Being "Apolitical" is it the best way forward for India?? Friends of BJP event 13th sept 2011 JaiHind College

Brief introduction of the subject (Keynote Address)

"Please don’t politicize the issue is a common refrain to any inconvenient question raised by the protagonists in political sphere and also by the media. This per se instills a sense of revulsion & disgust towards politics & politicians with the other oft repeated Aam Aadmi.

We have been witness to an event the like of which has not been on display previously. Yes protests against corruption. 

The latest addition to our vocabulary is “Apolitical” there have been other words also bandied about like “Unelectable” and “Unelected” which have not found as wide an acceptance or usage by the public in the regular discourse.

We really need to understand this 'Apolitical'. Is it a word, a term, an ideology, an ism, a statement or an expression?

Is this an accessory or a new product? What is its true meaning? Does it have a definite meaning as do other words if it is a word? What are the implications if we do accept this in any of the above forms?

How does this measure up; when we compare with words such ‘Amoral’ & ‘Atheist’? Is Apolitical the opposite of Political and politics or is it devoid of politics.

Do we need this? If yes why?

Does this pit one against the other? Is this an oversimplification or an overkill given the current state of affairs in India!

Would this involve Indians increasing in the political process or will it make Indians more cynical about our political process and hence our democracy. 

There is an urgent need to deconstruct & place this in its true perspective lest we cause any long term damage to our Democracy.

Much harder work is required, more effort than participating in candle vigils or wearing Gandhi caps. Politicians thumping desks and civil society thumping chests don’t make a revolution. Waiting for a hero is not the way. When Andrea lamented to Galileo in Brecht’s play that there were no heroes, Galileo said: pity the nation in need of a hero. And pity, too, the nation that can’t tell apart a real hero from a false one."

Speakers in the chronological order

                

 

  

 

                    Question & Answer Session Video

"Have we lost the plot? " "Jaate the Japan pahunch gaye Chin, samajh gaye naa! "

 

  

Heat and dust of Anna’s fast has settled somewhat. Most Indians have been put through a wringer and have experienced a kind of emotional vacuum which can be felt only after an epic event has transpired and sucked out every drop from your body. 

Indians born post Independence specifically second and third generation; had only read or maybe seen it in the fictional form of movies. This was a chance of life time many may find it difficult to come to terms with, what they have witnessed or participated in.

The accompanying euphoria that this event brought with itself is unimaginable. Now is the time to settle down and take stock of what was the genesis, purpose and stated goal of this mass movement called India Against Corruption.

The two most crucial questions that need to be answered! 

1. Was India Against Corruption formed for demanding swift action against the unprecedented corruption of Congress lead UPA government?

 2. Was India Against Corruption formed for Jan Lok Pal bill exclusively?

Have we achieved any of those through the 13 days fast by Anna Hazare? 

There are a host of other questions as well. 

Are all the original members of the team still there? 

What can we project as an immediate achievement? 

Have some original members been ignored totally? 

Has the movement maintained its ‘Apolitical’ character?

Did the team pander to any particular section of the society?

Did the team ignore any section of the society?

Has it focused sharply on the ongoing cases of corruption?

Did this movement divert focus from the urgent issues of corruption?

Have the due credits been placed where ever deserved? 

The list is long and every reader would also have his/her questions to pose and seek answers, hence will not dwell any further on the questions alone.

Let us retrace or as it is said lets start at the very beginning! 

India Against Corruption (IAC), whose website says, “India Against Corruption movement is an expression of collective anger of people of India against corruption.”  

The IAC website lists as founders besides Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev, Mahamood Madani, Arcbishop Vincent M Concessao, Syed Rizvi, Justice D S Tewatia, B R Lall and others. Where are the other members? Why are they not visible? What is going on? Has this movement been hijacked or converted in to a Jan Lok Pal bill only? 

Have we been lead up the garden path by the so called team Anna?

Without going into the chronology of events and making this into an essay or a dissertation which would make it unbearable or be construed as imposing personal view, shall conclude here with what has been reverberating through length and breath of India Vandemataram Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

 link to Ms.Kiran Bedi's interview Video  with Headlines Today

link to_Arvind Kejriwal's interview goo.gl/64oBS with Headlines Today
 

 

Cartoons on Corruption 

Most Important Update 16th Dec 2013

Internal security and external security is solely predicated on the politics and the prevailing political chemistry of a country. Without security there can be no stability and consequently no development. The security discourse and foreign policy posturing of a country is therefore intrinsic to the politics and cannot be seen through different prisms.     

{ LINK }

 Articles on Anna's fast

Anna movement. BJP bracketed with the Congress loses; the Congress does not.

