Thursday, January 31, 2008

India & Solar Power

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2746594.cms

At the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) last week in Abu Dhabi, solar power was a key topic in the deliberations. India does need to be far more proactive in the policy domain so as to boost research, design and development (RD&D ) in the field. It could have huge payoffs and returns.

Already, technological trends suggest that power derived from solar energy could have “grid-parity” in terms of costs, within five years. Taking into account the fact that solar power is thoroughly ‘green’ and environmentally benign; the overall costs would be all the more attractive vis-à-vis power from fossil fuels. Solar power remains costly but sustained technical change and efficiency improvement is expected to make it progressively cost-competitive with conventional power. Hence, the need for R&D focus.

The current power efficiency levels in regular photovoltaic (PV) panels is just about 14%. However, better designed PV systems are now expected to have efficiency ratios in the 21-25 % range soon. And the medium-term objective for leading international solar power producers appears to be to touch 30-35 % efficiency levels, thus achieving grid-parity in terms of costs (and prices). Estimates suggest that global installed capacity for PV systems has annual growth rates of about 50%. It implies ample scope for economies of scale and reduction in costs.

We have abundance of solar energy and can certainly develop the technology to tap this resource. The doubts about its harnessing are the same that existed at the dawn of the last century about the future of aviation. It is only a matter of time before we become self sufficient in our energy needs through this clean source.

Viability of Ram Sethu

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Is_the_Ram_Setu_project_viable/articleshow/2746357.cms

The Palk Strait is in close enough proximity to the Indian shores for its Navy and the Coast Guard to effectively monitor the waterway and ensure security of vessels passing through it. The additional costs incurred would easily be offset by the revenues generated.

The conservationists concern about the repercussions of the project on marine ecology and the suitability of the canal for big ships on international routes to pass through it need further analysis. The Suez Canal was prepared to connect the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea in the fiftys through a desert with similar problems and objections. There just might be a lesson for India in the historic project.

Laloo's Statue at Railway station ???


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lalus_statue_at_rly_station/articleshow/2746716.cms#write

Expression of gratitude by the people of Puducherry is normal and understandable. But Laloo Prasad Yadav’s statue being erected at Karaikal Railway Station is going for the limit. If he has sanctioned a project in the area, he was doing his job. At this rate we will see a fodder thief wherever we go. Remember how he resorted to subterfuge to project the railways profits to Rs 21,578 crores? Before his statue is even considered for putting up anywhere, we would do well to remember that he increased the axel loads of the freight wagons by ten tones each without any tests, trials, checks or technical analysis, thereby compromising passengers’ safety. And then, it was the very same minister who spread a false propaganda about the railways and his turnaround story being a subject of academic interest to IIM Ahemdabad, Harvard, Wharton and the MIT. The visits from the foreign institutes were not connected with any academic project. Professor G Raghuraman of IIM Ahemdabad commented after the visit that the turnaround has failed in terms of improvement in amenities and facilities for the passengers. This statement was conveniently never brought to light.
It is ironic that Laloo Prasad could increase the axel loads because of infrastructure upgradation executed by his predecessor, Nitish Kumar. But that has never prevented him from shamelessly grabbing the credit. If his statue does at all get erected, the ‘Fodder Scam’ and ‘disproportionate assets’ tainted minister would again have managed to get the better of the country

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

INDIAN RAILWAYS TURNAROUND: A MYTH

Laloo Brags

Railways Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav has been trumpeting from atop the Red Fort that he has got the railways to perform and earn a profit of Rs 21,578 crores during 2006-7, surpassing the ONGC. As it later turned out, the turnaround story was one third true, one third media hype and one third jugglery of figures. A close scrutiny of railways accounts reveals a net profit of Rs 11,000 crores. Even this amount was earned at the expense of unsuspecting passengers and at risk to their safety. A large amount of money reflected as profit is not available to be ploughed back. Part of it is suspense account, money promised to the railways but not yet in its kitty.

Disturbing Facts
Laloo Prasad claimed the railways made a profit of Rs 21,578 crores.
Actual profits work out to Rs 11,000 crores.
Rs 9000 crores pension fund shown as profits.
Miscellaneous funds – Rs 2,500 crores included in profits.
Rs 1,700 crores meant for lease of wagons reflected as profits.
Profit figures inflated by advance earnings for 2007-8 in last year’s balance sheet.
Funds promised by Finance Ministry, but not yet received, included as profits.
Excess tonnage carried ignoring safety concerns fetched Rs 5000 crores.
Hidden costs to passengers earned Rs 325 crores.

