AN ANALYSIS OF CONGRESS

In the utter chaos that has taken over the national psyche over the past few days, I, like my billion other brethren, have borne witness to a combination of unsurpassed greed, unabashed arrogance and sheer brutality that has hijacked the grand old party of India – The Indian National Congress. If Gandhiji were aware that the party he used as an instrument to fight injustice would one day be reduced to a petty ‘front’ patronized by smugglers and thieves driven to defraud and destroy the nation he loved so dearly, he would probably have fasted unto death to rid this country of the scourge that is the Congress Party.

As a concerned Indian citizen, I shall make a humble attempt to put forth the unbiased, unadulterated and uncomfortable truth amongst all of you. I will also allow you to be the judge of what you consider to be the truth, unlike many in the ruling establishment, who would much rather preach to you than sit down and have a civilized discussion. The Congress has always believed that it possesses an exclusive right to run this country like its personal fiefdom, under the name and seal of one of the most revered sons that India has ever produced. A semantic coincidence led to a very convenient proposition for one particular family, and they have exploited that clever wordplay to its fullest ever since. The 5th of June 2011 may well be the last time that tyranny will be allowed a free hand in this country.

The surreptitious midnight laathi charge of Baba’s peaceful congregation, ordered at the behest of the Congress President Sonia Gandhi was perhaps one of the most brutal acts of state fueled tyranny that independent India has ever seen. It may be unnecessary to make shrill comparisons between this incident and what transpired at Jallianwallan Bagh or for that matter Indira Gandhi’s dictatorial imposition of the Emergency; but it is bad enough that this incident is being compared to such horrific chapters from our history. When a heartless government chooses to throw tear gas and resorts to police laathis to beat up sleeping women and children gathered to protest for a just cause, it is time to be very, very worried. Digvijay Singh would like us all to believe that Ramdev is a thug – very well, but then he must also explain why three cabinet ministers from his Government chose to receive him at the airport prior to engaging him in numerous closed door conferences. Incidentally, Digvijay Singh, the Congress General Secretary, is also the same person who publicly denounced Osama Bin Laden’s death and held a prayer meeting for his soul.

When these discussions with Ramdev amounted to naught, the Congress Plan B sprung into action with Kapil Sibbal leading the charge to discredit the same man they were fawning over just a few hours prior to their failed negotiations. The nation was also made privy to the fancy farce pulled off by Sibbal and Janardan Dwivedi, who claimed that Ramdev backtracked on his word, and betrayed the Government – which they proudly proclaimed by waving a sheet torn off from a spiral bound pad. At first this seemed like a legitimate complaint of the Government – after all a man should stand by his word. The truth that emerged later, however, was less than savory for the Government. Ramdev was coerced into writing a ‘draft’ letter for the Prime Minister, which comprised of the minutes of the meeting as well as his acquiescence to call off the fast when and if those demands were met. Little did Ramdev know, that this letter would be used by the shrewd cronies of the party to legitimize their midnight attack on the old and infirm. Very crafty indeed. The Congress has always prospered by conjuring images of a fascist regime taking control of the center and thereby ruining the ‘secular fabric’ of the nation.

As a liberal and educated Indian, I find the Congress’ attack on free speech and the Constitutionally protected right to peaceful protest most alarming. So grave is this attack on democracy and the Constitution, that even the Supreme Court was forced to take suo motu action and has issued notices to several functionaries of the Government to explain why this gross injustice was perpetrated upon the protesters. The White House issued a statement last night condemning the brutal police action against unarmed agitators in the harshest terms possible. Soli Sorabjee was even more scathing in his reproach – he equated the acts of the Government to Tianmenn Square in China, and wondered when the tanks would roll in to quell the people’s dissent. Even Anna Hazare has not been spared the vitriol by venom spewing party spokespersons of the Congress. Quite laughably, he has been called a fascist and corrupt element trying to mislead the nation. This is the same man they cajoled and swindled into giving up his fast unto death, negotiated with, and then finally buckled down to. Anna was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of the highest civilian honors for his ceaseless service to humanity in India; but the Congress’s double speak and hypocrisy become all too apparent with their recent attempts to discredit him. Anyone familiar with debating circles will be well acquainted with the Ad Hominem rule of argumentation. It is a frowned upon tactic taken up by those who have weak positions and involves attacking the opposition’s character and maligning his image, instead of arguing on the core issues in question. Manish Tewari, Kapil Sibbal and Dwivedi all excel at this type of argumentation.

