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Another rail disaster Return of a reformer |
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Ceasefire in Andhra PW must give up the culture of gun THE three-month ceasefire declared between the Andhra Pradesh government and the People's War is welcome as it would create a conducive atmosphere for holding negotiations.
Stability can be dicey
Bushva-Puraan
Waiting for a sports complex Delhi Durbar
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Another rail disaster Even one railway accident in a year is one too many whereas we are having one almost every month. The latest to occur on Wednesday near Mumbai made sure that at least 25 passengers would never return home to their families. Many others may be disabled for life. The rate of accidents is way too high and totally unacceptable. Most of them occur for the simple reason that rail safety is never given the priority it deserves. It is a matter of meaningless detail whether a boulder on the track or wrong signalling or the weather was the culprit. What matters to the paying passenger is whether all care is being taken to ensure that he goes from point A to B safely. That, unfortunately, is not happening. New railway lines and zones get the politicians publicity and scope for patronage and are being taken care of. Putting in place safety measures is an unglamorous chore which just does not get done. Weak bridges, old tracks, defective equipment … all contribute to the gloomy situation. Even when people get killed in such tragedies, the sense of outrage is not as strong as it ought to be. Somehow, in a situation of scarcity, most passengers consider themselves lucky just to get the tickets. It is not in their nature to pose serious questions about the safety measures that should be in place. That is why the railways get away by paying a pittance to those who lose their lives for no fault of their own. If at all heads roll, they are at the junior level. The callousness does not end with the shabby running of the trains. Even the relief measures are inadequate and tardy. This fact was underlined once again in the aftermath of Wednesday's Matsyagandha Express tragedy. Official rescue and relief work started several hours after the incident. On the other hand, local people chipped in at once. They thus saved hundreds of lives. It is time this casual attitude was given up. The new Railway Minister who has been making a song and dance about his surprise checks and kulhars and khadi should do something to minimise accidents. |
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Return of a reformer THE appointment of Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia as Deputy Chairperson of the Planning Commission marks the return to the government of the noted Oxford-educated economist, who had earlier worked with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P. Chidambaram as Finance Secretary during the early days of economic reforms. Enjoying Cabinet status, Mr Ahluwalia may not confine himself to the Planning Commission and is expected to play a crucial role in policy-making. He has been one of the key members of Dr Manmohan Singh’s team that had given a concrete shape to the 1991 economic reforms. After the initial apprehensions about the fate of economic reforms created by the unwarranted utterances of some Leftist leaders, the Manmohan Singh government is slowly clearing the mist and sending out the signal that the reforms are on track. The new assignment for Mr Ahluwalia, who was keeping himself occupied with work at the IMF, is another indication of the shape of things to come. Earlier, the government had disregarded the Leftist concerns while deciding on a hike in the prices of petroleum products. However, the real picture will emerge only after the Union Budget is presented on July 8. But it is unlikely the government will neglect the concerns of the market. A section of the pro-reform economists has off and on questioned the role of the Planning Commission in the changed market-driven economic scenario and suggested its winding up. That may not be feasible as yet. But the planning body definitely needs to reshape itself. With state finances gone haywire, it has to guide and discipline recalcitrant state governments. It can act as a think-tank, preparing valuable inputs to help the governments make informed decisions on priority areas of education, health, agriculture and infrastructure development. One hopes the new team at the Planning Commission led by Mr Ahluwalia does not get bogged down in routine paper work. Yojna Bhavan may need to cut some of its flab. |
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Ceasefire in Andhra THE three-month ceasefire declared between the Andhra Pradesh government and the People's War is welcome as it would create a conducive atmosphere for holding negotiations. Ceasefire, irrespective of its duration, is a breather because the guns have gone silent, saving the lives of innocent people in 15 out of the 23 districts identified as Naxalite affected. After taking over as Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy decided to give peace a chance and invited the PW for talks. At the same time, he asked the police to exercise restraint. This is a major shift in the state government's policy. This is the second time in three years that the state government has initiated peace talks with the PW. Though the Chandrababu Naidu government had tried to fix modalities of the talks process with PW mediators, it was doomed from the start because the police did not reciprocate the PW's ceasefire offer. As a result, many precious lives were lost at the hands of the Naxalites. The abortive attempt on the life of Mr Chandrababu Naidu near Tirumala had vitiated the atmosphere further. Subsequently, the Telugu Desam made the Naxalite violence a major issue in the Assembly elections and dismissed the PW as a terrorist outfit bent on plunging the state into anarchy. It is not clear whether the new government would lift the ban on the PW, as demanded by the Naxalites. Home Minister Jana Reddy’s reference to the PW as a “party” the other day seems to be a concession, aimed at clearing the decks for talks. The state and its people have suffered a lot because of the protracted violence. The PW needs to understand that there is no place for the gun in a democracy. Its armed squads should stop moving about in villages, carrying arms, because no peace effort would succeed in an atmosphere of fear and mistrust. On its part, the government should realise that the Naxalite issue is more a socio-economic than a law and order problem. |
