O P I N I O N S

PERSPECTIVE

On Record
Left parties not opposed to FDI per se,
says Yechuri
by R. Suryamurthy
HE is considered to be a baby in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politburo. However, he is the CPM face to the world on television. A close confidant of senior Politburo members, Sitaram Yechuri is articulate and versatile.

The terror of khaps: Leadership cowers before kangaroo courts
by L.H. Naqvi
Sonia of Asanda is lucky to be alive. So is her husband Rampal. Any number of instances can be dug up of khap panchayats having ordered the killing of couples for defying the oppressive and irrational caste-based social code of the community.

Profile
Shabby treatment to a creative genius
by Harihar Swarup
Anupam Kher is an angry man. He seems unable to come to terms with the humiliation heaped on him by Marxists who dubbed him as an RSS man. Possibly, taking a cue from the CPM General Secretary, Harkishan Singh Surjeet’s attack on Anupam Kher, the Union Government summarily sacked him as Censor Board Chief.

Comments Unkempt
Bush, Blair should find new epithets to flog
by Chanchal Sarkar
WHAT a raft of elections we’ve just had — and all apparently to solidify democracy. For most of them even Lithuania perhaps America and Britain take the credit — making the world, they say, a “safer place”, clearing the air of the pollution emitted prima facie by Saddam Hussain.

Diversities — Delhi Letter
Khushwant’s updated volumes on Sikh history
by Humra Quraishi
Foremost, the two updated volumes of the “History of the Sikhs” (Oxford University Press) by Khushwant Singh have just hit the stands. The  earlier edition had events and happenings till about 1984. But for the last  one and half years, he has been working to update them.

• Parsis in Pakistan

• Weather and more

• No end to controversies

• Ramzaan takes off

PERSPECTIVE

On Record
Left parties not opposed to FDI per se, says Yechuri
by R. Suryamurthy

Sitaram Yechuri

HE is considered to be a baby in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politburo. However, he is the CPM face to the world on television. A close confidant of senior Politburo members, Sitaram Yechuri is articulate and versatile. He minces no words in stating the party’s position in any debate. In an interview to The Sunday Tribune, he says that the party is not opposed to FDI hike per se and their support to Dr Manmohan Singh’s government will continue.

Excerpts:

Q: What is the party’s stand on FDI hike particularly in the civil aviation and telecom sectors? The government’s response to the Left party’s concerns on the telecom sector seems to indicate that they would go ahead with the hike in FDI cap.

A: In today’s world, no country can remain insular or isolated from the global economy. The question, therefore, is not whether the FDI should be allowed to flow into India or not. The question is on what terms will the FDI come into India. We are of the firm opinion that the FDI must meet three conditions: it should augment or add to the existing productive capacities in our economy; it should upgrade our economy technologically; and it should generate employment. If these conditions are met, then the FDI is welcome.

As regards the government’s proposal to increase the FDI cap in telecom and insurance sectors, the CPM had given its considered views objecting to such an increase. The government has, at the last UPA-Left Coordination Committee meeting, given its response concerning the telecom sector. This is being considered by the party and a decision will be taken at our next Coordination Committee meeting,.

Q: Following the opposition from the Left parties, the government dissolved all the consultative committees of the Planning Commission and decided to follow the old practice of informal consultation. Are the Left parties worried that they would not be able to guide the government and present a Marxist perspective to the plan process? What would the Left parties do if the government chose to ignore them?

A: The Planning Commission has been functioning for over half a century without having any representatives of foreign agencies on any of its consultative committees. Their dissolution does not preclude the Planning Commission from functioning as earlier. There is no question of the Left parties being ignored. The deliberations of the Planning Commission will have to be put before the National Development Council where the Left is represented by two of its state governments — West Bengal and Tripura. Further, the Yojna Bhavan’s reviews need to be placed before Parliament where the Left has 61 MPs. The question of bypassing or ignoring the Left simply does not arise.

