A PLAN FOR REVIVAL

A FIVE POINT AGENDA FOR RESURRECTION OF THE CONGRESS

The much hyped Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting scheduled for today ended on a rather familiar note with 'interim' President Sonia Gandhi agreeing to hang on to the top post for six more months. Sparks began to fly late last evening as 23 prominent Congressmen in a letter addressed to the former NAC Chairperson, raised pertinent questions on the lack of visible leadership within the grand old party. Even as Gandhi sycophants stepped in to defend the INC's first family against this unexpected onslaught, former President Rahul Gandhi decided to take the 'dissenters' head on, and as per ANI sources, accused them of 'colluding with the BJP'. Moments later, former minister Kapil Sibal who was one of the signatories to the letter put out a sarcastic tweet hitting back at the Waynad MP. Another prominent 'dissenter', former External Affairs minister Ghulam Nabi Azad threatened to resign if Rahul could prove his charges. Clearly stung by these attacks, Rahul denied making the remark as loyalists including former PM Manmohan Singh, former Defence Minister A K Anthony et all convinced the aging Sonia to stay on.

Though I am no fan of either the Congress or the Gandhis, it is important that the party somehow puts its house in order as soon as possible. For a vibrant democracy, a robust Opposition that takes on the Government on its policies and stands by it during times of national crisis is an absolute must. The Congress has failed so far, on both these fronts. Somehow, the INC has not yet recovered from the jolt of May 2014 and over the years, the abysmal state of affairs within the outfit only continues to worsen. This has further added to the aura of invincibility surrounding the BJP led by the powerful Modi-Shah duo. Even otherwise, the Congress is the inheritor of a rich legacy, having been one of the many prominent players in the national movement. While it is true that the INC of the freedom struggle is a far cry from the INC of today, we must also acknowledge that it is this organization that gave us some of our greatest founding fathers including Nehru, Patel, Bose and the Mahatma. With no full time leader, almost zero inter-party democracy and an outdated ideology, it is highly unlikely that the INC is going to witness a change in political fortunes anytime soon. Even as India's most successful political party struggles to find panacea for the many problems it faces, here is my five point agenda for a possible Congress revival.

(1) A full time President, preferably Rahul Gandhi: For years now, the Congress' longest serving President Sonia Gandhi has not been keeping well. Considering that the Amethi MP is under medication, it is mind-boggling that she is forced to stay on at the helm of affairs in the INC, in spite of the fact that she has offered to step down on multiple occasions. The logic behind this seems to be the fact that the grand old party needs a Gandhi to run the show smoothly. The family is apparently the glue that holds the many factions within the party together. With Sonia needing a break and Priyanka shifting focus to UP, it is imperative that the party leaders convince the 'reluctant Crown Prince' to take back the reins of the Congress. Will this move succeed? I am not sure; Rahul Gandhi's lack luster report card does not inspire confidence either. However, this move will at least clear the leadership mess and set in a clear hierarchy with the Congress. As and when that happens, the Waynad MP must usher in a set of reforms to empower Youth Congress organizations and promote internal democracy, topics which he has spoken about in the past but which, in pure Rahulesque fashion were not followed up during his first tenure.

(2) A clear Ideology: In what can be described as the most passionate speech in his political career so far, Rahul Gandhi while speaking at the AICC in January 2013 described the Congress as follows: 'Congress Party ek soch hain aur yeah soch hum sabke dil mein hain'. It is time that the young Gandhi scion articulated what this soch (idea) is and what it stands for. For decades, the INC has been seen as a Centrist, pro-Socialist, Secular party though not all of its policies have been in accordance to these lofty ideals. The aggressive pro-Hindutva stance of the BJP and its consecutive victories since 2014 seem to have left a deep impact on the grand old party, forcing it to project itself a much softer Hindutav party. It was in the wake of this that Rahul went temple hoping prior to UP 2017 polls and described himself as a 'Janayu-dhari Shiv Bhakt'. Multiple flip flops, especially on issues of national importance like surgical strikes and the building of the Ram Mandir have given more fodder for the BJP to project its nemesis as weak and rudderless. Even as traditional vote banks including Dalits, women and tribals seem to be gravitating to the saffron outfit, the party is fast losing its ground even in its former strongholds like Maharasthra, Andhra-Telangana and North East. There is an urgent need for the Congress to reflect upon what is the 'idea of India' that it arrogates to itself and claims to be fighting for every now and then. It needs an ideology that a young, inspirational India of the 21st century can connect with.

(3) Promoting Regional Leaders: During the decade since its defeat at the hands of the UPA in 2004, it was state leaders like Narendra Modi, Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Raman Singh who kept the saffron flag flying in the heartland even as the party faced an existential crisis at the national level. In fact, in what was a tribute to the BJP's culture of nurturing dynamic regional satraps, it was the Gujarat CM who brought it to power at the Center after 10 years of warming the Opposition benches. In sharp contrast, it has been the Congress policy since the days of Indira Gandhi to cut wings of ambitious state chieftains in a bid to enforce the power of the High Command. Nine out of ten Congress CMs are Gandhi loyalists who pose no threat to the power and prestige of the first family. Evidently, this culture has back fired. While the Congress tries to fix the mess in the national leadership, the need of the hour is to take on the BJP at the state level. The appointment of Priyanka Gandhi as the AICC in-charge of eastern UP and the elevation of PAAS leader Hardik Patel in Gujarat and strategist D K Shiv Kumar in Karnataka are steps in the right direction. Incumbent CMs like Captain Amarinder Singh (Punjab), Bhupesh Baghel (Chattisgarh) and Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan) need to be given full backing of the top brass amd more responsibility in framing the future direction of the INC.

(4) Bridging the Young-Old Divide: For a decade that the UPA was in power, the right mix of dynamic youngsters owing allegiance to Rahul Gandhi and a section of experienced loyalists believed to be close to Sonia was seen as the secret for the success of the Congress. As the old timers grabbed the plum ministries, the youngsters seemed to be contend with donning the hat of MoS. Cut to present and the rebellions of Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot paints a sad picture of a party that is imploding from within thanks to the frictions between the pro-Rahul and pro-Sonia camps. While Sachin was convinced to stay back, the grand old party has already lost some of its most promising young Turks including Scindia Jr., Hemanta Biswas Sarma, Pradyot Manikya Debbarma and Ajoy Kumar. Several other next gen leaders like Milind Deora, Sanjay Nirupam, Navjyot Singh Sidhu and Naveen Jindal are reportedly unhappy with being left out from the scheme of things within the Congress. The INC needs to think how it can manage its demographic divide and reap rich dividends out of it.

(5) Getting more Allies on board: Last but not the least, the INC needs to work towards broadening the UPA by getting more parties on board in its fight against the BJP led NDA. A formal alliance with the Left Front at least in Kerala for the national elections will make sure 20 seats are kept out of reach of the saffron outfit. Similarly, other anti-BJP parites like Mamta Bannerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC), Kejriwal's Aam Admi Party (AAP) and HDK's Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) will only improve its tally. However, for the broadening of UPA, the INC should be ready to make sacrifices; it has already shown that it is ready for this by tying up with the Shiv Sena in Maharasthra and allowing Kumarswamy to become the CM in Karnataka in spite of winning less than 40 seats in the 220 odd strong state legislative assembly. However, more would be needed in the days to come for the Congress to reclaim its long lost pre-eminent position in Indian politics.