The Subterfuge
The railway under Laloo has altered the way the balance sheet is presented. It has shown a remarkable creativity to artificially inflate revenues while at the same time degrading the quality of service. Consider the following:
Diluting Tatkal. 10 % seats meant for those traveling in emergency earned Rs 100 per ticket. This has now been changed to 30 % seats with a surcharged of Rs 250 per ticket.
Declaring Trains Superfast. Over 100 trains have been declared Superfast without any change in running time or facilities. The Superfast tag fetches Rs 75 crores.
Doubling Cancellation Charge. Added profits Rs 100 crores.
Costlier Return Tickets. Profits Rs 30 crores.
Onward Journey More Expensive. One can no longer buy a single ticket if one has to change trains for an onward destination.
Safety Surcharge. Was to be levied only upto Mar 2007, Laloo converted it to ‘Development Surcharge’ without cabinet approval. Profits 2,500 crores.
Licence Fee. Rs 550 crores for running container trains converted to profits.

The Actual Profits
The railways primarily did two things: substantially increased the load carried by freight trains and put in place a slew of ticketing rules which extracted money from passengers even as Laloo Prasad claimed he had not raised fares.

The chunk of the profits, Rs 5000 crores, came by increasing the carrying capacity of container wagons by ten tones each. In private, however, experts have questioned on grounds of safety. The rail infrastructure – tracks, wagons, engines can only be stretched to a limit. While the loads carried increased there was no corresponding enhancement of maintenance standards/schedules. Earlier, train examination was done every time a train returned to its base station, irrespective of the distance traveled. This was changed to every 7,500 Km. As a result; various zonal divisions reported increased rail fractures, stress on old bridges and wagon coupler failures due to increased axel loads and less frequent maintenance. The axel loads were increased without any trials, checks, tests or technical analysis. It is ironic that Laloo Prasad could increase the axel loads because of infrastructure upgradation executed by his predecessor, Nitish Kumar.

False Propaganda
The much projected IIM Ahemdabad report concealed the remarks of Professor G Raghuraman that without safety and infrastructure enhancement, the profits are not sustainable and that the turnaround has failed in terms of improvement in amenities and facilities for the passengers.

Visiting students from Harvard Business School, Wharton and MIT in 2006-7 claimed the interaction with Laloo was organized by the hosts and not connected with any academic project. The visits were deliberately made much of to claim false credit.

Conclusion
In the light of the foregoing, it is unfair to compare Laloo’s performance with that of his predecessor, unless the previous years’ accounts are placed in the same format. Once again, the ‘Fodder Scam’ tainted minister has managed to get the better of the country.



Health Minister Goes After Celebs for Cheap Publicity


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2743719.cms

This is not the first time Anbumani has gone after someone to gain cheap publicity.After he managed to dispose off P Venugopal, SRK has provided him a new and well known target. Wonder if the Health Minister of India has so little else to occupy himself with.

BCCI Arm Twisted ICC in Bhajji's Case

http://in.indiatimes.com/vote.cms

It is wrong to suggest that BCCI had any role to play in the decision of Appeals Commissioner Justice John Hansen. Such insinuations not only cast aspersions on a respected High Court judge of New Zealand, they also support Australian media's charge against the Indians and cast a cloud over Bhajji's innocence.

BCCI just followed the ruling of the ICC. The ICC had appointed Appeals Commissioner Justice John Hansen who is a respected High Court judge in New Zealand. Judge's decision was based on the fact that there was no video or audio recording of the offensive words supposed to have been uttered by Harbhajan. Mike Procter's finding that Sachin Tendulkar could not have heard Harbhajan was also disapproved.

The Australian media called it a 'Cricket's day of Shame' and reported that Cricket Australia caved in to India's muscle flexing as it was anxious to save the tri-series. Judge Hansen had this to say in response to Australian media’s tirade against him,"I have not felt under any pressure because of such media reports and I would never be influenced or succumb to such pressure, real or imagined. Symonds had aggressively and unnecessarily instigated the verbal clash with Harbhajan. It is incorrect to suggest that there was some sort of an agreement reached between Australian and Indian cricket authorities that I simply rubber-stamped.”

Australians' ire with the decision is understandable and only goes to confirm that they want everything their way by any means and at all costs. No wonder the Australians find Hansen's decision a 'cricket's day of shame'.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Anbumani Ramadoss' Skewed Philosophies







Anbumani Speaks







There is little doubt about the noble intentions of Anbumani Ramadoss, though the logic and manner of imposing his philosophies on the nation are questionable. According to him, compulsory rural service is the best way to set right the anomalies in public healthcare. He has conveniently ignored the fact that the students are not trained to serve in the villages and that rural health cannot be treated so casually, particularly when most Government funding goes to provide the best healthcare for urban India. Relying on students to provide healthcare amounts to giving second-class treatment to rural India.



