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EDITORIaL l TRIDIB RaMaN
A MILITARY CAREER?
NOT FOR ME!
Its the irony of numbers: We live in a country of more than a billion people &
an army of 1.13 million, yet educated Indian youth appear to be shying away
from a military career. Result: A shortage of nearly 10,000 officers!
T
here was a time in our society when
a soldier was the pride of our nation,
symbolizing as he did, patriotism,
courage and sacrifice. One would
have presumed that Indias youth, full of
dreams, of idealism would have turned out
in droves for a career of service in uniform.
On the contrary, youth appear indifferent
to serving in the armed forces. This despite
government efforts in that direction, despite
building awareness campaigns and media
projection of the attractions of a career in the
armed forces, exhibitions and tours of army
facilities. But somehow, Indias youth have
shown little inclination for the military.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar
acknowledged a long standing shortage of
9,106 officers in the army, and while there
are some vacancies among Other Ranks
(jawansetc), this is not seen as serious. There is
an officer shortage in the navy also amounting
to 1,265. The saving grace is there is currently
no shortage of officers in the air force.
Some would say the crisis in numbers runs
parallel with the crisis in procurement,
where the army and air force particularly, are
seriously short of essential hardware ranging
from assault rifles, tanks and artillery to
fighter and transport aircraft. In our cover
story Indian Army: Short of Everything,
Rahul Bedi has broken down the equipment
shortages that if left unattended could spell
the armys undoing in the next war (no matter
who the foe).
But to get back to the
question of our youth and
their aversion to a career
in the armed forces, does
it suggest dissatisfaction
with the kind of salaries
that officers receive?
Perhaps not, because
the salaries of the
armed forces (across all
ranks) have improved
substantially after the 6th
www.tridibraman.com
Pay Commission and are expected to go up once
the 7th Pay Commission recommendations are
implemented. At a time when IAS and IPS
officers are no longer entitled to pensions after
retirement, the armed forces remain the only
government service where pensions have been
retained despite the enormous cost.
Perhaps the forces lack glamour, that high
flyingelement which sets it apart from some
civilian careers. Perhaps it is to do with mind
sets of young people, where the preference
is for working couples and this may not
be possible in the army where although there
are officer couples, the army as an institution
is uncomfortable with it. Demands for
officer couples to be posted in the same area
(especially field areas) is problematic; there
is already pressure in having to accommodate
women officers in peace stations denying male
officers their rightful share of such postings.
Theres no getting away from transfers every
two or three years, or long field tenures often
in places where families are not allowed
because of prevailing civil conflict, insurgency
and so on. It leads to isolation from the family
for prolonged periods, add to that high levels
of stress, low pay in comparison to the risk
involved, slow promotions, tough lifestyle and
insufficient family accommodation.
The army has tried to tackle the officer shortage
by opening a new Officers Training Academy
in Gaya, Bihar, which is now five years old.
The academy has helped mitigate some of
the shortage. Long term Army Headquarters
hopes to reduce the permanent cadre with
greater numbers of short service cadre because
the office paucity is most acute at lower levels
of captain and major. The idea is that after
10 years of service, an officer of the rank of
major on short service commission will leave
for jobs in the civil sector at a time when he is
still young enough to find a market. That will
reduce the overall pension bill of the army and
at the same time, reduce the officer shortage.
But there are other major reforms the
government needs to implement. As an ex army
chief noted: Remove stagnation at the middle
level and thus improve promotion opportunities
of the officers, close to that of civil and police
services, improve opportunities for officers and
men to be able to spend more time with their
families, re-establish social status and warrant
of precedence of the armed force at the centre
and state levels, compensate adequately the
increased level of personal risk and hardships in
field areas; bridge salary and the compensation
gap between the private sector and government
services, to the extent possible.The need is to
do this now.
JULY 2016 l PARliAMENTARiAN 03

CONTENTS
22
WOMEN VOTERS
RISING & SHINING
Whether in Bihar or Tamil Nadu,
politicians are listening closely to
what their women constituents
want. If in the former it is pro-
hibition, in the case of the latter
its about welfare schemes and
subsidies. Across India, women
are turning out aggressively to
vote and change their lives,
writes KALYANI SHANKAR
PHOTO FEATURE
vIJAY KRANTI is a senior
journalist who has written and
extensively photo documented
the social and cultural life of the
Tibetan community. His coffee
table book Dalai Lama - The
Nobel Peace Laureate is based
entirely on his interview of His
Holiness and the photographs
he shot.
46
04 PARliAMENTARiAN l JULY 2016
INDIAN ARMY
SHORT OF
EVERYTHING
12
The armys shortfalls in officers and equipment is an old and continuing story. But it
needs to be told and re-told if only to get the political, military and bureaucratic brass to
shed their sloth. By RAHUL BEDI
AIADMK/DMK
DIMINISHING PROSPECTS
60
Is it maya for the AIADMK after
Jayalalitha? Could the DMK break up
as two brothers battle for the legacy of
Karunanidhi? Its clear that both parties
face uncertain futures.
By RAMAKRISHNA UPADHYA
64
BJP-SAD
SIMMERING DISSIDENCE
The Modi-Shah dominance over the
BJP is complete yet younger MPs and
ministers are angry over the lack of any
role for them. Leaders like Advani have
made their opposition clear. In Punjab
the Akalis are facing public anger over
the drug menace, which is leading many
Akali leaders to join other parties,
writes GAURAv vIvEK BHATNAGAR
INDIA-CHINA
56
BUILDING A NEW ORDER
The international financial crisis and
the ongoing one in the eurozone, have
underscored the weaknesses of the
Bretton Woods institutions. All the
more reason for India and China, given
their inherent strengths, to cooperate in
building the new multipolar economic
and security architecture.
By DR. BR DEEPAK
 Year-2 Issue - 19

68
RNI. No. DELENG/2014/56253

UK MOVES OUT
As it turned out, Britons voted by a
slim margin to leave the european
Union despite the attendant risks of
going it alone.
By SURYA GANGADHARAN

CONGRESS
DESCENT INTO DARKNESS 28
The slide in the Congress partys political fortunes
has been steady and steep. It would be ridiculous
to assume this is not known to the high command,
notably Sonia and her son Rahul. But theres little
evidence of correctives being applied.
By R.C. RAJAMANI
Editor
TRIDIb RAMAN

AAPS SUMMER OF DISCONTENT? senior Editor

SURYA GANGADHARAN
Did Arvind Kejriwals move to appoint 21 Executive Editor
parliamentary secretaries stem from the need REETA SINGH
to keep his flock together? There was also op-

38
Managing Editor
position to his move from others in the party. GEETA SINGH
Is the AAP experiment heading for meltdown? CFO
By HARSH RANJAN SANJIV RAMAN
BusiNEss ADVisOR

42
R.K. ARORA
BHARAT RATNA ... Visualiser

FOR THE DALAI LAMA TRIDIb RAMAN

Art
On July 6, His Holiness the Dalai Lama turns SUDIPTO ROY
80, and 57 of those years have been spent in Photographers
exile in India. From his abode in Dharamsa- JAIRAM
la, His Holiness has campaigned relentlessly MAYANK JAYESH
for freedom for Tibet and the human rights of Digital Editor
his people. By SHANTA KUMAR GARIMA SINGH
Circulation head
PRIYANK JAIESH
AAM AADMI PARTY 72 l EXAMs FOR MPs, MlAs ThE TiME hAs COME
BRICK BY BRICK Indians sit for a wide range of exams after
Graphics
SURESH SUMAN
completing their education: Why not exams
AAP is on a roll it would seem, tar- Distribution
for MPs and MLAs?
geting sunny Goa where an ineffec- Central News Agency
tive BJP chief minister is alienating Ph: 011-23625373/41541111
the public. It has set its sights on 76 l KAilAsh MANsAROVAR : YATRA OF A PilGRiM
Communication Office
Punjab, Himachal, Tamil Nadu and Mount Kailash - the abode of Lord Shiva and 819, Wave Silver Tower
Goddess Parvati, has captured the imagina- Sector-18, Noida
a host of other states where two
parties alternate, tion of human beings since time immemorial Phone : 9868807712
Email: ntiparliamentarian@gmail.com
wrties SHARAD GUPTA
82 l lAsT wORD : sEAsON OF TRANsGREssiONs...

34
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A Chinese intrusion near Bum-La could be
the first this summer

Edited, Printed and Published by

Tridib Raman on behalf of NTI Media Ltd.,
03 l Editorial 10 l Political Buzz owned by NTI Media Ltd. and printed at
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Open Forum
LETTERS To THE EDIToR by the Congress party claiming to happen. When scores die, in
innocence fail to convince anyone. successive tragedies involving
POliTiCAl Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh the sale and consumption of illicit
MiDDlEMEN and Ahmad Patel have nothing liquor, Kumar will backtrack.
Sir, to fear if they did not violate the Altamash khan, Patna
Refer Game of Shadows law as they repeatedly claim. The
(Parliamentarian June 2016). government should pursue this POwER GAMEs
Agents and middlemen are and whosoever have taken bribes Sir,
a common feature in Indias should be punished. Refer Hidden Veto
industry and business. Its Vinod C. Dixit, Ahmedabad (Parliamentarian June 2016).
only in defence deals that they
Chinas policy towards India
are kept out. Why is this so? wATER DONT wAsTE is founded on ensuring India
Because the politician wants
Sir remains equated with Pakistan
to be the middleman, and
Refer to Crying for water and therefore, is confined to
walk away with the dollars
(Parliamentarian June 2016). the South Asian box. The
or pounds for awarding the
Some states in India are suffering US wants India to be equated
contract to favoured bidders.
from drought. There is a persistent with China at a time when the
Ahilya Goswami, Bengaluru
problem of acute water shortage. latter sees itself as equal to the
Steps need to be taken to remedy US. So there are power games
this situation quickly. Our cities being played here with India the
PATh BREAKiNG JuDGMENT but India (and the RBI) will go on
can save water by plugging football being kicked around.
Sir, regardless.
leakages and controlling output kk Paulose, Vellore
Refer to Tamil Nadu Return Anu krishnan, Chennai
of Amma (Parliamentarian June at different levels. Households
ChiNA-PAK AXis
2016). Jayalalithas re-election AssAM AwAiTs can ensure that tap water is not
wasted during domestic chores. Sir,
followed by another victory: Sir,
Peoples attitude towards water Refer Behind the Hidden Veto
This time in the disproportionate Refer Assam: Winds of Change (Parliamentarian June 2016).
assets case where the SC has (Parliamentarian June 2016). The conservation needs to change.
Drinking water is precious and China is not Indias friend.
ruled that a person can be held BJP sweep was expected. The real Indians and the MEA should give
test lies in the coming months.
guilty only if it is proved that the essential for life. Software must
be developed whereby pipelines up the view that China has Indias
assets were acquired illegally. Will or can they deliver on the interests at heart. Beijings
The department must prove that enormous expectations they have can be monitored for blockages
mandarins have only their
income is concealed it is wrong aroused, and I am not talking or leakage.
interests and India is an obstacle
to ask any assesse to prove his just of stopping infiltration by Mahesh kapasi, New Delhi
to realizing those interests. China
or her expenditure matching the Bangladeshis. Assam needs has only ally in Asia, Pakistan,
wATERs OF liFE
income declared. If expenditure isdevelopment and jobs. That is the and depend on it they will back
much more than income declared real test for Sonowal. Sir,
that ally at all costs.
the onus lies on the Income kushal Sarma, Guwahati Refer Crying for Water Nilesh Shah, Ahmedabad
Tax Department to prove only (Parliamentarian June 2016). The
income concealed, not declared wEll-REsEARChED sTORY solution to water for all is better
in the Income Tax return. If the Sir, governance. Modernisation and
Letters to the Editor must include
department is not following Ref Game of Shadows technology can overcome the writers full name, address and
this principle, it is uncalled for(Parliamentarian June 2016). problem of water supply but home telephone. The content may
behaviour. Rahul Bedis thought-provoking the user must be charged the be edited for purposes of clarity
or space. Send your feedback to:
Mahesh kumar, New Delhi and well-researched cover story cost incurred for modernisation.
reveals that the government is Private financing can work only Editor, Parliamentarian
819, Wave Silver Tower
RBi FOREVER scarcely interested in finding out if there is a revenue model. The Sector-18, Noida
Sir, the truth. It appears to be another poor can be taken care of through www.parliamentarian.in
Refer Dosa economics Bofors. Eradicating corruption cross-subsidisation.
& Raghuram Rajan from the defence sector is a Leena Maitra, Asansol Mail all your feedback to:
(Parliamentarian June 2016). necessity, not just for saving ntiparliamentarian@gmail.com
There is no doubt Rajan is a taxpayer money but also to wAiTiNG FOR TRAGEDY
thinker and one with integrity. uphold the countrys battlefield Sir, For regular updates, follow us
He has clear ideas and speaks preparedness. Any further Refer Booze out Nitish in on: www Facebook.com/
his mind. But the Reserve Bank carping on the issue will only (Parliamentarian June 2016). parliamentarian.in
has many people like him and to show that disparagement and Nitish Kumar has imposed
For regular updates,
presume that if he goes millions feud politics are what constitute prohibition but I wait to see what follow us on: www.twitter.
of dollars wont come to India is maximum governance for the happens when a liquor tragedy com/parliamentarian
stupid. Rajans may come and go government. The feeble attempts strikes Bihar. It is just waiting

06 PARliAMENTARiAN l JULY 2016


NEW AIRPORTS
QUERY FROM V SATHYABHAMA,
DM PATEL, B SENGUTTUVAN, PR
SUNDARAM
Does the government have plans for new
airports? Details of funds allocated and
released.
Reply from Dr Mahesh Sharma, MoS Civil
Aviation
Government has given in principle approval
for setting up 14 greenfield airports in Mopa
in Goa, Navi Mumbai, Shirdi and Sindhudurg,
Kannur in Kerala, Karaikal in Puducherry,
Dholera in Gujarat and others. Financing
and development of greenfield airports is the
responsibility of the developer.
SUKHOI ENGINE FAILURE
QUERY FROM CS PUTTARAJU
Has the IAFs Sukhoi-30 MkI fleet suffered
repeated engine failures? How have the
Russians responded and what corrective
steps are being taken?
Reply from Manohar Parrikar, Defence
Minister
The fleet has encountered mid-air engine
problems on 34 occasions since April 2014,
forcing the aircraft to land using one engine.
The Russian OEM has recommended
modifications in overhaul and manufacturing
and precautions during maintenance. A long
term repair agreement with the OEM has also
been finalized.
IAF MODERNIZATION
QUERY FROM SRIRAM MALYADRI,
SUDHEER GUPTA, PP CHAUDHARY
AND OTHERS.
08 PARliAMENTARiAN l JULY 2016
QUESTIoN HoUR
Details of the IAFs modernization
programme and what about indigenous
design and production?
Reply from Manohar Parrikar, Defence
Minister
The IAFs modernization is being carried out
under the Long Term Integrated Perspective
Plan spread over 15 years. In order to
encourage domestic manufacturing through
indigenous vendors including small and
medium enterprises and Defence Public Sector
Undertakings, the IAF has unveiled its Ten
Year Indigenization Plan setting out a roadmap
of indigenization in terms of equipment,
rotables, expendables, spares etc. to provide
opportunity for the industry to partner in such
technology development.
DEBARRED INDIANS
QUERY FROM K ASHOK KUMAR,
R VANAROJA
Has the government lifted the travel ban
on certain overseas Indians alleged to be
involved in subversive activities? Is there
a mechanism for periodic review of such
cases?
Reply from Kiren Rijiju, MoS Home Affairs
Overseas Indians found involved in anti-
India activities are banned from entering
India by placing their names on the adverse
list. Periodic reviews are carried out as per
established procedure. Recently, 200 names
were deleted from the adverse list following a
written communication from Punjab.
USE OF TOILETS
QUERY FROM SUSHMITA DEV,
MALLIKARJUN KHARGE,
JYOTIRADITYA SCINDIA
The NSSo Survey indicated that more than
half of the toilets built under Swachh Bharat
Mission (SBM) remain unutilized. What
corrective steps is government taking?
Reply from RK Yadav, MoS Ministry of
Drinking Water & Sanitation
According to the Swachhata Status Report
2015, published by NSSO, in rural India the
households having sanitary toilet, percentage
of persons using the toilet was 95.6%. The
focus of Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin)
is on behavioural change, so people adopt
safe sanitation and hygiene. The programme
emphasizes community involvement and
states have been advised to spend at least 60%
of funds for inter-personal communication
activities.
MISUSE OF CSR FUNDS
QUERY FROM ANIRUDHA SAMPATH
In what projects have CSR funds been
utilized, is there any misuse of these funds
and what is government doing to stop
misuse?
Reply from GM Siddeshwara, MoS Heavy
Industries
Data since 2014 when CSR rules came into
force, show a sum of Rs. 2448.32 crore was
spent on CSR activities. This was the money
spent by public sector enterprises on the
recommendation of the CSR Committee.
DIESEL VEHICLE BAN
QUERY FROM B SENGUTTUVAN
Does the government plan to ban the use
of all diesel vehicles over a decade old in
Delhi?
Reply from GM Siddeshwara, MoS Heavy
Industries
There is no ban on the sale of diesel cars in
Delhi although the Supreme Court has stopped
the registration of diesel vehicles like SUVs
and private cars of 2000 CC and above.
Government is also pushing for compressing
timelines for adopting BS V and VI standards
to reduce air pollution.
TIGER POPULATION
QUERY FROM POONAMBEN
HEMATBHAI
Has the tiger population gone up in the last
five years? Are parks like the Sunderbans
and Corbett saturated and forest corridors
degraded?

