Anandgarh: think before you build
by Surinder Singla

Envisioning and visualising any new creation can be stimulating. This was the case for the inhabitants of Punjab who have the unique blessing of being associated with an architectural masterpiece like Chandigarh. Getting excited would be natural for them when the state leadership seriously moots fancy ideas of building modern cities, especially in memory of historic personalities and events of great significance.

There is, nevertheless, a rider to it: a majority of the people affected should benefit from it and their quality of life improve. The decisions to undertake such massive projects can stand vindicated and intentions justified if the nobility of purpose is truly established. Right now, we have a case in hand to be appropriately scrutinised in totality—the creation of a new city, Anandgarh, announced by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

Nearly two decades ago, in the eighties, Mr Darbara Singh, then Chief Minister, also had come up with a fancy idea of building a city named after Maharaja Ranjit Singh, called Ranjitgarh, near Jalandhar, his hometown. This project caught the imagination of Punjabis and the state government received an enthusiastic response from NRIs. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs Indira Gandhi and there was appreciation on naming this city after the first Sikh ruler. Nonetheless, as everybody knows, the project died down with the passage of time.

Recently, on the historic occasion of the tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa, Mr Badal announced the creation of a new city—Anandgarh —near/around Anandpur Sahib in memory of Guru Gobind Singh. And this, too, seems to be headed for the same fate as Ranjitgarh.

Is it difficult to imagine the motives and ambitions of the state leadership? Certainly, they would like to go down in the history of Punjab as the founders of new cities. And why not? History will justifiably give a place of honour to those who perform the feat of establishing a modern city. Chandigarh is a familiar example. But are the higher values and purpose, as claimed, the propelling force behind the idea of building the grand new city.

This debate has several aspects: Is it the crafty land mafia and a new class of “traders in land” that is pushing the project to grab what Marxists would better call ‘unearned profits’? Will the project generate a negative political environment? Will it be a development force multiplier? Would the government not only rehabilitate the displaced villagers adequately but also accrue to the people proportionate gains? These are some of the issues that are the vital accompaniments of such a proposal.

First, taking up the political aspect, it can be seen by anybody that the proposal for Anandgarh has already raised the political temperature. People of Punjab are wasting a lot of time in a futile debate that is centring around “Do we really need a new city to ease out the pressure on the overcrowded city of Chandigarh, or to build a fitting memorial to the birth of the Khalsa three hundred years ago?” There is a tendency to overlook that a new Chandigarh would certainly build a reasonable case for Haryana to claim one modern city, or the “Old Chandigarh,” to be given to it. Chandigarh is the hottest trouble spot since the division of Punjab and Haryana. Territorial disputes are not uncommon. But this dispute is unique. Most Chandigarhians would not like to lose their present identity.

It is also certain that Punjab is going to witness a major political battle in the coming times, as is indicated by the large-scale political opinions opposing the creation of a new city. When the Congress, the CPI and a ruling Akali MLA moved a motion to demand a discussion on Anandgarh, the government did not accept it for the five days. Then the government moved its own motion for discussion. The amazing part of it is the Leader of the House and Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, was not present in the Assembly on that day. His deliberate absence, not participating in and responding to the debate, may be an indication of the motives of the government.

Thus the debate in the Assembly came to a naught. The issue could not be resolved democratically in the House. A whip-based parliamentary party system does not help resolve any issue that affects a whole state. The debate took place on party lines, which does not reflect the real wishes and aspirations of people. It came to be the government versus other parties. There was no solution to the issue as all major political forces took different stands on this city at different points of time. When the Congress thought of building a new city, the Akali Dal opposed it vehemently. Now, the Akali Dal government is building a city and the Congress is opposing it as the Akalis had done. What is the use of this kind of a legislature if it fails to resolve such vital issues?

With this kind of posturing by the political forces that be, the state will witness demonstrations, protest marches and disruption of public life. Is it avoidable? Yes. There is a need to limit the scope of whip so that a free expression of opinion in the Assembly is possible without affecting the functioning of the party system.