There is indeed a pressing need to correct the imbalance of doctors in rural and urban areas. But for that, the Minister should concentrate on improving the 'Healthcare Centres' and their infrastructure instead of putting the cart before the horse and sending novice doctors there. Rural and socially disadvantaged people tend to have far more serious and complex medical problems that need more knowledge, expertise and experience. These problems are certainly beyond the capacity of young, unsupervised doctors.



Viable Alternatives



  • Improve infrastructure, equipment and support staff in primary health centers.

  • Create a link between primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare.

  • Make students feel they are a part of a big team caring for rural patients.

  • Do not make it look like a painful exile for the students.

  • Pay them handsome incentives.

  • Do not lengthen their education.

  • Instead of adding on an extra year, the curriculam to factor in a few extra hours every week to spend in far off villages.

  • Demonstrate seriousness of intent by filling up vacant medical posts in rural areas.


Conclusion


The Minister would do well to concentrate on his job rather than expressing an opinion on issues that he is totally clueless about. He has already proved his creative genius by devising ways to rid the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) of its Director, P Venugopal by pushing through an ordinance in the Parliament. Such bulldozing tactics can only reflect adversely on an already lopsided healthcare system in the country. India can do without the likes of Anbumani Ramadoss and his skewed philosophies.





Thursday, January 24, 2008

Don't Honour Taslima Here, Sarkozy Told

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2722515.cms

It is more important to ensure that the award goes to a deserving candidate than to waste precious time on who gives it away to whom and where. Since Taslima Nasreen has been chosen by the French to receive an award, all other considerations must be put on the back burner. The Government too must show some spine and let Sarkozy do the honours in New Delhi on Republic Day, rather than being influenced by muslim fanatics and the CPI-M trying to butt-in everytime and in every issue. It is a matter of national shame that prospects of street battles flaring up again over the Taslima issue, has made the government decline the French request to honour the Bangladeshi writer in New Delhi during their President's visit in Jan 2008. Is it wrong to assume, then, that resorting to goondaism is the best way to get the attention of this Goverment?

Sunday, January 20, 2008

EAST Vs WEST: REVERSING FINANCIAL EQUATIONS

INTRODUCTION
With very few developing countries approaching the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for loans and preferring easier alternatives, the IMF’s survival is at stake. It has, consequently become difficult for it to control the Third World through its financial muscle. It is a sign of changing times and equations that the IMF that had facilitated the rich West to dominate the world for the past half a century or more, is laying off employees to ensure its relevance in the financial world space.

ASIAN FINANCIAL RESURGENCE
The developing countries, on the other hand, have amassed trillions of foreign exchange and are using the new found wealth to bail out the Western financial institutions hit by the sub prime market meltdown in the US. Recently, Citibank, the world’s biggest commercial bank, received $ 14.5 billion from investment funds in China and Kuwait. This over and above the $ 7.5 billion it got from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. Merrill Lynch received $ 5.6 billion from Temasek of Singapore last year, and is now negotiating another $ 6.6 billion. The top Swiss bank, UBS, suffered mortgage losses of $ 10 billion and was rescued by investors from Singapore and the Middle East. In the process, these institutions are losing ownership to Asian government funds.

The sharp rise in oil prices gave oil exporters unprecedented cash surpluses, estimated at $ 300 billion per year resulting in a shift of financial balance from the West to the East. Countries with long term financial surpluses have placed part of their forex reserves with what are called Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF), to make long term investments for future generations. These funds today control a mighty $ 2,876 billion. India would do well to enter the fray with a modest contribution from its own handsome forex reserves.

IMF & SWF
The IMF provides loans to distressed governments, while SWFs invest in equities, including those of distressed MNCs. The IMF imposes onerous conditions on borrowers. SWFs don’t impose conditions, but become part-owners of the distressed corporations. IMF takes a long time to draw up detailed loan agreements with conditions, whereas SWFs make money available almost instantly.

In the long term, however, frequent borrowings from the SWFs may enable them to take over the MNCs. This is the new fear stalking Western governments. Already France and Germany have initiated steps to prevent backdoor takeovers in this manner. Though none have so far been attempted, the possibility exists. In 2005, the US refused to allow the Chinese to take over Unocal, a big oil corporation. When Dubai Ports acquired P&O, the British based ports MNC, it acquired several port operations in the US. This led to an outcry about security in the US, and Dubai Ports had to sell all its US operations.

