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Mature relationship Farmers' fury |
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Keep off the grass Peter Ustinov, RIP HE was, perhaps, the world's greatest multi-faceted entertainer. Since his twenties, Peter Ustinov, actor, mimic, film director, playwright, journalist, broadcaster, screenwriter and novelist accomplished almost everything he set his sights on. The one occasion he missed was on October 31, 1984; and he never forgave himself for failing to film the moment.
Naxal violence in Andhra Pradesh
The tale of “Panchtantra”
Anti-Al Qaeda operations in Pakistan
LEGAL NOTES
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Mature relationship INDIA and China have, of late, been showing maturity in their relations. Chinese Defence Minister General Cao Gangchuan's invitation to the Indian Air Force to observe future Red Army exercises and the reciprocal invitation from Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes shows the bitterness the latter created when he described China as "enemy No. 1" has become a thing of the past. There is nothing surprising in the invitation as the two countries had conducted a joint naval exercise recently. These are all signs that the world's most populous countries have come to terms with each other and their bilateral relations are no longer haunted by the 1962 war. Yet, there is realisation on both sides that if the boundary dispute is resolved, it will give further boost to their diplomatic and economic relations. The leaderships of the two countries are realistic enough not to allow the frontier dispute to affect other facets of their relations. Bilateral trade has recorded rapid growth from $265 million in 1991 to $3,596 million in 2001. Of course, the volume is small compared to the size of their total foreign trade. Many Indian companies like Ranbaxy and NIIT have established joint ventures while others like Orind and Infosys have set up wholly owned ventures in China. Indeed the manner in which India and China have handled their ties provides a model that India wants to follow in settling its problems with Pakistan. All this is not to suggest that India has been gung ho about embracing China. It is deeply impressed by China's dynamism and the rapid development of the Chinese economy over the past two decades. Strategically, India has reason to treat its northern neighbour warily. Chinese collaboration with Pakistan in developing the latter's nuclear weapons and missile programmes is difficult to understand. At the same time, India and China do not want to be prisoners of the past for they know that the manner in which they manage their relations will have a profound impact on the future balance of power in Asia, perhaps of the world. India and China have much in common and they can build on it, step by step. |
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Farmers' fury THE death of a young farmer and injuries to hundreds of others in police firing at Manawala near Amritsar on Monday have greatly complicated matters. Although the railway track blockade has been lifted by the angry farmers, the agitation may linger. In such a violent situation it is very difficult to separate grain from chaff. The farmers — whose attempt to stop trains cannot be approved of — accuse the government of high-handedness, while the police claims that it opened fire only when some farmers fired at the policemen. While this controversy rages, there is no denying the fact that the farmers do have some genuine grouses. The non-payment of cane dues by the state government has put them to great difficulty. The Chief Minister's claim that he could not accept any of their demands due to the implementation of the election code does not cut any ice with them. They want him to fulfil the promises made to them. The Chief Minister expresses his helplessness because the Centre is not coming to his rescue. While many of the farmers' demands are genuine, it cannot be said about all of them. For instance, the insistence on free electricity and water is misplaced. One does not have to be an economist to know that anything which costs money to produce cannot be given away gratis. Even if a populist leader like Mr Prakash Singh Badal tries to do so, somebody else has to pay. All these years, the farmers' power bills have been thrust on other consumers. At the same time, the condition of electricity boards has been worsening. If farmers want uninterrupted and adequate power supply, they ought to pay for it in their own interest. At the same time, they have to cut down wasteful expenditure which is greatly responsible for their debt burden. A recent study has revealed that Punjab farmers owe a staggering Rs 9,000 crore to arhtiyas, banks and cooperative societies, while a season's entire crop sells for just about Rs 6,500 crore. They have fallen into the debt trap also because of lavish spending on social functions, flashy cars, extravagant lifestyle and alcohol etc. Their unions should focus on this aspect as well. |