Reply from Prakash Javadekar, MoS
Environment, Forests
There has been a 30% increase in the tiger
population since 2014 with the numbers
at 2226. This figure was reached after a
countrywide assessment. There is no saturation
of tigers in the above sanctuaries but there
is a plan for translocating tigers from a high
density area to low density areas.
CONSERVING RIVERS, LAKES
QUERY FROM PANKAJ CHOWDHARY
How many projects have been sanctioned
under the National River Conservation Plan
and National Lake Conservation Scheme?
What are the shortcomings?
Reply from Prakash Javadekar, MoS
Environment, Forests
Under the river conservation plans, polluted
stretches of 43 rivers in 200 towns spread over
21 states have been the focus of attention with
government spending more than Rs12,000
crore and treating 5169 million litres of
sewage per day. Of 352 schemes sanctioned,
265 have been completed.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
QUERY FROM HD CHAVAN
How many cases have been registered
under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Act and how many punished?
Reply from Prakash Javadekar, MoS
Environment, Forests
Protecting animals is the responsibility of
the states who are empowered to take action
in such cases. The Animal Welfare Board
of India writes to chief secretaries of states
periodically on enforcing animal protection
laws. The board sensitizes police and educates
them on implementing animal welfare laws.
FAKE INSURANCE COMPANIES
QUESTIoN HoUR
QUERY FROM SR GUTHA
Are fake insurance companies proliferating,
have any been identified and what is being
done to check them?
Reply from Jayant Sinha MoS Finance
According to the Insurance Regulatory and
Development Authority of India (IRDAI),
certain individuals are making spurious calls to
policyholders with a view to allure them with
offers which are beyond the scope of insurance
policies. Some complaints have been received
in this regard. IRDAI has not identified any
fake insurance company so far. Various steps
have been taken including publication of
handbooks, promotion of right selection tips
for purchase of insurance policies through
print media, electronic media and social media
for educating the general public. The Authority
has also reviewed grievance redressal systems
followed by various insurers and instructions
are issued from time to time to put in place
a policy on handling spurious call complaints
and mis-selling complaints.
NON-TEACHING ACTIVITIES
Query from MV Rajeev Gowda
How many hours do teachers devote to
non-teaching activities and is there a move
to limit this to reduce stress on the school
education system?
Reply from SmtSmritiIrani, MoS HR
According to our data. 3% of teachers at
elementary level are involved on an average
for 11 days during the year in non-teaching
activities. No teacher shall be deployed for
non-educational activities except for disaster
relief, election purposes etc.
TWO SHIFTS IN KENDRIYA
VIDYALAYAS
QUERY FROM MOTILAL VOHRA
How many KVs are working in two shifts
and will two shifts be taken up in all KVs to
accommodate more students?
Reply from Smriti Irani, MoS HR
Of 1126 functional KVs, 65 are working in
two shifts. The KendriyaVidyalayaSangathan
accommodates more students in KVs by
opening additional sections as per demand and
feasibility.
PUNJAB DRUG MAFIA
QUERY FROM SANJAY RAUT
How and why is drug trafficking growing in
Punjab? What steps are being taken to stop
drug smuggling from Pakistan?
Reply from HB Chaudhary, MoS Home Affairs
A little over 409 kg of drugs were seized
in Punjab last year and so far this year the
figure is about 72 kg. Coordination and
sharing of intelligence with various law
enforcement agencies of Centre like BSF,
CRPF, DRI, Central Excise and Customs
and of state agencies like Police and State
Excise is underway. One more BSF battalion
was inducted on Punjab border on 1st March,
2014 in Gurdaspur Sector to further strengthen
border domination. Vulnerability mapping of
BOPs for cross border crimes and strengthened
by deploying additional manpower, special
surveillance equipment, vehicles, other
infrastructure support and force multipliers.
MERCHANISE EXPORTS FALL
QUERY FROM RAJEEV SHUKLA
Why have Indian merchandise exports
fallen? What is being done to boost
exports and will minimum alternate tax on
SEZs make Indian merchandise globally
competitive?
Reply from Nirmala Sitharaman, MoS
Commerce
Indian merchandise exports were $261.14 bn
during April 2015 to March 2016. It was $310
bn in the year before. The decline reflects the
global economic slowdown. Increase in trade
barriers has also been reported. Government
has introduced various schemes including
interest equalization and access to duty free
raw materials to boost merchandise exports.
Minimum alternate tax was withdrawn in April
2012 and there are no plans to restore it.
JULY 2016 l PARliAMENTARiAN 09
 Political
Buzz
by Gossip Guru
BJP is BGP?
A t the recent BJP National Working
Committee meeting in Allahabad,
many members had a grouse. They
said the party was more Bharatiya
Gujarat Party, not Bharatiya Janata
Party. Reason: On the stage were four
party stalwarts all with Gujarat links.
There was Modi and of course Shah,
then Jaitley who got into the Rajya
Sabha from Gujarat, and LK Advani,
Sibal in by a
whisker
H igh profile lawyer and
Congress leader Kapil
Sibal has won his election
to the Rajya Sabha from
UP, but no thanks to the ruling
SP. The Congress had sent Sibal to
UP after Harish Rawat insisted on
SIDDHARTHS
BHANDARI
B JP leader Siddharthnath
Singh could be in a spot.
Sources say that documents
available with the ED indicate an
old and enduring friendship between
him and arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.
Bhandari + journalist
A known to be of unimpeachable
n investigative journalist of a
major English language daily is
under the Enforcement Directorates
scanner for involvement in a five
crore transaction with arms
dealer Sanjay Bhandari.
The grape vine has it that
the journalist promised
to help Bhandari out of a
current investigation, for
which he wanted suitable
compensation. When Bhandari
agreed, sources say the journalist
approached ED chief Karnal Singh to
plead Bhandaris case. Karnal Singh,
10 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016
PRIYANKAS
ROBERT
E ver since the
Enforcement
Directorate got
hold of the emails
between arms dealer
Sanjay Bhandari and Robert
who is from the western state. Party Vadra, Priyanka Gandhi is
workers felt the meeting resembled a worried woman. After her
that of a parliamentary group. husbands name cropped up
Tradition required that two former
party presidents be on stage, which
means Rajnath Singh could have been Jagan in
easily accommodated. Nor were past
party vice-presidents called on stage waiting
and felicitated. Clearly, the stage is
now exclusive property. J agan Mohan
was in Delhi to
attend a dinner at
Reddy
sending a local from Uttarakhand Sharad Pawars
(PradeepTamta) to the upper house. residence, where
The Congress hoped the SP
would take care of him but
he was given to
understand, he
Netaji apparently saw it as an
opportunity to get his own
back on Sibal: The complaint
could meet and
network with other
politicians. Among them
was that when Sibal was law were BJDs Jay Panda, NCPs
minister in the UPA government, D P Tripathi, Conrad Sangma,
he did not provide adequate legal SPs Ramgopal Yadav, and
support for Mulayam. INLDs Dushyant Chautala.
The former was a frequent
Quota
invitee to Bhandars parties
and may have even helped Politics
him in his political career.
Sources say Singh arranged
Bhandaris meeting with three R umours
gossip
and
about
top BJP leaders, where Bhandari how Nitish played
spoke about helping the party. There into the hands
could be more if the details come out. of the wily Lalu
is passe, now its
how Nitish has the
upper hand at least in the
case of law officers. Under
integrity, told the PMOs Nripendra the previous Nitish-BJP
Mishra, who then informed the PM. coalition, each party had an
The PMs reported reply, Do what
is right. Journalists are not demi-
gods. We are not obligated to SHADES OF A
agree to everything they say.
The ED then broadened its SCANDAL?
investigation to include the
journalist who, it turned out,
had made more than 400 calls
A high profile legal fixer
who lives in Delhis
tony Defence Colony, has
on his mobile phone to Bhandari! left his family to move in
Its a different matter that the ED with another woman (who
investigation has now brought in has two children). Their deep
Gandhi son-in-law Robert Vadra. and close ties to several high
in media reports Priyanka
reportedly called up senior
journalists and editors
to her residence
and requested them
not to give it any
credence. But the
scribes told her they
were helpless. Their
managements, they claimed,
were under pressure to carry
the Vadra reports. Priyanka
got the picture.
All very well, but Jagan was
hopeful Pawar would help
him meet key BJP leaders,
which did not happen. An
editor stepped in, and
invited Jagan to
a meeting with
BJP leaders but
they were all of
the lower rung. A
disappointed Jagan
then found himself
being pressed by the editor
for a Rajya Sabha seat, the
editor promising to take care
of Jagans work in Delhi.
Jagan is still waiting, hoping.
equal quota of law officers
they could appoint. When
Nitish and Lalu joined hands,
it was decided to go with
the same formula,
so Lalus RJD and
Congress sent their
respective lists to
the chief minister.
But Nitish is yet
to finalize the list,
resulting in a situation
where currently most of the
law officers are in the chief
ministers camp.
profile politicians and legal
eagles drew the attention of
the Enforcement Directorate,
which found that the woman
is close to a BJP minority
leader. Call details have, it
is said, revealed shocking
information. It could create
havoc in the partys inner
circles if the details come
to light.

shAKTi FROM
BhAKTi
W hen Bhupinder Hooda met
Sonia Gandhi recently,
he asked her why the party was
running after non-Jats when the
states Jat community was behind
the party. Sonia told him
Chautalas RLD had the
same influence over Jats
and asked him to come
to the point, what was
his purpose in asking for
this meeting? Hooda wanted
his son Deependra to be given
a position of some importance
in the next party reshuffle.
hOODA MAKEs
his POiNT
O nce regarded as the keeper
of the Gandhi familys
interests in Haryana,
former CM Bhupinder
Singh Hooda believes
he has been wronged
by that very family.
Sonia Gandhis decision
to admit KuldeepBishnoi
into the party without taking
him into confidence, has deeply
shOTGuNs AiRs
A t the BJPs National Working
Committee meeting
recently, nearly all
speakers sang paeans to
Narendra Modi. As the
prime minister looked
on, Venkaiah Naidu
described Modi as a
messiah who would take the
country from darkness to light.
There was thunderous applause as
NO TO BRiNDA
C PI(M) politburo member
Balakrishna Pillai has
reportedly told Sitaram
Yechury he should quit
rather than be faced with
a situation where he
could be asked to resign.
Reading between the
lines, Yechury guessed that
Prakash Karat coterie wanted to
replace him with Brinda Karat.
So Yechury dug his heels in,
Sonias point was that there had
been several complaints about
his sons ill temper. Hoodas
response: Much the same was
being said about her son Rahul
and she shouldnt listen to what
people say. He then reportedly got
a little emotional, apologized for
anything he shouldnt have said
and added enigmatically:
All that he had done for
the Gandhi family would
always stay in his heart
even if it meant going to
prison. He then departed
leaving Sonia with the
impression that Hooda had either
taunted her, or threatened her, or
was it something else.
upset and angered him. Adding
insult to injury, Bishnoi was told
to meet KumariSelja, also Ashok
Tanwar and Ajay Yadav. Hooda
sought a meeting with Madam but
when a month passed with no
movement, he sent word that
if the Modi government
sent him to jail over
alleged irregularities in
the allotment of industrial
plots in Panchkula when
he was chief minister, he
would tell all. Word is he got his
appointment in 48 hours.
he ended. There was a hiccup in
the presence of Shatrughan Sinha,
who has been pretty vocal against
Modi. But if Shotgun Sinha was
unsettled by his lone ranger
presence, he did not show
it. He came well before
the meeting started, and
met a number of BJP
leaders. Many, however,
saw no purpose in meeting
him and could be seen doing their
best to escape his attentions.
making it clear he would not
leave his seat for Brinda. The
party, however, was free to
choose any other leader. The
point also being made that
this was not the first time
the party had lost. Under
the late Harkishan Singh
Surjeet, they had lost
many times. Sources say
Yechury has resolved that
once his term in the Rajya Sabha
ends, he will not extend it and
will work only for the party.
FROM TV TO MP
I ndustrialist and Congressman
Naveen Jindal is reported to
have tried to queer the pitch
for Zee supremo Subhash
Chandras elevation to
the Rajya Sabha. He
had warned Sonia Gandhi
that if a whip was not
issued against Congress MLAs
in Haryana, which is Chandras
home state, there would be cross
NETAJis MAN
FRiDAY
A fter Amar Singhs
reentry into the SP,
a miffed Azam Khan has
gone abroad on vacation.
But Singh is leaving no stone
unturned to make Netajis dreams
come true. He has begun the
KARAT uPsTAGEs
YEChuRY
W ith only 22 seats in its
former West Bengal
stronghold, the CPI(M)
under Sitaram Yechury
is understandably on the
backfoot. Even more so
is Yechury, who is trying to
pacify an angry Prakash Karat.
CATCh ME iF YOu CAN
I
ndustrialist Vijay Mallya
continues to make waves
even after fleeing India.
Helped by a Union
minister to leave the
country where he is
wanted for failing to pay
Rs 9000 crore in loans,
Mallya lives in London and turned
BusiNEss is
BusiNEss
U Ps sarafa traders, long the
BJPs vote bank are upset
with the party and the
bigwigs realized this when
six ministers were lined up
to address rallies in sarafa
areas like Moradabad,
Saharanpur, Aligarh, Varanasi,
and so on. Among those who were
in line to take part in the rallies
voting in favour of the Zee boss.
As it turned out, Chandra won,
defeating RK Anand who had
the support of the INLD.
Many INLD leaders
opposed to any truck
with the Congress voted
for Chandra, rejecting
Jindals many promises.
Chandra incidentally, is a
Modi confidant and the decision
to field him from Haryana was
Amit Shahs.
spadework to ensure Netaji will
lead the fight against Modi in the
2019 Lok Sabha elections.
He is in talks with Nitish,
is courting Mamata and
Jayalalithaa, is writing
the script for Ajit Singhs
possible link up with the SP,
and is reviving contacts with old
friends in the Left. Could Mulayam
ask for more?
Both agreed to meet at AK
Gopalan Bhavan to sort out their
differences. Yechury reached there
at the assigned time, but Karat was
nowhere to be seen. At 6 pm an
upset Yechury called up Karat,
who apologized and said
there were party workers at
home who had detained him.
He suggested that Yechury
talk to Politburo member
Balakrishna Pillai. Insult to injury?
up at an event co-hosted by the
Indian High Commission. While
some media reports say High
Commissioner Navtej Sarna left
the venue immediately after
delivering his address, other
sources say Mallya had a
brief chat with Sarna and
that other high commission
officials provided him due
courtesies.
were Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath
Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Venkaiah
Naidu, Smriti Irani and Harsh
Vardhan. The spoiler was an IB
report at the last moment, warning
that the silver-and gold trading
community would turn up in
strength but with black flags
to register their protest over
the changes in the excise
tax. The bigwigs were told
to stay put and junior ministers
Niranjan Jyoti and Kathiria were
told to tackle the traders.
JULY 2016 l PARliAMENTARiAN 11
 Rahul Bedi is the New Delhi Correspondent for IHS Janes Defence
Weekly of the UK and writes extensively on military and strategic
Rahul Bedi matters. He also reports on diplomatic and current affairs for the
Daily Telegraph, UK and the Irish Times, Dublin.

AFP PHOTO/Dibyangshu SARKAR


SHORT OF EVERYTHING
The armys shortfalls in officers and equipment is an old and continuing
story. But it needs to be told and re-told if only to get the political,
military and bureaucratic brass to shed their sloth
T
he war waging capability
of Indias 1.2 million-strong
army remains circumscribed
by acute equipment
shortages, obsolete hardware and
restricted night-ghting capability. It
is further compromised by a persisting
shortage of ofcers - which has never
dropped below 10,000 since the
early 1990s - and by its increasingly
strained relations with the Ministry of
Defence (MoD), singly responsible
for the forces continually-postponed
transformation. Its acrimonious
relationship with the government
and civil bureaucracy too has
created another avoidable front in
the countrys chaotic and rather ad
hoc external and internal security
environment and its management,
military ofcers said.
INDIAN ARMY
t The army is seriously short
of virtually everything, from
officers to equipment and
there is little to indicate any
early resolution of these
shortages
t Much of the blame lies
with the army, where poor
planning, utopian qualitative
requirements and lack of vision
have stymied procurement
t The Defence Ministry hasnt
helped with its complex
Defence Procurement
Procedures and poor grasp of
strategic issues
This standoff comes at a time when
the armys role in national security
is pivotal, but its overall influence in
critical areas appears to be in inverse
proportion its standing. The [service]
chiefs were not part of any decision-
making apparatus, lamented former
Brigadier Arun Sahgal of the Forum
for Strategic Initiative in Delhi. Ill-
informed MoD bureaucrats discussed
critical proposals, including strategic
matters affecting national security,
without input from the services.
Military planners concurred that the
prevailing ad hoc model of single-
Service operational readiness badly
needs replacing with one in which
the MoD takes upon itself the onus
of integrated capacity building
in concert with national security
interests. They maintain that it is
JULY 2016 l PARliAMENTARiAN 13

time the MoD realized that India can
ill-afford three separate Service war-
fighting doctrines. And that the MoD
must perforce assume responsibility
by outlining cogent national defence
policy guidelines that, in turn accrue
from a comprehensive national
security doctrine.
After fighting many wars and
almost continuously deploying on
anti-insurgency operations, Indias
defence planning largely remains
an MoD book-keeping exercise, of
utilizing money and resources to
meet service demands and those of
innumerable and largely redundant
associated departments. It has been
optimistically presumed that over time
these will magically get converted
into desired military capability.
This, in turn, had resulted in a yawning
qualitative and technological gap
with Chinas proliferating military
capabilities and near symmetrical
conventional parity with Pakistan.
China, for instance, was systematically
and determinedly racing ahead in
defence modernization, and is on the
threshold of emerging as a first world
technologically savvy military. It is
purposefully refining its anti access
strategy of countering superior
adversarial forces by engaging
them in battle a safe distance from
its mainland. Even with regard
to Pakistan, the relative military
advantage that was tilted in Indias
favour both operationally, in force
and equipment ratios of around 3:1 in
1971, has alarmingly depreciated to
1:1.75 according to in-house military
assessments.
Photo Courtesy/ Ministry of Defence
100% FDI IN DEFENCE
WHAT IT MEANS
The new FDI policy was potentially good for Indian defence manufacturing, but not
so for local companies that were beginning to emerge from the technological closet
T he governments decision to raise the
foreign direct investment (FDI) cap the
defence sector from 49% to 100 %, will not only
generate employment, but could also kick-start
the countrys flagging military modernization.
It will also boost the feeble Make in India
initiative, floundering for over two years, and
potentially broaden the inert indigenous Defence
Industrial Base (DIB) by the influx of overseas
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), who
have been hesitant to forge local partnerships.
In an official release the government on June
20 declared that FDI above 49% has now been
permitted in cases resulting in access to modern
technology or for other reasons to be recorded.
The earlier condition of access to state-of-art
technology, under which FDI of over 49% was
permitted, has been scrapped. The FDI limit also
applies to manufacturing badly-needed small
arms and ammunition.
And though modern technology has not been
defined as yet, the classification is not likely to
be overly difficult to outline for future defence
ventures. From now, all FDI proposals relating
to defence, under the newly revised rules, will be
submitted to the Foreign Investment Promotion
Board (FIPB) for approvals which, in recent
years, has become less bureaucratic and more
flexible in granting them.
Its a bold decision, provided its made to work, As a consequence, no OEM was willing to
said Amit Cowshish, former MoD acquisitions
advisor. The new policy, however, will also have
to take long-postponed labour reforms, possible
retrospective tax measures and the Ministry
of Defences (MoDs) slow decision-making
proclivity into account, he warned.
Other analysts and military officials said the new
FDI policy was potentially good for Indian
defence manufacturing, but not so for local
companies that were beginning to emerge from
the technological closet, as the MoD looked
to involve the private sector to expand the
indigenous DIB.
And though the new measures needed further
elaboration, analysts anticipate that they are
more than likely to assist Brownfield military
projects, in which existing production facilities
are infused with modern technology to produce
advanced materiel. Many such prospects exist in
Indias private and public sectors.
Though successive governments have over
the years been aggressively lobbying global
defence companies to establish manufacturing
facilities in India through technology transfers,
the 49% FDI remained the principal limiting
factor. It simply meant that the Indian partner
automatically took a controlling stake in any
joint venture.
Major Indian corporates involved in defence, had
successfully prevailed upon governments against
relaxing FDI in the military sector beyond 49%
on the grounds that they needed to retain control
in order to build up the countrys DIB. They
also preyed upon long-standing paranoia of the
foreign military-industrial complex establishing
control in India.
transfer technology to an Indian entity without
a controlling share in overall decision making,
which included pricing and export possibilities.
And even though the MoD was willing to relax
these rules 0-including even 100% FDI via the
FIP route - for transferring state-of-the-art
technology to India on a case-to-case basis,
it failed in adequately defining what this was
exactly. Consequently, investment in the defence
sector attracted a paltry $ 5.12 million since FDI
in it was announced in 2001.
Officials, meanwhile, now anticipate this rising
exponentially, as the Indian military seeks to
modernize its equipment, which in all three
services, had reached collective obsolescence.
Over the past two years an optimistic MoD had
approved projects worth over $ 45 billion, but
issued no tenders as the capability to vindicate
these programmes existed locally. With the
ground rules changing, this stasis could now alter.