HOLY COW!

THE BAN ON BEEF IS RIDICULOUS

With President Pranab Mukherjee giving his consent to the 'controversial' amendments to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act (MAPA) earlier this month, 19 years since the Manohar Joshi led Shiv Sena - BJP introduced it way back in 1995, the slaughter of bulls, bullocks and calves has been completely banned in the western state. Though most of us may not know it, the slaughter of cows in the Maharashtra was already banned when the MAPA was first introduced in 1976. While the BJP had mentioned this point in its manifesto during last year's state elections, the move is seen by many as a continuation of the party's 'soft-core' Hindutva agenda which it has been running, reportedly under the directions from its ideological partners in the Sangh Parivar. In fact, as per reports appearing in many newspapers, the saffron regime in Haryana under Manohar Lal Khattar is keen on introducing a similar legislation in the state assembly with some even indicating that slaughter of cows in the state would be equated to 'homicide'.

Though most Indian states have certain restrictions on the slaughter of cattle, the Fadnavis regime's move has reignited the entire debate on this rather emotive issue. After all, this is a nation where millions hold the cow in such high esteem. While India may be a predominantly Hindu nation, we cannot ignore the fact that we are still a home to about 18 crore Muslims and Christians, many of whom like eating beef. Besides, a sizable chunk of Hindus too have acquired a taste for cattle meat. By banning beef altogether, aren't we infringing on people's right to eat what they wish to. Isn't that an invasion of a citizen's private space and in many ways, in violation to the democratic values enshrined in our constitution?

Of course, they will be many who will make some frivolous arguments - If you can kill and eat cow or bull, why not lions, tigers, leopards and elephants? Why have special laws to protect them? What these people fail to realize is that tigers and elephants are endangered species whose numbers have fallen below permissible levels. Killing even a single animal belonging to such endangered species can be detrimental to their survival and directly alter the ecological balance in that areas that they inhabit. However, the cow is not a rare animal as yet and killing some of them will, in no way, affect their numbers.

There are many who think that non-Hindus should voluntarily give up eating beef just because the majority looks upon or is supposed to look upon the cow as the embodiment of their pantheon comprising of 33 crore Gods. Anyway, even this line of thought is in violation to the core ideals of Hinduism. The religion of the Vedas, as I understand it, emphasizes on respecting diverse range of opinion on all matters and not intruding in people's personal lives, let alone dictating what food they must eat. By enforcing Hindu ideas on non-believers, we are destroying the very tenets that our religion is based upon including mutual co-existence. By this we are doing more damage than people will do by killing cattle.

Though Hindus may have special regards for cows, the underlying principles of the Vedic faith states that God resides in all living beings, be it humans, animals or plants and we should refrain from causing any kind of harm to them. By this, the Creator also resides in chicken, pork and fish, all of which are consumed in many Indian households irrespective of the religion they follow. Hence, banning beef alone will not help or serve any purpose from the religious angle.

Possibly, the people who will be affected most by this move are the ones that earn their livelihood out of slaughtering cattle. As per some estimates, there are about 10 lakh people in India who work in this industry. Besides consumption, a large number of cattle are actually killed to provide raw materials for the leather industry. There has been no talk of how such a these people will either be compensated or rehabilitated. By banning cow slaughter, we are only adding to the problem of unemployment in the country at a time when jobs, both in public and private sector are drying up. Seriously, that is the last thing we need.

So the bottom line is clear; though we know that cattle slaughter may affect a large number of Hindus, the government ought to take the larger picture into consideration and work towards better  and more important things than indulging in petty vote bank politics.

THE REAL 'HEROINE'

HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY

Source: Whatsapp

As the world celebrates International Women's Day today, newspapers and magazines are filled with articles on women who have made it big across various disciplines, battling all odds in a male dominated society in pursuit of their dreams. Some of these include Indra Nooyi - the CEO of Pepsi Co, Chanda Kochchar - the MD of ICICI Bank, five time World Boxing Champion and Olympic medalist Mary Kom, the late astronaut Kalpana Chawla, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal and multiple Grand Slam winner Sania Mirza. Their stories of struggle, pain and ultimate success while breaking sterotypes are truly an inspiration, not only to the fellow members of the fairer sex but also for the men who can certainly learn a lesson or two from their lives. However, amidst all this, on this joyous occasion, I think we are forgetting one often 'underrated' and much 'overlooked' breed of ladies in the country - the great Indian Housewife.

A lot of you might be appalled by what I have written so far. Before you judge me as a 'misogynist', let me put across my point. I am in favor of more women breaking traditional barriers and joining workplaces. I mean, an office without women is akin to a garden without flowers. I would never want to be in such an atmosphere. However, in my opinion, the underlying theme of Women's day is celebrating womanhood. And while we do that, we just cannot afford to ignore the immense contribution of the millions of women in our country who forsake all their personal likes and wishes just to make sure that the family is happy as a whole; so what, if it that means time and again, their own dreams and preferences have to take a back seat. And in my opinion, the Indian housewife should be as much a role model to us, as is someone like Indra Nooyi, Saina Nehwal or Kalpana Chawla.

There is a general conception that the lives of working women are much harder than that of the housewives. I strongly disagree with this. Of course, working women have to deal with gender bias each and every day, at every level within their organizations. However, the lives of the housewives is equally, if not, more difficult. They have to spend a large part of their lives within the confines of the home, their ambitions are curtailed and they do not have much say in the family matters in spite of the fact that they are the ones who keep it together. More importantly, unlike their working counterparts, most of the housewives do not have a regular source of income. Common sense tells us that economic independence can be a game changer as far as breaking social barriers is concerned. After all, the BCCI's dominance in world cricket today is solely on the basis of the vast reserves of cash it possesses. Money talks and talks big time! With cash at their disposal, the lives of the working women is at least a little easier compared to those who don't as far as fulfilling their materialistic needs are concerned.

There are certain traits that make the Indian housewife such an enigmatic species. Her hectic life revolves around the family and still she finds her happiness in it. She sacrifices even the smallest of her desires for her husband, kids and in-laws without cribbing about it. Her unflinching love is often not reciprocated in equal measure and yet, she never fails in what she thinks is her 'duty'. A large number of Indian women who do not work, do so, not because they are not lack the necessary educational qualification or cannot find jobs. In fact, for many, it is a conscious decision that they make so that they could devote a lot of time in raising their kids. Now that is what they call being selfless, isn't it. Another aspect regarding them that largely goes unnoticed is their 'business acumen'. Though many of the housewives may not be 'highly educated', their street smartness is unparalleled. They will precisely know where they will get the cheapest grocery items, which shops sells the best quality grains and so on. And at times, when the family needs financial support to buy a property or to educate a child, she will not think twice before offering to sell her gold or readily hand over the money that she has saved out of the monthly expenditure. She is the perfect home-maker, the best mother and an ideal companion.

In fact, she is the real 'heroine' and the very foundation of the Indian society although we in most cases, we may never give her the respect that she truly deserves.

