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Thursday,
August 21, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Rewarding Pakistan Blast in Baghdad Uptrend in sensex is welcome |
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Initiative on Pakistan remains in place
Ferrari fumes
Jobs, profits are diminishing, not the numbers
From Pakistan
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Rewarding Pakistan THE
US, as expected, is always keen to reward Pakistan and President Musharraf for the services rendered. After all, the military dictator conveniently ditched his Taliban comrades in Afghanistan only to please Uncle Sam. For this gesture, which his detractors at home call abject surrender, he has been getting his reward. It includes a $ 3 billion aid package. The induction of the hard cash has saved the Pakistani economy from the mess it has been for years. Nobody grudges Pakistan this bounty but what is unsettling is the induction of arms in the area. Part of the aid is to be given in the shape of defence assistance, under which it is now set to get six C-130 military cargo planes. Washington is giving the spin that the aircraft will enhance Pakistan’s ability to conduct humanitarian relief missions throughout the region. But it is clear as day that these planes will actually be used in the field of defence rather than social development. Not only that, the assistance deal signed during General Musharraf’s Camp David meeting with President George W. Bush envisages complete upgradation of cockpit avionics for the current Pakistan Air Force C-130 fleet. India will have to watch the development closely. There are also indications that Pakistan might even get F-16s from Belgium. The F-16s were bought by Belgium from the US and according to the sale terms, it could resell them only with the approval of the US. The latter is believed to be favourably inclined to ask its allies like Belgium to hand over two squadrons of F-16s. These sophisticated warplanes were denied to it by the US recently, and allowing Belgium to give these will be tantamount to finding a roundabout way to oblige Islamabad. The excuse being given for this stratagem is that it would prevent Pakistan from buying Thunder fighters from China. That the F-16s could easily be used to carry nuclear warheads in a war against India has been conveniently forgotten by the US. In the past, the weaponry smuggled in on various pretexts has almost always been used against India. Of late, the US also finds itself the target of terrorists who have been getting arms and other help from Pakistani collaborators. The Kalashnikovs and missiles which the US distributed liberally in the region via Pakistan are now haunting it. Generals are always fond of hardware and the US must remember that the planes that it gives Pakistan —directly or indirectly— can make General Musharraf more belligerent. |
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Blast in Baghdad THE
whole world is upset over the devastating bomb blast at the UN headquarters in Baghdad on Tuesday. Even those nations which opposed the US-led military action in Iraq have demanded that the elements indulging in acts of terrorism against the occupying powers must be brought to justice. Terrorism can have no justification, whatever the reason or the cause. Initially, they attacked convoys of foreign troops. But the destruction of the Canal Hotel housing the UN offices in Iraq soon after the bomb blasts at the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad, the power supply system, oil installations and water mains shows that those opposed to the reconstruction of Iraq under the US-UK dispensation have identified soft targets to intensify their activities in the troubled nation. Their plan may be to scare away the people engaged in humanitarian assistance programmes which will ultimately hurt the Iraqi people, leading to a rise in the anti-American sentiment among them. Body bags reaching the US may also increase the public anger over the George Bush administration’s Iraq project. Incidentally, the Canal Hotel blast has occurred a day after Senator John McCain said in Baghdad that more US troops might be needed to restore order in Iraq. The attack at the UN headquarters is certainly serious, but it should not dilute the resolve of the global community to help the Iraqi people in distress. Luckily, the UN Security Council has said the humanitarian work will continue uninterrupted. The UN humanitarian agencies have been in Iraq ever since the sanctions were imposed on the country over a decade ago after the liberation of Kuwait. They had been mainly looking after the oil-for-food programme. But the UN embargo had led to tremendous difficulty for the Iraqis, who could not get