Q: Do you agree that the Left parties are more concerned about economic issues while ignoring political issues relating to Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland and Assam?

A: This is simply incorrect. The last UPA-Left Coordination Committee discussed mainly the situation in the North-East and Jammu and Kashmir. The CPM has urged the government to take all measures to contain the activities of the militants while at the same time enlarge and strengthen the dialogue process for a political solution. Such a dual track strategy is necessary for solving the problems in these regions.

Q: The infighting within the CPM’s Kerala unit is sending wrong signals. How much damage it would cause to the organisation as the Assembly elections will be held in the state in less than two years?

A: Differences of opinion within the CPM are a sign of our party’s good health. It does not constitute infighting. The party collectively takes a decision on various matters on which there are differences. Once a collective decision is taken, that is accepted and implemented by the entire party. Through this process, the party organisation is strengthened. We are confident of winning the next elections in the state.

Q: Despite pulls and pressures, the Manmohan Singh government has completed 100 days in office. What is your party’s assessment of the performance of the UPA government in the first quarter of its tenure?

A: It would be too early to assess the government’s performance comprehensively. It has, however, made a good beginning and we hope that it will implement the promises made in the Common Minimum Programme sincerely.

Q: Having seen the performance of the government in the past three months, do the Left parties regret the decision of extending outside support to the UPA government? Do you feel that the Left parties have committed a historic blunder when it had the mandate to join the government?

A: The CPM considers its decision to support the government from outside to be absolutely correct. It would be wrong to say that we had the mandate to join the government. Of the 44 CPM MPs, 41 were elected by defeating the Congress candidates. Likewise, of the 61 Left MPs, 54 were elected by defeating the Congress candidates. Hence, joining the government led by the Congress would have meant the violation of the people’s mandate.

Q: The UPA government is not taking the Left into confidence before announcing policy decisions. Given this situation, what options the Left has and how long the support to the Manmohan Singh government will continue? Will the Left only “bark” as it does not know how to “bite”?

A: The UPA and the Left Coordination Committee meet regularly. Hence, there is no question of the Left not being taken into confidence. There may, however, be issues that the Left does not agree with the government and we are at liberty to air our differences. The longevity and stability of the Manmohan Singh government will depend entirely upon its sincerity in implementing the Common Minimum Programme. The Left’s support to this government will continue on this basis. If this is done, as is being done, then this government will last its full term.

The terror of khaps: Leadership cowers before kangaroo courts
by L.H. Naqvi

Sonia: The latest victim

Sonia of Asanda is lucky to be alive. So is her husband Rampal. Any number of instances can be dug up of khap panchayats having ordered the killing of couples for defying the oppressive and irrational caste-based social code of the community. Her own determination to challenge the irrational order of the village elders asking her to treat her husband as her brother is largely responsible for the happy turn of events.

The remedy is simple. Political parties will have to close their ranks and support a comprehensive law for dealing with the threat that the private writ of religious denominations or region-specific dominant castes pose to the growth of a robust democratic polity based on the rule of law.

OPED

Profile
Shabby treatment to a creative genius
by Harihar Swarup

Anupam Kher is an angry man. He seems unable to come to terms with the humiliation heaped on him by Marxists who dubbed him as an RSS man. Possibly, taking a cue from the CPM General Secretary, Harkishan Singh Surjeet’s attack on Anupam Kher, the Union Government summarily sacked him as Censor Board Chief. Artists — big and small — have one common trait: they have skyrocketing ego and once their self-esteem is pricked, the fury knows no bounds.

Known to be aggressive by temperament, Anupam Kher is no ordinary personality of filmdom. Having acted in 200 Hindi films, he is acclaimed as a creative genius both within and outside the country. He too has an ego problem and a sharp reaction from him was inevitable when subjected to the ignominy. He has threatened to file a defamation suit against the octogenarian Marxist. One wonders if Surjeet would tender an apology. Anupam Kher is not the one to give up.

