TRENDS IN SEXUAL CRIMES

Since the gruesome incident of 16/12 gang- rape, suddenly a spurt in such crimes has been noticed and the trend continues unabated. By and large, it is in  North India, mainly comprising the states like Delhi, UP, Bihar, MP, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. We are sure that the National Crime Record Bureau must be collecting the details of such incidents to determine the emerging trend. Meanwhile, depending on media reports, we can also point out the nature of such crimes to hint at the possible trends.

The most important point is that the nabbed criminals are the illiterate lot of manual labour class, who are generally illiterate or nominally educated. They hail frome the lowest strata of society, mainly of rural areas of these states. Agewise they are mostly in teens and others below 35.  When they come to a metro like Mumbai or Delhi, they see the comforts of the city life being enjoyed by creamy layers and grow jealous inside. The only hankering in them is to acquire these gadgets and company of fair sex by hook or crook. The obvious opening is resorting to criminal activities. Since they are the frustrated lot of the society, they have no idea about the limits even while perpetrating unlawful activities. That is why, these  incidents of some recent months have been totally bestial.

Another development visible is that sex criminals are targeting minor girls. They are doing so not because of any fun but because these babies are soft targets. Given the opportunity, these criminals would have loved to rape adult girls, but that is a hard nut to crack. Such girls shout to attract the people around and resist strongly. Moreover, simply a chocolate is sufficient to attract a 4/5-yr old girl whereas it is a herculean task to  to impress a grown up girl. The criminals, it has been seen are generally drunkards and once under intoxication, they forget their reason. They stoop so low in sex crimes that do not appear to be a human act from any angle. After the crime, next morning, they themselves feel badly ashamed of their criminal activities. Their own parents and other family members demand them to be hanged in public. There has been, however, an exceptional incident of this type involving a young school student of a high class family in Delhi. The society knew when the boy stealthily made a video clipping and put it on his mobile.

The criminals, as discussed above, come from the poor families. They stay in Jhuggies which are densely populated by daily wage-earners. Every day in the morning, both the mother and father go out on duty and the children are left alone at the mercy of God. So they are again the easily available soft targets. The scenario being so, it is necessary that not only the society but also the Govt should handle these trends to stop such crimes forthwith. Education and moral teachings may prove effective.

     

DRAGON'S DANGEROUS DESIGNS

It is  one of the leading human frailties to be proud with power and show it off. It is this false sense of superiority, that has caused devastatating wars in history. Not long back, we had seen Iraqi aggression first on Iran and then on Kuwait. The US intervention changed the military equations so much so that Saddam regime was completely uprooted. In the same fashion, these days we find China, with unprecedented economic turn over, itching to arm- twist the neighbours. However, some important Sinologists are of the opinion that beyond the success on  economic front, the country has some other reasons as well for growing belligerent.

A great Chinese thinker of ancient time named  Lu tzu, known as an authority on intelligence and war, is even today quoted by many in the country. He said that there should be no war without a definite  cause and one should not wage war if victory was not guaranteed. Today when the dragon appears browbeating the strategically located neighbours, it will be interesting  to chafe out those purposes.

In the present China, the important political leaders are divided into two camps, each eager to prove the correctness of its line. One section is led by the people who have been benefited by the economic advancement and are enjoying the tasty fruits of opulence. Of course, like in any other country, such people know that they can prosper only if there is peace in the society. So they are dead opposed to the other war mongering group. On the other hand, the old guards of of the 50s and 60s, including military adventurists are determined to follow their policy of war being the best deciders of disputes and establishing the superiority of the the victorious party.

The w ar lovers of the second category have a separate gameplan to settle score with Japan and prove its unchallenged position in the coastal countries of the South China Sea, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. The growing Chinese activities around three small and uninhabitated islands causing disputes between China and Japan are intended to subdue the developed Jpan. Similarly, they know that population, size and growthwise only India is capable of offering a stiff opposition. So China has befriended Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Maldive. These strategic moves are meant to encircle India. For last some years, the Chinese troops have been violating LAC in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. They came, stayed for some hours, wrote slogans on roadside bolders and withdrew simply to keep alive their claim on these areas. On all these occasions, India stood to its stand and no worse development could take place. Since India built three airstrips in north-east Ladakh for its small transport panes, the dragon started fuming. Some 50 Chinese armymen crossed the LAC in Daulat Beg Oldi sector on April 15, pitched a camp and are staying put. In two flag meetings, the Chinese side maintained that they had not entered into Indian area and charged that it was India which had turned aggressive.