Conclusion
As of now, the SWFs may be passive investors, but as their stakes rise so would their influence and the ability to dominate world affairs. The balance of world financial power has changed, probably forever. India too needs to be a proactive participant in this change.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

PAKISTAN'S UMBLICAL CONNECTIONS WITH TERROR

Background

Traditional regions that favor harvesting terror crops in Pakistan include the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in the North West part of the country comprising of seven autonomous agencies Bajaur, Khyber, Kurram, Mohmand, Orakzai, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, and the tribal adjoining the Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu and Dera IsmailkhanDistricts of North Western Frontier Province (NWFP). These agencies are predominantly populated by Pashtun tribes, with the 2500 Km long Durand line, created by the British in 1893, between Pakistan and Afghanistan border dividing tribes on the two sides. The region is now controlled by a new and local version of Taliban.

The original Taliban, mainly comprising of Pashtun students from Afghanistan, were organized, trained and equipped by Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) for a jihad in Afghanistan. Hundreds of ISI officers were deployed with the Taliban in different parts of Afghanistan. Post 9//11, General Musharraf chose to side with the United States (US) against a Taliban- Al Qaeda combine in return for a more than generous economic and military aid. As a partner in USA’s “war on Terror", Musharraf took the following steps:-
· Handed over two tactical air bases in Baluchistan to the US for their operations in Afghanistan.
· Deployed 80,000 troops in FATA to assist NATO’s operations in Afghanistan.
· Pulled out the ISI operatives from Afghanistan who were coordinating operations of Taliban in that country.
· Allowed the CIA to open stations within Pakistan.

Western Awareness

Discreetly, he also evacuated hundreds of Taliban to FATA, where they found a sanctuary. Half hearted campaign to eliminate terrorists from FATA only resulted in the Pakistani forces suffering heavy casualties. Musharraf, there after, adopted a policy of appeasement of the FATA based terrorists, signing peace accords, first in South Waziristan in April 2004 and then in North Waziristan in Sep 2006. The accords convinced the West that Pakistan was not doing anything to comply with a UN resolution that designates Taliban as terrorists. The US too, for the first time, declared Pakistan as the centre of Al Qaeda network. In his testimony before the Senate Intelligence Community on 11 Jan 2007, the Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, warned of the continuing threat posed by Al Qaeda and Taliban operating from Pakistan. The US Secretary for Defence, Robert Gates, while on a visit to Afghanistan on 15 Jan 2007, said that terrorists were operating from across the border.

The confirmation of this came from captured Taliban spokesman, Abdul Haq Haqiq @ Dr Mohemmed Hanif who stated that the Taliban’s Mullah Mohammed Omar was hiding in Pakistan under the protection of ISI. He also confirmed that suicide bombers were being trained in madrassas in Bajaur district of FATA and that regular suicide bombings in Afghanistan were carried out by Taliban , financed, trained and equipped by the ISI. By now, there was no doubt left that Pakistan was at the centre of the web of terror that had tentacles throughout the world. Western diplomats in Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as Pakistani opposition leaders also confirmed that the ISI and Military Intelligence were actively supporting the Taliban resurgence, motivated by a long held view that Taliban dominance in Afghanistan would provide Pakistan with greater strategic depth on its western frontiers.

The attack on Ms Carlotta Gall, the New York Times correspondent, in her hotel room in Quetta is of interest. She emphatically stated that Taliban and Al Qaeda had entrenched themselves in the mountainous tribal areas of Pakistan and from there they were recruiting and training a new generation of fighters and suicide bombers to attack NATO forces in Afghanistan. The attack was allegedly carried out by Pakistani agents who also seized her computer.

Terror As An Instrument of State Policy

In the 1980s, Pakistan’s Afghan policy was conducted with the help of the Jammat-e-Islami (JEI), the main rival of the JUI in Pakistan and the Afghan Hizb-e Islami (HEI) led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. For over a decade the ISI’s connection with the JEI and the HEI remained the Government’s main instrument of policy that ensured continuous flow of arms and aid from the US and Arab countries to the Ghilzai Pashtun war lords of Central and North Eastern Afghanistan. In contrast, the Durrani Pashtuns, who dominate the South and Kandahar, were largely ignored by the ISI. The JUI cunningly exploited this step motherly treatment of the Durrani Pashtuns and built up a support base among them in Baluchistan and the NWFP. In 1993, the JUI aligned itself with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that came to power. The JUI’s newfound access to corridors of power also allowed it to establish close links with the Army, the ISI and politicians of all hues. Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of the JUI was made the Chairman of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs. In 1994, the Maulana visited the US and lobbied for the Taliban. He also managed to obtain financial aid for the Taliban from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States.

