In search of allies
GIVEN the utter confusion that characterises Indian politics, a third front has to be an assemblage of not-so-compatible, if not conflicting, forces which somehow share a single passion.
Terror tactics
PAKISTAN'S proxy war has been going apace for long but the dismemberment of India which it was anticipating has not come about despite its best efforts.
Gender-friendly verdict
THE Bombay High Court has dealt a powerful blow to the rights of women trapped in bigamous marriages by men who conceal their marital status.

CRISIS OF CASUALNESS
by Poonam I. Kaushish
“GOOF-UP” is the new word added to the political dictionary. A tested catchiest maxim to explain away all the wrongs and ills inflicted by them. Reducing everybody to tears. In America, it is Mr Clinton shedding tears over Monica’s goof-up.
Failures of IMF and
World Bank
by S. Sethuraman
THE world’s worst financial crisis in 50 years, threatening to unleash a global recession, is set to prolong into 1999 and beyond, given the state of bewilderment in which Finance Ministers and international institutions were caught at the annual meetings of the IMF/World Bank in Washington (October 4-8).

Delhi’s concern over Taliban threat by P. Raman THE customary denials by Taliban and Delhi about the intrusion of fresh hordes of the former into the troubled Kashmir should surprise no one. Normally, all such tactical contradictions amount to eloquent confirmation. A series of high-level confabulations involving those in charge of Kashmir operation reveal the seriousness with which Delhi is viewing the new threat. Punjab CM’s act of charity THE other day, one had the chance to see the benevolence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. As he was leaving the meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, a group of ill-clad persons accosted him.

75 Years Ago

Sir Michael and the
Indian Press
IN the course of a recent speech Sir Michael O’Dwyer is reported to have stated that a large number of journals in India were started with a view to blackmailing the India Princes, and that “he remembered asking a wealthy gentleman in Indian who owned a paper and complained that he was losing money over it, why he went on going so, and he said it paid him, because if he did not have a paper of his own he would have to spend more in blackmail.”

In search of allies

GIVEN the utter confusion that characterises Indian politics, a third front has to be an assemblage of not-so-compatible, if not conflicting, forces which somehow share a single passion. In the case of the one proposed by the CPM, the twin goals are of defeating the BJP and containing the Congress. At present this kind of support can come only from regional parties. These outfits are stark symbols of fractured politics and also, ironically, its chief cause. Almost all these parties owe their existence and appeal to one leader with an Everest-sized ego. These men and their parties are forever ready to walk into a new coalition but find it difficult to stay there for long, preferring yet another arrangement. This longish and painful overview is necessary to realise that the CPM’s proposal is theoretically sound but a non-starter as a pragmatic step. A moment’s introspection will convince the party of the validity of this observation. The short-lived United Front is but a memory now; its disintegration has been surprisingly total for a former ruling combination. Disastrous, from the CPM’s point of view, was the earlier experiment of a Right-Centre-Left coalition headed by Mr V.P. Singh’s Jan Morcha-turned-Janata Dal to take on the Congress. That helped the BJP vault from just two seats to more than 85 in the Lok Sabha between 1984 and 1989. Correspondingly the gains of the Left were negligible both in 1989 and later. The BJP used the 1989 alliance (actually a vote-sharing understanding) to grow to its present status as the largest single party in the Lok Sabha. The united opposition to the Congress paid off but only for two years; what it also did was to open the Congress-vacated political space in UP and Bihar to the BJP, now the CPM’s main political adversary.

The CPM is a party of rigid ideological commitment and hence finds it difficult, if also frustrating, to handle leaders and parties that are totally innocent of any policy, let alone ideology. This explains the erratic path taken by relations with such parties as Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav’s Bihar unit of the Janata Dal, Mr Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and, to some extent, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party. In view of the past experience and the present outlook and compulsions of major regional parties, the CPM has to look on the third front idea as an expedient, a temporary tieup. In other words, it may have to hold its nose and clasp the hands of a man like Mr Laloo Prasad to checkmate the BJP’s march in Bihar. And leave his corruption cases to the court. This is not very appetising and comes close to the amoral thesis of “apat kalin dharma” by BJP ideologue Govindacharya. That won’t appeal to the CPM, it won’t even give it a thought but it is the only precept political parties in this country respect now. If the Left party wants to fulfil the obligation its ideology and understanding of the nature of the Indian situation has thrust on it, well, it has to clasp it as a tactic, distasteful but unavoidable.