In order to protect its territorial integrity, India also despatched equal number of ITBP and Ladakh Scouts personnel who are also camping just at a distance of 500 m. This eye-ball to eye-ball position has every chance of deterioration. Both are the nuclear powers and the resultant catastrophe could be anybody’s guess.

The only good sign is that India has strictly warned its personnel not to open fire first. China as well has not been seen to further aggravate the situation. Secondly, the Indian Foreign Minister, who is going to China on May9, has expressed that these pinpricks will not be allowed by the either party to turn worse. On the other hand, the Chinese Prime Minister is also coming on state visit to India. Earlier, he had a very encouraging talk with Dr. Manmohan Singh in which the Chinese premier appeared to be a lover of peace. The world today is least interested in any war which has chances of global  escalation. It is hoped that with diplomatic interactions, both sides will wisely vote for peace.         

KARNATAKA POLL PROSPECTS

The Assembly election of Karnataka is scheduled to take place on May5, 2013. Despite the electioneering reaching its peak, the public interest appears palpably subdued. The political analysts think that it is so not because of the multiple stakeholders but also  the electorate’s feeling of having been cheated by the ruling party. The huge mining scandals caused a deep sense of frustration in them.

In the last election, the main contestants were the  Congress,  BJP and JDS. The BJP, led by B.S. Yeddyurappa scored an unprecedented victory and the party, so far known as a North Indian party, made its successful entry in the South. But the bonhomie did not last long. Yedyurappa was found involved in huge illegal mining related scandals. He had to resign from the chief ministership and go behind bars. He left the BJP and formed his separate political party with the threat that the ruling BJP govt. would collapse. This did not happen. With his entry in the electoral battle, the scene has become more complicated.

Today the main players are the Congress,  BJP, JDS and Yeddyurappa’s party. Congress is hoping that the anti-incumbency factor and the misgovernance of the BJP govt  would give it a solid chance of returning to power. The JDS thinks that the leadership of Devegouda, ex- Prime Minister would help it to sail through the testing election. Yeddyurappa hopes that it was his achievement that the BJP won the last election and hence his voters remaining intact would ensure his return to power. On the other hand, the ruling BJP discards all these arguments and is highly optimistic to retain power. Its star poll managers are hoping that the  like the ther BJP rebels including  Sankar Singh Baghela and Keshubhai Patel of Gujarat, Uma Bhari of Madhya Pradesh and kalyan Singh of UP, who utterly failed to dethrone the BJP, the Karnataka rebel Yeddyurappa will also lick the dust and the BJP would manage to form the govt.

Amid these contradictory claims, it appears difficult to bet on a particular party. However, the indications are that this four-cornered contest is actually bipartite between the Congress and the BJP. The Congress hopes that it would come back to power with a huge majority. On the other hand the ruling party understands that due to split, it may get some less seats but workable enough to form the govt. According to the JDS, both the national parties have betrayed the voters and hence they would rally behind Devegouda. Yeddyurappa does not appear so hopeful. He hopes to play spoilgame. he is depending on Lingayat votes.

In this backdrop, it appears that the verdict of the electorate is going to he badly divided. Even though the national parties will be front runners, they will have to appease the two runners up for their kingmaker role. One more possibility is that if required, the BJP may woo Yeddyurappa back to its fold. If offered a powerful position, an ambitious politician like him may not  deny the opportunity. Developments will be closely watched.

PEOPLE'S HATE: MUSHARRAF'S FATE

As the days go by, the Pak watchers are keenly seeing how  Parwez  Musharraf was so wrong in his decision of returning to his native country, with over optimism of awaiting huge welcome from his countrymen, who, according to him were hoping that he alone could pull the Pak chestnut out of fire. The lukewarm reception on March 24, at Karachi airport was enough to cause adequate depression in the ex-dictator. If it was possible, he could have run back to Riyadh. He had put his head inside a gap from which he could not extricate himself. Instead there was every possibility of jumping into the bonfire.