THE PROBLEM
Enduring plans to transform the army
from a threat-based to a capability-based
force by the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan
in 2022, capable of conducting the entire
spectrum of conflict from nuclear war
to counter-insurgency operations, have
been consistently thwarted. The army
has also been unsuccessfully attempting
a makeover to equip and re-orient itself
as a comprehensive, strategic force with
an expanded regional role, capable of
executing out-of-area operations.
The MoDs hidebound bureaucracy and
cumbersome procurement procedures
and an equally lugubrious and inefficient
Army Headquarters, slow to draw up
credible qualitative requirements (QRs)
for badly needed equipment, and sluggish
in decision making, have combined to
discourage all hopes for change.
Watchdog bodies like the Parliamentary
Defence Committee and the Comptroller
and Auditor General (CAG) have
castigated the complex Defence
Procurement Procedures (DPP), initiated
in 2002, and revised several times
thereafter, holding it responsible for delays
AFP/ DOUGLAS E. CURRAN
The armys efforts at modernizing its combat arms - armoured
regiments and infantry - and support arms like artillery, aviation,
air defence, signals and engineering corps, were all in shambles,
plagued by a lack of equipment, timely planning and resource
management - Former Major General Sheru Thapliyal
in acquiring materiel. The services too remain illusionary, he warned. For
have been held equally culpable in these decades, parliamentary defence and other
delays. All three services surrendered ombudsman committees have revealed
Rs 131.88 billion-or 16% of their Rs 814 that the armys modernization efforts are
hampered by not only a financial resource
billion outlay for FY15-16 for failing to
crunch but also indigenous materiel of
conclude contracts - cancelling tenders
questionable efficiency. In this, they all
due to over ambitious QRs, or simply
hold the MoD and the services equally
being unable to complete field trials
on schedule. In this respect the army culpable. These watchdog bodies also
routinely revealed that acquiring military
was the worst offender, unable to expend
some 55% of its modernization outlay gear under the frequently updated, albeit
complex DPP initiated in 2002, has
by deciding on platforms and assorted
been arduous, necessitating numerous
weapon systems.
clearances which were only grudgingly
The services ability to disburse their forthcoming.
allocations in a timely manner, needs
The armys efforts at modernizing
overhauling said former MoD acquisition
its combat arms - armoured regiments
advisor Amit Cowshish, otherwise,
and infantry - and support arms like
Indias military modernization will artillery, aviation, air defence, signals and
JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 15

Photo Courtesy/ Ministry of Defence
Army Chief General Dalibir Singh Suhag recently ordered
an internal study to right size his force by reducing numbers,
in order to improve its inordinately high teeth-to-tail ratio
or T3R, of combat soldiers versus support personnel. This
is amongst the worlds lowest with a fighting complement
of around 3,000 soldiers being averagely backed-up by a
15,000-odd non-combatant force
engineering corps, were all in shambles,
plagued by a lack of equipment, timely
planning and resource management, said
former Major General Sheru Thapliyal. He
says the army needs to seriously kick-start
its modernization plans in order to be a
capability-based force in an increasingly
militarized and turbulent neighbourhood.
Procuring military goods for Indias
military is highly demanding, involving
at least 18 MoD and related departments
and agencies. Consequently, acquisitions
that were mandatorily to be completed
within 36 months after tenders were
issued, invariably took twice as long. This,
in turn, fostered widespread corruption,
legal challenges and murky dealings that
16 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016
The Committee goes on to declare that all
army GSQRs are formulated jointly by
resulted in blacklisting vendors and in
giving India a questionable reputation
in the global arms bazaar, from which
it sourced nearly 70% of its materiel
requirements.
And, despite Army Headquarters blaming
MoD officials for these shortcomings, it
largely had itself to blame for these glaring
deficiencies, especially in formulating
General Staff Qualitative Requirements
(GSQRs) or specs, for desired equipment.
The whole process of confirming
requests for information (RfI) and requests
for proposals (RfP) or tenders is carried
out with limited knowledge and blinkered
views, said former Major General Mrinal
Suman, Indias leading authority on
defence acquisitions and offsets. Poorly
conceived, formulated and drafted QRs
create confusion and delays, resulting in
the entire process, in several instances,
being aborted at an advanced stage, he
pointed out.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee
on Defence concurs. In its report tabled
in Parliament on 30 April 2012, the
Committee declared that as many as 41
of the armys RfPs for diverse equipment
had in recent years, been withdrawn or
terminated for varied reasons. These
included faulty GSQRs and stringent-or
over ambitious-specs for equipment that
simply did not exist.
There are certain stages, like the RfI and
eventually the RfP where the jurisdiction
is exclusively with Service Headquarters,
the Committee report unambiguously
declared, pinning responsibility on the
army for its inability in confirming
procurements in time. The MoD and
attendant Financial Advisors, it stated, had
no role whatsoever in framing weapon
QRs, their responsibilities coming into
play much later.
Service Headquarters in consultation with
the largely uniformed Directorate General
Quality Assurance (DGQA) and, at times,
with input from the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO).
After the MoD has approved a weapon
system for acquisition, the relevant
directorate is tasked with finalizing its
GSQR. All information on the equipment
is gathered with the purpose of including as
many features as possible to demonstrate
the exhaustiveness of the task undertaken.
As the draft travels up the chain of
command, it gains additional features,
as each officer is obligated to suggest
additional accompaniments as a sign of
individual professional competence. The
end result is equipment with fanciful
dimensions, which simply does not exist
in any countrys armaments bazaar.
A cursory audit of the armys equipment
profile is worrisome. It includes night
blind armoured platforms, inadequate
and obsolete 155mm howitzers, light
utility helicopters, air defence assets and
ammunition and missile systems. Basic
infantry equipment like close quarter
battle carbines (CQBs), assault rifles,
machine guns and sniper rifles had been
under procurement for several years and
in May 2015 the CAG report alarmingly
revealed that 125 of 170 types of
ammunition were insufficient to sustain
even 20 days of fighting.
This contravened the MoDs fiat that
requires War Wastage Reserves (WWR)
for twice that period to be maintained
constantly. Thereafter, Defence Minister
Manohar Parrikar has claimed that these
deficiencies had been reduced, but senior
army officers disagreed, maintaining
that little had changed on the ground
and ammunition shortages persisted.
Alongside, engineering equipment,
anti-tank guided missiles and armoured
recovery vehicles and assorted other
equipment too continue to be outdated or Photo Courtesy/ Ministry of Defence
non-existent.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has claimed that these
The Parliamentary Defence Committee
report tabled in parliament in August 2015,
deficiencies had been reduced, but senior army officers disagreed,
echoed numerous others in criticizing maintaining that little had changed on the ground and ammunition
the army and MoD for failing to provide shortages persisted. Alongside, engineering equipment, anti-tank
soldiers with basic gear like 2,31,141
modular bullet proof jackets - pending guided missiles and armoured recovery vehicles and assorted other
for over six years - and an equal number equipment too continue to be outdated or non-existent
of lightweight ballistic helmets. Other
shortages included 2,17,388 high ankle
boots, 1,30,092 canvas running shoes,
4,47,000 balaclavas, 1,26,270 mosquito Russian and locally built T-72 and T72M1s The majority of T72s await upgrades to
nets and 65,978 sleeping bags. Ajeya Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) that provide them either full solution thermal
form the backbone of its 59-odd armour imaging fire control systems (TIFCS) or
Tanks/Armoured Vehicles: regiments and some 2200 Soviet-designed third generation partial solution Thermal
Meanwhile, a large proportion of the Sarath BMP-II infantry combat vehicles Imaging Stand Alone Systems (TISAS)
armys mechanized forces - around 2000 (ICVs) - lack night fighting capability. to enable them to operate at night. For

After fighting many wars and almost continuously deploying
on anti-insurgency operations, Indias defence planning largely
remains an MoD book-keeping exercise, of utilizing money and
resources to meet service demands and those of innumerable and
largely redundant associated departments
now, merely 310 partial solution TISAS
had been acquired from Israels El Op and
installed on the T72M1s over a decade
ago, while a larger number remained under
acquisition.
Alongside, around 657 imported Russian
T90S MBTs with an additional 1000 to
be built locally under licence and 124
indigenously designed Arjun MKI tanks
are capable of operating in the dark, but are
too few to make any significant difference
in a conflict situation.
Plans to locally build 1000 T90S MBTs
- of which merely 100-150 had been
constructed at the Heavy Vehicles Factory
at Avadi near Chennai since 2009 - were
handicapped by piecemeal orders from the
army. Besides, limited technology transfer
by Russia with regard to the tanks 125mm
2A46 smooth bore gun and turret armour,
and a large warehouse full of Russian
technical manuals awaiting transfer, had
jeopardized licenced production.
The armys MBT fleet also faced
shortages of 125mm rounds, after WWRs
dropped below critical levels some five
18 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016
years ago, necessitating frantic imports
in 2012-13 at inflated costs, of around
66,000 Russian armour piercing fin-
stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS)
rounds on grounds of operational
necessity. Earlier, tens of thousands of
125mm rounds, stored in ill-equipped
dumps, in which they were exposed to
the sun and rain, had to be destroyed as
they were classified as dangerous or had
outlived their life span, or both.
Army sources said the emergency
procurement at high cost, also precluded
the 30 per cent offset obligation
mandated by all MoD purchases over Rs
3 billion. The mandated offset amount
has recently been hiked almost seven
fold in the recently released DPP-2016 to
Rs 20 billion.
Artillery: The armys artillery profile is
possibly the direst of all its support arms,
with 180-odd field artillery regiments
employing at least six different platforms,
all of which are obsolete. No new guns
were inducted into service for almost
three decades, and attempts to fulfill the
AFP PHOTO/ ANUPRIYA SHARMA
armys continually postponed 1999 Field
Artillery Rationalization Plan (FARP),
are only incrementally afoot. FARP
includes importing, licence producing
and locally developing 2,300-3,000
varied 155mm howitzers by 2022-25, for
around $8-10 billion.
These comprise 1,580 towed and 814
mounted gun systems and 100 self-
propelled howitzers - all of 155mm/52
calibre - and 145 BAE Systems M777
155mm/39 cal lightweight howitzers,
projected to rise to more than twice that
number. Locally upgraded and retrofitted
guns would make up additional numbers.
Presently, around 32 artillery regiments
are equipped with 410 FH-77B 155
mm Bofors guns imported from 1986
which, over decades, have been reduced
to around half this number following
cannibalization, due to attrition and non-
availability of spares.
Another 13 operate 180 Soviet-era 130mm
M-46 field guns upgraded to 155 mm/45
cal jointly by Soltam of Israel and the
Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) under a
technically troubled programme, and one
that for years was under inquiry by the
CBI. The remaining 148-odd regiments
have 130mm guns, locally designed and
produced 105 mm field guns and their
derivative, whilst a handful still operate
Soviet-era D-30 122mm guns, dating back
to the early 1960s.
Implementing FARP has been continually
postponed for over a decade, with assorted
tenders for many howitzer types withdrawn
and re-issued and several rounds of
inconclusive trials conducted. Matters
were further complicated by the MoD
completely or partially blacklisting at least
four top overseas howitzer manufacturers,
without providing any clarity on their
respective status.
But over the past year the MoD has made
limited headway in trying to remedy these
artillery shortages. The army is readying
to acquire a battery of six locally modified
and upgraded Bofors FH-77B 155mm/45
cal guns (Dhanush), using blueprints
that were transferred to India along with
their earlier purchase from Sweden to
indigenously licence-build the howitzers.
This option was never implemented, as the
Bofors import became tangled in alleged
wrongdoing and investigations into it were
concluded after 25 years in 2012, albeit
without any outcome.
Modified by the OFB, Dhanush
incorporates additional features like
locally designed electronic sighting and
laying systems and longer barrels, which
increased its range from 27 km to around
38 km. These guns that are currently
undergoing the last round of summer and
winter field trials in Pokhran and later
in mountainous terrain, are also fitted
with a correcting system for variations in
ammunition and altitude.
The MoD has approved 114 Dhanush guns
for induction in 2013-14 and the OFB is
expected to begin series production in 2017
at the rate of six to eight guns annually,
increasing it to twice that number within a
short period. Additional orders for another Punj Lloyd and Bharat Forge - and the
400-odd guns are anticipated, as part of OFB were conducting trials in Pokhran
the MoDs commitment to the Make in (expected to last till the year-end) of 130
India initiative depending, of course, on mm M46 guns upgraded to 155mm/45cal
their performance. level. One of the three would be shortlisted
The MoD began price negotiations last to retrofit some 300 guns, capable of
December with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) achieving a range of 38 km.
for 100 K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers,
estimated to cost around $800 million.
Rifles/Carbines:
The K-9 is a modified version of South However, the armys plans of upgrading
Korean Samsung Techwins K9 Thunder its 465 infantry and dedicated
155mm/52 cal SPH, which was selected paramilitary Rashtriya Rifles battalions
over Russias MSTA-S self-propelled gun by 2020-22, under the Future Infantry
retrofitted to 155mm standards, following Soldier As a System (F-INSAS)
trials in 2014-15. programme, remains dismally behind
schedule by almost a decade.
The MoD is also awaiting trial reports
featuring Frances Trajan 155mm/52 The F-INSAS project includes a fully
cal howitzer and the Israeli ATHOS networked, all-terrain, all-weather
2052 gun - both customized for the personal equipment platform as well as
Indian tender-before opting to acquire enhanced firepower and mobility for the
400 pieces and licence-building the future digitalized battlefield. Efforts to
remaining 1,180. And, in May 2015 the acquire a modular, multi-caliber suite
MoD approved the import of 145 M777 of weapons and body armour had failed
howitzers from the US for around $800 miserably, as had attempts to induct target
million under its Foreign Military Sales acquisition, communications and portable
programme, but the glacial pace of the surveillance equipment and moveable
procurement awaits closure. power packs.
Besides, two private sector companies Endeavours over the past five years to
Army sources said the emergency procurement at high cost,
also precluded the 30 per cent offset obligation mandated by
all MoD purchases over Rs 3 billion. The mandated offset
amount has recently been hiked almost seven fold in the
recently released DPP-2016 to Rs 20 billion
acquire 66,000 assault rifles and licence-
build another 200,000-300,000 to meet
immediate operational requirements had
also failed, as none of the four overseas
vendors vying for the tender, succeeded in
meeting the armys over ambitious QRs.
Consequently, the army is leaning towards
inducting the DRDO-designed Excalibur
assault rifle. This is an upgraded version
of the Indian Small Arms System (INSAS)
assault rifle that the army had rejected
in 2010, as operationally inadequate.
Influenced by the governments Make
in India enterprise, Army Chief General
Dalibir Singh Suhag was backing
Excalibur, even deputing senior infantry
officers to the Rifle Factory at Ishapore to
make improvements in the gas-operated
5.56x45mm weapon system, scheduled to
undergo trials later this year. But senior
officers are strongly opposed to Excalibur,
and warned that if inducted, it would be a
major setback to operational efficiency.
It will saddle the army with a useless
rifle for several decades said military
analyst Lt. Gen. Vijay Kapoor (retd),
adding that approving Excalibur will be
a regressive step.
Even the armys 10 Special Forces battalions - or around 7,000
personnel - face an identity crisis, operating without a specialized
operational mandate, organizational support or dedicated budget
The army and the MoD have also to
determine the outcome of the 2010 tender
for 44,618 close quarter carbines, trials
for which concluded in 2013 in which
Beretta of Italys ARX-160 and Israel
Weapon Industries ACE models, were
shortlisted. The army has been operating
without a carbine since 2010 after retiring
the OFB built World War 2 Sterling sub-
machine gun.
Other than a shortage of 1,60,800 carbines,
other infantry shortfalls include 15,000
general purpose machine guns, 1100
light-weight anti-materiel rifles, 225
mine protected vehicles and 64 snow
scooters for use at heights above 21,000
Prakash Katoch, a former SF officer.
feet in Siachen. There was also a paucity
of around 3,90,000 ballistic helmets,
over 30,000 third generation night vision
devices, and assorted ordnance, including
new generation grenades.
Special Forces: Even the armys 10
Special Forces battalions - or around
7,000 personnel - face an identity crisis,
operating without a specialized operational
mandate, organizational support or
dedicated budget. This, in turn, resulted
in piecemeal and incomplete weapon and
equipment packages, many of which had
been in the pipeline for over a decade
to arm what should be the armys most
capable, lethal and flexible fighting units.
Indias SF are so only in name, not
orientation because the countrys higher
defence organization lacks military
professionals. Their ability to employ SF
on politico-military missions at strategic
levels is lacking, lamented Lt Gen
PHOTO/Ministry of Defence
The Indian Armys revenue budget for fiscal year 2016-
17 was an astronomical Rs 1.02 trillion of which Rs 47.28
billion accounted for salaries alone. Its capital outlay for
modernization and upgrades, on the other hand, was a mere
Rs 265.08 billion, or a fourth of its revenue disbursements
They (SF) continue to be employed
tactically, he said.
Some 20 types of specialized SF
equipment promised by the US nearly
a decade ago, like laser designators and
night vision devices are still awaited.
SF sources said deficiencies, of not only
5.56mm training ammunition - of which
there is an annual 50 per cent shortfall -
but of carbines, sniper and underwater
rifles, heavy and general purpose
machine guns continue. Also needed
were 60mm mortars, disposable anti-
tank rocket launchers and flamethrowers,
amongst numerous other offensive assets
that constitute the staple gear of all major
SF globally.
Adequate communication equipment
including satellite telephones, GPS
systems and tactical computers, were
awaited, as were combat free fall
parachute systems. The long-awaited
Battle Field Management System,
which the SF could operationally
exploit, was in the process of being fast-
tracked but unlikely to be operational
for at least a decade, leaving a massive
communication hiatus.
Guided Para-foil Delivery Systems
(two and four ton category), underwater
propulsion vehicles and cameras, digital
compasses, high-resolution video and
still cameras, radio-controlled and remote
detonator transmitters, high resolution
and passive night vision binoculars, too
were required. Even rucksacks provided
to the SF were of poor quality, forcing
soldiers to acquire them from the open
market with their own money.
Air Defence: If all these scarcities were
not enough, the bulk of the armys air
defence guns - Bofors L70 and the Soviet-
era Zu-23-2Bs and ZUS-23-4s and
missiles like the Russian OSA-AK and
Kradvat - date back nearly four decades,
and need either upgrading or replacing.
Helicopters: Efforts to replace obsolete
assets like the Chetak (Aerospatiale
Alouette III) and Cheetah (Aerospatiale
SA3Lama) helicopters, inducted in the
early 1960s, under the Army Aviation
Corps Vision 2017, with licence built
Russian Kamov Ka-226T Hoodlum
platforms from 2018, too are delayed.
The helicopter programme was agreed
to during Russian President Vladimir
Putins Delhi visit in December 2014,
but awaited inking. Under the Ka-226T
programme, around 60 helicopters are to
be imported directly, and the remainder
built by the state-owned Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at a special
facility in Tumakuru in Karnataka, yet
to be built. These delays are forcing the
army to operate vintage helicopters, 191
of which have crashed over two decades, Photo Courtesy/ Ministry of Defence
killing 294 officers in dangerous runs to
Siachen, to which they are a lifeline.
fiscal year 2016-17 was an astronomical
Clearly, the armys modernization and Rs 1.02 trillion of which Rs 47.28 billion
capacity building will remain ineffectual accounted for salaries alone. Its capital
unless decisions are undertaken swiftly outlay for modernization and upgrades,
and realistic QRs framed. The army also on the other hand, was a mere Rs
badly needs to downsize numbers, as it 265.08 billion, or a fourth of its revenue
faces the real danger of sagging under its
disbursements.
own weight.
The MoD had also ordered a 12-member
Gen Suhag recently ordered an internal
committee headed by a retired three-
study to right size his force by reducing
star officer to recommend measures to
numbers, in order to improve its
rebalance defence allocations between
inordinately high teeth-to-tail ratio or
T3R, of combat soldiers versus support revenue and capital outlays. Similar
personnel. This is amongst the worlds exercises in the past, however, have
lowest with a fighting complement of resulted in detailed recommendations
around 3,000 soldiers being averagely which were never implemented.
backed-up by a 15,000-odd non- Implementing cuts will be difficult to
combatant force. To make matters achieve because of the armys inherent
worse, the army has embarked on a force structural make-up, and the multiplicity
accretion of over 90,270 personnel in of agencies and departments involved,
raising its new 17 Mountain Strike Corps said former Lt Gen Kapoor. The tussle to
for deployment along Indias disputed balance revenue and capital expenditure
border with China, a move guaranteed to will be a major challenge which if not
further swell the revenue budget. quickly rectified could have alarming
The Indian Armys revenue budget for consequences, he cautioned
JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 21
Women queue to vote at a polling
station in Amethi. AFP PHOTO/STR
 The author was former Political Editor of Hindustan Times
Women and later its Washington Correspondent. She is currently
a syndicated columnist. She is the author of five books
including Pandoras Daughters. Shankar was a Nuffield
Kalyani Shankar Press Fellow. She was also a Cambridge University and
Woodrow Wilson Public Scholar.