The capture of Kandahar by Taliban resulted in considerable logistical infrastructure support for it. Pakistan’s Para Military was deployed to help Taliban set up an internal wireless network for their commanders in the field. The Pashtun grid of the Army High Command forced the military and ISI’s decision to extend greater support to the Taliban. Taliban became Pakistan’s only alternative for Pakistan’s strategic interests in Afghanistan, particularly as President Rabbani had become closer to Pakistan’s rivals – Russia, Iran and India. Pakistan was also reluctant to trust Rabbani’s Army Chief Ahmed Shah Masood who had a running battle with the ISI since the 19980s.

Role of ISI in Taliban’s Resurgence

The US praising Pakistan for its contribution to the ‘war on terror’ is difficult to comprehend. There is no denying a connection between the CIA, the ISI and the ISI’s long standing control over the Taliban. Drugs are a part of their operation. Opium cultivation and heroin production in Pakistan’s tribal belt adjoining Afghanistan was a vital offshoot of the ISI-CIA cooperation. The ISI continued to give military advice to the Taliban even after 9/11 and commencement of NATO operations in Afghanistan. Large convoys of rifles, ammunition, rocket propelled grenade launchers and explosives crossed from Pakistan into Afghanistan through safe passages provided by the ISI. When NATO launched OPERATION ANACONDA in 2002, many Taliban and Al Qaeda cadres took shelter in Waziristan, regrouped and launched attacks against US troops in Afghanistan. Under pressure from the West, Pakistan commenced operations against the terrorists in Jan 2003 and two months later there was an attempt on the life of General Musharraf. The conspiracy was believed to have been hatched in Waziristan.

In Apr 2004, the Pakistan Government and terrorists reached an understanding in Shakai, but Nek Mohammed, one of the parties to the Agreement, continued to fight. He was conveniently eliminated by the ISI. By Nov 2004, South Waziristan was cleared of terrorists and an understanding was established with the Ahmedzai Wazirs. Ever since, the theatre of operations shifted to North Waziristan. It is clear that Taliban could not have regrouped and refurbished on its own. Pakistan’s ISI has obviously been the architect of this revival.

The Pakistan-Taliban strategy is clearly to deny access and disrupt the operations of coalition forces, undermining the administrative and relief efforts even in secure areas to bring Kabul and the Coalition forces to their knees – as was the case of the British forces in Helmand. Pakistan’s involvement in revival of Taliban was visible in OPERATION MEDUSA launched by the NATO between 4th to 17th Sep 2006 where-in more than one thousand Taliban terrorists crossed over from Quetta, waved on by Pakistan Border Guards, used ammunition to the tune of 400,000 rounds of rifles and machine guns, 2000 rocket propelled grenades and 1000 mortar shells. Further ammunition dumps unearthed after the battle exposed an additional stock of one million rounds. Taliban could not have amassed this quantum of fire power without active support from Pakistan.

Conclusion

Most of the new generation of Taliban are all Pakistani and represent a revolt against the Government’s support to the US. They are led by young mullahs, are technology and media savvy and aim their jihad at the infidels occupying Afghanistan and those ruling Pakistan. They wish to cleanse Pakistan and turn it into a pure Islamic state. The Taliban have declared Waziristan as an Islamic emirate.

In three weeks of battle between local Taliban and mostly Uzbek Islamists, more than 260 foreigners were killed; a feat that the Army had failed to accomplish in operations spread over four years. The ISI and the Army have built up the Taliban in this area and they are now inexorably slipping out of control.

The operation to clear Lal Masjid in Islamabad started with the decision of the Islamabad Capital Development Authority demolishing the first of eighty mosques and madrassas illegally built on public land in Islamabad. The Jamia Hafsa was on this list and its students protested by seizing a public library situated between the madrassas and the Lal Masjid. Lal Masjid was a centre for Deobandis in Pakistan that provided fodder for the jihad in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Its links with the ISI were public knowledge and they made no secret of their Taliban, Al Qaeda sympathies. The Government’s accommodation of Lal Masjid’s open show of religious extremism was never more apparent than when the Sharia court set up by Abdul Rashid Ghazi, the mullah who controlled Lal Masjid, passed a fatwa against Niloufer Bhaktiar, the former Minister for Tourism, for hugging a parachute instructor. The turning point in the Lal Masjid episode came when its vigilante shock troops kidnapped seven Chinese nationals in Islamabad.

In a swift reaction to Lal Masjid operation, militant attacks on the military in NWFP and FATA increased causing massive casualties on the Pakistani Army. The backlash was concentrated in NWFP and FATA.

Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the chief of LeT, now rechristened as the Jamaat-ul-Dawa (JUD) described the Lal Masjid assault as an operation against every mosque and religious seminary in Pakistan. General Musharraf’s policies and those of the ISI had back fired. However, no matter how bad the situation in Pakistan seems right now, the country will continue to be ruled by military-ISI combine. If an understanding is reached with the political establishment, the Army and the ISI will resort to back seat driving. In both the scenarios, the Islamists will be the winners.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

No Need to Apologize for NANO

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Its_a_car_not_an_apology/articleshow/2690858.cms

TATA SPECIFICATIONS

  • 4-Door, 623-cc Rear Mounted Engine, 4-Speed Manual Transmission.
  • KPL – 20.
  • Smaller than Maruti- Suzuki 800 but 21 % more space inside.
  • Meets Crash- Test Requirements.
  • Euro -4 Emission Norms Met.
  • Price – Us $ 3,316.

    The NANO will definitely add to the traffic woes of the capital. But that is no reason to block initiatives that hold a promise of better living standards for the 'Aam Aadmi'. In fact, there is a need to step up efforts to create infrastructure that can offset the perceived problem. What good is seeing a looming problem and crying over it rather than doing something positive about it.

PT Usha Slighted at Kolkata Meet


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/PT_Usha_slighted_at_Kolkata_meet/articleshow/2688270.cms

Denial of entry to PT Usha to the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium terraces at Kolkata to see some of the students from her Kerala-based academy competing in the 53rd National School Games should not surprise anyone in this country. The lower level staff at the Stadium was only following orders when they stopped the 'Payoli Express' from entering a sports facility. The incident is in overall conformity with the record of the CPI-M. Were they not responsible for hounding out a renowned littérateur, Taslima Nasreen, from the city? It is only the comrades who can forget the laurels brought to this country by PT Usha. The logic for the arrogance, presented by Puspita Roy, convener of the press and publicity sub-committee of the Games that the lower staff did not recognize PT Usha as she was no Saurav Ganguli, too is as ridiculous as the comrades’ opposition to anything good and decent in this country. Maybe they were not aware of the incident as it happened! But now that it is widely reported by the national media, are they willing to set matters right by offering an apology to the sports icon who is the pride of the country? That remains to be seen.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Tata's One Lakh Car

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Small_car_to_be_cleanest_on_road_Ratan_Tata/articleshow/2688682.cms

Hats off to Ratan Tata for delivering on his promise. It would not just force car makers the world over to reduce their prices to a more realistic level but also add to the prestige of India abroad and upgrade living standards at home. That the car meets latest mandatory emission norms is an added feather in Ratan Tat's cap.

There is lesson for the Indian politicians here, as far as delivering on promises goes!

Monday, January 7, 2008

Osama Paid $10 Million to ISI to Overthrow Benazir's Govt

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Osama_paid_10_million_to_ISI_to_topple_Benazirs_govt/articleshow/2680824.cms#write

Perhapse Benazir relied heavily on the public having a short memory while making a press statement that Osama Bin Laden paid US $ 10 million to the ISI to have her removed from power. Even presuming this was true, why did she, as PM, instruct Musharraf, then Director General Military Operations to rehabilitate Osama in Afghanistan when he was hounded out of Sudan in 1996 ? Benazir Bhutto was hand in glove with the terrorists and responsible for encouraging terror strikes in the Indian Punjab and Kashmir. She may have changed her tune post 9/11, but history will not change the role she played in promoting terrorism in South Asia.

The Games Australians Play

http://cricket.indiatimes.com/India_tour_Down_Under/NewsCricket_a_gentlemans_game/articleshow/2680688.cms http://cricket.indiatimes.com/Harbhajan_is_innocent_Sachin_to_Pawar/articleshow/2680893.cms
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/7174122.stm

With the Australians once again at their polite best and the umpiring by Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor matching Australian standards and verging on the ridiculous, credit must go to the Indian skipper, Kumble, for exibiting extreme restraint. The ICC too, by placing the ban on Bhajji, has revealed how much they care for cricket and sportsmanship so necessary in the game of gentlemen. One thing is clear though, what is being played out in Australia is anything but cricket. The BCCI has rightly appealed against the ban and decided to stand by the Indian team. If the attitude of the Australians and the ICC persists and India cannot persuade them to show a sense of fairplay as far as Bhajji is concerned, the BCCI would do well to recall the team; the penalty of 2.3 $ notwithstanding.