We have information that very recently, the British Council had conducted a survey to determine the political preference of Pakistani youth. By far, the result was shocking. 35 to 40% of them expressed faith in Sharia Rule. Almost a similsr percentage favoured military takeover. Only about 15 to 20% favoured democracy. Musharraf should have realized that in a country where democratic youth are such a minuscule, he was willingly heading for a deathtrap. His predecessor military dictator, had ensured that the elected Prime Minister Z.A. Bhutto was not only dethroned but after a summary trial hanged as well. He himself is having a similar guilt of getting killed Benazir Bhutto and the tribal leader Akbar Bugti. Forget these crimes, the judiciary will never be kind to him for a single crime of dismissing and detaining 60 judges under a hastily declared emergency. To cap these all, the terrorists, led by Pak Taliban are eagerly waiting for eliminating him.

The secret deal of 2004, under which the USA was allowed to bomb tribal areas, contiguous to Afghanistan, was inked by him. He kept it secret from the Pak people. When the New York Times  recently exposed the deal, he had no escape route but to acknowledge. Will the country pardon him? We understand the heavy losses Pak army suffered in Kargil misadventure. It is now an open secret that Musharraf, who had welcomed Vajpayee in Lahore for peace talk, had stealthily crossed into Indian side of Kargil and passed a night with his armymen to boost their morale. Now the same country asks him to give reply for the losses in men, materials and honour.

So long one is in  power, he has long hands to tide over any awkward developments. The same man, without power, finds that the same mistakes had assumed huge proportions, enough to bring retribution for  the perpetrator.

DIFFERENT SPECS TO SEE COMMUNALISM

The  Gujarat riots  occurred in 2002. How suddenly, after complete one decade, on the verge of the upcoming General Election, the then Chief Minister of that state, Narendra Modi has started afresh being labelled as a communalist? Who are these persons having authority to declare somebody as a communalist? What may be the motive behind this overused tactics? Previously, the Communists used to call anybody opposed to it as a bourgeois. Today there are similarly clever politicians who decry their opponents as enemy of communal harmony to attract minority votes. Is it the only method to befriend the minorities?

 First, let us test the veracity of this charge. In last over ten years, no political person has been so calculatedly  targeted. No person has faced so many commissions and court cases. Has he been convicted in any? Then who are these persons who call him as an enemy of secularism. Even Lalu Prasad Yadav, who became the Railway Minister, constituted an enquiry commission to nail Modi. The knowledgeable persons laughed at his  futile exercise as already the Supreme Court had constituted a commission to go into the whole gamut of that riot. The cases are running in different courts. Seeing the election round the corner, they appear to be in a haste not to wait for the judicial verdict and announce their own parochial decision. Tomorrow when Modi comes out scot free, will not he be in his rights to file defamation cases against Nitish Kumar and like? I feel, the reticent Modi, may not pardon them when situation came in his favour.

Nitish and some Congress spokesmen discard Modi model of development under the plea that it is not inclusive. By saying so, they want to hint that the minorities have been left out. This charge appears completely baseless. The Sachar Committee, in its report in 2006 had clearly pointed out that the Muslims were most backward in education, economic status, their representation in govt. jobs and entrepreneurship. The Congress ruled over the country continuously for 55 years. What did they do to ameliorate their condition? Where was their inclusive growth then? It is on record that the Muslims have developed more in last ten years in Gujarat than anywhere else. Even West Bengal, earlier under the Leftist govts.has a better record than any Congress ruled state. Nitish Kumar’s inclusive growth cannot match Modi’s performance. That is why even the Muslims of Gujarat have realized the truth and 21% of them voted for the BJP. Even Muslim pockets, earlier Congress bastions, went Modi way.

If Modi is held as a communalist due to riots of 2002, what about the chief ministers of Bihar during whose rule Jamshedpur and Bhagalpur riots took place. Who are communalists in the eyes of JDU in the Congress for the nationwide anti-Sikh riots? Gujarat had a history of almost annual riots during the previous Congress rule. Let Nitish name any leader? After 2002, Gujarat has remained riot -free. Does not Modi deserve a clap?