even ordinary medicines for the sick, leading to the death of thousands of children. Then the UN could do little to stop the US-led allied attack which added to the miseries of the people. This could be one of the factors why the UN offices have been targeted, as some diplomats have explained. Whatever the reasons, one thing is clear. Iraq is unlikely to have peace so long as the administration is not handed over to the Iraqis themselves. Before this is done, efforts should be made to ensure that fewer American and British forces are seen maintaining law and order. If the Iraqis hated the Saddam regime, they have great dislike for the occupying powers too. That may be one reason why the US has been pressing many countries, including India, to contribute their troops for serving in Iraq. But owing to various reasons very few are willing to accept the US suggestion. The situation in Iraq is getting more and more complicated with every passing day. This is bound to worry the Americans, many of whom have been asking lately what was the need for the US to have gone there at all. |
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Uptrend in sensex is welcome ON
Tuesday the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) sensex breached the psychological barrier of 4,000 to end the day at 4,007, which is the highest in the past 29 months. The last time the stock markets witnessed a bull phase was in 2000 when there was a global boom in the ICE (infotech, communications and entertainment) sectors. But every rise has a fall and it is the small, inexperienced investors who usually burn their fingers and lose their savings. After a prolonged bearish phase, the stock markets are once again rising steadily. The rally has been fuelled largely by investments made by foreign institutional investors. Indian financial institutions as well as small investors too are making investments in stocks. The reasons for this bullish trend are quite obvious. There is now a lot of money in the market thanks to foreign financial institutions as also Indian mutual funds and banks. India today is widely perceived as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Thanks largely to an excellent monsoon, the GDP is expected to grow at 6 to 6.5 per cent this year. Food stocks are likely to be around 220 million tonnes, sharply up from last year’s 180 million tonnes. This will empower the farmers, raise demand in the countryside and boost production. The growth is spread across several sectors of what is called the old economy: automobiles, cement, steel, textiles, oil and banking. Large investments in housing and infrastructure building are showing the results. This gives one the confidence to claim that this growth story is for real. Globally, positive signals are emerging. With the Iraq war yielding a peace dividend, the US and Japan are back on the recovery path. However, stock markets are often driven by euphoria. Investors will have to keep in mind the pitfalls ahead. The likes of Harshad Mehta and Ketan Parekh can resurface any time. Politicians can also spoil the party. Confrontation and populism will be more pronounced in the coming months as the country heads for elections. A split verdict may result in political uncertainty, that is detrimental to growth. There is expected to be a pickup in demand for bank credit, which could push up interest rates and inflation. Small investors, disappointed with low returns from their fixed deposits, may be tempted to park their savings in equities, but they need to be cautious as investments in stocks are risky and require an understanding of the financial system. |
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Non-violence is the first article of my faith. It is also the last article of my creed.
— Mahatma Gandhi |
Initiative on Pakistan remains in place FOR analysing Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Independence Day address there can be no better point of departure than what the Prime Minister began his oration with — that he was speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort for the sixth time running. Both political and personal implications of this declaration with which he was visibly satisfied are clear enough. After Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, though way behind them, Mr Vajpayee is the Prime Minister who has addressed the nation most frequently from the august podium at the fort that Shahjahan had built. That he has done so as the head of a manifestly unwieldy coalition adds lustre to this achievement. All other ruling coalitions at the Centre, including the one led by Morarji Desai after Indira Gandhi’s defeat in the 1977 general election, had collapsed like nine pins and rather fast. In Mr Vajpayee’s