Keeping in mind that in future this programme of building a new city can unleash the forces of disruption, this project should be reassessed so that people are convinced about it. Either those who are opposing this project could be persuaded to accept it or the government could be persuaded to abandon it.

The government has mentioned only recently that it had decided while finalising the programmes to celebrate the Khalsa tercentenary to build a city in memory of the founder of the Khalsa Panth, Guru Gobind Singh. It is a sentimental issue. If it sincerely believed that building a city invokes great ideals among people about Guru Gobind Singh, then people can rightly question: Why not build the city in the neighbourhood of Anandpur Sahib? Are there any ulterior motives in building the city away from Anandpur Sahib? The decision to build next to Chandigarh does not persuade people to believe the government is working entirely in the state’s interest.

Another political issue raised is that Punjab will lose the claim on Chandigarh. This is what Mr Badal himself had said at the time of the Congress rule. Though Punjab may not lose the claim entirely, it certainly will weaken the negotiating power vis-a-vis Haryana.

Now, let us consider the land mafia aspect. A public debate in the state has raised doubts that there is a land mafia which is pushing this project. Newspapers have carried names of leading political personalities as well as bureaucrats, apart from speculator-traders in land, who allegedly want to make a fast buck. This is the most serious aspect of the whole controversy. People who are likely to profit from this are part of the establishment.

The whole gamut seems somewhat akin to the latest match-fixing scandal that has rocked the cricketing world. In stock exchanges, when a company management, on the basis of information which it commands and the decision-making power that it has, manipulates the prices of its shares and profits from it, it is called ‘insider trading’. Such insider trading is a criminal act and can invite penal action from the SEBI.

A similar mechanism should also be devised to punish the policy-makers who profit from a decision being taken by them. The next question is how do you punish? One way could be that you take note of the date when the first proposal was mooted. Subsequent to that date, nobody buying or trading in land in the areas concerned should be paid the market price for the land being traded. A government order should also be passed to punish the insiders involved in the project who deal, directly or indirectly, in land there. By doing so, the government would be cleared of all ill intentions attributed to it for hurrying up this project.

Another aspect of the proposal that is bearing heavy on people’s mind is that every developmental project causes suffering to those who are uprooted by it; but these sacrifices are then handled in the right earnest and people are adequately compensated. The question in the present case is whether the proposed city is really such a developmental project that must be gone through, that the state cannot afford to ignore.

Building a city cannot be compared to major irrigation dams, power projects or a big industrial units like refineries, which not only generate jobs but also add new income and ensure a regular flow of investment. A housing project is a one-time expenditure, which may not be called an investment for development purposes. The point is, the requirement that a project sets off a new income cycle is missing. Thus, you cannot call this a real developmental project.

Recently, Mr Badal stated that Anandgarh would be a city of the new millennium and that it would be made an attractive destination for IT professionals. Mr Badal forgets the fact that for a city to come up, to be a workable one, to be operational, at least two decades are required. Does he want the IT industry to wait for that long? The immediate question is: Is he serious about the IT industry coming up in the state of Punjab?

Given the pros and cons, a balance has now to be struck between human suffering and the gains expected. This is the most vital issue. The inhabitants of the villages involved, in whose life uncertainty has entered suddenly, causing a lot of pain, must be convinced why their property should be taken away by the state government. Several Members of the Assembly have also questioned whether the uprooting of people would be an ideal tribute to the Khalsa Panth.

Everywhere in the world, particularly in USA, public interests are well defined wherever private property of individuals is taken away for a very “great cause”. The Anandgarh project does not seem to be a proposal that could benefit the entire population of the state. If the money that the state government proposes to spend on this project could be spent on providing basic civic amenities like clean water, sewerage, lighting and hygiene in urban areas in the state, a greater cause would be served. All cities and towns in the state are virtual slums. It would be far better if government money is spent for the betterment of all people rather than housing a few hundred or thousand families in one city. Will the government work out how to ensure funds are spent in public interest equitably all over the state?

Mr Surinder Kumar Singla is a former Member of Parliament.