Terror tactics

PAKISTAN'S proxy war has been going apace for long but the dismemberment of India which it was anticipating has not come about despite its best efforts. Naturally, it is seething with rage and has been trying to up the ante like never before. Its reported directive to its militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir to strike in the nearby Himachal Pradesh is part of that diabolical programme. It hopes to derive several advantages from these tactics. The foremost is some lowering of the pressure that the Indian Army has mounted on the foreign mercenaries in Jammu and Kashmir. Himachal Pradesh is seen as a soft target where not only terrorist activities can be organised with greater ease but it can also be used to launch attacks in J and K. Most of the attacks are sought to be made on people belonging to one community so that religious tension could be created in Himachal Pradesh. Pakistan’s exporters of terrorism are right to some extent in their assessment about the so-called lack of preparedness of Himachal Pradesh to combat concerted terrorism. After all, this abode of gods has been virtually crime free all this while. But India now has experience of decades of such mischief and an adequate mechanism can be quickly devised to cope with the menace. The deployment of para-military forces on the border of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh is one step in that direction.

The civilian government will have to fully appreciate the magnitude of the threat before it can gear itself into action. The key to any drive is a motivated intelligence gathering machinery. One strategic advantage that the state enjoys is that the terrorists hardly enjoy any public support here. This will be a crucial factor in the days to come. The government must ensure that the lower constabulary does not dissipate the public sympathy through its rough and ready methods. It has been noticed both in Punjab and Kashmir that an offensive against the guerrilla tactics of the terrorists succeeds only when the common man takes up cudgels against the mercenaries. Such a network must be put in place immediately. One more factor in favour of India is that the places and persons providing sanctuary and support to the terrorists are easily identifiable. A close watch has to be kept on their activities. One difficulty which every anti-insurgency drive faces is that of lack of adequate funds. The country must have realised by now that not providing adequate weapons, machines and manpower proves to be penny wise and pound foolish. With adequate support from the Centre and effective coordination among all the states of the region, the diabolical plan can be countered effectively.

Gender-friendly verdict

THE Bombay High Court has dealt a powerful blow to the rights of women trapped in bigamous marriages by men who conceal their marital status. In a pathbreaking judgement, the court ruled that a woman is entitled to maintenance even though she is the second wife and her marriage is null and void in the eyes of the law. The single Judge Bench gave the ruling while dismissing the review petition of Mr Krishnakant Vyas, an aggrieved husband, who was ordered to pay an interim maintenance of Rs 5,000 and Rs 2,500 per month to his second wife respectively by a family court on February 5 this year. Mr Justice Ajit Shah who heard the review petition ordered Mr Vyas to pay Rs 5,000 to his second wife as costs and allowed him four weeks’ time to deposit the arrears. The judgement is significant as it seeks to make flexible the interpretation of Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act. Mr Justice Shah rightly observed that it would not be right for the courts to adopt a narrow and pedantic interpretation of the law while dealing with such cases. In his view, the Act conferred wide powers on the courts so as to regulate matrimonial relationship between the parties and such powers should be exercised even in the case of alleged or proven bigamous marriage. “I, therefore, see no reason why the words ‘wife’ or ‘husband’ used in Section 24 should not be interpreted so as to include man or woman who have gone through a ceremony of Hindu marriage which would have been valid but for Section 11 read with Clause (i) of Section 5 of the Act. These words have been used as convenient terms to refer to the parties who have gone through a marriage ceremony, whether or not such marriage is valid or subsisting, just as the word ‘marriage’ has been used to include a purported marriage which is void.”