The Congress Party has always placed the interests of the Gandhi family above those of the nation; this they have done quite unabashedly, and openly proclaim their love and loyalty to the scion of this family, no matter what be the cost. This sycophantic display of crony-ism has to be looked at in the larger context of what is happening in the country. The Lok Pal Bill contains within it the tools to bring to book elected representatives of the people for their excesses and illegalities while in power. Even by conservative estimates, it has been suggested that tens of billions of unaccounted wealth belonging to Indians is stashed away in foreign banks. A renowned foreign newspaper published a report that the Gandhi family has $21 Billion dollars stowed away in these havens. Suddenly, it becomes crystal clear as to why the Congress is so apprehensive about issues such as black money and the Lok Pal Bill capturing the nation’s imagination.

Just think about it – if we succeed in bringing about a law which will bring under its ambit the Prime Minister and the Judiciary, it would open the floodgates to a new India, where corruption would no longer enjoy political or judicial immunity. Let us also not forget, that the current Government headed by Dr. Manmohan Singh, is the most corrupt and rudderless excuse of an executive that this nation has ever seen. The taint of corruption and misrule rides so heavy on the party, that it is forced to seek new ways to discredit the opposition. Let us also not forget, that this is the same Government that took twenty five years to give up on the Bofors Scam, six years to open cases in the 2G Scam, three years to wake up to the Commonwealth Games Scam, but magically took just four hours to strike down a peaceful movement that was protesting all of the above. Full marks to the efficiency of the Government.

Several Congress leaders and an irrelevant bollywood actor have been crying hoarse that a yogi should stick to teaching yoga, and not attempt to enter the political arena. This pathetic logic assumes great importance when one realizes that Rahul Gandhi lists himself as a farmer in his election application, leading one to conclude that farmers have an inherent birthright to talk about national issues but businessmen and yogis do not. By that estimation most Congressmen should stick to the Courts and their farms, and allow politics to be dominated by self-perpetuating dynasties; something the congress takes great pride in doing.

The Congress finds itself heading down an extremely slippery path, with public opinion dead against it, and their own arrogance reducing their legitimacy to lead the country with every passing minute. I would like to appeal to all of you to take an objective view on what is transpiring in our beloved country today, and not get misled by the loudest voice in the room. Jai Hind ! J.A.D.

BY JAI DEHADRAI

THE FASTING EXTRAVAGANZA

Ramdev- a falsity in itself as per Hindu mythology as Ram always refers to Lord Vishnu and not just a diety, i.e a dev. Pretty early I think I have realised that I dont possess any right to bring into disrepute personal credentials of anyone and dig anydeeper into this field.

So, lets get onto the issue... Fasting is the new manner of forcing the government to accede to the legitimate demands of the electorate. But again it has been politicised. The sanctitiy that once marked Satyagraha has been severly denigrated by Ramdeva’s upcoming Fast Unto Death at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi. The Fasts carried out in filthy conditions, desolate surroundings, oppressive atmosphere and even in prisons were true representative of the fighting spirit. Then Potti Sriramulu’s fast unto death which took a toll on his life can also not be forgotten even though it was for totally different reasons.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in his concluding Speech in Constituent Assembly said that Satyagraha, Civil Disobedience and Non-Cooperation movement dont find themselves a place in a democracy because when these were undertaken by Mahatama Gandhi and others, there was no other option but now there was an option to take the course of law. Keeping this in mind, I can justify Hazare’s fast on the lines that it was undertaken for securing a very strong anti corruption law for tackling corruption; so, there was no way of taking the course of law for that (personal opinion). Moreover, Lokpal Bill envisages the inclusion of every kind of corruption be it money laundering also. There is also a black money suit being heard in SC. Laws are also there in the form of PMLA.