Marked

The Punjab Government has issued a series of notifications under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act to acquire land of the following villages for the proposed Anandgarh city :

	Name of village	Land to be acquired
1.	Sangelan	1663 kanal 13 marla
2.	Mastgarh	1984 kanal 15 marla
3.	Basepur	1709 kanal 09 marla
4.	Ferozepore Bangar	1914 kanal 02 marla
5.	Chahamajra	2589 kanal 07 marla
6.	Milkh	885 kanal 07 marla
7.	Slamipur	1172 kanal 10 marla
9.	Ranimajra	2799 kanal
10.	Tira	6564 kanal 03 marla
11.	Malikpur	2139 kanal
12.	Bharaujian	2325 kanal 14 marla
13.	Rehmapur	2235 kanal 14 marla
14.	Salamatpur	2641 kanal 08 marla
15.	Devi Nagar	2322 kanal 05 marla
16.	Dhodemajra	1382 kanal 06 marla
17.	Bhagatmajra	1422 kanal 02 marla
18.	Rasulpur	1664 kanal 18 marla
19.	Ghandauli	2065 kanal 03 marla
20.	Ratwara	933 kanal 03 marla
21.	Togan	3874 kanal 02 marla
22.	Shingariwala	2264 kanal 09 marla
23.	Dhanauran	2777 kanal 14 marla
24.	Bahalpur	2343 kanal 09 marla
25.	Paintpur	1748 kanal 08 marla
26.	Mullanpur Garibdass	8865 kanal 11 marla
27.	Thaska	1001 kanal 07 marla
28.	Palheri	4970 kanal 03 marla
29.	Kansal	3714 kanal 17 marla

“Quote — Unquote”

"We have tried to push comprehensively every part of the economy forward. But if there is no consensus, there will be a fractious atmosphere. Today, the consensus is weakening because it is becoming a victim of party politics."

— Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, while inaugurating the annual session of the Confederation of Indian Industry

* * *

"I call upon all patriotic Pakistanis to call for respect for the electoral verdict and an end to the politics of hate violence and retribution."

— Former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan People's Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto

* * *

"The Treaty (NPT) has transformed acquiring a nuclear weapon capability from an act of national pride to a cause for international alarm."

— US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright

* * *

"She (Mamata) can cry in the wilderness. Let her rest content with the BJP. She has allowed the BJP to ride on her shoulders in West Bengal."

— CPI General Secretary A.B. Bardhan

* * *

"This is probably the worst condition of drought leading to a near famine situation in independent India."

— CPI (M) central committee commenting on the lackadaisical attitude adopted by the Central Government.

* * *

"Out of some 600 convicts undergoing life sentence here (Rajahmundry Central Prison), as many as 350 have graduated in the prison by pursuing courses through a study centre of Ambedkar Open University situated on the premises.'

— Superintendent of Prison G. Radhakrishna

* * *

"In the name of the Forest Act, officials harass people who are working for the welfare of those who stay near the forests.”

— Avadhesh Kaushal, Chairman of the Rural Litigation Entitlement Kendra.

* * *

"There is no question of joining hands with the Congress in West Bengal as it is going with the BJP."

— Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar

* * *

"Once the Congress joins the 'mahajot (grand alliance),’ Sonia Gandhi cannot claim to be opposing the BJP anymore and, in that case, how can she remain the leader of the Opposition? She should quit then."

— Anil Biswar, a CPI-M Politburo member and the party's West Bengal secretary.

* * *

"Very often techniques are not the problem. Technology is the problem because we don't marry the two."

— V.K. Aatre, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister

* * *

"It is a ruthless assault (recent price hike) on the livelihood of the common people."

— The resolution of the CPI complaining and condemning the cut in subsidy on foodgrain and fertilisers and the hike in the prices of essential commodities

* * *

"Rehabilitation should be linked to employment opportunities also."

— Former Prime Minister V. P. Singh

* * *

"Punjab has a rich economy. Its people are outward-looking and like to communicate, entertain and to be entertained. Even the average farmer there wants his own cell phone. When people are gregarious, there is no stopping them.