India must also put down very firmly that gentlemen like Bucknor dont deserve to be anywhere near the cricket pitch; for that matter anywhere near any play ground

The Game in Australia

http://cricket.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2680559.cms



With the Australians displaying their more than usual sportsmanship and the remarkable umpiring by Benson and Steve Bucknur, the game being played in Australia is anyhing but cricket. The unilateral suspension of Bhajji from the next three tests and no credence given to statement by Sachin Tendulkar, has clearly defined India's stand in the world cricket. BCCI has rightly suspended India's tour of Australia pending the outcome of an appeal for the banned spinner. If the outcome does not show any sense of fairplay and the decision remains a confirmation of Australians penchant to win by hook or by crook.

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Delhi Citizens to Carry I-Cards

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2676075.cms

Carrying of Identity cards, among other measures, is a must if India is to shed the tag 'soft target' for the terrorists being trained in Pakistan. No doubt there will be problems, as are being poited out in the capital. But then, it would be better to face those problems rather than invite terror strikes in the country.

The Taslima Nasreen Controvercy

Profile of the Firebrand Author

A Bangladeshi poet, novelist, essayist and memoirist, Taslima Nasreen is a trained medical doctor who worked in that profession before she was hounded out of Bangladesh by religious fanatics who could not accept a woman expressing her views on women’s rights, Islam and mullahs; issues that have always raised a storm in conservative societies. The 45 year old is probably the world’s most prolific underground writer, with at least six of her 30 books officially banned in her country and the rest selling covertly.

Her rise to fame did not begin, as many believe, with Lajja (Shame), a novel that describes the predicament of a liberal Hindu family in Bangladesh caught up in the communal backlash that followed the demolition of Babri Masjid. It is a different matter that the ‘documentary novel’ failed on both counts: as document, it was unashamedly biased; as novel, it was trash. But it sold over 100,000 copies, thanks to the hue and cry raised by her strongest detractors, the mullahs. Lajja is the only book where Taslima’s ire is not directed at her favorite punching bag: Islam and its mullahs.

Taslima was already creating a storm in Bengali literary circles during her medical student days. The raw anger and shocking outspokenness of her poems were impressive enough to make several media agencies approach her for writing regular columns for them. She directed her literary talent to write strongly on crimes against women under the garb of religion. Naturally, that had the mullahs baying for her blood. In turn, their collective angst at her strengthened her resolve to be more blunt, fearless and outrageous. It was a collection of these columns, Nirbachita Kalam (Selected Columns) that the 28 year old burst into the Bengali literary world, winning a prestigious literary award by the Anand Bazar Group.

For a writer so young, and for an author who has been on the run for 13 years now, Taslima has an astounding record of works: a dozen collections of poems, four collections of essays, seven novels and five volumes of autobiography, all so inflammatory that few English – language publishers are willing to risk publishing them. Four of the six awards she has won so far for her work are for human rights and not literary merit.

With a language that is direct and even ruthless, Taslima has emerged as one of the most powerful voices in South Asia.

The Controversial Removal from Kolkata

Taslima Nasreen’s forced move from Kolkata is a sad commentary on the state of Indian democracy, the shrinking of secular space in India and growing intolerance of irreverent views. In a country that prides itself on secular credentials and where freedom of speech is sacrosanct, the event marks surrender to ‘Islamic fundamentalists’ in order to promote vote banks. It reflects the intellectual malnutrition that plagues the three main characters involved; the CPI-M, Congress and BJP. However, the party that deserves the highest form of condemnation is the CPI-M. The Marxists claim to be practitioners of realpolitic – high principle married to real-time pragmatism. With the freshly spilt blood not yet dry in Nandigram, an author is hounded out of Kolkata and Sitaram Yechury shamelessly passed the buck to the Centre.

Congress Stand

With an eye on the general elections next year, the Congress, like all the rest of them, is interested in consolidation of religious identities and is readily pandering to the Muslim pressure groups. It would not like to be seen bending backwards to please the minority group, and, has therefore, allowed Taslima to stay on in the country; albeit with the corporate axiom “conditions apply”. It has also accepted, without a murmur, I & B Minister PR Dasmunsi's shameless demand from Taslima that she appologize to the Muslims in this country with folded hands. The Minister has confirmed that taking to violence or resorting to threats pays better dividends than voicing your opinions through ones writing.

The BJP Stand

‘The party with a difference’ has sniffed an opportunity for Congress bashing and belittling CPI-M. Narendra Modi has invited Taslima to come and live in Gujarat. Its loathing for the CPI-M is prompting the party to support Taslima rather that their faith in freedom of expression.