A shameful chapter Only thanks to the generosity of the Opposition, the mess created by the Government was finally cleared 

What has AnnaHazare gained? Jan Lokpal Bill might not be the panacea as many in the Movement against Corruption are hoping

 

The-diminishing-of-Rahul-Gandhi- This is an important question for a party that is still beholden to the Gandhi family  

“The BJP is certainly deriving some political mileage due to clumsy handling by the government and the Congress."

 

Don’t push for Rahul’s idea’ “Such amendment needs more two-thirds’ support of MPs, which is unlikely,” 

The media and Anna Hazare 

Bipartisanship helped end Annas fast what facilitated an amicable end.The salutary role played by senior BJP leaders.

I welcome a debate and discussion on this…As always, please keep your tone civil, your language polite…no sweeping generalisations please and no personal abuse.  Thank you.

Opportunity to read CNN IBN, for those who do not watch this channel!!

                 

This may seem incongruous; trust me it is an important statement. Will explain, the significance of this picture in conclusion!

Wanted to post this article on 13^th July got delayed due to blasts that occurred and this got further delayed since another article appeared on the 14^th in Hindustan Times. This threw up an opportunity for a truly unique experiment which was hard to ignore "Reading CNN IBN" since I do not watch this channel. I do hope visitor will also enjoy this experience.

Here she is again with her usual self assumed sense of importance and a holy grail who seems to have the moral if not a divine right to rail against all that does not fit into a convenient box. All possible aspects are touched, yet the role of the one corrupt section of our society is ignored, is it by design or due to ignorance or is it that it is above board and all is hunky dory with our Media? Maybe only saints and angels inhabit this sacred space!  Would you believe it?

In this entire article this is a significant paragraph. “The shockingly wide network of Hindu extremists responsible for some of the blasts has been cracked. The culpability of Islamist groups has been tracked too. Home minister P Chidambaram may be unpopular with the Sangh parivar for cracking down on ‘saffron terror’ and the CBI’s actions against Amit Shah may have alienated the BJP.” Where is the evidence for such claims while making light of the other end of spectrum which has wreaked and is wreaking havoc on a regular basis. This indeed is her DK Bose moment Link to the article please do not miss out on the comments posted on this article.

There is an obvious pattern to what is broadcast, what is written example above and what is tweeted as below.

“But Digvijaya Singh used the reporter’s leading question to hold forth, as he’s done provocatively in the past, on the subject of “Hindu terror”. He even offered to testify in court on the involvement of RSS activists in terror-related activities.”  Why Digvijaya Singh is no less dangerous than terrorists:

 


This is the second part, that is no better than the one above, here again what comes out is the striking similarity of using the latest films released as the springboard for constructing an article  how much sense it will make to the readers?

“Unfortunately, the so-called ‘young guns’ of Indian politics have done themselves few favours by remaining prisoners of  their lineage but offering little else by way of fresh ideas. A number of them are democratic dynasts, sons and daughters of politicians who see electoral politics as an extension of their family fiefdom.” So very convenient to be judgmental of other! Notice the similarity of pontification and sanctimonious attitude.

Blessed with an exaggerated sense of entitlement, we rarely see them speak out in Parliament, take up socially relevant issues or give us a sense of what they stand for.

This is the crux, here again the man is ditto of the woman above, he refuses to look inwards when the shining example is the Channel where both are Editor in Chief and Deputy Editor, need one say any more. Please do read the article  “Now pad up and play”. Get the entire plot please do read the comments posted. Did they speak on Radia Tapes? Alacrity that is reserved for a particular community and a political party.

Post-script: Rahul Gandhi still stays away from joining the government. We are told that he feels he is not ready yet. When a youth icon doesn’t want to take up a ministerial responsibility at the age of 41, is it any surprise that we have one of the oldest Cabinets in the world?

YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE THIS Farmer's OUTLOOK & COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO LIFE.  While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old farmer, who's hand was caught in the gate while working, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man...Eventually  the topic got around to Media and its many personalities. The old farmer said, 'Well, ya know, she/he is a 'Post Turtle''.. Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him, what a 'post turtle' was. The old farmer said, 'When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a 'post turtle'. The old farmer saw the puzzled look on the doctor's face so he continued to explain. ' "You know she/he didn't  get up there by herself/himself, she/he doesn't belong up there, she/he doesn't know what to do while she's/he’s up there, she's/he’s elevated beyond her/his ability to function, and you just wonder what kind of dumb *** put her/him up there to begin with."

                                               GOD BLESS INDIA

Please feel free to add name of your choice to the above story and you get the significance of the Picture and the story. 

I welcome a debate and discussion on this…As always, please keep your tone civil, your language polite…no sweeping generalisations please and no personal abuse.  Thank you.

Political Editor or an Editor who plays politics with Editorials?