OUR HERITAGE, OUR PRIDE

JAITLEY'S FUNDS TO PROTECT OUR MONUMENTS IS A WELCOME MOVE

In December 2013, I visited Strasbourg while on a business trip to Germany. Located in the Alsace region of France, it is the seat of the European Parliament and is renowned for its 15^th century cathedral built in classical Gothic style. After getting down at the gare (railway station), we asked some locals directions to the cathedral. Since most of them only spoke French, possibly due to the hatred of their 'friends' across the English Channel and their language, they directed us to the Tourist Information Center next to the main entrance to the railway station. As we entered the place, we were greeted by a graceful lady who spoke English with a heavy French accent; she gave us a map with all the six metro routes that criss-cross the island town and also helped us with the way to the cathedral. In fact, at every other place we visited during our short trip, be it Heidelberg or Basel, I was extremely happy to notice that there were offices and bureaus to help visitors. More importantly, the monuments and heritage buildings that dotted these cities were maintained properly; those which had worn out due to wars or various forces of nature were duly restored to their former glory. As someone who loves history, it was indeed a pleasure to walk past buildings and streets that had not changed much for decades, or in some cases, even centuries.

Back home though, the situation seems to be diametrically opposite. We as Indians are inheritors of a rich history spanning across several millennia, unlike most other nations in the West. Besides, we must consider ourselves lucky that in spite of being overrun by invading armies so many times in the past, we still have lakhs of monuments spread across various parts of the country. The national capital itself has more than 1,500 monuments of historical importance as per the ASI. However, the problem is that we do not know how to take care of these 'jewels' from our history. Just a fraction of these have been protected and promoted as tourist destinations. Most of our monuments are in a dilapidated state, some are used as dump yards, some have been encroached upon whereas others have become the addas of all sorts of anti-social activities.

Last week as I was listening to the Budget Speech by Finance Minister, I was pleasantly surprised when Arun Jaitley announced funds for 'landscape restoration, signage and interpretation centres, parking, access for the differently-abled, visitor's amenities, including securities and toilets, illumination and plans for benefiting communities' for 10 out of the 28 UNESCO World Heritage sites located in the country. I mean, for a nation that has never cared for its history, setting aside money for the protection of our legacy and heritage is something completely unheard of, isn't it? Of course there are cynics who will point out that the government's initiative is too little and there is a greater need to protect those monuments that are outside the gambit of the UNESCO programme. However, the move shows that the government's intentions are at least noble. At a time when budgets have been reduced to exercises used to score political brownie points or win important regional allies, Modi sarkaar has shown that it is ready to focus on areas like heritage that generally don't win you votes in our country. While the Central government has shown its intentions, the big question is whether the ordinary Indian follow. That would ultimately decide the fate of our priceless historical heritage.

ITS TIME TO SPEAK UP, DEAR PM

MODI SHOULD ADDRESS GROWING RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE IN INDIA

US President Barrack Obama's speech at the National Prayer Breakfast late last week where he said that the Father of the Nation - M K Gandhi would be unhappy with incidents of religious intolerance that have taken place in the past, have certainly not gone well with a large number of Indians. Considering America's own dismal record in terms of racial discrimination, it would serve the US better if they stop preaching the world and concentrate on addressing the concerns plaguing the so-called 'open' American society. Whatever be Obama's 'real' motives in making a reference to India in his speech, there is no denying that acts of religious intolerance in the country have been on the rise ever since the BJP led NDA government came to power in May last year. Of course, there have been riots too when the Congress was in power; how can one forget the massacre of nearly 3,000 Sikhs in the capital following the assassination of late PM Indira Gandhi. But then, hitting out at the INC or asking the US to 'mind its own business' will certainly not justify the recent spate of attacks on churches in Delhi or the much hyped 'Ghar Wapasi' programmes organized by right wing groups to re-convert Muslims and Christians back to Hinduism.

What frightens me the most is the 'not-so-dignified' silence of PM Narendra Modi on this issue. Sometime back when the UPA was in power and the country was headed by Dr. Manmohan Singh, the BJP had accused him of not speaking regularly to either the media or the public. In fact, in many of his election rallies prior to the General Polls, Modi had referred to the then incumbent PM as 'Maun-mohan' Singh for failing to speak up as his colleagues in the cabinet were making money by 'selling' the country's natural resources. However, today, as some members of the BJP and its ideological allies in the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal are threatening the very secular fabric of the country, Modi seems to find no time to clear the air by publically reprimand the likes of Sakshi Maharaj and Sadhvi Niranjan. I mean, come on, he has time to speak about Cleanliness, Drug Abuse and Women's Empowerment. I am not trying to belittle these issues but then isn't growing religious intolerance a topic that needs to be addressed at the earliest. After all, secularism is one of the most vital tenets that our culture is based upon and any attack on our plurality is an attack on the 'Idea of India'. And then, with the PM himself being accused of failing to protect the minorities during the Godhra riots in 2002, it is important that Modi leaves no scope for the Opposition to target his own personal credentials.

For a nation that is home to people following numerous faiths, the religious diversity in our society is one of our greatest strengths. It is in our best interest to make sure that all kinds of minorities in our nation - religious, social or linguistic are protected and are allowed to follow their customs and traditions. In the present context, for this to happen, the PM needs to make some time out of his busy schedule and speak to the masses so that the country is sure what its leadership thinks. Of course, many would say that this will be only a symbolic gesture, but then, symbolism is important, isn't it? Our PM has launched a wonderful initiative by addressing the country via the radio as a part of his 'Mann ki Baat'. It will be great if our PM speaks about communalism in the next installment of this programme. Mr Modi, are you listening?

ROARING

INDIA'S TIGER POPULATION GROWS BY 30% OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS

As per the latest tiger census carried out by the government in association with several wildlife organizations, India is home to 2,226 wild tigers, a jump of 30 percent from the last survey that was concluded in 2010. With the numbers of the magnificent stripped felines being reduced to 1,411 way back in 2008, the rise in the figures is in many ways a testimonial to the sustained efforts of conservationists, tiger experts, government officials and wildlife enthusiasts in the last few years. However, a lion share of credit goes to the security guards who put their own lives at risk to protect our national animals from hunters and poachers. The best part is that the results of the census are fool-proof since the whole exercise has been conducted with some of the most modern methods like camera trapping and collection of paw marks and droppings.

Courtesy: Trade Wallpaper (Link)

Some of the biggest positives from this survey are as follows:

• India is home to nearly 70 percent of the world's wild tiger population. Other nations with significant feline numbers include Bangladesh, Malaysia, Russia and Indonesia.

• In the country, Karnataka leads other states with a tiger population in excess of 400, followed by Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Most importantly, the national animal has been spotted in over 20 Indian states, showing that the favorable habitat for these beasts is found across the country.

• In another study entitled 'Economic Valuation of Tiger Reserves', researchers have found that six tiger reserves - Corbett, Kanha, Kaziranga, Periyar, Ranthambore and Sundarbans contribute a staggering Rs 1,49,000 crores to the Indian economy. This first of its kind survey, will hopeful help people realize the benefits of saving our forests and the creatures that inhabit them.

• More importantly, as per the reports, India can add up to 1,500 more tigers to the existing numbers. This is perhaps the most important take away from the entire exercise and should be a source of inspiration for people involved in tiger conservation to keep up their good work.

• Lastly, speaking at the press conference, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that his government was open to give a few of the big cats to the countries that want to revive their tiger numbers. This, in my opinion is excellent news since it is our moral duty to do our bit in helping the stripped felines survive, keeping politics away from such a noble cause. Of course, before doing that, we need to make sure that the countries that we are sending our tigers are in a position to protect them.

