 |
|
N-terror Rape of justice |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Bears
take charge
Gujjar stir is a
wake-up call
Wounded
finger
The development
challenge When protectors turn
tormentors Inside Pakistan
|
N-terror In
simultaneously flagging the danger of nuclear weapons falling into extremists’ hands and the need to work towards universal nuclear disarmament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has deftly tapped into a growing view around the world that as long as nukes exist, there is a serious risk of their finding their way into the wrong hands. And when you consider that there are still more than 26,000 nuclear weapons held by nine nations today, that is indeed a scary prospect. This is what has prompted even hawkish American conservatives, from Henry Kissinger down to presidential candidate John McCain, to talk about various models of disarmament, thus reviving a movement considered quite dead not too long ago. India has long stressed its commitment to eventual disarmament, an extremely desirable goal, but it has never wavered from insisting, as Manmohan Singh has again done, that this must be “universal and non-discriminatory in nature.” The West has been obsessed too long with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as the lynchpin of nuclear policy, while neglecting the fact that the NPT itself demands that the P-5 countries move towards disarmament. The West has also begun to recognise that India has acted responsibly as an N-power, a realisation that led to the possibility of a Indo-US nuclear deal that would have led to the loosening of the shackles of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The deal unfortunately lies stymied today, even as the PM points to the fact that “we do not have the luxury of limiting our options of energy sources.” In any case, as the PM says, the “painful reality” is that the dream of universal disarmament remains a distant one. In the short term, India will continue to face challenges to its legitimate use of nuclear technology for both energy and strategic security. A change of administration in the United States may well see a revival of the movement towards a test ban and fissile material cut-off, under the discriminatory provisions of the NPT. India should stand firm, even as it sends out positive messages about its intentions. India is a vital component of the world’s response to both state and non-state nuclear threats, and the world’s leaders will hopefully be persuaded to work with India and her needs, and not against it.
|
|
Rape of justice Shocking
will be too mild a word to describe the alleged rape by two policemen of Sarita, a 25-year-old woman, in a Rohtak police station on April 10, and her subsequent suicide at the police headquarters in Panchkula on Monday after she failed to get justice. All this while, her tormentors moved scot-free and even continued to intimidate her to withdraw her complaint. This was not just the crime of a head constable and a constable, but that of the Haryana police force which did not care to listen to her cries of anguish and rather tried to shield the guilty policemen. The alleged rapists have now been suspended. Had this been done right when the complaint was lodged, they would not have been threatening her, forcing her to take the extreme step, which left two little girls without mother. The policemen may still come up with ifs and buts but their reputation is now in tatters. The black marks on their khaki just cannot be washed away. The circumstances of the case are symptomatic of the malfunctioning of the police. Sarita’s husband Subhash was arrested for possessing a stolen bike, which he claimed to have bought from a financier. She was called to the CIA police station in Rohtak on April 10 on the pretext of signing papers for Subhash’s release and was allegedly raped by head constable Balraj and constable Silak Ram. She told her tale of woes to her husband but he could not do anything because he was in custody. She could lodge a complaint only on April 26 after the release of Subhash on April 24. An SP says that her medical test was not conducted because she had reached him after a fortnight. Strangely, even her clothes were not sent for DNA tests. Nor was her case handled by woman cops and counsellors, as stipulated by the Supreme Court. In short, everything was done to break her down and not the guilty cops. The responsibility for her death hangs squarely on the policemen, if at all they have it. On May 12, the victim of an alleged gang rape had torn off her clothes at the Yamunanagar police station in protest against the alleged police inaction. Is this the “friendly police” that the Haryana government talks about?
|
|
Bears take charge Asia
is no longer the hottest destination for foreign investments. In just six months the economic situation has changed from sunny to cloudy. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are dumping Asian stocks and shifting to Russia, Latin America and Africa, which are benefiting from the rising commodity prices. The surging oil prices, inflation touching a new high week after week and costlier inputs have given rise to fears of a slowdown and a squeeze in corporate profits. As hikes in interest rates are expected, higher borrowing costs will hit the housing, automobile and white goods sectors the most. The outflow of dollars has caused the rupee to depreciate, raising the cost of oil and other imports. Monday saw major Asian markets fall 2 to 3 per cent and the downtrend continued on Tuesday. The immediate provocation was the unprecedented $11-a-barrel jump in the global crude prices, which had brought down American stocks. It all began with the sub-prime mess in the US whose damaging potential has still not been accurately assessed. The US unemployment rate has seen the steepest one-month rise in 22 years. With such bad news from all over, stock markets were bound to head south. More pain is in store for India. Inflation is expected to turn double digit as the impact of the recent oil price hike gets reflected in the prices. There is no respite in sight yet from the soaring cost of fuel. Besides, the widening fiscal deficit, thanks to the oil bonds, the loan waiver and the proposed hike in staff salaries, is bound to turn off foreign investors. Stocks may bounce back off and on, but for the present the party is over and may restart if the general election throws up a reliable government at the
Centre.
