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Wednesday,
January 15, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Politics
of sugarcane Cong in
Maharashtra Kidney
racketeers |
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Consequences
of war in Iraq
Army Day
parade How to
improve the quality of politics Beat the
chill with layered clothes
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Politics of sugarcane Although the agitating sugarcane-growers have lifted their five-day-old road blockade at Kharar, their agony is far from over and many have returned home bitter with their own leadership. On the call of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, farmers from all over Punjab had assembled at Kharar. Braving the extremely cold weather, they had blocked the busy Chandigarh-Ludhiana highway to press their demand for the payment of arrears, which amounted to Rs 80 crore. After much dithering, the Punjab Government on Monday released only Rs 12.68 crore and that too to clear the arrears pending with one sugar mill, the nearby Morinda Cooperative Sugar Mills. Thus the sugarcane-growers in other parts of the state feel let down by this discrimination. The second concession extracted from the government by the BKU leadership is the deferment of all cooperative loans in the areas of the other sugar mills until their dues are cleared. This does not meet the expectations of most farmers. The two Congress leaders who negotiated with the BKU on behalf of the state government have played politics and safeguarded the interests of the farmers of their own areas. One of them even suggested the farmers to choose another area for any future protest. The BKU leadership, accused of serving factional interests by its own rank and file, probably was left with no other option. The state government has expressed its helplessness in making any further payments owing to its empty treasury. The Centre is once again held responsible for not lifting the levy sugar stocks worth some Rs 450 crore lying with the sugar mills in Punjab. Until the mills get the payments, they cannot clear the farmers’ dues. The situation is no better in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, which had also witnessed similar agitations by sugarcane-growers. Why has this situation arisen? Blame it partly on politics. Year after year the minimum support price for sugarcane has been raised under pressure from the vote-bank politics of the short-sighted political leadership at the Central and state levels. As a result, the sugar mills, hardly models of efficiency, suffered losses and sought government support for survival. The market forces were not allowed to determine the demand for and supply of sugar. Despite surplus production, the sugar price did not fall. The sugar trade with Pakistan came to a halt after the relations between the two countries soured. Because of high production costs, sugar exports have not been possible. The area under sugarcane has not come down significantly in keeping with the lower returns. When the Central Government announced the introduction of ethnol-blended petrol in four states, including Punjab, from this January, it was hoped that this would help the sugar mills overcome their financial crisis. But that too has been delayed. In the given situation, there is need to collectively take up Punjab’s case with the Centre to lift the levy sugar stocks and release the payments to help the sugar mills pay the farmers’ dues. The government needs to abandon its fire-fighting approach to settle issues and instead find a long-term solution to the problems of the sugarcane-growers and the sugar industry. The farmers too should remember that holding the travelling public to ransom by frequently blocking the roads will not help them in any way and will only dry up public sympathy for their genuine cause. |
Cong in Maharashtra Reports suggesting a possible leadership change in Maharashtra by Congress President Sonia Gandhi do not come as a surprise, if her style of functioning is any indication. The issue in question is not who will replace the incumbent Chief Minister, Mr Vilasrao
Deshmukh, but whether his replacement with someone like, say, Mr Sushil Kumar
Shindhe, will help regain the lost position of the Congress in the state. Arguably, the party has slowly and steadily lost its position of pre-eminence in the political firmament of the state. The Congress is part of a coalition government in the state with the Nationalist Congress Party
(NCP) of Mr Sharad Pawar as the major partner. If reports were to bear scrutiny, the Congress high command has accused Mr Deshmukh of being too soft with the NCP and, in the process, weakening the hold of the Congress in the coalition superstructure. With the elections to the State Assembly hardly 16 months away, the party high command seems to feel jittery over its sagging political fortunes. The new-found zeal and political adrenalin in the rank and file of the Bharatiya Janata Party following its spectacular victory in Gujarat seems to have created a panic-like situation for the Congress. It was only two days ago that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was given a rousing reception in Mumbai by the Maharashtra unit of the
BJP. The Congress high command apparently feels that a change in the leadership of the Congress Legislature Party would revive its prospects and yield dividends for the party at the
hustings. Deputation of observers to a state by the national leadership, eliciting the views of the party legislators on the merits and demerits of the Chief Minister and reporting them back to the president by the party observer in charge of the state are all part of a routine drama associated with the Congress high command. By no stretch of the imagination can this be called an exercise reflecting inner-party democracy. But the heart of the matter is that if the party could pull on so long in Maharashtra, despite all the problems of a coalition government, the credit should necessarily go to Mr Vilasrao