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Keep off the grass HE was, perhaps, the world's greatest multi-faceted entertainer. Since his twenties, Peter Ustinov, actor, mimic, film director, playwright, journalist, broadcaster, screenwriter and novelist accomplished almost everything he set his sights on. The one occasion he missed was on October 31, 1984; and he never forgave himself for failing to film the moment. This was the assassination of Indira Gandhi, when Ustinov was within “shooting range”, waiting to interview her for Irish television. “I had no time to move any cameras, but I recorded the whole thing sound wise,” he was to say later. Except for this momentous occasion when he could not deliver, the British actor of Russian origin had a glorious run, making people, across the world, laugh on stage and screen with his witty performances and unforgettable lines. As he said, "I was irrevocably betrothed to laughter the sound of which has always seemed to be the most civilised music in the world." The great actor and star of movies such as Spartacus, Topkapi, Lorenzo's Oil and Stiff Upper Lips, to name a few, for all his talent as an entertainer was no buffoon. He was very political and he pulled no punches as could be seen from Romanoff and Juliet, a cutting satire on super-power rivalry. His role as Nero in Quo Vadis, by itself was adequate for him to be remembered by posterity. For all his success in the illusory world of entertainment, Ustinov had a social conscience. He was one of UNICEF's earliest goodwill ambassadors, long before the assignment acquired its present brand value. Besides, his Ustinov Foundation was engaged in relief and development work in India and other developing countries. The restless genius has, at last, been laid to rest. As he said, the ideal epitaph on his tombstone should be “Keep off the grass”. He deserves the peace of this sleep.
Thought for the day The moment of victory is much too short to live for that and nothing else. — Martina Navratilova
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Naxal violence in Andhra Pradesh NAXALITE violence in Andhra Pradesh has been on the rise ahead of the elections to the State legislature and Parliament. The violence has been particularly scary and political leaders, especially belonging to the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and its electoral ally, the BJP, are being targeted. The highest ranking political leader to fall prey to the PWG’s bullet was M Venkata Raju, husband of Minister for Tribal Welfare Manikumari. Raju was shot dead by an action team of the People’s War Group (PWG) at point blank range in Paderu, Visakhapatnam district, on March 18. Claiming responsibility for the murder, the Andhra-Orissa Border Special Zone Committee (AOBSZC) of the PWG, media reports said on March 24, accused Raju of supporting the anti-tribal policies of the government and declared he was killed because he was an “important” TDP leader. Evidently, the Naxalites were hoping to attract publicity by indulging in a high-profile murder. The killing has understandably sent shock waves across the State and especially in the north coastal region. In all, in 2003, 55 political leaders—nine from the BJP, 41 belonging to the TDP, four from the Congress and an independent—lost their lives to Naxalite violence in the State. Between November 14, 2003, when the Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and late-March 2004, at least 32 politicians were shot dead by the PWG in the State. There is a perceptible change this time round in the attitude of the PWG towards the elections. During the previous elections, the PWG consistently gave a boycott call. This time, it has asked its cadres to disrupt the elections at all stages and indulge in targeted killings of the local-level leadership of the TDP and the BJP, and put on notice leaders of other political parties, including from the Congress. In an internal circular issued in February, the PWG said: ‘we would permit the opposition parties to conduct campaign work, but we should expose them politically’. Besides, a noticeable feature of the ongoing spate of violence is that it is focused on the north coastal parts of the State, which fall under the jurisdiction of the AOBSZC. Within the State, the north coastal region is relatively new to PWG violence, whereas north Telengana has been a perennial victim since the past 24 years. In the first place, the Naxalites would not have grown stronger and bolder, nor would they have achieved a new presence in hitherto unknown areas in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema, if the government had not encouraged a policy of surrender and rehabilitation, rather than keeping up the pressure on them. The present shift in the scene of action to AOBSZC area is a result of a well thought out tactical move by the PWG. The outfit has suffered severe reverses in north Telengana following the killing in encounters with the police of senior and able leaders like Anupuram Komaraiah ‘AK’, Polam Sudarshan Reddy ‘RK’, Nelakonda Rajitha ‘Padma’ and a few other district-level leaders and squad commanders. As a result, the PWG has been weakened in its traditional stronghold and has been making fervent attempts to regain ground. Thus, this new wave of violence in the AOBSZ area is part of the tactical counter offensive campaign (TCOC) in that direction. The PWG plan is to shift the focus of attention to north coastal Andhra, engage the police in clashes and tie it down to the region, while it would attempt to retrieve lost ground in north Telengana. Moreover, the police in AOBSZ region has neither the required levels of training nor the capability to foresee, as well as effectively tackle, PWG violence. Indeed, the location and the terrain there serve as additional advantages for the PWG. Interior parts of the region are not easily accessible, dotted as they are with hillocks, and are also close to the nearly impregnable jungles in the tri-junction between Andhra, Orissa and Chhattisgarh. The impact of the fear that the PWG has been able to generate through its reckless killing of some political leaders while sternly warning some others to resign from their posts has been quite significant.