I am not against Ramdev’s crusade against Black Money but he should not make a procession out of it. If he has worked on this issue and has something to bring forth, he can collaborate with Civil Society members or can directly approach public but he has to undertake a fast to show that he cares for his country.. Hah! even goodwill has a cost to it. I m sorry to conclude on this note but coming for fast by flight, putting photographs on billboards, keeping ambulances ready at Ramlila maidan (how can be a selfless man so possessive of his life?) et al is a shame to the institution of peaceful and humble protests laid down by our father of the nation.

WHY I THINK THAT OSAMA IS ALIVE?

Only if one sheds one’s emotions and anti-terrorism sentiments and looks objectively to this Trillion Dollar Manhunt......

To begin, I register my strong support for a clean sweep of terrorists by the anti-terror forces of the whole world. I also want to believe that Osama is dead as does my brethren worldwide but it eludes my logic.

Following questions that you might also be having make me think on these lines:

Tough Questions

1. If US can release Saddam’s execution video (that was not less gruesome), then why not of Osama’s shootout? (let the video alone, not even official pictures of his dead body.)

2. Why sea burial? (may be so that no one can verify the body)

3. Why are there discrepancies between accounts given by Obama and CIA chief Leo Pannetta (who flatly denies any support of Pakistani Intelligence in the operation)?

Just check out the video of Obama’s official confirmation of Osama’s death from White House in which he himself appreciates the support of Pakistan’s Intelligence agencies..

4. Why harsh words for Pak from US Intelligence but softness from White House in the form of dissuasion for India to resort to such measures in the hunt for LeT millitants perating in Pak?

5. How can Pak so easily take the shelter of intelligence failure to detect US forces on its soil at the time of operation Geronimo?

Obama’s Interest

1. His popularity was dropping to an all time low since the time of his election to the White House. Recently he filed his re-election papers but his chances of being re-elected until this unparalled feat of Osama killing were bleak.

2. As soon as he took the reins of White House, he drew up the troop withdrawal programme for calling back US troops from Afghanistan. It is to be executed from July 2011. Leaving Osama alive would have rendered the US offensive against Al-Qaida as failed and fingers would have been raised on Obama’s policy. He would have been severely criticized for any terror strike that might have followed troop withdrawal.

3. He was constantly been targeted as a soft, moderate and an ineffective US President.

Pakistan’s Silence

1. I dont expect Pakistan coming out in open and falsifying US’s claim of Osama’s encounter. Obviously, Pak cant say that Osama is alive, because if they say that then firstly, they would be jeopardizing the claim of the mighty USA and secondly they would be asked the basis of their statement which includes the whereabouts of Osama.

2. It subjects Pak to momentary worldwide criticism of holing-up Osama on its soil and lying all the time but going by the larger perspective it frees Pakistan out of any future responsibility of Osama, the dreaded terrorist whose death has been confirmed by US President.

Finally, it could also be a deliberate move to enrage Osama and Al Qaida which might incite them to take a wrong move which in turn would help tracking and catching hold of him by US Navy Seals, CIA or other Intelligence forces of USA.

Note: I hereby affirm and declare that whatever I have stated regarding the US President Barack Obama and the State of Pakistan in the abovementioned lines is strictly my own opinion deduced on the basis of information available on the US’s Osama killing in the Worldwide Press and over the Internet. There is no intention of defamation and this might not be taken as an attempt to cause harm to their image.

Social and Political state of justice in Chhattisgarh

Just about a week ago we heard the Supreme Court grant bail to acclaimed social activist Binayak Sen. The bail along with the proceedings of the lower court raises some very serious questions on the system and method of governance at the state level. Here I will only take into consideration the Binayak Sen case in the present day state of Chhattisgarh. Having parents who work in similar fields in Jharkhand and who know Binayak Sen and his wife Ilina Sen personally for the past 10 years I feel, I may have a slightly different perspective.