In any case, in the present dispute the woman who accepted Mr Vyas’ offer of matrimony was not told by him that he was already married and that his first wife was alive at the time the two went through the prescribed Hindu ritual of tying the knot. Mr Vyas married Reena in June, 1986, at a temple in Ulhasnagar in Thane district and a daughter was born out of this wedlock. However, the second wife filed a petition in the family court for declaring her marriage as null and void after learning that Mr Vyas was already married and his first wife was alive. Under Section 18 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act she also claimed a sum of Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively for herself and her minor daughter as interim maintenance. The significance of the judgement should be seen in the light of the statistics which show that a large number of Hindu women are trapped into legally null and void marriages by men who conceal their marital status. Some years ago the judiciary had upheld the right of the first wife to maintenance and the status of “legally wedded wife,” if she so desired, in cases in which the husband and his “second wife” converted to Islam to escape the consequences of a bigamous marriage. The judiciary declared such alliances as “marriages of convenience” and, therefore, legally void. In the present case, the court has upheld the right of the second wife to legal relief because the man had concealed the fact from her that he was already married and that his first wife was alive. Of course, the better option would be for the National Commission for Women and similar organisations to create awareness about the consequences of “marriages of convenience” forced on unsuspecting women by unscrupulous men. Seeking legal remedy is usually an unpleasant experience for women in the current Indian situation.

CRISIS OF CASUALNESS
Wages of soft work culture
by Poonam I. Kaushish

“GOOF-UP” is the new word added to the political dictionary. A tested catchiest maxim to explain away all the wrongs and ills inflicted by them. Reducing everybody to tears. In America, it is Mr Clinton shedding tears over Monica’s goof-up. A blunder which could cost him his presidency. In India, it is the prices of onion. Eulogised by none other than our poet-Prime Minister Vajpayee, “Pehle pyaz katne per aankh mein ansoo aate thhe, aab pyaz kharidne per ansoo aate hain.” So busy are they in shedding tears on onions that goof-ups have become the symbol of governance. Anyone looking for proof would not have to look far for self-confessed goofy yarns.

Where should one begin? Of course, with the Prime Minister’s office which described the fracas over the checking of Air Chief Marshal S.K. Sareen’s antecedents as a “goof-up”. Remember, on October 4 India woke up to a news item that the antecedents of Air Chief Marshal Sareen along with some other senior military officials were to be verified. In accordance with the SPG Act of 1986, which stipulates that any person who has to come in contact with the Prime Minister under one roof, has to be cleared by security. So, routinely the Air Chief’s name was sent for security check-up and a sub-inspector despatched to his ancestral residence at Dehra Dun.

That the Service Chiefs have never been and are not supposed to be checked never occurred to anyone. Predictably, all hell broke lose with Mr Vajpayee hastily ordering an enquiry into the goof-up. Never mind if this goof-up is slowly turning into a war of words in the media. What with “leaked” stories of a bureaucratic subterfuge against the defence establishment. It is no secret that there is no love lost between the civilian babus and the military brethren over who should exercise control in the Defence Ministry. Add to this the noises of side deals and underhand deals. In other words, complaints against Air Chief Marshal Sareen of serious nature which require investigation. Needless to say the “goof-up” will continue.

Clearly our netagan had not learnt from their previous goof-up barely a fortnight earlier. When it got a rap on the knuckles from the Supreme Court over the setting up of the Central Vigilance Commission. Which refused to buy a red-faced Attorney-General’s argument of a goof-up over the word “others”. The Law Commission, it may be recalled had recommended that the CVC staff should be selected from out of not only the retired bureaucrats but also “others”, that is, from other sectors of the public services like the judiciary, the public sector and even the defence forces. However, for reasons intentional or inadvertent, the word “others” was dropped.

While the ministers blamed their bureaucrats for the slip-up, sources in the Cabinet aver that the drop was deliberate. The issue reportedly was discussed at length for 20 minutes, and the majority present at the Cabinet meeting seemed to be of the view that only a retired bureaucrat was suited for the CVC’s job. In other words, they are pro-bureaucracy on this issue. Now, it is to be seen how the government reacts to the Supreme Court direction. The matter would be reconsidered by the Union Cabinet.

As it stands, the powers-that-be had just recovered from another indictment, again by the Supreme Court. Over its bumbling blunder in “operation transfer” of Enforcement Director Bezbaruah. The court not only accused the government of “arbitrariness” and misleading it, but also reinstated the transferred officer under its express order. The first time since Independence. More, it refused the government’s “willingness” to revoke the Enforcement Director’s transfer. Instead, it “ordered” it to do so.