The real story behind the sacking of Kher has now been almost confirmed. Under him the Censor Board banned the documentary, “Final Solution”, a film produced in the aftermath of the Gujarat riots even though it had won several prestigious international awards. The film was censored when the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance was in power on the ground that it would incite communal passions.

The same Censor Board under Anupam Kher revised its stand on the Gujarat riots film. He appointed five eminent persons from the film world and culture including Shyam Benegal, for a review and cleared the controversial movie without any cuts. He even went to the extent of describing the movie as “a testimony of history” and “a well made documentary”. One wonders what was the need to humiliate an artist of Anupam Kher’s stature and rake up an unwarranted controversy.

Kher has vehemently repudiated the allegation that he is an RSS man, involved in the attempt to saffronise the filmdom to suit the Sangh’s ideology. He is quoted as saying that he had told the BJP leaders categorically that he did not subscribe to their ideology. His explanation notwithstanding, in a vibrant democracy like India, one is free to hold his political conviction — BJP’s ideology or tenets of the Congress — and one should not be victimised, least of all the artists.

If the government, headed by the BJP or the Congress, wants to replace someone for a valid reason, it should be done gracefully, without kicking up bitterness and rancour. Anupam Kher’s successor, Sharmila Tagore, is known to be a Congress sympathiser and there is nothing wrong in it. If the BJP comes back to power, does it mean that she should be removed disgracefully? Anupam Kher did not deserve this treatment, especially because he is a film celebrity and not a politician. His first commitment, evidently, is to films and not the RSS ideology. Clearly, he should not have been made a pawn in the BJP-Congress chess board.

Barely a year back, 59-year-old Anupam Kher was appointed Chairman of Central Board of Film Certification by the Vajpayee government. He might be inclined towards the BJP — many tilt towards the party in power for petty personal gains. But one wonders if he has ever been a diehard RSS man. The question being posed is: Does one of our best actor deserve this treatment? Certainly not. Non-political persons should not be peremptorily sacked in this manner. At the same time, infiltration of people with a certain ideology should not be appointed to professional bodies like the Censor Board.

Kher made his acting debut in 1984 with Mahesh Bhatt’s “Saransh”. He won Filmfare Award eight times and was decorated with “Padma Sri”. So close was he to his character in the film that one thought he was born old. He subsequently dispelled the impression and seen in roles of all kinds — father, brother, villain, and best friend, blending emotion, menace and comedy with finesse.

He turned out to be an exceedingly versatile actor. His talent as a director came to the fore with “Om Jai Jagdish” produced by Vashu Bhagnani and depicting a modern family which people would identify easily. It has been a long journey for Anupam Kher from “Saransh” to “Om Jai Jagdish”. The transition from actor to director made him very patient as he had said: “I now understand a director’s commitment and passion. I was a very impatient actor”.

As a director, Anupam Kher enjoyed respect from actors and they hold him in high esteem. A new role beckons him now that he is no more the head of the Censor Board. Will he take to acting or assume the role of a director? Politics is certainly not his cup of tea.

Comments Unkempt
Bush, Blair should find new epithets to flog
by Chanchal Sarkar

Mr George Bush and Mr Tony Blair

WHAT a raft of elections we’ve just had — and all apparently to solidify democracy. For most of them even Lithuania perhaps America and Britain take the credit — making the world, they say, a “safer place”, clearing the air of the pollution emitted prima facie by Saddam Hussain.

No weapons of mass destruction were found? No matter, Saddam intended to make and stock-pile them. The UN wasn’t involved no matter, the coalition could have won alone; only a few calculations, or lack of them, went wrong. Some from “the willing” dropped out? No matter, countries like France, Germany, Russia and Spain could be solicited again. Turkey could be tickled and priicked. Ex-employees from the CIA could be brought in to govern Iraq and things would soon be set right by Halliburton.

The elections, too, might turn out lucky, as some of them did. Take Australia. The immigration card worked once again, even though ‘liberal’ opinions were strongly disapproving also of Australian troops in Iraq. The Bush camp were jubilant at Howard’s victory, no question now of Australia withdrawing its troops from Iraq. It would continue to follow the USA blindly.