|
|
Those who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try nothing and succeed. — Lloyd Jones
|
Gujjar stir is a wake-up call
The
agitation of Gujjar community in Rajasthan over their demand for being given Scheduled Tribe (ST) status is an eye-opener to the need of present reservation policy being re-drafted and/or being declared null and void. Today, it is the Gujjars, irrespective of whether their demand is justified or not; tomorrow some other groups may adopt a similar course to secure benefits of the so-called reservation policy. Women are also in this line. If in keeping with political pressure, some percentages are periodically earmarked for select sections, in due course of time, probably only a few seats in academic institutions and other organisations would be left for students on the basis of merit. This certainly does not speak well of the reservation policy, as it stands. Understandably, this point against reservation issue is least likely to find much favour with politicians. The manner in which this policy is being pursued only stands suggestive of it being guided more by political interests, with little concern whether it would actually benefit the targeted section and/or the country. Though it is not the first time that Gujjars have raised their voice for being granted ST status, it is difficult to de-link it from having been deliberately timed in view of the forthcoming assembly elections in Rajasthan. With due respect for all supporting the reservation policy, one is compelled to question its efficacy. This question would not have risen if the same attention was being paid to enhancing the number of educational institutions and job opportunities across the country. Besides, how can it be missed that all high-caste/class people are not economically well off? The reservation policy, based on current guidelines, is discriminatory against all those who do not fall in this quota, are economically underprivileged and/or also meritorious. As it is, with the inclusion of OBCs, the reservation quota has increased to 49 per cent. In keeping with a Supreme Court order, states are barred from providing more than 50 per cent reservation. This suggests that there remains only 1 per cent of reservations, which can be provided for numerous groups still restricted from availing this advantage. This apparently includes the women too. Against this backdrop, one is compelled to question the apparent storm raised over the Women’s Reservation Bill which was tabled in the Rajya Sabha on the last day of its budget session. With it being considered by a committee, members of which representing different parties hold conflicting views, the implementation of this bill may be considered as a mirage. In other words, lip service paid to this issue carries importance only to that of being an exercise in political gimmickry. It is perhaps that exhausted with similar political rhetoric, Gujjars chose to voice their demand for being accorded ST status through agitations. Rather than holding only agitators at fault, this should be viewed as a wake-up call for taking a new look at the reservation policy, which can prompt any section to adopt similar strategy for being accorded the reservation status. If it were perfect, without any flaw, it would not have been viewed as controversial leading to crises at several levels. Strangely, the authorities in power have tried using strategies directed at overpowering Gujjars by silencing them. This includes issuing a contempt notice to the Gujjar leaders, indulgence in police firing against them and blocking the supply of food to those demonstrating at key points in Rajasthan. Use of force or any similar strategy can be least effective when a large number of aggrieved people are hit by the same. Rather than be silenced, such strategy can only agitate them further for a longer period of time. The spread of Gujjar agitation like wildfire is just a small example of this hard reality. Had they been fewer in number, less organised and united, they would have perhaps taken a little longer to react and may have used different tactics. Their demand for being given ST status has not suddenly risen. In view of Rajasthan heading for state elections, they would have displayed their anger for being practically sidelined, if not now then definitely later. Little attention has been paid to taking a new look at their demand as well as the need for reformulating the reservation policy without leaving any section aggrieved. Reservation carries little significance in the national interest and in contributing to upliftment of unprivileged sections, unless it is actually directed in this direction. Granting admissions or jobs primarily because of recipients deserving the same on the basis of only their reservation quota needs to be thought of along a new line. In addition to leaving behind the ones deserving the same on meritorious grounds, this demands consideration in the national interest. Can the country afford to have doctors, soldiers, policemen, engineers and other such professional personnel not because they are qualified enough on the basis of their merit, but because they have been allotted these seats on the basis of reservation criteria? If the politicians are keen on pursuing this approach then it would be appropriate to include all social groups, including women, with a specific percentage laid out for each. Yes, let no group feel discriminated by being excluded from the reservation quota. If the government had paid equal attention to increasing the number of schools and institutions of higher education, within reach of all sections, the reservation issue may have not become controversial. Neither would it have led non-reserved categories bearing the brunt of reservation. In keeping with each Indian citizen’s constitutional right to equality, together with social, economic and political justice, the reservation policy needs to be re-formulated. It makes sense to allow reservation only till the school level. Beyond this, it would be more prudent to provide training and/or coaching to those falling under the reservation criteria for the career they plan. But if the respected politicians are bent on continuing with the present formula then women, forming 50 per cent of the population, known to be most abused and discriminated against, should be given top priority in being accorded reservation at all levels. National interest demands adopting a new approach towards the reservation issue.