Twenty-two district and local-level party functionaries and elected representatives of the TDP resigned from their posts, in mid-March, in East Godavari district, which had never in the past witnessed any noticeable level of PWG violence or activity. In the Naxalite strongholds, the number of resignations has been countless and leaders have either been warned not to venture into affected villages without providing prior information to the police or have been advised to take adequate precautions to protect their lives. In fact, the Karimnagar district police has been sending advisories to targeted political leaders through SMS on cellular phones and have issued a booklet, Sanjeevini, containing tips to evade armed PWG squads, a move that has been replicated with considerable success in various parts of the State. In the wake of rising Naxalite violence and the fear that it would reach a crescendo as polls advance, the State requested for massive deployment of central para-military forces. Reportedly, 153 companies would be deployed in different parts of the State, a month ahead of the elections. Half of these have already reached the State. These are in addition to the 89,000-strong State police and another 20,000 uniformed personnel from the other departments in the State. The massive buildup of police forces clearly points towards bloodier days. The heavy presence of the police would have a considerable measure of psychological impact on the PWG. The outfit might, therefore, seek to perform some high-profile actions. Moreover, the slightest negligence on the part of the police on election duty might have disastrous, and sometimes even fatal, consequences. Gripped by the fear of violent retribution, political campaigning has been on a low key in the Naxalite-affected parts of the State. Further, as local-level leaders have relocated themselves to safer places like a nearby town or the district headquarters, there now prevails an uneasy vacuum in the villages. These leaders are important agents of political mobilisation and their absence has, thus, adversely affected it. On the other hand, the Naxalites are either present or can make their presence felt in those areas. Thus, they have the ability to influence political developments in some villages. It is, therefore, likely that the Naxalites would strike clandestine deals with one or the other political party in their areas of influence and help its candidate during the elections. They would, thus, in a way, act like local warlords and arbiters in the battle for the ballot. Hence, it is doubtful if elections in some constituencies would be entirely free and fair and, as a result, the final outcome would not represent true choice. These new set of linkages would, perhaps, influence in considerable measure the policy of the next political dispensation in the State towards the
Naxalites. The writer is Research Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi |
The tale of “Panchtantra” I had gone for a walk in the jungle, lost my way in the darkness and shot up a tree just in time. A few leopards followed by a bull, fox, mouse and a crow emerged from the shadows and gathered near my tree. A bit of animal lingo I had picked up from a descendant of Vishnu Sharmaji of Panchtantra fame came in handy! A doddering old cat, obviously their leader, growled unpleasantly: “They have named us maneaters, they are after our blood. We should be very careful!” “But sir, those humans are lazy and timid — one fellow pushes the other in front of us and runs away to save his own skin.” “True. But they have gadgets and weapons — curse modern technology! I have called you here for working out a solution.” A veteran Leo suggested that big fat fellows should be preferred to slim bony ones. It would be easier to catch them — less work and more meat, he argued . “All those slimming centres will flourish more”, informed the crow, the group’s unofficial spy, “they will put up posters of leopards all over the town…” “Can’t we have some tieup with them? They can give us their fat clients’ addresses, prescribe them long evening walks to this area…” ventured the bull. “Oh, bull, bull my friend! Never trust humans — especially the money-making types”, screamed a Leo. “Remember, your hide becomes their footwear and my skin is their luxury item.” A member talked about the declining health of the man-eating folks — the youth, in particular. “Make the right choice, babies!” advised the mouse, “avoid mineral water, cold drinks, and chocolates of certain brands. I have seen the young Leos pulling out these things from bags and pockets of their human victims. Humans can thrive on such poisons but not others”. Ignoring the young sullen faces, the doddering leader cleared his throat: “Avoid human hearts and livers — lies, and betrayals have made them weak and fragile. We should not take the risk of contracting these traits”. “Even their lungs, sir”, a middle-aged yellow-coat growled in, “last week my meal was spoiled by a strange smell and taste…” “Must