      

STRANGE MEASURING TAPE

This morning I heard in a radio news bulletin that some Western survey team had conducted  an exercise to decide the names of the most popular celebrities. It considered a list of nearly 2,000 individuls to finalise ten top persons. In the list, Winston Churchill is on the top and Mahatma Gandhi figures at the third position. I was surprised about the measuring tapes, used by the organizers. Can one compare an orange with an apple because both are eatables? Can you compare Gautam Buddha with Hitler? Why there should be a comparison between two diametrically opposed personalities?

Churchill himself had commented about Gandhi when he admitted, “ He has all the good qualities that I dislike and all the vices that I admire”. Had he been alive, he himself would have disapproved of any such strange comparison. Both were definitely politicians but only that was common. Churchill’s politics or diplomacy included lie and cheating. On the other hand Gandhi was truthful in his entire career. Gandhi struggled for making India free and Churchill was opposed to leave this colony. Churchill was known for successfully leading England in the Second World War. Gandhi was an apostle of peace. Churchill wrote a book named the “Gathering Storm” on the Second World War. Gandhi’s autobiography,’My Experiment With Truth’ is self - explanatory. Churchill with cigar in his hand lived like a traditional aristocrat whereas Gandhi was simple like a fakir. Churchill killed innumerable people and Gandhi was killed by an imbalnced individual.

One of the greatest scientists of the last century, Einstein about Gandhi had made a wonderful comment. He said that when the coming generations will know about the greatness of Gandhi, they will not believe that someone like him in bones and fleshes ever walked on this planet. Can anyone quote a similar weighty comment about the English war hero? We also remember how Martin Luther King I and Barack Obama publicaly announced that they had been inspired by the messages of Gandhi. I am yet to see such a comment about Churchill. Moreover, globally acclaimed politicians, scholars, thinkers and artists have again and again declared that the Gandhian thoughts are still relevant, particularly for the world peace. One favoured war for solution of problems while the other had only love and peace for the mankind.

In this backdrop it appears unconvincing to juxtapose a war lover and a messiah of peace. The organizers, shuld immediately come out with the details of their measuring tape so that the confusion shrouding the conclusion is removed.

  

CONFUSIONS IN COALITIONS

Rajiv  Gandhi was the last prime minister, enjoying a single party majority in the House after the post- Mrs. Indira Gandhi  assassination General Election, held in 1984. After his tenure concluded, an unending trend of coalition governments came in vogue. On the verge of the upcoming General Election in 2014, every political party, national or regional understands that one-party rule is still like a distant dream. The scenario being so, there is nothing strange when we see that they all are eagerly waiting for the developments suiting their gameplan but keeping the cards close to their chests. Consequently, the people at large appear to be confused. Indications so far emanating from some important stake holders need to be watched carefully.

The biggest state with 80 parliamentary seats, like in the past, continues to hold the key as almost all political analysts believe that the road to the prime ministership goes from UP. The state at present has four senior contenders – Congress, BJP, BSP and SP, the last two being the front runners. Today, both Mayavati and Mulayam Singh Yadav, being involved in corruption cases, pursued by the CBI, are out of compulsion supporting UPA from outside though they do not see eye to eye. One of them will align with the Congress and automatically the other will join the BJP camp. Mulayam has internally realized that the Congress is more in favour of BSP because its votebank is dependable and on the beck and call of Mayavati is often transferred easily. Therefore, the SP supremo, quite tactfully has started praising Advani and late Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. Rajnath Singh is undisturbed because he knows that one will fall in his lap.

Similarly, two equally matching rivals of Tamil Nadu, namely Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa have established a tradition of going with one national party. Without any ideological preference, they have been in BJP and Congress camps, simply because the enemy is in one camp, I should join the rival camp. Despite being once ditched, the BJP is still hoping to befriend the unpredictable AIDMK supremo. Since DMK has announced to withdraw even the outside support to Manmohan Singh Govt, it has left the hint of its availibilty to the desirous camp.