Deshmukh. With his clean-slate image, he could successfully do some tight-rope walking that is required to run a coalition government, and bridge the hiatus with the
NCP. How can he be accused of being soft to the NCP if he was only following the rules of the coalition dharma? Clearly, the challenge before the Congress leadership is to mend the simmering differences between the former and present Congressmen of Maharashtra and fight the BJP-Shiv Sena challenge
unitedly. Presenting a united face of the party before the people has become much more important for the Congress than shuffling Chief Ministers at the drop of a hat. |
Kidney racketeers Recent police investigations into the alleged sale of kidneys have led to the arrest of prominent doctors in Amritsar. This is a positive step because ever since the tip of this racket was exposed by a brave, young IPS officer, apprehensions had been expressed that this issue would be swept under the carpet. However, the lid is now off the cauldron, and what a witch’s brew it has turned out to be! White-collar professionals, doctors, lawyers and social workers, an unholy nexus of persons whose integrity is taken for granted, are allegedly involved in the organ trade. There is no doubt that there was widespread knowledge of the wrongdoings and nothing was done till now to rectify the sordid situation. As per the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, a donor should be a close relative of the patient and not below 18. It is but a telling comment of the times that more than 95 per cent of the donations of organs do not come from relatives. Even for the 5 per cent, almost always, it is the wife of the patient who donates her kidney. The abuse of the Act stems largely because Article 9(3) permits unrelated individuals to donate their body parts “out of love or emotional attachment to the recipient”. Though this process is supposed to be supervised by a government-appointed authorisation committee, the arrest of the head of this committee in Amritsar shows how the process was being abused to amass wealth. The conduct of others in the authorisation committee is also being probed, and it is unlikely that they will be entirely untainted. We hope that the investigation will be impartial and thorough and the unscrupulous will be brought to book. There is no doubt that the suffering on the part of those who need the organs is acute. Organ transplants save lives and definitely improve the quality of life of individuals. There is a chronic shortage of organs and this is largely because of cultural and other reservations regarding organ donation. In these columns we had highlighted the case of Surinderpal Sharma, a rationalist of Khialiwala village, near Bathinda, who had donated his body for medical research. It was a fine and rare example of altruism. Even well-known personalities like Amitabh
Bachchan, Aishwaria Rai and Chandrababu Naidu have publicly pledged their corneas. In fact, more than two lakh Indians need corneas. Other organs that can be donated include kidneys, liver, heart and lungs. Only an aware society will be able to meet the needs of those patients who require transplants. Otherwise, much as the sale of human body parts is morally wrong, unscrupulous elements will capitalise on the market economics of supply and demand. Of course, the full might of society and the law must be felt by such transgressors. Making money by trading on the misery of anyone can never be anything but reprehensible. |
Consequences of war in Iraq A
hegemonic, controversial and possibly a counter productive war in Iraq is in the offing next month. The genesis of this war goes back to the partial achievement of the politico- military aim by the USA and the coalition forces during the Gulf War in 1990. They were able to liberate Kuwait but could not remove Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein, who caused the occupation of Kuwait. Despite severe post-war UN sanctions and frequent aerial pounding of Southern Iraq by the US and British air forces in the past decade, Mr Hussein has continued to cock a snook at the USA. The Gulf War in 1990 was a military victory for the coalition forces but was not taken to its logical political conclusion of a change of the Iraqi regime. President George Bush Junior now looks all set to complete the mission that was left incomplete by his father, President Bush Senior. In declaring Iraq to be in material breach of the United Nations Security Council resolutions, the Bush Administration has signalled its intent to launch another war on Iraq. A clear political objective of the war this time would be to oust Mr Hussein from Baghdad. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 lays down that Iraq is not to have any weapons of mass destruction. As previous attempts of physical monitoring by UN weapons inspectors for this purpose had failed, the Security Council passed another resolution in November last year under which Iraq was to certify that it had no such weapons. This resolution also called for the United Nations Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) to physically establish whether Iraq has any chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or the means to deliver them and to submit a report by January 27, 2003. Iraq has denied possession of such weapons in a 12000-page long report, but this has not impressed the USA and its allies who continue to accuse it of hiding the banned armament. Britain and USA have linked the issue not only with the UN authority but also with non-proliferation. The funny thing is that before and after the Gulf War, several American, European and Asian firms had carried out business transactions with Iraq in the prohibited areas. Even if the UN inspectors do not find any evidence of Iraq currently building nuclear weapons, there will be little difficulty in declaring it to be capable of producing chemical and biological weapons or finding some short-range ballistic missiles. The process of manufacturing chemical weapons is not so difficult. Any fertiliser or pharmaceutical unit can make chemicals, which can be used for this purpose. The burden of the proof is on Iraq. It will find it extremely difficult to deny all charges and prove total innocence. It is widely expected that UNMOVIC, which has been charged by the Iraqis for spying for the USA, will submit a vague report to the Security Council neither confirming nor denying Iraqi capability. Its report, going by the current form, is likely to indict Iraq of a breach of the Security Council resolution, or less than its substantial compliance. That would lead to another resolution, sometime in February, authorising the use of all necessary means, including force, to bring about Iraq’s compliance with the demands of the international community. The USA may have gone to war by now if it was not for the strong international complaint of being “unilateralist” that it faced earlier. By taking the UN route, it has been able to obtain legitimacy and more diplomatic and military support internationally. Nearly 50 countries, including many European and Arab states, which include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, some eagerly and others not so eagerly, have agreed to provide military facilities for the possible invasion. Even Pakistan is expected to do this without publicising it. The USA is in the process of assembling land, air, sea and marine forces, including three or four armoured divisions, an airborne division, a marine division and a large number and types of special forces for a possible invasion of Iraq. As per reports, the total size of the forces may reach up to 2,50,000, which will include a brigade of the British Army. The Iraqis have a regular army of 3,00,000, about 80,00 Iraqi Republican Guards, and about 15,000 Special Republican Guards for Mr Saddam Hussein’s close protection. However, loyal and dedicated the Iraqi forces may be to Iraq and Mr Hussein, they are no match to the air power, firepower, mobility and other technological superiority of the US forces and its partners. The US forces are bound to start with total air supremacy. The Iraqi T 72 tanks would be highly vulnerable to the long a range laser-guided Hellfire missiles of the Apache attack helicopters, and the accuracy and night firing capability of M1A1 tanks of the US armoured divisions. In the event of a war, annihilation of the Iraqi command and control structure and a large segment of its armed forces would be a foregone conclusion. But that may not be sufficient to achieve the political aim of a “regime change”. The USA would try its utmost to break Iraq from within rather than indulge in external occupation. It would bank on some help from the Kurds in the north, and Shias in southern Iraq, to revolt and help break the regime and thus avoid a forcible occupation of Baghdad. These moves, including a sophisticated psychological war by the Pentagon encouraging Iraqis to rise against Mr Saddam Hussein, have already commenced. The US forces, to save casualties and any domestic wrath on that account, are unlikely to involve themselves in large-scale fighting on the ground or to capture any populated areas. Air power, however sophisticated, may not do the job by itself. Some ground operations would be unavoidable. If necessary, they will use special forces along with whatever local support is possible to get to Mr Saddam Hussein. That would be the most crucial, complex and time-consuming part of the war despite Iraq’s degraded military capability and the US superiority in high technology weapons and equipment. Unless Mr Hussein gives up on his own, the duration of the war would depend upon the “staying” capacity of his Special Guards. The USA may have yet another Osama bin Laden to be pursued. With its overwhelming international influence in the United Nations and outside, the USA would be able to oust Mr Hussein. But then what afterwards? There is hardly any political opposition in Iraq. And whatever exists, does not have the capability to provide a credible successor regime. Thus, after this US forces-led invasion, we may see a civil war in Iraq, yet another Iraqi dictator, and further instability in that sensitive region. There would be Muslim resentment across the world, in the West and other moderate countries. The USA will be perceived as anti-Muslim, especially when it is going soft against a defiant North Korea, which is claiming possession of nuclear weapons and missiles and breaking all international commitments. Anti-Americanism would grow. The war would strengthen the radical Muslims’ claim that the USA and other plural and moderate societies are against Muslims. That would lead to further radicalisation of the Muslim society in countries like Pakistan, with adverse consequences for India and other secular and moderate states. Jehadi terrorism will get a boost. We may see more incidents of terrorism in India. If Kurds and Shias are used by the USA to foment trouble within Iraq, it may pose some problems for the neighbouring countries. The Kurds’ demand for a homeland, which includes southern parts of Turkey, will get a boost. Militant Arab Shias may create problems for the Saudi and other Gulf regimes. The war will further