— Mahendra Nahata, Himachal Futuristic Corporation Ltd (HFCL) chairman, commenting on Punjab emerging as the hottest telecom circle in India

* * *

"Even review of the Constitution is unconstitutional."

— Firebrand BSP general secretary Mayawati, commenting on the Constitution

* * *

"History has taught us how great civilisations have vanished due to the ruthless exploitation of natural resources."

— Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, speaking on the theme "Water Resources Management in the 21st century"

* * *

"India is no more being viewed as a big brother but as a responsible neighbour, with nations now displaying better understanding of New Delhi's strategic and security concerns."

— Defence Minister George Fernandes

* * *

"Gender equality was preached by Guru Nanak but the social set-up did not allow it to be practised."

— Historian Dr J.S. Grewal, former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University

* * *

"Let us stop betting, but not cricket."

— Rajya Sabha Member Cho Ramaswamy

* * *

"We don't want to quarrel with the BJP, we only want to make it clear that the BJP should consult us on major policy matters."

— Sena Chief Bal Thackeray

* * *

"It's time to take hard decisions and make people pay for the wrongs they have committed."

— Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh

* * *

"Women are the fastest growing segment among small business owners and the top winners have demonstrated the imagination and perseverance necessary to become successful businesswomen."

— President of the Organisers Citizens Committee Michael Clark.

* * *

"I think the Chinese leadership may eventually realise the current policy is not wise."

— Dalai Lama

* * *

"I am used to this kind of publicity in the Indian Press. They (the Press) have been writing of me ever since I have been in Rashtrapati Bhavan. What the French (Press) did is a reflection of what the Indian media has been saying for the past three years."

— President K. R. Narayanan, expressing his anguish about the description of him as an "untouchable" in the French Press during his visit

* * *

"The Governor should immediately leave the state if he has even a semblance of a conscience."

— Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, demanding the resignation of the Bihar Governor

* * *

"All of us have to protect and work for the unity of the three regions of the state, Jammu, Kashmir valley and Ladakh."

— Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah

* * *

"We have to fight for the second independence to gain economic freedom in the same manner as we had fought the British Raj."

— Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Chief K.S. Sudarshan, suggesting a "second independence movement"

* * *

"The role of Russia-India-China relations is especially important to consider as the world order of the 21st century takes shape."

— Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov

* * *

"I feel that conversion of the LoC into international border alone can bring peace to the region."

— J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah

* * *

"You can help meet the shortage by contributing money, no matter how small the amount, to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund"

— Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, seeking contribution for drought relief

* * *

"Are you prepared to admit that your government had committed a grave mistake by attempting to change the preamble of the Constitution? Do you now condemn your own AICC resolution on the need to have a second look at the Constitution."

— BJP spokesman M. Venkaiah Naidu, posing a 10-point questionnaire to the Congress on its objection to the Constitution review exercise

* * *

"Instead of launching an assault on poverty, the government has launched an assault on the poor."

— Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha.

Compiled by Kuldip Kalia

Profile
by Harihar Swarup
Husband of seven, father of 36

HIS name should go in the Guinness Book of World Records. His weight, appetite, tremendous capacity for procreation and maintenance of virtually a harem match with the legendary Maharajas of bygone days or fire-spitting giants depicted in fairy tales. Paradoxically, he is neither a Maharaja nor a colossal but a tribal belonging to Bihar known as the most backward state of the Union. His genetic composition should be a subject of research in medical science. Most shocking, however, is that his first name is the same as that of this columnist even though this poor scribe is lean and thin, was under-weight in his younger days, could produce only two children and, of course, has one wife.

But Harihar Tiwary on a weighing machine - sitting or standing - and the instrument will be virtually crushed under his weight; the needle will swing to 400 kg. He is married seven times, all his seven wives are living and, ironically, they maintain him. His procreation acumen is as powerful as the weight of his body. His seven wives have given birth to 36 children who, in turn, made Tiwary a proud grandfather of 20. He belongs to Hajipur in North Bihar, the constituency of the Communication Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, and catching the attention of the international media. Tiwary is known to be an admirer, an ardent supporter of Paswan. Locals jocularly call him “Tata Sumo”.