This goof-up led to a war of words between the Prime Minister and AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha. The southern ally wrote to the Prime Minister alleging that “hefty bribes” had been paid for Mr Bezbaruah’s transfer. Mr Vajpayee asked her to substantiate the charge. Making the AIADMK ministers and MPs double-up in her defence. Conclusive circumstantial evidence to prove that the transfer was not above board and the intention mala fide. The evidence? Mr Janardhanan, who is the AIADMK’s Minister of State for Personnel, and Revenue, Banking and Insurance, was rung up in Chennai by the Centre’s Establishment Officer on August 13 to seek his consent for Mr Bezbaruah’s transfer. The minister asked the Establishment Officer to wait till the next morning, stating : “I am returning to New Delhi tonight. We can discuss the matter tomorrow”. The minister’s directive was ignored, and a decision to send back Mr Bezbaruah to his parent Union Territory cadre of the IAS was taken and announced the same evening.

Secondly, Mr Bezbaruah’s transfer was in clear violation of administrative norms and procedure . These make it incumbent on the Cabinet Secretariat to seek the consent of the minister or ministers concerned for senior-level appointments, namely those of Joint Secretaries and above. In this case, Mr Janardhanan was ignored not only as the Minister of Revenue (Independent charge), but also as the Minister of Personnel. Interestingly Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha was away in Patna on that day. His concurrence was secured hastily on the phone!

That, however, is not all. When Mr Janardhanan’s OSD in the Personnel Department declined to send back the ED’s transfer file under the minister’s orders, the Personnel Ministry poste haste made a new file containing some relevant papers and put it up to the Prime Minister as the Minister of Personnel and through him to the Cabinet Committee on Appointments, which comprises the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the minister in charge. The rest is history.

And what should one say of yet another “goof-up”, involving another southern leader. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi, whose name figured in the Jains “chakravyuh” on the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. While the commission report had only pointed the needle of suspicion at the DMK chief, the government’s Action Taken Report named him in “the list of suspects” as suggested by Justice Jain. Leading to Home Minister’s confession in the Lok Sabha as a proof-reading “goof”!

In fact, the history of goof-ups can be traced back to the BJP’s first budget. Remember, Mr Sinha’s proposal for an oil price hike of Re 1 became Rs 4, thanks to bureaucratic bungle, netting a cool Rs 500 crore to the government exchequer. To be rectified only 24 hours later.

The goof and proof is indeed indicative of casualness — crass casualness. In fact, the government and indeed the nation today is a captive of this malady.

The result? Political instability, holy and unholy alliance in quest of power, economic disorder, social chaos and military turmoil with criminals having the last laugh. To the beat of the cash tillers killings take place, property is destroyed, work and economic activity is brought to a grinding halt and normal life is disrupted at the outbreak of any festering conflict.

Who cares for increasing communalism and casteism as also widespread poverty and illiteracy. Symbolising our tryst with destiny even after 50 years of freedom. From ecstasy to despondency, pedestal to dumps, netas to abhinetas, gaddi to ghaddari and from Ram Rajya to gutter rajya , the country has steadfastly travelled this road. Sadly, even the veneer of respectability has “Bobbitised”.

Indeed, where power is central to the very system, of which casualness is only a manifestation. Politicians call it a “systemic failure”. Probably, they are too polite to call it the success of a systemic design. Shielding their brood but exposing the commonman.

To top it, our leaders have perfected the art of suspense. As a result, our nation is a symbol of “crossed fingers”. Any wonder that 11,700 industrial units are sick, 745 in large and medium sectors. Over two million in the small sector. Out of 225 public sector units, over one hundred are in loss and nearly half chronically sick. But the government continues to empty its already depleted coffers. Plodding towards economic reforms and de-bureaucratisation. While continuing to hold the purse-strings tight against a free market economy — a symbol of accountability with its right to hire and fire.

Contemptuously breaking all laws and rules that they so arduously avow to uphold. Even trying to hoodwink the Supreme Court which is now striving to stem the rot. Courtesy the public interest litigations by citizens who are appalled, horrified and indignant over all that is coming to pass. Price rise, inflation, transfer of honest civil servants from sensitive posts and mafia rule.

The crowning glory is the holiday scandal wherein the government remained shut for nine days, courtesy festivals. If one totals the weekends in a year (102) plus 17 holidays, 31 restricted holidays, 14 days of casual leave, and 30 privilege leave, the government is enjoying itself for nearly 200 days out of 365 in a year. In other words, six months of work and another six on vacation!