WOMEN VOTERS
RISING &
SHINING
Whether in Bihar or Tamil Nadu, politicians are
listening closely to what their women constituents
want. If in the former it is prohibition, in the case of
the latter its about welfare schemes and subsidies.
Across India, women are turning out aggressively
to vote and change their lives

JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 23

 W
omen voters have arrived
in India despite gender
injustice and hurdles
continually placed on their way to
polling booths. Women now want to
stand up and be counted and 2016
is the coming out year for women,
whether in Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil
Nadu, Puducherry or Assam as their
voting share went up dramatically.
Does it mean that the women-
centric poll strategy of leaders
like Jayalalitha and Nitish Kumar
has clicked? Are women voters
influenced by the freebees offered by
the DMK, AIADMK, TMC, BJP and
Congress? Why should Nitish Kumar,
Jayalalitha and Ommen Chandy talk
of prohibition? Why do some leaders
resort to populist measures like selling
rice at two rupees a kilo?
Theres little doubt about the larger
and more vital role women have
begun to play in the poll arena in
recent times as compared to decades
past. Way back in 1921, Madras
Women now want to stand up and be counted
and 2016 is the coming out year for women,
whether in Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu,
Puducherry or Assam as their voting share went
up dramatically
24 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016
was the first legislature to pass the
womens suffrage resolution by a
t Women power is the
considerable majority, recognizing
new catchword in women voters. Within months, the
Indian politics, driven Bombay Presidency and the United
by the increasing large Province passed similar resolutions.
turnout of women After Independence, Article 326
voters during elections of the Indian Constitution granted
universal adult suffrage, according to
t Political parties are which, every adult citizen is entitled to
listening closely cast his/her vote in all state elections.
to their women In India, where women constitute
constituents, if in Bihar nearly half the electorate, around
they want prohibition, 364 million voters participate in the
in Tamil Nadu they electoral process. A recent Election
Commission report suggests that 41
want welfare schemes
per cent of 18-19 year-old first time
t But gender injustice registered voters are women, 96 lakh
still prevails, as does (9.6 million) women against 1.4 crore
political tokenism, (14 million) new male voters. Election
and the poor Commission data shows that in 21 of
representation of 30 Indian states, women voter turnout
exceeded male turnout in recent
women in parliament
assembly polls. In the remaining
and state legislatures
nine states Andhra Pradesh,
Assam, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana,
Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh
and Maharashtra the gap between
men and women participation has
narrowed . Also registered voters
were equal or in some states more so
than male voters. This was especially
the case in Arunachal Pradesh,
Goa, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya,
Mizoram and Puducherry.
 women voters

In India, where women

constitute nearly half
the electorate, around
364 million voters parti-
cipate in the electoral
process

Therefore, it makes sense for political

parties to specifically target women,
a process that has already begun with
campaign promises ranging from
prohibition to womens safety, that
are meant to get the womens vote.
Jaya, Nitish and Mamata Banerjee
have carefully and assiduously built
up their womens votebank. It has
also become increasingly clear that
men can no longer coerce women to
vote in a particular way. Women are
more aware of their rights and the
value of their franchise. Women head
at least five parties the Congress,
Trinamool Congress, PDP, BSP and
the AIADMK. They are revered
by their fans as Madam, Didi,
Behenji and Amma. Political parties
variously describe women as victim,
heroine, daughter, sister and goddess.

CREDIT BIHARS
WOMEN
Bihar has been the game changer in
this regard as the 2015 state assembly
polls demonstrated. Nitish Kumar has
much to thank women for his decisive
victory but it was also the result of his
working the women constituency for
a long time. As early as 2005, he had
realized they were behind his success
in the assembly elections when
in 87 of the states 243 Assembly
constituencies, women came out and
voted in his favour. While there was
an overall increase in women voter
turnout in that election, male voters
had fallen behind.
The Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle
Yojana (launched a year after he
became the chief minister in 2005),
proved to be a great success and the
number of beneficiaries of the free
cycle for school girls scheme totals 4
million till date. Bicycle-riding girls
became the poster girls of Nitishs
Bihar model of development. Sanitary
napkins home-delivered to adolescent
AFP PHOTO/ Indranil MUKHERJEE

JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 25

women voters
girls, 50 per cent reservation for
women in grass roots institutions like
panchayats and 35 per cent job quota
in police during Nitishs 10-year rule,
has changed life for women of Bihar.
This has led to interventions in areas
that men could never think of, like
nutrition, basic education and hygiene.
His focus on women during the 2015
campaign also paid dividends. His
appeal during the campaign: Just
make sure the first thing you do on
that day is go for voting. Cooking can
wait. Also make sure you serve a tasty
meal to the men folk only after they
have voted; those who do not (vote),
serve them only one meal and make
them fast, do penance.
And Bihars women did just that.
JD(U) secretary general K.C. Tyagi
points out that about 60 percent
of women voters cast their vote as
against 54 per cent of men this time.
Above all, Nitish Kumars popularity
shot up after his promise during the
campaign, that he would ban the sale
of liquor if he came to power. This
followed complaints from women
about the easy availability of alcohol
and how it ruined their domestic
budgeting with men spending hard
earned money on liquor.
TAMIL NADUS
EXPERIENCE
Bihar and Tamil Nadu are classic
examples of how politicians are
mixing wine and women to create a
58 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JUNE 2016
new vote bank. This is a new kind
of gender politics. Jayalalitha had
announced mixer-grinders, sarees,
goats and even gold for in the 2011
and 2016 polls. She succeeded both
times in winning the support of the
women voters.
But all Tamil parties courted women
aggressively in their campaigns for
the 2016 assembly election, not only
in speeches and appeals but also
manifestoes. From Karunanidhi
to Vaiko to AnbumaniRamdoss.
All Dravidian parties have turned
prohibition into their biggest poll
issue, forcing Chief Minister
Jayalalitha to announce phased
prohibition. Women helped her win
a whopping 73.73 per cent of female
votes this time (although down from
78.5 per cent in 2011).
Since taking over the AIADMK,
Jayalalitha has treated women as a
special constituency and nurtured
it. Her mentor M.G. Ramachandran
had a huge female fan following who
became his voters, and Jaya also
wooed and consolidated this section in
her own way. She won because of her
past welfare schemes and promises of
The Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana proved to be
a great success and the number of beneficiaries of the
free cycle for school girls scheme totals 4 million till date.
Bicycle-riding girls became the poster girls of Nitishs Bihar
model of development
future schemes for women (besides of
course the promise of phased ban on
the sale of liquor). She also promised
50 per cent subsidy for women
buying two wheelers if her party
retained power, pledged an increased
financial assistance to pregnant
women and a state-wide expansion
of special health schemes.Almost all
the Dravidian parties had promised
to increase the maternity assistance
package and slash the price of milk.
The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK)
offered ladies-only buses, three new
universities for women and 33%
reservation for women in the police
force. Actor Captain Vijaykanths
Desiya Murpoku Dravida Kazhagam
(DMDK) promised home delivery of
ration items.
OTHER TRENDS
The Delhi elections in 2015 was also
fought on corruption and womens
safety, with the young Aam Aadmi
Party deliberately focusing its appeal
towards women. Of Delhis 13 million
voters, 44.51 are women according to
the Election Commission and their
voting percentage has been rising, from
46.41 per cent in the 1998 assembly
polls to over 65 percent in 2013.
Do women vote in a uniform pattern
and what attracts them to a particular
political party? Earlier, the head of
the family decided for the entire
household but times have changed.
Women have matured, become more
independent and want to decide for
themselves. This is more so after
the 73rd and 74th Constitutional
amendments providing for reservation
of one-third of seats in panchayats
and municipal bodies for women.
Political parties too have begun to
take women voters seriously even as
womens organisations demanded a
better role for the fairer sex.
The National Perspective Plan for
Women, the formation of national
and state womens commissions,
the incorporation of a gender policy
and mainstreaming in the planning
process, have helped women. The
Election Commission has also done
its bit, encouraging women voters by
Women queue outside a polling station to cast their votes. AFP PHOTO/Noah SEELAM
identifying low voter turnout areas.
During the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, In some states women outnumber male voters. As
womens issues were a major focus of compared to men who generally favour same political
all parties. While the Congress spoke
of empowering women and protection party, women often react differently and do not hesitate to
of children, the BJP talked of womens vote for a change in the ruling party
role in nation building; the AAP
brought the gender issue to the fore In some states women outnumber But the fact remains that in Indias
while the election manifesto of the male voters. As compared to men male dominated politics, parties are
Communist Party of India (Marxist) who generally favour same political reluctant to field women. A classic
promised to abolish Section 377 of party, women often react differently example is the way the male members
the penal code and decriminalise and do not hesitate to vote for a are blocking the passage in Parliament
homosexuality. change in the ruling party. Along of the bill providing for one-third
Women are more assertive owing to with the rising profile of women reservation for women in legislatures
improved education and awareness voters, one should see how their (the Rajya Sabha passed it amidst din
about their rights propagated representation in Parliament stands. and noise in 2014).
through mass media. Their main From 22 women MPs in the first
concerns centre on price rise, assured Lok Sabha in 1952, it has moved There is a great deal of tokenism
water supply and electricity, job up to 66 in the current Lok Sabha. involved in representation for
opportunities for children, and other In the span of 54 years and 16 Lok women. We have had a woman
domestic issues. The AAP in Delhi Sabha elections there has been a President, prime minister, speaker
has been able to address these issues three-fold increase in the number of of Lok Sabha and leader of the
successfully. women MPs .The rise has been steady Opposition. There have been women
through the years, both in absolute chief ministers even in the 1960s and
While educated young women
numbers and percentages. 1970s like Sucheta Kripalani, Sashikala
are concerned about freedom and
Kakodkar and Nandini Satpathi.
security, issues like free speech and Interestingly, the average
secularism also move them. In rural representation of women MPs But women still do not have adequate
areas, prohibition of liquor, subsidies (12.15%) is higher than the national representation or a say in the political
and other populist measures hold average of women legislators, which process. The UN had said in a report
sway. Its interesting to note that stands at a dismal 9%. The number that it may take 50 years for women to
social engineering rarely found of women contestants also has gone get gender justice in India. But what
favour among women. The trend up from 45 to now 668, a fifteen fold is welcome here is the rising profile
among women voters appears to increase although women generally, of women indicating that women see
reflect a whats in it for me attitude. do not vote for other women. themselves as agents of change.

JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 27

 Debuted with The Indian express in Mumbai in 1972, later moving to PTI and The
sPECiAl sTORY Tribune newspaper. Hes covered the emergency and every general election since
R.C. RAJAMANi 1977. He was Political editor with The Asian Tribune.com, an online newspaper
(2004-05). He has authored Parliamentarians for the New Millennium (Gyan Books,
2000). Now he is Consulting editor of The Statesman

CONGRESS
DESCENT
INTO DARKNESS
28 PARliAMENTARiAN l JULY 2016
Workers carry a giant poster of Congress President, Sonia Gandhi.
AFP PHOTO / Sam PANTHAKy
CONGRESS
The slide in the Congress partys political fortunes has been steady and steep. It
would be ridiculous to assume this is not known to the high command, notably
Sonia and her son Rahul. But theres little evidence of correctives being applied
T
he Indian National Congress
that was in government at
the Centre and in practically
the rest of India for full two
decades after independence, is today
in serious danger of losing power
everywhere. Its position is akin to a
man trapped in quicksand, desperately
looking for help. The glaring difference
is Indias 131 year Grand Old Party
seems strangely oblivious to its fate,
with a couldnt care less attitude
about the future.
The Congress, in short, is in a mulish
mode of self-denial. Its ostrich like
attitude is typical of an all-powerful
man gradually losing control, but
conceit and fear of ridicule renders
him unable to acknowledge his
predicament. It seems the grand old
party has neither the inclination nor the
time for self-correction.
Witness Congress president Sonia
Gandhis stony silence on political
developments since its humiliating
defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha
elections! In the last two years,
Congress has lost power in Andhra,
Telangana, Haryana, Maharashtra,
Assam and Kerala. And a little before
the Lok Sabha debacle, in December
30 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016
2013, it lost power in Rajasthan
t Losses in successive and Delhi. The loss of eight state
state elections has governments in a little over two years
underscored the should have shaken the foundations
deep crisis facing the of any political party, but theres been
barely a tremor in the Congress.
Congress party and its
Sonia Gandhi may have made some
leadership
perfunctory observations about the
t Theres no evidence need for introspection without
of the party doing any apparent regard to the gravity of the
situation. It is doubtful if her son and
genuine soul searching
or introspection to party vice president Rahul Gandhi
has any real comprehension of the
overcome the political
crisis the party is now faced with. He
slide seems to think his job is over with
t Rahul has had an some brief tutored comments. He also
undistinguished seems to enjoy his frequent diatribe
against Prime Minister Narendra
tenure in the Lok
Modi, again tutored. None of the
Sabha, he has shown partys experienced senior leaders
neither leadership, nor have had any comments to make on
initiative the steps needed to salvage political
fortunes from a likely disaster in the
t Revolts in state units
next Lok Sabha elections due in the
of the Congress summer of 2019.
have galloped, the Even as it continues to lick its wounds
frustration of many after successive defeats, it is amusing
competent regional to note that the Congress party has
satraps is like a time chosen to take comfort from the fact
bomb waiting to go off that it won four wards in the recent
MCD by-polls in Delhi. It has exposed
 itself to public ridicule by interpreting
these wins as its resurgence in the
national capital. Senior leader Ajay
Maken even thanked Rahul Gandhi
for the partys win in the four wards!
WHAMMIES FOR CONGRESS
It only underscored the sycophantic The growing revolt in the Congress was clearly seen in
culture of the Congress. the June biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha
If there is one thing that characterises

T
the mental make-up of everyone in the
he growing revolt in the Congress Subhash Chandra Goyal, an independent.
party - from the ordinary worker to the
was clearly seen in the June It indeed was a double whammy for the
high command it is their obsessive
biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha. grand old party.
preoccupation with the persona of
Narendra Modi. The Congress Partys The way the Congress MLAs voted in In Karnataka, Congress chief minister
entire universe appears to have been Haryana, particularly, showed that the so- Siddaramaiah, a migrant from JD-S,
reduced to one question: Modi! How to called family charisma is fast wearing proved that his writ runs in the state by
tackle this Goliath? thin. The MLAs, including former chief engineering a revolt in his former party and
The partys often mindless attacks on minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and ensuring the victory of KC Ramamurthy,
Modi are indicative of desperation his loyal followers, cleverly played a Congress partys third RS candidate
and utter helplessness. Everyone in strategic game to defeat the Congress who was short of 45 votes. But in the
the party seems convinced that Modi supported independent candidate, the reshuffle of his ministry, he went by the
usurped the throne in Delhi from the discredited lawyer R K Anand. dictates of the high command and faced
Congress by some black magic. They It was astounding to note that the rebellion and protest demonstrations
seem oblivious to the fact that Modi Congress Party was absurd enough to where anti-Gandhi slogans were raised.
won a majority in a democratically allege that the Election Commission Prominent legislator and former Union
held election; that he has a legitimate official, had handed over the wrong minister Ambareesh, the film star turned
mandate to govern India for five years. pen to the 14 Congress legislators to politician, has resigned to embarrass the
The tasteless comments of Mani make their votes invalid. Congress party.
Shankar Aiyar that Modi is welcome Hooda never approved of Anands In UP, the victory of Congress candidate
to sell tea at the AICC office, and candidature as the lawyer was supported Kapil Sibal was in doubt till the last
he should forget about ever coming in the main by the INLD, Congress rival minute because of speculation of cross
to Delhi as PM symbolised that very in the state. The episode made it clear that voting by Congress MLAs in favour of
attitude. Theres little doubt Modi Hooda is the real boss in Haryana, not independent Preeti Mohapatra, wife of
exploited the barbs to his advantage, the Gandhis. In the event, it ensured the an industrialist and a friend of Prime
turning the slings and arrows of his victory of the BJP-backed media baron Minister Modi.
opponents into votes at the polls.
The Congress must begin introspection
by first shedding its Modi phobia.
It should look inwards honestly, to
understand why the party lost. Only
then can it take corrective steps to
regain lost glory.
In todays scenario, the past will hold
little comfort for Congress. Gone are
the days when the party could boast that
even a lamp post, bearing the Congress
symbol of the twin bullock, could win
the election. That was the Congress
of Nehru and Patel, of humble and
sincere party workers who wore khadi,

Sonia Gandhi may have

made some perfunctory
observations about the need
for introspection without
apparent regard to the gravity
of the situation

JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 31

CONGRESS
AFP PHOTO/RAVEENDRAN
Sonia Gandhi given age and reportedly not so good
health cannot continue as president for long. But
even as some senior leaders are batting hard for
Rahul to take over the party leadership, many state
units have revolted and its pretty clear whom the
revolt is direct against
32 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016
All that started changing in
the very first decade after
independence. Gandhian
khadi was only a cover for the
greed and lust of Congress
who saw political office as a
commercial opportunity
lived and practiced Spartan lives. All
that started changing in the very first
decade after independence. Gandhian
khadi was only a cover for the greed
and lust of Congress who saw political
office as a commercial opportunity.
If Nehru built up the Congress, his
daughter Indira Gandhi stifled internal
democracy leading, inevitably, to its
enfeeblement over successive years.
Her son Rajiv did nothing to inject
democracy into the party. Nor did he
encourage the rise of a second line of
command. It was the high command
and nothing else.
A reluctant inheritor, Rajivs widow
Sonia continued happily with
dynastic politics. She did not brook
any opposition to her leadership and
systematically sidelined competent
senior leaders who dared show signs of
independence or ambition. She hated
the guts and initiative displayed by
PV Narasimha Rao, who was her own
appointee as prime minister.
Rao not only took over the leadership
of the party after Rajiv Gandhis
assassination, he acted like a prime
minister after moving into Racecourse
Road. He did not wait for Sonias
approval for his decisions. Rao would
have continued as prime minister after
the 1996 Lok Sabha polls if he had only
listened to wiser counsel and struck an
alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu
instead of the discredited AIADMK,
led by Jayalalithaa.
The Congress in Tamil Nadu broke
over this issue with GK Moopanar
floating his own Maanila Congress and
allying with the DMK to contest both
the Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
DMK won all the 39 Lok Sabha seats
and also returned to power in the state,
scoring a big win in the assembly
polls. At the Centre the Congress lost
narrowly, giving way to the formation
of the United Front government a
rainbow coalition that included the
Maanila Congress, DMK apart from
the Janata Dal.
Congress returned to power eight
years later in 2004 and led the UPA
government for two terms, till 2014. In
all these years, Sonia did precious little
to strengthen the party by encouraging
powerful and competent regional
leaders, who in the event were left
frustrated.
Rahul became an MP in 2004 and
is currently in his third term in the
Lok Sabha. A priceless record of
doing virtually nothing has marked
his 12 years in parliament. Yet the
position of party vice president has
been thrust upon him. His conduct
as an MP and politician has been
singularly undistinguished, leading
to him not being taken seriously. His
father Rajiv had the support of Indias
youth. But strangely, Rahul does not
command their admiration or respect.
He has failed to inspire them and this is
something he should have realized by
now. The Congress appears resigned
to the inevitable that Sonia Gandhi
given age and reportedly not so good
health cannot continue as president for
A reluctant inheritor, Rajivs widow Sonia
continued happily with dynastic politics. She
did not brook any opposition to her leadership
and systematically sidelined competent senior
leaders who dared show signs of independence or
ambition
long. But even as some senior leaders
are batting hard for Rahul to take over
the party leadership, many state units
have revolted and its pretty clear
whom the revolt is direct against.
Lets begin with the one most recent,
Chhattisgarh, where former Congress
chief minister Ajit Jogi has left the party
with a large flock and floated his own
party. Jogis revolt followed similar
ones in Assam and Uttarakhand. The
rebels who left the party had a common
grouse against Congress leadership,
particularly Rahul Gandhi. They
have accused him, and the collective
leadership, of being indifferent to their
complaints. Himanta Biswa Sarmas
desertion helped the BJPs triumph in
Assam in no small measure.
The Congress rebellion in Uttarakhand
by former chief minister Vijay
Bahuguna and his followers, nearly
brought down the Harish Rawat
government. Rawat is back in power
thanks only to the state BJPs unholy
haste and subsequent mishandling by
the Centre.
Jogi summed up the attitude of the
Congress leadership when he said that
trying to get a hearing in the party was
akin to bhains ke aage bin bajana
(playing a flute before a buffalo). He
minced no words when he warned that
the Congress was incapable of taking
on the ruling BJP in Chattisgarh. The
present-day Congress is different from
the party led by Nehru, Indira, Rajiv
and Sonia. Now, leaders with a mass
base have no say in the organisation,
he lamented. Jogis rebellion came
almost six months after the party
expelled his son Amit, over alleged
fixing of a 2014 assembly by poll, to
ensure the victory of the BJP candidate.
There are reports of rebellion brewing
against Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma
too. Former union minister and noted
Maharashtra Congress leader Gurudas
Kamat resigned from the party early
in June. Though he claims he wanted
to quit active politics, insiders say
his decision was sudden and flowed
from being ignored by the party high
command Sonia and Rahul.
It is pertinent here to note the
comments by senior BJP leader and
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely
on the recent developments in the
Congress. He says, Congress has been
reduced to a crowd around a family....
their problem is the one faced by a
party which is centred around a family.
The first problem of such a party is to
see that no leadership develops outside
the family, the second is that if there
is a powerful generation like Nehru or
Indira they make the party strong but if
the next generation does not have that
strength it drowns along with the party.
It does not seem to now improve...
the meaning of Congress free country
does not mean the end of the party but
the political culture followed by it and
remove the blot it had put on way of
governance. As an opponent we want
Congress to remain in opposition.
Jaitleys comments could be described
as biased, given that his loyalties
lie with the BJP. Nevertheless, they
carry a large grain of truth, if analysed
dispassionately.
The revolt against the family may be
put down sooner or later. That there
has indeed been a revolt against the
family may indicate a desire in a
section of the party to have a Family-
Mukt Congress. That is a dangerous
development for the family and all
those who fawn on them.
Thus one can see a minor mutiny against
the family in all these developments.
The mother-son duo cannot afford to
ignore this dire development. If they
do, they will only do at their own peril.
It will not require BJP to ensure a
Congress-Mukt India. The Congress
will ensure it itself.
JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 33
 aap Sharad Gupta is a political commentator with almost 30 years
experience of working with publications like The Times of India,
Sharad Gupta
The Indian Express, India Today, Hindustan and Dainik Bhaskar.

AAM AADMI PARTY

AAP is on a roll it would seem, targeting sunny Goa where an ineffective BJP
chief minister is alienating the public. It has set its sights on Punjab, Himachal,
Tamil Nadu and a host of other states where two parties alternate

T
he setting was picturesque. The
sun was setting over the Arabian
Sea on Sunday, May 22 with the
sky taking on hues of red, saffron and
yellow. Appropriate for the occasion,
it would appear, as Aam Aadmi Party
chief Arvind Kejriwal took the stage in
the packed to capacity Campal ground
in Goas capital, Panaji. The grounds
reverberated to applause. A beginning
had certainly been made.
In fact, that was an encore. Five months
earlier, Kejriwal had wowed Punjab
at the Maghi fair rally. All parties in
Punjab hold their rallies in Muktsar on
January 15. Its a trial of strength for
these parties. With assembly elections
barely a year away, the event had been
hyped by all parties. Despite its new
entrant status, AAP scored over rivals
that day. AAPs rally was twice the size
of the SAD (ShiromaniAkali Dal) and
Congress rallies put together. If there was
any doubt, it was effectively put to rest
by a C-Voter survey: The State of Punjab
opinion polls gave AAP 84-100 seats out
of total 117 if elections were held then.
Its not only Punjab and Goa. AAP has
been on an expansion spree, trying to
spread across India as rapidly as possible.
It has even formalized the expansion
programme christening it Mission
Vistaar. The reason, party leaders say,
is the demand from various states. How
could we stop the people who want to
be associated with AAP, said party
spokesman Ashutosh who is handling the
mission. He says the party started in 2013
t AAP is pushing hard to
expand but selectively,
preferring to focus on
states where a bi-polar
polity allows them space
t For now Punjab is in
AAPs sights, also Goa
and in the years ahead
Himachal, Tamil Nadu
and Kerala among others
t AAP hopes to capitalize
on widespread anger
over political corruption
and demands for a
greater public say in
government decisions
with Mission Buniyaad which was
later converted to Mission Vistaar after
the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. But, even this
phase has ended with the party having set
up state units in almost every part of the
country except the north-east.
Our next target is to have district-
level and booth-level organization set-
up. Our slogan is 10 youth per booth,
Ashutosh said. The strategy seems
simple - keep expanding and go for
the kill only when the party feels its
strong enough to win the polls.
HARD LESSONS
AAP had contested 439 of 545 Lok
Sabha seats in 2014. A large number
of people from all walks of life joined
AAP and contested. These included well
known journalists like Anita Pratap and
Ashutosh; eminent writers and even
bankers like Meera Sanyal; teachers, also
social workers like Medha Patkar; theatre
artists like Bhagwant Mann besides
doctors, lawyers and other professionals.
But the party could win only four seats in
Punjab. It could not win a single seat in
Delhi, where it ruled only three months
before parliamentary elections. Kejriwal
himself contested against Narendra Modi

34 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016

A supporter of Aam Aadmi
Party shouts slogans
as she waves a broom.
AFP PHOTO/ INDRANIL
MUKHERJEE

AAP president Arvind Kejriwal (L) and fellow AAP minister Manish Sisodia greet
supporters. AFP PHOTO / PRAKASH SINGH
from Varanasi. This created a country-
wide buzz for AAP but did not translate
into electoral gains.
The 2014 electoral debacle was a lesson
for AAP leaders. They started from
scratch, brick by brick, meeting people in
Delhi to explain their position locality by
locality, house by house and man to man.
The hard work ultimately translated into
votes and the party achieved one of the
biggest electoral victories - winning 67
of 70 seats at stake in the Delhi assembly
elections.
This writer witnessed both rallies - at
Muktsar and Panaji. Kejriwal asked me
about Muktsar. The going looks great for
you. But the challenge is to sustain this
tempo for next one year, was my verdict.
He replied in his typical Hindi: Sirjee,
ye mahaul to mere sahyogiyonki vajah
se hai. Maine to abhi campaign shuru hi
nahin ki hai. Mere aanekebaad to tempo
aurbadega (The surge is because of my
associates. I havent started campaigning
yet. The tempo (enthusiasm) is going to
rise further after my entry.)
At the Muktsar rally Kejriwal declared
that AAP was already winning 100 seats
in Punjab. But the target is to win all 117.
Punjab was an obvious choice for
AAP after its 2014 Lok Sabha election
performance. SAD ruling the state for the
past 10 years not only faces double anti-
incumbency but has also lost the goodwill
of the public. Its top leaders face charges
of corruption, of involvement in the
drugs trade. The Congress is no better. It
36 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016
is not only mired in internecine strife but
has not done much to win the peoples
trust. AAP just filled the vacuum.
Kejriwal reveled in AAPs new-found
glory but ruled out contesting from
other states. We have learnt our lessons
from Lok Sabha polls where we spread
ourselves too thin across India. Had we
concentrated only in 3-4 states, we could
have won 35-40 seats, was his analysis,
adding: We wont contest Uttarakhand
as it coincides with Punjab elections but
will go for Himachal because elections
there are scheduled six months after
Punjab. Our entire team from Punjab
would then shift to Himachal. In any
case, you need lot of funds to contest
elections. You know, our party is running
Rs one crore deficit.
GUNNING FOR GOA
Things seem to have changed in the last
five months. AAP received positive vibes
from Goa and decided it stood a chance
there. AAP leaders conceded that they
had diverted funds collected for the
Punjab elections, to hold the Goa rally.
They also confided that there were strict
instructions from Kejriwal not to accept
any funds from somebody seeking a
favour a contract, tender or any such
work - from the Delhi Government.
The May 22 rally in Panaji, was convened
after a ground level campaign spread over
four months and was a grand success.
Looking at the milling crowds, Sujay
Gupta, Editor of the daily OHerald said,
This no doubt is the biggest rally ever
Its not only Punjab and Goa,
AAP has been on an expansion
spree, trying to spread across
India as rapidly as possible.
It has even formalized the
expansion programme
christening it Mission Vistaar
organized in Goa. More important, I can
see the whos who of Goa, present here.
Top professors, architects, singers, artists,
lawyers, doctors and engineers had come
to listen to Kejriwal. Each comment
drew applause from the audience. Even
a short-circuit that disrupted the sound
amplifiers for almost 20 minutes failed to
diminish peoples enthusiasm. In fact, the
crowd had started trooping in at least two
hours earlier for a rally timed to begin at
5 pm. That was surprising because even
on working days during summers, Goans
keep their shutters down between 1 and
4 pm. Most of the crowd that turned up
to listen to the diminutive chief minister
of Delhi comprised of Christians and
Muslims, who have so far been voting
for the Congress. The AAP seems to be
eyeing the 26 per cent Christian and 6
per cent Muslim population (the balance
comprises of Hindus, mostly Konkani
Brahmins and fishermen).
Prominent among those present was
celebrity TV anchor Rajdeep Sardesai
and his wife Sagarika Ghosh. Local
media had been rife with speculation
of Rajdeep joining AAP and being
projected as the partys chief ministerial
candidate. But Rajdeep (son of the late
Goa born cricketer DileepSardesai)
scotched the rumours saying, I am ready
to become chief minister if people of Goa
want me. But I dont think they want me
to quit journalism at present. Clearly,
something has gone wrong for the ruling
BJP, which won an absolute majority in
Goa in 2012 under Manohar Parrikar,
a person of integrity - an engineer by
qualification and a politician by choice.
When he was moved to Delhi as Defence
Minister, his replacement Laxmikant
Parsekar too has a clean image but
inaction seems to be his undoing.
Parsekar is a good and honest person.
But all development work has come to
a halt in Goa under him. Everything is
in bad shape, said Sandeep vSethaye, a
restaurant owner near Panjim.
Corruption is a major issue in Goa,
especially illegal iron ore mining. The
AAP
Justice MB Shah Commission appointed
by the Centre in 2010 had reported that
55 per cent of the iron ore exported from
India, was being excavated in Goa. The
commission report had estimated that
illegal mining had ruined almost 2700
hectares of land, damaged the states
ecology resulting in a scandal of Rs
35,000 crore.
The Supreme Court acting on the
Commissions report, had in 2013
ordered registration of FIRs against 150
persons including state politicians, most
of them belonging to the Congress. Be
it former chief minister Pratap Singh
Rane, ex-minister Churchill Alemao or
legislators ChandrakantBabuKavalekar
and PandurangMadkaikar, the Congress
party had become synonymous with
corruption.
Alemao is the prime accused in Rs 300
crore PWD tender scam; Madkaikar
is an accused of land grabbing in Old
Goa; Kavalekar had amassed so much
property that the Parrikar government
hired a chartered accountant to audit his
wealth. Rane is said to have patronized
all corrupt Congress leaders, which is
the reason why Kejriwal focused on
corruption. He explained how he had
contained it to a large extent in Delhi and
how AAP, if voted to power, would do
the same in Goa. Like Punjab, Goa is also
plagued by corruption, drugs and mafia,
he said. Because of tourism, Goans are
better off than residents of any other
state. Literacy levels are among the best
Despite its new entrant status, AAP scored over rivals. AAPs
rally was twice the size of the SAD and Congress rallies put
together. If there was any doubt, it was effectively put to rest by a
C-Voter survey: The State of Punjab opinion polls gave AAP 84-
100 seats out of total 117 if elections were held then
in the country. The same is true for health
facilities. Their per capita income rivals
that of Delhi and Mumbai. Law and
order is not a major issue. The only sore
points are poor roads and deteriorating
tourism infrastructure.
AAP had started its activities in Goa
recently. National treasurer Pankaj Gupta,
who is on charge of the partys campaign
in Goa, said serious campaigning started
only in March. We have progressed fast
but there still is a lot of ground to be
covered. We are actually racing against
time, he admitted.
LARGER AIMS
But AAPs strategy seems shrewd. They
focus on states with a bipolar polity, for
example BJP vs Congress. With Congress
already on a downward spiral, AAP aims
to corner its vote bank and challenge the
BJP. This what they did in Delhi and
aim to repeat that act first in Punjab,
followed by Himachal and Goa before
moving on to other states. We have
a formidable organiza-tional structure
in UP, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh,
Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat,
Haryana and Rajasthan, said Ashutosh,
but we wont contest in any of them
until we penetrate the stage up to booth
level. Our rivals need to know that AAP
doesnt contest for the sake of contesting
any more. When we enter the fray, we
aim to win and trounce the opposition.
I asked Kejriwal if it would not be better
to go for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections
with at least half a dozen states under his
belt? Sir, I am better off with three or
four states we can govern well, than ill-
managing 10 states, was his response.
Well thought Arvind. But, its a long
way to go and the road is not smooth.
As by-elections for the Delhi municipal
corporation showed, AAPs vote share
slid from 54 to around 43 per cent.
Add to that the Damocles sword of
disqualification hanging over 21 of his
Delhi MLAs. Kejriwal has to save his
ground in Delhi first before moving on
to other states.
JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 37
HARSH RANJAN
The writer is a senior journalist who worked for Indias top media houses
including AajTak, Headlines Today, India TV, Business India Group and
Live India. His experience ranges from political reporting to anchoring,
digital synergy and media training. He is currently heading the
Department of Mass Communications in Sharda University, Gr. Noida.