The opening statement in “Bhatt is the truth?” by Vinod Sharma “I’m sure this post will get the goat of Narendra Modi’s many admirers who visit the site with alarming regularity.” Is a reiteration of my firm belief that there is a child in every adult! The impishness and the puerile approach towards the subject! Arrogated or should one say the divine right to outrage is so explicitly visible.

Monsanto would surely be pleased with their products of Genetically Modified foods; Vinod Sharma seems to have been on an exclusive GM foods diet; hence he does come through as a Genetically Modified commentator on political affairs of this country. I am not too sure if the gentleman should be known as the Political Editor or an Editor who plays politics with Editorials.

If my memory serves me right Mr. Vinod Sharma is the same person who claimed that the CD of Bhushan’s conversation in his possession was authentic, yet it turned out otherwise. What credibility would or should such an individual enjoy?  Again is Mr.Sharma not a sitting member of commission? 

The current controversy is a result of a statement made by a lawyer representing the Gujarat Government before the Nanawati Commission. The question is did Mr. Sharma make any further investigation or this was not needed since the purpose is not to find the truth or obtain justice for the victims but indulge in politiking which would benefit his political paymaster. Not withstanding Mr. Sharma protestation of being independent unbiased editor, which we swallow with a liberal helping of salt.

Mr. Sharma in tandem with Mr. Vir Singhvi did form a deadly duo for Hindustan Times, for attacking Gujarat and Mr. Narendra Modi if one called Mr. Modi a Mass Murderer the other termed Gujarat riots as pogrom and genocide hoping the publishers of dictionaries world wide would replace existing meaning with their explanations of these words. Alas the Earth still continues to revolve around the Sun.

The flip side is if one was to mention BOFORS or 1984 in the presence of this deadly duo of Hindustan Times, we get to hear oh those were Anti Sikh riot and lumpen elements were involved pray who were those lumpen elements? If this does not deter you, the next is oh this is history is it so? Did this event happen in ancient India? No it was only 27 years ago victims still await justice. 

“How on earth can that happen in the country’s best administered state? Is good governance all about foreign capital inflows, shining skyscrapers, road connectivity, electricity and water? All these matter but are of little or no meaning when the system is designed to manipulate justice.” So very emphatically stated Mr. Sharma you have been singing hosannas of the Congress government for just the very things, there is a deafening silence from your end when crucial documents go missing in who let Anderson flee the country post Bhopal gas tragedy, 2G, CWG, Adarsh housing and many other scams.

Now lets us examine your claim of these document being of paramount importance to the process of justice for 2002 Gujarat riots.

1. Have you investigated this issue further?

2. Do you want us to believe given the extremely sensitive nature of these documents the courts and the various commissions have overlooked to requisition them despite 9years having lapsed?

3. Do you want us to believe that such crucial evidence could be ignored even by the Supreme Court which has established an SIT for Gujarat riots?

4. When the Union Government within no time could call for the MOU’s signed during the Vibrant Gujarat meet, would not initiate steps to ensure crucial evidence is preserved?

5. Congress has been singularly unsuccessful in wrenching Gujarat from Mr. Narendra Modi in the last 3 state elections, would it let go off an opportunity to settle scores with the CM?

6. What could not be achieved democratically is being attempted through other means.

7. Did you read this article or is it too inconvenient for you?

It indeed does not make a pretty picture to watch an editor’s struggle there are 115 comments posted so far in response to this blog unable locate any charitable ones about Mr. Vinod Sharma, time facts were recognized, and there is limit beyond which nothing remains palatable or credible. Please do make it point to read this{ article }also Mr. Sharma, change of heart can always happen.

I welcome a debate and discussion on this…As always, please keep your tone civil, your language polite…no sweeping generalisations please and no personal abuse.  Thank you.

India's role in global economy???

  
"I want to be able to say to the American people when they ask me, well, why are you spending time with India, aren't they taking our jobs?" Obama told reporters in New Delhi Monday. 

"I want to be able to say, actually, you know what, they just created 50,000 jobs. And that's why we shouldn't be resorting to protectionist measures. We shouldn't be thinking that it's just a one-way street." 

India is not simply emerging; India has already emerged. And it is my firm belief that the relationship between the United States and India-bound by our shared interests and values-will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century. This is the partnership I have come here to build. This is the vision that our nations can realize together. President Obama's Parliament speech.

Soon there were others from P5 who descended on India in no time, I watched it all as I would a rare celestial phenomenon occurring, this was happening on earth in India. I belong to the first generation of Indians born post Independence, who are witness to all round extreme scarcities, importing wheat under PL480, high income tax regime, government of that era busy in setting up multiple behemoths along socialist lines, involved in baking bread to manufacturing most intricate high end engineering goods, until it all lead to a predictable dismal situation in the ’80 where gold had to be mortgaged and finally the first baby steps in ‘1991.The turn around did happen, and as they say rest is history.