be diesel and petrol”, the spy-crow informed. A young Leo gave a deep growl: “last week, I fell ill after eating a fellow. He kept smiling even as I approached him and greeted me warmly. Then he started running away but was still holding tightly two things made of flowers…” “Yes, yes”, chuckled the fox , “such people are called politicians. They have an irresistible urge for garlands and bouquets. He must have smiled and said involuntarily —namaskarji, how are you. Whenever you see such fellows, you better hide in the bushes. Or, I shall fetch you a machine called mike. Just throw one near the fellow. He will blindly pick it up and start lecturing away… then you can kill him or escape easily. But don’t ever eat them…you will fall ill”. The leader Leo growled in satisfaction over the meet : “I will put all these advices into a five-chaptered manual and call it paanchtantra. Ha! If only I could get hold of that fellow Vishnu whatever…” Soon they vanished. So did my sweat. There was an urgent task for me — to warn my fellow politicians about the maneaters’ new-found strategy. |
Anti-Al Qaeda operations in Pakistan
The President told a grand tribal Jirga at the sprawling lawns of the Governor’s House at Peshawar recently that the ongoing operation in South Waziristan must produce results at any cost. General Musharraf exhorted tribesmen to expel foreign militants from tribal regions. He warned that the failure to do so could entail serious repercussions for Pakistan and that the tribesmen would have to cooperate with the government in this regard. The President is reported to have confirmed that some 500 to 600 foreign suspects have been sheltered in the South Waziristan region. He said they should not get weapons and training here and create disturbance across the western border. General Musharraf’s worry is to be expected under the given circumstances. For one, flushing out foreign militants and aides of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is of prime importance to the United States. The capture of Osama — dead or alive — will surely be President George Bush’s ticket for his second innings in the White House. It is in view of this that US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s statements en route to India needs to be closely examined. He said Pakistan has undertaken a number of operations recently along the border and the US just wants to see them do more of that. He said the US wants to see if they can do a better job of apprehending Taliban cadres who the US might be able to identify for them and anything that can be done to stabilise the situation along the border. But this is easier said than done from General Musharraf’s point of view. On the one hand, the Big Brother is tightening the leash around the General’s throat and, on the other, his Islamist brethern are gunning for him in the name of Islamic brotherhood. The ongoing operation in Wana (Pakistan) coincides with Secretary of State Colin Powell’s Pakistan visit during which he announced MNNA status to Islamabad. Similar operations were launched in the past — in June 2003 when General Musharraf had visited the US and in October 2003 when Mr Powell’s deputy Richard Armitage had visited Pakistan. However, top guns of Al Qaeda and Taliban remain at large and no breakthorugh has been made. Though General Musharraf urged tribal elders to expel foreign suspects and their local sympathisers from the region and reiterated an earlier offer that foreign militants who surrendered would not be handed over to any foreign country, Pakistan-watchers here take this assurance with a pinch of salt. That is because the tribals wanted by the authorities have no faith in the present system of justice. One such persecuted Pakistani tribal, Nek Mohammad, speaking on behalf of himself and others told a leading Pakistani newspaper on telephone from an undisclosed place that they could not surrender because they will not get justice from the authorities. Besides, the government had already punished them by demolishing their houses, he is reported to have said. What has strained the relationship between the volatile tribal regions and the Pakistani authorities is the killing of 13 civilians by the Pakistan Army last month. The killings, described as a mistake, has not gone down well with the tribal elders given that tribal volunteers had started action