self-confident and occasionally self-congratulatory tone there was a hint that he expected the present coalition to be back in power but this is a kind of crystal-gazing that is best avoided. Especially in view of the fast-changing Indian scenario that has been underscored by the India Today-ORG poll which has revealed that there has been a considerable slump in the BJP’s and the NDA government’s fortunes between February and August this year. Remarkably, the widespread and often conflicting comment on Mr Vajpayee’s Red Fort speech is strikingly unanimous on one point: that he spoke like a statesman with a vision for the future rather than a politician with an eye on only the next election and the main chance. In fact, a clear message of the Prime Minister’s 30-minute address to a rain-soaked audience was the issue of advancing the Lok Sabha poll, due in October 2004, is now dead. This proposal was not a “trial balloon” floated by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, and his cohorts — as has been suggested by many — but a serious move born of the under-the-surface jockeying for power within the BJP. Without uttering too many words, the Prime Minister had put paid to this ploy well before Independence Day. As for specific policy pronouncements, the Prime Minister’s speech can be divided into four sections of which the national security-foreign policy arena should be taken up first. Mr Vajpayee began with the declaration that the Shakti series of nuclear tests in May 1998 had enabled this country “walk tall in the comity of nations”. Equally remarkably, he took the opportunity to reaffirm India’s “No First Use” doctrine and reasserted that for this country the nukes were weapons of defence only. For the rest, his remarks on foreign policy were concentrated on Pakistan. Newspapers and TV channels across the country and in the outside world have played up his invitation to the neighbouring country to join India to embark on the “road to peace”. He was candid enough to admit that this road was bound to be “bumpy” but added that there was no alternative to it. However, his invitation to the regime in Islamabad is not vague or unconditional. Its sum and substance is that his peace initiative, begun at Srinagar in April, remains in place and would be pursued but peace must be without any compromise on fundamental principles. Kashmir, he added, was not just “a piece of territory” but a “symbol of Indian commitment to Sarva Dharma Sambhava (secularism) and Kasmiriyat”. He also repeated that an end to cross-border terrorism was essential for any meaningful dialogue between the two countries. All these remarks were made in an ambience surcharged with hype over the visit to Lahore of the largest-ever parliamentary and media delegation. The other side of the same coin, however, is that despite some negative vibes from Islamabad — its absurd charge that this country was preparing to “launch military action” in the Kargil sector is an instance in point — there is no going back on the peace initiative. But the question is whether a process in which no progress takes place can be made to last indefinitely. According to authoritative sources, the Vajpayee government would make an appraisal of its current Pakistan policy some time in December. It is the SAARC summit, to be held in Islamabad in January next, that has determined this timeframe. Indian acceptance of the summit dates has implicit in it the Prime Minister’s willingness to travel to the Pakistani capital to attend the summit. However, a final decision on this subject would depend on the assessment to be made in December. Competent observers of the New Delhi scene have noticed that conspicuously absent from the Prime Minister’s superbly crafted Red Fort speech was any reference to Iraq. His reason to leave this troublesome subject alone seems to be that the United States having refused, as a matter of policy, to secure from the UN the kind of “explicit mandate” India needs to participate in Iraq’s “stabilisation and reconstruction”, he does not want this issue to be discussed. On domestic politics, the Prime Minister was brief but what he had to say was significant. He unambiguously committed himself to the secular ethos and denounced all those who create divisions and spread disharmony between different communities. He accused them of “harming the nation”. But there are two problems with this unexceptionable statement. First, that there was no hint in his observations that hotheads within his own ranks were at present the main culprits in spreading communal hatred though one must confess that few leaders would want to be that forthright. The second problem is more serious and Mr Vajpayee should take a serious note of it. Sadly, Atalji cannot resist the