Other reckonable parties are TMC, JDU and Akali Dal (B). Mamata has been in both the NDA and the UPA. For the present she has not shown any open preference and like a matured politician will definitely wait to strike the fial decision. Due to some anti-Modi statements of some JDU leaders, people were guessing that Nitish was planning to shake off BJP and align with Congress. One should understand that any true Lohiaite will never support Congres. He has been critical of Modi not because he himself puts himself in the line for the premiership, but simply because he does not want to antagonize his minority voters. The things have by and large become clear as Nitish and Sharad Yadav have declared their decision of not having any truck with the Congress. They had given some sweet hopes to the Congress leaders so that they could favourably take up Bihar’s case for special status. Even Sharad has been retained as the party president and with no change in the team, one can deduce no change in coalition partner as well. Two things are clear – first that the Akali Dal(B) will continue in the NDA and the second that the Communists, who are not comfortable with either the UPA or NDA, will try their best to revive the mythical Third Front. For that they are probing Mulayam, Lalu, Devegouda, Sharad Pawar and some others. For the present it appears to be just a wishful thinking.

It is due to the above confusion that both the leading players are hesitant to announce their pime ministerial candidates. For BJP the naming of Narendra Modi will annoy JDU and some other partners. For Congress, if the election result proved below expectation, the political career of Rahul Gandhi will be doomed. So, there are talks that Dr. Manmohan Singh may be projected for a hat-trick. On the other hand, some NDA partners have favoured the candidature of Adwani. Confusions all around.  

                             

SEX WILL VEX

We have not forgotten the huge protest activities in  the country in general and Delhi in particular against heinous crime of gangrape of 16/12. It continued for days together and ultimately the perpetrators were nabbed and produced before the court. The main culprit committed suicide inside the jail and the remaining ones may also be either hanged or convicted with life terms. Will the story end there? Have we ever coolly sat to find out the reasons behind the mounting crimes against women? The reasons may not be only a few what appears apparently. They may be many due to pressing socio-economic milieus.

Our ancient scriptures  enjoin that one should avoid to stay alone with even close female relatives like sisters and others. This is so because despite the moral limitations, one is prone to slip when he happens to be privately together. We know how Dharmaraja Yudhisthir had replied a question about his mental state when he saw his mother who had the boon of undiminishing youthfulness for ever. The unprecedented growth of population, division of resources and compulsion of living with the entire family in close proximity, often give encouragement to apparently immoral behavior. This is so visible in flat and apartment living in big cities. The growing openness, though a welcome development, is yet to take a healthy root in our society which comes handy to the criminal elements.

It happened only two days back.. One of my colleagues had gone to the residence of his relative, occupying the post of a senior executive in the Govt. Exactly then the mobile rang. The school going son of the gentleman picked up. The father enquired about the caller and the boy said she was his father’s girl friend. The father took the mobile and  said that he would call later. Then he also revealed to the visitor that the boy had also his girl friend. On his request, the boy showed a photograph of his girl friend and boldly announced that he would marry her when right time came. Is this frankness not uncalledfor and over stretching the matter? With this strange family sanskar, where he will reach?

Today itself I have seen another alarming news that on the naval base at Kochi, on regular basis the officers arrange parties where they enjoy wife swapping. We could know when a newly wed Delhi girl moved the judiciary. Now her husband and his colleagues are bent upon proving her a mental case. What type of sanskar will the children of such wedlocks will carry? Sex is the cause of all births, but no religion permits open indulgence and its disparagement. Sitting with fingers crossed, we eagerly await the worst.

We have not forgotten the huge protest activities in  the country in general and Delhi in particular against heinous crime of gangrape of 16/12. It continued for days together and ultimately the perpetrators were nabbed and produced before the court. The main culprit committed suicide inside the jail and the remaining ones may also be either hanged or convicted with life terms. Will the story end there? Have we ever coolly sat to find out the reasons behind the mounting crimes against women? The reasons may not be only a few what appears apparently. They may be many due to pressing socio-economic milieus.

Our ancient scriptures  enjoin that one should avoid to stay alone with even close female relatives like sisters and others. This is so because despite the moral limitations, one is prone to slip when he happens to be privately together. We know how Dharmaraja Yudhisthir had replied a question about his mental state when he saw his mother who had the boon of undiminishing youthfulness for ever. The unprecedented growth of population, division of resources and compulsion of living with the entire family in close proximity, often give encouragement to apparently immoral behavior. This is so visible in flat and apartment living in big cities. The growing openness, though a welcome development, is yet to take a healthy root in our society which comes handy to the criminal elements.