Can there be more emphatic statement on “India’s role in global economy” than the common thread that stretched through the meetings with all the P5 members, there was but one clear message trade & economy and the importance of India to the world. Global economies are still grappling with the aftermath of the economic meltdown that was experienced a few years back. Prescriptions for treating the maladies were provide by our good doctor Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India.


 While the world records low GDP figures India is reporting growth at the rate of 8%+, if only the government of India was to play the role of a facilitator we would soon see a double digit GDP growth on par with what a few states in India have been recording 11% plus for the last few years. Government moves have a decisive impact on shaping the costs, risks, and barriers to competition in a location, which influence investment and productivity improvements that can benefit both workers and consumers. The governments that can successfully manage these issues in turn determine their rate of success in collecting revenues they require to remain self-sustainable and responsive to the needs of the citizens. The State of Gujarat in India serves as a good example, which not very long ago was struggling to meet its fiscal obligations, but has, just in the last few years, reformed its management and become an example of good governance that should be emulated by other state or provincial governments. Link.


Any discourse debate or discussion on economy is incomplete without comparing the 3 most important ones. USA, China and India! USA being number one, has the challenge of maintaining that position in the face of some very serious and stiff competition from China. While USA and India are open societies and economies are driven by entrepreneurial skills of its people. China’s is a government controlled and driven economy how long will it be able to sustain and compete is anybody’s guess? "China should overtake the US to become the largest economy in the world by 2020, then be overtaken by India by 2050," : Citi report.


US has been in the forefront as an inventor nation and that is its strength, however manufacturing must also match consumption level hence the dependence on China and other manufacturing hubs. India is not a nation known for inventing but has acquired a reputation of being a skillful innovator and supply source for top notch management personnel. A young population of a few 100 million, soft skills is a plus which provide impetus to a centuries old tradition of International trading. Indian names figure in Forbes who’s who of rich and powerful, as also the top honchos of MNC's world over.

India has been more than genuine and honest in adhering to international trade treaties be it GATT or WTO, while maintaining and protecting it national interest it has also ensured that it has spoken on behalf of the developing world and always strives for an equitable world economic order.

Indian companies are leading the pack in recent spate of mergers and acquisition on the international stage, from automotive industry to steel manufacturing and with some very positive results. Recently reported Jaguar Land Rover zooms towards £1bn profit - Telegraph.  India is playing it role with utmost responsibility by providing a level playing field to all who wish to invest in India. Looking at the current scenario it would be much cheaper for India to raise loans from overseas banks for new ventures as against permitting FDI in those sectors.

The question that the world must ask itself is will it play the game by rules which promote equitable all round economic growth or the old mindset will dictate the new world order? Let us not overlook the fact India with 1.20billion population is a big consumer society, which generate high demand and has the wherewithals to service this demand by domestic production.

Additional points to ponder.


1. India has a massive advantage with 60% of its population being born after 1980. As the youngest nation at this point of time while the world ages, would be able to supply manpower to all corners of the globe ensuring that the Industrial wheels do not come to a grinding halt anywhere. Simultaneously Indian companies have started to outsource their jobs to many other nations! Rub your eyes in disbelief, its a fact! 

2. India still maintains its status as the world’s spiritual leader, of the eight major religions of the world half of them are headquartered in India. Yoga is not new to the world, India and Indians have been instrumental in taking it beyond Indian shores.

3. Lower costs with comparable if not better standards of medical treatment, has made India a popular destination with patients in the developed world. This is medical tourism to India.  Patient beat the long waiting list in their own countries by traveling to India for treatment. Over the years modern medical facilities and all the sophisticated equipment being installed and employed by hospitals has instilled the required confidence. 

4. Aviation is one of the fastest growing sectors in India. India besides purchasing huge numbers of commercial Aircrafts, also providing employment to large number of pilots of foreign origin.

5. Newspapers elsewhere on the globe are becoming extinct. But India leads the world in the industry. 



India most certainly would not wish to be an island, or exist in isolation neither does it have the tendencies of riding roughshod over others. The world at large will have to decide how and where it wants to position itself with India. The ball in your court India is a willing partner.

This post is also available on Independent-Op-Ed. com USA
 

  

Updated on 31st July 2010

 

 

China’s growth has been led by the state, India’s growth is often impeded by the state.  Dynamism Meets Dysfunction 

 

Updated on 10^th July 2010

What is causing high rates of unemployment in the US? Here is detailed analysis: 

I welcome a debate and discussion on this…As always, please keep your tone civil, your language polite…no sweeping generalisations please and no personal abuse.  Thank you.