strengthen unipolar strong-arm-twister image of the USA. So far India has been correct in declining diplomatic support to any US unilateral efforts to the use of force against Iraq. The USA has not indicated the requirement for any military support, if and when the Security Council gives it a go-ahead to take military action. India may support that diplomatically but is unlikely to provide any physical or material military support. It will have to work out its options carefully. India will also be adversely affected due to the disruption in its oil imports from the Gulf region and the likely rise in its cost during the war. India will need to build its oil stocks for such an eventuality. The recent OPEC decision to increase oil production and keep the oil price stable is due to the stoppage of oil from Venezuela. It has nothing to do with the war clouds over Iraq.. The war will also affect air transportation of passengers and goods between India and the West. The airlines will have to find alternate routes which are bound to be longer and, therefore, costlier. Lastly, the war will affect many of the 1.5 million expatriate Indians living in Iraq (much less now than during the war in 1990) and other neighbouring states. The government will have to be prepared to evacuate those who get stranded in the war zone. A lot of people, including many Americans, believe that this war against Iraq is unjustified and immoral. So far there is no evidence that Iraq is not complying with UN restrictions and yet it is being pushed to a corner, with terrible consequences for its innocent people. That it has more to do with the US ego (more specifically of the Republicans and the Bush family) and its hegemonistic attitude. But then international morality, as someone has said, is a hopeless concept. Each nation and group has a morality peculiar to its own history and worldview. Skepticism or suspicion regarding the motives of other states is the prudent approach. The West’s abstract, rational concepts of law and contract are based on certain orientation to time, to authority and to the individuals. These may or may not be shared by others. To bring moral concerns into international politics is futile. General Malik (retd) was the Chief of Army Staff during the Kargil conflict with Pakistan. |
Army Day parade Army Day is here again. It will be celebrated with a grand parade at the parade ground in Delhi cantonment on January 15. For the less informed, it was on this day in 1950 that the first Indian, Field Marshal (then General) K.M. Cariappa, had assumed the stewardship of the Indian Army. January 15 is always a cold and foggy day, and going by the weather of the last fortnight, it is quite likely that the 15th of this month will again dawn with dense fog, in and around Delhi. All parades touch one’s heart and the Army Day parade does so with a degree of flourish, for all the contingents assembled for the parade, from various regiments and corps, are the same which would take part in the big Republic Day parade a couple of days later. For old timers, the parade invokes a touch of nostalgia; for those participating, there is pride in the Army as well as their regiments; and for most spectators it is a spectacle par excellence. The Army Day parade of three years back comes to my mind. In the year 2000, Gen Ved Malik, who would retire later that year, was reviewing the parade. This year, a new chief, Gen Nirmal Vij, will review the parade. Such are the dynamics of the Indian Army. Personalities come and go, but the army, as an enduring institution of the nation, continues to grow, readying itself, at all times, for future challenges. The parade honours three officers with a “general salute”, besides the reviewing officer. They are the Army Commander of Western Command and the chiefs of the Navy and the Air Force, in that order. When I mounted the saluting base, on that cold and foggy day, the visibility was only a few feet. All I could see was fog everywhere — no parade, no spectators and no medal recipients. As I took position, the resonating command of the “general salute” came from the parade commander. He could neither see me, nor any of the spectators, but he was exactly on cue, and the parade presented the “salami shastr” flawlessly, with the band playing the short and crisp “general salute”. The same procedure was repeated in quick succession, as the Naval and Air chiefs came, took the salute and assumed their seats. As I waited for the chief to arrive, I could visualise the parade in front of me, the men dazzling in their ceremonial outfits and the tanks, artillery guns and other vehicles and equipment shining in their new coats of paint, but there was nothing to see! I am convinced that parades have divine blessings. Miraculously, anything out of the ordinary gets rectified. It happened on this parade too. As the chief assumed his position on the podium, the intervention came. With the “general salute”, the fog shifted perceptibly, and by the time the parade was presented to the chief for inspection, the fog had rolled back, very much like the unrolling of a carpet, till you could see the soldiers of various regiments in their regimental accoutrements on the right and the mounted columns to their left, lined up meticulously. What a spectacle it was! Even Steven Spielberg or one of our famed directors of Bollywood could not have managed the impact better. That God has special affinity for soldiers was once again proved that morning. It was a splendid parade, and what is more important, all the spectators who had gathered there, braving the chills and the fog of the Delhi winter, saw every bit of it and cheered lustily as the contingents marched past in all their finery, glory and élan. What more could anyone ask for?