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The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. — Franklin D. Roosevelt |
Stability can be dicey The sensex doesn’t seem to have been able to shed its nervousness which followed the Vajpayee government’s defeat. There is apparently still a lingering nostalgia for the pro-business inclinations of the NDA government as opposed to the populist and even “socialist” preferences of the present one. It will be salutary to keep in mind, however, the fact that the market is essentially politically neutral. All it looks for is stability in the sense that a government will run for five years, pursuing policies which generally favour the business community. But in looking for stability, the investors and entrepreneurs can make the mistake of identifying a surface calm with capable governance. Invariably, therefore, their preference is for one-party rule in place of coalitions, and if this first objective seems unattainable (as in India at present), they favour a coalition with a clear-cut majority instead of one which can barely get past the half-way mark in Parliament. Surprisingly, it’s not only the corporate sector, but even large sections of the middle and upper classes which favour “stability” of this kind. What is more, the quest for stability can assume weird proportions, as when Lord Meghnad Desai, the British peer, proposed in the mid-nineties an alliance between the BJP and the Congress for the sake of a “stable” India ! What these votaries of one-party rule or a coalition with a large majority or an alliance of two parties with completely different historical traditions forget is that any putative stability provided by such arrangements can carry the possibility of inflicting a huge damage on the body politic, especially in the absence of a leader who abides by democratic norms. Stability is much more than a matter of majority rule. Its prime requirement is, and should be, the rule of law. That India’s half-a-century-old democracy is still going through various phases marked by uncertainty is clear enough. It is only in the last 10 years that the country has made an uneasy transition from one-party rule to coalitions at the Centre although coalitions have been known in the states for quite some time. It is also only in the last few months that India’s grand old party has reluctantly acknowledged this uncomfortable fact and is trying to come to terms with it. It is in this context of a political flux that one can analyse the occasional dangers which the concept of stability entails. It is a matter of history that one of the worst assaults on the country’s democratic system was made by a government which was, on the surface, absolutely stable, having won a huge popular mandate in Parliament in 1971. Similarly, another government, enjoying a similar popular endorsement, was so beset with charges of corruption in the mid-eighties that it tried, unsuccessfully as it turned out, to introduce a censorship of the Press reminiscent of the Emergency via the Prevention of Objectionable Materials Act (POMA). More recently, the minorities in Gujarat have experienced in full measure the baneful effects of a “stable” government. True, the instability that is being feared at the moment relates not only to the customary pulls and pressures of a coalition government, but also to the presence in it of the Left which believes in a closed economy cut off from the outside world and regards the market with deep suspicion. Then, there are powerful provincial satraps who seem to have no economic vision at all except that of self-aggrandisement. They also apparently believe that since power can be retained almost indefinitely through casteist manipulations, there is no need for focussing on development. It is the return of the primacy of politics as opposed to the focus (though blurred at the edges) on economics in the last government, evident in the presence of assertive, pro-disinvestment ministers like Mr Arun Shourie, which is behind the tremors in the stock exchange. One reason for its nervous reaction is the belief in the business community that Mr Vajpayee is virtually the only major politician today who is unequivocally committed to economic reforms. Others may pay lip-service to the concept, but there is no one else who firmly believes that India has no other way to advance in economic terms except via the process of a market-oriented economy. This belief in Mr Vajpayee’s commitment may have been enhanced by the fact that he was able to withstand considerable pressure from the protectionist lobbies in his own party as well as in the Sangh Parivar, such as the Swadeshi Jagran Manch and the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. Besides, the Congress has remained ambivalent about reforms. It still seems to long for the days of the licence-permit-quota raj presumably because it believes that reforms are associated in the public mind with being pro-rich. Since the bulk of the