Courtesy: Free Images (Link)

At the same time, we cannot afford to drop our guard, the reasons being as follows:

• As per the census, India lost 83 tigers to poachers in the last four years. Besides, another 109 feline deaths were termed as 'unexplained'. This clearly shows that there is still a lot we can do in saving our big cats.

• We still do not have the green corridors connecting major tiger reserves in the country that are crucial in maintaining the gene pool by preventing inbreeding amongst closely related individuals. This task of setting up forests that connect big cat habitat should be taken up with utmost priority.

• Lastly, the numbers of Black Tiger - a sub-species of Bengal Tigers with much darker black stripes has come down from 32 in 2010 to 28 now. These felines are only found in Simlipal and Santakosia reserves in Odisha.

STOP RADICALIZING HINDUISM

PROTEST AGAINST 'PK' SHOWS HOW INTOLERANT WE HAVE BECOME

At the onset, let me make one thing clear; I am a Hindu and extremely proud of that and I have no qualms whatsoever in saying this even on a public platform like Blogger though there are several aspects in modern day Hinduism that I do not approve of or practice at a personal level. Before I am appalled by netizens as being 'communal', I would like to make it clear that I do respect all other religions. Anyway, the concept of Karma, the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is a family) and worshiping the various elements of Mother Nature are some of the things that differentiates Hinduism from the rest. However, the protests against the religious satire 'PK' connotes that a section of modern day Hindus is hell bent upon scuttling all kinds of criticism and imposing their narrow-minded views on others with utter disregard for freedom of expression and speech. And by doing this, these 'self-appointed' monitors of Hinduism are destroying that very essence that the religion of the Vedas is based on - Tolerance.

Good cinema or any piece of art is a reflection of the contemporary state of the society. Whether we like it or not, nobody can deny that in a country like ours where spirituality continues to be an integral part of life, commercialization of religion is a reality. In the last few years, there have been several cases of self-styled godmen, rather 'conmen' across all major religions, taking thousands of innocent and naive people for a ride and exploiting them financially, sexually and emotionally while promising to get them rid of the problems ailing them. The larger message that movies like 'PK' and 'Oh my God' before that are trying to make is that we need to stay away from such people who act as 'middle men' or 'Dalals' between God and the people. Hinduism is a faith where the relation between the Parmathma (God) and the Athma (Human Soul) has always been a personal one; it is for every Hindu to find a way to connect to the Lord and there is no need for any Guru or saint to act as a mediator. Hence, instead of protesting against the movie, saffron groups need to look at the message at the center of the movie and educate people so that they are not 'used' by pseudo-religious leaders to serve their own selfish interests.

Keeping the controversy around the movie aside, what worries me the most is the growing 'concern' amongst Hindus that their religion, their ancient traditions and customs are under some grave threat in modern, secular India. Call it successive Congress government's pro-minority policies or propaganda spread by left wing saffron outfits, a significant number of Hindus are feeling threatened that they will be reduced to being a minority in their own land - the Subcontinent. The persecution of followers of Vedism in neighboring Pakistan and Bangladesh, which once were a part of what the saffronists refer to as 'Akhand Bharat' has only added fuel to the fire. The protest by fringe elements against 'PK' is yet another manifestation of these 'fears'. What baffles me is that how little these men who are supposedly fighting to protect 'Hinduism' know about it.

One of the oldest faiths in the world, Hinduism has seen several tough phases in its over 3,000 long history, only to bounce back and emerge stronger than ever. Be it negotiating the challenge posed by the rapid rise of Buddhism between 3^rd BC century to around 6^th century AD or the advent of Islam in the Sub-Continent in medieval ages or forced conversion by European missionaries beginning with 16^th century, it has faced bigger challenges in the past all thanks to its unique ability to adapt and re-invent itself to stay relevant. In my opinion, as Hinduism, its doctrine and principles travel far and wide and reaches millions of people outside the country, the real threat that the religion is facing as of today is the rise of 'extremist' ideology that may rob it of some of its greatest strengths under the guise of protecting it.

While ancient religions in places like Egypt, Central Asia and Europe are a part of the history books, Hinduism has survived, rather it is thriving. The reason for this is the fact that it is, as the Supreme Court of India once defined it, 'a way of life'. Unlike several other prominent faiths, it is not based on a particular book, neither does it have one particular way of worship and more surprisingly, the Hindu pantheon consists of over 33 crore Gods including the holy cow, trees, animals and so on. Hindus in different parts of the country follow diverse religious customs and traditions, sometimes contradicting each other. However, accepting and respecting difference of opinion and beliefs is one of the most important tenets of Hinduism. Hence, unlike several other faiths that are rather 'rigid' in their outlook, Hinduism is far more accommodating. Moreover, in its long history, it has seen important reformist movements wherein archaic and irrelevant practices like animal sacrifice and Sati have been largely weeded out. However, the philosophy at its core - of love, of compassion, of non-violence, of having a broader outlook and of being tolerant towards diverse views has always remained the same. Unfortunately, this is this very core that the right wing groups are attacking. It is not about 'PK' or 'Oh my God'; it is about how we Hindus want our great religion to evolve as we move ahead. The choice we make today will be crucial, perhaps the most defining phase in the history of our religion.

BEST OF LUCK, BAAB!

GOA CM PARRIKAR SWORN-IN AS DEFENCE MINISTER

Early February 2005. Months after the BJP lost the national elections to the Congress and its allies, the saffron regime in Panjim was looking shaky as four of the party's 17 MLAs including the then Transport Minister Digamber Kamat switched their allegiance and joined the principal opposition, the INC. After a controversial vote on the floor of the assembly, the incumbent governor S C Jamir dismissed the state government, terming it 'unconstitutional'. Protests broke out near the BJP state headquarters located at the Navelkar Arcade, close to the Municipality. A friend of mine who lives in the complex called me knowing my interest in politics. The crowd of about 200 people (that is big by Goan standards) shouting slogans against the governor, fell into silence as the CM who had been shunted just hours ago, emerged from the office where he held a meeting with the 'remaining' saffron MLAs and other party leaders. As he addressed the gathering and declared that he would continue fighting the INC in spite of the setback, some angry BJP workers announced a 'Goa bandh' to protest over the actions of the governor who they accused of being a pawn of the Congress party. Surprisingly, in a nation where politicians are known to go to any extent for their individual gains, the deposed CM - Manohar Parrikar reprimanded his followers fully aware that a strike could cost the exchequer dearly.

Having stayed in the beach state for a decade, this is one of the many incidents that come to my mind whenever I think about the former Goa CM. In a state which is notorious for political instability, a state which is infamous for electoral malpractices like horse trading, MLA poaching and switching loyalties, Parrikar baab stands head and shoulders above the rest. As far as I can recollect, he along with his party colleague and rival Shripad Naik (North Goa MP and OBC strong man) are the only two leaders who have never 'crossed over' in search of greener pastures. A five time MLA from Panjim, he created history in October 2000 when he became the first Chief Minister to have graduated from the prestigious IITs. Some of the programmes implemented by him during his second tenure including the very popular Cyber Age Scheme under which computers are given to all higher secondary students (Class XI & XII) for a paltry sum of Rs. 1000/-, found praise from all quarters. Seven years after staying out of power, he lead his party to a famous win in 2012 state elections; his work as the Chairman of a committee appointed to probe into illegal mining and his efforts to win the trust of the influential Catholic community were seen as instrumental in cornering the Congress regime headed by Digamber Kamat - the same man who had 'back stabbed' Parrikar way back in 2005. With the BJP winning a whopping 21 seats, it was the first time since 1984 that a party had won majority on its own in the Goa assembly. In spite of the fact that the mining ban has severely crunched the government's revenues, he managed to run the administration pretty well. Off late, he did face flake from some sections for his unclear stand on issues like Medium of Instruction and the 'anti-Christian' statements made by his colleagues from the MGP. However, there is no doubt that every Goan, irrespective of his or her political affiliation would have been saddened as he resigned from his post and took oath as the Defence Minister of the country.