AAPS SUMMER OF
DISCONTENT?
Did Arvind Kejriwals move to appoint 21 parliamentary
secretaries stem from the need to keep his flock together?
There was also opposition to his move from others in the party.
Is the AAP experiment heading for meltdown?
 AFP PHOTO/SAMAR MONDOL

t Arvind Kejriwal has

stoked an unnecessary
controversy by
appointing 21 parlia-
mentary secretaries
t The move reflects
tensions within the
party and the need to
stroke the hopes and
aspirations of 61 MLAs
t Kejriwals government
is not in danger but his
claims of bringing a
different kind of politics
stands seriously
damaged

JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 39

AAP
I
t was sometime in the summer
of 2005, when a friend Manish
dropped by to see me at home. It
was Sunday and over cups of tea we
discussed a common interest: Media
and the challenges for TV journalists. I
was then working for India TV (of Rajat
Sharma), while Manish was a producer
with Zee News. He had something else
on his mind, that rather than merely
communicating to the masses, he was
more inclined to work for them!
Arent we are already working for them
by reporting on issues and events that
educate and make them aware, I asked.
Manish was silent but without answering
my question said he had decided to quit
Zee News and planned to start work with
an NGO that was involved in several
programmes for the underprivileged.
I advised him not to, as his job brought
him money every month to take care of
his family. But Manish was unmoved.
That was Manish Sisodia, presently
Delhis deputy chief minister and close
associate of Chief Minister Arvind
Kejriwal.
Manish is sincere and committed,
preferring work to the click of cameras
and soundbites. As far as I am aware,
Manish vets every big decision before
it is finalized, which also suggests he is
perhaps Kerjriwals most trusted aide,
trust built over time and marked by
complete faith.
But on 13th June ,2016 when President
Manish Sisodia was not in favour of offering any
positions to MLAs. There was also the view that nothing
should be done where there was a risk of serious
damage to AAPs image
Pranb Mukherjee refused to give his
assent to the proposed legislation that
sought to protect, with retrospective
effect, 21 AAP MLAs from
disqualification for occupying additional
posts, a fresh debate within the party
over the definition of office of profit
has begun. Senior AAP leaders pored
through legal texts to verify the definition
of office of profit- a term that is set to
linger in the internal deliberations of the
party. Though the partys senior leaders
appear united on the issue, internal party
sources on condition of anonymity said
there were differences of opinion among
the top brass. At the root of the partys
current embarrassment is its sweeping
victory in Delhi last year. Today with 67
MLAs in an assembly of 70, AAP has no
opposition. But 67 MLAs can also be a
handicap. They come with experience
from diverse fields and have ambitions,
and thats where the frustration sets in.
According to the law, only 15 per cent of
the total assembly seats are eligible for
ministerships. In the case of the Delhi
Assembly, this figure is even lower at 10
per cent, which means the total number
of ministers is 6 plus one chief minister.
So of the 67 MLAs, Kejriwal could
accommodate only five.
As an AAP member observed shortly
after the oath taking ceremony last year:
It would have been easier to tackle a
strong opposition in the house rather than
dealing with these 60 left out MLAs.
There were doubts about whether
Kejriwal would be able to manage such a
large number of MLAs, and those proved
true when he succumbed to pressure and
appointed 21 MLAs as parliametary
secretaries within one month of taking
charge. Parliamentary secretaries do not
draw any salary or benefits entitled to a
minister but do enjoy the status that goes
with the job. But Kejriwals challenge
didnt end there. There were still 38
MLAs left without any flashy titles.
So he got the salaries of the MLAs
increased four-fold. There was nothing
people oriented about these decisions
and were clearly intended to keep the
flock together.
From what Ive been given to understand,
Manish was not in favour of offering any
positions to MLAs. There was also the
view that nothing should be done where
there was a risk of serious damage to
AAPs image.
As it stands now, Kejriwals image
already under strain over his handling of
Delhi and questionable political battles,
has taken a beating with the Presidents
decision not to give his assent to the
proposed legislation for creating 21
parliamentary secretary positions in the
Delhi government.
To be sure, Kejriwal was not the first to
move in that direction. The late Sahib
Singh Verma, BJP CM of Delhi, created
one post of parliamentary secretary.
Congress CM Sheila Dixit raised that
number to three. Kejriwals undoing
was to seek to increase that number
seven fold!
In fact there is no mention of any
parliamentary secretary position in
any of the legislations pertaining to
the Delhi Government. The Delhi
Assembly has never passed a law related
to salary or perks for parliamentary
secretaries. However, the Lok Sabha
and assemblies of many states define
the parliamentary secretary in terms of
a minister and therefore, appointments
to these positions are valid. Delhi is
the exception.
BJP ruled states like Gujarat, Punjab
and Rajasthan have parliamentary
secretaries. But in June last
year, the Kolkata High Court
quashed the appointment of 24
parliamentary secretaries terming it
unconstitutional. In 2009 the Bombay
HC did the same with respect to two
parliamentary secretaries in Goa; the
Himachal HC did that in the case of
eight chief parliamentary secretaries
Kejriwals image already under strain over his
handling of Delhi and questionable political battles,
has taken a beating with the Presidents decision
not to give his assent to the proposed legislation for
creating 21 parliamentary secretary positions in the
Delhi government
under a cloud when she was accused of
and four parliamentary secretaries.
holding an office of profit, which was the
So is parliamentary secretary an
office of profit? Just what constitutes chairmanship of the National Advisory
an office of profit has never been Council. Later, amendments were
defined in the Constitution. But the made to keep 55 positions including
Election Commission says successive the Chairperson of NAC outside the
judgments have laid down five criteria purview of office of profit.
for office of profit: As the controversy rages, Kejriwal
Whether the government makes the can defend himself by pointing out
appointment; whether the government that since Delhi Lt.Governor Najib
has the right to remove or dismiss the Jung never okayed the parliamentary
holder; whether the government pays secretaries he appointed, therefore
remuneration; what the functions of the there was no way they could have
holder are; and does the government availed of any benefits. He could
exercise any control over the also fight his case in the courts. But
performance of these functions. Kejriwal needs to sit back and reflect:
Is all this necessary? Is it not diverting
There have been disqualifications with
regard to office of profit. In 2001 Shibu him from carrying out the promises he
Sorens elections to the Rajya Sabha made to the people of Delhi?
was disqualified because he was also a Kejriwals public image, as mentioned
member of the Jharkhand Autonomous earlier, has gone down to a point where
Council. Actress Jaya Bachchan was perhaps, he is not seen as being any
declared disqualified as Rajya Sabha different from other politicians or
member for holding an office of profit parties. Rumours of differences among
(UP Film Development Corporation). the core group that make up AAP have
Industrialist Anil Ambani quit the Rajya been around for some time. This is not
Sabha in 2006 when he was accused of to imply the party will break up, but we
holding an office in profit. He was in have seen how internal differences can
fact in the UP Development Council but paralyse or render parties dysfunctional.
apparently in an honorary capacity. AAP is a great experiment but is in
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi came imminent danger of remaining that.
JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 41
POINT OF VIEW Shanta Kumar is a former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh
and a former minister in Government of India. He is a member of
Shanta Kumar the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was elected to the 9th Lok Sabha
from Kangra constituency in 1989.

Dalai Lama

A Champion
of freedom for Tibet
On July 6, His Holiness the Dalai Lama turns 80, and 57 of those years have
been spent in exile in India. From his abode in Dharamsala, His Holiness
has campaigned relentlessly for freedom for Tibet and the human rights
of his people. He has enriched Indias spiritual and religious traditions,
honouring him with the Bharat Ratna would do this nation proud

T
rue to the Mongolian meaning of his title, His Holiness the Dalai Lama
is an ocean of wisdom. Every time I had the privilege of meeting him
in the last half century, the experience was humbling, overwhelming, as
though I was before an angel of peace and non-violence. Such is the strength of
his personality.
Though he has relentlessly fought for the freedom of his people and his country
for the last six decades, that struggle has been peaceful, non-violent. If Tibets
national struggle has managed to survive for so long in the given circumstances
(Chinese occupation), it is mainly due to the force of his personality and the
values he stands for. Little wonder His Holiness is the most revered and admired
among the galaxy of world leaders and spiritual personalities today.
My relationship with His Holiness the Dalai Lama is deeply personal and
emotional. I went to see him for the first time in 1965 in Dharamsala, with the
request that he pen a message in my book titled Himalaya Par Laal Chhaya
(Red Shadow Over the Himalayas), which was about the India-China war of
1962.

42 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016

AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL
His Holiness with Prime Minister Narendra Modi
It was a matter of great privilege
for me that this great saint chose
my parliamentary constituency
Dharamsala, as his home in exile.
One of his outstanding achievements
during this period, is the successful
revival and reconstruction of Tibets
religion, culture, traditions and
national personality.
Tibet, a country with centuries
of long and tranquil history, of a
deeply spiritual tradition, lost its
national identity following Chinese
aggression. It caused the Dalai
Lama to flee his country and on
April 3, 1959 he crossed over to
India where he was welcomed with
great warmth. Since then he has been
raising the issue of the denial of human
rights of his nation. His message of
peace and non-violence has been
acknowledged across the world as the
most effective and desirable approach
in todays strife torn world.
While addressing the US Congress in
Washington on 21st September 1987,
he presented his famous Five-Point
Peace Proposal for bringing peace to
Tibet. These included declaring Tibet
as a zone of peace; stopping the
influx of Chinese migrants; respect
for the fundamental human rights of
the Tibetan people; securing Tibets
nature and environment and; ensuring
44 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016
His message of peace and non-violence has been
acknowledged across the world as the most effective
and desirable approach in todays strife torn world
his countrys special identity. It goes
to the credit of His Holiness that
Tibetan refugees in India, whose
number is over a hundred thousand
today, have consistently run a non-
violent movement for their countrys
freedom.
In 1989 when His Holiness was
bestowed with the Nobel Peace Prize,
he accepted it with humility, saying
that the prize was a recognition of
the true values of altruism, love,
compassion and non-violence which
he has tried to practice, in accordance
with the teachings of the Buddha and
the great sages of India and Tibet. It
surely reflects the greatness of his
ideas and himself.
Acknowledging his efforts and
contribution towards world peace, 67
nations have bestowed on him more
than 150 major prizes. These include
the Nobel Peace Prize, The Templeton
Award and the Congressional Gold
Medal, the last is Americas highest civic
award equivalent to Indias Bharat Ratna.
He is revered by Tibetans and
followers of Buddhism as the
reincarnation of Avalokiteswara, the
Buddha of Compassion. No surprise
that his presence in India is like Lord
Buddhas home coming after a gap of
over 2500 years.
For centuries India and Tibet have
enjoyed a close emotional relationship.
As citizens of India we feel privileged
that His Holiness chose to live in India
and contribute to the spiritual, cultural
and social life of this country. It makes
him most deserving of Indias highest
civic honour - the Bharat Ratna.
India has had the privilege of honoring
in the past, Mother Teresa, Khan Abdul
Ghaffar Khan and Nelson Mandela,
none of whom were of Indian origin
but who had earned the highest order
of love and respect of the people of
India. In honouring the Dalai Lama
with the Bharat Ratna, India would be
carrying this great tradition forward.
FINDING A PARLIAMENTARIAN
IS JUST A CLICK AWAY!
DOWNLOAD THE LATEST ISSUE NOW!
 PHOTO FEATURE

At prayer in Bodh Gaya during the Kalchakra ceremonies

 vIJAY KRANTI
Vijay Kranti is a senior journalist who has written
and extensively photo documented the social
and cultural life of the Tibetan community. His
coffee table book Dalai Lama - The Nobel Peace
Laureate is based entirely on his interview of
His Holiness and the photographs he shot. His
collection is acknowledged as a rich photo-
documentation of Tibetan life and culture across
the world. His photo exhibitions have been held
in a number of countries including the US, UK,
Austria, Canada and Australia

JULY 2016 l PARliAMENTARiAN 47

His Holiness in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, in 1987

At work in his office in Dharamasala

 PHOTO FEATURE

In Zanskar, Ladakh, the Dalai Lama offers prayers

JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 49

 PHOTO FEATURE

Against the magnificent Zanskar ranges, His Holiness

50 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016

 PHOTO FEATURE

With a blind boy in Sarnath, Bihar

Eating tsampa, a traditional Tibetan dish of roasted

barley flour mixed with butter tea and cheese
Remembering the apostle of non-violence at Gandhi Smriti in Delhi

In his workshop in Dharmasala Receiving bouquets from a delegation of Maulvis

PHOTO FEATURE
In meditation

JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 53

On a yak riding through the Zanskar ranges

The eyes of the faithful on him

54 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016

PHOTO FEATURE
His Holiness at Rajghat
 pUNJaB Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar is former Deputy editor of The
Hindu. With 20 years experience in journalism, he is at
GAURAV VIVEK BHATNAGAR
present writing on political and governance issues.

AFP PHOTO/ NARIN

DeR NANU
 The Modi-Shah dominance over the BJP is complete yet younger
MPs and ministers are angry over the lack of any role for them.
Leaders like Advani have made their opposition clear. In Punjab
the Akalis are facing public anger over the drug menace, which is
leading many Akali leaders to join other parties
A
t the BJP national executive
meet in Allahabad in early
June, party president Amit
Shah warned that 2014, when key
states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab,
Himachal Pradesh, Goa and
Gujarat go to polls, will be a year
of challenges for the party. He was
partly right as the BJP has much at
stake in these states.
Unlike Assam, West Bengal, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu or Puducherry, the states
going to polls in 2017 comprise a
fair number ruled by the BJP on its
own, as Gujarat and Goa, or with an
alliance partner, as in Punjab. As for
Uttar Pradesh, it is the biggest state
in terms of Lok Sabha seats and the
party would like to repeat its 2014
performance there, when it had won
71 of the 80 seats with its ally Apna
Dal, bagging another two.
Only the hill-state of Himachal
Pradesh is Congress ruled and here
too the BJP would like to put its stamp
of authority, ousting the Virbhadra
Singh government, which scraped
through narrowly the last time too.
But why should winning in states it
is already in power or a significant
force, be a bigger challenge than
making inroads into new territories?
There are two reasons: When you
are already in power in a state, the
referendum is on your performance.
And the BJP has much to answer
for in Gujarat, Goa and Punjab.
Also, when a party is in power, the
expectations of its workers and
leaders from the government also
grow and when these are not fulfilled,
they lead to revolts or dissidence.
Recent electoral victories
appear to have convinced
the BJP brass they can
surmount all odds, but
dissidence is growing
Senior leaders like Advani
have unfurled the flag of
revolt while younger MPs
and ministers say they
have no role under Modi
and Amit Shah
In Punjab, the continued
dominance of the Akalis is
suspect given public anger
over corruption and the
drug menace
Dissident Akali leaders are
grativating towards other
parties, many determined
to pull the rug from under
the Badals
Already BJP is facing considerable
dissent at the very top. This is
primarily because two men have
come to dominate it - Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and BJP president
Amit Shah - who take almost all the
decisions themselves, with or without
consulting the other top party leaders.
This has obviously led to a lot of
heartburn, evident in the behavior
and distraught faces of senior leaders
like L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar
Joshi. These two patriarchs, who
had steered the party boat through
rough seas, now appear to be drifting
away. Though they were nominated
to the Marg Darshak Mandal or a
consultative committee of the party,
the panel has not met so far. No
wonder, their comments tell a story of
neglect on the one hand and unbridled
power at the other.
Even the Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh (RSS), which it is said, only
steps in to demand what it wants
or who it does not want in the
party, has not bothered to stem the
concentration of power in the hands
of Modi and Shah, who are both its
members. The subtle message to the
RSS from the government has been
that it should carry on with its own
business and long term strategy and
adopt a hand-off approach towards
the government and party.
JULY 2016 l PARliAMENTARiAN 57
pUNJaB

And where is the need for the RSS

to intervene when over half a dozen
ministers in the Cabinet are active
RSS members. Apart from that, the
organization secretaries of the BJP
in all states are RSS pracharaks.
The party has also kept the RSS
in good humour by nominating
its members and cadres as chief
ministers or state unit presidents.
So be it through chief ministers
Manohar Lal Khattar in Haryana,
Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra
or state chiefs like Keshav Chandra
Maurya in Uttar Pradesh or B. S.
Yeddyurappa in Karnataka, it has
given the RSS quite a few reasons
to smile.
This establishment of the high
command culture in the party has,
however, not gone down well
with certain relatively younger
leaders who have not shied away
from expressing their views rather
bluntly.
In the wake of the partys defeat in
the Bihar assembly elections, at least
five party MPs had spoken against
the way the elections were fought.
They were Shatrughan Sinha (Patna
Saheb), Hukum DeoNarain Yadav
(Madhubani), R.K. Singh (Ara),
Ashwani Kumar Choubey (Buxar)
and Bhola Singh (Begusarai).
Around the same time, Advani, Murli
Manohar Joshi, Yashwant Sinha and
Shanta Kumar raised the banner
of revolt. A statement they issued
called for a thorough review of
the reasons for the defeat as well AFP PHOTO
as the way the party is being forced
to kowtow to a handful and how
its consensual character has been
destroyed. SHIROMANI AKALI DAL but of late have found it difficult to
get prominent personalities into the
This was perhaps the most direct The 2017 elections would also put to
and concerted attack from within the party fold. Many have left. Chief
test the popularity of BJPs old ally, Minister Parkash Singh Badal, his
party on the Modi-Shah duo. But with
ShiromaniAkali Dal, in its home turf son and Deputy Chief Minister
Modi enjoying absolute majority in
Punjab. SukhbirBadal, and their extended
the Lok Sabha and most MPs owing
their political rise and survival to The party has seen its vote share family are accused by the opposition
him, the statement apparently, had decline steadily over the last decade. of enriching themselves while the
A major reason for this has been the state economy suffered.
no impact. While such murmurs will
grow in 2017, they will be drowned growing smuggling of and abuse of The political pitch for them has
out by the drum-beating that will drugs in Punjab, which has not only been queered by the entry of the
accompany every BJP victory, big ruined the lives of the people but dealt Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Its direct
or small. The real challenge for the a devastating blow to the economy. attack on the Badals as also the
party, Amit Shah would do well to The ruling family, the Badals, princely former Congress chief
remember, would be in 2019. continue to hold sway over the SAD, minister Amarinder Singh, struck an

58 PARliAMENTARiAN l JULY 2016


Advani, Murli Manohar
Joshi, yashwant Sinha
and Shanta Kumar
raised the banner of
revolt. A statement
they issued called for
a thorough review
of the reasons for the
defeat as well as the
way the party is being
forced to kowtow to
a handful and how its
consensual character
has been destroyed
instant chord with the masses in the But Punjab is not necessarily Delhi.
2014 Lok Sabha elections, helping The Congress has tried to set its house
AAP win four seats. Congress vice-
in order by handing over the reins of
president Rahul Gandhi and SADs
the state to Amarinder Singh, who
Sukhbir Badal, found themselves on still remains the most popular party
the same side when they dismissed leader in the state. Under him, some
the argument that AAP was their
Akali dissidents have also started
main challenge. They claimed that as
coming to the Congress fold.
in 2012, the fight would be between
the Congress and SAD-BJP combine. Manpreet Badal, nephew of Parkash
But going by the 2015 Delhi assembly Singh Badal, quit as finance minister
elections, AAP trumped the BJP and in 2010, floated his own Peoples
Congress winning winning 67 of the Party of Punjab and contested against
70 seats. Sukhbirs wife, Harsimrat Kaur
Badal, from Bhatinda in the 2014 Lok
Sabha elections. He merged his party
with the Congress in January this
year. Like many others, he quit SAD
because he believed that Punjab
needs to move beyond personality-
based politics.
In fact many important personalities
associated with the Badals earlier
are now coming into their own. In
February this year, renowned Punjabi
singer Hans Raj Hans, politically
inactive since leaving SAD in
2014, has joined the Congress. The
acclaimed Sufi singer claimed he was
trapped in the Akali Dal by its top
leaders but felt sidelined when the
party did not promote him despite
drawing crowds to Harsimrats
election rallies by being the forward
singer.Similarly, Jalandhar
Cantonment MLA and former India
hockey captain Pargat Singh, refused
to take the oath as chief parliamentary
secretary in April due to differences
with Sukhbir.
In the current atmosphere, many BJP
leaders say they feel suffocated with
the Akali governments policies. In
March, a delegation led by cricketer-
turned-politician Navjot Singh
Sidhus wife and BJP MLA Navjot
Kaur Sidhu, met Modi to update
him on the situation in Punjab. She
said the alliance with the Akalis was
hurting the BJPs image.
She was echoing a shrill crescendoof
BJP complaints early last year when
investigations into the drug racket
in the State resulted in the names of
several Akali leaders cropping up. But
the BJP leadership was apparently of
the view that going it alone in Punjab
was not a good idea as their party had
completed two terms with the Akalis.
The party had also got two of their
members elected to the Lok Sabha
despite never being able to go beyond
10% of the vote share.
The Akalis know the BJP needs it
more than they do and are content
to let things lie. But there are three
more opponents to guard against a
resurgent Congress under Amarinder,
the Aam Aadmi Party hungry for
Punjab in order to emerge as a national
party, and the dissident Akalis who it
appears, sense an opportunity to pull
the rug and see the Badals tumble.
JULY 2016 l PARliAMENTARiAN 59
 RAMAKRishNA uPADhYA
Ramakrishna Upadhya is a senior journalist who has
worked across print and television. He has worked
for the Deccan Herald, The Indian express, eTV, Vijay
Times and The Telegraph

AIADMK/DMK

DIMINISHING PROSPECTS
Is it maya for the AIADMK after Jayalalitha? Could the DMK break up as two brothers
battle for the legacy of Karunanidhi? Its clear that both parties face uncertain futures