CPI-M Position

The Left Front government in West Bengal, conscious of the 30% minority votebank in the State, has totally succumbed to the Muslim goons in favor of civilized behavior. Taslima was a liability for the Left parties even before the 21 November riots. It is suspected that the riots were deliberately engineered by the Left to deflect public attention from Nandigram blood-letting by its cadres.

Muslim Groups

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Musilmeen (MiM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi Have threatened to eliminate Taslima, with the State remaining a silent and helpless onlooker. The group has influence in old Hyderabad where it has promoted a ghetto mentality among the Muslim residents.

Other Religious Groups

Be they Hindus or Christians, other religious groups have revealed themselves to be extremely thin-skinned when it comes to things religious.

Conclusion

In the ultimate analysis, freedom of any kind can conveniently be relegated to mere lip service if it clashes with the interests of political parties. It is more important for our political parties to remain / gain power than trivia like freedom of speech or expression, decency and the values that majority of Indians are so proud of.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

BIBI BENAZIR BHUTTO: PAKISTAN’S DAUGHTER

When Benazir Bhutto entered Rawalpindi Garrison Town on 27 December, it was a challenge and an opportunity for those planning her permanent exit from the political Jurasic Park that Pakistan has become today. The venue, Liaquat Bagh, was symbolic, where, on 16 Oct 1951, Pakistan’s first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, was gunned down. It is ironic that she promised a better future for her compatriots when her own was about to come to a bloody end no sooner than her speech ended.

The assassin’s bullets followed by a suicide blast near her bullet-proof car extinguished a courageous and liberal woman who defied the three dreaded Ms (Musharaff, Mullahs and Militants) in Pakistan to return from exile to reclaim her political legacy. Her premature departure from the scene is likely to spur the jehadis and religious fanatics’ efforts to turn Pakistan into a Taliban like Islamist state.

However, the tragic end of ‘Pakistan’s Daughter’, cannot wipe out history. Bibi Benazir was no Aung San Suu Kyi, and much of the praise now being heaped upon her is misplaced. In reality, Benazir’s own democratic credentials were far from impeccable. She colluded in massive human rights abuses, and during her tenure, government death squads in Karachi were responsible for the abduction and murder of hundreds of her MQM opponents. Amnesty International accused her government of having one of the world’s worst records of custodial deaths, killings and torture.

Within her own party, she declared herself the lifetime president of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and refused to let brother Murtaza challenge her for the post. When he was shot dead in highly suspicious circumstances outside her home, Benazir was implicated. Murtaza’s wife, Ghinwa, his daughter Fatima and her very own mother, Nusrat, all firmly believed that she gave the order to have him killed.

Recently, Benazir did nothing to stop President Musharaff from deporting Nawaz Sharif to Saudi Arabia, and so remover from the election scene her most formidable political rival Many of her supporters regarded her deal with Musharraf as a betrayal of all her party stood for.

Benazir also, famously, presided over the looting of Pakistan. In 1995, during her rule, Transparency International named Pakistan one of the world’s three most corrupt countries. Benazir and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari – widely known as ‘Mr 10 percent’ – faced corruption charges in Pakistan, Switzerland, the UK and the US.

Personally, as well as intellectually, she was a lightweight, with little grasp of economics, geopolitics or philosophy. Her favorite reading was royal biographies and slushy romances. Her Karachi bedroom had stacks of well thumbed Mills & Boon lining the walls.

As a result of this lack of ideological direction, Benazir was a notably inept administrator. During her 20-month long premiership, she failed to pass a single piece of major legislation, and during her two stints in power, she did almost nothing to help the liberal causes she so enthusiastically espoused to the Western media. It was under her regime, that Pakistan’s secret service the ISI, helped install the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan..

She did nothing to rein in the ISI’s disastrous policy of training terrorists and jehadis to do Pakistan’s dirty work in India and Afghanistan.

Real democracy has never thrived in Pakistan in part because landowning remains the principal social base from which politicians emerge. Between military government and democracy lies a surprising continuity of interests: to some extent, Pakistan’s industrial, landowning and military elites are all inter-related and look after one another. The recent deal between Musharraf and Benazir, intended to exclude her only rival Nawaz Sharif, was typical of the way that the Army and the politicians have shared power with minimal reference to the actual wishes of the electorate. Benazir did more than anything to bring Pakistan’s strange variety of democracy – really a form of ‘elective feudalism’ – into disrepute and fuel the growth of Islamists.

Amid the mourning and shock, there is some hope that Benazir’s death could yet act as a wake up call for secular and moderate majority in Pakistan. Regret at the brutal manner of assassination of this courageous woman should not mask the fact that she was as much part of Pakistan’s problems as its solution.

Sources: Outlook Jan 14, BBC and Article by William Dalrymple