His diet has been astounding; the menu consists of 1 kg of mutton, 10 pieces of fried fish, 10 eggs and half a kg of washed rice. The appetite is bolstered by rounds of country-made liquor contained in pouches and his family members — wives and adult children — join him in Maharaja-like dining and wining. The platoon-size family lives under one roof, eats and drinks together, shares each others joy and sorrow. Tiwary, who is now 50, reportedly claims that when he was 25 his menu included 5 kg of meat every day. Those were the days when he had not put on weight, was swift and agile. He began gaining weight when he crossed 25 and the rate of obesity was quite fast but he did not consider it worth consulting a doctor, possibly because all the money his wives and children earn barely meet their day-to-day requirements. Tiwary has grown horizontally and the bulk of the flesh is concentrated round the waist. So heavy has he become that his legs are not able to bear the weight of the body. Whenever he has to travel, his family members load him in a truck or a light motor vehicle and unload him on reaching the destination. His is basically a nomad tribe, his wives and children sell cloth in remote villages and, sometimes, the family has to move from place to place and the head of the family also travels with them. He now prefers to stay at home in Hajipur.

According to reports published in the Indian media, Tiwary married, for the first time, at the age of 18 but his wife, Takavati Devi, was barely 10 years old. He waited for two years and married for the second time to Tapeshwari Devi but did not desert his first wife who, in the course of time, gave birth to six children. The second one also did not lag behind and produced an equal number of offsprings.

But why had Tiwary to marry other six young girls.? Newspaper reports quoted him as claiming that as a wrestler and robust person, girls were getting attracted to him like a magnet and he could not say no to a woman. Therefore, he married them. The third wife, Kalavati, has also produced six children. The fourth wife, Jogeshwari, bore him four and two others, Urmila and Bari, five each. Bachi Devi, according to the Week magazine, whom he married eight years ago, has two children. Girls, one after another, he claims, fell for him and now the tally of his wives is seven. The most amazing aspect is that there is no feeling of jealously or rivalry among his wives as they assert their conjugal rights over him. They feed him, massage his bulky body with fresh oil and give him a refreshing bath with soap.

Many stories concerning Tiwary are prevalent in Hajipur. One oft repeat one says that once he tried to use a cycle rickshaw but the three wheeler gave way under his weight. Tiwary does not want to go for treatment for obesity because he does not have money but if the government or a voluntary organisation is prepared to pay his medical bills, he is prepared to see a doctor.

Delhi durbar
Silence on CTBT — Sonia style

There was much preparation in the Congress party for the speech of its Parliamentary Party leader, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, taking part in the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s address in the Lok Sabha.

Her publicity managers and floor managers preferred that Mrs Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition, should speak just before Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, replied to the debate.

The party manager’s efforts initially went waste as the Prime Minister’s reply was postponed from April 20 to April 25, as Mr Vajpayee was indisposed.

Of course the next time around, there were quite a few loyalists who arrived with a list of issues to be taken up during the debate while the visitor’s gallery had among others the former Punjab Chief Minister, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.

While the Congress members were happy over the manner in which their President handled and forcefully raised some contentious issues, her silence on the PM’s poser on the Congress stand on the CTBT left many wondering.

Mr Vajpayee wanted to know as to what was the Congress stand since after Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s meeting with the US President, Mr Bill Clinton, the party’s Chairman of Media Department, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, spoke of the need for a “minimum credible nuclear deterrent”. A day later the Congress spokesman, Mr Ajit Jogi, articulated the party line and disowned Mr Mukherjee’s remark.

Apparently, Mrs Gandhi decided to keep quiet as she did not want to reiterate what Mr Jogi said thereby causing further embarrassment to a senior leader like Mr Mukherjee and create further problems for herself. As the saying goes, silence is golden.