Binayak Sen was, while advocating nonviolent political engagement by the BJP ruled Chhattisgarh state, arrested in May 2007 on charges of sedation. He was subsequently kept in solitary confinement and has been in jail for around 2 years since then. He was charged under 124A of the IPC. Before we move on, a small discussion on the 124A. This law has been repetitively criticised by many people for a long time. Not only has it been termed old and colonial but has also been a hindrance to the liberal and democratic nature of our country from time to time. Gandhi in 1922 while pleading guilty of sedition declared –“I have no desire whatsoever to conceal from this court the fact that to preach disaffection towards the existing system of government has almost become a passion within me” He went on to say that “affection cannot be manufactured or regulated by the law” and described section 124A as, “the prince among the political sections of the Indian Penal Code designed to suppress liberty of the citizen.” The same law has, and is, being used even today. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, one of India’s most loved patriots was charged under this law, twice. Even Nehru criticised this law way back in 1951, calling it “highly objectionable and obnoxious” in parliament!

Anyway moving on, we come to the question, why, even after such seemingly lack of evidence and public outcry was Dr Sen sentenced to life by the high court? To answer that question we shall move back to the politics and state of affairs in Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh as a state is rich in minerals and natural resources and this has resulted in a lot of interest been shown by huge multinational mining and industrial projects. Now these companies not only get cheap labour and resources, they also see an easily manipulative and easy to bribe political and bureaucratic setup in Chhattisgarh. Social welfare is frankly the least of these companies’ motives and we don’t need a research to see that this also goes for the bureaucrats and politicians.

So now we have the money hungry politicians and bureaucrats and the profit driven companies. But in Chhattisgarh we have another factor coming into play. The Maoists are a strong organisation and have a three decade old established setup in Chhattisgarh. Now the companies of course cannot run any industry or mine with the maoists opposing it. And so, the state in order to drive the maoists out, devised the most undemocratic, violent and inhuman methods in the form of Salwa Judum. The method involved arming common villagers to fight the maoists. Not only did it result in hundreds of innocent civilians being tortured, raped, or killed but also in thousands of people being displaced from their native places. And for a tribal there is nothing that is more painful than being separated from his homeland, for that is what he is.

So then we have social activists like Dr Binayak Sen who have been working for the people dedicating their lives for the good of the society, voicing their dissent against the methods and activities of the state. Binayak Sen, who demanded proper rehabilitation for the tribals and stopping of the Salwa Judum, was instead locked up and charged with sedation.

We can debate on the solutions the state can implement, but if the state resorts to violence to carry out processes of consent, then communities that survive on natural resources cannot be expected to lie down and die. When the people at the helm of affairs are corrupt to the core there are really slim hopes of justice. There are people who think that Dr Sen has been rightly convicted for ‘hating’ India, and that justice has been delivered with a strong and iron hand. Millions of indigenous and rural people among whom Dr Sen worked are also those who ‘hate India’. That may be true because they belong to ‘Bharat’ and not the ‘India’ that you seem to represent which wants to run this vast country like a colony, similar to the British and Mughal empires. Open your eyes and find out who really is looting our country- is it doctors like Binayak who have dedicated their lives to the poor or the politicians and businessmen who hide behind pseudo-patriotic slogans every time someone challenges their exploitation?

The above written is largely personal opinion. The rest is fact.

Written by Kabir Sagar Ghosh on 24th April, 2011 5.17 PM

LOKPAL POLITICS: THE MAKING OF THE ONSLAUGHT

Though the whole nation is a stakeholder in corruption,

but the stakes vary to the detriment of the nation.

The movement for Jan Lokpal Bill to become an act was in full swing. The Drafting Committee for the bill, for the first time in the history of Independent India, comprised members of Civil Society. Though the mannerism of the Hazare Campaign suffers with serious anomalies and lacunae, it is indeed a positive step towards curtailing the Corruption. A few misgivings from the Campaign are that the 5 members of Civil Society have not been elected in a democratic manner and the misunderstanding of Representative System of Democracy by Hazare. But at the end of the day, it deserves more praise than criticism because these are the people who were willing and stood up to change the status quo.