against extremists and were dismantling their hideouts in Wana. Instead of a pat on the back, authorities in the South Waziristan tribal region have slapped a string of punitive actions on tribesmen to force them into handing over people suspected of sheltering and supporting Al Qaeda militants. For one, over 16 houses were demolished of suspected militants as part of the tradition of instant justice prevalent in the region. To add insult to injury, the Yargulkhel and Karmazkhel tribes, the hardliner sub-tribes of the Zalikhel tribe, will be fined Rs 50,000 every day for a period of seven days, failing which the already sealed commercial property of the tribes would be demolished. The action would be repeated every seventh day till the time the tribes hand over the five wanted tribesmen. Show-cause notices for dismissal from service would also be issued to the employees of various government departments functioning in South Waziristan who happen to be close relatives of the wanted tribesmen. This is not the end. Payment of their salaries has already been stopped as part of the punitive actions taken under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulation. What General Musharraf is doing in the forbidden tribal areas of his country has never been done before. Security forces have never entered this traditionally lawlessness region. But today a major anti-terrorist operation is taking place in the tribal regions of Pakistan. The success or failure of this operation will determine the political future of not only President Musharraf but President Bush too. The US getting Osama bin Laden, dead or alive, is equally important for General Musharraf because Osama is the latter’s life insurance policy. |
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LEGAL NOTES DELAY in filing of a criminal case could be no defence to the accused as the criminal jurisprudence did not recognise the principle of limitation in pursuing the matter, the Supreme Court has ruled. The verdict came in a case relating to practising of untouchability, in which a complaint was filed in 1985 by a Scheduled Caste official alleging that his colleague had refused to take water from him stating that it would spoil his religion. The accused had contended that since there was inordinate delay in pursuing the case further, the complaint against him should be quashed. The apex court directed the trial judge to go ahead with the trial. Fiat to Centre on genetic technology The Supreme Court’s intervention has been sought by an organisation fighting for unreasonable use of genetic technology in the country, saying that existing laws to regulate it were not sufficient. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice V.N. Khare while issuing notice to the Union Government on a PIL filed by NGO, Gene Campaign, sought the Centre’s reply about the steps being taken by it. Gene Campaign, in its PIL said that proliferation of genetic technology and its adverse impact on environment required strong regulatory measures against the misuse of the technology. Patent rights not to affect farmers In another matter related to agriculture, the Union Government has submitted before the apex court that registration of patent rights for Indian wheat by US agro major, Monsanto, would not affect the rights of the country’s farmers in any manner. Responding to the court’s notice on the issue, the Centre submitted before the Bench that the government was not contemplating to file any objection before the European Patent Office to question the grant of patent right to Monsanto for wheat. Additional Solicitor-General Mukul Rohtagi told the court that the government had consulted experts who were unanimous that “the Indian farmers would not even remotely be affected” by Monsanto’s move. The Supreme Court’s intervention was sought by the NGO claiming that the attempt of Monsanto to get European patent of Indian wheat would affect the country’s farmers. Courts versus tribunals The courts have very limited powers to interfere in the proceedings of arbitration tribunals which are set up with the mutual consent of contractual parties, the Supreme Court has ruled. The jurisdiction of arbitration could not be interfered with by the court, the Supreme Court said setting aside a Bombay High Court judgement staying the proceedings before the arbitration in a dispute on payment of interest on certain financial transactions between Secur Industries Ltd and Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company Ltd. The disputing parties had referred the matter to the UP Industries Facilitation Council. But Godrej, instead of submitting to the arbitration proceedings, had obtained a stay order from the High Court against the tribunal’s proceedings, which the apex court set aside. |
The main object of the Gospel is not only, as Pascal says, “to establish two principles — the corruption of nature, and redemption by Christ,” — but to lead men to turn from the former and accept the latter. — Tryon Edwards He who is within, see Him without as well. There is no other besides Him. — Guru Nanak And it shall be my endeavour to reveal thee in my actions, knowing it is thy power that gives me the strength to act. — Rabindranath Tagore Love, like a flame, cannot fail to give light. — Hazrat Inayat Khan Most pleasures, like flowers, when gathered, die. — Young |
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THE see-saw battle to control the wild wests of Pakistan is turning into a nightmare for President Pervez Musharraf. The latest audio tape purported to have been circulated by Al Qaeda urges Pakistani troops to disobey General Musharraf’s orders and openly calls for his overthrow.