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalitha addresses mediapersons.
AFP PHOTO/ Manan VATSYAYANA
t Jayalalitha has won a
second term but concerns
about her health and
unanswered questions
about a No. 2 dog her party
t DMKs Stalin is leading
the party in the opposition
but to assume that Alagiri
has thrown in the towel is
premature
t Other Tamil parties are
fading into irrelevance,
whether PMK of Ramdoss
or DMDK of film actor
Vijaykanth
W
hen Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
(DMK) chief M Karunanidhi
recently celebrated his 93rd
birthday, the joke doing the rounds in
Chennai was that he was looking forward to
the 2021 assembly elections (when he would
be 98 years) to take another swipe at the
chief ministers post!
In a bitterly fought election (not that it has
ever been sweet!), the DMK had lost to Chief
Minister J Jayalalithas ruling AIADMK
against all odds. For the first time in 32
years, Jayalalitha managed to win a second
consecutive term, emulating what her mentor
MG Ramachandran had achieved in 1984.
In fact, the 1984 victory should also be credited
to Jayalalitha. As the young propaganda
secretary, she took the responsibility of
campaigning for party candidates extensively
in the absence of MGR, who was bed-ridden
and never recovered from his illness.
Now that the electoral dust has settled down,
the question is: After the 2016 polls, what
is the future of Tamil Nadu politics? How
long can the personality-oriented Dravidian
parties survive? What happens to caste-
based regional parties which fared miserably
this time?
Lets begin with the national parties. The
BJP, despite all the hype and Prime Minister
Narendra Modi himself campaigning, failed
to open its account and ended up with just 2.8
per cent votes. Disregarding Modis personal
popularity, Jayalalitha correctly assessed that
the BJP was not favoured by the Tamil people
and spurned its overtures for an alliance.
JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 61
TaMILNaDU

As for Congress, Karunanidhi

reluctantly agreed for a tie-up after
failing to convince other regional parties
to join hands. He had distanced himself
from Congress two years ago after the
bitter war over taking the blame for
the 2G scam. However, indicative of
its growing irrelevance, the Congress
managed to win only 8 out of 41 seats
allotted to it by DMK and in fact, may
have no takers in the future elections.
As for actor Vijayakants Desiya
Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam
(DMDK) was concerned, it was being
wooed by everyone before the elections.
Karunanidhi was very keen on aligning
with DMDK and was ready to offer it
the maximum number of seats. But
Vijayakant wanted to be declared CM
candidate and nothing less, and thus the
talks broke down.
The 2016 polls turned out to be most
disastrous for DMDK. Having lost all
104 seats it contested and the leader
himself losing his deposit, Vijaykants
party may not have the staying power,
considering his eccentricities. With
a sharp dip in its vote percentage, the
DMDK is set to lose its status as a state
party. As for Pattal Makkal Kachchi
(PMK) headed by Dr. Ramdoss, the
electoral defeat has been no less In the DMK, Stalin appears to have taken control of
debilitating. Ramdoss too had set
his eyes on the CMs gaddi but PMK the party, but half-brother Alagiri lurks menacingly
failed to win a single seat, though the on the sidelines. There are many who say that had
party secured around 6.4 per cent of
the votes. Its only achievement was to
Karunanidhi accommodated Alagiris candidates this
act as a spoiler for DMK in 64 out of time, the result could have been very different
119 seats, as its candidates polled more
votes than the victors margin.
But it was not a cakewalk for Jayalalitha and government? Jayalalitha has given party but shot himself in the foot when
and she can never take her opponents no such indication. In fact, she was so he laid himself open to accusations of
for granted. The difference in total miffed with him for some reason, that disproportionate assets. She dumped
votes polled between the AIADMK she almost denied him the party ticket him and had him arrested on corruption
and the DMK alliance was only 1.1 per this time. charges. Thats nearly two decades ago
cent, but opposition disunity and the What about Vijay Bhaskar, the health and hes not been heard since. So, it
AIADMKs presence across the state minister? Or E Palaniswamy, the PWD looks like its all maya after Jaya!
helped it enormously. minister? Jayalalitha trusts no one and In the DMK, Stalin appears to have
Her party also faces the biggest of all ministers remain subject to her taken control of the party, but half-
worries. At 66, Jayalalitha is not whims. Remember, she reshuffled her brother Alagiri lurks menacingly on
getting any younger and she has health cabinet like a pack of cards 23 times in the sidelines. There are many who say
issues too, but she shows no signs of five years and nobody raised a finger? that had Karunanidhi accommodated
developing a second line of leadership. Outside her cabinet, Jayalalithas Alagiris candidates this time, the result
As they used to say about Indira Gandhi, trusted aide Sasikala, who is only a could have been very different. There
she is the only man in her cabinet and general secretary of the party, calls the seems little doubt Alagiri is waiting for
she rules with an iron hand. shots other than the PurachchiTalaivi his turn and theres every possibility of
Could O Panneerselvam, the finance as even senior IAS officers listen to her. a showdown between two half-brothers
minister in her cabinet, who stepped But Sasikalas actions are also strictly once Karunanidhi leaves the scene.
in twice as interim chief minister when monitored. Her nephew Sudhakaran, Tamilians love their films and more
Jayalalitha was briefly incapacitated, be whom Jayalalitha once considered often than not, they see the mirror
considered the Number 2 in the party a foster son, could have risen in the image of films in politics.

62 PARliAMENTARiAN l JULY 2016

 INDIA-CHINA

BUILDING A
NEW ORDER
AFP PHOTO/PIB

The international financial

crisis and the ongoing
one in the Eurozone, have
underscored the weaknesses
of the Bretton Woods
institutions. All the more
reason for India and China,
given their inherent strengths,
to cooperate in building the
new multipolar economic and
security architecture.
By Dr. B R Deepak

W
e have witnessed the world
moving away from unipolar
to bipolar, and since the
end of the Cold War to a
multipolar system. The last also gave rise
to multilateralism in the age of global
interdependence. This posed a challenge to the
international governance system dominated
by the Westphalian and Bretton Woods
institutions in which the developed countries
led by the US remained at the centre and
developing countries at the periphery.
The international financial crisis perhaps
for the first time challenged the existing
global governance structure when emerging
economies like China and India not only
overcame the crisis, but helped other
developing countries to tide over it. As rightly
remarked by the former US Secretary of state
Henry Kissinger, that the world order is at a
turning point.
The shift was confirmed as the economic
output proportion of the emerging economies
in the global economy rose to 30%, whereas
the ratio of the developed G7 economies
registered a substantial decline touching 47%.
This shift in economic power led to the crisis
surrounding the legitimacy and effectiveness
of current global governance institutions with
the emerging economies asking for more
representation and voice in these institutions.
There followed a structural adjustment
in the global governance mechanism, the
G20 demonstrated that the developed and
developing countries could sit together at
the high table, while the birth of various
new mechanisms such as BRICS, SCO,
BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), Asia
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Silk

JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 65

 INDIA-CHINA
Road Fund etc. indicated that the
emerging economies were capable of
reshaping or willing to supplement
the existing governance mechanisms
with new ones.
Being the founder members of many
of these mechanisms, both India
and China, are playing a leading
role and building bridges between
the developed and developing
countries and adding wealth to
the global economy. Chinas role
is extremely important since it is
contributing over 30% to the G20
overall economic output. It may
be remembered that emerging
economies are contributing around
50% of the world GDP growth.
Both India and China need to deepen
and broaden the scope of the role
they are playing in global governance
mechanisms. At the outset, the
economic and political clout they
will exert on these mechanisms
hinges upon their domestic drivers.
Therefore, the greatest contribution
they can make to the G20 or other
new mechanisms is by maintaining a
robust domestic growth and regional
peace and stability. It is for this reason
that the emerging economies have
been able to inject billions of dollars
in the existing institutions of global
governance and push for their reform
and ask for greater representation.
Secondly, it is owing to these strong
domestic drivers that emerging
economies will be able to support the
ideas such as a global infrastructure
hub and global infrastructure fund
mooted by the 2014 G20 Brisbane
summit and the World Bank.
President Xi Jinping has supported
such moves through the One Belt
One Road (OBOR) initiative, the
AIIB, the Silk Road Fund and other
mechanisms.
Thirdly, domestic growth could be
stimulated in various ways as both
India and China have unfolded
ambitious projects which could
be docked together by way of
consultation and coordination at
provincial as well as national levels.
For example, Prime Minister Modis
pet project, the Sagarmala National
Perspective Plan, which aims to
modernize Indias ports and integrate
them with Special Economic Zones,
port-based Smart Cities, Industrial
Parks, Warehouses, Logistics Parks
66 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016
t The developed world
is in economic crisis,
underlining the
weaknesses of the
Bretton Woods institutions
t India and China have key
roles to play here given
the inherent strengths
of their respective
economies
t The two countries need
to resolve differences and
focus on building a new
security and economic
architecture
and Transport Corridors could be
docked to President Xi Jinpings pet
OBOR project on land as well as sea.
As far as the regional connectivity
goes, Indias Bharatmala project
which seeks to connect the entire
Himalayan belt of Indian states
through a rail and road network,
could be docked to Chinas northwest
and southwest regional plans. In
eastern India, the BCIM economic
corridor could revolutionize overland
connectivity and facilitate not only
domestic but also the regional growth
with ASEAN. Similarly, India and
China could negotiate a larger
economic corridor running through
northwest China and northern India,
which could easily be connected
through a network of roads, railways
and oil and gas pipelines.
Fourthly, in order to push the
transformation of the global
governance structure, both India and
China need to become partners in
each others development. There have War II order by establishing their
been positive changes in the bilateral own institutions (such as NDB and
security and business environment; AIIB). The fact remains that the
however, in order to tap this huge establishment of these institutions
potential, both need to innovative is the outcome of the Bretton Woods
developmental plans, policies, and System that has been on shaky
initiate structural reforms in areas grounds since the 2008-09 financial
such as taxation, investment, finance, crises as well as the Euro crises.
labor, etc. Besides, macroeconomic It is a reminder that if institutions
policies should be in sync with like the IMF, World Bank and
social policies, which will ensure Asian Development Bank continue
stability in society and acceptance of to attach strings to developmental
government planning. aids and loans, there is going to be
Finally, there are arguments that a serious demand for alternative
the emerging economies, among institutions. Especially when the
whom China is playing a leading global economic recovery is weak,
role, are challenging the post-World the establishment of such institutions
 AFP PHOTO / PIB

Foreign Minister Wang Yis India visit in June, their developmental strategies. It
Modis participation in the G20 in Hangzhou, China in is natural for two big neighbours to
September, and President Xi Jinpings participation have differences, nevertheless, these
could be mitigated if a holistic view
in the 6th BRICS Summit in Goa, India in October of the relationship is taken.
this year, sets the stage for a building a greater Therefore, the momentum of high
partnership between the two level visits and people to people
exchanges need to be stepped up.
will promote infrastructural as well say as well as responsibility in the I believe, Foreign Minister Wang
as social and economic development evolving global eco system, there Yis India visit in June, Modis
in the regions. Even if AIIB does remains huge asymmetries in their participation in the G20 in Hangzhou,
not challenge the existing financial power and economic structures vis- China in September, and President
institutions, it would be seen as -vis the developed economies. Xi Jinpings participation in the
complementing the existing order. Rather than challenging the existing 6th BRICS Summit in Goa, India
In conclusion, even though the system, they need to bide their time, in October this year, sets the stage
paradigm shift in global governance innovate, and become partners in for a building a greater partnership
has given India and China a bigger each other development by docking between the two.

JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 67

 Surya Gangadharan

Surya Gangadharan
began his career with PTI
in 1981 later moving on
to India Today magazine
& The Straits Times in
Singapore. He was Foreign
Editor NDTV and worked
on The World This Week
programme. He was also
Strategic Affairs Editor CNN
IBN.

UK
VOTE FOR BREXIT
Stay or go.As it turned out Britons voted by a slim
margin to leave Europe despite the uncertainties
and attendant risks. Pundits say Britain will break
up with Scotland, even Northern Ireland walking
out of the UK. There could even be a recession
 T
British Prime Minister David Cameron urged Britons he see-saw opinion polls were an
not to roll a dice by leaving the EU in his first indicator of how divided Britain
television grilling of the referendum campaign. Chris was on the issue Remain or
lobina / SKY NEWS / AFP Leave: In the end the referendum
result reflected the clear view of Britons
that they wanted out of the EU despite the
obvious pitfalls:
Britain would lose its trade barrier free access
to the European single market; it would have
to renegotiate and re-work trade treaties
signed with countries across the globe; the
EU too lost a Security Council member
with a veto, a powerful army and its nuclear
weapons. Add to that a sixth of the EUs total
economic output.
Prime Minister James Cameron declared his
intention to quit by October. I do not think
it would be right for me to be the captain that
steers our country to its next destination,
he said in an emotional address outside 10
Downing Street. Many blamed him for
the result: There is nothing in the British
Constitution that calls for a referendum.
This was Camerons idea to stave off the
challenge posed by Nigel Farages UKIP.
Cameron paid the price and could well end
up seeing his country break up. Scotland may
want another vote on separation, Northern
Ireland may follow suit.
At one point prior to the murder of pro-EU
lawmaker Jo Cox, an online poll by YouGov
for The Times showed Leave ahead on 44
percent, up one point, with Remain on 42
percent, down two points.
Did Coxs murder swing views the other way?
It would appear so but theres also little doubt
that the Leave constituency, which many felt
had not presented its case convincingly, had
in fact done its job. They had hammered
away at pressures on public services and
t Britain has opted to
jobs created by high immigration levels that
move out of the EU could not be reduced due to EU freedom of
despite the risks of movement rules.
such a vote Leave tactics did raise some hackles. A poster
showing refugees walking through a field in
t Right wing politicians Europe was obviously designed to appeal
were able to tap into to fears of being swamped by Arabs fleeing
large sections of Syria and Iraq. But it also put off Asians,
Britons outraged over as SayeedaWarsi, formerly co-Chair of the
immigration Conservative Party said. She was initially
on the Leave side but moved to Remain after
t For India Brexit seeing the poster.
means new concerns The odd thing here is the vision of a broader
about the three EU was Britains. So there is a mixture of
million strong Indian puzzlement and anger in other parts of the
EU over Britain debating the pros and cons
diaspora
of staying on or leaving. France, which

JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 69

BREXIT
British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne (R) and British Environment Secretary Liz Truss address invitees at an event at the National Composites
Centre at the Bristol and Bath Science Park in Bristol, south-west England
voted no to the EU constitution in 2005, sees
Britains presence in the union as positive.
But as Sylvie Goulard, a French centrist MEP
(Member of European Parliament) pointed
out, there was an element of exaggeration in
the campaign for BREXIT.
Goulard was quoted in The Guardian as
saying: I admire the way British democracy
functions and there are many elements to be
proud of, but sometimes exaggeration seems
to be the normal way of arguing and where
Europe is concerned, even more so.
Others felt that Britain was having the best
of both worlds. It had one foot outside
Europe since the pound remains the national
currency, not the Euro. Nor is Britain in the
Schengen Zone (26 countries with a common
visa policy and no border controls).
In Germany, the view was one of irritation,
that Britain has been cherry picking
through the EU treaties, only picking what
suited its interests. The entire debate in
Britain seemed only focused on what was in
Britains interest not on what would help the
EU as a whole.
Katarina Barley, general secretary of the
Social Democratic Party, noted that We
cant have a scenario where one country gets
all the advantages out of the EU but doesnt
70 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016
Britain would lose its trade barrier free access to the
European single market; it would have to renegotiate and
re-work trade treaties signed with countries across the globe;
the EU too lost a Security Council member with a veto, a
powerful army and its nuclear weapons
shoulder any responsibilities. You cant have professionals, students, spouses, parents and
free movement of goods while opting out of relatives.
free movement of peoples. Would BREXIT change the rules of doing
The view in Greece was muted given business, or of access to higher education?
preoccupations with its own woes. But on Would it create new barriers for work visas
the street there was sympathy for BREXIT. or the visitation rights of relatives who have
Theyll do very well if they vote leave, families here? The CII commissioned India
said KleanthisPapazoglou, an unemployed Tracker report 2016 warned: Brexit may
factory worker. Every day Europe is have a bearing on both the UK economy and
becoming a little bit more fascistic. The euro on Indian companies appetite for investing
has failed. Much better, each to their own. in the UK, particularly those seeking access
But others say Britain by remaining in to the European market.
the EU, would offer a credible counter Others warned that border free access to
and balance to Germany. Leaving would Europe was one of the key drivers for Indian
mean a small group of countries gathering companies setting up operations in the
around Germany with the others relegated Britain. Tata Steel told its employees to give
to the periphery and irrelevance. What about careful thought to the referendum because
India? South Blocks concern centred on the choice you make on 23 June will make
the nearly three-million strong diaspora of a difference to your working life. The
Indian-origin UK citizens. Also the large memo stated that access to the EU market is
moving population of Indians who come to fundamental to our business. Clearly, not
Britain ever year as tourists, business people, many were convinced.
THE TIME HAS COME

72 PARliAMENTARiAN l JULY 2016

 By TP Srivastava
Indians sit for a wide range of exams after
completing their education: Whether for entry
into the civil services, the armed forces, public
sector banks and so on. Why not our legislators?
Why cant they sit for an exam that will qualify
them for state assemblies and Parliament? It
may improve the quality of law makers

AFP PHOTO / Money SHARMA

 EXAMS FOR MPS MLAS
T
he Father of the Indian
Constitution Dr BR
Ambedkar expressed
personal regret that
while every effort was made to
list out numerous provisions in the
constitution for efficient governance,
but the singular need to list and
include qualifications of our law
makers could not be explicitly stated.
This omission has over the years
resulted in grave devaluation of the
quality of law makers.
Three prongs of democracy, the
Legislature, the Executive and the
Judiciary are primarily responsible
for governance. As per existing
dispensation the members of the
executive and judiciary have to
undergo a rigorous process of
examination conducted at national
and state level. Only those qualifying
enter the service.
Why then should there not be a
qualifying examination for those,
who aspire to become law makers?
Introduction of an examination for
those, aspiring to become members
of parliament (both houses) and state
assemblies is an absolute necessity
and would be well within the ambit
of existing constitutional provisions.
Proposal
The UPSC should conduct
qualifying examination for those
who aspire to contest election to state
assemblies/UTs and Parliament. The
examination scope should cover four
papers listed below:
Local Issues: The aspirant must
explicitly state issues pertaining to
the constituency from where he or she
plans to enter assembly/parliament.
The aspirant must explicitly list the
problems and proposed solutions
clearly enunciating his partys stand
on issues.
State level issues: The aspirant
must express views for overall
development of state.
National Issues: Clear and
unambiguous exposition of national
issues, problems and solutions.
International Affairs: Need-
less to state that comprehensive
knowledge of international issues
would be an absolute must.
74 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016
t If one can have
examinations for the
civil services or armed
forces to ensure a
certain benchmarking
of candidates, one can
do the same for our MPs
and MLAs
t Examinations will
ensure the better
qualified candidate gets
through, one who is
equipped to understand
the complexities of
administration
t By putting the onus on
political parties to groom
their candidates for
legislative office through
an exam, it may compel
these parties to go for
meritorious candidates
Qualifications for exam
No educational qualification is
recommended in order to ensure that
existing constitutional provisions
are not required to be changed. But
every aspirant must be recommended
by the national/state president of
that particular party. Only political
parties recognized by the Election
Commission will be allowed to
recommend candidates.
Every political party can recommend tasked to conduct the examination
candidates limited to the number of once every two years in every state.
seats in assembly/parliament in a In order to keep the workload within
particular state. For instance, UP has manageable limits, the UPSC may
80 seats for MPs and 403 seats for schedule the exams for a few states
the assembly, hence every recognised at a time.
party can recommend a maximum Evaluation of papers should be
of 483 candidates for Assembly and done by vice-chancellors and senior
Parliament. Any individual, who
professors of the state universities
has served as an elected member of
to which the candidate belongs.
local bodies viz Village Panchayat,
Candidates should be allowed to
Municipal Corporation etc can sit for
select the language of their choice
the written examination.
and the UPSC can decide on
Conduct of examination minimum qualifying marks (50% is
The Union Public Service recommended as pass marks).
Commission (UPSC) should be Candidates, who clear at least three