On several occasions, the new PM has said that he has this knack of picking the right people for the right job; of course, many would question Modi's claim with 'tainted' men like Giriraj Singh making to the union cabinet. Anyway, there is no doubt that the former Goa CM is arguably, one of the best candidates to handle the pressure related to this high profile job. Like his predecessor in the UPA (A K Anthony), Parrikar is largely seen as non-corrupt in spite of being in active politics for over two decades. Moreover, he is a proven administrator; unlike Anthony, he will be more willing to take risks, if it is in the best interests of our armed forces. Also, he is less likely to succumb to the pressures of the various lobbies that come into the picture during the time of multi-million defence deals. Modernizing the Indian defence sector and getting it in on par with the likes of China is one of the primary agenda of the BJP regime. FDI in this sector too is something that Modi is believed to be keen on so that we could reduce our dependence on foreign firms. With the Goan leader having graduated from IIT which is one of the most prestigious technical institutes in the nation, he is certainly expected to oversee his master's above mentioned grand plans. Lastly, Parrikar is a workaholic; his style of functioning in many ways is similar to Narendra Modi. And the fact that he is close to the PM and the party president Amit Shah only helps.

The new defence minister has his task cut out. Combating Pakistan sponsored cross border terrorism and keeping a check on home grown militant modules like the Indian Mujahideen is a top priority. On the eastern border, we need a strong policy to counter repeated Chinese incursions into Indian territory. At the same time, it is imperative that we develop our infrastructure along the Indo-China border so as to enable quick deployment of troops and weapons in case of a war. There is an urgent need to revamp the Indian Navy which seems to in urgent need of attention. Modernizing our military capabilities, FDI in Defence, stimulating the growth arms producing firms in India, improving co-ordination between the three commands and a good work life balance for our soldiers are other issues which will figure high in his priority list. For a politician who has worked largely within the state of Goa, handling the defence minister will be the biggest challenge of his political career so far. The PM has showed tremendous confidence by calling him to the Centre, by-passing other senior leaders including Murli Manohar Joshi, Nitin Gadkari, Venkaiyya Naidu and Uma Bharati. If he can justify Modi's faith in him, he will surely be rewarded with more such prestigious offers in the future.

As Manohar Parrikar settles into his new job, I wish him all the best. Hope that he makes the country and Goa proud!

FLOP SHOW

ANALYZING INC's DEFEAT IN 2014 LOK SABHA POLLS

Courtesy: NDTV

Earlier this week, the much awaited Anthony Committee submitted its report detailing the causes that led to the Congress' disastrous defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. With many leaders in the party questioning Rahul Gandhi and his style of leadership, it was expected that the commission would suggest certain 'tough' decisions to revive the 128 year old party. However, while speaking to the media after submitting his report, the former Defence Minister exonerated Baba of all charges; in fact, the former MP went on to praise the two Gandhis for doing their best during the election campaign. The fears that most of us had was confirmed; instead of finding the multiple issues that plague the grand old party and addressing them, the Gandhis had flatly refused to accept their share of the blame. In a similar move, the mother and son duo had earlier, in the aftermath of the May 16 results, offered mere 'lip service' by offering to resign in the CWC meet, a move that was immediately 'rejected' by their chamchas. It is easy to understand why the former Kerala CM has given a clean chit to the first family. Anthony has always been a loyalist and though he might be in the last leg of his political career, he has no reason to infuriate his bosses. Although he may have his own set of reason for not 'unearthing' the truth, we do not have any such compulsions or obligations towards the dynasty. The following are the reasons that I believe led to the Congress recording its worst showing in the polls held earlier this year.

Leadership Crisis: The prime reason for the debacle of the Congress party in the recently concluded polls was the 'uninspiring and insipid' leadership of Rahul Gandhi. Appointed as the party's vice president at a function in the Talkatora stadium in New Delhi, the Gandhi scion began on a rather impressive note as he unveiled his plans for a grand vamp up of the century old INC. Unfortunately for Rahul and his outfit, this was the only bright spot in a rather lackluster report card so far. Much like his below par performances in the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh state elections, the 'strategy-consultant' managed or should we say 'mis-managed' the campaign that saw the INC register its worst performance in its electoral history. His pet projects including holding primaries to select nominees for parliamentary seats, a move hailed by some as 'far-sighted', proved to complete failures with all candidates selected via this process failing to make the cut. The so-called youth icon's interview to Times Now Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami which exposed his complete disconnect from the issues that matter most to the masses made him the laughing stalk of the nation. Even during the campaign, many senior leaders in the party had complained that the VP was being 'misguided' by a coterie of leaders who are out-of-touch with ground reality. All throughout the campaign, Baba failed to strike a chord with the audiences, an art that his mother has mastered. With Narendra Modi projecting himself as a strong alternative to the passiveness displayed by the UPA, Rahul stood no chance. Forget convincing the rest of the country to vote for the Congress, the Amethi MP's victory margin in his own constiuency was reduced to just over a lakh votes.

Lack of strong regional leaders: Another factor that contributed to the party's embarrassing tally was the fact that it did not have strong state leaders who could get the votes. While the BJP swept most of the states where it was in power, the INC failed to open its mark in as many as 14 states including some big ones like Gujarat, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. In all these states, the saffron outfit had leaders who were empowered to take decisions on their own. On the contrary, lack of powerful state chiefs has been the problem with the Congress ever since the Indira era. The outfit has never promoted strong CMs since the Gandhi family looks upon them as rivals to their power. After the resignation of Ashok Chavan as the CM of Maharashtra following the Adarsh expose, the high command sent its trusted aide Prithviraj Chavan from New Delhi instead of choosing someone like Narayan Rane who had spent much of his career in the state. On similar lines, in spite of leading the INC to a close victory in the 2012 state polls (Link), the party preferred former MP Vijay Bahuguna and then Harish Rawat over the likes of Harak Singh Rawat and Yashpal Arya. And while mentioning this point, how can one forget the treatment meted out to YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy. After the untimely death of former Andhra strongman Y S Rajashekar Reddy, the Gandhis refused to give the CM's post to his son Jaganmohan, fearing that he might become 'bigger' than the party and its top leadership in the southern state. As Reddy junior left the party and launched a new outfit - the YSR Congress Party, he was hounded by the CBI and jailed for 18 months. Without any mass leader and following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the INC was routed as the TDP-BJP combine and the YSRCP shared the spoils.