More and more one looks at the character in the political pantheon, they resemble Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde! Where commerce through corruption, administration through bribery and politics through blackmail have pushed the people to the limits of their endurance.

A terrifying consequence of the confusion at the top is that the government today appears to speak in many voices, making it impossible to decipher its real mind. It is time to change this reality. Till the political tribe sheds its unwillingness and desists from employing its individual meanness for the public good, there will be no way out. We do not need collective action for anything other than collective goods.

This soft work culture can only be changed by hard decisions and accountability. Where there is no scope for half-truths, untruths and lies. Where each person is answerable. Where no one can get away with blue murder. Will our rulers listen? Or, will they tell the rhinoceros: “Thick skins have their own built-in problems. There is no one to notice who is thick-skinned”. —INFA

Failures of IMF and World Bank
by S. Sethuraman

THE world’s worst financial crisis in 50 years, threatening to unleash a global recession, is set to prolong into 1999 and beyond, given the state of bewilderment in which Finance Ministers and international institutions were caught at the annual meetings of the IMF/World Bank in Washington (October 4-8).

The intense deliberations among major industrial nations led by the USA, and President Clinton’s initiatives for an “aggressive response” to the immediate crisis and a “thoughtful road map” for the future, have had no impact on world financial markets. The remedies proposed have fallen short of expectations.

All that the highest policy-making forum of the IMF/World Bank agreed, largely at the behest of the USA, at the driver’s seat for the world economy, was that the Fund would provide what Mr Clinton described as “contingency lines of credit” to countries committed to strong economic policies to help them maintain stability in the face of speculative pressures.

But the IMF’s own resources are at their lowest levels, and its ability to take on new rescue packages, beginning with Brazil which is now in the grip of a contagion, will depend on a crucial vote by US Congress for $ 18 billion of funding for the IMF.

The World Bank for its part will step up its activity with more emergency loans to help the affected countries restructure their financial and corporate sectors and address social consequences of the crisis. So far, the bank has pledged around $ 17 billion in financing for crisis-hit countries of Asia.

Japan has been urged to take prompt and resolute action to strengthen its banking system — carrying bad debts of the order of $ 600 billion or more — and give a strong stimulus for the revival of domestic demand to emerge out of its current recession. Japan has significantly responded to its responsibility of economic leadership in Asia by announcing a $ 30 billion financial assistance to South-East Asian nations and Korea over the next two years.

For the capital-starved emerging economies of East Asia, the US Administration has also decided to extend through its Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Export-Import Bank, short-term credit and investment insurance to keep capital flowing.

In one respect, the Asian crisis and its far-reaching spread effect has forced some rethinking on the free movement of capital, on which the IMF had been working on amending its articles to ensure capital account convertibility. The Interim Committee of the Fund has asked the executive board to review the experience with the use of controls on capital movements — though this, in its view, may not be appropriate to deal effectively with fundamental economic imbalances — so that the opening of the capital account is carried out in an “orderly, gradual and well-sequenced manner”. The preconditions for a country’s ability to manage a freer movement of capital include solid domestic financial systems and prudential economic management.

Malaysia’s reversion to exchange controls to save further runs on its currency, in the wake of strong criticisms of the IMF’s handling of the Asian crisis and the social upheaval, especially in Indonesia, brought to the fore the grave risks that economies have become vulnerable to the pace of globalisation that the IMF and the World Bank have been pushing for developing countries.

There were candid acknowledgements in Washington that the depth of problems faced by banks and firms in Thailand, Indonesia and Korea was not adequately realised by the IMF nor the speed and strength of the virus which struck other regions as far apart as Russia and Latin America.

Finally, the safety mechanism that UNCTAD advocated and the plea by India and other developing countries for immediate attention to contain the contagion effect coincided with the US Administration’s own plan of emergency funding for countries affected by the turmoil by a mechanism “anchored in the IMF”.

Delhi’s concern over Taliban threat

by P. Raman

THE CUSTOMARY denials by Taliban and Delhi about the intrusion of fresh hordes of the former into the troubled Kashmir should surprise no one. Normally, all such tactical contradictions amount to eloquent confirmation. A series of high-level confabulations involving those in charge of Kashmir operation reveal the seriousness with which Delhi is viewing the new threat. In any case, the threat from Taliban is not a revelation. Delhi has been considering similar threat perceptions.

