own right. On similar lines, the Chepauk is said to be making its case considering that the Master has a fairy tale record here. He has scored five centuries on this ground Chennai with the highest being 155 no against England in 1993. While it is true that players tend to have their favourite hunting grounds, the records cannot be the criteria for selecting venues.
In my opinion, it is only fair that the rotation policy that has been in place for several years now is followed and Ahmedabad or Bengaluru get the right to host the game. The policy, one of the few good things that the Board has ever done, makes sure that all eligible grounds in the country get equal opportunity to host matches and the local fans do not have to wait for long periods to see their sporting stars in action. In case, the rule is broken then a wrong precedent will be set and similar requests can be made in the future, leading to more chaos and finally, dirty linen being washed in public. However, past experience only tells us that the matter is only going to get uglier by the day. Soon, our politicians will join in. Self appointed upholders of the Marathi cause - Raj Thackeray of the MNS and Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena will soon make some nasty comments. Not to be left behind, the NCP will also issue a press release to prevent their opponents from gaining any political mileage out of the situation. Fiery Mamta will vouch for Kolkata whereas Amma may well bat for the southern metropolis. It looks like the wicket is only going to get more difficult to bat on even before the first ball of the second test match is bowled.
(1) A group of doctors led by Dr Deborah Persaud claimed to have cured an infant of a deadly disease. Which disease are we referring to?
Blood Cancer
HIV
Liver Cirrhosis
SARS
(2) According to the UK magazine Times Higher Education, which is India's top education institute?
IIT - Bombay
IIM - Bangalore
IISc - Bangalore
IIT - Kanpur
(3) Irom Sharmila hails from which Indian state?
Manipur
Meghalaya
Mizoram
Tripura
(4) The Changtang plateau in the Ladak region is home to which of the following species of goat?
Totapari
Sirohi
Pashmina
Karoli
(5) Name the MLA from Uttar Pradesh who resigned as the Food and Supplies Minister from the state cabinet who resigned after being accused in the murder of the police officer Zia ul Haq.
Ram Gopal Yadav
Azam Khan
Raghuraj Pratap Singh
Amar Singh
(6) Which is the helpline number for complaints related to rations via the fair price shops?
1957
1967
1977
1987
(7) Which constituency does Varun Gandhi represent in the Lok Sabha?
Amethi
Rae Bareli
Pilibhit
Aonla
(8) Which of the following Indian institutes is reportedly building the world's largest magnet?
ISRO
BARC
DRDO
ONGC
(9) Atleast two naval personnel were killed when their helicopter crashed near Vishakapattnam on Tuesday. Which chopper were they travelling in?
Dhruv
Chetak
Light Combat Helicopter
Cheetah
(10) Give the full form of ICDS.
Integrated Cereal Distribution Scheme
Integrated Cultural Diversity Scheme
Integrated Child Development Scheme
Integrated Commercial Disinvestment Scheme
(11) Who is the CM of Meghalaya?
Niephiu Rio
Mukul Sangma
Manik Sarkar
Pavan Kumar Chamling
(12) Which party does Jammu Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah belong to?
People's Democratic Party
Panther's Party
National Conference
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front
(13) Which Trinamool MP has resigned as an advisor to the West Bengal industry ministry over differences with Mamata Bannerjee?
Dinesh Trivedi
Saugata Roy
Derek O'Brien
Mukul Roy
(14) Which Indian minister will hold a dinner for the Pakistani PM when he visits India?
Salman Khurshid
A K Anthony
Sushil Kumar Shinde
P C Chidambaram
INTERNATIONAL
(1) How many Indians are in the race for the Nobel Peace Prize?
12
14
16
18
(2) Which African country voted to elect its President on Monday?
Rwanda
Somalia
Uganda
Kenya
(3) Keith O'Brien was the highest Roman Catholic priest of which country?
United States
Germany
Britain
France
(4) Two former officials of an Afghan bank were indited by a court on charges of corruption. Which bank are we referring to?
Kabul Bank
Pasthany Bank
Azizi Bank
Afghanistan International Bank
(5) Who was the PM of Japan during most of the second World War?
Fumimaro Kanoe
Mitumasa Yonai
Kuniaki Koiso
Hideki Tojo
(6) Who is the PM of Maldives?
Mohammed Waheed Hussain Manik
Mohammed Nasheed
Ibrahim Naseer
Muamoon Abdul Gayoom
(7) A former European Head of State was sentenced to a year in jailed over a case relating to a wire leak?
Nicolas Sarkozy
Gordon Brown
Helmut Kohl
Silvio Berlusconi
(8) Against which country did the UN Security Council impose new tougher sanctions this week?
North Korea
Syria
Mali
Iran
(9) Forces loyal to Jamalul Kiram III is the self proclaimed Sultan of Sulu province of Philippines clashed with the policemen of which country on the island of Borneo?
Indonesia
Brunei
East Timor
Malaysia
BUSINESS
(1) Name the nation that has agreed to look into the concerns raised by India regarding double taxation.
Maldives
Seychelles
Mauritius
Sao Tome and Principe
(2) Which of the following families owns a stake in the Takshashila Hospitals?
Adani
Ruia
Birla
Kirloskar
(3) P C Menon is the founder of which construction firm?
Shobha
Prestige
Purvankara
Mahaveer
SPORTS
(1) Who amongst the following was named as the ambassador of Chinese Super League football tournament?
Zinadine Zidane
Paul Scholes
David Beckham
Wayne Rooney
(2) Who scored two goals in India's victory over Guam in the second match of the AFC Challenge Cup?
Sunil Chhetri
Clifford Miranda
Jewel Raja Shaikh
None of the above
(3) Which Australian bowler was named as the mentor of the IPL team KKR?
Andy Bichel
Glen McGrath
Shane Warne
Brett Lee
(4) What was India's rank in the recently concluded women's wrestling world cup?
1
3
5
7
(5) Who is India's most successful Test captain?
Sourav Ganguly
Kapil Dev
Tiger Ali Pataudi
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
(6) Who scored the lone goal in the Man City versus Aston Villa tie this week?
Sergio Aguero
Carlos Tevez
David Silva
Gareth Barry
(7) What is Parupalli Kashyap's latest Badminton World Federation rankings released this Thursday?
11
10
9
8
(8) The name of Pavel Smirnov has been recommended to the SAI for coaching the Indian side in which sporting discipline?
Archery
Pistol
Javelin Throw
Swimming
(9) To which Union Territory does ace cyclist Deborah belong?
Lakshadweep
Chandigarh
Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(10) Which Indian batsman was dropped from the team for the last two matches against Australia?
Murali Vijay
Virendra Sehwag
Cheteshwar Pujara
Virat Kohli
(11) Former Pakistani speedster Waqar Younis has joined which IPL side as their coach?
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