Corruption: If there was one issue that dominated the election campaign it was corruption. Anna Hazare's indefinite strike at Jantar Mantar in August 2011, the formation of the Kejriwal led Aam Admi Party (AAP) and its victory in the Delhi state assembly gave hope to over a billion Indians that our nation could finally be cured of the cancer that had engulfed it for over six decades. Unfortunately for the Congress, the plethora of scams that rocked the UPA in the latter half of its second term put it on the back foot. The scam in the allocation of Coal blocks at a time when Manmohan Singh was in charge of this ministry tainted the 'clean' image of PM. The 2G allocation scam dubbed by many as the biggest scam in the history of India saw the arrest of former Telecom Minister A Raja as well as DMK chief Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi, further embarrassing the government. The Choppergate scam, the CWG scam, the allegations of graft in the Antrix deal and Railgate, hit the credibility of the UPA regime as well as the INC. At a time when all the parties were hitting at the Congress over its failure to tackle this menace, the party did not make the fight against corruption as one of the main focus points of its campaign. Obviously, after facing so many allegations of graft, there was no way anyone would take the party's resolve to get the country rid of this menace seriously. Probably, after the elevation of Modi as the BJP's PM candidate, the INC thought that 'Secularism' and its co-called 'Idea of India' would help it brush aside all charges of corruption and help it win a consecutive third term. This proved to be a miscalculation as the results suggest.

Wrong Allies: Another factor that led to the INC do badly in the polls was the fact that it did not have the right partners on its side. Mamata Bannerjee walked out of the UPA over the issue of price rise. Had the Congress leadership been able to placate her, the two parties would have easily bagged nearly 35-40 seats in Bengal. Months before the elections, its southern ally - the DMK walked out of the UPA over the government's soft stand towards Sri Lanka. While the BJP was joining hands with many outfits all across the country, the INC was left with just four major partners - the NCP, the National Conference in Kashmir, the RLD in Western UP and the RJD in Bihar. Much like the INC, even its allies were facing the heat ahead of the General elections. Moreover, in spite of the bifurcation of Andhra, KCR refused to merge his outfit into the INC. In three key southern states - Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra, the Congress was entering the battlefield without any strong partner on its side. There were reports that the party leadership was in talks with 'like-minded' parties like the Jaganmohan Reddy's YSRCP, Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF, Nitish Kumar's JD-U and Mayawati's BSP to forge pre-poll alliances. However, unfortunately for the Congress, none of these materialized. While the INC got 44 seats, its allies fared even worse - the NC and the RLD failed to open their accounts, Pawar's NCP was reduced to six seats whereas Lalu's comeback was all hype and no substance. Actually, the other allies of the BJP in the NDA put together got more seats than the INC in 2014.

Communication: The troika of the Gandhis and Manmohan Singh that had taken the UPA to a victory in 2009 failed to communicate with the people in the last five years. Former PM Singh was never known to be an effective orator. However, he had managed to send a strong signal to the electorate by taking the onus of passing the Indo-US Nuclear deal on himself. In the second term though, he repeatedly came under attacks of the the media for failing to take on corruption head on. He hardly addressed any press conference and failed to convey his views to the masses. Equally to blame is vice president Rahul Gandhi. The younger scion of the party's first family who is known to be a reluctant politician has to take his share of blame too. When the entire country was discussing issues like price rise, corruption and women's empowerment, Baba never felt the need to speak to the media. Of course, he did tear the cabinet resolution giving relief to convicted parliamentarians at a pres conference early this year but this was a clear case of too little too late. This apart from the fact that his actions had undermined the stature of the PM. To add to the INC's woes, its biggest vote catcher - party president Sonia Gandhi's ill health prevented her from campaigning actively. On the contrary, the BJP's electoral strategy was more focused. Narendra Modi used his twitter handle to connect with the people and address his views on issues, both big and small. Obviously, while the BJP created history by going past the 272 mark, the INC could not even finish with one sixth of that tally.

IMAGES 

(1) Courtesy: NDTV
Original: Sonia and Rahul Gandhi may offer resignations after Congress rout: Sources (Link)

THE PARADOX

MODI AND VARANSI: ANOTHER CONTRADICTION IN INDIA'S POLITICAL TAMASHA

Original: World HD Wallpaper

India is a land of 'contradictions'. In our country, we see paradoxes in all spheres, be it our culture, our society or even our economics. In fact, our politics, more than anything else personifies this word. How many times have we seen political parties switch sides without any regards to their 'ideology' either to gain power or for electoral benefits. On the eve of the General Elections, our leaders seem to have no problem in switching sides; the babus who have been with a particular political party for years show no remorse while walking over to the opposition camp and mingling with erstwhile political rivals. Forget that, the voters in the world's largest democracy too can, at times, take contradictory stance while exercising the most important right guaranteed by the Constitution. In fact, I see a whole bundle of contradictions in the BJP's decision to field its PM nominee Narendra Modi from the seat of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Of course, it is easy to see why the saffron outfit took this decision. By making the Gujarat CM stand from a seat in the east, the NDA wants to demonstrate that the Modi wave spans across the country and is not a phenomenon restricted to the West. Besides, performing well in UP is extremely crucial for the party in its quest to gain power in 2014. In fact, the BJP is hoping that the move will reap benefits across the Hindi heartland. There is another section of people which thinks that there is a hidden 'Hindutva' agenda behind this, considering the fact that Kashi is an extremely holy place for Indians. Finally, there are those who feel that it is a part of the BJP's strategy to get their leader elected from a 'safe seat'. Keeping the politics apart, I too have certain views on it.

(1) The Idea of India: Located right in the heart of the rich and fertile Gangetic plain, Varanasi or Benaras is one of the centres where the great Indian culture evolved over a period spanning several millennia. It was here that the 'Idea of India' was born - a country which derives its strength from its diversity; a nation to people who worship different Gods, speak myriad languages and belong to varied races; a nation which believes in peaceful co-existence, non-violence and harmony; a country which prides itself as the torchbearer of humanity. In fact, even the demographics of the city (80% Hindus, 18% Muslims and 2% Others) is pretty similar to that of the rest of the country. Now contrast this to the image of the Gujarat CM Narendra Modi. In 2002, he failed to protect the minorities in his state, though he may not have been directed involved in the riots. While the courts may have given him a clean chit, the fact remains that the BJP's PM nominee has, on several occasions hurt the sentiments of the Muslims. His refusal to wear a skull cap during his 'Sadbhavana' fast or his puppy dog remark have been in bad taste. The saffronists may justify this saying that Modi's intentions were noble. However, a leader who aims to be the next Prime Minister of the country must learn to pick his words correctly. Considering his 'not-so-secular' credentials, the Gujarat CM's nomination is in complete contrast to Idea of India which is personified by the city of Benaras. At the same time, I need to clarify that I am in no way a supporter of the 'pseudo-secularism' practiced by the Congress or the likes of Mulayum or Lalu. In fact, playing the minority card is as dangerous as believing in appeasing the majority for the future of the country.

(2) The Old and the New India: I am not sure as to how many of you agree with me on this. Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on the Earth. While India is today considered to be one of the fastest growing nations in the world, the city along the banks of the Holy Ganga continues to hold on to its old world charm. Drenched in traditions and soaked in spirituality, the narrow by lanes lanes of the city, littered with waste on either side are shared by both, the residents and the cows. It is so much different from the big cities and metros in the country which have attracted companies and firms from all across the world. While Varanasi may still be bound by the ideals and the values of the past, for many, especially the youth, Modi represents a young and a dynamic India, poised to play a major role in international politics. His success in getting foreign investments from different parts of the world to Gujarat, his love for technology, his innovative ideas, his vision for a stronger India and his pro-development agenda has made him very popular with younger voters. Many of his supporters address him as the 'Vikas purush'. Again, I find some contradiction here.