The Lokpal bill has been there since 1968 but apart from 1985 when it was withdrawn by the government it has never been passed by the Parliament, be it due its dissolution or MPs’ harangue on strict law v. personal interests. This time also the progress made by the Campaign was not liked by some Political Personalities or they saw in it an opportunity to reaffirm their Political affiliations.

To talk of the latest developments, the CD released by Amar Singh claimed to be one containing Shanti Bhushan’s secret conversation with Mulayam Singh Yadav has a very dirty political tinge attached to it. Whether the CD is doctored or original, the fuss about that is going on between Forensic Labs. The CD says something about Shanti Bhushan’s assurance to Mulayam Singh about Prashant Bhushan’s (his son) capability to obtain a favourable judgement from a judge by bribing him in a case concerning him; but is it not an issue concerning the probity of a Judge? A politician who is in the knowledge of such facts but exposes these only when he can extract a personal benefit out of it for himself or his political party sets the lowest example possible for the Country’s Politics. It tantamounts to abetment of corruption in Judiciary.

When Amar Singh targeted Bhushans for undervaluation of their properties, obtaining plots from UP CMs discretionary quota et al, the only thing which defeated the understanding of the common man was the reason for withholding of this information by him till date. There was a reasonable suspicion that there might have been a nexus he might have had with these kind of murky dealing taking place all over the place which so debilitate and effeminate him to bring these to fore never but on the advent of an opportunity surpassing the fruits of keeping the info under the lock.

When Digvijay Singh targeted the weakness of Santosh Hegde as a member of the Civil Society in Drafting Committee, citing his laxity in the perusal of the investigations as the Karnataka Lokaytukta against the State’s CM Shree B.S. Yediurappa, he should have known the ambit of Lokayukta Powers. Ignorance is not expected from the people who are supposed to eliminate it.

Finally to conclude, this opportunistic brand of politics will do nothing but wreak havoc for the development of the Country. The Country is in dire need of a strong anti-graft statute and if the movement which has shown the capability of giving it to the nation breaks up, disembarks or gives it up, then the future looks very bleak......

NO DEVELOPMENT IN WEST BENGAL UNDER LEFT GOVERNMENT

The demolition of 'Adarsh'...

Its a very recent news that court proceeding for the Adarsh building will be held on 27th April. Mumbai High Court will listen to all the testimonies, views from the the Adarsh building committee and also from the environmentalists. Its a simple phenomenon that even if you demolish Adarsh society then also there can be no revival of the enviornment.

There is no doubt that it was one of the hottest issues in the winter session of Maharashtra legislature. Adarsh issue together with Lavasa city issue. The building may be demolished and there will be certain other losses now such as-

i) Cost of the construction.

ii) Building material which cannot be used again.

iii)Cost of architecture, maps and blueprint.

iv)Loss of time used in legislature because even a session of legislature requires money.

These are just few losses which I have stated here. There might be many more losses which may not have not come in light. All this is because of politics. If the Adarsh is the result of the ruling party then the opposition desperately wants it to be demolished.

It's a simple principle that if any project is started by the ruling party which requires some tenure of 8 years (for example) and if the opposition party comes to power and they have negative image of politics then they will surely try to stop the project and finally when it will come to the light of the people and other committees then the ruling party will blame to the x-ruling government.

The committee will declare some time to submit the report. Before the committee is formed there is politics in the legislature followed by the ratification process. Its a hard core process.

Finally, the loss is incurred by the government in the financial terms and partly the time for development is lost. If the government suffers the financial loss then who indirectly suffers. It is suffered by the people who pay tax.

Loss of people, is the loss of the democracy. Loss of democracy= result of negative politics (Demolition of 'adarsh')

Demolition of Adarsh in two means (one is Adarsh society and other one is inner virtues).

Thanks.

Let the spirit of democracy be in positive means.

Raj Agrawal