It happened only two days back.. One of my colleagues had gone to the residence of his relative, occupying the post of a senior executive in the Govt. Exactly then the mobile rang. The school going son of the gentleman picked up. The father enquired about the caller and the boy said she was his father’s girl friend. The father took the mobile and  said that he would call later. Then he also revealed to the visitor that the boy had also his girl friend. On his request, the boy showed a photograph of his girl friend and boldly announced that he would marry her when right time came. Is this frankness not uncalledfor and over stretching the matter? With this strange family sanskar, where he will reach?

Today itself I have seen another alarming news that on the naval base at Kochi, on regular basis the officers arrange parties where they enjoy wife swapping. We could know when a newly wed Delhi girl moved the judiciary. Now her husband and his colleagues are bent upon proving her a mental case. What type of sanskar will the children of such wedlocks will carry? Sex is the cause of all births, but no religion permits open indulgence and its disparagement. Sitting with fingers crossed, we eagerly await the worst.

DIRTY DIPLOMACY

Even when two persons are talking, one annoyed with the stand of the other tells him not to be diplomatic. A very common word in politics, is as a matter of fact quite abused one. What does it mean? When you say yes and mean no and when you say no and mean yes, you are being diplomatic. Whenever your particular statement is like a double-edged sword, it is the best example of a diplomatic stand. Avoiding being specific amounts to diplomacy. Such statements, depending on the available situation can be used either way. There is yet another similar expression in the field of intelligence, known as dirty tricks. And when two premier intelligence agencies like the CIA of the US and the ISI of Pakistan strike a deal, one can just imagine the depth of dirty diplomacy and dirty tricks  involved therein. Each one will try to outwit the other.

A recent news, published in the New York Times throws adequate light on such a subject. Its correspondent Mark Mazzeti has published a book captioned, “The Way of the Knife: The CIA a Secret Army, and a War at the Ends of the Earth”. According to this book, the CIA and the ISI struck a deal in 2004 at the time of Bush administration. It allowed the CIA to go for Drone attacks on the North-West frontiers so long they did not hit Pak atomic plants and the mountain camps in POK where terrorists are being trained to operate in J&K. This clearly means that Pak should allow the killing of Pushtun leaders for peace in Afghanistan and in return, The US would permit the Pak trained militants to kill Indians in K&K. Moreover, it was further bilaterally agreed that while the CIA would never acknowledge any Drone attack , Pakistan was free to claim the credit if any pro-Taliban leader was killed in such attacks. As a matter of fact, originally when Drones were pressed into service, the main objective was to eliminate Pakhtoon tribal leader Nek Muhammad. Strangely  the first victim of this operation was Nek himself within few months of the operation. As discussed above, ISI came forward to claim the credit of killing Nek. The CIA, as per the understanding never rebutted the claim.

At that time, Genl. Parwez Musharraf was the President of Pakistan.  So far thousands of tribal leaders, activists and general people have laid down their life. In America, Obama came in power and Asif Ali Zardari is holding the fort in Pakistan. Despite these significant changes in top positions of both the countries, the Drone operation goes on unabated. Neither Obama will acknowledge Drone attacks nor Pakistan will openly oppose it. This is dirty diplomacy, this is dirty trick at its best.

YAMUNA IN DELHI CRIES FOR A BETTER DEAL

India so far has hosted several international games since the first Asiad when Pt. Nehru was the Prime Minister. Every time it was announced that the Yamuna will get a facelift to match the Thames in London and most of the water sports would be staged in this river. To our utter dismay, this mytholigically sacred river is still awaiting a fare deal from the Delhi Govt.  Today it is just a dirty nullah, poisonous enough to disallow the aquatic animals and plants to grow.