In the past few weeks, there have been reports of an agreement between Pakistani authorities, Taliban and the remaining sections of the Kashmiri separatists for renewed activities on a bigger scale. The mercenaries of Harkat-ul-Ansar — now renamed Harkat-ul-Mujhedin to exclude itself from the US list of banned organisations – are also involved in the plan. These mercenaries get their training in terrorism in Pakistani guerrilla camps. According to information, elaborate preparations are under way under the direct supervision of the ISI for a blitzkrieg in the region followed by prolonged acts of terrorism.

Pakistan has enough reasons for intensified action in Kashmir. Following joint operations by the Indian security forces in the past few years, there has been an obvious let-up in the morale of the extremists in the valley. The local elements once associated with the foreign masters are losing heart due to their isolation from the trouble-weary population. This is reflected in a clear change in the pattern of terrorism and the shifting concentration of the outside mercenaries to new areas. Apparently, Pakistan needs massive use of outside mercenaries to keep up pressure in the valley.

Pakistan is also under compulsions to avoid more direct clashes between the Taliban, blessed by Osama bin Laden, and the USA which seems to have upset the former’s game plan for the region. The US missile strikes on Laden’s camps, the shifting of Taliban forces to the Iran border following the concentration of troops on the other side and the US-induced arms twisting by the hitherto benefactor Saudi Arabia have caused considerable embarrassment to Pakistan which wants to ensure the support of both sides. The problem for Pakistan is that it cannot antagonise the USA at a time when it is faces a serious financial mess.

It is also aware of the deadly risk and cost involved in an open clash between Osama bin Laden and the USA. Its immediate implication will be a delay in Pakistan moves against India. Alienation of Saudi Arabia has led to drying up of an important source of funds for mercenaries. Therefore, Pakistan has been egging on Laden to shift his troops from the Iran border to ease tension. In the process, it can use the Taliban both against India and to serve the wider designs of the Islamic fundamentalism around Afghanistan.

Another factor that prompts Pakistan to make a renewed bid to create insurgency and terrorism has been its realisation that it no more stands to win a direct war with India. In view of the new geostrategic changes in the region, the USA would not allow another war between the two neighbours. There is widespread concern about its possible nuclear implications. The USA has already taken the position that after the nuclearisation of the region, the Kashmir issue is no more confined to India and Pakistan. Under the circumstances, the best bet for Pakistan is to heighten tension in Kashmir.

There have been ample evidence to indicate the direct involvement of the Islamic mercenaries in Kashmir. Apart from the Pak soldiers and ex-servicemen, there were Afghan Mujahideens, Algeria, Sudan and Arab terrorists of different denominations. Of an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 militants operating in the valley, over 1,000 are mercenaries from abroad. Some estimates say that about 1,500 new mercenaries had crossed over to the Kashmir side in the recent past though it is not officially confirmed. During the nine-year-long insurgency operations, about 35,000 militants were apprehended.

Of them, 700 are still in jail. Recently, Indian security forces had seized audio cassettes and other publicity material from terrorists. The terrorists rounded up had revealed details of their training in the camps in Pakistan and those set up by Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. Some of the seized cassettes had highly inflammatory speeches of Laden and selective quotations from Koran. According to one report, such materials seek to indoctrinate the ‘true believers’ so that they could be induced to eliminate the ‘infidel’ Indian forces and spread ‘jehad’ from the valley down to the entire peninsula.

Reports abroad have mentioned the Taliban hordes using radio facilities and loudspeakers to incite the religious fervour of the local Muslims. According to them, among articles seized from the mercenaries are solar-powered rockets and explosives which could be programmed months in advance. In Delhi, it is admitted that Taliban, in league with the Pakistani terrorists and their commanders, have been able to establish a foothold in the Doda region. It is suggested that Rajouri and Poonch as also Kupwara may be the weak points of sneaking by the mercenaries.

Taliban’s entry into the valley will add another dangerous dimension to the extremist activities in Kashmir. Taliban hordes are known for their emphasis on the virtues of Islamic fundamentalism and misuse of religion for maintaining their hegemony. This was what they had done in Afghanistan. Use of religion and demonstrative enforcement of its practices can appeal to the kind of people living in the interior villages in the valley. The local misguided elements had resorted mainly to separatism and religion.