|
Wounded finger A MIDDLE-WRITER calls all middle writers middlers. She considers middle-writing a middle-class pastime. Every time I write a middle, a principal-artist finds something objectionable in it to shoot an arrow. For instance, when I write an ‘in memoriam’ piece, he would take me to task for not publishing it as an obituary. I really do not know how my friends and foes will react to this middle which I wanted to write for a long time. The immediate provocation is an accident I met with. Some may even laugh when I say accident. I will come to that in an instant. On Saturday, I received a packet from NDTV Imagine containing photographs and schedules of their programmes for publication in The Tribune. The large envelope had staples all over it. As if they were not sufficient, they had liberally used brown cellophane tapes to fasten it. I carefully removed the staples one by one and was taking out the ‘precious’ contents when a sharp-edged staple that escaped my eyes scraped against my middle finger, causing a deep wound. It is not the first time I have suffered in this manner. In fact, I have begun to consider staples as an editorial hazard. They are a new menace. In the good old days, gum was used to seal envelopes. Cooked rice served the purpose. For sending a large number of Christmas and New Year cards, we even used to make our own glue. There was never an incident when the letter I sent did not reach the addressee because it was not stapled. Today gums, tape and staples are used together to fasten envelopes that contain junk mail. The senders do not realise that when a letter is stapled left and right, the receiver has a difficult time extricating it. Once I had to send back a cheque because it was stapled in the middle and was badly torn. Stapling letters is easier than gluing them. It seems those in the dispatch section get some sort of thrill wielding the stapler. Staples have become such part and parcel of our lives that we do not bother about them until they hit us back. Recently, a Chandigarh couple invited us for lunch at Kasauli Club. By the time we reached the club and ordered food, they were left with only mutton cutlets. The hostess was mortified to find staples in both the cutlets she was served. We joked that the club knew that she suffered from iron deficiency and the staples were to fortify the cutlets. But we, too, dreaded the possibility of the staples getting embedded in the digestive system. While we all remove the staples, we do not bother where they finally reach. In offices they fall into the grooves of computer keyboards and in clubs, they become a staple of the food they serve. Now, as regards the seriousness of the accident, an injury, however minor, can be life-threatening for a diabetic. As for my well-wisher who has his own notions of what can figure in a middle, the staple accident would not be entertained by the News Editor if I were to submit it as a report. And this isn’t my “middle class pastime” but a fervent plea to all my friends and foes who send me letters to stick to glue, not
staples.
|
The development challenge The question now is how many reports does it take for the Government to Act? Certainly, every Report merits careful consideration. But endless consideration cannot be a substitute for action as has been the case in the past, the Police Commission’s Report being a classic and tragic example. The violation of the terms and values of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution that embodies a charter for scheduled tribes has been gross and persistent. The role of the Governors, the constitutionally empowered guardians of this protective jurisdiction, has for the most part been one of studied dereliction borne out of ignorance and indifference, but with no questions asked by either Parliament or the Central Government. What does the Government propose to do about this gaping lacuna? Set up yet another Committee? The Report underlines the real malaise that unites all those who wield power and make policy. It notes how the Green Revolution has been allowed to turn Red, as warned would happen, on account of failure to implement agrarian reform especially with regard to recording cultivation rights, ensuring tenurial security, safeguarding sharecroppers, enforcing minimum agricultural wages, providing homestead plots to an estimated eight million homeless families, protecting common property resources and distributing waste and bhoodan lands. Impunity and immunity have marked rampant violations, with few exceptions. If this has particularly hurt dalits, the same has been true of violations of forest rights affecting increasingly disillusioned but politically conscious and organised tribal communities. Listen to what the Report says: “There is…a failure of governance, which has multiple dimensions and is not confined to the inefficiency of the delivery system only. “It is not fortuitous that overwhelmingly large sections of bureaucracy/ technocracy constituting the delivery system come from dominating landowning castes or well to do middle classes, with their attachment to ownership of property, cultural superiority, purity-pollution governed behaviour and a state of mind which rationalises and asserts their existing position of dominance in relation to others… “Politics has also been aligned with this social sector which constitutes the power structure….It is this collection of interests and social background that deeply affect governance at all levels”. Special laws to protect the SCs and STs, such as the Prevention of Atrocities Act have largely remained a dead letter. “Their effective implementation is frustrated by indifference, social bias, routine observance of procedures and even withdrawal of registered cases”. As a result, conviction rates are less that one per cent! The Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1995 (PESA), which underpins tribal rights to land, livelihoods and the natural resource base, has been flouted. In Bihar, PESA has not come into effect as panchayat elections have not been held. Is this stubborn defiance of the law and the Constitution not a fit case for President’s rule? The Government’s paper