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How to improve the quality of politics First, Internet jokes. A busload of politicians was driving down a country road. The bus ran of the road and crashed into a tree in an old farmer’s field. The farmer, after seeing what had happened, proceeded to dig a big pit to bury the politicians. A few days later, the local sheriff came to the crash site and asked the old farmer, “Were they all dead?” The old farmer replied, “Well, some of them said they weren’t, but you know how the politicians lie.” That was about politicians lying. Here is another on robbing politicians: In New York, a mugger jumped into the path of a well-dressed man and stuck a gun in his ribs. “Give me your money!” he demanded. Indignant, the affluent man replied, “You can’t do this — I’m a US Congressman!” “In that case,” replied the robber, “give me MY money!” Jokes on politicians are galore and politician bashing is a favourite pastime of entertainment industry from New York to New Delhi. The great thing about politicians is that they relish jokes, even if they are about them. They do not throw people into prison for poking fun at them. Politicians all over the world have become objects of social ridicule, not necessarily for the right reasons. Politician bashing has become the favourite hobby of many. In India, it seems to be on the increase. Politicians may lie and politicians may rob, but they still occupy offices of great authority all over the world. The poor public image of politicians created through relentless mocking is seriously dissuading the best talent to the profession of politics. Failure to attract the right type of persons into public service can do serious harm to the nation’s interests. There is definitely a political talent drain, and the failure to take note of this will do immense damage to the nation. Mocking, deriding, ridiculing and caricaturing politicians are not a new phenomenon from movies to TV serials, cartoons to advertising, all poke fun at politicians. But by indulging too much in this harmless hobby, an unfortunate impression has gone down that political leaders have lost credibility, politics is the last refuge of scoundrels. I have had the privilege of seeing them from close quarters and working for some of the leading politicians of the country. I have a different point of view. Is it possible to run a country without politicians having the power? When the aim is to give power to the People, who else is better qualified than politicians? Someone must have the power. Imagine the power that the politicians wield today is transferred to Army people or bureaucrats. They never face an election after their selection. The most powerful man in the world is not a General but a politician. Politicians control both military and bureaucratic power in all democratic countries. The great thing about the politician’s job is that if we happen to differ with him for his lack of ability or corruption, we can simply vote him out of public office. They lose their jobs faster than anybody else does. How many top civil servants have lost their jobs for incompetence or dishonesty? Politicians work long hours. They see less of their family members than bureaucrats do. They earn far less than most corporate executives. Every profession has a fair amount of scoundrels and rascals. The profession of politics is no exemption. There are politicians who have become corrupt and stopped caring for the people. They have over the past few decades devalued public service. No democracy in the world can boast of 100 per cent clean politicians. It is unfair to say that politics is the last refuge of scoundrels or, only losers in other professions enter it. Today’s talented and upright youngsters should look at politics as a career option. If good people do not join politics, men with money, muscle power will take over and that will be disastrous for the nation. If the forum of politicians is to be expanded, more active members will be needed. But seeing the ridicule heaped on the politicians, how can one expect well-qualified and upright people enter this profession? |
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Beat the chill with layered clothes Experts at Michigan State University recommend paying close attention to what you wear and especially to how your clothing is layered during the winter season, especially when a even a quick trip outside can cause a chill. Layering, they say, accomplishes two things: it traps heat between each layer and keeps you warmer, and lets you remove clothing as you warm up to prevent overheating. According to a report in Health Scout, experts suggest three basic layers. The underlayer, the one closest to the skin, should be made of a material that wicks moisture away from the body. Cotton is a poor choice because it tends to absorb and hold moisture, which can result in heat loss. Many people find that a turtleneck for the upper body and tights or long underwear for the lower body work well for this first layer. The insulating layer of clothing is next. The purpose of this layer is to insulate the body and conserve heat. The favourite fabric choices for this layer have long been wool and fleece, but there is also a range of new-age materials emerging. One of the re sons why wool has retained its popularity is that it can conserve heat even when it's wet. A lightweight wool sweater makes an excellent layer for the upper body.
ANI
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We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children that makes the heart too big for the body. — Ralph W. Emerson, The Conduct of Life *** He who takes the child by the hand takes the mother by the heart. — A Danish proverb *** Life's aspirations come in the guise of children. — Rabindranath Tagore, Fireflies |
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