In mid-1980’s when I had first gone to Ahmedabad, I was shocked to see the plight of the river Sabarmati. A visitor to Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram felt dismayed after seeing the blackish water and open defecation on its banks. Later on when I went there in 2012, I was surprised to see the turnaround. The river was full of clean greenish water, it was well channelled between two strong concrete embankments, with a well maintained garden  of exotic trees and flower plants and an excellent walk-way beside the flowing water. The place has turned to be a hot tourist destination where one could enjoy the boating on clean water with cool air blowing around. I wished that someday, the Yamuna in Delhi having a length of over 40 km, will have the same attractive facelift.

As if some wise men in Delhi were listening, all on a sudden some good news appeared in newspapers. Its not true that nothing had been done in past. But it is a fact that despite huge amounts invested, the river continues to be in a pitiable state. The news was captioned, “Hope floats as work on Yamuna picks up”.This time the DDA is serious to pursue its Yamuna Riverfront Development Project, which will protect and restore biodiversity of the river integrated with public recreation facilities. The banks will have several flora and fauna friendly parks and walking tracks. The riverbed, for the present is in an unbearably ugly shape with the rampant disposal of human waste. To cap these all, the construction waste is also being dumped there. The LG/Delhi has directed the authorities concerned to stop this practice forthwith. Accordingly, guards are being deputed to keep a close eye on culprits and bring them to book as an effective deterrent major.

All these are welcome developments. The people, however, are afraid that this may not peter out like other such election-eve  sops announced in the past by the political parties, in power or in Q for that. They should realize that like roads and factories, this will also be a visible work which the electorate will remember while exercising their franchise.

RaGa's GAMECHANGER RAGA

Ever since Rahul Gandhi, in an important recent party meet at Jaipur delivered an impressive and sentimental speech, people at large could get a hint that the Congress had internally agreed to offer a central space to him which was vindicated when from the post of a general secretary, he jumped to the vice presidentship of the party. After required homework, in his address, Rahul touched upon several important national and international issues, which was rated in the media as impressive. By and large he appeared to have come off age and showed his readiness to shoulder the awaiting burden for which he has been groomed so far.

On the heels of that party forum address, Rahul was prepared by the party managers to address the  business tycoons of the country from the platform of the CII on April 4,2013. The way he faced this exclusive club, showed that the young man has gathered enough confidence to shut the mouth of his critics. His simple Indian dress and walk -the -talk style went well with the India Inc. Occasionally he was humorous while referring to critics for putting uncalled-for questions like his marriage and assuming prime ministership. He calculatedly avoided any direct reference to an individual but intelligently gave indications of his target. Meaning Narendra MOdi, RaGa charged that he did not favour the model of development for only the affluent. His aim was the real inclusive growth in which even the most deprived section did not feel left out. In support of his contention, he said that while others were holding meetings with businessmen in five-star hotels, he preferred to visit farflung villages and pass some time with the poor.

Imbibing His father’s love for the panchayati raj, Rahul emphasized that if anybody thought that Dr. Manmohan Singh alone could solve his problems, he would have to keep on waiting indefinitely. Making his point further clear, he added that on election eve the political parties go to the village pradhans to ask for vote who do not have any role in policy making. According to him, the country will not be strong till these sections are not involved in governance. Here it will not be out of place to quote Shahnawaz Hussain, the BJP spokesman, who said that they who want power for the village pradhan, do not give power to the Pradhan Mantri.

Despite Rahul assuming central space in the party affairs, many analysts opine that the Congress is still indecisive over its prime ministerial candidate which may harm its prospects at the husting. Some leaders, close to 10 janpath, hesitate to finalise this issue. They think that in case he was projected as the prospective candidate and the party failed to fare well, his political career will be irreparably jeopardized. On the other hand, since he is spearheading the electioneering campaign, the expected success is bound to catapult him to great heights. Amid these differing views, we think that the young Gandhi is bent upon a gamechanger role despite the obvious risk involved.

    

Double Power Centre

If you have double resources and double strength, success in the mission is assured. However, it is not always true. A double-mouthed man is not considered dependable in the society. Different political analysts have different views with regard to the decade old experiment of doulbe power centre in the ruling Congress.