(3) The Caste Factor: Now this is one contradiction that I am so proud of. Abode of the Lord Kashinath, Varanasi is one of the holiest places in Hinduism. According to the Puranas, it is the favorite city of Shiva - the Destroyer. Lakhs of devotees visit this pilgrimage centre each year to seek the blessing of the resident deity and take a dip in the Holy Ganga. In fact, it is believed that anybody who dies here is liberated from the cycle of birth, thereby attaining 'Moksha'. As such, the Brahmins, the priestly class amongst the Hindus yield considerable influence in the city. However, the BJP's nominee from here is an OBC by birth. Narendra Modi's humble origins are well known. He is the son of a tea vendor, who used to sell tea at the railway station in Mehsana. The very fact that a person from the so-called 'lower' caste can contest and possibly win from a seat dominated by the 'higher' castes is, in my opinion, a contradiction. Whether he wins or not or whether he becomes the next PM or not is not important. We have to appreciate the it is the vision of our founding fathers and a great triumph for our democratic values that caste lines have blurred, at least to some extent. Now it goes without saying that we need to do a lot more. At the same time, we also have to acknowledge that at least some progress has been done.

CREDIBILITY ISSUES

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)

GERMANY SHOWS THE WAY

IT DONATED EUR 20 MILLION FOR TIGER CONVERSATION

Courtesy: WWF-India

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)

SHAHBASH INDIA!

TWO BIG SUCCESSES IN THE NEW YEAR

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 5^th 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)

BACK INTO THE PACK

YEDDY REJOINS THE BJP

Courtesy: Yeddyurappa.in

Former Karnataka CM and Lingayat strongman B S Yeddyurappa rejoined the BJP last week, a development that could see the saffron outfit do relatively well compared to the debacle it suffered in the state polls held about six months ago. The Shikaripura MLA had joined the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) just before the 2013 state assembly elections along with his supporters and well wishers after the high command refused to re-install him as the Chief Minister considering the allegations of corruption levied against him; in fact, in one such case, he was arrested and jailed in October 2011 after the state Lokayukta found of guilty of illegally denotifying land in Bengaluru to favor his son. Miffed by his party's decision to sideline him, he had vowed to teach the BJP a lesson, hopeful that his caste which is the biggest in Karnataka will stick with him. At that same time, with many pundits expecting a hung assembly, it was believed that the KJP could emerge as the Kingmaker. While he did manage to hit the BJP hard in many places, especially in the north, Yeddy's outfit got just six seats with many of his trusted aides including Shobha Karandalaje biting the dust. As Congress' Siddaramaih was crowned, the saffron party relegated to third spot and Yeddy being a dud, one thing was clear - the BJP and its former state chief had to mend their differences in order to survive in the southern state. The question was not why... it was when. The elevation of Narendra Modi who is said to be close to BSY, within the party and the end of Advani era further helped this cause since the patriarch had been quite vocal in his criticism of the former CM. Finally, in January 2014, the Lingayat leader rejoined the party that he had built in the state over period spanning almost four decades in what was a rather low key ceremony attended by his rivals including Sadanand Gowda, Jagdish Shettar and bete noire Ananth Kumar. Along with him, three more KJP MLAs were joined the BJP; two more legislators B R Patil (Aland) and Guru Patil (Shahpur) have decided to remain independent for the time being.  

The development is a big boost for the BJP considering the route it had to face in the 2013 polls. Such was the fate of the party that it lost the race to become the primary opposition to the Janata Dal - Secular (JD-S). The rejoining of the KJP supremo will help strengthen the outfit, specially in North Karnataka where the Lingayat community is predominant. An analysis of the state results shows that the BJP lost about 30 to 35 seats due to a split of votes between it and the KJP, with a majority of these seats eventually going to the Congress. While it may not have dramatically changed the game, the fact remains that had BSY still be in the saffron camp, the BJP would have easily crossed the 60 mark. In the hindsight, considering the kind of regime that they gave to Kannadigas in those 5 disastrous years, I believe the BJP definitely deserved the drubbing that they got. Meanwhile, BSY has sounded the electoral bugle. He has set a target of 20 seats; it will be quite an achievement even if the saffron party gets past the two-digit mark. Although, 2009 was a nightmare for the BJP, it did extremely well in Karnataka, bagging 18 of the 28 seats. However, this time around, the Congress is hopeful of riding on the wave in its favor and win over 15 seats. The entry of Yeddy may make it a more even contest now. Secondly, in my opinion, it is a shot in the arm for Narendra Modi. The appointment of the Gujarat CM at the helm of affairs before the 2014 general elections has been the key reason for the re-entry of the Lingayat leader. The whole affair is a proof that his anointment has helped further strengthen the party organization and rejuvenate the cadre. The Hindutva strongman will hope that BSY's presence will help the BJP perform well in Karnataka and help him in his mission to get 272+ seats.

Now, the rejoining of Yeddy into the BJP has its own set of liabilities too. The manner in which the party leadership sought to keep the whole thing a simple affair rather than planning a huge rally to welcome its former chief in the state, something you might have expected to happen in Indian politics, says it all. Although he may have exonerated of most of the charges framed against him, Yeddyurappa has a public image of being corrupt and greedy. The numerous cases against him become a cause of embarrassment for party and took the sting off their attack on the scams unearthed during UPA II at the Centre. At a time when corruption is becoming a major electoral issue after years, the return of BSY could dent the BJP's image. Secondly, another headache for the state leadership will be to keep the organization united. When he stepped down from the post of the Chief Minister, he chose his close aide D V Sadanand Gowda - a Vokkaliga, a clear move to keep away other Lingayat leaders from gaining prominence. However, when it became clear that DVS would not act like his pawn, BSY pressurized the party to have him replaced with Jagdish Shettar. A few months later though, the duo fought and after the BJP high command refused to sack Shettar, Yeddy walked out. In the months before the elections, DVS and Shettar had publicly taken on BSY, claiming that his departure had cleansed the saffron outfit. While the two were present at the occasion, it remains to be seen whether they are ready to forget the past and work together. However, what remains to be seen is whether BSY and Ananth Kumar can dissolve their differences. The fiction between the two is a stuff of legends in party circles. The performance of the BJP will largely depend on how they can curb their individual differences for the greater cause. And lastly, a third reason for the party's headache ahead of the General elections might be Yeddyurappa's authoritarian attitude. It is believed that just in about a week of the development, he has started throwing around his weight and has asked the party to drop as many as 10 sitting MPs including some big names - Prahalad Joshi (Dharwad), Ananthkumar Hegde (North Kanara), Suresh Angadi (Belgaum), P C Mohan (Bangalore - Central) and Chandre Gowda (Bangalore - North). The dropping of such heavyweights may lead to internal rebellion jeopardizing the party' plans altogether. Certainly, the return of Yeddyurappa back into the saffron camp is a calculated risk. Whether it pays off or further plunges damages the prospects of the party in Karnataka need to be seen.