on the Naxal issue posits a holistic approach with emphasis on socio-economic development. But little development is possible without a refurbished administrative structure that is decentralized, operates a single-window and is staffed by dedicated, and adequately rewarded cadres like the former IFAS. Furthermore, there must be dialogue. Section 4(V) of the Naxal Status Paper states that “there will be no peace dialogue by the affected States with the Naxal groups unless the latter agree to give up violence and arms”. The Report notes that this is “incomprehensible” and inconsistent with the Government’s stand vis-à-vis other militant groups like the NSCN and ULFA. and pleads that the door for negotiations be kept open. Andhra tried negotiations through a Committee of Concerned Citizens. This came to naught but helped clarify a number of issues and pointed the way for constructive action on both sides. Thought should be given to establishing a credible neutral body whose good offices can be used by the government and non-state actors alike to establish contact, exchange ideas and facilitate dialogue. The ICRC does this internationally. The Indian Red Cross is insular body while the NHRC, NIC and National Disaster Management Agency are limited by their charter and structures. Stray NGOs and ad hoc groups are not necessarily well equipped or trained for the task and lack standard, acceptable and juridically sound terms of reference and credible personnel. Nyaya panchayats could provide expeditious, inexpensive local dispute and conflict resolution and some good beginnings have been made here. But why not mobile courts as well? The Report expresses concerns about SEZs, haphazard mineral exploitation, displacement and unsatisfactory terms of compensation for lands acquired, lost livelihoods and R&R. These can be remedied. A heavily land-based approach is no more viable with population growth. The land simply cannot sustain the annual additional employment required. Industrialisation and resource utilisation are essential, subject to safeguards, to prevent the annual distress migration of 30-40 million “nowhere people” in search of employment. One cannot, ostrich-like, live in the past. We have to build the future.
|
|
When protectors turn tormentors What
can be worse than taking your own life in order to get justice from a callous and indifferent government, which is primarily there to safeguard your life, honour and property? The rape and subsequent suicide by a 25-year-old woman hailing from Rohtak, may have stirred the consciousness of most right-thinking individuals, but certainly not those in power. The victims’ tormentors – two cops posted in Rohtak – have only been placed under suspension, but not arrested. The duo had repeatedly raped the woman, while her husband was in custody in connection with a theft case. The woman had knocked at each and every door for justice, but to no avail. Because of her perseverance at bringing her tormentors to book, a case was registered against them. The failure of the police to arrest the accused, forced her to take the extreme step. This is not a stray incident where a victim of a heinous crime like rape has had to bear with an insensitive police. Though the present Haryana government may pride itself for launching various welfare schemes for women, it certainly does not have a good report card to present, while trying to safeguard women’s life and liberty. Take the recent case of a gang rape victim in Yamunanagar. The woman approached the police several times to get a First Information Report (FIR) registered. Since her pleas failed to move the cops, she decided to protest by stripping in the police station. The woman had to forego her dignity and honour as a protest to make the cops hear her out. However, though the cops booked those accused of raping her, they also booked her on charges of indecency in a public place. Honour killings, trafficking of women from the northeastern states for marriage, and increasing incidents of rape are a blot on a government that projects itself as a welfare state. Going by the track record of the government, it seems the welfare it has spread is only for the rich and mighty. With women still being relegated to a secondary citizen status in the state, it is not unusual that they continue to be at the receiving end. Ironically, the state that prides itself for being on the fast track to development is also the one where maximum instances of honour killings are reported. Women are still not allowed to choose a life partner of their choice and any deviation from social mores are met with stiff resistance, even death, with the approval of society, as was evident in the honour killings in Karnal last month. A couple was hacked to death and their bodies kept outside the house as trophies. Even in this case, the police had maintained a silence till a media outcry forced them to book the pregnant victims’ family members. Interestingly, the village elders, who had prided themselves on the murders, rather than hanging their heads in shame, were pressurising the boys’ family to withdraw the police case against the murders. The less said the better about Haryana being regarded as the biggest “mandi” for the sale of women. With the child sex ratio declining by almost 60 per 1,000 male children – owing to the prevalence of sex-determination and sex-selection techniques, and female foeticide – men in Haryana are “buying women” from poverty-stricken homes in Assam, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa, mainly for procreation. In a state where a buffalo is available for Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000, a woman can be bought for Rs 4000 to Rs 6000. However, there is nothing substantial that the state government has done to stop this trafficking. The state government cannot just sit and look the other way. Certain proactive steps have to be initiated to sensitise the police. A collective peoples’ movement is needed to change the status of women in the state. It is only when the women in Haryana can hold their head high and walk without any fear, can the state achieve its goal of being a truly developed state.