Match-fixing and media glare

For someone who prefers to keep his profile on the lower side, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, has been in the limelight ever since the Delhi Police took the lid off the match-fixing episode.

Having got the Department after the BJP MP, Ms Uma Bharati, resigned from the Union Council of Ministers, Mr Dhindsa has been handling deftly the Ministry which has been facing one of the most sensational issues of international sport.

In fact, after his out of turn comment on legalising betting which was not approved by the Prime Minister, Mr Dhindsa has done well to steer clear of any controversy on the subject which has become an international issue. He has now taken extreme care of consulting senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister L. K. Advani before committing the government on the issue.

With the experience of the sports administration both as Chief of the Punjab Olympic Association and the Cycling Federation of India now, Mr Dhindsa knows the political aspect of sports administration in the country too well to get entangled in a controversy of any kind.

Stricter Sayeed stops the chimes

The chimes of mobile phones can often be heard in Parliament but when the instrument goes of inside the House, in the midst of a serious discussion, it leads to distraction.

In order to curb the use of the mobile phone, which is otherwise prohibited inside the House, the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Mr P M Sayeed, has started a new exercise.

There were times when some MPs and even some Ministers carried their instruments which remained on despite requests to keep them switched off inside the House.

Now whenever, Mr Sayeed is in the Chair and he hears the chimes of the cellular phone he despatches the Marshals to the member and asks him or her to hand over the instrument. Over the days, such an action is bound to silence the chimes inside the House.

Speaker spares none

The Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr G M C Balayogi, has now acquired the stature where he shows no partiality to any member and none to those from his own party, the Telugu Desam.

Recently while presiding over the proceedings of the House during Special Mentions under Rule 377, Mr Balayogi pulled up the TDP MP, Dr M. Jagannatham, for reading out words that were not in the approved text.

As per procedure, mentions admitted under Rule 377 are submitted earlier and the member in whose name they are given is expected to read the text and no further.

Incidentally Dr Jagannatham was reading about problems being faced in some villages of Andhra and quitely added some places which were not on the text. Mr Balayogi who also hails from the state lost no time in reminding the MP that he should not deviate from the text nor add or subtract what was submitted.

Cricket fever

The match-fixing controversy cast its shadow at a Press meet where Kapil Dev and Ajay Jadeja had come to support an awareness campaign on hepatitis. A scribe was blatant enough to explain that mediapersons had turned up in large numbers in the hope of finding answers to questions on match-fixing allegations. Yet another wanted to know whether the cricketers were doing this to redeem themselves. While Kapil Dev declined to comment saying that he had come to support a very serious issue, Ajay Jadeja said he and other cricketers had committed themselves to similar projects in the past.

Venkaiah Naidu to S.S. Ahluwalia

Lately the Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha have had to contend with at least two members from the Treasury Benches who have been giving them little chance to speak. And this was also expressed in as many words by some of the Left party members as they attempted to raise an issue in the House during Zero Hour last week.

The Left party members expressing serious concern over the manner in which the government was going about disinvesting assets of some of the PSUs, also wanted to know the time-frame by which they would receive a reply from the department concerned. They sought the intervention of the Chairman, Mr Krishan Kant, and requested him to give a direction to this effect.

This had Mr S.S. Ahluwalia, the new BJP Rajya Sabha MP, on his feet. He started to put forth his views and pointed out that every government had been delaying giving answers and as such the BJP-led NDA government could also not be forced to give a time-frame.

The argument between the Opposition members and Mr Ahluwalia continued for some time with the Left party members finally saying:” Earlier we had just Mr Venkaiah Naidu, who acted as and on behalf of government, now we also have Mr Ahluwalia”. We wish that it is not them and the government who should be responding to our queries.

(Contributed by K.V. Prasad, Girja Shankar Kaura, Tripti Nath & P.N. Andley)

Anandgarh: think before you build by Surinder Singla

Anandgarh: think before you build by Surinder Singla

Anandgarh: think before you build
by Surinder Singla

Anandgarh: think before you build
by Surinder Singla