temptation of being all things to all people. He, therefore, tends to tailor his pronouncements to the predilections of his audience of the moment. For instance, in the wake of the horrific Gujarat riots, he had publicly berated the state Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, and asked him to follow “rajdharma”. He had, in fact, decided to ease Mr Modi out. But when his party disagreed and indeed converted the Gujarat Chief Minister into something of an “icon” or “poster boy” of Hindutva, Atalji also changed his mind. On the Goa beach, where the party conclave on Gujarat was held, he delivered a speech that did his shining image no good at all. Similarly, at the funeral of Mahant Ramchandra Paramhans, the Prime Minister made a deeply disturbing speech to the effect that the Mahant’s “last wish” about the construction of the temple would be carried out. But the next day in Delhi he retracted from his rhetoric at Ayodhya. He iterated that the temple issue would be settled only by agreement or through the court verdict. A noble sentiment this but of it there was not the slightest hint at the time of the Mahant’s funeral. Consistency in defence of cherished values of secularism, pluralism, liberalism and tolerance that are imperative for a country of immense diversities and complexities would do Atalji’s undoubtedly towering leadership a world of good. We live in a world that has been best defined by the Clintonian phrase, “it’s the economy, stupid”. It is entirely understandable, therefore, that Mr Vajpayee’s remarks on the rather encouraging state of the Indian economy had a note of self-congratulation about them. There is a feel good atmosphere in the country and not merely because of the excellent monsoon, vital though that is. The economy has indeed taken an upturn. The Prime Minister enumerated the measures his government has taken or is proposing to take to improve the economy and alleviate poverty. But here again one is caught in a contradiction. The aforementioned public opinion poll indicates that the BJP-led NDA government’s stock has slumped because of mounting unemployment. Fourthly and finally, the Prime Minister’s announcement of the Indian plan to put a man on the moon by 2008 should not be taken lightly. Those concerned understand its implications very well. Clearly, India’s economy, technology, scientific manpower, industrial base and infrastructure are strong enough to sustain this surge into space. This has military implications,
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Ferrari fumes AS
the furore over Sachin’s Ferrari refuses to stop, in spite of the brakes applied by the Fiat Company — the authorities have decided to shift into its patent “Formula One” gear, whenever caught in such a traffic jam. A national commission on “Duty Free Joy Rides” has been set up to do the necessary damage control. The worthy members of the commission in their call of duty, have first of all, decided to embark immediately on a tour of Italy, to get a first hand report on the problem’s country of origin. Meanwhile, the mandarins in the ministry concerned have put up a memo drafted by their top “spin doctor”. It proposes that as a goodwill gesture the vehicle in question be donated by Sachin to the Department of Poverty Alleviation, and in return he be gifted the biggest brand ambassador of the nation on four wheels — a brand new Ambassador car. But when the proposal was put on a trial run; it ran into a muddle. When the hon’ble minister drove in his new super fast “utility vehicle,” sped so fast, that he left behind his entire cavalcade of pilot and “chamcha” cars — and reached Italy, instead of the destined drought-stricken village, meant for inspection. On the other hand when Sachin Vroomed … in his shiny, white Ambi to a match venue, he was mistaken for the local DM and promptly “gheraoed” by the swelling crowds for having issued too many free passes. A few NGOs have also got into their perennial “protest mode” over the racy issue. The Centre for Chronic Cribbers over Colas and Cars has issued a statement that the pollution emitted by the farangi car was much higher than that by the Swadeshi Ambassadors; thus fuelling even greater ignition and indignation on the issue. The People for Pachyderm Protection have suggested that if Sachin can afford a “white elephant” like the swanky sports car he should also adopt at least 50 homeless tuskers, freed by them from the captivity of cruel circuses in the country. The National Institute of Copied Designs has ordained that the Ferrari be donated to it; to become an inspirational model for the country’s future needs of sports cars and SUVs. As the fumes over the Ferrari keep rising; it is rumoured that the “ ‘lil’ master blaster” has now decided to retire from cricket and instead captain the national team for “gilli-danda” for the forthcoming World Cup. And his pal Michael Schumacher will be the new “brand ambassador” for bullock