In Afghanistan Karzai is watched over by American troops as if he were a crown jewel and he is hardly let out of his palace in Kabul. Win he must, win he will have to otherwise the game “all for democracy” in Guatanamo, Abu Ghraib, or Geneva Conventions only at will, will go bust. The American Empire will come unstuck; Blair and Bush will have to find yet new moral epithets to flog.

India is the complacent observer. Tumultuous things are going on in its own backyard, in Afghanistan, Iraq and Burma but India is no more than a dummy. It is not asked to for advice or to take part in any of the shapings, except of course to send troops. It has no say in the new evolution of international law with doctrines of “pre-emptive strike”, “regime change”, capturing terrorists in any country in the world and locking them up incommunicado or communicado but untouchable by laws, national or international. Peace and freedom are all we want, says Mr Bush, but a peace and freedom ringed by a “strong America” currently with 752 military establishments in more than 130 countries. Its military budget is greater than the combined totals of the next 12 to 15 nations.

A ‘regime’ in the United States which is looked upon as an ‘occupier’ by every Iraqi, which averts its eyes from whatever goes on in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Jabeliya, for there the Israelis have to “defend” themselves. Yes, it’s a new journalism where we must use inverted commas all the time.

In that greatest democracy in the world — and now everywhere, perhaps in the largest and poorest — only the rich can fight and win elections. Nobody who is not a millionaire can hope to be President of the United States. Often, the wives of the candidates too are dripping with money. The debates are watched by scores of millions of people even if only a fraction of that number care to exercise their vote. It is deeply interesting for millions outside the United States to watch even if the Third World and its problems don’t feature even once in the debates. The whole thing is a high-priced charade but then charades are entertainment and can be an education as well.

One British journalist, after seeing the Democratic Party’s Convention, wrote that Kerry seemed to have a twitch, he kept saluting all the time. Bush walks from his helicopter onto the podiums from where he speaks like a soldier on parade even though he avoided being drafted to Viet Nam and his carrying a helmet with “Mission Accomplished” nailed to the deck of a warship, was a joke. Bush went to a war which took the lives of tens of thousands of peoples, Iraqis and Americans, thinking it would be a piece of cake. Again one has to admire the United States Senate, prodding the torture of Iraqis in jail, bringing the topmost generals and cabinet people before the committee, with millions of people watching. That is indeed a system which the other democracies don’t have, certainly not the Indian democracy where the issue would have gone on for ten years or more while the accused would have been free or in comfortable jails where they could hold parties.

Bush’s second election is next month, Blair’s is next year. So he is trying from now to build defensive gun-turrets like an Africa Commission. Africa is too old a continent and too much trampled upon to be taken in by Commission which is an infants’ rattle. The only continent to have gone backward in development it has seen several commissions like the Brandt Commission, the South Commission and so on and on. Britain’s aid record is not good at all, it has not even reached 0.42 of GNP whereas the UN requires 0.75. So one more Commission packed in silver paper, to last for several years and then produce a thick but readable tome printed and handsomely bound abroad is not its solution.

The cost of the British presence in Iraq is 14 billion pounds ($ 7.3 billion) and rising. Britain’s aid record, is as I said, 0.42 per cent. One campaigner against Britain being in Iraq asked “Why is it that we can spend 4 billion pounds bombing the crap out of Iraq but not 4 billion pounds to do some good in the world?” As good a question to counter Colin Powell’s saying that America gives $ 4.2 million a year to the African Union. What is that to spending $ 3.2 every three minutes in Iraq?

Diversities — Delhi Letter
Khushwant’s updated volumes on Sikh history
by Humra Quraishi

Foremost, the two updated volumes of the “History of the Sikhs” (Oxford University Press) by Khushwant Singh have just hit the stands. The  earlier edition had events and happenings till about 1984. But for the last  one and half years, he has been working to update them.