Congress support comes from the poorer sections of society, its misgivings are understandable. Hence its preference for retaining the public sector, opting only for their “selective” privatisation, and for reserving jobs for the Dalits and Adivasis in the private sector. Since the party cannot but bank on the Left, the latter’s anti-reforms stance also influences the Congress outlook, even if such an attitude goes against what the CPM’s West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadev Bhattacharya, has been practising in his state. It is the uncertainty, therefore, about the direction of economic reforms which is making the market hold its breath in suspense. But a mature assessment of the situation will show that stability cannot be ordered, nor is it invariably beneficial. As Gujarat under Mr Narendra Modi has shown, even the supposedly ideal combination of stability and a pro-reforms attitude of the government is not enough, which is why the corporate czars once had no option but to bring up the matter of social peace before an unamused Chief Minister. The best course obviously is to insulate the economy from politics as in the advanced countries of the West, but that is not feasible in a developing country where the government’s role in ameliorating the conditions of the underprivileged is still important. So, the next best alternative is to evolve a consensus on reforms among the major parties which will enable the market to retain its cool. The Common Minimum Programme is a step in that direction although much depends on how it is implemented. However, Mr Bhattacharya’s recent observation that the Communists are “not fools” and that they are not against economic reforms is a source of reassurance. |
Bushva-Puraan Yamraj, the frightening Lord of Death, was in a particularly foul mood that day. “How dare”, he fumed, “this new batch of earthlings enjoy the most vicious tortures of our Hell !”. “They are even singing, dancing and laughing so merrily that our torture chambers now look like picnic spots”, an old aide of the Lord ventured to whine. “Who has caused this miracle ?” Yamraj thundered. The planets and other worlds quaked in fear. “Only sinning humans are brought here after death for punishment. They are pushed into cauldrons of boiling oil, hung upside - down over burning chillies, rolled over red-hot iron spikes…” “Poor you,” came a voice ringing with laughter, “ all these are ancient methods. The humans have developed immunity”. Soon, the revered sage Narad appeared there, still laughing. Yamraj bowed respectfully and begged the sage, reputed to be the celestial media man as well as a great mediator, to throw more light. “You are familiar with Americum, Iriaquam — the places on the earth ?” “Of course”, Yamraj nodded boastfully, “ in fact, on Septemburam 11…” “I know”, interrupted the sage, “you scored big that day. But you are paying for it now… their boss named Bushva is retaliating ……” “Rubbish !”, roared the mighty Lord, “a mere human fry defying me !” “Narayana, Narayana”, the revered sage chanted in despair, “Listen to me Yamraj, that clever Bushva has plans to conquer your kingdom, this much- feared Hell”. “How ?” “His men have invented strange torture methods — modern and far superior to yours. Tested in their latest acquisition Iriaquam, they are ready for mass use”. Narad gave all the gory details about how those prisoners were stripped, their genitals were wired and so on …. The Lord of Hell puked in disgust and just managed not to faint. “So what ?” he protested meekly, “he can’t touch me.” The sage laughed bitterly, “he has already touched you, friend! These new hell-mates enjoying your torture have come from Iriaquam. After their plight at the hands of Bushva’s men and women, they feel it’s a perfect holiday here in your hell! Soon, this will spread — where will it leave you? He will stake his claim to oust you and become the new ruler. His armed forces are already outshining yours…” The Lord of the Hell trembled in fear. “Give me the solution, oh learned sage, and save me”, he cried, holding his throne tightly. Narad used his divine vision. “Quickly fetch from his country some experts in torture methods. They will train your assistants among whom a handful of women are needed urgently.” Then he leaned at the shaken Lord’s ear and whispered:” Devise some ways by which Bushva will win his forthcoming elections. If he wins , his friends and financiers will keep him too busy there to eye your kingdom …”
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Waiting for a sports complex
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glaring example of the Punjab Government's apathy is the sports complex that was to come up opposite the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium in Mohali the land for which was allotted as early as 1991. The cricket stadium, which also got the land allotment on April 24, 1991, was ready by March 14, 1996, when West Indies took on Australia in a semi-final match of the Wills World Cup, instantly putting Mohali on the world map. However, the over 20 acres of prime land set aside for the sports complex remains unutilised. The Sports Department ran into a controversy for giving 13.56 acres for the cricket stadium on a 99-year lease to the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) at a nominal rate of Rs 100 an acre a year. While the PCA makes crores each year by hosting cricket matches, running a social club and allowing private celebrations there, the cash-starved Sports Department “earns” Rs 1,356 a year only from the stadium. ‘‘The Sports Department could have created a world-class sports facility with private participation. Instead, the government decided to go on its own and sports is obviously not the state's top priority,’’ says Mr I.S. Bindra, the PCA President. ‘‘And