carts. |
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Jobs, profits are diminishing, not the numbers
THE
mobile phones revolution has put a big question mark over the future of 45,000-odd subscriber trunk
dialing (STD) public call offices (PCOs) functioning in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh employing nearly one lakh people. Better affordability of mobile phones coupled with their low rates of long distance tariffs have not only cut down the revenue of PCOs by 50 to 70 per cent but also taken away the sheen from this major avenue of self-employment. Sources in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) admit that 1.5 million PCOs in the country have been forced to cut down their establishments, including staff, thus closing a channel of part-time employment to needy boys and girls in both urban and rural areas. “It is true that an STD PCO can no more sustain more than one family now ,” says a senior functionary of BSNL, adding that “new schemes and packages are being worked out to revive public telephony as it has been one of the major sources of revenue for BSNL”. While one can make an STD call from a Cellone Mobile phone to any part of the country at Rs 1.80 per minute, one has to pay more by making the same call from a landline phone. In case, the call is being made outside the 500-km radius, it is Rs 3.60 per minute. As such, STD PCOs are no more profitable. Mr Anil K. Sanghi, General Manager, Marketing of the Punjab Circle of BSNL, admits that during the past couple of years, the steep fall in the STD tariffs has reduced the income from PCOs. He, however, points out that in the Punjab circle, the number of STD PCOs has marginally increased during the past couple of years. At present, he says, there are as many as 25,000 STD PCOs in the Punjab Circle and more than 22,000 in the Haryana Circle. “I agree that the density of STD PCOs has been coming down steeply in the urban areas but going up smoothly in the rural and remote areas. BSNL has a countrywide network and even the quality of voice on landline telephony is certainly better than cellular telephony. “There is no exciting increase in the booking for STD PCOs,” admits a spokesman of the Haryana BSNL maintaining that “it is still the most practical way of self-employment. In case an STD CO owner wants to start an internet cafe, he gets 25 per cent commission under the internet dhaba scheme.” “In the Punjab Circle, one of the reasons for the number going up, though gradually, has been that STD PCO is an add-on to the main business of the owner. There is an assured income on each call made from a STD PCO i.e. Rupee one per call as service charges and 20 to 30 paise per call made depending on the business generated. “As such, if 50 calls are made from a PCO, the owner not only gets Rs 50 as service charges but also another Rs 10 to Rs 15 as his or her commission. Earlier, the profit used to be much more. In certain makes, the STD rates were up to Rs 24 per minute for a call made within the country. But now, the maximum rate is Rs 3.60 per minute for any call made from anywhere to anywhere in the country.” Another reason for the sustenance of STD PCOs in Punjab has been the revenue generated from International Subscribers Dialling (ISD) calls. Even those with those landline and mobile phones, still prefer to make ISD calls from the STD PCOs. In Haryana, the number of STD PCOs is little less than Punjab. The concentration of STD PCOs is mainly on the national and state highways and penetration in the rural and remote areas is comparatively less than in Punjab. Various associations of the STD PCO owners claim that there is nearly 50 to 70 per cent drop in revenue. “Yes, there was a drop in revenue when the STD rates were lowered drastically a couple of years ago. But lowering of the STD rates increased traffic and within a short span, the revenue was almost back to normal,” reveals Mr Sanghi. Reacting to the demands of STD PCO owners, the BSNL authorities maintain that they are working out some “packages” to keep them in business “as it is beneficial to both parties”. “We have introduced the Direct Internet Access Scheme (DIAS) in Amritsar circle where the beneficiary gets 24 internet access by paying Rs 850 a month. This scheme will soon be introduced in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Ferozepore and Sangrur districts. The STD PCO owners can take benefit of this scheme. Under the scheme, the beneficiary gets uninterrupted internet access while he can use his landline for telephony simultaneously,” adds Mr
Sanghi.