IMAGES

(1) Courtesy: Yeddyurappa.in
Source: B S Yeddyurappa (Link)

IN THE DOCK

THE PICTURE IS LOOKING GLOOMY FOR THE NCP

Courtesy: India Today

It seems that like the Congress party, its alliance partners in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government too are facing the heat ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. And the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is no exception. Formed in 1999 by the trio of Sharad Pawar, Tariq Anwar and P A Sangma after they were expelled from the INC for hitting out at Sonia Gandhi over the foreign origin issue, the outfit joined hands with the Congress in Maharashtra months after its inception; the alliance in the state has been strong ever since and the partners have been in power for 14 years in a row now. Similarly, it entered into an electoral agreement with the Congress, conveniently compromising on the principle of its formation for electorally benefits during the 2004 General polls and has been a constituent of the UPA ever since. Of course, there were speculations of Sharad Pawar dumping his former party and allying with the Third Front in 2009; this was furthered strengthened by some regional players suggesting his candidature for the post of the Prime Minister. However, with his outfit managing to win just nine seats and the INC surpassing the figure of 200 on its own, the Maratha leader's hopes of occupying 7 Race Course were dashed. Half a decade later, things have only got worse for Pawar. On the eve of the big elections in May 2014 and the state polls scheduled few months later, the NCP is looking in bad shape; many believe that Pawar's outfit has lost the battle even before it begins. Here is a list of four reasons as to why I would not place my money on the NCP to do well in the two elections.

Sharad Pawar to quit: Yes, finally the big man has announced his retirement from active politics. Speaking to media persons, senior NCP leader Praful Patel announced that the Union Agriculture Minister would not contest the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, paving way for the next generation of leaders to take the party forward. Having joined politics in the 1960s, Pawar has served as the Chief Minister on four different occasions besides being the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly when the BJP-Sena combine was in power. One of the most successful politician of his generation, he was given the all important Defence portfolio in the Narsimha Rao cabinet. However, the NCP supremo has been involved in controversies throughout his 'distinguished' career. Like the Lalus and the Mulayums, he is accused of being involved in several scams and shielding people with criminal background. An opportunist, he was never averse to joining, splitting or allying with parties just for political gains. Probably, his biggest failure of his career has been his inefficient way of administering Mumbai properly during the serial blasts in 1993 and the riots that followed. Even in his tenure as the Agriculture minister in UPA II, several serious charges were levied against him, including the Lavasa project where environmental norms where openly flouted. I am not sure whether that tight slap from Harvinder Singh played a part in his decision to quit. If yes, I would sincerely like to thank him for the great service that he has done to the nation. However, there is a small condition that Patel specified in the press release which is a bit of disappointment. Pawar is ready to continue his tryst with politics (and corruption) and is likely to be elected to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra this March. While he will still be a part of the political stage in 2014 and is expected to campaign heavily for the party, his retirement is surely impact the fortunes of the NCP, especially in western Maharashtra, which has been its traditional stronghold.

Anti-incumbency: The NCP has a record which very few regional parties can boast of in our Rajneeti - it has stayed in power for over 14 years in Maharashtra. Winning three elections in a row, so what if it was in alliance with the INC is something to be proud of. However, with great powers come greater responsibilities. While the two partners have given decent governments to the state over the years, the many scandals that have come to light, especially the Irrigation scam that led to the resignation of NCP leader and Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar is set to have a negative impact on the outfit's performance. Though it has played second fiddle to the INC throughout the three terms, the anti-incumbency sentiment which is looming large in the state is expected to adversely affect its numbers. In fact, there is a bigger problem for the party to tackle. The Pawar-led party has also been a part of the UPA since 2004. The failure of the Manmohan Singh regime, especially in its second innings is likely to hurt all its constituents. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has been the Union Agriculture minister for nearly a decade now. The high inflation rates and the sorry plight of farmers in most parts of the country, mainly in his home turf of Maharashtra is giving the party nightmares. On the other hand, the Shiv Sena which has been the NCP's rival in the state has improved its strength, looking much better than it was about two years ago. Also, the projection of Gujarat CM Narendra Modi is likely to benefit the saffron partners in Maharashtra. While there is nothing to suggest that there is a pro-NDA wave in the region, it is but natural for it to gain from the failures of the UPA regime. In related development, Mayank Gandhi has said that AAP will put up candidates on all seats that the NCP will contest.  

Souring relations: The relations between the Congress and the NCP have been far from smooth over the years. I am not sure whether the Congress President has forgotten Pawar's rebellion over her appointment to the post. Although reports of friction amongst the two parties, both in state and the Centre have emerged at regular intervals, the war of words has only escalated in recent times. In December last year, the Agriculture minister had said that country needed strong leaders like Indira Gandhi in what has been viewed as a dig at the serving PM. Reacting to Manmohan Singh's scathing attack on Narendra Modi's candidature for the post of the Prime Minister, Pawar advised the PM to use his words carefully. Now it seems that the discussions over seat sharing arrangement in Maharashtra is further souring the relations between the two allies. In 2009 polls, the Congress contested on 26 seats winning 17 of them whereas the NCP finished first only on 8 of the 22 which it fought on. It is believed that the INC leadership, including CM Prithviraj Chavan are keen to contest more seats this time. Considering the precarious situation that the NCP finds itself in, the party high command believes that it stands a better chance to fight the BJP-Sena partnership compared to its partner. I wonder what makes the grand old party think this way? At a press conference, Chavan suggested a new formula for the 2014 General elections - 29:19. On the other hand, the Maratha leader is in no mood to compromise on this. It will be interesting to see how this concludes in the days to come. Meanwhile, Pawar has made it clear that his party will fight the Lok Sabha in places outside Maharashtra without any consensus with the Congress.

The battle of succession: There is no doubt that Sharad Pawar is a mass leader. Irrespective of how many parties he has changed, his core vote bank has always stood by him. The NCP today is more or less synonymous with him. He is the party's main vote catcher and it is largely due to his presence that it has managed to survive in his home state while sinking into oblivion in other parts. Though the Maratha strongman is expected to be at the helm of affairs for much of 2014, it should not be surprising if there erupts a war of succession amongst the second rung leaders to led the party in the post Sharad Pawar era. The strongest contender is Ajit Pawar, the nephew of the Union Agriculture minister. In fact, it was he who vacated his Parliamentary seat of Baramati for his uncle in 1991. He has served as a cabinet minister in the state government for a long time. Like the NCP supremo, he is a mass leader and he too has been engulfed in numerous controversies throughout his career. Short tempered and unambiguous, he was in the news for the wrong reasons last year; responding to a query on the drought crisis in the state, he sarcastically asked whether he should urinate to get waters in the dam. It looks like he lacks the political acumen of his uncle. Supriya Sule, the daughter of Sharad Pawar may also stake a claim at the top shot. Apart from some social work, her only qualification is that she is the daughter of senior Pawar. In 2010, there were some allegations that she and her dad owned some stake in the IPL Pune franchise. State Home minister R R Patil who heads the NCP in the legislative assembly and the party's lower caste face Chhagan Bhujbal are also nursing ambitions to head the outfit. Former Union minister Praful Patel is the dark horse and he may emerge as the consensus candidate to keep the various warring factions together.

IMAGES

(1) Courtesy: India Today
Original: Difficult to implement Food Bill without adequate funds, says Sharad Pawar (Link)