|
|
Inside Pakistan The anti-Musharraf sentiment is so strong in Pakistan today that almost everybody, except for a few associated with the PML (Q), wants him to go before the situation takes a turn for the worse. Some like PML (N) leader Nawaz Sharif are endeavouring to ensure that the retired General is tried for trampling the constitution. According to Daily Times, “If one looks at the vengeful views expressed in the media, the political calculus goes against President Musharraf. That is why we recommend that he decide to quit now rather than risk impeachment later on when the parliamentary numbers are against him.” Such advice has been given by most of the papers after President Musharraf’s latest interaction with the media. The News says, “His insistence that even if he was to be impeached and removed, it should be done through a peaceful and sober parliamentary process, only betrays his fears that the street agitation to remove him could get nasty.… It is but an accepted universal fact now that Mr Musharraf and the current parliament cannot co-exist and one of them will sooner or later have to yield. “… He says he is ready to go if impeached through a peaceful process, so what stops him from leaving now?” Most people believe that President Musharraf has, in fact, no easy option left for him now. If he resigns he may be arrested and tried for “treason”. This can lead to dire consequences for him. As Daily Times commented, “The group that relies on the concept of ‘the mandate’ as a ‘legal’ device to oust him is also inclined to the view that he should be held accountable for his deeds, or tried for treason which means he could be hanged.” Kargil misadventure President Musharraf is truly in difficult straits today. At a time when he is being considered responsible for all that has gone wrong in Pakistan since 1999, Gen Jamshed Kiyani, a little known retired military officer, has come out with an interesting account of the Kargil misadventure. As a Major-General in1999, he “happened to be a witness to the goings-on … when the Kargil operation was launched…”, as Business Recorder (June 8) says. General (retd) Jamshed Kiyani’s two significant observations are: “…that the operation was ill-conceived from a logistical perspective; and … that the then prime minister was not given a thorough briefing on the pros and cons of the operation despite his repeated queries …” According to the financial daily, “The plan, as revealed from time to time, was to cut off the strategic Siachin Glacier from the rest of Kashmir, and the expected outcome was that the spectre of outbreak of a war between the two nuclear-armed rivals would send the rest of the international community into a frenzy to intervene and help resolve the Kashmir dispute. In short, the objective was to internationalise the Kashmir issue in the hope of its resolution…” If a commission of enquiry is instituted, as it is being demanded, President Musharraf may not be able to defend his ill-thought-out action. Shahbaz at
the helm Mr Shahbaz Sharif is back to the job he left in 1999 after the then Chief of Army Staff, Gen Pervez Musharraf, overthrew the Nawaz Sharif-led elected government in Islamabad through a military coup. The younger Sharif, known as an excellent administrator, has taken over as Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan’s key province, under trying circumstances. His party, the PML (N), is leading the coalition government, but he has to do a lot of balancing to come up to the people’s expectations. The PML (N) and its coalition partner, the PPP, have differing views on the judges issue. The Punjab Governor, Mr Salman Taseer, a former PPP leader, may create problems for Mr Sharif if the latter does not bother about the PPP stand on the restoration of the pre-November 2007 judiciary and supports the lawyers’ agitation in this regard openly. In any case, the Shabaz Sharif government cannot survive without the PPP support. President Musharraf may also play the spoiler’s role provided he gets an opportunity to do so. As Dawn (June 7) commented, “The challenges he (Shahbaz) faces today are many, not the least the scourge of terrorism that Punjab had luckily escaped in recent years but which has now come knocking with a vengeance.” According to The Nation (June 7), “In order to sustain democracy and fulfil people’s expectations, there is a need on the part of the ruling coalition to stay together. Unless it does so, there is little chance for it (the Punjab government) to complete its tenure.”
|
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
T