here we are not talking about giving the whole venture into private hands. The seed money could have been handed over to a trust with corporate participation leading to a self-financing set-up,” he adds. The PCA has occupied two more acres of PUDA land behind the stadium. Nets have been put up on this land. A PUDA team has discovered that the construction work undertaken within the club was not in compliance with the byelaws. The area is now enclosed by the stadium's boundary wall. ‘‘The PCA has provided a world-class facility and we have plans for further expansion,’’ points out Mr D.P. Reddy, Vice-President of the PCA and former Chief Administrator, PUDA. The story of the proposed sports complex is equally interesting. Initially, it was decided that Rs 1.85 crore would be spent on the complex by the Punjab Sports Council with a matching amount from PUDA. However, Rs 6.85 crore was squandered on the construction of a boundary wall and glitzy gates instead of having at least one sports facility. Every time there is a match at the stadium, the sports complex land is used for parking vehicles. Years later, an inquiry was ordered into the spending of Rs 6.85 crore by PUDA. The report squarely indicted PUDA officials for changing the scope of the work and also for favouring a particular contractor. Despite this, the contractor continued the work. No fresh bids were called for new works. If the PCA gave Punjab a world-class cricket stadium, PUDA managed to give Punjab the most expensive boundary wall ever built — costing a whopping Rs 6.85 crore. The Punjab Sports Department decided in April this year to commercially develop part of the land. The land use pattern prescribed in the master plan not withstanding, sites for 30 showrooms and a shopping mall opposite the stadium would be sold by PUDA on behalf of the department to raise money for the sports complex. ‘‘The complex will have a 7,000-capacity indoor stadium and an international-level swimming pool, among other facilities. The decision to commercially exploit the land has been cleared by the Chief Minister and architects have been asked to draw up a new plan for the complex,’’ says Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Sports Minister. |
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Delhi Durbar Just retired career diplomats and serving civil servants, who enjoyed the confidence of the late Rajiv Gandhi and had virtually been in the dog house, have been resurrected by the new government at the Centre. They include Ronen Sen, Kamlesh Sharma, Navin Chawla, Wajahat Habibullah and Pulok Chatterjee. While Ronen Sen has been made the Ambassador to the US, Sharma will be the new High Commissioner in Britain. Among the civil servants, Navin Chawla moves from the dull and drab Consumer Affairs to be the new Information and Broadcasting Secretary. Habibullah, an IAS officer of the J and K cadre, is the pointsperson in the PMO for taking the talks forward in the militancy-troubled sensitive border state and Chatterjee has moved to the PMO from the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.
Pre-Budget parleys After more than two years, industry associations are back at North Block. Finance Minister P Chidambaram has restored the earlier practice of seeking inputs from the industry, trade unions, consumer associations, journalists and others for the Budget-making exercise. Chidambaram’s immediate predecessor Jaswant Singh had done away with the customary pre-Budget consultations and instead had said that all inputs could be sent to the Finance Ministry on a written format.
Some plainspeaking BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, who was in charge of the party’s general election, believes that his party’s defeat has brought to the fore the fact that they had stayed away from the people. He concedes that the BJP organisation was weak in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which contribute 120 seats to the Lok Sabha.
RSS asserts itself The RSS is playing its part and won the day with the BJP when the party had intially talked about denying the Rajya Sabha seats to its senior leaders who had fallen by the wayside in the Lok Sabha elections. This had initially put former Union ministers Murli Manohar Joshi and Yashwant Sinha in a tight spot after having lost the Lok Sabha elections from the Allahabad and Hazaribagh constituencies, respectively. In bailing out Joshi, the RSS also provided a direly needed reprieve to Sinha as well.
Minister asked
to keep mum After Law Minister H.R. Bharadwaj created a furore by declaring that Congress President Sonia Gandhi can access any government files, he has been asked by the party’s numero uno to be highly circumspect and not to speak out of turn. The observations of Bharadwaj had provided a ready lever to the BJP and other Opposition parties to attack the emergence of an extra constitutional authority. The over-enthusiasm of Bharadwaj has backfired and he has been urged to confine himself to overseeing the affairs of the critical Law Ministry. Contributed by S. Satyanarayanan, Gaurav Choudhary and Prashant Sood |
While real perfection is only one, relative perfections must be many. — Swami Vivekananda He who serves God, is His servant. — Guru Nanak Honour both spirit and form the sentiment within as well as the symbol without. — Sri Ramakrishna Do not worry about tomorrow; for the tomorrow shall take care of the things of itself. — Jesus Christ Knowledge and personality make doubt possible, but knowledge is also the cure of doubt; and when we get a full and adequate sense of personality, we are lifted into a region where doubt is almost impossible, for no man can know himself as he is, and all the fullness of his nature, without also knowing God. — T.T. Munger |
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