Essentially recruits from the Madrasas, Taliban has the ability to arouse hatred by using the worst kind of fundamentalism to provide an ideological veneer. Mindless actions by the new rulers in Delhi will provide added credibility to such nefarious campaigns by the Islamic zealots. The schizophrenic onslaughts against the minorities like Muslims and Christian missionaries in various parts of the country are being publicised in a highly exaggerated manner among the soft targets abroad. Inflated figures of riot victims, forceful eviction of Muslim villagers in Gujarat, repeated minority bashings, etc, are enough to inflame passions and hatred among gullible sections.

Similarly, exaggerated versions of speeches by the VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders come in handy to motivate the innocent to join the ranks of saboteurs. This provides fertile ground for recruiting ISI agents. Already, there are reports of ISI agents befriending gullible Christian elements to take advantage of their perceived alienation at the hands of RSS outfits. This is also being used to advantage by ISI bosses and other religious fanatics to get more funds to what they claim safeguard Islam. Thus the BJP and its “holding company”, the RSS, have immensely contributed to the efficacy of the ISI and the growth of terrorism in India.

Unfortunately, the BJP Government at the Centre has also missed an opportunity to take advantage of the growing indignation against Islamic fundamentalism, Taliban and its multimillionaire guru Laden. True, the US onslaught on Taliban — a monster that the USA itself had created in collusion with Pakistan as a cold war deterrent against the Soviet bloc in Afghanistan —is solely inspired by their attack on US personnel in Kenya. The other aspect of the US operation has been that it no more finds any use for such cold-war monsters. This explains the successful US pressure on Saudi Arabia to cut off its ties with Taliban and Laden.

Two years back, India could play an important role by participating in a regional conference sponsored by Iran. India has also been active in a UN-sponsored discussion on the issue of terrorism in the region. Now at a time when the USA itself is taking the lead to checkmate such Islamic fundamentalist outfits, the new government finds itself incapable of taking any initiative. The BJP government’s misguided policies and the Hindu supremacist image should be blamed for this lapse. We are now viewed with suspicion. Our own foreign policy mess-up has left us with few friends in the region.

Due to the BJP government’s exclusivism and isolation, India has been kept out of the latest six-nation conference of the Afghan neighbours. The USA and Russia had also attended it. All this at a time when there is a dire need for concerted diplomatic and strategic initiatives to curb the growing might of the outfits like Taliban. They have already become common concern of so many countries round the region. Iran, Russia, China and the Central Asian Republics are facing threats of varying degrees from Taliban.

For long, the Central Asian Republics have been resisting the Pak-Taliban moves to spread fundamentalism to upset their ethnic balance and largely secular regimes. India has traditional relationship with these countries which have been considered as “our extended neighbourhood”. China has been facing serious threats from the Pak-guided religious zealots to its north-western province of Xinjiang. The largest province of China, Turkish-speaking Muslims account for three-fifths of Xinjiang’s population.

The Chinese have been taking effective steps to frustrate the fundamentalist moves from outside to spread separatism and terrorism in Xinjiang. It has been able to effect changes in the demographic complexion of the province by way of massive settlement of population from other Chinese provinces. It had also succeeded in cracking down on religious separatists in a big way. However, setting up of more Laden-aided Taliban camps in Afghanistan to train the Muslim separatists in Xinjiang has caused fresh worry to Beijing.

Involved in this is a clash of interests between the Pakistan-Taliban side and Iran for the domination of the region and filling the vacuum left by the Soviet exit. Easing of the tension on the Iran border, total Taliban domination of Afghanistan and the possible changes in Pakistan will influence the shape of things in the next few months.

Punjab CM’s act of charity

THE other day, one had the chance to see the benevolence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. As he was leaving the meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, a group of ill-clad persons accosted him.

Attempts by the securitymen to chase them away attracted the attention of the Chief Minister, who heard them out at a handshaking distance. He then donated Rs 500 as charity.

What, however, is surprising is how these persons, three of them visually handicapped, managed to enter the premises of Yojana Bhavan, which comes under the Capital’s high security zone.

Interestingly, another “Z” security VIP, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Kalyan Singh, was present in the building till some time ago.