Normally, the three powerful men in the UPA II, namely Dr. Manmohan Singh, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi avoid to express their stand on some critical issues in the media. Both the Gandhis find it more comfortable to place the gun on the broad shoulders of an ever loyal Digvijay Singh and fire. We have seen that both  Diggy Raja and Beni Prasad Varma appear to have the licence from th high command to pounce on any political opponent. So long the outspoken party spokesman,  Digvijay alone was expressing party stand  on ticklish issues, the party could cover up when caught on wrong foot by rating it as his personal view. Of Late, another spokesman, Janardan Dwivedi, also enjoying patronage of 10 Janpath, has also  started issuing statements in the press, occasionally at cross purposes.

Only a few days back Diggy Raja commented that the experiment of double power centre was not helping the party and wished Rahul to assume prime ministership after the 2014 general election. Just on the heels of this statement, Dwivedi argued that an excellent harmonious relation between Mrs. Gandhi and Dr. Singh has proved that the experiment of dual power centre was working well and the party wished it to continue even after the impending election. Many political analysts  believe that it may be an indication of Mrs. Gandhi’s thinking that Dr. Singh might be tried for the third time as she thinks that Rahul needs further breathing time to gain adequate maturity. A strong headed Digvijay lost no time to clarify that he still stood by his stand. As a result, there is allround confusion in the party to decide who, out of the two,  is more loyal.

On this development, Shahnawaz Hussain, the BJP spokesman had a dig. According to him, Mrs. Gandhi relinquished premiership in UPA I in favour of Dr. Singh because quite tactfully she wanted to enjoy power without any responsibility. If there is an achievement, the credit goes to the UPA chairperson. On the other hand failures are hurled at the PM. Does it appear to be a healthy trend?

Pt. Nehru, Mrs. Indira Gandhi and even P.V. Narsimha Rao, so long they ran the govt., a single power centre was in vogue. They had confidence enough to avoid fixing a  a whipping boy for pitfalls in the governance. It is true that the coalition govts. Have their limitations. But like the common minimum programmes, why the jurisdiction of power centres cannot be defind clearly to obviate chances of confusions. 

THIRD FRONT CACOPHONY

Once again on the eve of the general election of 2014, the well orchestrated slogan of Third Front is audible in high decibels. Like in the past, the known persona dramatis are unbelievably optimistic of being the sole prospective group to assume the mantle. Is there any taker? The other day Mannish Tiwari, Congress spokesman quite aptly argued that over the years, the Third Front idea has been the most enduring mirage of the Indian politics.

It was the towering personality of J.P. Narain which succeeded in  bringing the opposition political parties under one umbrella, christened as the Janata Party. In that  post-Emergency general election of 1977, the ruling Congress, led by Mrs. Indiraa Gandhi was mercilessly decimated. Such unity was not in the geans of the constituent political parties. Accordingly, while JP was still alive, the combination developed irreparable cracks and soon collapsed as a house of cards. Consequently, the same ‘devil’, against whom they had rallied managed to regain power with a comfortable majority.

Who are these seasonal flag- bearers of this elusive Third Front? It is not difficult to identify them. They are the Leftists and mainly followers of Dr. R.M. Lohia, who claim to work for the downtrodden. Their main charasteristic is that they are so individualistic that every one is a party in himself. They come together without shaking off their ego and so they fall out in no time. Even success in achieving power has failed to keep them together. We have seen that each one has established his own outfit and is active as regional satraps. This factionalism in them has straightway paved the way for the two nationalist parties – BJP and Congress to remain in the saddle by turn. These split groups can  just manage a small satisfactions by playing the second fiddle in the ruling coalitions.

Another sideeffect of the growth of the regional parties is eroding the national unity. They compel the centre to concede their selfish demands. Not only that, the approach of the DMK and AIDMK of Tmilnadu  on the Sri Lanka issue, Mamta Banerjee’s stand on the Teesta Water issue with Bangladesh and Omar Abdullah’s views on the terrorists of POK are something which will turn India into a laughing- stock in the comity of nations. The centre cannot make any major deviation from its known stand on international relations to oblige a particular state government. So long these regional parties continue to pursue their local demands, the coalition governments at the centre would suffer from standing in a tight spot.

The general election is round the corner. The same known music has started being trumpeted. It is the foremost duty of every voter to rise above local  parochial considerations and ignore the stuff, bent on weakening the motherland.