WITH
the fall in business, the STD and PCO holders in the region seem to be fighting a losing battle for survival. They have urged Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and the Centre to work out a special package for them and to take up the matter with the local bodies to allow them to operate internet and other related services on their premises. The operators say the increase in the number of cellular connections in the region and slashing of the STD and ISD call rates over the past one year have virtually sounded the death knell for over 3,000 PCO and STD booth owners in Chandigarh, Panchkula and SAS Nagar. A large number of them have already become jobless and the remaining are trying to keep their head afloat by cutting down costs. Hundreds of operators have reportedly surrendered their connections since the business is no more economically viable for them. Says Mr Dilbagh Singh, President, Residential PCO Holders Association, ‘‘Once PCO holders were considered the backbone of BSNL. But with the regular cut in tariff and increasing competition from cellular users, our business has come down by 50-70 per cent during the past one year.’’ To add to their woes the Chandigarh Administration is charging commercial rates for the supply of electricity and water to the STD/PCO booths run from residential areas. Mr A.K. Beri, Finance Secretary of the association, feels that the PCO holders can still be saved by providing them additional business avenues. He said,‘‘ We have been arguing with the Chandigarh administration and BSNL to allow us to set up internet services in the residential areas. It would help students and youth access the net services, besides creating additional revenue for us.’’ Mr Pradeep Ahuja, a PCO booth owner, said: ‘‘BSNL has even stopped us providing details of the metered bills with effect from May 1. They ask us to pay Rs 30 to get a detailed bill. Further, officials of the Punjab circle are not even ready to listen to us’’. |
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From Pakistan ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Tuesday that troops would not be dispatched to Iraq without parliament’s approval. Talking to newsmen after attending the awards giving ceremony of the National Highways and Motorway Police, the Prime Minister said the Opposition and the nation would also be taken into confidence in this regard. Pakistan has received a request for two army brigades for supporting the US and UK troops in Iraq. Pakistan has thus far taken the position that without the cover of the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Conference, or of Gulf Cooperation Council, it would not send its troops to Iraq. —The Dawn
Bhasha dam to be built
BAROTHA: President General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday announced the construction of Kalabagh and Bhasha dams on the river Indus in the next couple of years. “The Kalabagh dam will be constructed and the Bhasha dam will also be constructed. There should be no doubt about it,” said the President, adding that both projects were imperative for the national economy. Inaugurating the first unit of the 1,450 MW Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project, he said it would be decided after June next which of the two projects should be started first. WAPDA, he pointed out, had planned to build the Kalabagh dam in 2000 but due to the controversy generated by some quarters over it, the feasibility study for the Bhasha dam was launched. —The Dawn
Karachi beach
closed
KARACHI: The Clifton beach, which has been thoroughly spoiled due to the oil spillage, will remain closed to picnickers for at least a year. Sindh Chief Minister has, however, said that the beach will be opened to public in 12 days. A drive along the 7.5-km stretch of the Clifton beach, spanning from Shireen Jinnah Colony to near the Salt and Pepper Restaurant, shows that the beach is still covered with blackish oily muck and filth. Though the stench has subsided, the oil which percolated deep down has destroyed the beach further. Clifton, the only picnic spot available to a large number of Karachiites due to being near the city, has long been rendered a cesspool but the present calamity has taken its toll for the worst. It can no longer be used by picnickers without exposing themselves to the sticky and hazardous oil waste. Former Director PCSIR Arshad Ali Beg opines: “It will take at least one year and a half to reopen the beach with the unprofessional way it is being handled now.” —The News International
PML (Q) Sindh unit dissolved
LAHORE: PML-Q President Ch Shujat Hussain has dissolved the party’s provincial organisation in Sindh as a first step towards the separation of public and party offices. After the dissolution, an organising committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Senator Nisar Memon. With the dissolution, Sindh PML-Q President Ghous Buksh Mahar, who also holds the office of the Federal Minister, Railways, General Secretary Halim Sidiqui and other top party office-bearers at the provincial level will cease to hold their party offices. However, the Executive Committee and General Council of the PML-Q, Sindh, will remain intact.
—The Nation
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Unalloyed service to Lord Krishna and kindness to all should be the ideal before everyone when alone life will become purposeful. — Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Infinite is the number of ways leading to the sea of immortality. — Sri Ramakrishna Truth is a pathless land and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever. — J. Krishnamurti It is easy to see the faults of others, but difficult to see one’s own faults. — Buddha As by lighting the lamp, the darkness is dispelled; so by reading religious books, the mind is cleaned of sins. — Guru Nanak When the mind runs after the roving senses, it carries away the understanding, even as a wind carries away a ship on the waters. — The Bhagavad Gita |
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