Such acts of benevolence as that done by Mr Badal are rare in today’s breed of leaders. But should security be forgotten?

Cong to brush up image

Keeping in step with the ever-growing media, the Congress party has decided to cast off its old mould and gear up.

As a first step, the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, appointed a former Speaker, Mr Shivraj Patil, as head of the rechristened Media Department.

Now all the spokespersons, the team of Newswatch and the editorial board of Congress Sandesh, the official monthly newsletter of the party, will be functioning under this department. The department will also build up its own library and background material and, that too, on-line. At the press of a button one can have the party’s viewpoint on various issues.

More importantly, the Congress decided to have a studio set up at 24, Akbar Road (party headquarters) so that obliging “netas” do not have to give their views on varied issues, standing out in the open to television networks, with many unwanted elements trying to squeeze in so as to come on TV.

Of course, the other reason is that the AICC will also record the interview simultaneously and have it on tape so that the excuse of being “misquoted or being quoted out of context” is not trotted by these netas whenever things go awry.

Managing VIP traffic

Mr Badal’s meeting with the Planning Commission opened a new area for planning — planning traffic chaos due to VIP movements.

Mr Badal, whose meeting was scheduled at 12.30 p.m., arrived a few minutes earlier at Yojana Bhavan with a fleet of cars in tow. The UP Chief Minister, Mr Kalyan Singh, whose meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, had, however, not ended by then.

The fleet of cars that brought Mr Kalyan Singh to the venue were already parked on the premises when that of Mr Badal arrived. This resulted in a mini traffic jam inside the complex with authorities trying to show their helplessness, in breaking the logjam.

Perhaps, discussing traffic management should also have been on the agenda?

Lewdness knows no age

The Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky affair continues to generate interest in India despite the US President’s strong stand against India after it conducted the Pokhran nuclear tests.

This columnist saw stacks of paperback editions of the Kenneth Starr report at a book shop and it appeared to heading the charts of non-fictional bestseller.

Yet a young lady, who frequented the book shop, struck a casual conversation with the shop owner and wanted to know who could still be interested in the Starr report. The shopkeeper’s candid reply took her aback. Just the other day the lady’s father had picked up a copy. It appears when it comes to lewd affairs, there is no generation gap.

Mulayam & Rs 2000 crore

The statement of Mr Mulayam Singh, former Defence Minister and Samajwadi Party chief, about giving Rs 2,000 crore to Pakistan, has not only evoked strong reactions in India, but also brought reactions from diplomats from across the border.

At the opening of an exclusive shop recently in Hauz Khas Village, a senior Pakistani diplomat asked about his reaction to Mr Mulayam Singh’s statement, initially refused to comment but later remarked that although Pakistanis were thankful to the SP leader for offering to help, the country’s economic condition was not so bad that it needed to seek help from India. He added that Mr Mulayam Singh should have at least asked his friends from across the border before making such a statement!

(Contributed by T.V. Lakshminarayan, K.V. Prasad, Girja Shankar Kaura, Gaurav Choudhary and P.N. Andley.)

75 YEARS AGO
Notes and Comments
Sir Michael and the Indian Press

IN the course of a recent speech Sir Michael O’Dwyer is reported to have stated that a large number of journals in India were started with a view to blackmailing the India Princes, and that “he remembered asking a wealthy gentleman in Indian who owned a paper and complained that he was losing money over it, why he went on going so, and he said it paid him, because if he did not have a paper of his own he would have to spend more in blackmail.”

The first part of the statement is one of those reckless assertions of the late Lieutenant-Governor of this Province, who had and has the evil habit of mistaking mere invective for argument and strong language for strong judgement.

Black sheep there are in every flock, and it is possible that among the large number of newspapers in India there are one or two whose methods have not been scrupulously correct. But to say that a large number of newspapers in India were started with the deliberate object of black-mailing the Indian Princes is an atrocious libel, of which any decent man ought to be ashamed.

Sir Michael was long enough in India to know that the vast majority of Indian journals do not as a result concern themselves with the affairs of the Indian Princes and their states at all, and this has, as a matter of fact, been made a ground of attack upon them.

As regards the second part of the statement, we should like very much to know who is the “wealthy gentleman” that made the statement to Sir Michael which the latter attributes to him.