These two volumes have events updated right till the summer of 2004. An eventful summer for not just the country (what with the totally unexpected election results) but for the Sikh community too, when one of the Sikhs, has become the Prime Minister of the country.

Yes, Khushwant has captured and contained all this in these updated  volumes. It’s remarkable that even though touching 90 years, he was busy going through data so that not a single important detail vis-a-vis the  community gets left out or bypassed and missed. I think Khushwant has  done more for the community than any other Sikh.

Parsis in Pakistan

Though I am rather cynical and wary of large get-togethers, there is no denying that they do provide you with a platform to meet a cross section. In fact, a day prior to the opening of the SAARC writers’ meet, I met a member from the Pakistani writers’ contingent, Minoo Bhandara.

Suave and sophisticated, he is a member of the National Assembly of  Pakistan. He also writes regularly for “The Dawn”. I  met him at  Khushwant’s Sujan Singh Park home when he had come to call on him.

As we got talking, I had asked him the strength of the Parsi community in Pakistan. It was depressing to know that today there are just about 1,600  Parsis. When Bhandara rattled those dismal figures, I quipped whether he had done his bit to add to the numbers. He smiled boyishly and counter-  quipped, earnestly rattling his “contributing” numbers: “Yes, I have   contributed. I have three children.” Perhaps, there can be no further contribution from his end as he is almost  69 years old. But with men you  can never be too sure.

Weather and more

With the weather picking up, there is an increased activity on just about any sphere, even on the cold and cough bouts. I find it rather upsetting to know  that in a poor and developing country like ours there has never been adequate emphasis on the homoeopathic system of medicine. Not just affordable, these medicines do not leave side-effects. I am writing   this with two homoeopathic books clutched close to me.

One is titled “Self Help: Homoeopathic Remedies” by Dr M.B.L. Saxena (UBSPD) and the  other is by a doctor couple — K.P.S. Dhama and Suman Dhama — entitled  “Homoeopathy: The Complete Handbook” (UBSPD).

I am a firm believer in this system of medicine. As Dr Saxena states in his  book, once you go through these simply written books, you could become your own doctor and start treating yourself. Yes, as I am going through   these books, I feel there is not a single little disorder or the signs and symptoms of one which are not listed and the matching medicines to go about settling them.

No end to controversies

As one major controversy hits another one, there are talks centering around   those heads who were tailing certain political men; and together with that   much debate with “off with their heads” verdicts. In fact, it is a pity that in the last one decade the tendency to get close to the political masters had gained dangerous proportions and even artists of senior calibre were openly getting close to the corridors of power.

In our country, emotions run high and facts and figures are sidetracked. Just  the previous evening as I overhead a heated discussion on Veer Savarkar, I wasn’t well equipped about the controversies around this controversial figure and so what I did was to go through academic writer-turned  journalist Jyotirmaya Sharma’s book titled “Hindutva: Exploring the idea  of Hindu nationalism (Penguin).

Written early this year, Sharma has traced out Veer Savarkar’s  controversial role and within the context of historical facts. I think a must  read for those who want to know the stark facts of what had been happening in the decades not long past — happenings leaving their  aftermath marks on the political and with that social scenario.

Ramzaan takes off

This weekend, the month of fasting, Ramzaan, started and with that one  awaits invites for the ‘Iftar’ which has over the years  acquired a certain political shade here what with leaders of all hues hosting feasts for Muslims!

REFLECTIONS

I, Nanak, do hereby proclaim after due deliberation: Our bond with God’s court is established only through the singing of His praises.

— Guru Nanak

Cherish your guru’s lotus feet

And free yourself without delay

From the enslavement of this world;

Curb your senses and your mind

And see the Lord within your heart.

— Sri Adi Sankaracharya

If you wish to see God, have firm faith in the efficacy of repeating the ‘name’ of Hari and try to disseminate the real from the unreal.

— Sri Ramakrishna

As the hart panteth after the water brooks,

So panteth my soul after thee, O Lord.

— Psalms