Why then should there not be a qualifying examination
for those, who aspire to become law makers?
papers (including Local Issues
Paper) can be allowed to reappear
in the failed paper for a maximum
of three attempts. After which, a
candidate will have to re-write all
four papers. Candidates failing in
local issue paper will have to re-
write all four papers.
Unlimited number of attempts may
be allowed for each candidate. The
minimum age to appear for the
examination should be 25 years.
Pros & Cons
Number of Candidates: Currently
there are around 4600 MPs
and MLAs. Hence the number
of candidates appearing in the
examination should not pose major
problems, even if each recognized
party recommends maximum
permissible number of candidates as
applicable to that state/UT.
Validity: A candidate would be
required to clear the examination only
once in his or her lifetime, and would
remain eligible to stand for election as a
candidate only from that particular party,
whose national president signed the
application. In the event of a candidate
leaving the party, the validity would be
deemed to have expired. A candidate
elected as MP/MLA would lose the seat
if he/she decides to join another party.
Such a candidate would have to re-write
the exam. The same stipulation will be
applicable in case a candidate writes the
examination as an independent.
Availability of Candidates: Once
the system of qualifying examination
is in its place, political parties will
have enough candidates, from which
selection can be made, thus this
proposal would in no way impinge
on availability of numbers. Needless
to say that each political party will be
required to groom, educate and train
the prospective candidates to enable
them to write the papers and qualify.
Frequency of Examination: The
examination should be held every
year for the first three years from the
commencement of this provision.
Thereafter, the examination should
be held once every two years. This
would ensure that in the initial years
political parties will have a large
bank of candidates from whom they
can choose. If need be, the UPSC
may conduct a special examination in
respect of states/UTs, if the numbers
of qualified candidates available is less
than 50% of total seats. For instance if a
party has only 35 qualified candidates
in UP for a parliamentary election,
fresh examination could be held to
enable a party achieving the maximum
permissible limit of 80 candidates.
JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 75
 KAILASH MANSAROvAR
Kailash Mansarovar is known for both its religious value and enthralling
natural beauty that attracts Indians specially Hindus, towards making this trip
either driven either by an adventurous spirit or the spirit itself.
M o u n t
Kailash
- the abode of
Lord Shiva and
Goddess Parvati,
has captured the
imagination of
DINESH GUPTA human beings
The author since time
is Chairman immemorial.
of Sadhna K a i l a s h
News and the Mansarovar is
Prabhatam group known for both
its religious
value and
enthralling natural beauty that attracts
Indians specially Hindus, towards
making this trip either driven either by
an adventurous spirit or the spirit itself.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is one
of the most arduous treks. It involves
trekking up to an altitude of 19,500 feet
under inhospitable conditions, including
extreme cold and rugged terrain.
Hindus regard Mt. Kailash as an earthly
manifestation of Mt. Meru, the spiritual
centre of the universe.
According to ancient Hindu mythology,
Mt. Meru is renowned as swarga or
heaven. It is believed that whosoever
visits this pilgrimage shrine is rid of all
sins committed in the past or present
birth. Tibetan Buddhists believe that
Kailash is the home of Buddha who
symbolizes supreme Harmony. Tibetan
religion of Bon recognizes Mt. Kailash
as their spiritual seat of power.
In Jainism, Mt. Kailash has been refered
as Mt. Ashtpada, a place where the
creator of their faith Rishabhdev, attained
salvation by getting freedom from cycle
of birth and death.
76 PARliAMENTARiAN l JULY 2016
Mansarovar Lake is also a site for
pilgrimage. The lake is situated at an
altitude height of 15,000 ft and is believed
to be the highest fresh water lake in
the world. According to Hindu legend,
Mansarovar Lake was first created in the
mind of Lord Brahma. Hence it is named
Mansarovar, a combination of the words
Manas (Mind) and Sarovar (lake). The and hills around. Nice cold winds and
lake is 20 km away from Mt. Kailash.
Pilgrims having a ritual bath in the lake,
it is said, reach Lord Brahmas paradise
and drinking its water washes off all
mortal sins committed over a hundred
lifetimes. The pilgrimage involves
circumambulating the holy mountain and
also the Mansarovar Lake. The Parikama
around the lake of 92km and can be done
by bus. The kora or parikrama has to be
done by foot or yak or on pony. It was
by the blessings of Lord Shiva that I, my
wife and some friends were able to make
the pilgrimage to KailashMansarovar.
Preparations began in May involving
meetings with tour operators, brain
storming and foot work. There were
so much excitement, anxiety and
nervousness.
The countdown began and
finally we embarked upon our
journey. All Kailash Mansarovar
Yatris visit Pashupatinath temple in
Kathmandu to seek his blessings before
commencing the yatra. Almost all of us
had been to Kathmandu before but those
were only shopping cum excursion trips.
Tibetan Buddhists believe that Kailash is the home
of Buddha who symbolizes supreme Harmony.
Tibetan religion of Bon recognizes Mt. Kailash as
their spiritual seat of power
This time around it was different as our
destination was Mt. Kailash.
The next day, we flew to Lhasa which
was at a height of 11000 feet, which gave
us an experience of the problem of low
pressure oxygen that we were to face
ahead. Lhasa is a beautiful city with many
monasteries, the famous Potala Palace
pleasant weather kept our spirits high.
Last minute shopping of down jackets,
hats, and walking sticks was done here to
prepare ourselves for the extremely cold
weather conditions.
The train journey from Lhasa to Shigatse
was an exhilarating. Shigatse at an
altitude of 12,000 feet is a quiet town.
The oxygen levels in the train were
comfortable and everyone slept well. All
who had planned to enjoy the panoramic
view during the train ride snored through
the trip. The ultimate journey to the
abode of Lord Shiva began with religious
fervor. Everyone got up at 3 am the next
day to catch a flight to Ali, the last mile to
Lake Mansarovar. As the plane touched
base in Ali, a very humble town, each one
of us felt so close to Lord Shiva. The real
excitement began now.
The bus, the tour guide, the Sherpas were
with us on our ride to Lake Mansarovar.
Beautiful landscape, mountains on
either side and amazing roads, made
for a comfortable bus ride. Up since
early dawn, no one had slept. Everyone
wanted to capture the beauty in the
lens and in the heart. After two hours,
somebody in the group caught a glimpse
of Mt. Kailash. Our excitement turned
euphoria. We had a group picture with
Mt. Kailash as the backdrop.
Thereafter we kept looking at the Parvat
all through our road journey to the holy
lake. After four hours we reached Lake
Mansarovar. All had a holy dip and
collected jal and Shivlinga.It was a
mesmerizing sight with swans perched
on the vast beautiful tranquil lake.
Lunch at ParvatNiketan on the banks of
the lake filled our stomachs and gave
us energy and strength. Then there was
Rudrabhishek and hawan that never ever
felt so powerful in life. It had become a
Kailash family. Praying, eating, sleeping
together. Each of us helped the other.
With no sign of any human life (other
than our group) at an altitude of 15,000
ft., it was a humbling experience. We
were at such a high altitude, in a barren
land and yet so happy and contented
like never before in our lives. We were
enveloped with a sense of abundant
energy, tranquility and oneness.
Up since early dawn, no one in the group
blinked even an eyelid. There was so
much to seek, feel and absorb. We did not
know where to look, the hills, the blue sky
A yatra to Mt. Kailash is adorned with blissful
moments, and is thrilling. Every traveller undergoes a
humbling and enlightening experience which cannot
be described but can only be experienced
glittering with stars or the breathtaking pure. Lord Shiva and bhakts in a huge
lake or magnificent Mt. Kailash. It was valley, walking slowly, steadily doing the
simply mind blowing. Parikrama of Kailash. Some on ponies
Although tired physically, the heart still while others on foot. Hot water, electro,
wanted so much more. The bus finally dry fruit and tea in a solitary tent mid-
took us to base camp at Darchen which way, makes us understand the power of
is about an hour and a half drive from the the lord without manmade amenities. It
holy lake. Tired, after a really long day, was a mesmerizing experience but alien
the group again got ready for a late night too.
sojourn to have a look at the falling stars Reaching Dirapuk after a 16 km trek
atmidnight on the lake. from Darchen, we felt as if we had
All were ready for the Parikrama or the reached, heaven. Tired, hungry with no
energy left, yet everyone so happy and
kora of Mt. Kailash the next morning.
contented.
The trek around Mt. Kailash is of 52 km
and has to be done on foot or pony or yak. A very basic accommodation was the
It takes three days starting from 15,000 shelter in a freezing night. Neither could
ft to cross the Dolma La Pass at 18,200 anyone sleep the whole night nor was
ft and two nights enroute. The oxygen anyone tired. Strange are the ways of
pressure kept decreasing with every the god. Many members of the group
step. There was bright sun, cold wind, had headache and uneasiness due to low
water flowing by and majestic mountains pressure of oxygen.
with the power of Lord Shiva. We were Most of us tossed and turned the whole
in the land of Lord Shiva, his majestic night waiting for Mt. Kailash to turn gold
kingdom, untouched by humans, raw and with the rays of the morning sun. We had
JULY 2016 l PARliAMENTARiAN 77
kailash mansarovar
The Indian
government needs
to work with Chinese
government to provide
more amenities to
religious tourists. But
the Chinese govt. has
done an excellent job
of laying smooth roads
and 3G networks
a nice view of the divine peak through
our window. Finally it turned bright gold
as the first rays of the sun shine made the
peak glow. All bowed and prayed with
folded hands.
The levels of discomfort were increasing
and no one had the courage and energy to
further trek to Zuthulpuk via Dolma La
pass which is at 18,200 ft. We thanked
Lord Shiva for enabling us to view the
golden north face of Kailash.
We decided to return to Darchen in rescue
vehicles in two trips, bundled like cattle.
All of us were amazed to have trekked
that distance in the barren valley only the
day before.
It was difficult for us to absorb the fact
that we had actually been blessed to have
darshan of lord Shiva at his abode. A
physically fit group with great bonding,
the blessings of lord Shiva and love
78 PARliAMENTARiAN l JULY 2016
of near and dear ones ensured things
moved smoothly at every step despite
the weather which happens to be very
unpredictable and it plays a very vital
role for the yatra.
At the base camp it was like coming home.
Jains in the group went to Ashtapad the
next day. One of the members performed
Sheerhasan as a manifestation of her
devotion to the Divine God. Pilgrims with
cardiovascular or respiratory problems
should not undertake the Yatra. The
Indian government has no authority over
the yatris who undertake the pilgrimage
at their own risk. Pilgrims who forge
medical certificate put their own lives
into danger.
Even those yatris in the best of health
experience some discomfort and even
illness owing to the high altitude of Tibet.
Its effect varies from person to person
including loss of appetite, uneasiness,
breathlessness, and high altitude sickness.
It is caused by the low levels of oxygen in
the atmosphere, which commonly occurs
above 8000 ft. Since most pilgrims are
not trekkers habituated to high altitude,
the low levels of oxygen can prove
hazardous. Even the mortal remains who
passes away due to the altitude, cannot
be brought back. The Indian government
needs to work with Chinese government
to provide more amenities to religious
tourists. But the Chinese govt. has done
an excellent job of laying smooth roads
and 3G networks.
Lord Shiva is in his natural form, away
from the Indian rituals of pundits,
dakshina, flowers, fruits etc. A yatra
to Mt. Kailash is adorned with blissful
moments, and is thrilling. Every traveller
undergoes a humbling and enlightening
experience which cannot be described
but can only be experienced.
We all are still immersed in the
experience and have a little bit of Kailash
in our mind and soul. It will be with us
till eternity.
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NEWS
makers
Talking of
Varun
VARUN GANDHIs is a
prominent face on billboards
and hoardings all over Uttar
Pradesh. With assembly
elections due sometime in
May next year (although the

Netagiri To
grapevine has it the polls could
happen earlier), the demand
among a section of the state
BJP to project the youthful
scion of the Nehru-Gandhi
family as chief minister is
Bollywood
Lawyer and politician kAPIL SIBAL has
growing. Needless to say the
made his debut as a lyricist for the film
Shah- Modi duo are not in
Shorgul, starring Jimmy Shergill. Sibals
favour even though opinion
song Tere Bina, has been sung by his
polls do suggest wide support
favorite singer Arijit Singh. Sitar player
for Varun.
Niladri Kumar is the music composer.
Shorgul is a political drama loosely based
on riots in Muzaffarnagar in UP, Godhra
in Gujarat and of course the pillaging of
the Babri Masjid. Agitated groups have
declared they will not allow the film to
be screened in Muzaffarnagar, Lucknow,
Kanpur and Ghaziabad. None of this has
dimmed Sibals enthusiasm.

Actress with a Cause

Actress RICHA CHADHA has been building her
identity in niche cinema. Shes taken that forward to
become the voice of the campaign Bungalow on the
Hill. It is an initiative to raise money for an NGO
Purnata, that runs shelters in suburban Mumbai where
girl victims of trafficking, are rehabilitated, provided
training in vocational courses and involved in creative
activities.

80 PARliAMENTARiAN l JULY 2016

 Remembering Jo Cox
Thousands of people turned out in the UK on June 23rd to pay tribute to Jo
Cox, the MP who was stabbed and shot in her constituency in West Yorkshire
less than a week before Britain voted to leave the European Union. Cox, 41 years
old, was a relentless campaigner for equality, human rights and social justice and
had worked with several charities.
Aveek Bows Out
Media Mogul Aveek Sarkar quit as a Group Editor of the Bengali
daily Ananda Bazar Patrika and the English daily The Telegraph. Arup
Sarkar, his younger brother, who was until now chief editor of the groups
Bengali magazines, replaces Aveek., who has been re-designated vice
chairman and Editor Emeritus. Aveeks unexpected exit after 33 years
at the helm underscored his situation after Mamata Benerjee returned to
Writers Building on the back of a thumping victory.
Kejriwal at War
Some would call it war although much of the ggression
is from one direction: Arvind Kejriwal. The Delhi
chief minister is in the papers and the media everyday, with
something or the other to fire against Narendra Modi. Perhaps
its the pressure Kejriwal is facing on multiple fronts: Whether
the issue of parliamentary secretaries or the tanker scam. At
a recent press briefing in Delhi, Kejriwal described his battle
with Modi as a one-on-one fight although the latter has not
weighed into the battle or even deigned to answer Kejriwals
diatribes. But BJP gadfly Subramanian Swamy,when not
targeting his own party members, does take on Kejriwal.
JULY 2016 l PARLIAMENTARIAN 81
 Last Word
SEASON OF TRANSGRESSIONS HAS BEGUN
A Chinese intrusion near in Bum-La could be the first this summer
C
hocolates at 15,000 feet in
Arunachal Pradesh? Word is
Chinese troops offered their
Indian counterparts chocolates
after a face off in Yangtse near Bum-La
last month. Is that the mandarins way
of indicating there will be less incursions
into India?
Hard to say because its high summer
along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)
between India and China, the snows are
melting heralding the inevitable season of
transgressions. One is not certain if the
Yangtse incident is the first transgression
of the season as it is impossible to man the
entire length of the LAC. It is therefore
impossible to be sure about the exact
number of transgressions over the course
of any year.
There is uncertainty over just how many
Chinese troops crossed over. Some
reports have placed their strength at 250
men because generally, Chinese patrols
are of roughly that strength. They are also
easily spotted moving towards the Indian
claim line as they tend to be located in
secured shelters well back from the LAC.
The Indian Army is deployed more or less
on the LAC, thereby giving it enough time
to move into intercept positions and block
further ingress.
Senior officers who have served in these
areas say such interactions are fairly
predictable: The standard territorial
claims are made and reiterated, both sides
stand their ground, the banner drill
is gone through, which is basically the
display of a set of signboards in Mandarin
and English, appealing to the other side to
go back, and underscoring friendship.
There are times when push comes to
shove, as videos telecast on a private
television channel have shown. But no
shots have been exchanged in all these
years and after a while, calm returns.
Its not the ideal situation. If Chinas
high jinks on the South China Sea is
any indication, theres no reason why
India will be let off. And currently,
both countries are head to head over
Beijings refusal to allow Delhi into the
Nuclear Suppliers Group.
82 PARLIAMENTARIAN l JULY 2016
by Surya Gangadharan
China has not fought a war since 1979, when its
ill-conceived operation to teach little Vietnam a lesson
ended with a bloody nose for the mandarins
Is that the reason for transgressions?
Clearly no. Transgressions are a means
for China to reiterate its claims to territory
which India sees as its own. Its at the
core of their border dispute and they went
to war over it more than 50 years ago.
But diplomatic hostilities can and do get
reflected on the ground. Two years ago,
during President Xi Jinpings visit to
India, a Chinese army patrol set up camp
in a desolate stretch of the Ladakh desert
and refused to budge. If the Chinese could
do this at a time when their president was
in India, it is indicative of how deeply
Beijing views its national interest.
Its also a mind game. Such incidents
give the impression China has the
upper hand, India is on the defensive,
continually reacting to Chinese moves
and countermoves. And since Chinese
transgressions are widely reported and
debated in India, the sense of Chinas
power is evident in the media.
Not that India is some goody two-shoes
always playing by the book. Nobody
will admit this, but Indian troops do go
across into Chinese territory, plant the
flag, generally mark their presence with
cigarette packets bearing Indian markings
before departing. These never get reported
in the controlled Chinese media and one is
given to understand its all about prestige:
The Chinese military would not want their
people to know that India walks through
their territory.
So two can play the same game not that
it gets either side any closer to resolving
the border dispute. China is in no hurry.
Its military infrastructure in Tibet is
complete and continues to expand; its
forces are larger; the mandarins believe
they have the physical and psychological
edge over India.
India will admit Chinas superior
military strength at least in numbers,
and infrastructure on our side is still in
the making. But China has not fought a
war since 1979, when its ill-conceived
operation to teach little Vietnam a
lesson ended with a bloody nose for the
mandarins. Comparatively the Indian
army has had little respite, whether taking
on Pakistan in the battlefield or its terrorist
surrogates.
So both sides have their relative
strengths and India certainly doesnt
want war. Nor for that matter does
China, but theres little doubt a section
in the military establishment there
would love to repeat 62. In the interim,
transgressions will probably do.
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